Council rejects proposal to permit 8-foot deer fencing

Franklin Lakes The Borough Council last week turned down a proposal to allow eight-foot-high deer fences after debating over several months whether to introduce an ordinance adding them to its building code. Currently six-foot fences are allowed, but effective deer fences are two feet higher.

"I've decided it doesn't make sense," Mayor Frank Bivona said at the councils meeting Nov. 6. "First I was for it and now I'm against it."

Bivona said he had spoken with residents and the code official and determined the issue is better left alone.

"The fences work better where there are large lots," Bivona said. "I reviewed Alpine's ordinance and they have more property up there."

"I think you're right," Councilwoman Ann Swist said. "We don't have that kind of space here."

While the mayor and council agreed there is a deer problem in the borough, they worried about the appearance of such fences.

"These fences won't fix our deer problem," Bivona said.

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Council rejects proposal to permit 8-foot deer fencing