Looking at that street plan, it looks like that 15x47.1 area that extends beyond the rear lot line is likely an addition to your property - maybe you have a bigger backyard than you think! My BIL's lot is like that - land behind them was up for development but the neighbours were offered the chance to buy some of the land immediately abutting their property. BIL did that, so his lot looks a bit like what I'm seeing on that street plan view. Maybe the properhy owner at the time that walking trail was made, bought some of the land.... If you haven't alreadty, check that out first. I think it would be possible to make an attractive front fenced area if the backyard option isn't feasible. I'd start by shaping a lawn area by mirroring the curve of the driveway onto the opposite side, which would produce a sort of oval lawn with pointed ends :-) Then leave a straight line from the porch to the street as a wide entrance walkway; fence along that, follow along the curved propertly line, to the garage. I'd use a 4' black ornamental iron or aluminium fence, with a gate halfway along the entrance walk and another at the garage end (or by a sidedoor if there is one...) I'd plant a mixed border along the fence by the walkway, continuing along the house, with shade-tolerant vines to grow on the fence side. You'd have roughly triangular area between the shaped lawn and the fenced area. I'm not sure where the tree is exactly - hopefully in that triangular area! There would be a small clear area in the center of the fenced area - lawn if it would grow; otherwise a low tough groundcover that would tolerate the dogs. It could be quite interesting - let green and white dominate the colors in the plantings - that's the easiest color combination in shade and always looks cool and restful. I'd draw what I mean except my computer with the scanner died last week and I haven't got a new one yet :-) I do not like those electric dog fences - I think they are cruel, especially for sensitive dogs like shelties! So, IMO any option is better than that.

This vine was pretty thin/delicate and did a nice job covering the fence; we loved it. I was just so devastated because I was expecting to have an almost entirely covered fence this year, and I'm frustrated about starting over. But maybe I'm still just in the mourning phase. Yardvaark, you do make a good point about the continued blooming - I guess my hope now is that if the pruning isn't a problem, then I can continue to do that in small areas to encourage continued flowering. But, do you have any recommendation on what I could do instead? My budget is pretty limited.

I like fences similar to this one for a number of reasons. http://www.aandjfencing.com/redwood-fencing/ The fence is solid where you would need it most for privacy. The most visible boards are vertical, which look nicer than horizontal (less of a cage look). The fence has a lattice or otherwise open space the top that would accord some privacy but not block all the breeze -- and provides a "finished" look to the fence; It has a single solid horizontal board at the bottom between each post -- which you would want to be treated lumber. The bottom of a fence is usually the first to have problems. With a single horizontal board or, better yet a 4"x4" post, beneath the vertical boards, keeping that board treated (CWF) or painted and/or replaced as needed can extend the life of the fence overall.

I think it's the case that you're as easily able to create good aesthetics without the fence, as you are with it. Adding it means paying attention to another set of design considerations. People do things all the time thinking that they are creating more beauty, when in fact, they are creating more ugliness, and sometimes an expensive clean-up process. Not saying that would be the case here, but just noting that it's always a possibility, since we can't know how you'd do every detail, and ultimately that's what would matter. Having dogs that spend time in the yard is a commonplace situation. Mostly, they are either relegated to the back yard where the tall fencing is permitted, or they are able to be kept in the front yard by 4' fencing. I don't think the city or the neighborhood in general, will agree that having a special breed of dogs that can't be contained in the front yard by 4' height fencing, is worth granting a variance for. Security for the occupants of the house is a separate matter. Not having any idea of the crime trends of your neighborhood, can't begin to predict if you can make a good enough case for additional security fencing. But maybe you can. Every so often, general ways of doing things change and it all starts with a single case that sets precedent. In the early 70s, it was not common for fathers to be allowed in the delivery room while their child was being born. That they are allowed and expected to be there is now the rule. Even if you end up not being able to get a variance for fencing, there are other ways of addressing the privacy issue. Governments as a rule don't seem to have any objection to your creating privacy with plants, thus the use of tall trimmed hedges where someone doesn't want the outside world looking. You probably already know that there is a non-refundable fee assessed for seeking a variance and a hearing. Check to see what it is in order to figure out if it would be worth it to you if the variance was not granted. I've acquired a few variances along the way, every one for which I applied, but in each case they were based on need such that the homeowner would either needlessly suffer a hardship if the variance wasn't granted, and/or they would inadvertently cause other people (neighbors) problems if forced to comply with the regular rules. The variances were for front yard parking.