Planning commission directs staff to draft ordinance allowing porch projections into front setbacks

On June 10, 2025, the Lindon Planning Commission opened a public hearing on an amendment to Linden City ordinance 17.44.090 that would allow porches and porch coverings to project into required yard setbacks and directed staff to draft ordinance language and return to the commission for a future vote.

The change was requested by applicant Nicholas Slade on behalf of a homeowner who wants to add a porch covering over front steps to reduce snow and ice hazards. Presenting staff, Mike Florence, told commissioners the current Linden ordinance allows projections for cornices or eaves of up to 24 inches but does not authorize the deeper porch projection the applicant seeks. Florence said, "our ordinance only allows you to project 2 feet" for eaves, and the applicant asked to extend a porch roughly 8 feet into a 30-foot front setback, which would leave about a 22-foot distance from the porch edge to the street.

Commissioners discussed options for a citywide standard rather than case-by-case exceptions. Commissioners proposed numerical limits and design constraints including: limiting a projecting porch to a percentage of the home's frontage (several commissioners proposed 25%), allowing the projection to extend up to a percentage of the front setback (commissioners discussed 30% of the 30-foot setback), and capping depth at a specific number of feet (10 feet was suggested as a maximum, with discussion of including standard overhang in that depth). Commissioners also discussed restricting projecting porches so they remain open (not enclosed with walls), limiting overall width (25% of home width was suggested), and ensuring new language would apply consistently to new construction and existing nonconforming lots.

Applicant Nicholas Slade, who identified himself as with Slade Group General Contracting, said the homeowner’s primary aim was to "keep the snow and ice off the stairs." Paul Slade, also with Slade Group, noted the porch could be designed to fit within an 8-foot width if the commission wanted to limit width.

The commission opened the public hearing and received no substantive public comments on the item; the public hearing was closed by unanimous vote. After further discussion, commissioners voted unanimously to continue the item and asked staff to prepare a draft ordinance that reflects the commission’s direction (percent-of-frontage approach, maximum projection limits and definitions for porch/projection) and return for formal consideration. One commissioner noted staff gave a target return date in the record described as "the 20 fourth." The commission did not adopt final ordinance language at the June 10 meeting; the item was continued for staff to prepare written text for the commission and, if approved later, for transmission to the City Council.

Why this matters: the change would be citywide, not limited to the applicant’s property, and could alter how front setbacks are interpreted for new construction and remodels. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized wanting objective, measurable limits (percentages and maximum depths) and architectural language so porch projections do not effectively reduce the practical setback for new homes beyond what the city intends.

Next steps: staff will draft ordinance language that incorporates the commission’s direction and return to the commission for vote; if the commission approves the draft, it will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.