Residents should be able to live, work, shop, and play in Garland without having to leave. I have focused my economic development work on attracting quality retail, dining, and investment to District 5, and on creating the zoning framework that will shape this corridor for decades to come.

My Priority

•        I am working with the City on a master plan for the full 317-acre rezoning footprint along the Highway 635 corridor to maximize the development potential of that land.. The goal is thoughtful, unique development that makes District 5 a great place to live, work, and play.

What Has Been Accomplished

•        Downtown Garland has seen significant new investment since 2022, including Owl Icehouse, Lockwood Distillery, Fortunate Son, Taco y Vino, and Deadwax Records, along with a new Visitor Center. The Granville Arts Center renovation and a new Arts Incubator Space are currently in the works.

•        In District 5, a new Olive Garden has opened, and The Gatess development will bring four new restaurants and retail to the area.

•        Vacancies in the Centerville and Northwest Highway area are being filled. The former Big Lots is now a Crunch Fitness and two stores are coming to the former Office Depot and 99 Cent store locations.

•        After two years of persistent effort, Joe V's Smart Shop, an HEB product and highly sought after grocer in North Texas, has been proposed for the former Kroger-anchored shopping center at Centerville and 635. New facade and landscaping improvements are part of the proposal.

•        The rezoning of 317 acres along the Highway 635 corridor is the largest economic development rezoning effort in Garland's history. I championed this effort through Council. The area was rezoned to Urban Residential and Urban Business, creating a clear framework for what this corridor can become and phasing out uses we already have too many of, including auto-related businesses and storage facilities.

•        There is no plan to relocate Walmart or any other current tenants. Businesses whose current use is not allowed by right under the new zoning become legal non-conforming. Unless they vacate the use for six months or the property is 100% destroyed, they can continue to operate as they are. Legal non-conforming businesses also cannot expand their current footprint. As those sites eventually turn over, the new zoning determines what comes next.

•        Daisy Brand is investing $30 million in a new Research and Innovation Center on their existing 20+ acre site.

•        Andersen Windows and Doors is making a $30+ million expansion at their 200,000+ square foot facility.

•        Amberton University is undergoing a $16 million renovation.

I have consistently supported our police and fire departments, advocated for technology that helps officers do their jobs, and pushed for programs that address the root causes of crime and quality-of-life issues in our neighborhoods.

My Priority

•        Citywide, Garland saw one of the most significant single-year crime reductions in 30 years in 2025, with a 24% reduction in violent crime and a 28% reduction in property crime. In District 5, Neighborhood Police Officers, WECAN (the Wayward Encampment Community Action Network), and weekly street racing operations are producing results.

•        I am supporting the establishment of a real-time crime center within the Garland Police Department, staffed by sworn personnel, to serve as a force multiplier for officers in the field.

•        EMS call volume has grown significantly, and firefighters are increasingly responding to non-emergency calls. In February 2026, Council approved a partnership with RightSite, a telehealth triage program that connects non-emergency 911 callers with a board-certified ER physician at no cost to the patient or to EMS. The program has a 93% patient acceptance rate and redirects 84% of non-emergent patients without an ambulance transport, keeping firefighters available for the calls that truly require them. Our Fire and EMS personnel remain public employees doing essential work. This program is designed to support them, not replace them. Garland’s EMS services will not be outsourced to private companies.

•        I have a deep respect for our first responders and will continue to support initiatives that increase their effectiveness, efficiency, and safety.

What Has Been Accomplished

•        The Flock camera system has been a significant crime-fighting tool in Garland. In addition to cameras at intersections, Garland Police cruisers are equipped with mobile Flock devices that allow officers to identify stolen vehicles while on patrol, resulting in faster recoveries and more arrests.

•        District 5 has two active Crime Watch groups: Orchard Hills and New World. These groups provide essential services that keep our neighborhoods safe with direct communication with GPD.

•        Neighborhood Police Officers are assigned to specific areas of the city and work with patrol officers, other city departments, business owners, and residents to identify and address ongoing issues. They attend Crime Watch meetings and are a valuable resource for special investigations specific to District 5 neighborhoods. Garland currently has 16 NPOs operating at 99% staffing capacity.

•        As a member of the Garland Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and the Citizens Firefighters Club of Garland, I regularly interact with our public safety professionals to stay informed and ensure our policies reflect the needs of the people doing the work.

•        WECAN (Wayward Encampment and Community Assistance Network), formed in conjunction with Environmental Compliance, Garland Police, and community organizations, has successfully cleared hundreds of illegal encampments. WECAN focuses on educating property owners about their responsibilities and clearing illegal camping sites throughout the city.

The way a community looks reflects the standards it holds itself to. I have made esthetic improvement a consistent priority throughout my tenure because it directly affects property values, community pride, and the quality of investment we attract.

My Priority

•        I will continue to push for proactive code and parking enforcement, enforcement of illegal vending in shopping centers, the Art at Every Turn signal light box wrap program, and public art throughout the district.

•        These are not small things. They shape how our surroundings look and create a sense of community and pride.

What Has Been Accomplished

•        I support the Art at Every Turn Traffic Box Art Wrap Program, which transforms signal boxes along our corridors into public art installations by local artists.

•        I have advocated for less restrictive mural and public art ordinances to make it easier for businesses and property owners to beautify their spaces.

•        The Bankhead Cultural Arts District, named for the historic Bankhead Highway, was designated an official Cultural District by the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2023. It energizes Downtown Garland with live music, vibrant murals, and community events, and I am proud to have supported its creation.

•        The Centerville Gateway Project is in design for 2026 and 2027. It will bring new gateway signage and median improvements from IH-635 to Broadmoor. Additional planned District 5 corridor projects include Centerville Road, Kingsley Road, Northwest Highway, and South Garland Avenue.

•        I pushed for proactive code and parking enforcement throughout my tenure. The City now has a new civil citation process, a quadrant-based proactive code compliance approach, and active enforcement of illegal vending in shopping centers. These efforts protect property values and hold owners and operators accountable across the district.

Garland Delivers. Voters trusted us with a $423.7 million Build Garland bond program in 2019. In May 2025, voters approved the $360 million Grow Garland Bond Program with no tax rate increase. I strongly supported both programs and am committed to delivering on every project as presented to residents.

2019 Build Garland Bond Program

•        Of the $423.7 million authorized in the 2019 referendum, 82% is projected to be expended by the end of 2026.

•        The program has delivered new fire stations, a new animal shelter, police facilities, major park improvements including the Jon Comer Skatepark and Rick Oden Park renovations, new playgrounds, the West Garland Library, Central Library renovations, trail connections, and economic development investments across the city.

•        Several projects received additional funding from outside sources including federal ARPA funds, NCTCOG transportation grants, Dallas County funding, and Texas Parks and Wildlife grants, stretching bond dollars further than originally planned.

 Greenspaces: Rick Oden Park

•        Rick Oden Park is substantially complete and is one of the finest park projects in Garland's history. It is home to one of the largest skateparks in Texas, the Jon Comer Skatepark, which I strongly supported.

•        The park also features a dedicated crosswalk across Miller Road, a future Duck Creek Trail connection, a new playground, baseball field, and basketball court renovations.

•        A splash pad and pickleball courts are currently in design, with more improvements on the way.

Infrastructure: Shiloh Road Expansion

•        Shiloh Road from IH-635 to Kingsley Road has been completed. The expansion from Kingsley Road to Miller Road is currently in the acquisition phase. The project is partially funded by NCTCOG and Dallas County. Completion is projected for Q1/2032.

Drainage: District 5 Projects

•        The Montclair No. 2 and No. 3 Drainage Improvements are complete as of Q2/2026.

•        The Saturn Springs Estates Drainage Improvements project is nearing 90% design completion and is set to begin construction in March 2027, with projected completion in Q3/2029. This project will upgrade the drainage system and includes roadway and sidewalk improvements.

2025 Grow Garland Bond Program

•        Voters approved $360 million across four propositions in May 2025, with no tax rate increase.

•        Proposition A ($230 million): Street and alley improvements and gateway and corridor beautification. The streets portion of the bond is underway for year one and is on a five-year plan for completion. Gateway and corridor improvements will also beautify our major thoroughfares.

•        Proposition B ($75 million): Economic development, revitalization, neighborhood vitality, and land assembly. District 5 has two designated catalyst areas that will benefit from this investment.

•        Proposition C ($25 million): Renovation of the Granville Arts Center. Renovation is scheduled to begin January 2027 and complete December 2027.

•        Proposition D ($30 million): Public waterfront access, trails, and park amenities at Harbor Point.

$52.1 million, or 14.5%, is projected to be expended by the end of 2026, with work continuing through 2030.

The City has reduced its tax rate, maintained strong reserves, and passed a $360 million bond program without a tax rate increase. The long-term goal is to ease the burden on property owners by growing our commercial and sales tax base through economic development and revitalization.

My Priority

•        I support the tax rate swap and drop strategy, which rebalances the rate between debt service and operations and maintenance while lowering the overall rate. Long-term, growing our commercial base and sales tax revenue will reduce reliance on residential property taxes.

•        Because of SB2, any revenue growth beyond the cap requires voter approval every two to three years. That accountability is a feature, not a burden. It ensures transparency and gives residents the opportunity to evaluate fiscal responsibility directly.

What Has Been Accomplished

•        Garland's property tax rate has decreased from $0.7696 in 2020-21 to $0.6897 today, a reduction of nearly 8 cents over five years. The rate has held steady for three consecutive fiscal years and is the lowest it has been since 2007-08.

•        In 2025, Council increased the Homestead Exemption to 11% and the Senior Exemption to $60,000 to help offset rising property values.

•        The 2025 Grow Garland Bond Program was structured with no tax rate increase, with the City issuing new bonds as existing debt is paid off.

•        Garland provides services with approximately 40% less property and sales tax revenue per resident than neighboring cities.

Good representation starts with being present. District 5 residents deserve a council member who is accessible, responsive, and genuinely invested in the community. I am fully dedicated to being visible, approachable, and available.

Direct Access

•        I am available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call, text, or email me and I will respond. I can also be reached through social media, and my website, MargaretLucht.com

•        469-264-3556 Council5@garlandtx.gov MargaretLucht@gmail.com

Community Presence

•        I hold regular District 5 Town Hall meetings where residents have the opportunity to interact directly with me and with City staff. These meetings are an important way to make sure residents have accurate information and a real voice in what happens in their neighborhood.

•        I attend all neighborhood association, Crime Watch Group, and HOA meetings and events in District 5. Showing up matters.

•        I am actively involved with the Garland Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, the Citizens Firefighters Club of Garland, Good Samaritans of Garland, and The Garland Parks Foundation.

•        I am a registered VolunteerGarland.org volunteer and participate in Code Cares and litter cleanup efforts.

•        I am fully dedicated to being visible, approachable, and available to every District 5 resident. No exceptions.