Board rejects Baker’s request to extend front porch at 400 West 14th Avenue

The planning and zoning board voted down a variance requested by David Baker to reduce the front-yard setback at 400 West 14th Avenue from 25 feet to 9.9 feet to permit a three-season porch.

Staff presented the application and said the property is in an R4 (high-density residential) district. Baker seeks to replace an existing deck and extend it so the new three-season porch would project closer to the street; staff told the board there were no written responses for or against in the record and that Baker had previously received variances related to garage and side-yard setbacks.

Board members questioned whether the proposed porch could be enclosed later and become a permanent four-season addition; staff noted that enclosing the porch in the future would require a separate building permit. Several members said the existing garage and prior variances made them cautious about granting another exception.

A motion to approve the variance was made and seconded. During the voice roll-call the chair recorded multiple 'no' responses, including from members identified in the transcript as Oster, Shers and Genslinger; the chair announced the motion failed.

The board did not identify follow-up conditions in the meeting record. The transcript shows no public commenters on this item.