City amends carport ordinance

Carports now will be required to meet stricter ordinances to gain city approval after the passage of an amendment to the ordinance that regulates them. The amendment received unanimous city council approval on Monday.

The text amendment was sent back to the Planning and Zoning Commission by the council on Jan. 19 to be reconsidered based on comments made by the council.

“We believe at this point we have a good ordinance to approve the way carports are authorized,” said Richard Gertson, director of community development. “(The amendment) retains the right to have a front carport by special exemption.”

The front carport approvals are restricted to the R3 zoned areas of the city. Ninety nine percent of the carports approved by the city have been in the R3 areas, so according to Gertson, the addition to the amendment should have little impact.

Most of the carports currently constructed are made of a metal material. The new amendment will require the carports to be constructed of wood or other materials similar to the primary structure on the property. Metal carports are prohibited.

Carports will require a pitched roof. If the carport abuts a two-story wall of the home then it must be attached to the wall. All roofing materials must match the color of the roof on the primary structure. The roof height cannot exceed the height of the roof on the primary structure. The carport must cover an approved driveway surface. A front carport cannot be greater than 400 square feet in size and cannot extend more than 20 feet beyond the front or exterior of the primary structure.

Applicants can ask the board of adjustment to review the pitched roof and metal prohibition requirements of the new ordinance. The board can grant relief from the requirements based on the age of the subdivision, which must be platted prior to December 1964 for consideration, and the existence of similar structures in the neighborhood.

“We believe that with the changes it will bring about improvement in many of our neighborhoods,” Gertson said.

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