Homeowner seeks variance to build screened porch at Homestretch Court; hearing record closed, decision pending

The Howard County hearing officer heard testimony Sept. 30 in a variance application that would allow a screened rear porch to sit 14 feet from the rear property line, a roughly 16-foot encroachment from the 30-foot rear-yard requirement. The owner, who testified as Sidra Simaab, described the project as family-focused: 'Me and my kids love to have that big place to spend the family time,' she said.

Engineers testified the lot’s configuration is a key constraint. A licensed professional engineer described the parcel as a corner lot with two front yards and narrow lateral setbacks, saying the house was built front-to-back to accommodate the side setbacks and that there is 'no way' to build a comparably sized porch without a variance. The witnesses also told the board there is an existing 6-foot fence and mature trees so only the upper portion of the porch would be visible; the plans show the porch eaves at 13 feet above grade, meaning about 7 feet would be visible above the fence. The engineer also noted the project previously received a permit that was not built and the county later required the variance after identifying setback encroachment.

The chair raised a filing issue on the application forms, reporting that the business name on the site plan (referenced as Arnetco/Orenco LLC in the file) had a charter forfeiture on 10/02/2023 and said the site plans would need amendment to reflect the correct owner name before final approvals. No vote was taken at the hearing; the record was closed and the board said a written decision and order will follow.

The hearing included direct, personal testimony in support (a friend described the owners as having built the house themselves and seeking outdoor space for children) and technical testimony on setback, visibility, and topography. The board did not announce a timetable for its written decision at the close of the hearing.