Argyle commission raises Old Town 2 home size limits, eases garage rules

The Planning and Zoning Commission on March 5 approved an ordinance amendment to the Old Town 2 zoning district that relaxes several home‑size and garage standards to reduce the number of future variance requests.

Harrison, the town’s director of community development, said the changes were prompted by repeated variance requests from homeowners building under the Old Town 2 standards. The draft ordinance raises the maximum conditioned living area from 2,200 square feet to 3,000 square feet (exclusive of garages and covered patios), increases the allowable proportion of the front‑building elevation devoted to garages from 30% to 50%, increases the maximum size for a third garage from 400 to 500 square feet and removes the front‑porch minimum roof‑pitch requirement (6:12) while keeping the front porch requirement itself.

"A 2,200 square‑foot house is not enough for a family of four, if they want to have someone come visit," Harrison said, explaining staff's rationale. He noted the ordinance maintains other controls — lot coverage limits, setbacks and minimums — so that larger interior floor areas must still fit within the zoning district's dimensional standards. The minimum lot area for the district remains 12,500 square feet and minimum lot width 50 feet, Harrison said.

Commissioners discussed whether the changes could allow flat roofs for porches or otherwise change the architectural character of the Old Town area; Harrison said the change removes only the porch roof‑pitch minimum while retaining front‑porch and design requirements intended to preserve the district’s feel.

The commission voted to adopt the ordinance amendment as presented. The amendment will be forwarded to the Town Council for final adoption.