Rowlett council names four alternates to Board of Adjustment after interviews; senior board alternates also chosen

Rowlett City Council on March 10 interviewed five applicants for alternates to the Board of Adjustment and selected four names to fill the city’s open alternate seats.

The council chose Carter Holston, Jerry Galloway, Chance Jo, and Kelvin (Calvin) Causey as alternates to the Board of Adjustment after a work-session interview process that included public discussion of each candidate’s background and approach to variances. The council also identified three alternates for the Senior Advisory Board: Cynthia McMillan, Ozzie Cutter and Marilyn Jones Johnson. City staff said the formal appointments will be placed on the council’s next consent agenda for resolution.

Why it matters: alternates to the Board of Adjustment can serve on hearings that decide variances from local development rules; those boards can affect property owners’ ability to modify setbacks, fences and certain site plans. The council repeatedly emphasized the need for members who will balance respect for the city’s ordinances with careful consideration of unusual cases.

During interviews, applicants described different decision-making philosophies. Jerry Galloway, who previously served on Rowlett’s Board of Adjustment, said, “My inclination is to grant them all if I can, in my mind, justify it,” describing a practical, case-by-case approach. Carter Holston, a long-time Rowlett resident who noted service on other local boards, said he favors flexibility and learning historical context before deciding. Chance Jo said serving on the board was “a way to be able to give back to my community” and stressed listening to staff, planning recommendations and public comment. Kelvin Causey said he would weigh personal hardship and neighborhood impacts and described himself as a people-focused member who can also apply “common-sense” analysis.

Council members asked each candidate about their likely default positions on variances, how they would weigh competing property rights, and whether they would research past decisions and site conditions. Several council members praised the range of viewpoints among the finalists; one council member called it “a good mix” to have members who lean both toward approving and toward denying variances.

Council procedure and next steps: the council recessed briefly during the work session to confirm vacancies and return to appointments. Staff reported there are four alternate seats open for the Board of Adjustment. After the interviews, the council asked if there were objections to moving the four named applicants forward; no objections were recorded in the public work session and the council directed staff to place the appointments on the next meeting agenda. The council also confirmed the three Senior Advisory Board alternates and directed the city secretary to proceed with notification and paperwork.

Context and applicant histories: Jerry Galloway told the council he previously served on Rowlett’s Board of Adjustment from about 2002 to 2012 and has chaired that board; he described routinely inspecting sites to inform decisions. Carter Holston said he recently completed the Rowlett Citizens Academy and cited prior service on local boards. Chance Jo described past service on community appeals committees and said he researches items and the city’s comprehensive plan before deciding. Kelvin (Calvin) Causey said he has lived in Rowlett since 1999 and referenced attending and reviewing prior BOA hearings.

What the record shows and limitations: the work session recorded consensus to advance the listed individuals; no formal roll-call vote or motion text appears in the work-session transcript. City staff told council members the formal appointments will appear on the next regular meeting’s consent agenda as a resolution. The council also discussed internal adjustments to the Golf Advisory Board roster and asked staff to coordinate with the city secretary to confirm which alternates move into regular positions.

Looking ahead: council members said they expect to finalize appointments at the next meeting and for the city secretary to notify applicants. The new alternates will serve according to Rowlett City procedures for boards and commissions and will be eligible to sit when regular members are absent or as otherwise authorized under city policy.