Commission recommends Lock Real node comprehensive plan amendment to city council after public concerns over multiuse path, sewer and annexation

The Dallas Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council consider adopting the Lock Real node master plan update as an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan, a legislative change that would guide future zoning, annexation and development in a major growth area.

City planner Chase presented the staff report and explained the amendment would expand the Lock Real node boundary to include areas south of Ellendale Avenue (notably Hawthorne Avenue), adjust the plan’s mix of commercial and residential land, and update comprehensive plan text to reflect the new map and related policies. Chase described the work as the culmination of a multi‑year effort that began in 2022, during which the city retained consultants and held public and advisory‑committee meetings. He said the amendment is intended to guide future development in one of the city’s primary growth areas and to respond to the 20‑year commercial land inventory that identified a shortage of commercial land.

The staff presentation emphasized that the commission was considering a comprehensive plan map and text amendment only — not annexation, rezoning or development code changes. "This is a guide to future action, but it's not those actions tonight," Chase told the commission. He repeated that annexation, rezoning and development code amendments would be separate future steps, each with its own public notice and hearings.

Dozens of residents attended and several spoke during the public‑comment portion of the hearing. Common concerns included: a proposed multiuse path shown on the consultant’s concept map that appears to cross private backyards; the impact of future road alignments on private property and driveways; whether sewer trunk construction on Hawthorne Avenue signals imminent annexation or forced hookups; the potential for increased traffic through currently dead‑end streets; and uncertainty about what "mixed use" or future higher‑density designations might mean for long‑time single‑family homeowners.

Representative public comments: - Andy Snowa (168 SE Lock Real) asked, "What is a multiuse path, and do we have any information about where it's going?" He said the conceptual path appeared to run through his backyard and said he has existing drainage and flooding concerns. - Jason Warner, speaking for his mother (955 E Ellendale), objected to a multiuse path shown to run through the middle of several private properties and said it would harm privacy, security and potential property values. - Several Hawthorne Avenue residents asked whether the city would use eminent domain, whether they would be required to hook to city sewer if annexed, and how far street widening might encroach into private yards; staff answered that annexation and specific road alignments would be separate, future applications and that sewer trunk installation is being planned to facilitate future development but does not itself rezone or annex properties.

Commissioners acknowledged the public concerns and stressed the need for clearer public materials going forward. Commissioner Schulte and others urged staff and the applicant to provide a concise, plain‑language executive summary for City Council that explains the 20‑year planning horizon, the difference between a comprehensive plan amendment and a zoning/annexation action, how public infrastructure (for example, the Hawthorne sewer trunk) relates to planning, and why the plan identifies additional commercial acreage. Several commissioners specifically asked staff to reconcile differing acreages cited in exhibit tables and to add a short explanation of methodology linking the commercial acreage recommendation to the economic‑opportunity/land inventory analysis.

After deliberation the commission voted to forward a recommendation to the City Council for consideration, with a request that council and staff present clearer, lay‑friendly explanations of key questions (annexation timing, eminent domain risk, sewer hook‑up expectations, timeline and what the colors on the map mean) when the item goes before council — currently scheduled for April 7 at 6 p.m. The commission also noted that future zone changes, annexations and development code amendments will return to the Planning Commission for separate review.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council, and notices of future hearings will go to participants of record; the council will hold its own public hearing before any final adoption.