City Antes up for New Fence in Northern Wayzata

Months of planning and discussion culminated this week with what most residents of Harmony Circle and Rosswood Lane in Wayzata wanted: a new privacy fence fronting their neighborhood.

The fence, which will be built on a small strip of city-owned land between Hwy. 101 and Rosswood Lane in northern Wayzata, will shield residents of the neighborhood from noise and passing traffic, as well as give the community a gated feel.

A petition requesting a new fence was signed by 21 of the neighborhood’s 32 residents and accepted by the city earlier this year. Many of those residents attended Tuesday’s city council meeting to weigh in on the issue.

City council members discussed several options and designs for the new fence, which ranged in price from about $40,000 to $80,000. A mid-level wood structure with an estimated cost just under $50,000 was eventually selected.

The fence was originally classified as a “Class C” improvement under city ordinance, meaning it would only benefit nearby residents and that the total cost would be assessed to benefiting property owners. After a lengthy discussion driven by Councilman Andrew Mullin, the project was reclassified on Tuesday to a “Class B” improvement. The change in status means the city also reaps some benefit from the improvement and therefore can, at city council discretion, pick up a portion of the cost.

“I think the city picking up some of the cost would go a long way toward helping people of the neighborhood,” Lisa Peterson-Nelson said. “We feel like our neighborhood is sort of an entrance point to Wayzata and that it could benefit the city as well.”

Mayor Ken Willcox agreed.

“The comment that this is what people see coming in from the north is a true one,” he said.

Council members unanimously voted to shift course and that city would pay for 20 percent of the project’s cost—using cash on hand to pay their share.

The neighborhood's original fence was built in 1992. Weather had in recent years degraded the posts and panels to a point where it was torn down late last year.

Heidi Mullins has lived on Harmony Circle for 25 years and told city council members on Tuesday that the old fence’s planning and construction process was much less complicated.

“One of the neighborhood residents built the fence and the city put it up,” she said. “There wasn’t as much discussion, and the cost wasn’t as great.”

Residents living on Rosswood Lane and Harmony Circle will be assessed weighted proportions of the fence’s cost based on their property’s benefit, as determined by the city.

Tom Holte lives on Rosswood Lane and concedes his property would benefit more than some others.

“I can see how I would benefit more, so I wouldn’t mind paying a little more,” Holte said.

Residents will have five years to pay their assessments, which will be folded into their property taxes, but those wishing to do so can pay their full balance at any time.

Completion of the fence is expected to finish this fall.