The neighborhood group Preserve Preston Hollow says it has secured a postponement of the Dallas City Council zoning hearing on the possible rezoning of the southwest quadrant of Preston Road and Royal Lane.
Preserve Preston Hollow says the contentious zoning case was set for a hearing before the full City Council on Sept. 9, but the hearing is now postponed until Oct. 14.
“The postponement provides additional time for Preserve Preston Hollow and area residents to review the proposed zoning change, supporting documents and other information related to the case,” Preserve Preston Hollow said in a statement on its website.
District 13 Dallas City Council member Gay Donnell Willis, who represents the neighborhood, said in a statement that she’s still meeting with neighbors, the applicant’s team, and city staff on details of the case leading up to the new hearing date. She also invited Preserve Preston Hollow to meet with the applicant and share any studies or reports they have.
“I invite Preserve Preston Hollow to meet with the applicant as well, and to share any studies or reports they have. I requested this almost two weeks ago. Hopefully they can be evaluated by trained professionals. We all want to have the facts in front of the Council before this decision is made,” Willis said.
The project at the southwest quadrant of Preston and Royal proposed by developer Leland Burk involves building a hotel/residential tower up to 240 feet, or about 19 stories, another residential tower up to 210 feet, or about 18 stories, and an office building up to 190 feet. The maximum structure height allowed by the area’s current zoning is 54 feet. The developer had previously reduced the maximum height proposed for the project.
Chief among the concerns of some nearby residents regarding the Preston-Royal project, including members of groups like Preserve Preston Hollow and D13 Together, is the height of the proposed towers.
The City Plan Commission recommended approval of the rezoning on Aug. 6, but it still needs to be approved by the Dallas City Council before it can proceed.
“The neighborhood is supportive of the developer’s uses, just not at the height he wants,” Margaret Chabris, who is involved with Preserve Preston Hollow and attended the D13 Together news conference Aug. 4, said at the City Plan Commission meeting.
Burk attended the City Plan Commission meeting and said “meeting with our neighbors and sharing our vision has been a priority from day one.”
“We have listened and we have made significant changes to our original design,” Burk said.
This article has been updated with additional comment from City Council member Gay Donnell Willis.
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