Historic Preservation Advisory Board approves 900-square-foot accessory building at 710 Hartman in Old Town Rockwall

The Historic Preservation Advisory Board voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness for a 900-square-foot detached garage proposed for 710 Hartman Street in Old Town Rockwall.

Staff told the board the property is a 1,548-square-foot, folk-Victorian single-family home built in 1950 and classified as a medium contributing property. The application covers a 0.57-acre lot in the Single-Family 7 zoning district; staff said the garage (30 by 30 feet) would require a separate specific use permit (SUP) if the COA is approved and that staff mailed 23 notices within 200 feet with no responses received.

Marcelino Rendon, who said he lives at 719 Fairfax Lane and represents the owners, described the project as a way to remove makeshift covers and small sheds from the backyard and to provide covered parking and storage: “We just want to get rid of all that out, make a shed that's a garage shed to where we can park the cars and put some of that equipment... so it'll look nice and tidy in the back,” Rendon said. He confirmed the family plans to dismantle three existing small sheds, keep the front carport, and move one higher-quality shed off-site.

Board members focused questions on visibility, color and compatibility with the primary house. One committee member said the structure would be difficult to see from the street if sited farther back and urged a color that matches the house so it will blend in. The applicant agreed to coordinate colors with the manufacturer. When asked about tree removal, the applicant said one tree (not the front tree) would be removed to accommodate the siting.

Chair raised concerns about exterior compatibility and the apparent size of the structure, noting it looked comparable to a three-car garage; the applicant and other members clarified the design will primarily serve as a two-car garage with additional storage. Staff told the board the Unified Development Code and related development code provisions require architectural compatibility with the primary structure and gave guidance that color and materials matching the house would support a favorable recommendation to Planning and Zoning.

A committee member moved to approve the COA as presented; the Chair seconded and the board voted to approve the application. The Chair announced the motion passed unanimously. Staff said it would include color-matching language in the Planning & Zoning draft ordinance and forward the SUP application.

The board then heard a brief update from the historic preservation officer and adjourned at 06:19.