The Cothrum family opened the first mall in Texas located on Garland Road in Dallas on August 15th, 1957. The opening was headlined by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. The project was what would come to be called a mixed-use center that included office, retail, and dining.

Masterplan’s sister company LaBarba Permit Services opens.

A young Dallas Cothrum, CEO, pictured on the steps of Dallas City Hall in his father’s arms. You could say our passion for working with City Hall starts early.

Zoning for Dallas North Tollway is ongoing.

Masterplan was founded. The firm’s first office is located at 4501 Mockingbird, in Dallas, Texas. Projects completed this year include Home Depot, Braum’s, Fuddruckers, Taco Bell and Grandy’s.

First client is Brad Camp (Yancey-Camp Development). Sabre Realty and Provident Realty become clients that remain until today. Another key project this year was Telesis Walnut Place Senior Care.

Masterplan gains traction as DART, MetroCell, Southwestern Bell Mobile and Dallas Power & Light (later named TXU then ONCOR) become clients. 

George Carter invents Laser Tag. Masterplan gets indoor commercial amusement zoning for new technology. 

Shared office with Joe Nall at City Place assemblage on Lemon Avenue. Key project was permit for the State Fair of Texas Ferris Wheel. 

Office on Lemmon moves to 500 South Ervay to make way for City Place.

Hired for 1st of many cases for Presbyterian Hospital and won a Board Case for Don Henley.

Masterplan was involved in the zoning  transition in Dallas and numerous PDs along Tollway. This year Masterplan was incorporated in Texas and transitioned from 51 to 51A.

Public Storage becomes a client.

First City Homes townhomes in the area that becomes Uptown and Lawler & Fields rezone huge tracts in Frisco, Texas. 

Southwestern Bell, AT&T, Prime Co, Verizon, and American Tower become clients which led to Masterplan obtaining zoning for over 200 cell towers. Masterplan also begins working in Frisco for Burt Fields and for Doctor’s Hospital, now City Hospital, in Dallas.

Masterplan involved in first garage wrap apartment in Dallas at Riviera of West Village. We also get involved on the EDS Plano Campus.

We help Minnesota North Stars relocate and become the Dallas Stars. 

Masterplan leads zoning for DART Red and Blue Lines (ongoing project through 2002) and worked on Texas Motor Speedway, which opened in 1996. 

Masterplan worked with Dallas ISD multiple campuses. Masterplan has worked on the 2002, 2008, and 2015 bond programs which include changes to over 100 campuses.   

Longtime-client Ellis Media sells to Clear Channel Outdoors and remains a client today. We also began work for Hillwood on Victory Park this year and continued work on it through 2000. 

Karl Crawley joins the Masterplan team after leading the City of Dallas.

Masterplan worked on Pinnacle Park in Dallas and helped with the expansion of  Verizon Towers, which continued through 2008.

Important projects this year included Javier’s Cigar Room and the opening of Edgewood.

Masterplan assists with approvals for the gourmet grocer in Dallas.

Dallas Cothrum joins the Masterplan team after leaving a tenured position with UT Systems. The firm completes zoning & economic incentives for the Mondrian. 

Began working on Barnett Shale gas cases, earned Incentives for Mosaic (formerly Fidelity Union Life Insurance Building), and completed Gablesville Rose Rezoning 

Karl Crawley promoted to president, Masterplan moved its headquarters office, and a high-profile project included on Hunt Oil Headquarters in Downtown Dallas.  

Completed zoning for Preston Hollow Village and worked with Troy Aikman on Aikman Ford. Later he sells it and we work for Service King on the same site. 

Completed zoning for Rosewood Court & Glass House, permitting for NorthPark expansion and the failed effort for Cowboys to be at Cotton Bowl or Industrial BLD. 

Masterplan gains approval for Joule Hotel tax incentives and agreement to Downtown Dallas kiosks on behalf of Reynolds Outdoors.

The Dallas waterfall billboard owned by  Masterplan client Clear Channel becomes recognized as an Extraordinarily Significant Sign. Masterplan also works on The Tradition on Lovers Lane in Dallas and West Texas wind work for Competitive Renewable Energy Zones. The headquarters also moves to Founder’s Square when Ervay closes for renovation. 

Dallas Cothrum becomes Masterplan CEO. The company assisted former President George W. Bush on his relocation to Dallas. Our team managed the closing and gating of the street. Another key project was North America’s first Static Var Compensator at Parkdale. 

Masterplan handled zoning for Peticolas Brewing Company Zoning; Katy Trail Ice House opens in March and relies on Masterplan for abandonment, permitting, noise complaints; and Masterplan helps client Clear Channel gain approval for the most digital billboards in Dallas after the city approves their use.

Rise of Storage “Cubes” leads to Masterplan winning 30+ cases in DFW, Masterplan oversees zoning for Highland Park United Methodist Church’s Munger Church Zoning and for Rosewood Flower Mound Highlands Plaza Anchored by Academy.

Several projects stand out this year including, permits, new lights, signs and zoning for Bank of America Tower in Dallas; Gables Katy Trail in Dallas; Gaedeke & Del Frisco’s Grill on McKinney Ave. in Dallas; Hanover City Place; Missouri City public storage;  and Xebec zoning & incentives for Southport Logistics Hub in Wilmer, Texas.

New office for Masterplan in Austin and work is completed for the Storage Case public storage facility in Highland Village. 

Masterplan handled due diligence and zoning in Lake Jackson for HEB and worked on Hyatt Place Hotel in Allen, Texas.

Milestone projects this year included One Uptown rezoning,  due diligence for the new Shell Campus in Houston, Texas and work on the Southwest Airlines new HQ building. 

Masterplan acquires LaBarba Permit Services and delivers full-service support to The Union project in Dallas.

Masterplan worked on Shell Oil’s new Houston Woodcreek Campus and completed a signage project for the Liberty Mutual Building in Plano, Texas (Liberty Mutual becomes the tallest building in Plano, Texas).

High Point Crossing Power center zoning was successful.

Masterplan opens Houston, Texas location and completes Sky House Dallas zoning.

This year we handled permitting for Statler Hilton, won a Board of Adjustment case for the Atelier and worked on One Dallas Center. 

Masterplan assisted with Toll Brothers Mansion neighborhood high rise. We launched municipal services. Highland Park Presbyterian Church addition approved, which follows Masterplan’s work on Highland Park United Methodist Church and a new Highland Park ISD elementary school.

Masterplan worked on seven Silver Line DART stations in 2020 and 2021. We have completed 15+ on the Red, Blue, and Green lines. This year Masterplan also moved the company headquarters to 2201 Main St. in the heart of Dallas.

Masterplan celebrates its 40 years in business. Key project wins include the last mile center for Amazon and Dallas ISD bond project.