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Dallas council approves 199-foot towers at Preston and Royal

Dallas council approves 199-foot towers at Preston and Royal

Rule Changes Dallas, TX local

Council voted 9-6 on Nov. 10 for towers capped at 199 feet; opponents say they are weighing legal action and the recall drive against Willis continues

Yesterday: Council approves Preston and Royal development, 9-6

Overview

Updated 8 hours ago

The Dallas City Council approved the $800 million Preston Road and Royal Lane development 9-6 on Nov. 10, capping building height at 199 feet, about 17 stories. Developer Leland Burk agreed during mediation led by Council Member Gay Donnell Willis to drop the tallest tower from 240 feet.

Preserve Preston Hollow organizer Margaret Chabris said opponents are "deeply disappointed" and looking at "all the options," including a lawsuit. The recall campaign against Willis continues. The project includes 177 apartments, 49 condos, a 150-room hotel, offices, shops and restaurants.

Why it matters

Towers up to 199 feet will replace a lot left empty since the 2019 tornado, over neighbors who wanted them shorter.

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Key Indicators

9-6
City Council vote to approve
The Nov. 10 vote approved the planned development district. Moreno, Cadena, Roth, Mendelsohn, Ridley and Mayor Johnson voted no.
199 ft
Maximum building height approved
Down from the 240 feet originally requested and still nearly four times the neighborhood's current 54-foot limit.
9,000 to 9,700
Signatures needed for a recall vote
Organizers must collect signatures from at least 15% of District 13 voters eligible in the last general municipal election and file by a December deadline to force a May recall election.
5,200+
Petition signatures opposing the project, as of Oct. 26
Richard Brown, aligned with the recall coalition, wrote Oct. 26 that more than 5,200 neighbors had signed. Preserve Preston Hollow reported more than 4,600 earlier.

Voices

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People Involved

Leland Burk
Leland Burk
Developer and applicant
Won City Council approval Nov. 10 for the development, with height capped at 199 feet
 Gay Donnell Willis
Gay Donnell Willis
Dallas City Council member, District 13
Led mediation that cut the approved height to 199 feet; the council approved the project 9-6 on Nov. 10; the recall petition against her remains active
SK
Suzan Kedron
Attorney for the developer
Representing the applicant before the City Council
MC
Margaret Chabris
Organizer of the recall petition against Gay Donnell Willis
Said opponents are 'deeply disappointed' by the Nov. 10 approval and are weighing legal options; the recall effort continues
 Doug Hazelbaker
Doug Hazelbaker
Spokesperson for Preserve Preston Hollow
Spokesperson for Preserve Preston Hollow; has said the group supports development at the corner but objects to the height

Organizations Involved

Dallas City Council
Dallas City Council
Municipal legislative body
Approved the Preston Road and Royal Lane planned development 9-6 on Nov. 10, with height capped at 199 feet

The elected body with final authority over zoning changes, including planned development districts.
Dallas City Plan Commission
Dallas City Plan Commission
Advisory body
Recommended approval of the planned development district

An appointed citizen board that reviews zoning applications and advises the council.
PP
Preserve Preston Hollow
Neighborhood group
Opposing the zoning change; says it was not included in the good-neighbor talks between the developer and the Royal Lane Condominiums

A neighborhood group opposing the planned development at Preston Road and Royal Lane.
NF
Neighborhoods First PAC
Political action committee
Filed notice Oct. 9 to pursue a recall of Council Member Gay Donnell Willis; collecting signatures after the Nov. 10 approval

A political action committee organizing the recall of District 13 Council Member Gay Donnell Willis over the Preston Road and Royal Lane zoning case.

Timeline

August 2026 November 2026

11 events Latest: Yesterday Showing 8 of 11
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Council approves Preston and Royal development, 9-6

    Latest Zoning Vote

    The Dallas City Council approved the $800 million planned development at Preston Road and Royal Lane with a 199-foot height cap, down from the 240 feet requested. Council members Moreno, Cadena, Roth, Mendelsohn and Ridley and Mayor Johnson voted no.

  2. Recall supporters gather signatures in North Dallas

    Political

    Upward of 50 neighbors came and went at a gathering to collect signatures for the recall of Gay Donnell Willis and to oppose the Preston and Royal rezoning. Opponents of the city's public safety bond also attended.

  3. Council hears comments on Royal Lane planned development and defers

    Public Hearing

    The City Council took public comment on the planned development district and deferred the vote to Nov. 10 by voice vote.

  4. Council defers Royal Lane vote to November 10

    Procedural

    The Dallas City Council deferred zoning case Z1, the contested Preston Road and Royal Lane high-rise project, to November 10 by voice vote. Council Member Gay Donnell Willis requested the delay to study traffic improvements.

  5. Developer commits to self-fund traffic upgrades as vote delay is reported

    Procedural

    Leland Burk would pay for three improvements: new detection equipment at Preston Road and Royal Lane, a signal preemption system for Fire Station 41, and a signal timing study along Royal Lane. 92% of neighbors notified before the Plan Commission vote said they opposed the project.

  6. Council vote on Preston-Royal towers expected to move to Nov. 10

    Procedural

    Developer Leland Burk and Council Member Gay Donnell Willis said the Oct. 14 vote would be postponed to Nov. 10 while they work on traffic signal upgrades, including improved detection at Preston and Royal, a fire-truck preemption system, and a signal timing study along Royal Lane.

  7. Recall notice of intent filed against Willis

    Political

    The Neighborhoods First PAC filed its notice of intent to circulate a recall petition against Willis. Organizers have 60 days to collect signatures from at least 15% of district voters eligible in the last general municipal election, aiming for a May recall vote.

  8. Dallas publishes council agenda with Royal Lane hearing

    Notice

    The City Council agenda lists a public hearing October 14 on the planned development district application for the Royal Lane and Preston Road corner.

  9. Council hearing on Royal Lane PD postponed to October 14

    Procedural

    The hearing was moved from September 9 to October 14. The neighborhood group Preserve Preston Hollow said it secured the postponement to allow more time for review.

  10. Coalition asks Willis for 120-day delay; she declines

    Political

    Per Richard Brown of the D13 Together coalition, the group asked Willis to seek a 120-day delay on three contested zoning cases. He says she refused, and the group then warned it would pursue a recall.

  11. City Plan Commission recommends Royal Lane PD approval

    Advisory Vote

    The commission voted to recommend approval of the planned development district, subject to a development plan and conditions, after more than three hours of testimony.

Scenarios

1

Dallas council approves Royal Lane planned development

Deadline passed (Oct 14, 2026)

Discussed by: City staff and the City Plan Commission both recommend approval, making passage the expected path.

Unless new concerns emerge at the hearing, the council is likely to pass the ordinance granting the planned development district, subject to the development plan and conditions attached to the recommendation.

2

Council defers or withdraws the Royal Lane PD item

Deadline passed (Oct 14, 2026)

Discussed by: The agenda notice itself warns items are regularly deferred, withdrawn, or moved.

If questions arise, a council member requests more information, or the applicant asks for more time, the hearing could be postponed to a later council meeting rather than voted on.

3

Council denies Planned Development District application for Royal Lane

Deadline passed (Oct 14, 2026)

Discussed by: Significant neighborhood opposition at the hearing could shift votes against the plan.

If residents raise concerns about density, traffic, or design that sway a majority, the council could vote down the PD ordinance, leaving the property under its current community retail and parking zoning.

4

Council approves Royal Lane planned development on Nov. 10

Deadline passed (Nov 10, 2026)

Discussed by: City staff and the City Plan Commission both recommend approval; developer has agreed to fund traffic upgrades

The council approved the planned development 9-6 on Nov. 10, with height capped at 199 feet after mediation between the developer and Council Member Gay Donnell Willis.

5

Recall petition against Willis qualifies for a May ballot

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Recall petition organizer Margaret Chabris, who told WFAA she is aiming for roughly 9,000 signatures

Organizers must collect about 9,000 valid signatures and file them with the city secretary's office by a December deadline. If the count holds, voters in District 13 would decide Willis's seat in May, with the Preston and Royal zoning case as the backdrop.

6

Opponents file a lawsuit over the Preston and Royal approval

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Preserve Preston Hollow's Margaret Chabris, who said after the vote the group is 'looking at all the options'

Neighbors opposed to the 199-foot towers said they have not ruled out court. A challenge would have to be filed in state district court against the city's zoning action.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

November 1926

Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. (1926)

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a municipal zoning ordinance in Euclid, Ohio, ruling that land-use regulation is a valid exercise of police power. The case concerned a parcel a developer wanted for industrial use but was zoned residential.

Then

Zoning ordinances were upheld nationwide as a standard municipal tool.

Now

The decision established that cities can classify land and restrict uses, the framework Dallas applies through its zoning code and planned development districts.

Why this matters now

This October 14 hearing operates within the zoning authority Euclid affirmed. A planned development district is one way Dallas tailors that authority to a specific property.

January 1970

National Environmental Policy Act (1970)

NEPA required federal agencies to take public comment on major actions, establishing a national norm of public input before governmental decisions.

Then

The public-comment model spread to state and local land-use processes.

Now

Local public hearings on zoning decisions now mirror that norm.

Why this matters now

The October 14 hearing is the local equivalent: residents are given a chance to speak before the council votes on the planned development.

Sources

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City of Dallas Legistar People Newspapers Preserve Preston Hollow Preston Hollow Advocate City of Dallas Legistar NoticeRegistry Open Publica Municue Dallas Dallas Morning News CandysDirt The Real Deal Dallas Business Journal Texas Construction Hub Diane Bearden Real Estate Wisevoter Zonewire WFAA Sold With Seale Dallas Observer DocketCity People Newspapers Preserve Preston Hollow Preston Hollow Advocate City of Dallas Legistar Dallas CandysDirt CandysDirt WFAA ZoneWire