Council Members Blackmon, Schultz Remove Names From Memo on Density, Minimum Lot Size

A five-signature memorandum requesting the Dallas City Council discuss density options and minimum lot size is no longer a five-signature memorandum. 

In an email to Mayor Eric Johnson obtained by CandysDirt.com late Wednesday, District 9 Councilwoman Paula Blackmon and District 11 Councilwoman Jaynie Schultz withdrew their names from District 1 Councilman Chad West’s Nov. 8 memo. 

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Blackmon said she removed her name from the memo in order to focus on the work of land use planning and show there will be “NO rezoning with ForwardDallas.”

“It was a briefing item, not an action item, and these two items should not be conflated,” Blackmon told CandysDirt.com. “Unfortunately, there has been significant misinformation circulating regarding ForwardDallas, and I urge everyone to read the document for themselves and present their concerns, likes, dislikes, wants, etc. at community meetings or via email.  Cities are dynamic organisms and Dallas is no different. It is up to all of us to manage that change and it should start with a comprehensive land use plan that we can all agree upon.”

Schultz thanked CandysDirt.com for covering this story. 

“There is a lot of misinformation about Forward Dallas’ approach to single-family neighborhoods,” Schultz said. “Since we had completed the council discussion on residential sizes, the issue can no longer be misconstrued due to removing my name from the memo.”

Councilman West Responds

Council members Jaime Resendez and Adam Bazaluda also lent their names to West’s Dec. 19 memo, which prompted a meeting of the Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee to discuss the matter in late December.

The meeting, called by HHS chair Jesse Moreno, was characterized as a “dog and pony show” by Bazaldua, an attempt to shut down discussions about gentle density during a holiday break when few elected officials, including the memorandum’s author, were unable to be present for the discussion. 

The ForwardDallas comprehensive land use plan discussions began years ago but have become contentious lately as opponents of the draft document say it’s an effort by staff and some council members to disrupt their single-family neighborhoods with duplexes and triplexes. Several have questioned the timing of West’s memo as ForwardDallas discussions ramped up. 

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West told CandysDirt.com on Thursday that his memo last fall coincided with action on gentle density in Austin and Minneapolis, and he wanted to hear from staff about local options.

“Councilwoman Blackmon and Councilwoman Schultz are two of the hardest-working council members on City Council,” he said. “They are not afraid to consider and evaluate new concepts. I appreciate them being open to the briefing and discussion that was called for in the five-signature memo. I agree that, at this point, the memo called for a briefing and discussion, and at this point that has been had. I don’t think it’s the end of the discussion, but I support us moving forward as a unified council to focus on ForwardDallas. That’s what’s in front of us now..”

The comprehensive plan is tentatively slated for adoption by the Dallas City Council in June, prior to a month-long July recess. 

A second public hearing on ForwardDallas is scheduled before the City Plan Commission from 6 to 9 p.m. May 9.