Dallas, TX
Here’s a way Dallas might build more single-family homes
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/BESGDCORB5A3NNIXSUTJELHDAA.jpg?ssl=1 "Here’s a way Dallas might build more single-family homes")
There are a lot of ideas being discussed now to help address the problem of home affordability in Dallas.
One that deserves strong consideration is lowering the minimum-required lot size for the construction of a new home.
The idea isn’t uncontroversial. In its early years of development, Dallas and surrounding cities had such abundant land that larger lots were much easier to afford. Now, the cost of land is a key driver in rising prices. Residents in many established neighborhoods worry that lowering lot sizes could lead to dramatic changes in the places they call home.
We agree that the city must be sensitive of longtime residents’ concerns. But we also think that reducing the amount of land needed to build a home could go a long way toward ensuring that Dallas continues to flourish as a city that is affordable to people at every income level, and especially to the middle class who too often are being priced out of life here.
In December, five Dallas City Council members signed a memo to initiate conversations related to reducing minimum lot sizes and allowing duplexes and quadplexes by right in single-family neighborhoods.
The discussions predictably devolved into chaos because complicated and potentially disruptive solutions were all lumped together. Different zoning and land use changes need to be considered separately. The idea to allow duplexes by right should be put on hold for now, but city officials should seriously explore the pragmatic solution of reducing the minimum lot size.
The minimum lot size varies in Dallas, but it ranges from around 5,000 to 7,500 square feet. Austin’s City Council recently adopted a resolution to reduce minimum lot size from 5,750 to 2,500 square feet. It’s expected that reducing minimum lot sizes allows developers in the market to build more single-family homes. Smaller lots would make the land, and therefore the homes, less expensive.
The move would introduce more housing while still incentivizing home ownership over renting. Lowering the minimum lot size does not mean that larger lots would be taken away; it just means that families who can only afford smaller homes would have options beyond renting.
Reducing minimum lot sizes has been embraced across the political aisle as commonsense policy. The Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, recently published a report that found that less restrictive municipal regulations around lot sizes would allow the market to work better to close the housing affordability gap. At the state level, Sen. Paul Bettencourt had introduced a bill that would prohibit big Texas cities from mandating lots larger than 1,400 square feet. The city should work with residents now to gauge their interest in this kind of reform, before the state makes a law. City officials could consider piloting reduced lot sizes in certain neighborhoods where residents are open to more density.
For Dallas to remain the vibrant city it has always been, residents and city officials will have to come together and consider how to use our land most effectively. Reducing the minimum lot size could be that measured solution to support younger residents without impacting long-time homeowners.
We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com
DALLAS – Slow-moving thunderstorms brought localized flash flooding to parts of North Texas on Tuesday evening, blocking highways near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and dropping several inches of rain in portions of Tarrant and Parker counties.
Flash Flood Warnings
Local perspective:
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 7:45 p.m.
Flooding was reported along Texas 183 near Valley View Lane south of DFW Airport, where stranded vehicles and water-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
A flash flood warning remained in effect near the airport, although rainfall rates had begun to diminish as the storm weakened.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
The National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Hood County, citing the potential for gusty winds and small hail. Forecasters reported hail ranging from pea-sized to marble-sized in parts of Hood, Parker and Denton counties.
Forecasters attributed the weakening storms in Denton County to an outflow boundary, a meteorological feature that can disrupt thunderstorm development.
The warning area was reduced as the storm weakened near sunset.
LIVE RADAR
What they’re saying:
FOX 4’s Kylie Capps said the storms moved unusually slowly from east to west, allowing heavy rain to accumulate over the same areas for several hours.
Rainfall estimates showed some locations in eastern Parker County and western Tarrant County received nearly 5 inches of rain during a six-hour period, while areas near DFW Airport recorded more than 2 inches.
Elsewhere in North Texas, northern Rains County received nearly 5 inches of rain.
7-Day Forecast
What’s next:
Forecasters expect a quieter overnight period, with only isolated showers lingering into the evening. Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon, though coverage and the threat of severe weather are expected to remain limited.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees Wednesday.
Rain chances are expected to continue through the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend as an upper-level low-pressure system sends multiple disturbances across North Texas.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Weather Team
Monday was a wild day for the NFL with two blockbuster trades. First was Myles Garrett, who both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to have interest in.
Cowboys fans never bought into these rumors, knowing that Jerry Jones was unlikely to make such an investment. The Eagles, however, have been known to get aggressive. Thankfully for Dallas fans, they didn’t make the move as the Cleveland Browns sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of picks.
Not long after that trade was finalized, the Eagles did wind up making a trade. After months of speculation surrounding A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots, the two sides made it official as Brown was reunited with Mike Vrabel in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Dallas Cowboys could take the NFC East crown in 2026
The writing has been on the wall all offseason regarding Brown, who has been unhappy with the Eagles for a while. His departure seemed confirmed when they traded up with Dallas in the 2026 NFL draft for USC receiver Makai Lemon.
While Lemon has the tools to be a difference-maker, he won’t be able to perform at the same level as Brown during his rookie season. The Eagles do still have DeVonta Smith at receiver as well as running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That said, there’s no denying that they’re weaker this season than they were with Brown. Just as important, however, is the fact that general manager Howie Roseman didn’t pull off a shocking move for Garrett, which would have made them the overwhelming favorites in the division.
Cowboys chances hinge on defensive changes
Another reason the Cowboys are confident they can hang with Philadelphia this season is the presence of Christian Parker, who they hired as their defensive coordinator after he spent the past two seasons as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Eagles.
Parker brings in a new scheme and plenty of confidence, but more importantly, he has several new weapons at his disposal. Dallas traded for veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, signed Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and selected Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the draft.
Those are just some of the moves they made on defense, and they’re banking on that to be enough to help propel them past the team that has won the division the past two seasons.
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