We currenlty own our home and decided to make a change to our property by adding a structure to our backyard. The structure has been a fixture in our back yard for 3 years now. We built it as a pole barn that was converted into a rock wall. We currently use the structure to train for climbing competitions and climbing seasons.

We have never had any complaints from neighbors regarding it. Before we built the structure, we asked our direct neighbors if they would oppose having a rock climbing wall structure in our backyard because it would be visible from the street. The direct neighbors that can see the structure from their homes said they would not mind having it built. I also told them that we would plant 3 crap myrtle trees on the outside of the structure to hide it, in which we did plant them. The neighbors replied that we didn’t have to do that because it really doesn't bother them. In fact, 2 neighbors said they loved the structure because she could sit on her front porch in her swing and watch us rock climb. She said she enjoyed it on nice days to see us having fun.

Furthermore, before the structure was built, I called the local zoning office about city guidelines. She told me as long as we were 6 feet from the side of the property and 30 feet from the front of the road, it was within the guidelines. When we received the letter from the office recently, they stated the structure had to be 5 ft from all property lines and 10 ft from any other structures. Currently the structure is 7 feet from my right side property line, well over 40 ft from the road, only 6 feet from the house, and 3 feet from the rear property line. That means we are 2 ft shy from the property line rule and 4 feet shy from the house rule. Upon research, we found that the ordiance was updated on Feb 2, 2012. The Zoning Board also added a clause to their website saying that any information obtained by anyone in the zonng office may not be taken as truth.

We are asking the zoning board to grant us a variance to let us keep the structure where it is without having any changes made to it or having to remove the wall completely.