District 13 Dallas City Council member Gay Donnell Willis pushed back on requests by a newly formed coalition of North Dallas residents called D13 Together to delay progression on a slate of contentious zoning cases for 120 days.
D13 Together held a news conference on Aug. 4, in which it called for a delay on the rezoning of Preston-Royal, which was greenlit by the City Plan Commission on Aug. 6, the rezoning of an approximately 3.8 acre property at the intersection of Walnut Hill Lane and Betty Jane Lane, and a Melshire Estates planned development district amendment.
Organizers of the news conference said the coalition of neighborhoods, called D13 Together, includes representation from Bluffview, Wimberley Court, Preston Hollow, and Melshire Estates.
Doug Hazelbaker, who is involved with D13 Together and Preserve Preston Hollow, said at the news conference Aug. 4 that the neighbors support development, but not unregulated growth.
“Many of us supported Councilwoman Willis, and she promised to support neighborhoods and protect them. That promise is unfulfilled,” Hazelbaker said. “We support controlled development, but not growth at any cost.”
D13 Together had threatened to initiate an effort to recall Willis if movement on the contentious zoning cases was not delayed.
If the group does initiate an effort to recall Willis, doing so would require a petition signed by 15% of the total number of voters eligible to vote in District 13 during the last municipal election.
Willis, in a statement Aug. 11, said she’s “prepared to work with neighborhood representatives, applicants, and appropriate City Staff to identify specific unresolved issues,” but pushed back on calls for a “blanket” 120-day delay on the three zoning cases.
“Residents should have meaningful opportunities to engage with applicants, developers, City Staff, and their elected representatives as zoning cases move through the public process. I remain willing to help facilitate additional discussions where they may be productive. I do not however, believe it would be responsible to impose a blanket 120-day delay on three separate zoning cases simply because they have become the subject of political disagreement,” Willis said. “Public engagement has already influenced these cases. Residents have participated through meetings, calls, emails, public hearings, and direct discussions with me, City Staff and applicants. Proposals have changed substantially as a result ofthat input.”
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