Mockingbird Community Church site near Glencoe Park. Photography by Renee Umsted.
The last service for Mockingbird Community Church wasn’t just the last for that congregation. It was the last for the sanctuary at the corner of Ellsworth and McMillan that has housed many congregations over the past 75 years.
On Dec. 14, the Dallas City Council unanimously approved a rezone request for a shared access, single-family development at the site, which carries a duplex zoning. The plan commission had forwarded the rezone to the City Council with their approval on Nov. 10.
“After working with the developer, I believe the amended deed restrictions best answer the neighborhood’s primary concerns,” said District 14 City Council member Paul Ridley, who made the motion to approve the zoning. “I believe this is the best option for the inevitable redevelopment of this property.”
Developer Mark Weatherford filed an application to change the duplex zoning to multifamily but in a quirky detail, committed to deed restrict the site to single-family dwellings.
Recent neighborhood meetings held by Ridley and City Plan Commissioner Melissa Kingston have been contentious. The most vocal opponents live close to the church and prefer the current zoning remain and the real estate be developed “by right” as duplexes.
Weatherford’s original proposal was for 22 single-family homes. After the initial neighborhood meeting, the count dropped to 21 homes, sparing the large trees at the immediate corner of Ellsworth and McMillan. After the fourth and final meeting, hosted by Ridley, Weatherford eliminated another home. The site plan presented to the council showed 20 homes on the 1.82 acre lot.
Although not officially called Pine Tree Court Phase II, the development will be very similar to Pine Tree Court, the shared access, single-family development built next to the church on land Weatherford bought from the church 10 years ago. Greg Byrd, pastor of Mockingbird Community Church, spoke in previous public meetings of the positive experience the church had with Weatherford at Pine Tree Court as the reason Byrd chose Weatherford as the prospective buyer.
Pine Tree Court development on Ellsworth Avenue. Photography by Renee Umsted.
During the months-long rezoning process, Rob Baldwin, zoning consultant for Weatherford, stressed the difference between the by-right duplex zoning and their proposal. Duplex zoning could bring three stories, 22 units, up to 11 curb cuts and no requirement to save trees. Weatherford has volunteered deed restrictions to limit the number of dwellings to 20, limit the height to two stories, limiting access to two curb cuts on Ellsworth and two on McMillan, prohibit multi-family uses, prohibit short-term lodging uses and a commitment to a tree preservation program.
This has fallen on deaf ears in opposition quarters, calling them “bullying and scare tactics” in public meetings.
At the council meeting, two neighbors spoke in opposition to the project; no neighbors appeared to speak in favor.
“I am not an activist. I am a businessman. But I don’t support this change,” said Richard Harper, who lives on Ellsworth, across the street from the church. “The proposed development is an attempt to cram in a high-density set of two story homes, clad in Hardie board, five feet apart with three-foot backyards in a vibrant East Dallas duplex neighborhood.”
Ellie Adelman was next and shared slides with the council contrasting the existing development in the neighborhood with the proposed project. She noted differences in building adjacency, open green space, parking issues and lack of brick construction.
“The project just doesn’t match our surroundings,” Adelman said.
As far as the reduction in number of homes, she accurately called out Weatherford on his new plan of 20 homes versus 21 homes on the old plan. The 21 home plan previously presented to the city showed 37,821 square feet of covered area. The new 20-home plan shows 38,351 square feet of covered area — fewer homes, but more square feet. Although the coverage is still below what the proposed zoning would allow, Adelman called the new site plan with one less home but 500 more square feet in coverage “sneaky.”
“What a shame for the residents, the missing middle and green spaces,” Adelman said after the meeting.
But that sentiment wasn’t shared by everyone.
“We are glad this process is over,” Byrd said. “I have many friends in the neighborhood so it’s not goodbye.”
