Dallas City Plan Commissioners Approve Controversial Coombs Creek Rezoning

Nearby residents and environmental advocates raise concerns over potential impact on sensitive creek area

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Despite strong community opposition, the Dallas City Plan Commission voted 12-2 to approve a zoning request to convert 3.2 acres along Coombs Creek in West Oak Cliff from single-family to multifamily residential. The developer, Christian Chernock, argued the multifamily project would minimize environmental impact, but nearby residents and advocates expressed concerns over increased density, potential flooding and erosion issues, and a lack of enforceable details about the final development plan.

Why it matters

This rezoning case has become a test case for how Dallas balances housing development, community trust, and environmental protection, especially along sensitive creek areas. The approval comes as the state has passed legislation to limit cities' ability to regulate multifamily projects, raising concerns from residents about the long-term impacts.

The details

The 3.2-acre site is currently zoned for single-family homes but the developer requested it be rezoned to multifamily. Commissioners who supported the rezoning argued the multifamily approach would better protect the creek and limit impervious surfaces compared to a single-family or townhome development. However, nearby residents and environmental advocates raised concerns about the potential for increased runoff, erosion, and flooding issues along Coombs Creek. The developer offered some deed restrictions to address community concerns, but residents said they do not trust the long-term enforceability of those restrictions.

  • The rezoning case was first submitted in 2024, but the developer later withdrew the application.
  • After the developer's term as a city planning commissioner ended in June 2025, he resubmitted the rezoning application.
  • The City Plan Commission voted 12-2 to approve the rezoning request on February 6, 2026.

The players

Christian Chernock

The developer who submitted the rezoning request. Chernock was previously appointed to the City Plan Commission by the city council member for District 1, where the property is located.

Eugene Johnson

A nearby resident who spoke in opposition to the rezoning, citing concerns about the lack of enforceable details in the development plan.

Yesenia Serrano

The president of the North Boulevard Terrace Neighborhood Association, who said the community's concerns have sometimes been "brushed off or labeled instead of actually being addressed."

Melissa Kingston

The City Plan Commissioner for District 14 who voted in support of the rezoning, arguing that much of the community opposition had become "personalized toward the developer rather than focused on the merits of the zoning case."

Kathy Coffman

The City Plan Commissioner for District 12 who voted against the rezoning, feeling it granted "overly broad multifamily entitlements" without a compelling public benefit to justify the upzoning.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“My biggest concern with the multifamily is the lack of understanding of what ultimately would get built there. For me, just the level of uncertainty leads me to the place where I can't really support the [request] at this point.”

— Eugene Johnson, Resident (The Dallas Morning News)

“Community input is not an inconvenience. It matters, and it should be a real part of decisions about zoning and land use. In this case, when the neighbors have spoken up, our concerns have sometimes been brushed off or labeled instead of actually being addressed.”

— Yesenia Serrano, President, North Boulevard Terrace Neighborhood Association (The Dallas Morning News)

“It's about choosing two buildings and more trees instead of dozens of roofs and more pavements in hundreds of linear feet of drive aisles and driveways.”

— Christian Chernock, Developer (The Dallas Morning News)

What’s next

The rezoning case now awaits a final vote by the Dallas City Council, where residents and the developer will have another opportunity to state their cases.

The takeaway

This controversial rezoning approval highlights the ongoing tensions in Dallas between housing development, environmental protection, and community engagement. As the city grapples with a housing shortage, this case demonstrates the challenges of balancing those competing priorities, especially in sensitive areas like along Coombs Creek.