The final Dallas City Council meeting of 2023 was a long one, and a rezoning request for a Dallas megachurch got lost in the shuffle amidst hours of debate over daycare facilities and permitting fees.
The discussion about Watermark Community Church only lasted about 20 minutes during the Dec. 13 council meeting. Dallas elected officials said they’d heard from the public that the plan as submitted was unacceptable.
The City Council voted unanimously to deny without prejudice Watermark’s request, meaning the church can alter its plan and resubmit it.
The rezoning, which would allow the existing church to include a walkable mixed-use district “to expand services,” was recommended for approval by city staff and the City Plan Commission, subject to deed restrictions. Read the staff case report here.
Todd Atkins of the South Dallas Fair Park Faith Coalition said neighbors are unclear about the goals and visions for the land and building.
“Although this basic question has been the subject of many public and community meetings, the answer to this question remains vague and constantly changing,” he said.
It’s also unclear whether the coalition is partnering with Watermark LLC, the church itself, or its community development corporation, Atkins said. Another resident, Andrea Rush, referred to Watermark as a business rather than a church.
Watermark officials did not agree to deed restrictions and said they wanted to build housing on the campus they purchased for about $211,0000 at auction from Dallas ISD in 2019.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold said she was concerned that the church would gentrify the surrounding South Dallas neighborhoods.
District 7 Councilman Adam Bazaldua, who represents the site at 3400 Garden Lane, said the community put in a lot of work and effort.
“I encourage the applicant to get back to the drawing board, to do what is necessary to earn trust within the community, and to answer a lot of these outstanding questions that we have — first and foremost to make sure this relationship is a foundation based on transparency,” Bazaldua said. “If we are asking questions that are not being answered, it definitely begs the question … is this about what Watermark wants or is this about them coming in and being a part of the community and what South Dallas wants?”
District 6 Councilman Omar Narvaez agreed that the public interest doesn’t appear to be a top priority.
“I know there were only two people here who spoke, but what they said is from their hearts,” Narvaez said. “It’s actually what the majority of community members in black and brown neighborhoods believe, that you don’t want to get to know us and you want to shove something into our communities without making us a partner. If you’ll partner with these folks, I can promise you, they are smart. They are loving. They know what they want in their neighborhoods … I hope this applicant will go back to the drawing board and make sure the community, the city, is getting what it needs and wants.”
