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Dallas City Council Meeting
The City Council Agenda meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 9:00 A.M. in the Dallas City Hall
Fort Worth City Council Meeting
The Fort Worth City Council meets each Tuesday. The first and second Tuesday of each month the City Council meets in the evening, 7:00 p.m. The rest of the month's Tuesday meetings are held at 10:00 a.m.
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Our Staff
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MASTERPLAN
Our Staff
William E. Cothrum is the founder and
Chief Executive Officer of a consulting firm that has represented clients since 1981 in a
variety of real estate matters. One local journalist calls Cothrum, "Mr. City Hall." He has
worked across the state for private developers, transportation entities, public utilities,
and educational institutions. In the North Texas area, Mr. Cothrum has garnered more zoning
approvals than any other individual and is recognized as a national expert on land use and zoning.
Mr. Cothrum remains the youngest person ever elected to the Dallas City Council and served the city
during three decades (1960,s 1970s, 1980s). This period was among the most vibrant in the history
of Dallas, as the city pursued water rights throughout the state and acquired and broke ground on
DFW Airport. Likewise, the city built a new sports arena that led to the NBA and NHL locating
franchises in Dallas. He has also served as the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Affairs and Council
Relations Committee and the Public Utilities Committee. His experience in government affairs and
understanding of its workings is a significant benefit to any project.
Mr. Cothrum has worked at the forefront of many initiatives that not only changed real estate and
zoning regulations but also everyday life. His firm assisted from the earliest start up of the
wireless communication service to the rise in co-location of antenna and through build out of the system.
The firm remains involved in changes in the industry by representing new initiatives, such as broadband
by powerline. Mr. Cothrum was also among the first advocates for mass transit and has represented the
Dallas Area Rapid Transit from its inception. He has received zoning approvals for all the stations the
authority has ever needed. Finally, he has obtained approvals for more than 100 electrical substations
and related facilities, helping to ensure reliable service for customers throughout the state.
As both an elected official and zoning consultant, Mr. Cothrum has taken part in transforming the region.
Brief overview of his successes
Karl A. Crawley joined the firm in 1998 and is now
President. Mr. Crawley has lived in the Dallas area for over 30 years and is a graduate of Texas A&M
University with a Masters degree in Urban Planning. He has a field of experience that includes land planning,
land development and project management. He has developed Comprehensive Plan documents for several small Texas
cities, developed several hundred single family residential lots in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and been involved
with zoning projects from both the public and private sector sides.
Prior to joining Masterplan, Mr. Crawley was the Senior Zoning Planner for the City of Dallas. His involvement
with the City included working on several large private development projects and the initial DART rail line.
During his tenure with the City he was also the Intown Housing Director and was instrumental in obtaining federal
loan approval for the initial development of housing in downtown Dallas.
Since joining Masterplan, Mr. Crawley has been involved in all aspects of obtaining approval for development
projects throughout North Texas.
Some of his projects include
Dallas Cothrum’s primary area of expertise involves
obtaining appropriate land entitlements for a variety of developers, governmental entities, and utilities.
He serves as Executive Vice-President of the firm.
He has provided consultation for Oncor on more than 50 electrical substation and switching stations throughout
the state of Texas. In each case, he has successfully obtained the appropriate zoning for the property.
He recently began working for Oncor on the Public Utility Commission’s new project for renewable energy,
using wind in West Texas. He has similar experience assisting natural gas producers and midstream pipeline
companies in the Barnett Shale.
Dr. Cothrum is responsible for consulting with and advising clients on requirements for zoning and permit
applications for various area municipalities. His practice includes significant experience in public presentations
before community groups, municipal boards, commissions, and councils concerning zoning changes, variances, and plats.
Dr. Cothrum typically assists clients from the due diligence and site selection portion of the project through the
entire zoning and building permit process, culminating with certificate of occupancy.
Dr. Cothrum was previously a tenured professor in the University of Texas System. He receive a doctorate from
Texas Christian University and completed post-doctoral work at the United State Military Academy at West Point.
He has previously served as a city council appointee to several city boards and commissions, including a landmark/historic
commission and has published more than 30 scholarly pieces. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan
YMCA, Dallas Academy, the McWhiney Foundation, and the Trinity Commons Foundation. The Leadership Dallas graduate is also
an advisory board member for Stephen F. Austin University.
Cothrum’s representative project experience includes the following
Santos Martinez has expertise in zoning and permitting requirements.
His experiences included management of zoning applications, building permits, plats, and Board of Adjustment requests.
This includes work in the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Carrollton, Denton, and numerous other municipalities in North Texas.
In addition to these experiences, Mr. Martinez was successful in obtaining state funding for new hike and bike trails and
main street improvements while the Land Use Administrator of Costilla County, Colorado. The main street improvements in
San Luis, Colorado, included new storm drainage systems and utility relocations.
Prior to his services with Masterplan, Mr. Martinez served as a chief planner with the City of Dallas. His responsibilities
included managing the City of Dallas Board of Adjustment, the Subdivision office, and amendments to the Dallas
Development Code.
He is a graduate of Leadership Dallas and a member board’s of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce and the White Rock
YMCA.
More information on his projects
Ed Simons is the Chief Consultant for Masterplan and has been
with the firm since October 2001. Mr. Simons served 28 years at the City of Dallas in various positions including
Chief Development Code Manager and Chief Development Coordinator. He specializes in assisting clients through the
intricacies of obtaining approvals for development projects and construction.
He routinely works with architects and engineers to gain approvals from the City of Dallas on large multi-family and
retail developments. Mr. Simons is recognized for his mastery of the development code and his ability to find solutions
to vexing permitting questions.
He has obtained approvals on several projects along North Henderson that has enhanced this gateway corridor into East
Dallas, while improving the neighborhood. Mr. Simons knowledge of platting, permitting, and zoning proved vital to a
varied team of consultants. Mr. Simons has significant experience, and personal interest, in the food industry and
understands the development and safety regulations associated with these entities.
Raj Sharma, PE, joined the firm after more than 25 years in
city service, including as Building Official for the City of Dallas. He also served as the Building Official in Calgary
and was responsible for all the 1988 Winter Olympic venues, including the opening of the Saddledome. Mr. Sharma is a
recognized expert on all matters of building code, energy code, accessibility standards, and similar services and
frequently serves as an expert witness. He was a founding member of the World Organization of Building Officials and
is the chair elect of the Greater Dallas Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. He has previously served as a faculty member
in the University of Texas System.
Mark Housewright has over 30 years experience in the communications
field including almost ten years in advertising and sales with Procter & Gamble, twenty years operating Pegasus Group,
an advertising and public relations firm, and 11 years as publisher of the Oak Cliff Tribune and La Tribuna de Oak Cliff.
In addition, Mr. Housewright has extensively served as a volunteer with extended periods of service on the Dallas Municipal
Library Board, Dallas City Plan Commission and Dallas City Council. He also has served as a DISD volunteer for more than
ten years. He has extensive contacts throughout the city and in neighborhoods.
He is currently working on a redevelopment project that will reshape West Dallas. Likewise, he has taken an active role
in wind energy projects in West Texas.
Sarah Dodd is a Dallas native and award winning former journalist,
who received a Murrow Award and multiple Emmy Award nominations. She has specialized in working on complex, controversial
development and utility projects that involve municipal government and public relations. Dodd Communications is also
well-versed in crisis communications. She has extensive relationships with all levels of the media.
Dodd covered Dallas news for seven years. She established a notable career exposing failings at public institutions,
including Dallas City Hall. Ms. maintains positive relationships with journalists and news managers at every media
outlet in town. Her crisis communication plans include identifying a possibly negative situation before it becomes
a front page headline. Ms. Dodd is a graduate of Leadership Dallas and a board member with Jeffries Street Learning
Center and the Dallas Arboretum’s Women’s Council.
John Kimbrough’s primary area of expertise is in working with
local government entities involving the preparation and submittal of zoning change applications, Board of Adjustment
applications and other zoning related activities.
Mr. Kimbrough was previously employed with the Planning Department of the City of Dallas for 35 years. Although
he worked on the preparation of land use plans, his service with the City was primarily in the zoning office where
he worked as the Zoning Administrator for approximately 25 years.
Mr. Kimbrough organizes all Masterplan projects and serves as the project coordinator on all public meetings and
neighborhood gatherings. His years of service and mastery of the details of the development code, combined with his
attention to detail, ensure projects are properly submitted and follow the appropriate timeline.
Gladys Bowens joined the firm in 2008 after leaving the City
of Dallas as Assistant Director of Development Services in charge of Real Estate. Ms. Bowens was in charge of private
licenses, abandonments and property acquisition. While at the city she had a leadership position in a number of
important projects, including the new police academy, the convention center hotel, the Homeless Assistance Center,
the Mercantile project, and security right of way for water projects. She performs similar duties for the firm in
abandoning rights of way, obtaining licenses, or land swaps with the city. Ms. Bowens is also a licensed real estate sales person.
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900 Jackson Street 
