DALLAS — A judge dealt another blow to the proposed redevelopment of the aging Pepper Square shopping center in Far North Dallas.
Judge Martin Hoffman Friday granted a temporary injunction that prohibits the Dallas City Council from voting on the plans to redevelop the shopping center until the developers post notification signs as required by city ordinance. The city council was set to take up the case Wednesday after a previous hearing on the case was scuttled by a similar ruling Oct. 23.
The proposal for the rezoning of the 15.5-acre site at the southeast corner of Preston Road and Belt Line Road includes a mixed-use development including nearly 1,000 apartments, retail and more.
The Save Pepper Square Neighborhood Association filed a lawsuit naming the city, city council members and members of the Dallas City Plan Commission alleging that the developer didn’t properly follow sign-posting requirements to notify people about the zoning case.
Those seeking a zoning change are required to post the required number of notification signs on the property within 14 days after the application is filed, and they’re supposed to remain until a decision is made on the case, according to city code.
The Save Pepper Square Neighborhood Association argued in court filings that proper notice wasn’t provided for the project.
Developer Henry Miller’s plan for the mixed-use development, which included a maximum of 984 housing units with 116 designated for retirement housing, got approval from the city plan commission on August 8.
“Public benefits include tailored design standards, enhanced open space, upgraded sidewalks, additional landscaping, transit shelters, and a trail connection to White Rock Trail,” The city council’s case report for the project reads. “In addition, mixed-income housing is to be provided to further increase the proposed density.”
Opponents of the redevelopment of Pepper Square spoke at the city plan commission meeting for more than two hours, citing concerns about issues like traffic, building height, and more.
