It looks as if the long-awaited tree preservation ordinance is picking up steam and is finally about to move forward through the process at City Hall.
The citizen’s task force has been working hard to draft a proposal had its final meeting Sept. 16. The committee’s final proposal was adopted, which will “protect the urban forest both present and future by regulating tree removal and providing sound recommendations for the establishment and preservation of long-lived, well-adapted tree species that will benefit the entire population of the City.”
The proposal calls for hiring a City Forester and establishing a City Tree Board, as well as providing information with all subdivision applications, building permits and zoning applications regarding tree protection and preservation.
Beyond that, the proposal goes into specific detail about protected trees, proposed tree removal activities, exemptions from the requirements, factors to be considered, penalties for unauthorized tree removal, flexible building standards to encourage tree preservation, requiring trees for newly developed single family and duplex uses, proposed retention standards for existing trees and other items.
Councilmen Craig McDaniel, Chris Luna, and Larry Duncan are on board in support of moving the proposal through the process as soon as possible. The proposal goes next to the Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee, then to the City Council for final action.
If you support the protection and preservation of East Dallas’ mature trees, start making plans now to contact your planning commission and Council representatives in support.
Junius Heights Update
The Junius Heights neighborhood has begun the laborious task of deciding for itself what the future direction of its neighborhood should be regarding zoning and land use.
As reported in last month’s column, Junius Heights is essentially zoned entirely for single family homes, but about a quarter of the neighborhood is not conforming. The non-conforming buildings are, more or less, long-term duplex and small apartment uses – several of which are owned by McDaniel, who lives in Junius Heights.
Controversy arose when some of the neighborhood wished to look at implementing a planned development district for the neighborhood, while others wished to retain the current R-7.5 zoning.
Most of the neighborhood seems to have come to an agreement to keep talking about the issue, and possibly to do a neighborhood land use study, which would look not only at various zoning options (including keeping the present zoning), but also add issues such as code enforcement and crime prevention.
No Fiesta
It has been confirmed that Fiesta Foods is no longer looking at using the Ross Avenue Sears building or site for one of its stores, based on the costs of redoing the building. In addition, the DISD has announced plans to use the former Merchants State Bank site for a new middle school. It is now uncertain whether Fiesta will locate a store in that part of East Dallas.
White Rock Dredging
The Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce has begun work, with the support of numerous East Dallas neighborhoods and community groups, in support of having the White Rock Lake dredging project funded by the City, perhaps at the next bond election.
The lake is so shallow in some areas that it is more of a marsh than a lake, thanks to silting and runoff. Neighborhood, business and community leaders in East Dallas seem to be in agreement that the dredging project needs to go forward as quickly as possible so as to preserve this important environmental and recreational resource.
News & Notes
PARKING LOTS: The City Plan Commission was to have heard an application to change a lot at Columbia Avenue southwest of Beacon from duplex to parking, with a staff recommendation for approval, and a tract on Willis, east of Henderson, from MF2 (multifamily) to parking, with a staff recommendation in opposition, based on protection of the residential integrity of the neighborhood.
DRIVE-IN: The commission is scheduled to consider a specific use permit for a drive-in for Rally’s, Inc., a hamburger chain at 3715 Live Oak at Washington. No recommendation had been received at press time.
