The City Council held a first hearing on the proposed amendments addressing front porches on April 5, 2016.

The Development Department would like to encourage residents to add front porches to their homes, in order to improve the appearance of residential neighborhoods, encourage social interaction among neighbors, create a safer environment and improve property values. The existing single-family residential zoning district setback standards may prohibit the construction of front porch additions to many existing single-family homes without a variance approval. Therefore, the Staff proposes amending the setback standards to encourage and accommodate the provision of front porches on single-family homes in the City’s residential neighborhoods.

The proposed ordinance provides a definition of “front porch” that identifies the required minimum elements of a front porch, as follows: “(a) covered structure attached to the front of a dwelling unit and providing the following elements: providing primary access into the dwelling unit; typically having a separate roof; unenclosed except for a roof, balustrade, and flooring; extending a minimum of 50 percent of the building façade; having a minimum 10-foot depth; and having a floor that is typically raised above the finished horizontal elevation of the lot. The design elements of the porch are typically consistent with those of the building and include the finish materials of any exterior surface, stem wall materials and/or foundation skirting.”

The ordinance amends the setback regulations in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 single–family residential zoning districts to accommodate front porches in front yards and secondary front yards (side yards facing a public roadway). The amendments allow covered porches to extend 10 feet into the required front yard setback, but not closer than 10 feet to the front property line. The setbacks would then be reduced from 25 feet to 10 feet. Alteration of the porches to form enclosed or air-conditioned living spaces is prohibited and the porches are required to maintain at least 80 percent openness and may not be screened. This will further the goal of encouraging interaction amongst neighbors.   

The City’s Home Improvement Reimbursement Grant (HIRG) program promotes “street friendly” housing by encouraging homeowners to include porches, windows and doors oriented to the street and parking to the side or rear of the home. The program promotes a sense of community by encouraging residents to spend time in their yard and on their front porch. The front porch provision is an eligible improvement under the HIRG program.  

The proposed new language is shown with underlining and deleted language is shown with strikethrough.

Compatibility with Comprehensive Plan:

The proposal is consistent with the following Comprehensive Plan objectives and policies:

• FLU Objective 1.2 - Maintain the integrity and quality of life, in existing residential areas through decision making that promotes traditional neighborhood development, family-orientation and “small town” character.

• FLU Policy 1.2.5 - The conservation, maintenance and rehabilitation of existing residential areas shall be encouraged.

• LIV Policy 1.1.1 - Encourage new development and redevelopment to utilize traditional neighborhood development (TND) principles which address the following features:

i.     Street-friendly housing: Housing close to and facing the street with active areas such as porches, windows and doorways oriented to the street; garages located to the side or rear, or set back deeper than the main part of the house.

• LIV Objective 1.3 - Safer, more livable communities that foster interaction between people and discourage criminal activities through effective use and property design of the physical environment.

• LIV Policy 1.3.2 - Natural surveillance techniques should be considered in the location of physical features, mix of activities and uses, people and lighting in such a way as to maximize visibility.

• LIV Objective 4.2 - Promote the use of setbacks that allow buildings to frame the street to create conditions that are favorable to pedestrian use and comfort.

• LIV Policy 4.2.5 - By 2009, the City shall revise setback requirements to allow porch easements in subdivision design and to require living areas of the structure to be closer to the street than garage areas.

• LIV Objective 4.5 - Promote high quality architectural standards that support the City’s image and contribute to its identity and unique sense of place.

• LIV Policy 4.5.1 Encourage building design to provide an ordered variety of entries, porches, windows, bays and balconies along public ways where it is consistent with neighborhood character; avoid blank or solid walls at street level; and include human-scale details and massing.