Frequently Asked Questions

ForwardDallas

What is ForwardDallas 2.0?

ForwardDallas 2.0 is Dallas’ comprehensive land use plan update. You can read the September 2024 City Council Draft here. This citywide visionary plan establishes guidelines for how public and private land should be used and what the city should look like. Many cities update and develop their land use plans around every 10 years, but Dallas has not updated ForwardDallas since its adoption in 2006. This plan was written by Planning and Development staff who have decades of experience in community building, urban design, architecture, and transportation planning. 

How does ForwardDallas 2.0 relate to Housing?

Housing Choice and Access is one of five key themes that serve as the foundation for ForwardDallas 2.0’s goals, objectives, and action steps. These themes are based on thousands of comments and conversations over the course of 2+ years of community engagement throughout Dallas. The other themes are:

  • Environmental Justice and Sustainability

  • Transit-Oriented Development and Connectivity

  • Economic Development and Revitalization

  • Community and Urban Design

How will ForwardDallas 2.0 be used and who will use it?

The plan is a guide used by City Boards and Commissions; City Council; City Plan Commission; City departments, City and County agencies; residents; employers; developers and other stakeholders to inform decisions about development, infrastructure and code regulations.  Most specifically, when a new application for a zoning change goes before the City Plan Commission and the City Council, the application will be reviewed based on whether the zoning change “is in accordance with” the comprehensive plan. 

This does not mean any future zoning changes will be automatically recommended for approval based on ForwardDallas 2.0 alone. The ForwardDallas 2.0 comprehensive land use plan is one of several factors taken into account when reviewing development proposals. 

Does ForwardDallas 2.0 change zoning at all?

No. ForwardDallas 2.0 is a land use planning guide and does not rezone any part of the city. If a property owner applies for a zoning change, each case will still be filed with the planning department, will be reviewed by staff, reviewed by CPC, and if recommended, will move to the City Council for review and final vote.

How could ForwardDallas 2.0 benefit Dallas’ housing landscape?

By encouraging more housing options throughout Dallas, with a focus at key intersections, activity centers, local commercial areas, along corridors and around DART transit stations, ForwardDallas 2.0 casts a more inclusive vision for our city, discussing a diverse mix of accessible housing types at variety of price points for Dallasites of all stages of life, including recent college graduates, young professionals, new families, and aging populations.

Does ForwardDallas 2.0 make changes historic districts, conservation districts, neighborhood stabilization overlays, and planned development districts?

No. ForwardDallas 2.0 does not make any changes to these districts.

How can Dallas prevent further displacement of its residents?

Builders of Hope CDC is currently working on an Anti-Displacement Toolkit. The toolkit is tentatively scheduled to be revealed and presented to Dallas City Councilmembers in October or November 2024. We eagerly await the toolkit’s release and look forward to supporting its implementation.

What are some of the most recent changes that have been made to the ForwardDallas 2.0 draft plan?

Language prioritizing adding design standards into the Development Code, strengthening the Neighborhood Stabilization Overlay ordinance to provide greater predictability and sensitive design for new housing, and providing further locational guidance, such as preferred locations for different housing types near transit stations and along corridors, in transition areas between non-residential and existing residential areas, on former civic/institutional properties, and possibly on corner lots, are a couple of the most recent changes that have been made.

In addition, ForwardDallas 2.0 includes language clarifying that it does not include a recommendation for a city-initiated rezoning of single-family neighborhoods, nor does it encourage tearing down existing housing for replacement and incompatible infill, particularly in areas at risk of displacement.

What is its status?

The Dallas City Council approved ForwardDallas 2.0 at a public hearing Wednesday, September 25, 2024. City of Dallas Planning and Development staff can now begin working on the plan’s implementation. Read our statement on its adoption here.