Many within the University of Dallas community—faculty, staff, students, alumni, and neighbors—have raised serious and legitimate concerns about the inclusion of casino gaming as a permitted use in the rezoning proposal being considered should the state of Texas overturn its current prohibitions.
Mayor Rick Stopfer and Councilmembers
City of Irving
825 W. Irving Blvd.
Irving, Texas 75060
Dear Honorable Mayor Stopfer and Esteemed Members of the Irving City Council,
As you know, the University of Dallas has a long history and deep roots in the city of Irving. The University of Dallas owns approximately 156 acres in PUD 6, specifically in Tracts E, F, and H as well as significant property (275 acres) adjacent to PUD 6 (“Property”). I am writing this letter as an authorized representative of the Property owner. As a significant landowner of property in and adjacent to PUD 6, we have been closely following the emerging plans for future development of this important site and wish to express our perspectives regarding the recently proposed rezoning plan for the area, known as PUD 6 (City Council March 20, 2025 meeting, Zoning Amendments #2024-47-UDC and #2024-48-ZC).
The University of Dallas has been an integral part of the Irving community for nearly 70 years. In September 1956, after Dallas Bishop Thomas K. Gorman assembled support from Dallas business leaders such as Eugene Constantin Jr. and Edward R. Maher Sr., the university opened its doors to nearly 100 degree-seeking students on a 1,000-acre tract of rolling hills northwest of Dallas, which is now part of Irving. Since then, the University of Dallas has become the premiere private, Catholic liberal arts university, welcoming students of all faiths and backgrounds while remaining committed to the preservation of the Western and Catholic intellectual tradition.
Today, generations of students and families from across the country and throughout Texas call the University of Dallas their alma mater, and many current faculty, staff, and students call Irving home. As an institution committed to the academic and moral formation of students, we are deeply invested in the well-being of our community and the city of Irving.
We commend the City of Irving’s proactive approach over the years to prepare prudently for the eventual development of the former Texas Stadium site. We understand and share the city’s desire to attract developments that would enhance the local economy, provide new amenities, and improve the quality of life for residents, neighboring businesses, and institutions. Indeed, there are many worthy uses under the proposed “high intensity mixed use” zoning designation that could be mutually beneficial to the city, its residents and businesses, as well as the university. The possibility of being neighbors once again of a professional sports arena is one that could be very positive for the university. As you know, from 1971 to 2008, the University of Dallas had a neighborly relationship with operators of Texas Stadium when it served as the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Many within the University of Dallas community—faculty, staff, students, alumni, and neighbors—have raised serious and legitimate concerns about the inclusion of casino gaming as a permitted use in the rezoning proposal being considered should the state of Texas overturn its current prohibitions. While we recognize and support the economic growth and development of Irving, we strongly oppose the inclusion of “casino gaming” within the definition of “Designation Resort” as outlined in Section 2.6.7 of the PUD 6 amendment, even if it is contingent on a reversal of the state’s current law banning casino gaming. Further, we believe that while casino gaming is limited to Tract A, it is changing the character of PUD 6 as a whole.
Over the past year, I have engaged in many conversations with city leaders to express two key points: first, we support the economic development of the areas surrounding our campus. A destination resort and professional sports arena could provide valuable opportunities for our students, alumni, and the greater DFW area. Second, we have an obligation to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and neighbors to ensure that any new developments surrounding our campus align with the well-being of our community and, most importantly, do not negatively impact our educational mission, student recruitment, or those of our neighboring Catholic institutions, including the Cistercian Abbey, Holy Trinity Seminary, and The Highlands School.
Though gambling is not intrinsically unjust, as acknowledged in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2413), it has been widely documented that casino gaming can have deleterious effects within the communities in which they are located. Given the residential character of the area surrounding campus, as well as the presence of many educational and religious institutions, it is imperative that city leaders seriously weigh the long-term consequences of such an inclusion in the rezoning. Significantly, I have discussed the rezoning proposal with Bishop Edward Burns, appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas in 2017 by Pope Francis, who serves on our Board of Trustees as the of Chancellor of the University of Dallas. He asked me to convey to you that he joins with me in opposition to the inclusion of casino gaming within the PUD 6 rezoning proposal.
The burden of proof rests with those advocating for this change to demonstrate that casino gaming will not bring significant negative consequences to our community. Thus far, neither the city nor the developer has made a persuasive case that the benefits of allowing casino gaming within PUD 6 would outweigh the potential harms to the surrounding institutions and residents.
Additionally, PUD 6 was created, among other things, to “ensure future development will be designed and completed to make full use of the area, create an asset for the city, facilitate development, provide clarity, and ensure each site is suitable to adjacent uses.” Given the stated provision from the preamble to the creation of PUD 6, it is the position of the University of Dallas that as an adjacent property owner, it should have been given official notice from the City of Irving to confirm suitability of the proposed use. Further, given that the proposed use will impact not only adjacent property owners but all property owners within PUD 6, we believe that proper notice would include all property owners within PUD 6 as well as all property owners within 200-feet of the boundary of PUD 6.
We sincerely appreciate your service and dedication to serve the city of Irving and recognize the many complex decisions you must make in the best interest of your constituents. As elected leaders, you carry the responsibility of shaping the future of our community, and we trust that you will carefully consider the long-term impact of this development on the residents, schools, and institutions that call Irving home.
While we remain supportive of the city’s broader plan to develop PUD 6 in a manner aimed at enhancing the local economy, providing new amenities, and improving the quality of life for residents, we urge each of you to weigh carefully the concerns of our community and to ensure that any development reflects the best interests of Irving’s residents and institutions. Casino gaming would threaten the wholesome and truth-seeking climate we have worked hard to cultivate over many years at the University of Dallas, and it would negatively impact the family friendly environment that the city of Irving has fostered so well over so many years.
I appreciate your attention to our concerns and am hopeful for a collaborative approach to development that upholds the best interests of all stakeholders.
Sincerely,
Jonathan J. Sanford, PhD
President | Professor of Philosophy
University of Dallas
