New Port Richey City Councilors approved a new program last week with the aim of improving the appearance of residential neighborhoods by allowing residents to add front porches. The City will relax setback requirements as it relates to the establishment of front porches on single family homes. Variances will no longer be needed for qualifying projects. City officials say the measure will provides social and safety benefits.
Porches that will fall under the program must be covered, unenclosed, with a separate roof, must be a primary access, must meet minimum and maximum depth requirements, must have a minimum facade width, must have consistency in design, and conform to a ten foot setback. The porch must be a minimum of 50% of the building excluding a garage. Wrap-around porches are allowed.
During public comment Frank Starkey, the developer of the Longleaf neighborhood in the Trinity area, said he was impressed with an supportive of the oridinance. “This makes it more likely to have you carry out a conversation,” he said, “when you’re standing on the sidewalk and you’re sitting on the porch, you’re on eye level… It fires on all cylinders as far as creating value for the city on the whole.”
City councilors expressed similar hopes, with Councilman Davis saying he thought it might help to “open that up and become neighborly.” Bill Phillips said he thought it would “challenge or encourage your neighbors to add some unique elements to the home.”
New Port Richey Mayor Rob Marlowe was in favor of the ordinance as well, saying that it is “designed to encourage homeowners in New Port Richey to sit outside and get to know their neighbors.”
New Port Richey is also scheduled to formally approve another “community” oriented ordinance next week in an urban agriculture ordinance that touts many of the benefits spoken of about the porch program–getting residents out of their homes and into their yards. A work session is scheduled on that ordinance on May 3rd at 5:00 PM, with a formal second reading tentatively scheduled for May 17th at 7 PM.
