Neighbors whose homes could fall in the shadow of five-story buildings that would be possible under the Bishop/Davis rezoning proposal were among the most vocal at a meeting about the plan Tuesday. For neighbors around the Bishop Arts District, overflow parking also is a concern.
Some residential neighborhoods in Oak Cliff, such as Kidd Springs, El Tivoli Place and homes on Haines, abut commercial neighborhoods where builders would be allowed to put up mixed-use and multi-family properties as high as 75 feet.
Neighbors on Bishop Avenue and the Kidd Springs Neighborhood Association also say that easing parking restrictions could cause traffic and parking woes the likes of North Henderson and Lower Greenville avenues.
The propozed zoning aims to make it easier to reuse old buildings along the West Davis corridor. As it stands, zoning often prohibits uses such as retail and restaurants. Businesses that do reuse old buildings have to apply for expensive special use permits for things like signs, awnings and outside seating. Owners of the Kessler Theater, for example, cannot recreate the vintage theater’s original sign because of zoning restrictions.
The proposal also would prohibit automotive-related businesses and drive-through windows along much of the corridor.
Check out Dallas Morning News reporter Roy Appleton’s coverage of Tuesday’s meeting and this from the Observer’s Unfair Park blog.
