Revised expansion boundary area. Photo courtesy of the City of Dallas.
The Lakewood Conservation District Ordinance (CD2) was approved by the City Plan Commission (CPC) on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the CPC’s public hearing.
The meeting lasted several hours as the CPC reviewed several cases before and after the CD2 Ordinance.
Before the commissioners voted, those in support of the expansion spoke first, with roughly 27 individuals sharing their commentary within a one-minute time limit. Among those in support was Summer Loveland, a neighbor who initiated the expansion application.
“We’ve begun to see a trend in ill-fitting and oversized development, which changes the character of our neighborhood. Our homes are similar in style and period to the existing CD, and just as deserving of protection,” Loveland said. “Expansion is the correct process for us to have followed.”
Those in opposition of the expansion spoke next, with roughly 24 members offering commentary.
“Over the past century, Lakewood architecture has evolved naturally — now standing as a snapshot of the melting pot that is the American south,” Eric Johnson, a neighbor opposing the expansion, said. “CD2 directly undermines the formula that allowed Lakewood to organically grow into the architecturally diverse neighborhood it is today.”
Shortly after the speakers concluded their statements, the commissioners were able to ask clarification questions to those in both support and opposition of the expansion. Questions included the following topics: remodeling versus renovation restrictions, the addition of one new architectural style — resulting in five total styles in the most current CD2 Ordinance — and the rebuilding of non-conforming structures.
Commissioner Neal Sleeper then moved to close the public hearing and recommended five areas to be removed from the proposed expansion area.
The five areas included the following:
- City Block K/2825 — the half along the northern side of Lakeshore, between Wendover Road and Copperfield
- The area located west of West Shore Drive and south of the north portion of City Block F/2821 fronting Lakeshore Drive and south of the north portion of City Block E/2820 fronting Lakewood Boulevard
- The area lots fronting on either side of Westlake Drive, east of West Shore Drive
- The area located southeast of Lakewood Boulevard and north of Heath Street
- The area located along the southeast line of Tokalon Drive, northeast of Winstead Drive
The recommendation was approved and after commentary from fellow commissioners, praising Commissioner Sleeper for his work on CD2, the meeting ended with a vote to approve the expansion.
The final step in the process is for the Ordinance to appear before the City Council for review — resulting in a decision about whether or not to adopt the expansion of the CD. The date for the City Council’s review of the ordinance has not yet been determined.
