Dallas City Hall: Photo by Danny Fulgencio
The City Plan Commission on Thursday postponed its vote on the zoning application for Highland House, a 260-unit apartment tower planned in Preston Center.
Before discussion even began on the details of the proposal, commissioners addressed a possible violation of the signage ordinance, which requires applicants to post a re-zoning sign outside the property within 14 days of filing, and it must remain legible and in a prominent spot until the case is closed.
Highland House has been an active zoning case for more than a year, and neighbors claim that the proposed re-zoning sign was missing, face down in the dirt or hidden behind bushes on multiple occasions.
That was the case for at least seven days over the course of three weeks in April, according an affidavit presented by former mayor and Preston Hollow resident, Laura Miller.
“There was no indication at all that anything had ever been written on it,” she adds. “It’s a violation of the ordinance … You, as a citizen, think it’s trash.”
Robert Baldwin of Baldwin Associates represents the developer, Crosland Group — which offices in Berkshire Court just three blocks from the proposed site. Baldwin says he complied with the ordinance and, when he received a phone call last month that the sign was missing, he replaced it immediately. Rick Williamson, Crosland Group’s director of development, says he checks on the sign “at least every two weeks.”
There was no clear answer as to whether the ordinance was violated; the CPC had to make a judgement call. Our representative Margot Murphy was troubled by the issues and moved to postpone the vote for another four weeks. She also asked that the city take another look at the signage ordinance process and whether it’s working.
One potential flaw: The ordinance doesn’t actually require the case number to be written on the sign — assuming that anyone can call the phone number on the sign and find the information.
But, have you ever called that number? The first question they’ll ask you is, “What’s the case number?”
Highland House will come up for another vote on June 19. Right now, city staff recommends the CPC deny the case. The planner, Warren Ellis, writes:
The proposed development will significantly increase the development rights within a small area and is not consistent with the overall development in Planned Development District No. 314, the Preston Center Special Purpose District.
In regard to Crosland Group’s seemingly positive traffic study: A broader study is necessary to determine what development intensity can ultimately be supported in the area.
Since Planned Development 314 grew out of a special study of the area, staff cannot support the substantial increase in [floor area ration] and height on this site without there first being a more comprehensive reexamination of appropriate development for the Preston Center area.
