Historic board approves exterior repairs and window replacement at 501 Munson Street

The Rockwall City Historic Preservation Advisory Board unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness for exterior renovations at 501 Munson Street.

Staff presented H2025-020 for a medium-contributing property in the Monty Rogers Subdivision and described three requested items: replacement of existing 4-inch siding with 6-inch smart-lap siding painted white; replacement of multiple aluminum and one original wood window with vinyl windows (the applicant left the choice of plain or gridded glass to the board); and replacement of rotten porch decking. Staff said the house was altered previously and that, because prior changes were recorded in the 2017 historic survey, the proposed work was unlikely to affect the property's overall historic integrity.

Contractor Bevan Locke appeared for the owner and told the board he recommended a smart-lap product over Hardie board because Hardie repairs had cracked on nearby properties; he also said reinstating the porch railings and repairing decking was straightforward. Staff confirmed 27 mailed notices to owners within 200 feet; no written responses were on file.

Board members focused discussion on window detailing and porch railings, recommending that encasements be retained and that gridding on replacement windows be tied to the existing side-window pattern if the board called out gridding in its motion. A motion to approve the certificate, conditioned on the railing being replaced and window encasements/encasement detailing being maintained (and specifying gridding to match side windows if desired), was moved and seconded and passed unanimously.