Snider Plaza’s construction project may encounter new developments in court soon.
Tensions between the Snider Plaza Alliance, the would-be developer of 6600 Snider Plaza Jim Strode, and city officials who approved the building project remain high. As the temporary restraining order blocking Mr. Strode’s construction is set to expire, Judge McFarlin is expected to make a decision that will decide the fate of Snider Plaza.
In October 2021, Dallas County District Judge Aisha Redmond granted a temporary restraining order blocking the redevelopment of 6600 Snider Plaza.
The opposition by the Snider Plaza Alliance to the redevelopment was due to allegations that the proposed office tower’s approval had required changes in zoning ordinances by the city council and didn’t allow for proper notification of the community.
Additionally, they assert the changes in zoning would allow the would-be developer, Mr. Strode, to avoid complying with zoning, which had been in place to prevent unnecessary traffic and parking for other businesses in the area.
According to People Newspaper, on November 5, Judge Sheryl McFarlin heard arguments from lawyers representing city officials who denied the claims that rezoning was necessary to approve the proposed office tower.
“The council decided based on the uses Mr. Strode was proposing, the fact there was additional parking in the other building he had across the street, […] they felt in their legislative discretion that reducing (the number of off-street parking spaces required to be provided per the city’s zoning ordinance) by 13 spaces was warranted,” said the city’s representation.
“So there was no change, and there was no hiding the ball. There was no conspiracy. The actions that were taken here were taken in accordance with the zoning ordinance, so there was no need to identify any change because nothing was being changed in the zoning ordinance.”
Lawyers for city officials echoed the arguments made by Mr. Strode in the city council meeting where he proposed his building. He explained he was not applying for zoning changes, just site plan approval.
Several city council members had also expressed that the proposed plans would not require rezoning in this meeting. According to mayor Stewart, the plans were “totally within the criteria for building in Snider Plaza.”
Snider Plaza Alliance bit back, telling The Dallas Express that they filed the lawsuit to protect Snider Plaza from city officials who had approved this redevelopment proposal “despite its clear zoning violation.”