Board of Zoning Appeals approves special exception to rebuild historic porch at 409 East Custis Ave.

The Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals on a unanimous voice vote approved a special exception allowing homeowners Gianni and Laura McCone to rebuild an open, one-story front porch at 409 East Custis Avenue that will sit 8.18 feet from the front property line.

Rachel Drescher of the planning and zoning department told the board the applicant requests an exception of 1.82 feet under zoning section 7-202(e) to construct a porch 6.42 feet deep and 18.2 feet long along the front of the dwelling. Drescher said the property historically had an open front porch, as shown on 1959 Sanborn maps, and that several nearby dwellings have similar porches. For those reasons, staff recommended approval, saying the proposal meets the special-exception criteria and is unlikely to reduce light or air to adjacent properties.

Applicant John McCone, speaking for himself and his wife, said the request was “modest” and intended to restore a feature that existed historically. “We’re really just looking to put back what was there for a very long time,” McCone said. During questions, board members clarified dimensions and usability; staff noted that typical front porches observed during prior infill work were commonly 6 to 8 feet deep and that porches up to 8 feet are often excluded from floor-area calculations.

After deliberation, a board member moved to approve the request “based upon staff’s recommendation.” The motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote; the chair wished the applicants luck with the porch.

The board record shows staff recommended approval and the board approved the special exception. The transcript does not record individual roll-call vote tallies by member name, only a unanimous voice vote.