Neighbors:
The Maplewood Overlay is on the agenda for the Dallas City Council meeting on January 23rd. New ballots will be mailed on January 11th. As stated from the very beginning of this process in April 2006, the intended purpose of the overlay is to:
Give current homeowners a voice in the progression and future development of our neighborhood
Promote thoughtful construction among homebuilders (A good example of this is the newly constructed 5,000 sq. ft., $1.2 million home at 7214 Brennans which fits well within the parameters of the overlay and whose architect designed it to fit within the neighborhood.)
Maintain the Equity in both our homes as well as the value of our lot
Ensure that the inevitable tear downs and new homes don’t destroy the charm and feel of our little community
As a reminder, there are only 3 components that are a change from current zoning.
These components of the overlay are minimal:
· Garage - Rear location/access and attached
· Corner Side Setback - 20’ instead of 10’
· Height - 22’ Sloped Median Height plane
(This allows a two-story home to be built but discourages a 3-story home at the front setback.
Again , please see 7214 Brennans as an example of what CAN be built.)
The master plat for our neighborhood established in the early 1970’s, more restrictive than zoning and the overlay in places, supersedes both ordinances.
“As an architect, this is the loosest overlay I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure why anyone is opposing it.” – Commissioner Ekblad at the December 13th Planning Commission Hearing.
Once we have the video from the planning commission hearing, we will post it on www.youtube.com , and you can hear the presentations by both the proponents and the opposition. There were 11 households represented for the opposition and 11 households represented for the supporters.
You have all seen a flurry of opposition flyers claiming that support for the overlay is waning. One favorite is a conveniently anonymous one from “your concerned neighbor” which has been concretely determined to have NOT come from a supporter who changed their mind, contrary to what it purports. In fact, support for the overlay is still well above 60%, where it’s been from the beginning of the process.. For the record, we are informed and intelligent despite what you may read in the opposition’s flyers.
As the City Council meeting approaches, the next three weeks are sure to be quite a show with the opposition’s wild tales and mudslinging. Get your popcorn ready!
Sincerely,
The Maplewood Overlay Supporters
