The Dallas City Council has approved a zoning proposal for a planned H-E-B, even as the plan drew concerns and some support from the community.
The slated project cleared a key hurdle for the roughly 10-acre site in North Dallas that would bring the first H-E-B namesake to the city, adding to the existing Central Market locales and its Joe V’s Smart Shops. The new grocer would land at the southeast corner of Hillcrest Road and LBJ Freeway, according to the agenda filing.
The City Council approval followed roughly an hour and a half of testimony about the proposal with many saying the new grocery store would create too many traffic headaches in an area that’s already grappling with too many vehicles. Some folks spoke out in favor of the proposal, saying the company is a great member of the community already and that it would be a good addition to that area of Dallas.
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The proposal for the property was for an “RR Regional Retail District,” on the site that’s been zoned “NO(A) Neighborhood Office District,” according to a document filed with the city. The proposal included deed restrictions volunteered by the applicant.
“We appreciate the thoughtful consideration from city officials, staff, and community members throughout this process,” Mabrie Jackson, H-E-B managing director of public affairs, said in an emailed statement. “We are committed to serving Texans and look forward to bringing our first H-E-B store to the city of Dallas.”
Among the more than two dozen people who spoke up at the meeting, there were concerns about large trucks doing deliveries and traffic stacking up around the intersection.
The City Council initially considered a denial of the zoning request without prejudice, a motion that would fail. Council member Adam Bazaldua didn’t support it.
“It was a social media craze when H-E-B started coming to the region, but I want to highlight that word and say the region,” Bazaldua said. “One of the things that I saw and heard a million times was, ‘When are they coming to Dallas?’ … We continue to put ourselves in positions where we have allowed for other municipalities, other jurisdictions, to compete with us.”
The Council member added: “I hope that we can support bringing this H-E-B to the city limits, the first one, and it’ll be the first of many to come.
For the vote, Mayor Eric Johnson said “sounds like it was 14-1,” during the meeting.
