N.Y. Suburb: Gere Fence Too High

[April 15, 2008]  BEDFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- Richard Gere, like Martha Stewart before him, is running into some zoning hurdles as he tries to put his imprint on the wealthy New York suburb of Bedford.

The 58-year-old actor and a partner have opened a cafe and bakery and have plans for a luxury inn and fine restaurant. But their new 180-foot-long cedar fence may not pass muster, building inspector Richard Megna said Monday.

Bedford's rules call for a fence no higher than 4 feet along the street side of a property, he said, and Gere's is 5 feet tall.

However, Gere's representatives have been trying to win a variance from the town zoning board by landscaping the fence to make it look better, Megna said.

No decision is likely before May 7, he said.

Bedford once turned down Stewart's plan for a barn on her property that would hold tractors, snowplows and a forklift because it was too close to the road.

[Associated Press]

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