The creation of a subcommittee to examine changes to Medford’s ordinances regarding deer netting and standalone gates was not enough to satisfy residents at last night’s council meeting.
Medford council agreed to form a subcommittee to examine the township planner’s recommendations made on how to better clarify deer fencing in the township’s zoning ordinances. Mayor Chris Buoni and Councilman Jeff Beenstock volunteered to be on the subcommittee. Other members will include planning board chair Jack Hartwig and neighborhood services advisory chair Tom Corbi.
However, the lack of progress and communication on the topic caused some residents to speak out. Resident Kevin Sparkman told council he felt more time was being spent on deer fences than other pressing issues such as commercial development.
“I’m just really confused as to why this is still an issue,” Sparkman said.
Buoni told Sparkman council is not spending all its time on deer fences. He said council is working on a number of different issues at the moment, including trying to attract new businesses to the township.
“Everything I do is dedicated to making this town a better place to live,” Buoni said.
The topic of changing the township’s ordinances for deer fencing began at the May 20 council meeting. Buoni said council is looking into changing the ordinances to make it more specific in regard to deer netting. The township’s zoning officer raised the issue about five years ago.
“A clarification was asked for in 2009 and it was never received,” Buoni said. “All we’re looking to do is clarify the zoning ordinance.”
A group of residents from the Taunton Lake development have spoken out against changes to the ordinance at multiple meetings. Resident Paul Davis said changing the ordinances to allow deer netting and other fences to stretch as high as eight feet, as discussed in prior meetings, would be an eyesore and have a negative effect on property values.
Current zoning ordinances only allow fences to be made of natural wood and be a maximum of four feet high. The ordinance does not specify regulations regarding deer netting.
Council asked for recommendations from township planner Scott Taylor at its Aug. 5 meeting. Taylor’s recommendations included allowing fences up to eight feet tall and other types of fences, such as vinyl. He said any type of deer netting would have to be more than four feet tall to be effective.
Buoni said the subcommittee will discuss Taylor’s recommended changes as well as allowing deer netting only for wooded areas, an idea Beenstock proposed on Aug. 5.
Corbi, who is a also a member of Medford’s Homeowners Alliance, said the alliance is planning to have a dialogue with residents from different areas to gauge their feelings on possible ordinance changes.
