The Fort Worth Zoning Commission met at City Hall Wednesday, Oct. 11, to hear 25 cases requesting various rezonings to add multi-family townhomes, make way for future development, allow for mobile homes, allow urban residential development and more. Below are some of the highlights from the afternoon.
FORT GROWTH PARTNERS
Fort Growth Partners attended commission meeting with three cases ZC-17-158, ZC-17-159 and ZC-17-160 that asked for rezoning in what is known as the River District in order to build townhomes.
All three cases asked that separate parcels of land be rezoned from “B” Two-Family to “UR” Urban Residential. The parcels requested were as follows: — 0.36 acres at 200 Sunset Lane and 201 Athenia Drive — 0.42 acres at 320 Athenia Drive — and 0.7 acres at 304-316 (evens) Sunset Lane.
Shana Crawford attended the meeting on behalf of Fort Growth Partners.
“We have received verbal support from the River District Neighborhood Association,” Crawford said regarding each of the three cases presented.
According to the meeting’s docket, Zoning Commission staff found that the requested zoning change was compatible and consistent with the land use around the parcels in question.
All three requests received motions to approve by commission member John Aughinbaugh, the District 7 board member, and were approved unanimously. Fort Growth Partners will be presenting their cases to the City Council on Oct. 17.
PB VENTANNA 1 LLC
In case ZC-17-162, PB Long Term Hold 1&2 LP and PB Ventanna 1 LLC asked for zoning modifications of 444.13 acres generally bounded by Rolling Hills Drive, Benbrook city limits, Dutch Branch Creek and Benbrook.
Representative for P&B Capital, the developer of the Ventanna Ranch Parkway master planned community, Taylor Baird spoke to the commission on behalf of the project.
“We bought 200 acres in May and it had some additional zoning on it,” Baird said. “What we’re looking for is to have a consistent master plan zoning ordinance in the form of a PD to allow for a master plan community.”
Baird said combining the areas four types of zoning — “A-5” one-family, “R1” zero lotiline/cluster, “E” neighborhood commercial and “PD 50” PD/E planned development/commercial — into a PD/A-5 Planned development will allow for the necessary diversity of uses for execution on the master plan community. He added that the current zoning was put in place in 1987, and the developers are simply trying to modernize the zoning.
“The “E” zoning that was put in place in 1987 was put in the floodplain and is not a viable area for any development,” Baird said. “We would hope to over time find some places that commercial makes sense – it’s a necessity for a master plan like this. We do expect a lot of retail development, but we need to provide rooftops first before we can make the commercial viable.”
The rezoning is intended to prepare the property for single family subdivision development for the Ventanna project. Phase 1 of the 500-acre development was completed in June and homes are being sold in that area, phase 2 includes the land in the zoning case.
For a visual of what their goals for the development are, Baird said to imagine something similar to the Walsh development when thinking of uses and lot sizes
According to the meeting’s docket, Zoning Commission staff found that the requested zoning change was compatible and consistent with the land use around the parcel in question.
The request received a motion to approve by commission member John Cockrell Sr, Council District 3, and was approved unanimously.
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Texas Christian University did not send a representative to the Zoning Commission meeting, but its case ZC-17-165 was presented and asks for 40.17 acres, generally bound by W. Cantey Street, McCart Avenue, W. Bowie Street and South University, be rezoned.
The acreage in question includes residential structures that will be removed and the block replatted upon development. Additionally, properties owned by TCU but not yet ready for campus development will be built as parking lots as an intermediary use.
TCU aims to add the property to a larger rebuilding plan for the area, including the new Fine Arts building.
As the representative was not present the commission moved to ask for those who wished to speak for or against the case.
William Walt Cook, a TCU alum, spoke in opposition to the case.
“I oppose the blanket change to 40 acres which includes my block,” Cook said. “They want to change it to CF which, as far as I can tell, means they can do whatever they want to do.
“I went to TCU and I love TCU. My parents went to TCU. My aunt and uncle went to TCU, my grandmother — well you get the idea,” Cook said. “I don’t want them driving me out by putting something there without telling me what they’re trying to do.”
Cook said he has lived in his home for 30 years and has his own plans, which do not include not knowing what TCU wants to do in his neighborhood.
“That’s all I’m asking,” Cook said. “What do they want to put there?”
According to the meeting’s docket, Zoning Commission staff found that the requested zoning change was compatible and consistent with the land use around the parcel in question.
Commission member Aughinbaugh said generally TCU is diligent in appearing before the commission for its cases. He added that he would like to hear from them before making a decision on the case and made a motion for a 30 day continuance. The motion was approved unanimously.
According to a spokesperson for TCU, the rezoning is an effort to consolidate the TCU properties in vicinity of the proposed School of Music Performance Hall and a proposed Fine Art Building.
FW HUNTINGTON DEVELOPMENTS LLC
In case ZC-17-167, FW Huntington Developments LLC asked for the rezoning of 1.91 acres at 2645 Stanley and 2530 8th Ave. from “I” light industrial to “UR” urban residential in order to build townhomes.
According to the zoning commission, the purpose of the UR zoning is to provide residential density transition between low density single-family neighborhoods and higher density commercial areas. The commission also says UR encourages a range of housing choices within walking distance to rail transit stations and mixed-use urban villages.
Representative for the company Mary Nell Poole with Townsite Company said they plan to develop two- and three-bedroom two-story townhomes for sale. She added that there will be plenty of overflow parking, as well as easy access to 8th Avenue.
“[These townhomes], in essence, will be a buffer to the commercial that is there and provide the necessary rooftops … for the Berry Street initiative,” Poole said.
According to the meeting’s docket, Zoning Commission staff found that the requested zoning change was compatible and consistent with the land use around the parcel in question.
The request received a motion to approve by commission member Kevin Buchanan, the member from District 9, who said “I definitely think with its location next to Southside and grocery and everything it makes sense to transition this from industrial to walkable residential development.”
The motion was approved unanimously.
UNITED GOSPEL MISSION OF TARRANT COUNTY
In case ZC-17-172, United Gospel Mission of Tarrant County asked for the rezoning of 0.62 acres at 1401 E. Lancaster from “PD 477” PD/SU planned development specific use for all uses in “MU-2” plus shelters to “MU-2” high intensity mixed use for multifamily development.
The mission aims to zone this property out of the restrictions within the PD.
The site plan for the PD includes this acreage and identifies it as parking spaces to serve the adjacent building.
Justin Light, an attorney with Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, spoke to the commission on the case.
“What we are proposing to remove from this PD is vacant land and parking that will ultimately, hopefully be used for a multifamily development,” Light said. “They plan to move their clinic to the basement of this property and have a case manager on sight to help people moving in there … we’re really just trying to clean it up so more development can continue and it doesn’t have the shelter PD attached.”
He acknowledged that the land is already zoned as “MU-2” but that the PD has specific restrictions what the United Gospel Mission of Tarrant County would like to remove.
According to the meeting’s docket, Zoning Commission staff found that the requested zoning change was compatible and consistent with the land use around the parcel in question.
The request received a motion to approve by commission member Wanda Conlin, the representative from Council District 8, and was approved unanimously.