Title
Ordinance Amending Chapter 30 of the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) With Respect To Zoning, Planning and Development - Open Air / Cover Porch Front Setback Encroachments
Body
Department: Planning
Council District: All
Public Hearing: Yes
Advertising Date/By: December 7 & 14, 2017 / City Clerk
Contact 1 and Phone: Sue Schwartz at 373-2149
Contact 2 and Phone: Steve Galanti at 373-2918
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the text amendment is to revise the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) to allow open air / cover porches to encroach into the required front setback. The City Council is required to hold a public hearing on this amendment before considering its approval.
BACKGROUND:
Over the last 18 months, the Planning Department has received a number of variance requests by owners of existing single-family homes who wish to add a new front porch that would extend into their front setback. Staff has been evaluating the cases to see if there were patterns that may warrant a change to the Land Development Ordinance. After the last case, the Board of Adjustment asked staff to expedite our efforts.
* The Land Development Ordinance allows several encroachments, limited in dimension, into the required building setbacks that are determined to have a limited impact on the adjacent property. These include such things as overhanging eaves, stoops, bay windows and HVAC units.
* The goal of this effort was to continue to allow people to invest in their property and update obsolete structures while promoting "neighborliness" in communities and enhancing the "eyes on the street" security.
* In keeping with the premise for allowing encroachments that are limited in dimension and have a limited impact of the adjacent property, the proposal is to add an allowance for front porches that are covered and open.
Process
The process to add this allowance into the Land Development Ordinance was developed and progressed as follows:
1. Initial Proposal - Staff formulated base ...
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