Northwest Dallas neighborhood groups are joining forces to oppose the proposed height of an $800 million development near Preston Road and Royal Lane ahead of a key city vote Thursday.
The project, proposed near the southwest corner of the intersection, would include retail, restaurants, condominiums, apartments and a five-star hotel. Its tallest building would be a 19-story condominium tower reaching 240 feet.
Many nearby residents said that the building is too tall for an area where current zoning limits height to 54 feet.
Several neighborhood organizations have formed a coalition called D13 Together, a reference to the Northwest Dallas City Council district, compromising of Melshire Estates, Wimberley Court and Bluffview, among others.
The group’s immediate focus is the Preston-Royal development, which is expected to go before the Dallas Plan Commission on Thursday.
A Tuesday gathering at Northaven United Methodist Church filled a room with residents concerned about the project and other proposed developments in the area.
“[It says] that these issues are important,” Preserve Preston Hollow board member Doug Hazelbaker said of the turnout.
Hazelbaker said recent community surveys and 4,000 petition signatures reflect broad-based opposition to the project’s height.
“When you add that up, that is a lot of people that are upset with the height – not the development,” Hazelbaker said.
Developer Leland Burk told NBC-5 in April the intersection is a special location. He envisions a development with retail, restaurants, a mix of condominiums and apartments, and a five-star hotel.
Burk previously said the development team was listening to neighbors’ concerns. In a statement Tuesday, he said the developers had acted on community input by reducing the project’s maximum height by 85 feet.
“We appreciate the many supporters who shared their enthusiasm for this quality development and we look forward to presenting our case to the Dallas Plan Commission on Thursday.”
If the project advances, a city council vote would follow, but none is scheduled yet.
District 13 council member Gay Donnell Willis said she’ll keep listening to all viewpoints and added there is support from some neighbors, albeit less visible than current opposition.
“Just today, I got three new emails of people who are supportive of the project who would love to downsize from their home and have a condo or apartment, and be able to stay in their neighborhood,” Willis said.
Hazelbaker acknowledged that opponents could face a difficult fight.
“Oh, I think it’s a very uphill battle,” Hazelbaker said.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.
