Board grants variance to maintain small unenclosed porch at 509 N. 10th St., conditions on resolving open code issues

The Allentown City Zoning Hearing Board granted relief allowing the maintenance of an unenclosed front porch at 509 North Tenth Street, subject to the applicant resolving an outstanding code enforcement case and obtaining required permits.

Juan Troncasso Ramirez, represented orally through his son Marvin as interpreter, said the property’s front porch roof was added to an existing front masonry element and that the porch measures roughly 7.25 by 7 feet and was installed without a permit. The board noted that porches with minimal front‑yard setbacks are common on the street and that many date to before the city’s modern zoning ordinance.

Board members asked about current enforcement activity. The zoning office advised there is an open notice of violation concerning the same property: inspectors observed two kitchens in the dwelling and a notice required corrective action (obtain permits, remove unpermitted work, or appeal). The applicant said the second stove that created the appearance of a second kitchen had been removed; the removal was described on the record. The zoning officer advised the case remained open and recommended that any permit issuance be conditioned on resolving outstanding violations and the applicant make the property available for reinspection.

The board voted to grant the variance to maintain the unenclosed porch, conditioning the approval on resolution of the enforcement case and obtaining any required building permits. The board stated the condition that the applicant must work with the zoning and building departments to close the outstanding code case before receiving final zoning authorization to maintain the porch.