Decision-Makers & Approvals

Proposed Site History and Current Status

Location: The parcel is in Place 5, represented by Dr. Dinah Marks. Dr. Marks is also the Council Representative on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

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Zoning: The prospective site is designated as PD-116. Planned Development. It is boarded by Single Family Residential - 10 bordering. [DeSoto Community Map (arcgis.com)] 

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The City of DeSoto Zoning Ordinance describes it as:

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Planned Development District No.116: Single Family Residential Uses

Area: 23.77 Acres 

Location: West of Westmoreland Road and South of Eagle Drive. 

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Special note: The southernmost corner of the parcel shows up as Bearson Park, which is described as a ~6 acre park in the Parks Master Plan. More on this is in the Potential Partnership Approaches section.

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Zoning change, 2005. 

The parcel was rezoned from Single Family Residential in 2005 to its current status. 

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The designation Planned Development District is an Overlay and Prefix District, which retains the base zoning designation in effect unless it is changed by a zoning amendment. In this case, an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance was passed, codifying the parcel as Planned Development.  [City of DeSoto Zoning Ordinance]

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The houses abutting the parcel are part of the Twin Creek development. DeSoto has dozens of Homeowners and Neighborhood Associations that are an integrated part of the city government, but Twin Creek is not part of any HOA.  A separate document with parcel owner information is provided with this document. Emerald Hills-Dallas Oak CAD Parcels.xlsx

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Original proposed use and site plan.

The linked ordinance in this section includes the conceptual site plan and landscaping plan as approved in 2005 for the ~22 acre parcel: Ordinance No. 1652-05 (Z-1048005) [PD-116 EAGLE VALLEY 12-20-05 (desoto.tx.us)]   [Minutes from passage of the ordinance.]

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Potential consideratin.

In 2016, PD-116 was discussed in relation to amendments requested by the developer for a neighboring parcel (PD-124). Minutes from this meeting reflect a concern about high school students being able to walk through PD-116 (the proposed storage site). This may be an important consideration for the storage site design. Minutes | 7/19/2016 

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Discrepancy between State Code designation and City Zoning designation explained.

Property tax records show that the State of Texas designates this plot as “#1 Commercial - Vacant Plotted Lots/Tracts” (see table 1). The state code of C1 is a designation for vacant lots of any size.  [96-313.pdf see p.5]

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The zoning designation is “Single Family-10”, which is the base layer assigned by the City of DeSoto prior to the passage of the Eagle Valley ordinance in the preceding section.

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Table 1

Application and approval takes place at the city level. No permissions are required at the state or county level.

Matt Carlson, Executive Director

mcarlson@desototexas.gov

211 E. Pleasant Run Road

DeSoto, TX 75115

Phone: 972.230.9611
Fax: 972.230.9670
info@dedc.org

A specific use permit is required, and can be submitted online. [SUP Application] 

After a staff completeness review and any necessary corrections, the City will request digital presentation materials, such as a powerpoint presentation, for Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council meetings. The application is considered by the P&Z first, and then by the Council. [Application-Check-List-Only]

Vanessa Sterling, President/CEO

972.224.3565 office

469.615.5347 cell

president@desotochamber.org

The city began its comprehensive plan update in November, 2022. A draft vision and goals have received community feedback. Summer of 2023 is the projected adoption date. To date, there is nothing in the Plan that would support or prohibit the proposed use.

[Comp Plan Update Presentation, 2/20/2023]  [Comp Plan Website]

Luis Tamayo

Director of Planning & Development

luis.tamayo@dallascounty.org

214-653-7627

Context and information: n/a

The seven commission members are appointed by the City Council to serve for a three-year term, with term limits of six years. Their responsibilities include: 

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• Zoning application review and recommendation including Planned Developments, Specific Use Permits, Plats and Straight zoning
• Review all subdivision plats within the city limits

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The commission also makes recommendations to the City Council regarding other development policies or ordinances, such as changes to the Comprehensive Plan, Subdivision, and Zoning Ordinances.

Warner Bell (2022)

Commissioner

Term expires: 9/2025

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Mr. Bell is an IT professional who has his own computer repair business in addition to his position at Dallas College.

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Employment History

Current: Dallas College, Senior Systems Administrator; (and two prior positions) 2018 to present

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Past employment: CH Reynolds, Cisco Data Center Access/Ops Engineer, 2017-2020.

Unisys, Dell field engineer 4, 2017-2018

TEKsystems, Technician II, Network Operations, 2016

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Education

AA, Information Technology, University of Phoenix

BS, Network Operations and Security, Western Governors University

PGP-CC, Cloud Computing, Texas McCombs School of Business

Tanya Brooks (2022)

Commissioner

Term expires: 9/2025

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Employment History

Current: Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Assistant Vice President Capital Planning, 2022

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Past employment: 

• City of Fort Worth, Assistant Director, Transportation and Engineering, 2019-2022
• City of Dallas, Assistant Director, Mobility Planning; and three planning-related positions within the transportation department, 1999-2019

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Volunteer Experience/Boards

• WTS, Director of Professional Development, 2022 to present
• North Central Texas Council of Governments, Surface Transportation Technical Committee Chair, 2021-2022; STTC Secretary, 2019-2020
• McKinney Avenue Transit Authority, Board of Directors, 2016-2019

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Education

BS, Transportation/Mobility Management, Southern University at New Orleans

Master of Public Policy, City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning; University of Northern Iowa

Coffey Caesar (2018)

Commissioner

Term expires: 9/2024

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Ms. Caesar is a native of Texas who has traveled extensively and lived in a number of states and abroad (France). She has a long list of accomplishments, and was featured in the Fall 2021 edition of Soul and Salsa along with her daughter, Xandria.

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Employment History

Current: Coffey Caesar Real Estate Firm, LLC, Owner

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Past employment: Model, fashion designer

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Education

BA in Fashion Merchandising and Design, University of Houston

Licensed Minister

Preston Gilstrap (2016)

Commissioner

Term expires: 9/2023

Mr. Gilstrap is a former law enforcement officer, and was the National Chair of the National Black Police Association. As Chair he testified in a 2002 form on police misconduct held by the US Congressional Black Caucus in Inglewood, CA.

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At a July 2022 P&Z Commission meeting, he gave the below statement to the press after the Commission denied a developer’s request to decrease lot sizes in a development from 10,000 square feet to 6,000 square feet. Staff had recommended approval.

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There’s something about a community that maintains its integrity – what we want to see, need to see, what we have to see. We are here to listen to the citizens and then make recommendations to the council. Code needs to be updated, zoning needs to be updated. But we can’t jump at everything that comes down the pipe. My grandpa used to say ‘all money, ain’t good money.’ There are two to three families living in houses. These developments take away from the atmosphere. I don’t have a problem with developers. McDonald is right, we need all the development we can get. But we need it to be pristine.  [DeSoto P&Z Denies Controversial Zoning]

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Employment History

Current: Retired

Past employment: Dallas Police Department, 1971-2013

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Education: Unknown

Theloniaus (Theo) Peugh, Sr. (2018)

Vice Chair 

Term expires: 9/2024. This is Rev. Peugh’s second term and, due to term limits, it will be his last.

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Reverend Peugh is former chair of the P&Z Commission. He is an assistant public defender and Senior Pastor of CenterPointe Baptist Church. 

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Employment History

Current: Dallas County, Assistant Public Defender

Past employment: Unknown

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Education

BS, Psychology, Texas A&M University

JD, Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University

Gerry Ravnell (2020)

Commissioner

Term expires: 9/2025

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Employment History

Current: Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

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Past employment: Walgreens/Option Care Infusion Services, Regional Sales Director, 2014-2016

Various, Regional sales and marketing in many states and a variety of companies (unstated), 2004-2013

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Education

BBA, Marketing, University of North Texas

Keith Stone (2017)

Chair

Term expires: 9/2023

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Employment History

Current: Keller Williams Realty, Realtor

Past employment: Leetex Construction; Turner Construction, Project Manager, Project Engineer,  2002-2015

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Education

BS, Civil Engineering, Howard University

DeSoto is a council/mayor form of government, in which all council members are elected at-large but must live in the district they represent. The mayor represents the entire city, with no requirement to live in a certain district. DeSoto is a majority female (55%), majority African-American (~67%), which is reflected in the City’s leadership.

Council recent history

It is not unusual for a DeSoto council member to resign before their term expires. A few constituents in a recent public meeting for the Comprehensive Plan update noted council turnover as a problem, while others saw the city council leadership as an asset.

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In 2019, the council member for Place 6 was embroiled in a public scandal about her husband’s embezzlement from the DeSoto Economic Development Corporation when he was the head of the organization. The mayor at the time (now deceased) took steps to suppress the information, pressuring the city manager to keep quiet a full two years before the story became public. The city manager resigned and took a job in Charlottesville, in part due to the mayor’s actions and other reasons he would not disclose.

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The City is focused on creating a business district, transforming it from a suburban bedroom community into a small city with business, entertainment, medical facilities, and other amenities. This requires forward planning, which they are actively engaged in now.

Code of Conduct

The city has a code of conduct ordinance and a Guide for DeSoto Public Officials which applies to citizens elected and appointed to serve. There are Disclosure of Interests, Economic Conflicts of Interest, and  Statutory Requirements for Municipal Authority Responsible for Approving Plats sections specific to members of the P&Z that advise officials must recuse themselves for any land use decisions they may have a Substantial Interest in: 

No member of the City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, or Board of Adjustment shall participate in, or vote on, any land use matter (e.g. zoning, variances, plats, permits) in which such officer has a Substantial Interest in any real property within 200 feet of the real property, the subject of the land use matter.  

Example: A City Councilmember or Planning and Zoning Commissioner may not vote on a zoning case or on plat approval for property located within 200 feet of real property owned by such DeSoto public official. (p. 15)

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All DeSoto appointed or elected public officials must complete a disclosure form upon appointment or election, disclosing the type and location of all real property within the city limits in which the official has any interest. [Code of Conduct Ordinance] [Guide for DeSoto Public Officials]

Rachel L. Proctor (2013)

Mayor

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Year elected: 2013 

Ms. Proctor was first elected to City Council in 2013, and re-elected in 2014. She served as Mayor Pro Tem from 2016-2019. In February 2021, she was elected to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Curtistene McCowan, who passed away in office. Three days after taking office, DeSoto was hit by the storm that knocked out power for multiple days across the state.

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Mayor Proctor was reelected in May, 2022; she is the 22nd mayor of DeSoto. Proctor devised the Developer’s Roundtable to bring developers and others together under the rationale that:

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“Cities don’t develop cities, developers develop cities. It behooves us to build these relationships so we can give developers who come in our vision to really give us what we want to see and work together as partners on that.” [Mayor Proctor Talks About Her DeSoto Roots & What Motivates Her]

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She holds quarterly “360” meetings with HOA representatives. As an elected, she is proud of her work on:

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• Pay Day Loan ordinance to reduce abusive practices of predatory lenders
• Implementing a transportation program with benefits to low and moderate income residents’ travel for essential services. 
• Economic development via the “Grow DeSoto Marketplace”, a comprehensive business incubator that includes affordable rents, mentoring, and support for small business. 

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Ms. Proctor aspired to having her own business from a young age and has written about and presented on entrepreneurship with a special focus on getting women started in business and leadership. She has been recognized for community service and been given multiple awards for leadership, mentoring, and business. She is a licensed minister with a focus on women’s retreats. Mayor Proctor seems to have a boundless capacity for work, which is reflected in her many accomplishments to date and her ongoing multiple endeavors.  [Rachel L. Proctor]

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Current employment: Owner and Administrative Director of the Neighborhood Christian Learning Center of Dallas, Inc. This is a family-owned business that has been in operation for 30 years.

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Stated priorities are:

• Government transparency
• Execute the strategic plan
• Improve the relationship with the ISD for the good of all
• Economic development regarding the Hampton Road redevelopment

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Position on solar: Mayor Proctor signed a National Clean energy Week proclamation in September, 2022.     [ NCEW Proclamation 2022- DeSoto.pdf]

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Past Community and/or board involvement

• DeSoto Chamber of Commerce, board member
• Leadership Southwest, board member
• Dallas County Child Welfare Board, board member
• Dallas County Juvenile Department Youth Services, Advisory Board Liaison
• City of DeSoto Audit and Finance Committee
• Liaison for the City Council to the Economic Development Corporation
• DeSoto Public Library Advisory Board

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Education

BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Texas at Arlington.

Patricia Ledbetter (2008)

Interim for Place 2

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Year elected: 2008

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Ms. Ledbetter was appointed by the Council on February 6, 2023 to replace Kay Brown Patrick, who resigned on January 17, 2023. A general election on May 6, 2023 will be held for this seat and for Place 4. Ms. Ledbetter represented Place 2 on the council from 2008 to 2014, and was Mayor Pro Tem from 2013-2014, ultimately leaving due to term limits. 

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Because Ms. Ledbetter is not running for any council positions on the May 6 ballot, this profile is abbreviated.

Nicole Raphiel (2018)

Place 3

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Year elected: 2018 in a February special election to fill a vacancy. CM Raphiel was re-elected in 2019.  She has lived in DeSoto since 1997.

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Current employment: St. Philip’s School and Community Center, Community Development Project Manager 

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Stated priorities are:

• The Place 3 constituents 
• Economic incentives/business development deals–strengthen the attraction of sound businesses.
• Fiscal responsibility and restraint
• Hire a marketing manager

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Position on solar: None found

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Past employment

• Executive Assistant, (contracted) Substance and Mental Health Services Administration, 2013-2022
• Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Community Education and Outreach, 2009-2022
• Big Thought, Arts Partners Representative, 2008-2022

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Community and/or board involvement

• DeSoto Park Development Corporation Board; former board chair. She has been on the board since 2013. The board oversees the Parks master plan.
• DeSoto Dining and Dialogue, Facilitator
• Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Puppet Ministry Volunteer Director, May 2005-present

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Education

BS in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas

Andre’ Byrd, SR (2019)

Mayor Pro Tem, Place 4

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Year elected: 2019, to fill an unexpired term.

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CM Byrd ran unsuccessfully against Mayor Proctor in the 2022 election. He is on the ballot for the May 6 election and has three challengers. 

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He considers himself a servant leader.

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Current employment: New Covenant Christian Fellowship Church, Founding Pastor, 2006

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Stated priorities are: None found

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Position on solar: None found

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Past employment

• Medco Construction, Controller
• Omni Corporation; Rosewood Corporation; Noble House Corporation; Consultant

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Community and/or board involvement

• Baylor-Juanita Craft Diabetes Health Aware Center, board member
• Leadership Southwest, board member
• Texas Municipal League, member
• Thorntree Homeowners’ Association
• DeSoto Economic Development Corporation, Liaison for the City Council 
• Covenant House, a rehabilitative haven for men recovering from substance abuse;  founder and president 
• DeSoto Women-and Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (W/MBE), Ad hoc Committee
• DeSoto Audit and Finance Committee, member

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He has received recognition and honors for his work in the community and abroad by the City of Dallas, the City of DeSoto, the Dallas Fire Department, the National Baptist Convention, and several Texas universities. 

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Education

Honorary Doctorate from Texas Bible Institute and Seminary. Certified Faith-Based Counselor.

Dr. Dinah Marks 2019

Place Five

The proposed site is within Dr. Marks’ district, as is the DeSoto High School. She is a former educator, and may have some educational programs or improvements in mind for potential funding.

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Year elected: 2019

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Current employment: Retired

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Stated priorities are:

• Commercial development–attract and retain businesses, keep residential property taxes low
• Education funding is an issue as there are fewer children
• Bring awareness to domestic violence at an early age (teen), since these types of public safety calls have not decreased despite an overall reduction in calls for service.

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Position on solar: None found

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Past employment

• 30 years with the Dallas Independent School District as an Instructional Specialist, Educational Employment Administrator, Assistant Principal. Principal Fellow, and Principal at the Elementary and Middle School levels.

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Community and/or board involvement

• DeSoto Arts Commission
• Kentsdale Farm Board of Directors
• NAACP
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, member.

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Dr. Marks is active in her church, where she has served as president, media ministry, and President of Women’s Ministry.

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Education

BA in Education/English, Alabama A&M. Master’s in Educational Administration, Texas A&M. PhD in Educational Leadership, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

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Crystal Chism 2021

Place Six

Year elected: 2021

This is Ms. Chism’s first elected office.

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CM Chism and Mayor Pro Tem Andre Byrd have worked to prevent the development of discount stores and smoke shops, believing that these establishments increase crime rates and prevent more useful development projects like grocery stores. Ms. Chism also advocated to raise the minimum wage for city employees, increase staffing in city services like Code Enforcement, and have the municipal court establish programs for abusers in Misdemeanor C family violence cases.

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Current employment: Unknown 

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Stated priorities are:

• Economic development, COVID recovery
• Address empty commercial real estate, grants for existing businesses
• Better food and grocery options
• General public health for all ages, including parks, wellness programs, library enhancements.

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Position on solar: None found

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Past employment

• Former combat veteran, 10 years, Army, active and reserve

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Community and/or board involvement

• DeSoto Domestic Violence Advisory Commission, Vice Chair
• Citizens Police Advisory Committee, commissioner
• South Dallas Professional and Business Women’s Club, member
• DeSoto Rotary Club, member

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Education

BBA in Management; University of Texas in Arlington

Letitia Hughes 2021

Place Seven

Year elected: 2021

CM Hughes was elected in a special election to fill an unexpired term in February, 2021. She ran for re-election in May, 2021 and kept her seat. 

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She is positive about the city and its leadership and staff. 

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Current employment: The Hughes Group Real Estate Services, broker and owner

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Stated priorities are: Unknown

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Position on solar: None found

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Past employment

• Remax, realtor, 2007-2010
• Texas Department of Human Services, caseworker, 1993-1998

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Community and/or board involvement

• MetroTex Board of Realtors, Southwest Dallas MLS representative
• Community Missionary Baptist Church of DeSoto, co-chair of the Veterans Ministry

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Education

Coursework in Communications, University of Texas at Arlington

1. Contribute to trail development in Bearson Park or other locations listed in the Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan 2020 (p.83) [Parks Master Plan]

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The southernmost corner of the parcel is Bearson Park. It appears in the Parks, Recreation and trails master plan as 6.4 acres that are “undeveloped”. 

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Section 4 of the plan’s Site and Facility Inventory describes it:

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Bearson Road Park is an undeveloped park site adjacent to Veloweb Trail. The site is relatively flat and is dominated by a number of well-established Cedar trees. The site is bound by a wooded fence row along the west and south side of the park and tree cover along a drainage swale on the east side. The park acreage lends itself for future development as a neighborhood park although the park is cut off from the neighborhoods to the west by Elerson Rd. Direct pedestrian access, which is a traditional component of a neighborhood park, is able to be achieved from the neighborhoods to the east by way of the Veloweb Trail. (p.58)

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Certain areas of the city have been identified as underserved areas. If  Bearson Park were to be removed from this inventory as part of the Emerald Hills build-out, it would cause that area to be put into the “underserved areas” predicament. (p.95)

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2. Building a meaningful tree canopy is a stated council goal and the city recently passed a tree mitigation ordinance. A partnership or contribution regarding increasing the tree population may be welcomed. CM Crystal Chism (Place 6) has been an active proponent of improving the tree canopy.  

• DeSoto has dozens of Homeowners’ Associations. These meet regularly with council leadership. Homeowners & Neighborhood Associations | DeSoto, TX - Official Website

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• Oncor is the power supplier. There is no compiled history of outages easily available, but news stories show the 2021 ice storm caused extended outages for DeSoto residents. In addition, an October 2022 campaign event with Beto O’Rourke had DeSoto residents cheering at his promise to fix the power issues.

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• The city has a 2023 Business Plan, which includes the goal of developing zoning requirements that require greenspace as part of residential and commercial developments. 2023 Business Plan | DeSoto, TX - Official Website

The city has a fire academy that serves the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Fire Marshal is Brandon Freeman. DeSoto Fire Academy

12/2022: 55 miles from Dallas; 190 MW/380MWh Cunningham facility will be the largest operating battery energy storage project on the Texas grid upon commissioning next year. It consists of 159 cabinets of 2.4MWh blocks. It will supply power and ancillary services to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). 

ACCIONA Energía acquires largest battery storage project in Texas (190MW) 

6/2022: Granbury, Texas. The 260 MW/260 MWh battery energy storage project is the largest of its kind in Texas to date. This project is part of the $1 billion investment that Vistra is making within the Texas ERCOT market, and is the second of seven new zero-carbon projects Vistra is bringing online in Texas over the next few years as part of its Vistra Zero portfolio. [Huge battery facility in Texas goes online]