Spring 2024 Newsletter
by Barbara Wooley
pmha Spring 2023 Newsletter
by Barbra Judge & Gaye Silver
PMHA FALL 2023 Newsletter ~ by Barbra Judge & Gaye Silver
PRESTONWOOD MEADOWS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION ~ FALL 2023 NEWSLETTER prestonwoodmeadows.org
District 11 & District 12 News Dallas International District
In May, Councilmember Jaynie Schultz joined City of Dallas staff at the former Valley View mall entrance to announce the on-going development of the Dallas International District. “The final demolition and clearing of the Valley View site is an important step in the fulfillment of the vision set forth over ten years ago by our city leaders, chambers of commerce, the development community and neighbors,” Schultz said. “The vision of the Dallas International District is to be a new regional downtown that thousands of people call home, thousands more are employed, and thousands more come from across North Texas to visit as a global meeting place whether in the park, our international restaurants, and shop at
Galleria Dallas." Learn more at www.dallasinternationaldistrict.com.
Neighborhood Reaction to Bike Lanes:
The City of Dallas’s 2011 Bike Plan has gained momentum again after twelve years. The new plan builds a network of connected bike routes that will help riders travel safely to home, work, school, parks, and other destinations throughout the city. The proposed bike lane master plan should be completed by the end of 2023 and includes bike paths on Campbell Road, La Manga Dr. and Meadowcreek Dr. When asked about the proposed bike lanes for Meadowcreek Drive, District 11 Councilwoman Jaynie Shultz replied she is “a strong advocate for this and all bike lanes.” Schultz indicated she was not aware of any bike lane incidents that decreased public safety. Alexis Hurst, a PMHA member with a house bordering Meadowcreek Drive, said “we are happy about the bike lane. We have young children that will be riding their bikes to school on occasion. The majority of Prestonwood Meadows homes are part of Dallas City Council District 11, represented by Jaynie Schultz, as of May 6, 2023. Residents living on the north side of Windy Ridge, or the east side of Arbor Downs, remain in District 12. District 11 borders north at Windy Ridge and Arbor Oaks (east side of Hillcrest) and south at Walnut Hill Lane. Our constituents include the population of the Dallas International District which encompasses the old Valley View Mall site, the Galleria and the Esperanza District which is the area from Interstate 635 to Spring Valley Road and US 75 to Coit Road.
Jaynie Shultz is passionate about decreasing property taxes, resolving the homeless problem, reducing crime, building vibrant neighborhoods and well-maintained streets and alleys. Through email Shultz responded to questions impacting North Dallas. Schultz confirmed that the proposed construction located where the Del Norte apartments are currently located on Preston Road will include the addition of 700 housing units. This project will include high rise apartments, with one building that could be as high as twenty stories. Traffic surveys are being utilized to study how the addition of these households and DART’s Cotton Belt/Silver Line will impact traffic on Preston Road. Concerning the panhandling problem impacting our area, Schultz said, “the reason panhandlers go to a location is because it is lucrative” and advised our community not to give panhandlers money. She suggests our constituents donate directly to organizations that serve the homeless. Residents can text the word CARES to 214-740-4886, where they will receive a direct link advising how they may donate to the unsheltered population. The District 11 team publishes bi-weekly newsletters and holds drop in office hours every Thursday at the District Office at 5580 Peterson Lane, Suite 160. Feel free to stop by and visit and subscribe to the newsletter. To sign up for the District 11 newsletter send a request to Kimberly.richards@dallas.gov. Sign up for District 12 newsletters at the following link, dallascityhall.com/government/citycouncil/district12. The sidewalk has too much congestion in the morning to accommodate both walkers and riders.” Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn told us that generally her constituents are opposed to the bike lanes especially on Campbell Road. Along with parking disruptions, Mendelsohn said there are concerns about “the additional delay construction of the bike lanes would have in combination with current Silver Line construction.” She noted that this response was gathered by reviewing emails received from constituents.
Outdoor Watering Guidelines DART Silver Line Construction Impacts Traffic Poker Rooms and Short-Term Rentals
In June, the Dallas City Council authorized an additional $70k to defend Judge Eric Moye’s ruling that poker rooms are illegal under the Texas constitution. Poker room advocates are appealing the decision. Our HOA will continue to oppose these establishments in our neighborhood. On June 14, 2023, the Dallas City Council voted to ban short-term rentals (STR’s) in single family neighborhoods.
Dallas Parks and Rec News:
Hillcrest Village Green: Friends of Hillcrest Village Green are currently raising money to help fund an artificial turf installation on the
park green space. Contact Chad Hunter at chad@dallasindemand.com to contribute.
Hillcrest Village Update:
LA Fitness has had plans to build a high-end fitness center in the old Albertsons/Minyards location for the past three years. Frustrated that the construction continues to be delayed, Jaynie Schultz is pursuing an ordinance that will institute monetary penalties on corporations that allow commercial buildings to sit vacant for years. Schultz is adamant that landowners creating neighborhood blight, even if they are upholding current requirements, should be penalized. Maximum twice-weekly watering allowed according to address. See chart above. Don’t water your yard between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. between April 1 and October 31. Hand water or use a soaker hose. Both are permitted on any day.
Watch Your Recycling Bin:
Several road closures have been announced that will impact our neighborhood. One lane traffic remains open in each direction until January 2024 on Hillcrest Road north of Campbell. Effective in January 2024, Hillcrest Road between Campbell Road and McCallum will be closed to through traffic until January 2025. Cars will detour to Meandering Way (east) or Davenport Road (west). Hillcrest Road will remain open to residents north of Campbell Road with a hard road closure at Wester Way or McKamy Blvd. A three-day road closure for Davenport east/west, Davenport north/south, and Campbell Road will be announced later. Construction on Coit Road is on-going. District 12’s Mendelsohn has requested clearer signage throughout the site. No full closure of Coit Road has been scheduled. Construction activity on the Dallas Silver Line is from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
The City of Dallas is initiating the “Take a Peek” program where sanitation workers check homeowners recycle bins to ensure they contain appropriate recyclable items. If inappropriate items are found, the resident will receive three rounds of written warnings, and the bin may be removed. To have a contaminated bin returned, homeowners may need to complete an online training course. Do not bag your recycled items.
Please leave these items out of your recycling bin: Plastic bags, Food and liquid, Cords, hoses, chains, Plastic film and wrappers, Clothing,
Paper towels, napkins Styrofoam Pizza boxes with grease.
Crime Report:
Reporting Non-Violent Crime 911 replaced by dallaspolice.net
Effective immediately, the Dallas Police Department requests citizens report non-emergency crimes (non-violent) on the new online reporting platform available 24/7. The criterion for online reporting includes minor traffic accidents, burglary of a motor vehicle, credit card abuse, graffiti damage <$2500, criminal mischief, harassing phone calls, lost property, theft <$2500 and reckless damage. There is an exception for lost or stolen firearms. Gun theft should be reported with a call to 911. The online reporting process is comprised of three steps; Go to dallaspolice.net. Click on “file a police report online.” Select the type of offense you want to report. Fill out and submit the report. 2. Once the report is submitted, you will receive an email confirmation that includes a tracking number. 3. When the report is reviewed an email will be sent notifying you of the status. APPROVED - you will receive a second email with an official police report (for insurance claims) and a case number. FOLLOW UP - you will receive a second email requesting additional information. The reporting party has 30 days to make corrections. REJECTED - the report is either a duplicate or did not meet the requirements for a crime. Based on these procedures, except for the lost handgun, the crimes reported below should be reported online at the dallaspolice.net website. Find additional details at dallaspolice.net.
PMHA Member Spotlight:
Bill and Betty Shockley, along with their 2 young daughters Christa and Carrie, moved to their newly built home on Windy Meadow Drive in 1976. They are one of a handful of original owners remaining in Prestonwood Meadows. Bill and Betty grew up in Kentucky and both graduated from David Lipscomb University in Tennessee. Bill went to work for the Corps of Engineers and Betty became an elementary teacher. The Shockley’s lived in St. Louis, Nashville, and Cincinnati before settling in Dallas. Both of their daughters Carrie and Christa attended Brentfield, Park Hill and Pearce Schools. Betty has 2 grandsons who live in Seattle with daughter Carrie and Jake Woolman. Christa resides in her new home in The Colony.
In March 2009, Bill passed away from complications of a stroke. Betty stays very active with her recording business, Dallas Christian Sound, Inc., her membership, and advisory role with Northwood Woman’s Club, Pilates, and walking her toy poodle Bailey. Getting to know the many interesting neighbors who add so much to this community is her greatest joy.
PMHA Monthly Outings:
Please join us for the HOA monthly dinners every 4th Friday. Check prestonwoodmeadows.org for dates, time, and location.
National Night Out:
Our National Night Out is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, and will be held in the Brentfield Elementary Cafeteria. If you’re new to this event, it is equivalent to a town hall meeting for our homeowner’s association. Guest speakers include a member of the Dallas Police Department and members of the Prestonwood Meadows Homeowners Association. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentations. This is a family friendly event. Complimentary pizza and drinks will be served.
PMHA Fall Social:
The Prestonwood Meadows annual Fall Social is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3rd. Food will be provided free of cost for members and their families. This is a family friendly event and children are welcome. The location is still being determined. Please consult the website for additional details.
A message from Julie Farrell, President PMHA:
We want all our neighbors to be aware that PMHA is a voluntary and non-punitive HOA. Unlike some traditional HOA’s, no one is going to tell you what color you can paint your house or how often to cut your grass. The $75 annual dues are used solely for social events and for communication purposes (e.g., newsletter, website). If you are not already a member, please consider joining. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors! The distribution of the newsletter will be to dues paying members only starting in 2024. If you have an interest in becoming a board member, or have questions about PMHA, please contact Julie Farrell at 214-801-0287. Check the prestonwoodmeadows.org website for the latest community information.
Restaurant Reviews:
Ellens is coming soon to Preston Trails Village. Known for comfort food, Ellen’s is a stylish Southern diner serving all day breakfast, plus traditional classics for lunch and dinner. Cane Rosso at Hillcrest Village has Happy Hour specials from 3 to 6 Monday through Friday. Includes specials on appetizers, pizzas, wines, and cocktails.
District 11 & District 12 News Dallas International District
In May, Councilmember Jaynie Schultz joined City of Dallas staff at the former Valley View mall entrance to announce the on-going development of the Dallas International District. “The final demolition and clearing of the Valley View site is an important step in the fulfillment of the vision set forth over ten years ago by our city leaders, chambers of commerce, the development community and neighbors,” Schultz said. “The vision of the Dallas International District is to be a new regional downtown that thousands of people call home, thousands more are employed, and thousands more come from across North Texas to visit as a global meeting place whether in the park, our international restaurants, and shop at
Galleria Dallas." Learn more at www.dallasinternationaldistrict.com.
Neighborhood Reaction to Bike Lanes:
The City of Dallas’s 2011 Bike Plan has gained momentum again after twelve years. The new plan builds a network of connected bike routes that will help riders travel safely to home, work, school, parks, and other destinations throughout the city. The proposed bike lane master plan should be completed by the end of 2023 and includes bike paths on Campbell Road, La Manga Dr. and Meadowcreek Dr. When asked about the proposed bike lanes for Meadowcreek Drive, District 11 Councilwoman Jaynie Shultz replied she is “a strong advocate for this and all bike lanes.” Schultz indicated she was not aware of any bike lane incidents that decreased public safety. Alexis Hurst, a PMHA member with a house bordering Meadowcreek Drive, said “we are happy about the bike lane. We have young children that will be riding their bikes to school on occasion. The majority of Prestonwood Meadows homes are part of Dallas City Council District 11, represented by Jaynie Schultz, as of May 6, 2023. Residents living on the north side of Windy Ridge, or the east side of Arbor Downs, remain in District 12. District 11 borders north at Windy Ridge and Arbor Oaks (east side of Hillcrest) and south at Walnut Hill Lane. Our constituents include the population of the Dallas International District which encompasses the old Valley View Mall site, the Galleria and the Esperanza District which is the area from Interstate 635 to Spring Valley Road and US 75 to Coit Road.
Jaynie Shultz is passionate about decreasing property taxes, resolving the homeless problem, reducing crime, building vibrant neighborhoods and well-maintained streets and alleys. Through email Shultz responded to questions impacting North Dallas. Schultz confirmed that the proposed construction located where the Del Norte apartments are currently located on Preston Road will include the addition of 700 housing units. This project will include high rise apartments, with one building that could be as high as twenty stories. Traffic surveys are being utilized to study how the addition of these households and DART’s Cotton Belt/Silver Line will impact traffic on Preston Road. Concerning the panhandling problem impacting our area, Schultz said, “the reason panhandlers go to a location is because it is lucrative” and advised our community not to give panhandlers money. She suggests our constituents donate directly to organizations that serve the homeless. Residents can text the word CARES to 214-740-4886, where they will receive a direct link advising how they may donate to the unsheltered population. The District 11 team publishes bi-weekly newsletters and holds drop in office hours every Thursday at the District Office at 5580 Peterson Lane, Suite 160. Feel free to stop by and visit and subscribe to the newsletter. To sign up for the District 11 newsletter send a request to Kimberly.richards@dallas.gov. Sign up for District 12 newsletters at the following link, dallascityhall.com/government/citycouncil/district12. The sidewalk has too much congestion in the morning to accommodate both walkers and riders.” Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn told us that generally her constituents are opposed to the bike lanes especially on Campbell Road. Along with parking disruptions, Mendelsohn said there are concerns about “the additional delay construction of the bike lanes would have in combination with current Silver Line construction.” She noted that this response was gathered by reviewing emails received from constituents.
Outdoor Watering Guidelines DART Silver Line Construction Impacts Traffic Poker Rooms and Short-Term Rentals
In June, the Dallas City Council authorized an additional $70k to defend Judge Eric Moye’s ruling that poker rooms are illegal under the Texas constitution. Poker room advocates are appealing the decision. Our HOA will continue to oppose these establishments in our neighborhood. On June 14, 2023, the Dallas City Council voted to ban short-term rentals (STR’s) in single family neighborhoods.
Dallas Parks and Rec News:
Hillcrest Village Green: Friends of Hillcrest Village Green are currently raising money to help fund an artificial turf installation on the
park green space. Contact Chad Hunter at chad@dallasindemand.com to contribute.
Hillcrest Village Update:
LA Fitness has had plans to build a high-end fitness center in the old Albertsons/Minyards location for the past three years. Frustrated that the construction continues to be delayed, Jaynie Schultz is pursuing an ordinance that will institute monetary penalties on corporations that allow commercial buildings to sit vacant for years. Schultz is adamant that landowners creating neighborhood blight, even if they are upholding current requirements, should be penalized. Maximum twice-weekly watering allowed according to address. See chart above. Don’t water your yard between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. between April 1 and October 31. Hand water or use a soaker hose. Both are permitted on any day.
Watch Your Recycling Bin:
Several road closures have been announced that will impact our neighborhood. One lane traffic remains open in each direction until January 2024 on Hillcrest Road north of Campbell. Effective in January 2024, Hillcrest Road between Campbell Road and McCallum will be closed to through traffic until January 2025. Cars will detour to Meandering Way (east) or Davenport Road (west). Hillcrest Road will remain open to residents north of Campbell Road with a hard road closure at Wester Way or McKamy Blvd. A three-day road closure for Davenport east/west, Davenport north/south, and Campbell Road will be announced later. Construction on Coit Road is on-going. District 12’s Mendelsohn has requested clearer signage throughout the site. No full closure of Coit Road has been scheduled. Construction activity on the Dallas Silver Line is from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
The City of Dallas is initiating the “Take a Peek” program where sanitation workers check homeowners recycle bins to ensure they contain appropriate recyclable items. If inappropriate items are found, the resident will receive three rounds of written warnings, and the bin may be removed. To have a contaminated bin returned, homeowners may need to complete an online training course. Do not bag your recycled items.
Please leave these items out of your recycling bin: Plastic bags, Food and liquid, Cords, hoses, chains, Plastic film and wrappers, Clothing,
Paper towels, napkins Styrofoam Pizza boxes with grease.
Crime Report:
Reporting Non-Violent Crime 911 replaced by dallaspolice.net
Effective immediately, the Dallas Police Department requests citizens report non-emergency crimes (non-violent) on the new online reporting platform available 24/7. The criterion for online reporting includes minor traffic accidents, burglary of a motor vehicle, credit card abuse, graffiti damage <$2500, criminal mischief, harassing phone calls, lost property, theft <$2500 and reckless damage. There is an exception for lost or stolen firearms. Gun theft should be reported with a call to 911. The online reporting process is comprised of three steps; Go to dallaspolice.net. Click on “file a police report online.” Select the type of offense you want to report. Fill out and submit the report. 2. Once the report is submitted, you will receive an email confirmation that includes a tracking number. 3. When the report is reviewed an email will be sent notifying you of the status. APPROVED - you will receive a second email with an official police report (for insurance claims) and a case number. FOLLOW UP - you will receive a second email requesting additional information. The reporting party has 30 days to make corrections. REJECTED - the report is either a duplicate or did not meet the requirements for a crime. Based on these procedures, except for the lost handgun, the crimes reported below should be reported online at the dallaspolice.net website. Find additional details at dallaspolice.net.
PMHA Member Spotlight:
Bill and Betty Shockley, along with their 2 young daughters Christa and Carrie, moved to their newly built home on Windy Meadow Drive in 1976. They are one of a handful of original owners remaining in Prestonwood Meadows. Bill and Betty grew up in Kentucky and both graduated from David Lipscomb University in Tennessee. Bill went to work for the Corps of Engineers and Betty became an elementary teacher. The Shockley’s lived in St. Louis, Nashville, and Cincinnati before settling in Dallas. Both of their daughters Carrie and Christa attended Brentfield, Park Hill and Pearce Schools. Betty has 2 grandsons who live in Seattle with daughter Carrie and Jake Woolman. Christa resides in her new home in The Colony.
In March 2009, Bill passed away from complications of a stroke. Betty stays very active with her recording business, Dallas Christian Sound, Inc., her membership, and advisory role with Northwood Woman’s Club, Pilates, and walking her toy poodle Bailey. Getting to know the many interesting neighbors who add so much to this community is her greatest joy.
PMHA Monthly Outings:
Please join us for the HOA monthly dinners every 4th Friday. Check prestonwoodmeadows.org for dates, time, and location.
National Night Out:
Our National Night Out is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, and will be held in the Brentfield Elementary Cafeteria. If you’re new to this event, it is equivalent to a town hall meeting for our homeowner’s association. Guest speakers include a member of the Dallas Police Department and members of the Prestonwood Meadows Homeowners Association. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentations. This is a family friendly event. Complimentary pizza and drinks will be served.
PMHA Fall Social:
The Prestonwood Meadows annual Fall Social is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3rd. Food will be provided free of cost for members and their families. This is a family friendly event and children are welcome. The location is still being determined. Please consult the website for additional details.
A message from Julie Farrell, President PMHA:
We want all our neighbors to be aware that PMHA is a voluntary and non-punitive HOA. Unlike some traditional HOA’s, no one is going to tell you what color you can paint your house or how often to cut your grass. The $75 annual dues are used solely for social events and for communication purposes (e.g., newsletter, website). If you are not already a member, please consider joining. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors! The distribution of the newsletter will be to dues paying members only starting in 2024. If you have an interest in becoming a board member, or have questions about PMHA, please contact Julie Farrell at 214-801-0287. Check the prestonwoodmeadows.org website for the latest community information.
Restaurant Reviews:
Ellens is coming soon to Preston Trails Village. Known for comfort food, Ellen’s is a stylish Southern diner serving all day breakfast, plus traditional classics for lunch and dinner. Cane Rosso at Hillcrest Village has Happy Hour specials from 3 to 6 Monday through Friday. Includes specials on appetizers, pizzas, wines, and cocktails.