Buena Park : Apartment Fencing, Landscape Law OKd

The City Council has passed an ordinance regulating security fences and landscaping for apartment buildings, despite a last-minute plea from the Apartment Assn. of Orange County to delay the decision.

The association did not receive enough advance notice of the public hearing to study the law and make arguments, spokesman Richard Lambros said later.

The association had no concern about “the spirit or intent” of the law but worried about some of the details, Lambros said.

City Manager Kevin O’Rourke told council members he learned about the association’s request for a 30-day delay from a letter dated Tuesday. The letter said the ordinance includes regulations that might prove “costly and unworkable” for apartment owners.

But some apartment owners in Buena Park, who had been working with the city on the ordinance and postponing their own improvements until it passed, would be inconvenienced by a delay, Councilman Arthur C. Brown said.

“I’m concerned about apartment owners here in this city,” he said. “I don’t see any reason to put an imposition on people waiting for this to pass so they can upgrade their apartments.”

Mayor Donald L. Bone, who has voted against the proposal since the public hearing, has said he was worried that under the new law, older apartment buildings would have to undergo major renovations if owners ever submit plans to upgrade some aspect of their property.

Council members said the city staff would work with the association and, if necessary, amend the code later.