Guidelines for Hedge Fences

The Woodside Hills Homes Association CC&Rs require the Association to review and approve "Hedge Fences." The purpose of this document is to set forth guidelines for review and approval of "Hedge Fences."

Definition

A hedge fence shall be defined as a series of plants generally in a collinear array having sufficient density as to obscure visibility through the array. The array should exceed twenty feet in length (measured at the widest points) to be considered a hedge fence. The plant specie shall be such as to produce year-round screening.

General Principals

Among all the items in the CC&Rs that we are required to regulate (See Article III Section 3), hedge fences are the only ones which can grow or be pruned. For that reason special guidelines are needed. Fences are usually intended to be a delineator between the street or neighbor's property. The usual issue that arises is privacy vs. view impairment. The Association encourages neighbors to find compromises when conflicts arise.

The Association will not actively "police" these guidelines but rather will respond to requests for review received from property owners. Hedge fences in existence as of the date of adoption of this policy and exceeding the heights limits specified herein are "grandfathered" at their height on the adoption date.

Specific Principles

1. The Association shall only regulate hedge fences located in the front, side or rear setbacks of the property.
2. Maximum height shall not exceed the height that would be allowed by Town regulations for an open wire fence plus two feet.
3. Plant specie that are unsuitable for pruning shall not be used in hedge fences. (e. g. redwood trees, Monterey pines, acacia trees, bamboo).
4. Plantings used to hide or screen a wire or solid fence shall not be considered to be hedge fences providing they are not allowed to grow more than two feet above the fence.
5. Any plantings which become a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic shall be cut back by the property owner (or the Association, at the owners expense, if he refuses) to insure safety of vehicles and pedestrians.
6. Hedge fences in a location where they may impair a neighboring property's view shall be pruned to a height not to exceed the lesser of (a) the allowable fence height plus two feet or (b) eight feet..
7. The Association may make a request of a property owner to prune a hedge fence back to meet these guidelines and if denied the Association, after appropriate review and consultation with the parties, has the right to have the work done and charged to the property owner.

Adopted August 16, 2005