At the September 23, 2024 meeting, the Richardson City Council voted 4-3 in favor of a national car dealership’s plan, prioritizing it over the interests of local businesses and residents. Clay Cooley proposed adding a body shop, vehicle storage, and repair shop among a few other things to their property in the heart of the Interurban district. Despite feedback and evidence regarding development goals, zoning laws, and urban design, they moved forward. Concerns raised by stakeholders—both recently and in the past—were overlooked, along with financial data, years of planning, and the community's investment in its future. Instead of encouraging new growth, the decision will preserve aging, substandard buildings from the 1960s and 70s. Ultimately, this vote supports parking lots and a closed repair shop, with the promise of a mural that, by law, could be painted over at any time.
