With the passage of the Stevens Park Estates Conservation District (CD) plan on September 28, 2011, by the Dallas City Council and the passage of an amended plan on August 22, 2018, many of you may have questions about the actual impact of the CD on potential renovations or construction. As you may know, a Conservation District is a zoning tool used to help neighborhoods protect certain characteristics such as architecture styles, heights of structures and setback guidelines.
Other CDs in North Oak Cliff include Kessler Park and King’s Highway, which was the very first one in Dallas. Conservation districts should not be confused with Historic Districts, which seek to preserve the original structures in a neighborhood exactly as when it was first built. The City of Dallas Planning and Urban Design Department website offers a lot of information. You will also find the “CD Work Review Application Form” at this link: https://dallascityhall.com/departments/pnv/Pages/Conservation-Districts.aspx
For a copy of our current Conservation District Plan, click here. The Conservation District includes a sub-district for properties on Plymouth Road, and also includes the Christian Science Church and Annie Stevens Park. Many committed neighbors spent close to 7 years working on the original CD, which was approved by 76% of home owners, which is one the highest approval rates of any in the City of Dallas.
For questions regarding Conservation District regulations, contact Trevor Brown, Conservation District Chief Planner, at trevor.brown@dallas.gov or (214) 670-4193. He is well spoken and insightful.
What should I do if I think a neighbor might not be complying with the terms of the CD?
Should concerns arise about a neighbor’s construction, the SPENA Board recommends that you make an effort to speak to your neighbor directly before contacting the city’s Conservation District office.
If work is clearly being done without approval and/or permits, however, you can lodge a “historic/conservation district” complaint using the 311 system. This will trigger a zoning inspector to visit the site, investigate, and provide a notice if there is indeed a violation.
