Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have won approval for a privacy fence at their Ohio home, but neighbors are still challenging the landscaping planned around it.
Next-door neighbor Katherine Bolton told Bratenahl’s Architectural Review Board she had received a $75,000 estimate to line a shared sewer pipe as protection against roots from the proposed evergreen trees.
Jacob Kutz of Tiny Construction, which is overseeing the project, says the owners are seeking privacy and security. Representatives for Swift and Kelce did not respond to Page Six‘s requests for comment.
Kelce purchased the lakefront estate near Cleveland in March for $5.35 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. The estate occupies approximately 3.5 acres along Lake Erie, ELLE Decor reported.
The Village Engineer Wanted the Shared Sewer Mapped
Bolton, a resident for 35 years, described an aging clay sewer line that she and a previous neighboring owner had arranged to have cleaned periodically, according to the village’s official transcript of the September hearing.
“What am I going to do when I have 50 evergreen trees on my sewer line, and they’re gone?” Bolton asked, referring to the new owners.
Village engineer Don Bierut said he had not seen a drawing establishing the pipe’s location. He recommended a licensed survey showing the sewer, property boundaries and existing trees.
The Owners’ Team Says It Is Covering a $7,500 Sewer Repair
The property’s representatives said they were covering a $7,500 repair to an existing damaged section of the sewer. Owner representative Pat Hyland said a camera inspection had identified the damage, and Kutz described a broken cleanout. They said neighbors had not been asked to contribute.
Hyland also said the sewer had already been jetted and cleaned. Kutz described a design placing the fence two feet inside the property boundary and the new plantings at least six feet from the sewer line. Two gates near manholes would preserve access for maintenance and repairs.
The Board Approved a Shorter Fence With Conditions
Josh Ricker of Great Lakes Fence said the proposal covered 1,190 linear feet of black, powder-coated aluminum fencing. The owners had initially wanted an eight-foot fence but reduced the proposed height to six feet.
Plans to extend the fencing farther toward Lake Erie were also withdrawn after discussions with neighbors. Kutz said the revised layout retained an open corridor so adjoining residents could continue to see the lake.
All three board members voted to approve the fence on Sept. 8, subject to design conditions. Its layout and appearance must match an existing installation on Ingall Brook Lane, the gates must blend with that design, and fence heights must align with the property’s stone walls. Chair Judith McGlinchy directed that landscaping be submitted separately for review.
A Neighbor Questioned Tree Removal and Risks to Deer
Chuck Bauernschmidt, who lives two doors from the estate, brought photographs and objected to the removal of shrubs and trees. He also questioned whether spear-shaped fence tops could injure deer traveling through neighboring properties.
Bauernschmidt proposed a flat-top alternative and pointed to other village fences as examples. Building administrator Mary Ranney acknowledged that deer occasionally became caught on pointed fencing in the area.
Landscape architect Derek Kuryla described a mixture of evergreen species in the planting proposal. The project team also said it intended to preserve existing mature vegetation where possible.
Rear Landscaping Faces Another Review Over Tree Height
Bratenahl board delays tree plan for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce property over height dispute; neighbors express concerns pic.twitter.com/hmHCWxWCNq
Cleveland 19 News (@cleveland19news) October 7, 2026
The landscaping returned as unfinished business on the board’s Oct. 6 agenda. At that meeting, village solicitor Dave Matty said the front setback had approval, while the rear-yard plan remained unresolved, according to Cleveland 19.
Board members discussed screening with plants that would remain under 10 feet at maturity, and Tiny Construction said it was willing to adjust the proposal to meet the restriction.
One board member also called for a fuller landscape design, with a wider range of plant heights, sizes and textures. Cleveland 19 reported that the board expected to review a revised landscaping plan on Nov. 10.