Commission approves setback variance to enclose porch at 1072 Southwest Cherry Street

The Dallas Planning Commission unanimously approved Variance 2502 on April 10 to allow enclosure of a covered porch at 1072 Southwest Cherry Street, changing the porch into an interior room (the applicant said a laundry room) despite the building facing a street and thus triggering front/setback measurement rules.

Planning staff explained the issue arises because the code measures setbacks to the building wall on a street‑facing elevation; covered porches are allowed reduced setbacks but enclosing the porch changes how the setback is measured and, in this case, pushes the building beyond the administrative adjustment threshold. "The change in setbacks is unfortunately greater than the 20% adjustment that would be allowable administratively, which is what elevates it to the class B variance," Chase said, while recommending approval because the alteration would not create foreseeable harm to adjacent properties and the code did not clearly envision this scenario.

Applicant Trenton Johnson described the home as a family residence he and his wife have occupied since 1997 and said the project would not change the overall footprint, only the use of the covered porch area. “We just wanna make a little extra room in the house by putting in a laundry room,” Johnson said.

No members of the public testified. Commissioners discussed possible future sidewalk alignments and whether the proposed enclosure could conflict with a future public improvement; staff said the right of way at this location already exceeds the typical standard and a future sidewalk would not conflict with the enclosed porch. The commission voted unanimously to approve the variance. An order reflecting the decision will be mailed to the applicant and participants of record within 10 business days.