Putting a fence around unoccupied house on Fourth Street has grown to more than merely a barrier between neighbors.

A safety fence is the latest aspect in a series of litigation, which began in early 2006. Tuesday night’s Village Board meeting brought little conclusion or progress.

“It’s a very unfortunate dispute between two neighbors,” said Hinsdale trustee Bob Schultz.

Property owner Barbara Johannesen said she just wanted a safety fence around her property, “something that would keep the kids out and something that would let them know that the area is off-bounds.”

However, the safety fence is not the issue bothering neighbor Sam Eddins.

“The concern is not installing the fence, it’s following the proper procedure outlined in the zoning code,” Eddins said.

The Johannesen family purchased its Fourth Street property in February 2006, and the initial disagreement began about where on the property a new home should be constructed. As the discussion continues, the property remains unoccupied except when being frequented by teenage trespassers, Johannesen said.

“We became aware of the kids' nighttime activities, and we have cleaned up the evidence of partying for some time,” Johannesen said.

Johannesen first came to the village in May to request a fence, she said. The issue with fence approval lies in a somewhat cloudy zoning code, Schultz said.

“We really don't have a section in our code for temporary fencing that would fit the description of what we have here,” Schultz said. “It’s a very unique circumstance.”

The Village Board denied Johannesen’s  fence request for one year.

According to Mark Daniel, attorney for the Eddins family, a safety fence typically looks like an orange plastic lattice fence, one often used to protect trees. In contrast, a construction fence is defined as a six or seven-foot-high chain link fence.

The issue stretches beyond the current dispute, Eddins said.

“We don't want to create a precedent where a construction fence goes up around every vacant home in Hinsdale,” he said.