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Council adopts rezoning to formalize Elam Road city-center plan
Summary
After a presentation from Catalyst Commercial, council voted to rezone 29 parcels along the Elam Road corridor to a mixed-use district to implement the city's downtown master plan. Planning staff said the change organizes frontages and design standards for future pedestrian- and civic-focused development.
Balch Springs City Council on July 13 approved an ordinance rezoning 29 parcels along Elam Road between I-635 North and Pioneer Road to a mixed-use district intended to implement the city's adopted downtown master plan.
Jason Claunch of Catalyst Commercial told council the rezoning is "the next step" to establish a walkable city center and explained the proposal uses character-based frontages (pedestrian, civic, boulevard) so future developers can follow clear standards. Planning staff said the Planning & Zoning Commission had unanimously approved the rezone and that more than 500 postcards had been mailed to affected property owners and stakeholders prior to the public hearing.
Council opened a public hearing, heard no public speakers and moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Garcia made the motion to adopt the rezoning ordinance; the motion passed. City staff and the consultant said the change is intended to help ensure future development adheres to the illustrative city-center vision by organizing allowable uses and building placement by frontage type.
The council decision formalizes regulations staff and consultants say were developed over more than a year of public workshops and stakeholder meetings. The next steps for staff include applying the frontage-based standards to permit applications and coordinating with property owners on implementation.
