Green Fence MakesResident See Red
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

Green may be one of the colors of the holiday season, but Garden City resident Richard Bankosky does not want to see the color for years to come on a fence near his home.

Bankosky is angered by a new fence being installed by the Garden City Country Club along its property on Edgemere Road. The original chain-link fence has been replaced with a chain link fence that has dark green, plastic-like material woven throughout.

"This obstructive opaque fence...goes against all that our fine city stands for," he wrote in a letter to the Garden City News. "Furthermore, the green plastic appearance is tacky and reminiscent of the surrounding structures used to conceal many objectionable sights, including garbage dumps. Those of us on Edgemere Road and the Western section are having our view of the open lands adjacent to our properties permanently obstructed."

The fence has also drawn the attention of the Garden City Building Department. The country club was permitted to replace the old fence with the same kind. Any change in the type of fence was supposed to go before the Architectural Design Review Board for approval.

Superintendent of Buildings Michael Filippon said that even though a permit is not required for the new fence, it must meet certain Village codes. He said he has spoken to the manager and president of the country club and told them to either replace it with a chain link fence like the original, or apply to the ADRB.

Attorney Kevin Walsh, who is representing the country club, said that when the old fence fell into disrepair, his client selected a new fence with screening to provide privacy for its members. They were unaware that they had to file an application with the ADRB. They will be in touch with the Village by the end of the month and at this time plan to file an application with the ADRB.

Bankosky, who said he has contacted the country club, building department, mayor and Western Property Owners' Association, said he is thinking of getting a petition together to submit to the ADRB with signatures from other residents who are unhappy with the new fence.

The ADRB meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 8 p.m. in the boardroom at Village Hall. The next meetings are scheduled for December 18 and January 15. The public is given an opportunity to speak at these meetings.