Did the Latest Draft Change Anything?

You decide. Below is an excerpt from an email the Neighborhood Committee Head sent touting 23 draft changes. Nearly all the changes removed extras SNUCK into the draft released on 1/19/2024 without neighborhood input. Those Provisions — and the natural effect of removing provisions we never agreed to — are highlighted below. Provisions in bold type have a back story in red that was left out of this email.

Spinning It

After removing provisions snuck in (highlighted below), we are left with 3 changes involving setbacks, one involving waterfall steps (plus another redundant to City Code). Four genuine changes out of twenty-three points.
Non-contributing houses, you are still under architectural control despite Petitioners’ promises.
Architectural standards for everyone have become divorced from an objective source. We did not agree to any of the architectural standards. (See EXTRAS SNUCK INTO THE DRAFT).

From: Lakewood Conservation District Expansion <[email protected]>
Date: September 15, 2024 at 9:17:54 PM MDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Lakewood CD Expansion- New Draft Now Available for Review

1. Simplification of language throughout, which shortened the length of the document by six pages.

2. Reworking of order of standards within the document, based on direction from City attorney’s office – these are not substantive changes, they are simply orientation within the document.

3. Removal of the points system for architectural features when constructing a new home in one of the five contributing styles. In new construction, a minimum of six of the listed features must be present. The lists of available features are significantly longer than those in the original CD2 ordinance, allowing for much more flexibility.

4. Allowance for circular driveways

5. Removal of prohibition of painting unpainted brick/stone

[NoToCD2: 40% of our houses are already painted! Removed via survey.]

6. Lowered required rear yard setback from 20′ to 10′

7. Allowance for attic stories in ALL styles and in one-story homes

8. Removal of requirement for wider side setback on one side (was 10 ft for lots <10K and 11 ft for lots >10K). Side setbacks for both sides are now: 5 ft for lots <10K and 6 ft for lots >10K.

9. Removal of requirement for front entry driveway on new construction

[NoToCD2: Please note that the in new construction front entry driveways must go 20′ beyond the front yard setback (the front facade of your house), which we did not discussed in Neighborhood Meetings.]

10. Height is now based on lot size instead of 30′ max for all. Now 30′ max for lots <10K sf and 35′ max for lots >10K sf. Most of our lots are >10K.

[NoToCD2: How did this sneak into the latest draft? Please see City of Dallas email 10/29/2022 LWCD Expansion Meeting update: “Max hight of 30′ on most homes, with a potential max of 25′ on blocks with smaller, primarily 1.5 homes.”]

11. Removal of “noncontributing” terminology. Homes which are not one of the 5 contributing styles are now referred to as “Supporting Houses”.

[NoToCd2: The disagreement here is not about assigning another term for B-List homes. It is about Petitioners’ claims that Non-Contributing homes would be free from architectural standards, which leads to the irony of #12 below.]

12. Supporting Houses now have significantly fewer architectural remodeling standards. Metal cladding is not allowed on the front façade. Roof and window materials allow for materials which look like tile, slate, wood. Appearance of windows on front façade is addressed. These general standards are intended to maintain the existing look of the neighborhood if the house is remodeled.

[NoToCD2:The disagreement here is not about another term for B-List homes. It is about Petitioners’ claims that Non-Contributing homes would be free from architectural standards. This is not a gift.]

13. Allowance for courtyard walls to be constructed within 5′ of front facade (5′ into the front setback) up to 4′ tall

[NoToCD2:Again, not a gift. A 5′ courtyard?!]

14. Allowance for solar panels everywhere except front façade facing roof. Allowed on all sides of accessory structures.

[NoToCD2 Response: There are two problems with this claim:

Solar panels were already allowed on all sides of accessory structures (see draft released 1/19/2023), Development Standards (z2): “Solar panels are allowed on 100 percent of accessory structure roof. ” Claiming this is a change is incorrect.

In addition, whoever fashioned this latest draft removed a clause that would “allow for advancements in technology that mimic the appearance of typical roofing materials.” In the original draft (released 1/19/2023) that provision was in the Development Standards, (z3 ), Solar Panels.]

15. Allowance for artificial turf in front yards in consideration of potential future development of environmentally conscious materials

16. Allowance for solar screen on front porch enclosures

17. Removal of requirement for retainage of waterfall steps

18. Removal of requirement for minimum corner side yard setback of 15 feet

19. Removal of prohibition of tinted/colored concrete for driveways

20. Removal of requirement for brick, stone, or paver color on driveway to be compatible with materials found on an Original Houses within the district

21. Removal of requirement for elevated foundation

22. Removal of requirement for porch infill inset on enclosed front porches.

23. Removal of requirement for 2 parking spaces for each dwelling units.

[NoToCD2 Response: This had to be removed because the new Director of Planning and Development, Emily Liu, instructed her staff to remove provisions covered by City Code.]