[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6514031,"mediaKeyId","5065395-34955db6a014be26af3553e92a0d3c18","parentId",5065395,"title","DeSoto Planning and Zoning welcomes new director, planning manager, engineer and consultant","audioSeconds",526,"startMs",3909000,"endMs",4435000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065395-34955db6a014be26af3553e92a0d3c18&start=3909&end=4435","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065395-34955db6a014be26af3553e92a0d3c18/thumbnail_3909000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6514031/DeSoto/Dallas-County/Texas/DeSoto-Planning-and-Zoning-welcomes-new-director-planning-manager-engineer-and-consultant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514031-3f12d287833c60f10169033704f729ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000128&Signature=aRBANfj6vobvEz4L-dY3v~RoSaOf4tqoyLwbWX4gog5BcBcCrkLvlCkechRMavM6d0YqIYBDIkvVRGSuOXrGksErp9vUj-hWDy-MIR1j5smNqdyLn9AjbioZCRDuSF~mDiHhe1MHZX-DFRXb-VnIO4We9Dg3BH7cIBkdCU1T6W22iClruEQUy43jPv4IlUaEqw8KxSU2YQAMGk4SJHf25uRy3tIoz-alvpaAlN9Lx7RF6oO5dVJ6hXGQsIiVLprZtMJO2TzHIpMjTzvbZ7L5MuTWQ4JtjQc5k4YZ5N8-1fZSZqqf8lLkFtVQEi~Y3wjoLYuRtfFDbCv7GmyaInm6Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeSoto","date","2025-06-24T00:00:00Z","article","At the start of the meeting, Ahmed Al Quesa identified himself as the new director for DeSoto’s Development Services Department and later introduced a substantially staffed department.

Al Quesa told commissioners the department now includes a planning and zoning manager, Cambria Jordan; a civil engineer, Gita Chobulti; and a consultant, David Kosom, who will provide planning and permitting support as needed. “We have a planning and zoning manager now, and that is Miss Cambria Jordan,” Al Quesa said.

Cambria Jordan said she previously worked in planning and engineering roles with Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the City of Dallas and described her most recent role as senior planner for the City of Dallas. “I came from City of Dallas, the planning department,” Jordan said.

Gita Chobulti described a background in civil engineering, including a master’s from the University of Texas at Arlington and previous experience as a project manager and construction inspector with the Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Dallas.

Consultant David Kosom said he will be available as a resource to the department on planning and building inspection matters. He told commissioners he has served in senior roles at other municipal development services departments and will be available on a professional services basis.

Staff and commissioners welcomed the new hires and noted the department now has the capacity to support planning, permitting, engineering and development review tasks. Commissioners asked for brief biographies and the departmental agreement for the consultant to be shared with the commission for reference.

No formal action was associated with the introductions; commissioners thanked new staff and said they looked forward to working with the expanded team.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeSoto - Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - Jun 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Development Services introduced new director Ahmed Al Quesa and announced hires including Planning and Zoning Manager Cambria Jordan, civil engineer Gita Chobulti and consultant David Kosom.","taxTitle","DeSoto, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",4572,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514035,"Planning commission recommends approval of Parkerville Meadows Phase 5 preliminary plat",51,2939000,2990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065395-34955db6a014be26af3553e92a0d3c18&start=2939&end=2990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065395-34955db6a014be26af3553e92a0d3c18/thumbnail_2939000.jpg","/articles/6514035/DeSoto/Dallas-County/Texas/Planning-commission-recommends-approval-of-Parkerville-Meadows-Phase-5-preliminary-plat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514035-d21656a813da06adc3ec6c3977d9e7b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000128&Signature=LOJNU7BTThkhJSc3c-y3unIx7g-xDEf9THspEZjQ6zVnV7rsxeM1Tg4w43hssxqw~CwZ~xZpKYtfuLO0Up99RdfOErEmGtHNtxb5H1xfjO~Pp3B8SmcjAfWVrl7yb4z462xmW0~kLMQnfF97XNCP7mjpTsaDh4QPi9dASYa14EpetzriEpE-DZzMlOh3~9oM8eMSd7kHfXp0Waq3L8Zb-xa-Kyp1nxmcNmZ8wYj-1GqIV-QtGkWdQjr8C1tG29dtw8ZxrBtXhORair~~tbaywco71nx7FNlEqQRqnis8rQ2-C~T8xEQLy-YaKEqT55qFCSEXCfZaMB12O2WHWlDaRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeSoto Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval to the City Council for Parkerville Meadows Subdivision Phase 5 preliminary plat (case PP351‑25). The plat would create 51 residential lots and one nonresidential lot.

Staff reported that the outstanding items identified by fire and engineering had been addressed and that both the fire marshal and engineering division had signed off on the revised submittal. “The items that were missing came from fire and engineering … I got okay from both fire marshal and engineering division,” a staff member said.

Commissioner Bell made the motion to recommend approval of the preliminary plat as updated; Commissioner Dewberry seconded. The commission approved the motion by voice vote. A roll‑call of commissioners present and participating in the vote showed unanimous support; the commission recorded the motion as approved and will forward its recommendation to the City Council.

The item will proceed through the city’s normal council review process; staff confirmed the submittal now meets fire and engineering requirements discussed during the meeting.

No members of the public spoke on this item during the hearing at this meeting.","The commission voted to recommend approval of preliminary plat PP351‑25 (Parkerville Meadows Phase 5), creating 51 residential lots and one nonresidential lot, sending the recommendation to city council.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514040,"DeSoto planning commission debates monthly work‑session proposal, takes no immediate vote",3745,119000,3864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065395-34955db6a014be26af3553e92a0d3c18&start=119&end=3864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065395-34955db6a014be26af3553e92a0d3c18/thumbnail_119000.jpg","/articles/6514040/DeSoto/Dallas-County/Texas/DeSoto-planning-commission-debates-monthly-worksession-proposal-takes-no-immediate-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514040-08f2323510054824e8b8cfcf82ac5c2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000128&Signature=YNoqd7UyFPwZnZwE6LtaO-RYUO943809ifxjJU5eldLRQaCFViLp9hWfFoQLElQZXemTIdPV2-XOdA~WDIFM9OG3rV5po09GpX609MfADUgIOXDful7Of1T-s4mqeaT2oo1S-axdYmBG~Cd-2ro9fUtcCWgDVkhnYjezaftfyxz6SLUzt2fZnvlCALCxWUDIUBKXn9-y~rd2VfzWpfe0KlG4lSS3wG8Vp8fB1VQ6ahhB6qCgOOupG89jlcpFvEzUDQnPELUpXgdQAAuMzr3y3lBIhdSVg2Zay6rlyS1oVCXzeRfWHffhm079U2-K9QeyOrvHZSVW7yhiPaI4vni5MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ahmed Al Quesa, the new director of DeSoto’s Development Services Department, presented a staff recommendation to restructure the Planning and Zoning Commission’s schedule to one monthly work session for in‑depth discussion and one monthly regular meeting for formal votes.

The proposal, presented as an option rather than a directive, was justified by staff as a way to give commissioners and applicants earlier opportunities for feedback on complex cases, reduce surprises at voting meetings and preserve twice‑monthly plat consideration. “One work session plus plat consideration, and another meeting would be just a regular meeting for formal decisions,” Al Quesa said during his presentation.

Commissioners responded with lengthy questions and mixed views. Several members said the current two‑meeting format has worked and expressed concern that changing the schedule could create the appearance of reduced transparency. “I am concerned that if we adopt what you’re proposing there may be concerns that we’re not being forthcoming,” Commissioner Edwards said, adding that public perception of openness is important.

The city manager told the commission the recommendation was not about hiding deliberations but about allowing staff and applicants to present items more fully before a public vote. He said the commission would retain the ability to convert a meeting into a voting session if an item was time‑sensitive and asked that the commission consider the proposal as an option rather than a mandate.

Commissioners variously said they value work sessions and want the benefit of deeper discussion (Commissioner Dewberry described past practice of an hour‑long work session followed by a 7 p.m. meeting) but several members questioned whether the proposed change would save volunteer time or simply shift when the same work is done. “If it’s not broken, what are we fixing?” Commissioner Edwards asked.

After discussion, several commissioners said they were open to a compromise in which work sessions would be advertised to start at 6 p.m. and a regular meeting would begin immediately after the work session if business required it. The commission did not adopt the staff recommendation at this meeting. The chair said he would hold a decision, follow up with commissioners and report back to staff about how the commission will proceed.

The discussion included procedural clarifications from the city attorney’s office that an item could be advertised as an action item at the time the agenda is posted (and could not be converted to an action on the spot without re‑advertising). Commissioners also asked staff to explain how summer months with single monthly meetings would be handled under any revised schedule.

No formal ordinance change or vote on meeting structure occurred during the session; staff emphasized the proposal was an option for the commission’s consideration.

Looking ahead, commissioners asked staff to return with more specifics if a change is proposed, including concrete problem statements, staffing impacts and clear calendar proposals so that the potential effect on transparency and commission workload can be fully assessed.","Staff recommended switching to one monthly work session for discussion and one monthly regular meeting for formal votes. Commissioners raised transparency and efficiency concerns and did not adopt a change; the chair will follow up.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DeSoto Planning and Zoning welcomes new director, planning manager, engineer and consultant

Planning commission recommends approval of Parkerville Meadows Phase 5 preliminary plat

DeSoto planning commission debates monthly work‑session proposal, takes no immediate vote