The Board of Adjustment declined to grant variances that would have permitted a 10‑foot corrugated‑metal privacy fence and related clear‑vision and driveway‑vision exceptions at a vacant lot at 724 Sandmeier Street in the Government Hill area.

Applicant Mateo Rodriguez Leyva said he is developing a community garden with programming for veterans and neighborhood residents and asked for the fence and related variances for security while the site is under development. He described the site as vulnerable to theft and vandalism and said corrugated metal provided a defensive perimeter during construction and initial operations.

City staff recommended denial. Multiple callers and in‑person neighbors, including the Government Hill Alliance Neighborhood Association and Government Hill Tomorrow Community Organization, opposed the variances on safety and character grounds. Callers and speakers described the fence as an "industrial" material and warned that its height and opacity create a traffic safety hazard at the Edgar/Sandmeier intersection, reduce intersection sight distance for drivers and school buses, and are out of character with the historic residential neighborhood.

Chair Orian and several commissioners noted the applicant’s stated community goals but said the correct path to pursue those uses is through the zoning/specific‑use process rather than ad hoc relief at the Board. Commissioners also noted that fence materials and a 10‑foot height are commonly reserved for industrial uses and substations and that the community reported multiple safety and character concerns. After discussion the motion to grant the variances failed on a roll call vote; commissioners urged the applicant to pursue neighborhood outreach, a zoning path (a specific‑use authorization), or a design that meets neighborhood expectations and the city’s clear‑vision requirements.

Ending: The applicant was advised to work with the neighborhood association and the council district office and to pursue the appropriate zoning/specific‑use process if the garden or other non‑residential uses are to remain; staff will continue enforcement of unpermitted work until compliance is achieved.