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Alexandria board to hear fence variance request for 3337 King Street

Alexandria board to hear fence variance request for 3337 King Street

Rule Changes Alexandria, VA local

Public hearing set for November 9 on request to build a 6-foot front-yard fence on a townhouse lot zoned RB/Townhouse

Today: Agenda lists fence variance item

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Alexandria's Board of Zoning Appeals will hear a request on November 9 to allow a 6-foot fence in the front yard of a townhouse at 3337 King Street. Applicant Joseph Delmontagne is seeking a variance from the city's front-yard fence rules for the property, which is zoned RB/Townhouse.

The hearing is where neighbors can speak for or against the request before the board votes. The board can approve the variance, deny it, or defer the item to a later date. The agenda notice warns that items are regularly deferred, withdrawn, or moved.

Why it matters

The board's ruling determines whether this King Street townhouse can build a 6-foot front-yard fence and how Alexandria weighs similar requests.

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Key Indicators

6 ft
Requested fence height
Variance sought for the front yard at 3337 King Street
17 days
Agenda-to-hearing gap
Agenda published October 22; hearing scheduled November 9

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

October 2026 November 2026

3 events Latest: Today
  1. Public hearing scheduled

    Upcoming Hearing

    Board of Zoning Appeals to hear the variance request and take public comment.

  2. Agenda lists fence variance item

    Today Publication

    Published agenda lists BZA2026-00018, the 3337 King Street fence variance, for the November 9 hearing.

  3. Preliminary docket published

    Publication

    City posts preliminary docket for the November 9 Board of Zoning Appeals hearing.

Scenarios

1

Board approves 6-foot fence variance

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: No public analysis exists for this routine item; the outcome turns on the board's application of variance criteria.

The board grants the variance, allowing the 6-foot fence in the front yard. Approval typically requires a finding that the zoning code creates an unnecessary hardship unique to the property.

2

Board denies fence variance

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: No public analysis exists; denial would follow a finding that the hardship is self-created or the variance would alter the neighborhood's character.

The board denies the request, and the fence must comply with the zoning code's front-yard height limit. The applicant could appeal the decision to circuit court.

3

Hearing deferred to a later date

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Agenda items are regularly deferred, withdrawn, or moved, per the published agenda notice.

The board continues the item to a future hearing, either at the applicant's request or because the board wants more information. The variance remains pending.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

November 1926

Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. (1926)

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of zoning, ruling that a village could restrict how property was used by district. The decision validated comprehensive zoning ordinances across the country.

Then

Cities and towns gained clear legal authority to regulate land use through zoning.

Now

Zoning became standard practice in American municipalities, including the fence-height rules at issue in Alexandria.

Why this matters now

This case is the legal foundation for why Alexandria can require a variance for a front-yard fence at all.

Sources

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