A North Dallas evangelical megachurch’s plan to add a youth development center, healthcare clinic, and commercial kitchen has been deferred by the Dallas City Plan Commission to April 20.
Watermark Community Church has owned the 190,000-square-foot Pearl C. Anderson Middle School at 3400 Garden Lane and the surrounding 9.8 acres in Dallas City Council District 7 for about four years.
District 7 Dallas City Councilman Adam Bazaldua announced through a spokesman Thursday that the City Plan Commission wants more time to consider the church’s proposal and collect feedback from neighboring residents.
Developers originally filed a proposal for a walkable mixed-use development but later changed the application to a Special Use Permit.
“Upon final review of the case, there were still issues pertaining to allowable uses in the staff-recommended zoning change,” said District 7 CPC Commissioner Tabitha Wheeler-Reagan in a statement. “So, in the best interest of the applicant and the community, we will be holding the above zoning case until April 20. During that time, we will make the necessary adjustments to ensure that the allowable uses in the above zoning case are aligned with the area’s current and future vision.”
The site at 3400 Garden Lane was sold at auction to the church in 2019 for $211,000.
Bazaldua said in a press release that residents of his South Dallas district need to have their concerns heard before a decision is made.
“Watermark has shared their plans for the property, but we want to be certain that their proposals are able to be completed with the community’s interest at heart,” he said. “Pushing back the hearing of the case will allow residents more time to gain critical awareness of what is going on with the development and how it will affect their neighborhoods.”
Councilman Bazaldua is seeking re-election to his District 7 seat in the May 6 election. His challengers include Okema Thomas, Tracy Dotie Hill, and Marvin Crenshaw.
