Historic board approves roof replacement COA for Old Town Rockwall house; $1,000 matching grant denied

The Rockwall Historic Preservation Advisory Board on June 4 approved a certificate of appropriateness allowing a homeowner to replace multiple failing roof materials on a high‑contributing property in the Old Town Rockwall Historic District, but the board denied a $1,000 small matching grant toward the work in a tied vote.

Staff introduced case H2024‑005, saying the parcel (listed in the application materials as 501 Camille Street in Old Town Rockwall) is a high‑contributing property with a mixture of original and later roofing materials and that recent hail damage has caused leaks and rot. "They are requesting a certificate of appropriateness to replace the roof on the subject property," a staff member said, describing proposed replacement of asphalt shingles and roll roofing with standing‑seam metal in affected areas.

Nathan Purnell, the contractor representing homeowner Tim Harridge, told the board the home's existing aluminum shake and layered overlays are severely damaged. "It's leaking everywhere," Purnell said, describing multiple leak points and rotten decking beneath overlayed roofing layers. He added the original aluminum shake is back‑ordered and not available to buy for restoration, and that full removal would be necessary to assess and repair the underlying structure.

A nearby resident who lives across the street acknowledged the roof's historic appearance but said replacement would change the house's look. Board members and staff explained the board's purview: they can evaluate materials and compatibility but generally cannot regulate color. "We have guidelines ... saying that we should work to not have fluorescent colors," a staff member said, while noting color is not expressly prohibited under state rules discussed during the meeting.

After discussion, a committee member moved to approve the COA "as the homeowners requested," authorizing standing‑seam metal in the specified locations and like‑for‑like replacement of asphalt shingles elsewhere. The motion was seconded and recorded as carried by the chair (noted in the minutes as "Motion carries 3 in favor, 1 a guess").

The board then considered a related agenda item, H2024‑006, a request for a $1,000 small matching grant from the board's preservation fund. Staff said approving the grant would reduce the fund's remaining budget from $5,000 to $2,500. There were no public speakers; a motion to award the $1,000 grant resulted in a 2–2 tie and the motion failed, which the chair recorded as a denial.

The COA allows the homeowner to proceed with the specified roof replacements; the grant denial means the homeowner will not receive the requested $1,000 match from the board's fund. The board moved to its next agenda items after voting.