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Majed Al-Ghafry, the Assistant City Manager for the City of Dallas, has been chosen by the DeSoto City Council to serve as DeSoto’s next City Manager. His appointment was announced by Mayor Rachel L. Proctor at Tuesday evening’s DeSoto City Council Meeting.

“After conducting a comprehensive national search to find the very best City Manager to lead DeSoto into the future, we are proud to say that we have accomplished our mission and are bringing the best of the best to DeSoto,” said Mayor Proctor. “While Majed Al-Ghafry has built an impressive track record of high-level accomplishments, it was the steady praise that we heard from those who knew him best that told us what we needed to know about his character and leadership abilities.”

The process of finding a new City Manager began in November of 2023 when the DeSoto City Council hired the municipal consulting firm Government Professional Solutions (GPS) to conduct a nationwide search.

On Thursday, April 18th, three finalists including Al-Ghafry were invited to DeSoto City Hall for a public meet and greet event. It was there that Majed Al-Ghafry distinguished himself with his demeanor, knowledge, and love of DeSoto.

“When I told our residents back in April that I loved DeSoto, I meant it! I’ve had many friends and colleagues from DeSoto over the years and they’ve shared the love and enthusiasm they have for this wonderful city with me.” Al-Ghafry continued, “I’ve also been able to experience DeSoto on my own as a neighbor and a professional, and I can see both its greatness and its untapped potential.”

“This is a very exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to working with our Mayor and City Council, team members, and residents to make DeSoto the absolute best it can be!”

Majed Al-Ghafry is an Executive Engineer and educator who has spent more than 35 years as a leader in both the public and private sectors.

He has worn many hats with the City of Dallas including overseeing all of Dallas’ infrastructure departments, Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, Planning and Urban Design, Development Services, the Office of Historic Preservation and the Tourism, Conventions and Events Departments.

Before joining the City of Dallas, Al-Ghafry served as the Assistant City Manager of the City of El Cajon, California, and as the Public Works Director for the City of San Antonio.

Majed is a Credentialed City Manager who earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas, Denton, a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, professional engineering registrations in Civil and Traffic from the State of California and a professional engineering registration from the State of Texas. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas.

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DESOTO—The DeSoto City Council continued last month’s meeting by revisiting the Hampton Road Character zoning area.

DeSoto residents had voiced concerns regarding the rezoning ordinance relating to properties in the Hampton Road Character zoning area.

The five new zoning districts included the Urban Center, Urban General, Neighborhood Services, Urban Neighborhood, and Neighborhood Transition. Residents spoke in April and again last week, many against and some in support of the changes.

Applicants at the April meeting said they did not believe their voices had been heard, making last week’s meeting a chance for speakers to respond to the new zoning ordinance by way of public comment before the city council.

DeSoto’s Development Services Director Charles Brewer opened the Public Hearing by reminding the council on March 26, 2024, a public hearing was held on the rezoning with 34 comment cards presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission: 16 in opposition, 10 in support, and eight individuals being neutral to the city’s request to rezone all the properties within the new Hampton Road Character Zone area.

Following this, a motion was made to recommend this to the city council, but with only five members in attendance at the meeting, the recommendation failed.

The council revisited the public hearing in April, and 17 public comment cards were presented to it; 12 were in opposition, and five individuals were in support of the changes.

Since then, Brewer said the city’s consultants conducted two public engagement meetings in late April, and they made a presentation to the council at the May public hearing. On April 22, 60 residents attended the engagement meeting, and on April 23, 33 individuals attended.

The consultant, Brad Johnson from Halff Associates, reminded the council that this public hearing was to map the already adopted new zoning district to properties in the new zoning district. Johnson reminded the council that the heart of the new district is about creating a walkable/bikeable feel in this area of DeSoto. An emphasis was on attempting to revitalize the area, offering a new feel for residents and those visiting the city.

Johnson went on to repeat the character code and its basis for necessary change in the rezoned area, reminding businesses already existing there they would be allowed to continue under the previous code if no big changes were implemented by their business.

Johnson also told the council there is support for the project, but property owners are concerned about property values and why the change is necessary.

Johnson told the council that of those who attended the April meetings, their concerns were as diverse as traffic issues due to the new project, not wanting the change, wanting to understand the changes, understanding the zoning impact, and some at the meeting who were in support of the economic benefits forthcoming with the changes.

Johnson’s feedback to the council after the April meetings included integrating more flexibility in the code for single-family homes so that they can rebuild in a disaster, requiring an SUP for accessory dwelling units, and monitoring traffic patterns.

A number of residents spoke at the public hearing, beginning with Madelyn Baker, who said she was in the transition area and there was supposed to be a road through there. ” Everyone is saying there is no plan, but someone has a plan. Who has the plan?” No one on council answered her, and she wanted to know when she would get an answer. Her second question was, “What does the transition area mean to me?” and then she asked, “When will I get the answers?”

Ann Gibson, who has lived in DeSoto since the seventies, said, “I believe all this is as crazy as driving down Chattey Road.” There were laughs and claps as she said, “If this rezoning should be determined and you want to go forward with this, you

The wait is almost over! On June 12, South Dallas County residents can enjoy shopping at the first Dallas location of Joe V’s Smart Shop by H-E-B. The new store is located at 4101 W. Wheatland Road, just to the east of Duncanville and slightly to the west of DeSoto.

The new Joe V’s Smart Shop opening marks the cost-conscious store’s first location in DFW and outside of the Houston area. The 55,000 square foot store will offer the highest quality fresh products, combined with the “lowest prices in the marketplace,” their press materials read. That’s why their customers are known as “Smart Shoppers.”

The new store opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning on June 12, and it’s easy to predict some long lines for this highly anticipated grand opening. H-E-B, a San Antonio-based multi-format retailer, is known for pulling out all the stops at their opening events.

Joe V’s Smart Shop by H-E-B

The new store is located at 4101 W. Wheatland Road in Dallas. Their innovative price format promises to deliver a uniquely curated assortment of community-focused products, and the high-quality, fresh products H-E-B is known for at even lower prices.

H-E-B is also opening a new store in Mansfield early this summer. The company also announced plans to open a Joe V’s Smart Shop at 5204 S. Buckner Blvd. in the spring of 2025. The concept launched in 2010, and currently employs more than 2,000 Partners across 10 stores in the Houston area.

The new Joe V’s Smart Shop in South Dallas County plans to employ more than 200 Partners, drawn primarily from the local community. H-E-B is known as one of the top employers in the country. Their employees at the new store will receive training, competitive pay, a robust benefits package, and career and leadership advancement.

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The City of DeSoto paid homage Wednesday morning to the nation’s fallen peace officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. More than 70 officers, officials, and residents turned out for the event which included words of support and profound gratitude.

DeSoto Mayor Rachel L. Proctor and several members of the DeSoto City Council were on hand to honor the fallen. The Mayor read a proclamation pointing out that “In the performance of their duties there were 136 law enforcement officer fatalities in 2023 with Texas losing roughly 11 officers.”

While the death of even one peace officer is tragic and one too many, Assistant Police Chief Ryan Jesionek reported that losses in the law enforcement community have actually decreased. Said Assistant Chief Jesionek, “We gather together today to honor and pay tribute to those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities. But before fulfilling our somber purpose here today, please allow for the presence of hope as the number of officer line-of-duty deaths decreased by 39% from 2022 to 2023, and for the first time since 2019, COVID-19 was not the leading cause of on-duty death.”

You can view the ceremony which was broadcast live on the City’s Facebook Page at https://fb.watch/s4Ai-FMm1Y/

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CITY OF DESOTO NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Case Z-1523-24

The City of DeSoto Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing to consider a request to rezone a 9.547-acre tract of land legally described as being parts of Tracts 28 and 42 in the Jeptha May Survey, Abstract 860 (804 Kirnwood Drive) from Office-1 (O-1) to a Planned Development (PD) with base zoning of MF-18 for the development of multifamily development with deviations. The applicant is Master Plan and property owner is Baron Funding, LLC. The public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission will be conducted on Tuesday May 28, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. If the zoning change request is recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission; if denied and appealed, the public hearing before the City Council will be conducted on Tuesday June 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

Asunto Z-1523-24
La Comisión de Planificación y Zonificación de la Ciudad de DeSoto llevará a cabo una Audiencia Pública para considerar una solicitud para rezonificar un terreno de 9.547 acres descrito legalmente como parte de los Distritos 28 y 42 en la Encuesta de Jeptha May, Resumen 860 (804 Kirnwood Drive) de la Oficina-1 (O-1) a un Desarrollo Planificado (PD) con zonificación base de MF-18 para el desarrollo de desarrollo multifamiliar con desviaciones. El solicitante es Master Plan y el dueño de la propiedad es Baron Funding, LLC. La audiencia pública ante la Comisión de Planificación y Zonificación se llevará a cabo el martes 28 de mayo de 2024 a las 6:00 p.m. Si la solicitud de cambio de zonificación es recomendada para su aprobación por la Comisión de Planificación y Zonificación; si es denegada y apelada, la audiencia pública ante el Concejo Municipal se llevará a cabo el martes 18 de junio de 2024 a las 6:00 p.m.

For meeting information please go to the City website (http://www.desototexas.gov/1515/Agendas-and-Minutes) to view the agenda. If you have any questions regarding this case, contact the Planning and Zoning Department at (972) 230-9622.The building in which the above meeting will be conducted is wheelchair accessible; spaces for the mobility impaired are available.

Any request for sign interpretative services must be made forty-eight hours prior to the time of the meeting.

Arrangements for sign interpretative services may be made by calling the City Secretary at 972/230-9646 or by calling TDD-1-800-RELAYTX (1-800-735-2989).

To be a valid written protest the protest or petition in opposition must be filed with the Planning Department before 4:00 P.M of the working day immediately preceding the date in which Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council will hear this case.

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