Fence heights and setback variances could become the concern of the Naperville Plan Commission as members voted Wednesday to take over the responsibilities of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

City Planner Allison Laff told commissioners cutbacks in staff and a reduction of the number of cases coming before the zoning board led the Naperville City Council to recommend in November that the board be dissolved. She said current zoning board members — who are citizen volunteers like plan commission members — have been notified of the change.

Laff also said putting the extra responsibility to the commission will make it easier for citizens seeking smaller variances as plan commission meets twice a month as opposed to once a month like the zoning board.

“I am saddened by this,” Commissioner Patricia Gustin said, adding she was formerly the chair of the zoning board.

Gustin was the lone vote against accepting the ordinance as written, arguing a change should be made that would allow the commission — which will be renamed the Planning and Zoning Commission — to be the final authority on certain issues. Currently, all zoning and plan commission decisions must be approved by City Council, which she said can become redundant in some cases.

The approval of the ordinance by remaining members will continue to send all decisions by the commission before council members.