What is the WOCAP?
What is the plan?
The West Oak Cliff Area Plan (WOCAP), covering 5 square miles with an estimated population of 44,000 people (86% Hispanic/Latinx), was initiated in 2020 by the City of Dallas. WOCAP is a land use plan that can inform future zoning changes such as the upcoming authorized hearings (a city-initiated process to determine the proper zoning in an area which also has the ability to make zoning changes) in West Oak Cliff. In March of 2022 the City of Dallas released the first draft of the West Oak Cliff Area Plan (WOCAP). The recommendations in the plan will have an impact on what Oak Cliff will look like over the next decade and beyond. Currently the plan has not yet been adopted, and the city is receiving public input on the plan. Keep reading to learn more.
The map below, shows the boundaries of the West Oak Cliff area plan.
This plan will make recommendations in the following areas:
Land Use and Development: Related to private development, zoning, previously filed authorized hearings, and other desired land use changes or improvements.
Transportation and Infrastructure: Relates to all recommended roadway enhancements, proposed thoroughfare changes, recommendations for new sidewalks, bike lanes, and other urban design improvements.
Parks and Open Space: relates to all strategies and recommendations related to existing parks, proposals for new parks, open spaces, and trails, and issues related to natural systems and the natural environment.
Quality of Life: Includes recommendations related to preserving neighborhood affordability, economic development and small business support, community arts and culture, and safety.
Click on the button below to visit the City of Dallas’ WOCAP website. That site also contains the most recent versions of the plan.
Why does this plan matter?
What is the WOCAP?
The West Oak Cliff Area Plan (WOCAP), covering 5 square miles with an estimated population of 44,000 people (86% Hispanic/Latinx), was initiated in 2020 by the City of Dallas. WOCAP is a land use plan that can inform future zoning changes such as the upcoming authorized hearings (a city-initiated process to determine the proper zoning in an area which also has the ability to make zoning changes) in West Oak Cliff. In March of 2022 the City of Dallas released the first draft of the West Oak Cliff Area Plan (WOCAP). The recommendations in the plan will have an impact on what Oak Cliff will look like over the next decade and beyond. Currently the plan has not yet been adopted, and the city is receiving public input on the plan. Keep reading to learn more.
The map below, shows the boundaries of the West Oak Cliff area plan.
This plan will make recommendations in the following areas:
- Land Use and Development: Related to private development, zoning, previously filed authorized hearings, and other desired land use changes or improvements.
- Transportation and Infrastructure: Relates to all recommended roadway enhancements, proposed thoroughfare changes, recommendations for new sidewalks, bike lanes, and other urban design improvements.
- Parks and Open Space: relates to all strategies and recommendations related to existing parks, proposals for new parks, open spaces, and trails, and issues related to natural systems and the natural environment.
- Quality of Life: Includes recommendations related to preserving neighborhood affordability, economic development and small business support, community arts and culture, and safety.
Click on the button below to visit the City of Dallas’ WOCAP website. That site also contains the most recent versions of the plan.
Why the WOCAP Matters
The area plan will be a document that the City of Dallas uses to inform its future policy decisions. Once passed, it will be considered to represent the “will of the community”. This plan determines whether a piece of property will contain a single-family home, or a multifamily home. It outlines what types of businesses will be permitted in certain areas and in general what types of building will be allowed to be built in certain areas.
How You Can Get Involved
The plan is currently winding it’s way through the City Plan Commission (CPC) and ultimately the City Council. Here are some ways that you can still get involved.
Now – Get up to date on the current draft plan and some of the key messages from our advocacy group – click here for key talking points
Saturday, August 13, 2022 @10am – Join us for block walking to inform our neighbors and update them about current the status of the plan and what’s at stake.
Sunday, August 14, 2022 @3pm-5pm – Meet up with us for a sign making gathering, where we will provide updates on the WOCAP, sign folks up to speak at the upcoming CPC meeting, and help people with talking points, and information.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 @6am – Deadline to sign up to Speak at the CPC meeting on August 18th. To register to speak, visit this site
Thursday, August 18, 2022 @1:30pm – Speak at the CPC meeting. If you cannot come to speak you can email the CPC directly, click here for a listing of current CPC commissioners and their contact information
ON GOING
- Join or Form a Neighborhood Association, contact Yolanda Alameda for more information y_alameda@yahoo.com
- Contact your City Council member!
- Chad West – District 1 City Council Member, chad.west@dallascityhall.com
HELPFUL VIDEOS
Messages from West Oak Cliff locally owned auto shops
About Our Advocacy
Who is the Somos Tejas?
The Mission of Somos Tejas is to Cultivate a vibrant culture of civic participation in the Latino community that becomes a transformative force towards a more progressive and inclusive Tejas.
Who is the West Oak Cliff Coalition?
The West Oak Cliff Coalition is a community-led effort to maintain neighborhood self-determination in the face of development, gentrification, and displacement. Click here for more information
Our Campaign – Protect Our Homes, Protect Our Businesses, Protect West Oak Cliff
We are collaborating with the partner organizations and the West Oak Cliff community to increase community awareness and participation in this process that will impact the community for years to come. We have been advocating for the following since the inception of the plan:
- Community representation on the WOCAP task force
Language justice and the provision of interpretation and translation services to ensure that information, presentations, and materials are offered in Spanish - Authentic community engagement to inform and gather feedback from the residents and businesses in the area.
- A plan that reflects the interests and will of the community.
What’s at stake? Two Key Points
- Self-determination for S. Edgefield neighborhood- The majority of neighbors in this area are not in favor of recommendations for zoning changes that would create more density (missing middle housing). We want to assure that the voice of the community is listened to and reflected in the plan.
- Protecting our locally owned automotive shops from risks associated with being labeled non-conforming. They want to remove any language from the plan that would ban auto-centric shops or make them non-conforming. Minimal outreach was done by the city to inform these businesses of the WOCAP; which impacts primarily Latinx operated small businesses.
Why the WOCAP Matters
What is the plan?
The area plan will be a document that the City of Dallas uses to inform its future policy decisions. Once passed, it will be considered to represent the “will of the community”. This plan determines whether a piece of property will contain a single-family home, or a multifamily home. It outlines what types of businesses will be permitted in certain areas and in general what types of building will be allowed to be built in certain areas.
Why does this plan matter?
Have Questions?
Contact Dallas City Council
How to get invovled
The plan is currently winding it’s way through the City Plan Commission (CPC) and ultimately the City Council. Here are some ways that you can still get involved.
Now – Get up to date on the current draft plan and some of the key messages from our advocacy group – click here for key talking points
Saturday, August 13, 2022 @10am – Join us for block walking to inform our neighbors and update them about current the status of the plan and what’s at stake.
Sunday, August 14, 2022 @3pm-5pm – Meet up with us for a sign making gathering, where we will provide updates on the WOCAP, sign folks up to speak at the upcoming CPC meeting, and help people with talking points, and information.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 @6am – Deadline to sign up to Speak at the CPC meeting on August 18th. To register to speak, visit this site
Thursday, August 18, 2022 @1:30pm – Speak at the CPC meeting. If you cannot come to speak you can email the CPC directly, click here for a listing of current CPC commissioners and their contact information
ON GOING
- Join or Form a Neighborhood Association, contact Yolanda Alameda for more information y_alameda@yahoo.com
- Contact your City Council member!
- Chad West – District 1 City Council Member, chad.west@dallascityhall.com
HELPFUL VIDEOS
Video from locally owned auto shops in West Oak Cliff
About Our Advocacy
Who is the Somos Tejas?
The Mission of Somos Tejas is to Cultivate a vibrant culture of civic participation in the Latino community that becomes a transformative force towards a more progressive and inclusive Tejas.
Who is the West Oak Cliff Coalition?
The West Oak Cliff Coalition is a community-led effort to maintain neighborhood self-determination in the face of development, gentrification, and displacement. Click here for more information
Our Campaign – Protect Our Homes, Protect Our Businesses, Protect West Oak Cliff
We are collaborating with the partner organizations and the West Oak Cliff community to increase community awareness and participation in this process that will impact the community for years to come. We have been advocating for the following since the inception of the plan:
- Community representation on the WOCAP task force
- Language justice and the provision of interpretation and translation services to ensure that information, presentations, and materials are offered in Spanish
- Authentic community engagement to inform and gather feedback from the residents and businesses in the area.
- A plan that reflects the interests and will of the community.
What’s at stake? Two Key Points
- Self-determination for S. Edgefield neighborhood- The majority of neighbors in this area are not in favor of recommendations for zoning changes that would create more density (missing middle housing). We want to assure that the voice of the community is listened to and reflected in the plan.
- Protecting our locally owned automotive shops from risks associated with being labeled non-conforming. They want to remove any language from the plan that would ban auto-centric shops or make them non-conforming. Minimal outreach was done by the city to inform these businesses of the WOCAP; which impacts primarily Latinx operated small businesses.