D13 Together Coalition member Doug Hazelbaker speaks during a news conference concerning upcoming zoning cases and other issues affecting Dallas City Council District 13 at Northaven United Methodist Church, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Dallas.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
North Dallas residents say they want council member Gay Donnell Willis to start listening to them — or face a recall effort.
The newly formed D13 Together Coalition, made of multiple neighborhood groups in Willis’ district, says they feel ignored, dismissed and unheard.
The group announced Tuesday that it will seek 120-day delays on three major zoning cases and oppose efforts to relocate Dallas City Hall, saying Willis has repeatedly ignored neighborhood concerns during her five years on the council.
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Willis said she listens to all her constituents, not just the loudest ones.
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The coalition’s leaders said if its requests are not met, they will begin the process of recalling Willis from office.
The first test is Thursday when the city’s planning commission is scheduled to consider approval of an $800 million mixed-use development with hotel and condo towers at Preston Road and Royal Lane.
Residents opposed to the project packed a room Tuesday in the Northaven United Methodist Church to launch the new neighborhood coalition with the slogan, “One voter can be ignored. Thousands cannot.”
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“Our elected officials must listen to Dallas citizens,” Steve Byars, a Bluffview resident, told the crowd. “At this point, no one in the city offices is listening to us.”
Willis, who wasn’t at Tuesday’s meeting, said via email that North Dallas and the city are in a housing crisis and change is inevitable.
“I listen to and respect every viewpoint — and while the opposition tends to be loud and aggressive, there are many supporters who have contacted me as well,” Willis said.
“The latter weren’t treated respectfully by their neighbors in public meetings, but their voice is just as important to me as the others. Leadership means making decisions based on long-term stability, not short-term pressure,” she said.
The coalition brings together residents who have traditionally fought separate neighborhood battles, uniting them around what they describe as a broader pattern of being ignored by City Hall.
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Rezoning battles
Although coalition leaders said they intend to remain organized beyond the upcoming votes, their immediate focus is three zoning cases scheduled over the next two weeks.
On Thursday, the planning commission is scheduled to consider the Preston Royal redevelopment plan, which includes two towers reaching up to 240 feet. Current zoning allows buildings to reach 54 feet.
Although developers reduced the height and density from earlier proposals, opponents said the changes do little to address their concerns.
More than 4,000 residents have signed a petition opposing the development through nonprofit Preserve Preston Hollow. They’ve collected donations to fund a social media campaign, a website and an attorney.
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Their slogan: “No skyscrapers, no rezoning at Preston and Royal.”
Margaret DiFrancesco, who lives near the proposed Preston Royal development, said she repeatedly tried to meet with Willis.
“She didn’t listen to us,” DiFrancesco said. “She just didn’t seem like she cared.”
Margaret DiFrancesco, who lives near the site of Preston Royal development plan, speaks during a news conference concerning upcoming zoning cases and other issues affecting Dallas City Council District 13 at Northaven United Methodist Church, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Dallas.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Residents also oppose the town home development Melshire Estates in the Walnut Hill and Marsh lanes area. They say the proposal is a dramatic departure from existing zoning standards and threatens the long-term character of surrounding neighborhoods.
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The City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal Aug. 12. Willis supports the redevelopment.
She said the zoning applications have been moving through the city’s legal process over the past year. The proposals changed substantially from where they started due to community input.
There have been over 22 meetings, discussions and calls about the Preston Royal and Melshire Estates developments. Neighborhood voices have helped shape the projects into what they are today, Willis said.
Residents are also complaining about another rezoning case that was already rejected by the City Council in November. They say Willis has resurrected this case on behalf of the developer for another vote.
The proposal in Walnut Hill and Betty Jane allows for the construction of 41 patio homes, with the majority of them three-story, reaching 36 feet in height, on property currently zoned for two-story homes with a maximum height of 30 feet.
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The coalition also expanded its criticism beyond development, taking aim at Willis’ support for exploring alternatives to Dallas City Hall, arguing the city should preserve the I.M. Pei-designed building rather than relocate government offices.
Recall may be next
Coalition organizer Doug Hazelbaker said residents have reached a breaking point.
The group’s proposed recall effort is different from another campaign this year.
“This is a new recall. It’s funded, and we have thousands of people on it,” Hazelbaker said. “It’s her decision to delay these cases and give some community feedback.”
Whether the coalition ultimately pursues a recall campaign, members said, will depend on the outcome of the upcoming zoning votes.
Under the Dallas City Charter, residents seeking to recall a council member must first notify the city secretary before circulating a petition. Organizers then have 60 days to collect signatures from qualified voters equal to at least 15% of those eligible to vote for that council seat in the last general municipal election.
Mary Jane Cox and her husband, Richard Cox, who live near the site of Preston Royal development plan, attend a news conference concerning upcoming zoning cases and other issues affecting Dallas City Council District 13 at Northaven United Methodist Church, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Dallas.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
If the city secretary certifies the petition, the City Council must call a recall election on the next available election date.
“When thousands of engaged voters speak with one voice, that voice cannot be ignored,” Hazelbaker said. “We’re building a permanent coalition that will hold our elected leaders accountable.”