Laserfiche WebLink
Mounds View Planning Commission March 7, 2018 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />amenity, and not an essential part of the home. An ordinance amendment would be more <br />appropriate than a variance. <br /> <br />City Planner/Supervisor Sevald commented within residential districts, the minimum front yard <br />setback is 30’.1 Staff recommends that the ordinance be amended, allowing non-enclosed <br />porches (no walls, windows, or screens) to encroach up to 6’ into the front yard setback (e.g. 24’ <br />set back from the front property line). A maximum 6’ encroachment is recommended to <br />accommodate a 36” door swing, plus a 36” clear zone beyond the door swing. This 6’ <br />encroachment is for the porch structure, and excludes any roof eve or stairs. For comparison the <br />following is the minimum setback for a front porch on an existing home, assuming the minimum <br />setback for the home is 30’: <br /> <br />Arden Hills: 22.5’ <br />Blaine: 22.5’ <br />Fridley: 20’ <br />Mounds View (existing): 30’ <br />Mounds View (proposed): 24’ <br />New Brighton: 24 <br />Shoreview: 25’ <br /> <br />City Planner/Supervisor Sevald explained front porches are an amenity to homeowners and add <br />curb appeal to the home and neighborhood. Allowing front porches to encroach into the front <br />yard setback will encourage homeowners to make this improvement to their homes. Staff <br />provided further comment on the request and recommended approval of the City Code <br />amendment as requested. <br /> <br />Chair Klebsch asked if 24’ would be ADA compliant. City Planner/Supervisor Sevald reported <br />this was the case. <br /> <br />Commissioner Stevenson explained this adjusted font yard setback would be only for front <br />porches that were not enclosed. <br /> <br />Commissioner Monn questioned if the porch had to be attached to the house. City <br />Planner/Supervisor Sevald reported the porch would have to be attached and noted a gazebo, or <br />any other accessory structure would not be allowed in the front yard. <br /> <br />Commissioner Klander understood front porches were becoming more popular. He questioned <br />how close porches have been allowed in the past. <br /> <br />Commissioner Stevenson stated he appreciated the way the code amendment was written as it <br />would not allow houses to move any closer to the street. <br /> <br />Chair Klebsch thanked staff for providing the Commission with a setback comparison from <br />neighboring cities. <br />