The Dallas Express was able to catch up with Council Member Chad West to hear what he had to say about 2023 and what he looks forward to tackling in 2024.
West has been representing District 1 since May 2019. The council district covers North Oak Cliff and is bordered on the north by I-30, on the east by I-35, on the south by Illinois Avenue, and on the west by Mountain View College.
North Oak Cliff is known for its diverse cultural and arts scene, excellent shopping options in the Bishop Arts District and along Jefferson Boulevard, and some of the city’s most beautiful parks and historic neighborhoods. District 1 has a “small town vibe despite being the closest community to Downtown Dallas,” said West.
He said he understands that working in government can be messy and is often complicated. And yet, West maintained that it “is quite amazing and even inspiring at times, as great policy often comes out of compromise and debate. I’m not perfect, and even though it can be hard at times, I don’t mind admitting when I’m wrong — it’s encouraging to work with some colleagues and community thought leaders who share this mindset.”
West said he is dedicated to ensuring that his district and the city remain safe. In 2023, West expressed his support for fully funding the Dallas Police Department. He also helped initiate traffic studies along all major corridors in Oak Cliff to provide better pedestrian safety opportunities. Additionally, West supported the “speed racer” ordinance, which makes it a criminal offense to organize a speed racing event or participate as a spectator.
In 2023, West also focused on urban planning. He said one of his major accomplishments was passing the West Oak Cliff Area Plan, the most extensive area plan ever undertaken for South Dallas. This plan aims to address the long-term planning requirements of Oak Cliff, including providing “a long-range vision for land use, urban design, transportation, mobility, infrastructure, open space, and community concerns around gentrification, displacement, and revitalization,” according to the City of Dallas’ Planning & Urban Design office.
Additionally, West ensured that all newly constructed commercial properties would have wider sidewalks. He also took the lead in fully funding the 2011 Bike Plan, which was the first time the plan received full funding since its passage. West also reinitiated debate over the Parking Code to address the purportedly excessive commercial parking requirements.
West was also motivated to address development and permitting. Being the only council member who has gone through the permitting process, West said he has been advocating for improvements. He played a key role in implementing process improvements at the Development Services Department, which involved third-party permit review, self-certification, and the use of artificial intelligence. West led the efforts to reduce vendor fees for farmers’ market vendors, food carts, and food trailers and ease the permitting burden on food trailers. He also helped introduce the Public Facilities Corporation, a new financing tool for creating workforce housing.
When asked what he was passionate about, he responded, “Housing reform.”
“Dallas can’t meet the need for housing for those making between $30k and $100k per year, and it’s getting worse due to people moving here from both coasts because of our favorable economy. If we want to be a city in which our teachers, firefighters, police officers, med techs, and others can find a home and where many can actually purchase one, we need to consider reforms that are already happening in other cities across the country. That doesn’t mean opening the doors wide-open to development in single-family neighborhoods, but rather having an open discussion about what changes to our 1950s-era urban form that we’re willing to accept as we grow as a city,” said West.
Looking toward 2024, West said he will focus on “teeing up the 2024 Bond to address aging infrastructure needs in District 1 and parks and library improvements.” Additionally, he said he will continue to focus on housing reform, specifically on “citywide housing initiatives such as missing middle housing and lot size reform.”
West said he has an open-door policy and welcomes feedback and dialogue from residents across the city. “I believe in transparency, openness in the dissemination of information, and healthy discussions,” he added.
West has an email list that keeps residents up to date about development and the evolving housing needs in Dallas. Readers who want to be added to this list can email West directly at [email protected].