Edgemoor Neighborhood Association

View Committee

The Committee held its initial meeting on September 12^th. The group discussed objectives for the Committee, and a short term agenda. They agreed to develop formalized procedures for addressing view issues through consensus and community values wherever possible. A representative from Citizen View made a useful presentation on that group’s efforts to protect views elsewhere in the city.

There are three areas of particular concern regarding view preservation and restoration in the Edgemoor neighborhood:

1. trees and vegetation

2. new construction, and height additions to existing structures

3. above ground utility lines (in some areas only)

Trees seem to be the subject of most debate and conflict among neighbors. Thus the Committee will focus on that issue initially. Municipal Code 20.30.110 – Fences appears to be the governing ordinance (the definition of fences appears to include hedges and other similar potential obstructions). To this end the Committee will

1. attempt to develop a clear understanding of local ordinances and practices governing view preservation and restoration,

2. strive to devise a formal system to work with neighborhood homeowners to resolve view obstruction issues, and

3. in the longer run work with local authorities to develop stronger regulation and procedures for view preservation and restoration, including a more formal (and binding) “view assessment” methodology.

The View Committee welcomes new participants and neighborhood input. Contact Paul Stephenson at pdstephenson@comcast.net or 647-2024, or Dennis Lytle at dennisl@molesfs.com or 733-3972.

Next meeting: The next View Committee meeting will be held at the Fairhaven Library, NW Room at 1900 hours on October 14. Note that this is a change from the earlier announced date.