Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lot Coverage Porches topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Needham panel debates lot‑coverage treatment for porches, lanais and patios
Summary
Committee members disagreed over whether covered outdoor rooms and lanais should count toward lot coverage and where to set a threshold (discussed figures: 200–250 sq ft). Staff will reword the bylaw text to clarify which outdoor elements are excluded and the breakpoint for counting toward coverage.
The Large House Review Committee discussed whether covered porches, lanais, and covered outdoor living spaces should be counted toward lot coverage in SRB zoning and, if so, what size threshold should apply.
Members said that covered, roofed structures can increase perceived bulk and should be limited, but they also expressed a desire to encourage traditional front porches. The working draft contains a provision excluding unenclosed porches and lists a potential maximum 200–250 square feet before an outdoor covered space would be counted toward lot coverage. Several members suggested that patios and ground‑level uncovered decks should remain excluded.
“Patio, that is a porch without a roof. Are we intending to put that in the coverage definition? Because if we’re not, then it’s not clear,” one member asked. Other members replied that uncovered patios are ground‑level and typically should not be counted; the intent is to count only large, roofed structures that add volume and weather protection.
The committee asked staff to clarify the text with bullets or a short list (“these are excluded; these are included”) and to confirm the threshold with the building commissioner. Staff noted the working assumption that a 15×15 (225 sq ft) covered outdoor room would be the rough breakpoint for inclusion and that front porches would be encouraged and exempted from counting in many cases. The committee did not set a final numeric threshold at the meeting; staff will return with revised wording, clearer punctuation, and examples for the public presentation.
