ForwardDallas Lays out Bold Vision, Lacks Teeth

In an article for Dallas Weekly, Sam Judy describes the potential of Dallas’ ForwardDallas land use plan, which is making its way to the City Council for final approval.

The proposal lays out a framework for “equity, environmental justice, and affordability for both renters and homebuyers,” but holds no regulatory power of its own.

“As the plan calls for ‘gentle density’ along transportation corridors throughout the city, single-family neighborhoods could be under threat of gentrification as middle housing such as duplexes and triplexes are integrated into neighborhoods within a mostly unregulated housing market,” Judy explains.

Critics of the plan also point out that it includes “minimal regulations on rental and housing fees” and uses a higher-than-usual base value for what qualifies as affordable housing.

A HUD representative said “ForwardDallas does not directly address affordable housing.  It does recommend accommodating more housing throughout the city, where appropriate, to provide more housing options for all.” Unlike other cities, Dallas is not implementing “policies addressing the inverse drawbacks [of ForwardDallas] to ensure housing remains accessible.” Texas law complicates local housing policy, as it prohibits cities from establishing rent controls except under specific circumstances.

The plan includes some wins for environmental groups. Changes to land use in West Dallas could push out industrial development and promote cleaner commercial industry instead.

For Judy, “The goals it strives for are too general, whilst laid within a framework too loose. It states ambitions that our current city government has never meaningfully ventured toward. Dallas lacks the necessary regulation to address issues outlined in the plan, such as affordability and equity.”