About Us

Mission

The Greater Dallas Planning Council’s mission statement is simple and to the point:

Advocates, educates, and plans for a prosperous, equitable Greater Dallas.

The Greater Dallas Planning Council (GDPC), founded in 1946, is the oldest Dallas area civic organization that focuses on issues shaping regional growth. The members of the GDPC address a range of issues from a broad range of community and professional perspectives. The GDPC's membership is comprised of a group of successful professionals from architect design firms, planning consultants, construction and engineering firms, developers, real estate industry leaders, community and civic organizations, corporations and municipal entities. The GDPC membership also includes elected or appointed officials. The GDPC members evaluate local and regional policies in order to promote the long-term sustainability of the City of Dallas and surrounding region.

Urban design issues, economic development, transportation, water issues, energy and education remain a core focus of the organization. A variety of issue task forces bring together professionals concerned about the future of the region and evaluate policies and new design concepts. The members of the task forces evaluate information, invite area leaders to their meetings and develop policy recommendations that are forwarded to local leaders and the media.

In order to promote a better understanding of issues facing the region, the GDPC sponsors monthly breakfast meetings open to members and non-members. These breakfast meetings include a presentation by local politicians and leaders on issues ranging from urban development, education reform, transportation changes, water planning and other timely issues.

Vision

Many Voices United to Shape the Future of the Dallas Region

Values

- Engage a diverse membership

- Support Equitable outcomes

- Provide a collaborative platform for positive change

- Generate meaningful local and regional impacts

- Educate and empower the community

- Embrace technology and innovation

- Influence sustainable planning an development

- Advocate for long-term economic vitality

  • Major supporter of the development and implementation of the Dallas Plan

    Underwriting the feasibility study for the outer loop freeway system

    Creation of Dallas long-range water plan

    Support and planning of both Love Field and DFW Airports

    Leadership in environmental projects such as a clean White Rock Lake and "Keep Dallas Beautiful" (once a GDPC effort, now a separate organization)

    Contributed significant time and talent to the Trinity River Corridor Project for 20 years

    Participation in a triumvirate of organizations which produced the Planning Policies Issues

    Papers, resulting in a massive overhauling of the city's zoning ordinances

    Support for Vision North Texas

    Presented peer review conclusions on Alignment Alternatives for DART’s D2 2nd Downtown Light Rail Transit Line

    Wrote a position paper on the Proposed Trinity Toll Road Alternative

  • Annual Urban Design Awards Host (2002 - present) – from 1990 GDPC co-hosted with City of Dallas

    Annual Luncheon – GDPC hosts dynamic, thought provoking topic and speaker

    Lunch & Learn Series – members and taskforce subject speakers interact in 2-way in-depth small group luncheon presentations