A values debate: green vs. historic

Chuck Weikel wants to grow a garden of drought-resistant grass on his roof, figuring it would cool his house more than the black rubber covering.

While environmentalists are embracing "green roofs" on buildings, Weikel's home isn't ordinary: He lives on one of Annapolis' most colorful, historic streets.

Weikel plans to stand before the city's Historic Preservation Commission next week with the first applications for a green roof and a front yard rain barrel in the Historic District, forcing the panel to take up the question of whether allowing green construction can co-exist with its mission of protecting the city's Colonial heritage.

"I think from a philosophical standpoint, there would be a tension between historic preservation of a significant residence and green technology," said Sharon Kennedy, commission chairwoman. She declined to discuss the merits of a specific request before the commission.

The commission, which consists of a seven-member panel appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council, reviews all building permits for facades within the Historic District.

While it has limited enforcement abilities, the panel is known for its strict decisions, once rejecting a resident's plastic rose lattice or, more recently, requiring Starbucks to shrink its sign on the front of the Maryland Inn.

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