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Rockwall advisory board approves fence plan at 403 East Kaufman, requires wooden front picket
Summary
The Rockwall City advisory board approved a certificate of appropriateness for two fences at 403 East Kaufman Street, voting 4–1 to require the front picket fence be wood while allowing the rear wood privacy fence along Laughlin Park as presented.
The Rockwall City advisory board voted 4–1 to approve a certificate of appropriateness for fences at 403 East Kaufman Street, requiring the front picket fence be constructed of wood and allowing an eight-foot wood privacy fence at the rear adjacent to Laughlin Park.
The decision came during a public hearing on application H2025-016. Staff told the board the property is a new, craftsman-bungalow–style house on a 0.285-acre parcel in the Old Town Rockwall Historic District (Lot 5B, Block 5, Griffith Edition). Staff said two fences were proposed: an eight-foot wood fence backing to Laughlin Park and a 42-inch picket fence that would run along the front and sides of the lot. Staff also noted that under the city’s Unified Development Code vinyl is not an approved fence material but that the board has discretion to make exceptions; staff said 18 notices were mailed on Aug. 28 and no responses had been received.
Applicant Gary Byrd, who gave his address as 707 Collins Road, said the picket would be 42 inches and that he had proposed vinyl for part of the picket to avoid the frequent repainting required with wood. "Just get away from, you know, painting it white," Byrd said, describing his preference for low-maintenance materials.
Board members questioned whether a vinyl picket would conform with the historic character of the district and weighed the maintenance burden of wood. One member noted nearby examples of vinyl pickets and said they can look clean if maintained, while others said wood pickets are more consistent with the district's historic appearance. Staff reminded the board that front-yard fences recommended for approval would be forwarded to the Planning & Zoning Commission for review.
On the motion to approve, an unnamed board member moved to approve "the request, with the picket fence being wood material and the back fence being as presented." The motion was seconded and the presiding member announced the motion passed 4–1, with Miller voting against.
Staff also noted that the city’s property maintenance code allows the city to require owners to remedy fences that become dilapidated (for example, missing pickets or flaking paint).
The board then moved on to other business; staff reported no additional historic-project updates. The meeting time was noted as 06:15 at the end of the item.
