Legal help to reverse zoning changes (Dallas, Addison: real estate, house, employment)

[20Hope20]

Is it possible to challenge city council if a suburb attracts buyers with zoning favorable for family living but later changes it to favor real estate developers? We get it that more housing is needed but Texas has a lot of land, they don't need to squeeze everyone into little multistory cubes in existing suburbs.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by 20Hope20

Is it possible to challenge city council if a suburb attracts buyers with zoning favorable for family living but later changes it to favor real estate developers? We get it that more housing is needed but Texas has a lot of land, they don't need to squeeze everyone into little multistory cubes in existing suburbs.

In general, probably not. I'm not familiar with Texas Zoning law but if the proper procedures (advertising, public hearings, notifications, etc.) were followed to enact the change in use and density then there are likely no grounds to sue unless the change violates state law in some way.

Not a lawyer, just worked with Zoning issues as a local elected official for over twenty years.

[ThomasCrown]

If you're not a multi millionaire, forget it. That's what it will cost you to fight whatever developer bought that land and petitioned for the zoning change in the first place, and they've got deeper pockets in most cases than anyone who would object.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by 20Hope20

Is it possible to challenge city council if a suburb attracts buyers with zoning favorable for family living but later changes it to favor real estate developers? We get it that more housing is needed but Texas has a lot of land, they don't need to squeeze everyone into little multistory cubes in existing suburbs.

Texas has a lot of land. Yes, it does. It may be less costly for you to move to some of that land instead of legally challenging city council. If you decide to do so a good start is contacting the city about the propper protocol and reach out to others who went that route.

[AlecZTexan]

Before the rezoning, it is required legally for the developer to send written notices to neighbors of the proposed rezoning site. That is the best time frame for you to show your objection.

[Leonard123]

What city is this?

If it's a rezoning request, then it all depends on the connections between the council and/or mayor and the developer. That's the Texas Way.

When you buy a house, you want to avoid being near too much open land. Unless it's some kind of flood plain or otherwise not buildable, a zoning designation means nothing and the open land could be anything.

[godrestores]

Originally Posted by 20Hope20

Is it possible to challenge city council if a suburb attracts buyers with zoning favorable for family living but later changes it to favor real estate developers? We get it that more housing is needed but Texas has a lot of land, they don't need to squeeze everyone into little multistory cubes in existing suburbs.

This is exactly what cities should be doing. Excessive sprawl is bad for the environment.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by godrestores

This is exactly what cities should be doing. Excessive sprawl is bad for the environment.

How do you suggest housing the hordes which are moving into the DFW market?

[godrestores]

Originally Posted by Threestep2

How do you suggest housing the hordes which are moving into the DFW market?

Ideally the same way that dense cities house their increasing populations. I know this isn't actually going to happen anytime soon, I was simply disagreeing with the belief that Texas cities should be sprawling into infinity just because the land is there.

[Leonard123]

Originally Posted by godrestores

Ideally the same way that dense cities house their increasing populations. I know this isn't actually going to happen anytime soon, I was simply disagreeing with the belief that Texas cities should be sprawling into infinity just because the land is there.

The problem here is that it's too late. It's already sprawled, and the exurbs and suburbs farther from the commercial activity and employment centers are trying to add density where it makes no sense whatsoever and never will.

Significant commercial development is not sprawling the way it did historically. It's mostly residential and primarily multifamily at that. It makes no sense. Of course, OP has not said where he or she lives, and that could make a difference. Areas like Addison and parts of Dallas may be well suited for more density. This is not the case further out. There is no city with much land that is going to develop the same way.

A better solution in my opinion is just to put the brakes on the incentives that add people from other states and countries and turn those into disincentives. We are at a point where economic growth is bad for Texas and should be discouraged.