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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\u00a0Northaven United Methodist Church, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Dallas.<\/p>\n
Chitose Suzuki\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
North Dallas residents say they want council member Gay Donnell Willis to start listening to them \u2014 or face a recall effort<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The newly formed D13 Together Coalition<\/a>, made of multiple neighborhood groups in Willis\u2019 district, says they feel ignored, dismissed and unheard.\u00a0<\/p>\n The group announced Tuesday that it will seek 120-day delays on three major zoning cases and oppose efforts to relocate Dallas City Hall,<\/a> saying Willis has repeatedly ignored neighborhood concerns during her five years on the council.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Willis said she listens to all her constituents, not just the loudest ones.<\/p>\n Related:\u00a0White Rock Boathouse dispute with Dallas deepens over public access<\/a><\/p>\n The coalition’s leaders said if its requests are not met, they will begin the process of recalling Willis from office.<\/p>\n The first test is Thursday when the city\u2019s planning commission is scheduled to consider approval of an $800 million mixed-use development with hotel and condo towers<\/a> at Preston Road and Royal Lane.\u00a0<\/p>\n Residents opposed to the project packed a room Tuesday in the Northaven United Methodist Church to launch the new neighborhood coalition with the slogan, \u201cOne voter can be ignored. Thousands cannot.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cOur elected officials must listen to Dallas citizens,\u201d Steve Byars, a Bluffview resident, told the crowd. \u201cAt this point, no one in the city offices is listening to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Willis, who wasn\u2019t at Tuesday\u2019s meeting, said via email that North Dallas and the city are in a housing crisis and change is inevitable.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI listen to and respect every viewpoint \u2014 and while the opposition tends to be loud and aggressive, there are many supporters who have contacted me as well,\u201d Willis said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe latter weren\u2019t 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Rezoning battles<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n On Thursday, the planning commission is scheduled to consider the Preston Royal redevelopment plan,<\/a> which includes two towers reaching up to 240 feet. Current zoning allows buildings to reach 54 feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although developers reduced the height and density from earlier proposals, opponents said the changes do little to address their concerns.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n