Oak Cliff neighbors oppose apartment development along single-family street, seek middle-ground alternatives

A zoning request for an apartment development along a single-family street was met with opposition by neighbors during an October City Plan Commission meeting.

Commissioners ultimately voted to hold the item to find a middle ground between the request and neighborhood and staff recommendations.

The request was an application for multifamily zoning on property currently zoned as a single family district on the northern edge of North Boulevard Terrace. This is near intersection of North Hampton Road and West Davis Street in Oak Cliff.

The area does have existing nearby multifamily housing, but it and the single-family housing are separated by Coombs Creek.

Staff did not recommended approval of the original application, but instead a more controlled townhouse district.

Yesenia Serrano, president of the North Boulevard Terrance Neighborhood Association, spoke against the request, citing the neighborhood’s longstanding quiet character. She said there are traffic and safety concerns because of the area’s narrow roads, and children walk to school in the neighborhood.

She said she’s not against growth, but asks the commission to consider a different zoning option.

“It doesn’t match with [what’s] already here and the goals of ForwardDallas, which talks about growth that makes sense for the area and respects the character of existing neighborhoods,” she said.

Audra Buckley, a representative of the applicant, said there will be changes according to residential concerns, but didn’t present any changes to the commission. 

The request was held to the Nov. 20 City Plan Commission meeting. 

Watch the 10/9 CPC meeting here and read the Documenter notes here.

About the City Plan Commission:

The Dallas City Plan Commission is responsible for making recommendations to the city council regarding planning and zoning matters. It consists of 15 city council- and mayor-appointed members.

Dallas Documenter Gracie Kennedy attended the Oct. 9 Dallas City Plan Commission public meeting, and this brief emerged from her notes. Click here to learn how you can become a paid Documenter at public meetings.