Fall River Historical Commission approves certificates of appropriateness for two High Street properties

The Fall River Historical Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness Tuesday for exterior work at two High Street properties in the Highlands local historic district.

The commission voted to issue a certificate of appropriateness for 710 High Street after the owner, Pedro Vargas, described plans for a wood, pressure-treated side staircase with composite/PVC-clad 6-by-6 support posts similar to the existing front porch. Vargas said the posts would be covered with paintable PVC/composite material. Commissioners discussed details including the 36-inch guardrail height (allowed under code for the building type) and the option to reduce rail height visually to better match the front porch. The motion to issue the certificate was made by Rick Mancini, seconded by Ashley DeCunha, and passed on a roll-call vote.

For 637 High Street, owner Joseph Nasrallah asked the commission to accept the sample roofing material for a replacement asphalt shingle roof over the garage. Commissioners confirmed the replacement would match the existing asphalt material (3-tab or architectural shingle in kind) and that the garage roof is visible from the street. Work had already begun to strip the roof and ice-and-water underlayment was in place, the owner said. The commission voted to accept the materials and to prepare a certificate of appropriateness; the motion was made by Rick Mancini and seconded by Joyce Rodricks and passed on roll call.

In both cases commissioners noted that storm doors and storm windows remain excluded from review under commission practice but that any future replacement doors visible from the street would require review. Staff said they would forward certificates to the licensing department and building department to support permit issuance.