Floral Farms

Dallas Councilmember Mendelsohn Casts Lone Vote Against Floral Farms in Heated Exchange

By April Towery / February 14, 2025 /

Perhaps one of the spiciest debates of late among Dallas City Council members occurred Wednesday as residents of Southeast Oak Cliff’s Floral Farms — where “Shingle Mountain” once stood — were finally granted a rezoning that will prohibit new heavy industrial uses on a large tract of primarily undeveloped land near their homes.   Referred to…

Senate Bill 929 Could Have Costly Impacts, Limits City’s Authority to Terminate Nonconforming Uses 

By April Towery / January 17, 2025 /

A Texas Senate Bill approved in 2023 is changing the way Dallas handles zoning cases related to nonconforming uses.  In simple terms, SB 929 requires municipalities to provide compensation and notice to property owners before revoking their use of a property. This law applies to properties that were previously allowed to be used in a…

Lawmakers Move to Protect Neighborhoods from Encroaching Concrete Plants

By April Towery / January 15, 2025 /

Concern about concrete batch plants near residential neighborhoods isn’t just a Dallas thing. It’s also rampant in Tarrant and Grayson counties, and North Texas lawmakers are taking those concerns to the state Capitol this week as the 89th Texas legislative session kicks off in Austin.  Texas regulatory agencies and lawmakers are proposing amendments and bills…

Floral Farms’ Fight Over Industrial Zoning After Shingle Mountain Pushed to February

By April Towery / December 19, 2024 /

Southern Dallas residents have waited years for a rezoning effort to correct past injustices, such as the intrusion of concrete batch plants, scrap yards, and the notorious “Shingle Mountain” into their neighborhoods. But at a recent Dallas City Council meeting, they were told they’d have to wait a little longer. Environmental justice advocates and about…