DEFINITIONS

Alteration means any act or process that changes one or more of the exterior architectural features of a structure, including, but not limited to, the erection, construction, reconstruction, exterior remodeling, painting, or removal of any structure.

Applicable property/applicable structure are the terms used for properties that meet the following criteria, and are subject to the provisions of the Historic District ordinance and these guidelines:

a.

Either be a designated historical landmark or be wholly or partially located within a designated Historic District; and

b.

Either be a contributing property as defined in section B [article V, section 6.2 of this Unified Development Code] or be located within 200 feet of a contributing property.

Board or historic preservation advisory board means the historic preservation advisory board of the City of Rockwall, Texas, established in accordance with the [Unified Development Code] of the City of Rockwall.

Buffer yard means the ten-foot landscape buffer that is generally required along the street frontage adjacent to a commercially-developed property as per the City of Rockwall landscape ordinance (Ord. No. 88-28).

Certificate of appropriateness means a signed and dated document evidencing the approval for work proposed by an owner or applicant.

Contributing structure means a building, site, structure or object which adds to the historical architectural qualities, historical associations or archaeological value for which a property or district is significant because it was present during the period of significance. It also possesses historical integrity reflecting its character at that time or is capable of yielding important information about the period, or it independently meets the National Register criteria. The level by which a property is "contributing" (high-, medium- and low-contributing property) was originally determined by a historic survey of the properties within the (HO) Historic Overlay District implemented by the City of Rockwall community development department through the spring and summer of 2000.

Demolition means an act or process (notwithstanding acts of God, criminal activity, etc.) which destroys a site or structure in its entirety, or which destroys a part of a site or structure and permanently impairs its structural, historic or architectural integrity.

Design guidelines are the guidelines in this document which are adopted by the historic preservation advisory board and city council for property designated as a heritage resource or heritage resource district to protect, perpetuate and enhance the historical, cultural, architectural or archeological character of an object, site or structure.

District means a designated area within the preservation district or elsewhere in the city subject to the requirements and standards of the Historic District [contained in the Unified Development Code]. An identifying name will precede the word "district."

Fenestration means the arrangement, proportioning, and design of windows and doors in a structure.

Hearing. See Public hearing.

Historic preservation means the identification, evaluation, recordation, documentation, acquisition, protection, management, rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization, maintenance and reconstruction of historic structures or property, or any combination of the foregoing activities.

Historic preservation officer (HPO) means a staff person for the City of Rockwall whose duties encompass all historic preservation activities for the city as established in accordance with article II, section 15 of the [Unified Development Code] of the Code of the City of Rockwall.

Historic property means full range of properties identified in historic surveys and/or special studies which are significant in history, pre-history, architecture, engineering, archeology and culture, including properties significant to the whole nation or those significant at the state, regional or local level.

Landmark means a structure or property which is of value in preserving the historical, cultural, architectural or archeological heritage, or an outstanding example of design or a site closely related to an important personage, act or event in history.

Minor in-kind repairs means small-scale repairs to correct minor problems or damage to the exterior. Minor in-kind repairs do not include a change in design, material or outward appearance, only in-kind replacement or repair. Examples of minor in-kind repair include, but are not limited to: touch up painting, replacement of a windowpane, caulking, securing loose boards, etc.

Noncontributing structure means a building, site, structure, or object which does not add to the historical architectural qualities, historical associations, or archaeological value for which a property or district is significant because it was not present during the period of significance. Due to alterations, disturbances, additions, or other changes it no longer possesses historic integrity reflecting its character at that time, is incapable of yielding important information about the period, or it does not independently meet the National Register criteria.

Porte cochere means a roofed extension of a building over a driveway that shelters passengers getting into and out of vehicles.

Preservation district means the area designated as having structures which may be suitable for inclusion in a Historic District or districts.

Public hearing means an opportunity for public comment in accordance with the City of Rockwall's [Unified Development Code] if to be held by the historic preservation advisory board or planning and zoning commission, or applicable laws and procedures if to be held by the city council.

Reasonable rate of return means a reasonable profit or capital appreciation which may accrue from the use or ownership of a structure or property as the result of an investment or labor.

Rehabilitation means the act or process of returning a structure or property to a state of utility through repair, remodeling or alteration that makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those portions or features of the structure or property which are significant to its historical, cultural, architectural or archeological values.

Resource means a source or collection of objects, sites, structures, or property, which exemplifies the cultural, social, economic, political, archeological or architectural history of the nation, state or city.

Restoration means the act or process of accurately recovering the form and details of a structure or property and its setting as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of later work or by the replacement of missing earlier work.

Routine maintenance means any work to correct deterioration or decay of or damage to a structure or property, or any part thereof, and to restore it as nearly as practicable, to its condition, using the same materials or those materials available which are as close as possible to the original. The materials and manner the work is performed must comply with applicable codes and ordinances. Routine maintenance does not include a change in design, material or outward appearance, but does include in-kind replacement or repair. Examples of routine maintenance include, but are not limited to: repainting, replacement of roofing materials or other minor architectural features, etc.

Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation means the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, reported at 36 CFR 67.7, or as recodified.

Stabilization means the act or process of applying measures designed to re-establish a weather resistant enclosure and the structural stability of an unsafe or deteriorated structure or property while maintaining the essential form as it presently exists.

Structure means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires permanent or temporary location in the ground, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing; buildings, fences, gazebos, advertising signs, billboards, backstops for sports courts or fields, radio or television antenna, including supporting towers, and swimming pools.

The guidelines are to be used by the board as well as property owners who are not familiar with development requirements in the City of Rockwall. The guidelines are intended to make these users aware of other information that may have bearing on their project and serve as a reminder to request additional materials if needed. Some information in the guidelines repeats material that is available elsewhere and restates information, requirements and standards that are found in ordinances and code[s].