After Overwhelming Community Outpouring, Plan Commission Gives Thumbs Down to The Trailhead

Thursday’s Dallas City Plan Commission meeting was a marathon, not a sprint, and those White Rock Lake-area residents who waited to speak out regarding Mill Creek’s proposed 305-unit apartment building were rewarded with a victory lap.

The plan commission came out against the proposed 80-foot, multi-use project on the tracts formerly occupied by The Lot and Local Traveler despite a last-minute endorsement of the project from the Garland Road Vision committee. The Friends of the Santa Fe Trail also supported Mill Creek’s plan.

City Plan Commission meetings often stretch on for hours, and there was no shortage of discussion during this public hearing for the apartment building just off White Rock Creek where the Santa Fail Trail starts. Hence the name of the building: The Trailhead.

However, residents organized a campaign against the proposed rezoning of the site, complete with yard signs.

Their objections were threefold: The height of the building would be an imposition on the lake’s views, the lot coverage could create challenges for White Rock Creek, and the near-constant traffic issues caused by the problematic intersection right where the building would be.

“When Leslie Hearn first alerted me about the planned development at the old Lot site, I groaned,” said White Rock Lake’s own defender, Ted Barker.

Barker, along with neighborhood activist Leslie Hearn, coordinated their efforts to educate nearby residents about the proposed development. Across social media, Hearn took to pages and groups to raise awareness. Her efforts paid off.   

“I am very pleased with the outcome of the Planning Commission hearing. However, the next hurdle is the City Council,” Barker added. “The council does not always follow their appointed commission members.”

We’ve reached out to community members and Mill Creek for comment. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Leslie Hearn, the organizer behind the “Save the White Rock Lake Skyline” campaign, had this to say:

Those involved in Save the White Rock Lake Skyline are extremely pleased with the Dallas City Planning Commission vote to deny, without prejudice, the rezoning request for the properties where The Lot and Local Traveler were located.  Nine of the commissioners agreed with the more 700 people who signed the petition and contacted their elected and appointed officials.  Not to mention the more than 250 that have those awesome blue signs in their yards.  In his statement last night,  Commissioner Jung noted in his remarks that his inbox had more than twice as many emails opposing the projects than supporting it.  And while the obvious things like height, density, lack of compatibility with the neighborhood, and impact on traffic were key to the vote to deny, so was the public sentiment. We are aware the developer can appeal to the City Council so we will continue to remain vigilant as the process continues.