Dallas Code - M Streets Conservation District

You can search the entirety of the Dallas Code by going to American Legal's website. Section 51A-4.505 of Part II of the Dallas Development Code describes the procedure by which a neighborhood applies for conservation status:

SEC. 51A-4.505. CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

(a) Definitions. In this section:

(1) ARCHITECTURAL ATTRIBUTES means those physical features of buildings and structures that are generally identified and described as being important products of human thought and action characteristic of a population or community.

(2) BLOCK means an area bounded by streets on all sides.

(3) BLOCKFACE means all of the lots on one side of a block.

(4) CD means conservation district.

(5) CD FEASIBILITY STUDY means a study conducted by the director to determine whether or not a particular area of the city is eligible for conservation district classification.

(6) CD ORDINANCE means the ordinance establishing a particular conservation district.

(7) CULTURAL ATTRIBUTES means all of those physical features of an area that, either independently or by virtue of their interrelationship, are generally identified and described as being important products of human thought and action characteristic of a population or community. Accordingly, the term "cultural attributes" necessarily includes "architectural attributes" as that term is defined in this section. The term 11 cultural attributes" does not refer to the characteristics or beliefs of people who may reside in or frequent a particular area.

(8) STABLE means that the area is expected to remain substantially the same over the next 20 years with continued maintenance of the property. While some changes in structures, land uses, and densities may occur, all such changes are expected to be compatible with surrounding development.

(9) STABILIZING means that the area is expected to become stable over the next 20-year period through continued reinvestment, maintenance, or remodeling.

(b) Purpose. Article 1011a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, authorizes the city of Dallas to regulate and restrict the, construction, alteration, reconstruction, or razing of buildings and other structures in "designated places and areas of historic, cultural, or architectural importance and significance." Whereas the city has historic districts containing such regulations and restrictions for historic places and areas, the conservation district is established to provide a means of conserving an area's distinctive atmosphere or character by protecting or enhancing its significant architectural or cultural attributes.

(1) Each conservation district must be established by a separate CD ordinance. Before adopting a CD ordinance, the city council shall approve a conceptual plan for the district in accordance with this section. Each CD ordinance must be consistent with the conceptual plan approved for the district by the city council.

(2) If the director determines that, due to the sensitivity of the area, or due to the nature of the proposed regulations for the area, a special administrative procedure should be established for the review of proposed work in a conservation district, he may recommend that such a procedure be incorporated into the conceptual plan for the district. Unless such a procedure is considered by the commission and approved by the city council as part of the conceptual plan for the district, there shall be no administrative review of proposed work in a conservation district other than the customary review for compliance with all applicable city codes, ordinances, rules, and regulations which occurs at the time a person makes application for a building permit.

(3) For purposes of determining the applicability of regulations in this chapter triggered by adjacency or proximity to another zoning district, an identifiable portion of a conservation (CD) district governed by a distinct set of use regulations is treated as though it were a separate zoning district. If the CD district or a portion of the district is limited to those uses permitted in an expressly stated zoning district, the CD district or portion of the district is treated as though it were that expressly stated zoning district; otherwise it is treated as though it were:

(A) a TH-3(A) zoning district if it is restricted to single family and/or duplex uses;

(B) an MF-2(A) zoning district if it is restricted to residential uses not exceeding 36 feet in height and allows multifamily uses;

(C) an MF-3(A) zoning district if it is restricted to residential uses and allows multifamily uses exceeding 36 feet in height; or

(D) a nonresidential zoning district if it allows a nonresidential use.

(d) Initiation.

(1) A CD feasibility study may be initiated by a group of persons who collectively own:

(A) more than 50 percent of the land, excluding streets and alleys, within the area of request; and

(B) more than 50 percent of the building sites within the area of request.

(2) An agent of a group that satisfies the requirements of Subsection (d)(1) may file an application for a CD feasibility study with the director on a form furnished by the department. Each person in the group must sign the application.

(3) An application for a CD feasibility study must include the following:

(A) The application fee.

(B) Map(s) showing the existing zoning and land uses on all of the land in the area of request, and on all of the land within 200 feet, including streets and alleys, measured from the boundary of the area of request.

(C) A list of the names and addresses of all property owners and residents in the area of request.

(D) A list of all neighborhood associations or other organizations representing the interests of property owners in the area of request. This list should include information as to the number of members and the officers' names, mailing addresses, and phone numbers.

(E) A statement of justification. This statement should:

(i) point out the factors which render the area of request eligible for CD classification; and

(ii) explain in detail how and why such a classification would be in the best interest of the city as a whole.

(F) A description of the prevalent architectural and cultural attributes of the area.

(G) Any additional information that the director determines to be necessary for the study.

(4) A CD feasibility study may also be initiated by the commission or the city council.

(e) Determination of eligibility.

(1) When a CD feasibility study is initiated under Subsection (d), the director shall determine the eligibility of the area for CD classification in accordance with this subsection.

(2) The director's determination of eligibility must be based on a consideration of the standards in this subsection. An area is not eligible for CD classification unless it satisfies all of the following criteria:

(A) The area must contain at least one blockface.

(B) The area must be either "stable" or "stabilizing" as those terms are defined in this section.

(C) The area must contain significant architectural or cultural attributes as those terms are defined in this section.

(D) The area must have a distinctive atmosphere or character which can be conserved by protecting or enhancing its architectural or cultural attributes.

(3) If the director determines that the area is not eligible for CD classification, he shall notify the applicant of this fact in writing. Notice is given by depositing the notice properly addressed and postage paid in the United States mail. The notice must be sent to the address shown on the application. The decision of the director that an area is not eligible for CD classification may be appealed to the commission by the applicant.

(4) An appeal under Subsection (e)(3) is made by filing a written request with the director. The request must be filed within 30 days of the date written notice is given to the applicant of the director's decision. In considering the appeal, the sole issue shall be whether or not the director erred in his determination of eligibility, and, in this connection, the commission shall consider the same standards that were required to be considered by the director in making his determination.

(5) The commission's determination of eligibility on appeal is final. If the commission determines that the area is not eligible for CD classification, no further applications for CD classification may be considered for the area of request for two years from the date of its decision. A property owner in the area of request may apply for a waiver of the two-year limitation pursuant to Section 51A-4.701(d)(3).

(6) If the director determines that the area is eligible for CD classification, he shall proceed to formulate a conceptual plan for the area in accordance with Subsection (f). The decision of the director that an area is eligible for CD classification may not be appealed.

(f) Conceptual Plan formulation and review.

(1) If the area is determined to be eligible for CD classification pursuant to Subsection (e), the director shall schedule a public meeting for the purpose of informing property owners in the proposed district of the nature of the pending request. The director shall send notice of the time and place of the meeting by mail to all addresses of property owners and residents shown on the application, and to any additional addresses of properties in the proposed district shown on the last approved city tax roll.

(2) The director shall prepare a conceptual plan for the proposed district and schedule a public hearing before the commission to receive public comment regarding the plan. The director shall send written notice of the public hearing to all owners of real property in the proposed district and within 200 feet of its boundaries. The measurement of the 200 feet includes streets and alleys. The notice must be given not less than 10 days before the date set for the hearing. Notice is given by depositing the notice properly addressed and postage paid in the United States mail to the property owners as evidenced by the last approved city tax roll.

(3) After the public hearing, the commission shall make a recommendation regarding the plan and forward it to the city council for further action.

(4) The city council shall hold a public hearing before it makes a decision regarding the plan. The city secretary shall give notice of the public hearing in the official newspaper of the city at least 15 days before the hearing.

(5) After the city council holds the public hearing, it shall make a decision regarding the plan. The council may make minor changes in the plan without sending it back to the commission; however, if the changes are substantial, the council shall send the plan back to the commission for another public hearing.

(6) No conservation district may be established in the city unless the city council first approves a conceptual plan for the district in accordance with this subsection.

(g) CD ordinance preparation and review.

(1) The director shall hold public meetings as necessary for the purpose of receiving input from property owners regarding the content of the CD ordinance.

(2) The city attorney shall prepare a CD ordinance based on the approved or proposed conceptual plan, the reports and recommendations of the city staff, and input received from property owners at the public meetings held by the director. The ordinance must contain regulations governing permitted uses, heights of buildings and structures, lot size, floor area ratio, density, setbacks, off-street parking and loading, environmental performance, signs, landscaping, and nonconforming uses and structures, and may further contain any additional regulations, special exceptions, or procedures that the city council considers necessary to conserve the distinctive atmosphere or character of the area, or to minimize potential adverse impacts which could result from creation of the district.

(3) After preparation of the ordinance by the city attorney, the commission shall hold a public hearing to allow all citizens to present their views regarding the proposed ordinance. If the commission so desires, it may hold this public hearing on the same day that it holds the public hearing on the conceptual plan. Notice of this public hearing must be given as required by law for a change in zoning district classification.

(4) After the public hearing, the commission shall make a recommendation regarding the proposed ordinance. The commission shall not recommend approval of the ordinance unless it determines that the ordinance is consistent with the conceptual plan.

(5) After the commission makes its recommendation on the proposed ordinance, the director shall forward the recommendation and ordinance to the city council for further action. The city council shall hold a public hearing before taking any action on the ordinance. If the city council so desires, it may hold this public hearing on the same day that it holds the public hearing on the conceptual plan. Notice of this public hearing must be given as required by law for a change in zoning district classification.

(6) Each CD ordinance must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of city council members present; except, the favorable vote of three-fourths of all members of the city council is required if:

(A) the commission recommends against adoption of the ordinance; or

(B) a written protest against adoption of the ordinance has been signed by the owners of 20 percent or more of either the land in the area of request or land within 200 feet, including streets and alleys, measured from the boundary of the area of request and the protest has been filed with the director.

(h) Board of adjustment fee waiver. The board of adjustment may waive any filing fee for an appeal from a decision of the building official interpreting a CD ordinance, or for a variance or special exception to a CD ordinance requirement when the board finds that payment of the fee would result in substantial financial hardship to the applicant. The applicant may either pay the fee and request reimbursement as part of his appeal or request that the matter be placed on the board's miscellaneous docket for predetermination. If the matter is placed on the miscellaneous docket, the applicant may not file his appeal until the merits of the request for waiver have been determined by the board.

(Ord. Nos. 19455;19930;20037;20308)

Home Our Mission Sign Up for E-mail Updates Proposed Ordinance
FAQs News Neighborhood Architectural Study Resources Contact Us