Planning Commission approves variance allowing covered porch to encroach into rear-yard setback

The Planning Commission approved a variance to permit a covered porch that will encroach 13 feet into a 20-foot rear-yard setback on a 0.2-acre lot in the Oak Manor planned unit development.

Dane Crabtree of the Community Development Department told the commission the request, listed as item 25-11-vs-17, was properly noticed and that the department had received no public comments. Crabtree said the structure would cover an existing at‑grade patio and that the city stormwater coordinator, West Root, and the Oak Manor HOA had reviewed and approved the proposal.

Kurt DeLong, owner with Katy Landscaping, spoke for the applicant. "We're just making the deck 1 foot shorter and putting a cover patio above it," DeLong said, adding the project "only encroaches on a small portion of the easement" and that "it's only like 3 feet of the porch" that would touch the easement. The applicant said the house is oriented such that the rest of the structure does not encroach further into the easement.

After the brief presentation and with no public testimony, a board member moved to approve the variance with the recommended conditions in the staff report. The motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote. Dr. King, Mr. Bullard and Mr. Bunkafist voted yes; the presiding officer announced the motion carried. The commission subsequently adopted the related findings of fact.

On other business, commissioners noted a recent planning commission hearing on the Ironstone planned unit development at Horton and 6 Points being developed by Platinum Properties; several items from that agenda were continued to future meetings. The commission adjourned following the routine consent and administrative actions.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (10/14/2025): motion approved by voice vote (ayes), procedural record.
- Variance 25-11-vs-17 (covered porch, Oak Manor PUD): motion to approve with staff-recommended conditions; roll call recorded yes votes from Dr. King, Mr. Bullard and Mr. Bunkafist; outcome: approved.
- Findings of fact for variance 25-11-vs-17: motion adopted by roll call; outcome: adopted.

Next steps: The variance is approved subject to the conditions in the staff report; the transcript records no additional follow-up tasks or appeals noted at the meeting.