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Board approves porches to encroach 4 feet into front setback at Maple Grove phase 2
Summary
The board granted a variance allowing covered porches to project four feet into the platted front setback for 45 lots in the Maple Grove subdivision (phase 2); motion passed 5–0 and the applicant must rerecord the plat with a note.
The Cherokee County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5–0 to approve a variance allowing front porches to encroach 4 feet into the recorded front setback for 45 lots in the Maple Grove subdivision (phase 2).
Staff said the property (12.31 acres, previously rezoned in 2022) was subject to a negotiated rezoning and recorded plat that reduced front setbacks as part of the Bells Ferry overlay approvals; the applicant asked the board to permit the unenclosed front porches shown on the house plans to project 4 feet into the platted setback so the marketed home designs would match the approved subdivision design.
Joel Larkin, attorney for the applicant, said the porches were part of the design the developer presented at rezoning and that the front‑porch feature was encouraged in the Bells Ferry overlay design guidelines. The applicant explained the front porches are architectural features that do not add additional density or lots and argued the recorded setbacks were an inadvertent mismatch with the intended porch allowance.
No members of the public signed in opposition. Board members noted the porches are consistent with the overlay design goals, asked that the plat be rerecorded to reflect the porch encroachment for the specific lot numbers, and approved the variance with that condition. The vote was 5–0.
