I purchased a corner property with little to no privacy with the expectation of putting in a few tasteful 6 foot cedar fences (5 foot solid fence, one foot lattice) one of those places was down my neighbor's driveway along my back side yard property line.

I left a 26 foot setback from the curb for visibility from their driveway.

You need to pay a non-refundable $800 to get a residential variance and your immediate neighbors are notified via snail mail. I paid, I went and my neighbors showed up to bawk about the fence causing a "hardship" that they were unable to defend. I've lived in this property for 9 months and the only contact they made with me was making some arboreal demands without knowing the property line.

My town's board was in my favor to allow the fencing out to the setback I set but their continuing disguntlement about what the board said was "free privacy" on my dime I had to make the agreement that the 64 foot section along their driveway needed to be 5 foot instead of 6.

We were granted the variance and have not begun installation yet.

The crux of all of this is that I directly addressed my neighbors fiance and said "how about 5 foot, 4 solid 1 lattice" I'm 6" tall and I fucking hate the way this will look, I don't want to see his lack of upkeep and my kids gawked at.

If it's not in writing anywhere that It's specifically solid & lattice and it just says "fence" can I make it a solid vertical 5 foot without anyone's further permission?