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Council defers proposed setback change for Colonial-area lots; seeks clearer language
Summary
Councilman Ricks introduced an ordinance to reduce a neighborhood setback from 45 to 40 feet while allowing a limited porch encroachment; after discussion about development agreements and neighborhood expectations, the council voted to defer for rewritten verbiage and supporting documents.
On first reading, the Harahan City Council discussed a proposed amendment to local development rules that would reduce a setback requirement from 45 feet to 40 feet for certain lots and allow a five-foot porch encroachment for non-living space.
Councilman Ricks said the change is aimed at helping builders fit homes on recently platted lots while preserving the front wall line for living space. "The verbiage that I'd like to put in this setback is that the front of the house is not to exceed its original setback, but there would be a provision for a porch, 5 foot of porch," he said during discussion.
Members asked staff for the original development agreement that established the 45-foot setback so the council can understand negotiated tradeoffs (for example, green-space concessions) before changing the standard. Several members noted the setback was a negotiated term affecting lots across multiple phases and that some households built under different setback rules.
The council voted unanimously to defer the ordinance to allow the sponsor to draft clearer language and to provide the original development agreement and related materials for review.
