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Commission recommends allowing composite 'smart siding' for one-time manufactured-home replacement; case heads to city council
Summary
The commission recommended approval of a special request allowing LP/OSB-style "smart" siding instead of cementitious Hardie on a one-time manufactured-home replacement in PD 75, citing manufacturer practices and written manufacturer statements; the matter will go to city council for final action.
The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to forward a recommendation to City Council that would allow, in a single specific case, composite "smart" lap siding in lieu of the code'required cementitious lap siding for a one-time manufactured-home replacement in Lake Rockwall Estates.
Tammy Underwood, the applicant for 203 Lynn Drive, apologized for removing the previous home without first securing a demolition permit and said she provided multiple manufacturer letters indicating builders no longer ship manufactured homes with Hardie/HardieBacker pre-installed. "All 4 of them said they don't use it," Underwood said, noting she submitted email letters from major manufacturers in the meeting packet.
Staff and commissioners reviewed code history: the PD 75 one-time replacement standard (adopted in 2009) calls for Hardy/Hardie-style cementitious lap siding or a similar cementitious product. Staff said they had worked with the applicant and the manufacturer to determine whether the new unit would meet the requirements and had allowed the applicant to place the home on site with the understanding that the cementitious siding could be installed after placement; the applicant says manufacturers will not perform that work.
Commissioners described the case as a difficult call between upholding a long-standing material standard intended for durability and recognizing that contemporary manufacturers often use different products. After discussion, the commission voted to recommend the applicant's special-request exception; staff said the item will appear before City Council on the next available council agenda (staff referenced an upcoming Tuesday meeting). The commission's recommendation preserves a council-level appeal path for future cases.
Next steps: City Council will review the commission's recommendation and make the final decision on whether to allow the alternative siding in this case.
