Members of an Elmhurst City Council committee said they will consider regulating the size of swing sets on residential property.
After resident Don Alexander complained to city officials that a new swing set on a neighboring property was too big, Development, Planning and Zoning Committee members said the time might be right to develop guidelines governing the height of residential recreational equipment.
While some might question the concern with other people’s backyards, Alexander said the 18-foot-tall structure in a neighbor’s yard infringes on his rights.
In addition to being forced to listen to loud construction noise for weeks, Alexander said the wooden swing set in the 700 block of Benton Court is an eyesore.
“Frankly, I think it devalues my property,” he told committee members. “You put a height (limit) on fences, why not put a height limit on playground equipment?”
Ald. Donald Olson, chairman of the committee, said the city will survey other municipalities to learn if and how the structures are regulated.
