Some councilmembers worry the ForwardDallas plan will eliminate single-family zoning, but proponents say the proposed changes are necessary to maintain an adequate housing supply in the growing city.
“The ForwardDallas comprehensive land use plan will likely be adopted this summer, but there are some big hurdles to clear, including at least one council member who says she won’t vote for it as it stands today.” As April Towery explains, District 12 Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn says she wants to ensure the plan doesn’t completely eliminate single-family zoning.
City officials say the plan won’t change any existing historic districts or planned communities. “The ForwardDallas comprehensive land use plan only informs zoning; it doesn’t assign it or regulate it. It’s not necessarily about housing, affordable or otherwise.”
According to District 11 Councilwoman Jaynie Schultz, “The challenge with … single-family residential as a placetype is that it would look like one of those pixelated pictures because that means no churches, no schools, no small retail. What community residential means is the things that a community of residences needs to be a strong community. That’s why it has to include other uses besides one home per family.”
FULL STORY: ForwardDallas Isn’t Going to Make Everyone Happy, But Will it Address The City’s Messy Land Use History?
Commentary: Minimum Lot Sizes Drive Up Housing Costs
How making residential building requirements more flexible can ease the housing crisis and make neighborhoods more livable for more households.
Texas Law Could Limit Local Control Over Zoning
If upheld, a Texas law would likely prevent cities from enacting zoning reform that would increase density or eliminate single-family-only zoning.
Zoning Reform Faces Uphill Battle in Dallas
Proposals to boost housing production through ‘gentle density’ increases face strong opposition from residents concerned about losing single-family neighborhoods.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service