The Wayzata Planning Commission unanimously approved directing staff to prepare a recommendation for approval of a fence variance request at 335 Waycliff during their March 10 meeting.

The variance request involves extending an existing 6-foot privacy fence across three parcels in the Waycliff neighborhood. The current city code requires front yard fences to be 4 feet tall and 75% solid, but the applicant requested to maintain the existing fence's 6-foot height and 100% opacity for consistency.

Reed Shaw, representing the Waycliff Townhomes Association, told commissioners the fence extension would replace privacy lost from storm-damaged trees and provide security benefits. Shaw noted the association experienced break-ins in 2021 and that the fence sits several feet above Hollybrook Road, a county trail installed three or four years ago.

Commissioners found the request reasonable, citing the property's unique location near Highway 12 and the fact that it extends an existing fence rather than creating a new one. Planning Commission Chair Blake Cameron noted the area's tucked-back location makes it less visible than other parts of the city where fence variances have been considered.

The Planning Commission will formally adopt their recommendation at the March 24 meeting, after which it will go to the City Council for final consideration. No public comments were received during the hearing, and engineering staff had no concerns about the proposal.