Neighborly Agreement Could Replace Landscape Screening

Installing a swimming pool or basketball court at your house? Soon you may not have to install a 6-foot evergreen hedge to block the view of those facilities, as long as your neighbor agrees to it in writing.

Libertyville trustees gave preliminary approval Tuesday night to a zoning code text amendment that would allow a resident to forego installing a hedge to block the view—and noise—of a recreational facility should his or her neighbor agree. 

A vote on the text amendment failed with a 3-4 vote at a recent Libertyville Plan Commission meeting.

Village trustees, however, agreed that allowing such an agreement between neighbors was the right thing to do.

"I think it makes sense," said Trustee Richard Moras. 

"I think it should be a decision of the people," added Trustee Todd Gaines. "If nobody has objected to it, I don't see why we would even need screening then."

The text amendment specifies that should the resident with the recreational facility in his or her yard decide to move, the densely-planted evergreen hedge would need to be installed within 90 days of the sale of the home.

Trustees also agreed that the written agreement between neighbors should stipulate that the neighbor can later request that the screening be installed. The screening would need to be installed within 90 days of the request.