Irving planning commission backs new high‑intensity mixed‑use zoning, recommends gaming‑enabled rules to city council after 5‑4 votes

The Irving Planning and Zoning Commission voted late March 17 to forward two related zoning proposals to the City Council after lengthy public comment: a UDC amendment to create a new "high‑intensity mixed‑use" district and a land‑use reclassification for portions of PUD 6 that would allow that district. Both motions passed 5‑4.

The matters matter because the PUD 6 site (the former Texas Stadium property) is adjacent to schools and the University of Dallas and has long been the focus of potential large‑scale development. The commission’s recommendation does not itself authorize construction or gaming; it amends the city code and PUD land‑use designation so the city council can consider zoning that, if state law permits at a later date, would allow a destination resort that includes casino gaming.

Most public comment opposed including gaming in the zoning changes. Dozens of residents, school and university representatives, faith leaders and nonprofit advocates urged commissioners to delay action or to remove gaming as a permitted use. Residents cited studies and local examples they said link casinos to increased problem gambling, higher crime rates in adjacent neighborhoods, human trafficking and negative impacts on nearby schools and the University of Dallas.

Mark Drogan, an Irving resident, told the commission, “We do not want legalized gambling in Irving. Please vote no.” Several speakers identified themselves as teachers, university faculty or university leaders; Dr. John Soriano, an economics professor at the University of Dallas, told the commission that research comparing counties with and without new casinos finds little net long‑term employment gain in already developed metro areas and cited studies that showed increases in property and violent crime in some jurisdictions after casinos opened.

Ashton Ellis, vice president for university relations at the University of Dallas, said the university opposed rezoning and wrote that the institution had not been shown the “kinds of studies and facts required of Irving residents to get a zoning change.” Mark Dyer, a longtime Irving resident, noted the campus and neighboring new housing are within about 0.66–0.75 miles of the property and questioned analogies to foreign or atypical casino sites such as Singapore or Macau.

Speakers on the record also raised environmental concerns tied to the nearby Elm Fork of the Trinity River and cited federal and state protections for freshwater mussel species. The Saint Vincent de Paul Society’s Mike Drake said the charity’s clients would be harmed by expanded local gambling and reminded commissioners that casino gaming is prohibited under the Texas Constitution today.

Commissioners debated two main points during their deliberations: whether the city should amend its UDC now to allow a new high‑intensity mixed‑use district (regardless of the identity of any developer) and whether to include a gaming use in that district while casino gambling remains illegal under state law. Commissioners who opposed the measures cited the speed of the process, the absence of independent impact studies, and the undefined nature of “gaming” in the draft regulations. Commissioners who supported the measures said the city should keep options open for large‑scale redevelopment of the PUD 6 site and that additional, later review steps would follow if a developer seeks project approvals.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance Amendment 2025‑47‑UDC (create "high‑intensity mixed‑use" district and regulations): motion by Commissioner Pritchard; second not specified; recommendation to approve forwarded to city council; vote 5‑4. - Zoning Case/Amendment 2025‑4‑ZC (change PUD 6, Tract A, Sectors 1 & 2 from transit‑oriented mixed‑use community to high‑intensity mixed‑use): motion by Commissioner Pritchard; second not specified; recommendation to approve forwarded to city council; vote 5‑4.

What commissioners did and did not decide: the commission recommended code and land‑use changes. It did not approve any site plan, building permits, construction or gaming operations. Any future casino or resort would need the state to legalize casino gambling (currently prohibited under the Texas Constitution), additional local approvals and separate development permits. Several commissioners urged more studies, more public engagement and additional conditions before the council acts.

Next steps: the recommendations go to the Irving City Council; council members will consider the UDC amendment and the PUD land‑use change in a future session. Multiple speakers said they plan to appear before council and to organize further public participation.

Sources and quotes are drawn from the March 17 Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing and deliberations. The public hearing began at about 8:35 p.m. and the meeting did not adjourn until after 2:30 a.m., reflecting extensive community turnout and debate.