Dallas | 1,300-Unit Multifamily

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CPC February 6, 2025

District: 3 | Southwest Dallas

• 1,300-Unit Multifamily | SWC of Potters House Way & Truth Dr | Postponed

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DISTRICT: 3

Clay Academy PD SWC of Potters House Way & Truth Dr

Southwest Dallas | 21.53 Acres | 1,300 Units | Postponed

City Plan Commission 2/6/25

Amended PD 655 Boundaries | Postponed

The Potter's House, T.D. Jakes' 30,000-member religious institution, is seeking to optimize its 21.538-acre holding in West Oak Cliff through a technical amendment to PD 655. Through Clay Academy Inc., the organization is pursuing boundary realignment that would unlock approximately 6,000 square feet of additional developable area by resolving discrepancies between a 2006 conservation easement and original PD boundaries.

The staff report explicitly notes no development is currently proposed. However, the amendment would consolidate the entire Clay Academy Addition (Lot 1, Block V/8710) into Subdistrict 6, which carries significant entitlements within PD 655's framework: 75-foot height allowance, 100% lot coverage, zero minimum side setbacks, and no FAR restrictions. The broader PD allows up to 1,300 residential units, with a 400-unit multifamily cap.

The property maintains tax-exempt status under its current educational use. Any change in use would require reassessment of tax implications. The existing 66,540-square-foot institutional building (2005 construction) shows only 18% physical depreciation, indicating strong underlying infrastructure.

Development parameters require a minimum 2,500-square-foot lot size, 3-foot rear setback minimum, and 10-foot maximum front setback. Staff analysis anticipates minimal traffic impact from the boundary adjustment. Any future development, except single-family, would require separate City Plan Commission approval via development plan.

The February 6th City Plan Commission hearing resulted in a procedural delay until March 6th due to notification requirements. The development team includes Johnson Volk Consulting as representative, with Michael Woods leading the application for Clay Academy. Staff recommends approval, citing alignment with Dallas' comprehensive plan designation as Community Residential Placetype.

Let’s be clear, there is no specific plan for development made public at this time. But here’s what the amendments could do:

• Consolidate the entire parcel into Subdistrict 6 maximizes development flexibility. The subdistrict's entitlements (75-foot height, 100% coverage, no FAR cap) align with modern multifamily development parameters. Within PD 655's 400-unit multifamily cap, this positioning could support an institutional-scale deal.

• The property's existing tax-exempt status through Clay Academy, combined with The Potter's House's institutional presence, suggests potential for sophisticated public-private partnership structures. Religious and educational institutions often utilize ground lease or similar arrangements to maintain tax benefits while enabling development.

Owner: The Potter's House (Clay Academy Inc.), Frank M Dyer, II (972) 322-5953

Case Report: Z245-148(JA/SAS) SR

Project Plans: Z245-148(JA/SAS) Plan

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