Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

All right, it's nine o'clock. We'll get started. This is the city plan commission meeting for Thursday, April 9th, 2026 for the city of Fort Worth. We will begin with minutes, right? Opening statement. Yes, ma'am. I forgot my cheat sheet. I don't know where to go.

Good morning and welcome to the April 9th, 2026 in-person meeting of the City of Fort Worth Planning Commission. The commission meets monthly in open session to get at public hearings on advertised cases. Specific rules and procedures governing these hearings include the city's subdivision ordinance, city plan commission rules, regulations, and bylaws, and related provisions of the Texas state law. The commission's primary responsibility are to review and act upon subdivision plans and flats, street and alley right-of-way vacations and closures, annexations, comprehensive planning, and other land development issues affecting the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction area. Commission is made up of 11 Fort Worth citizens, each of whom have been appointed by the city council. A quorum of six of the 11 members must be present in order to conduct the commission's business. 11 members are present, therefore the hearing may proceed. Seated at the center of the table is Ms. Caroline Krantz, the chair of the City Planning Commission. Other commissioners members present today are in Commissioner Bearden, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Lamberth, Commissioner Johnson, Commissioner Turner, Commissioner Henderson, Commissioner Reicher, and Commissioner Kelly, Commissioner Reed, and Commissioner Gillette. Staff members present today are Alex Johnson, Paul Rodriguez, Jessica Williams, Alex Johnson, Michelle Pena, Barbara Saltero, and Representative from FIRE. My name is Stephen Murray, planning manager and facilitator of today's meeting. Copies of the meeting agenda and staff reports are included in the commission's docket and are available on the city's website. The staff reports have been compiled by the city's development review committee to inform the commission and applicants of city code requirements and technical issues associated with the cases to be heard. Today's public hearing are being documented by, well, today's public hearing is in person. To achieve an orderly and timely hearing, we request that you observe the following rules and procedures. All cases are called, applicants and others in support of the case will be asked to present their testimony for a total of five minutes. Opposing testimony will follow and be given a total of seven minutes. The applicant will be allowed a two minute rebuttal. Each side will be allowed a collective total of seven minutes for initial presentation. We have Barbara Saltero keeping the time today. When you come up to the dais, please clearly state your name and city prior to addressing the commission. All dialogue will occur only between the speaker and the commission. Upon the chairman's initial close of the case, the commission will remain in open session to discuss and vote upon the case. No further public testimony or commentary will be allowed. Be advised that the commission's decision on plotting matters is final. Action on the other docket items constitute a recommendation to the city council. If you need additional information about a particular case, please call the Development Services Department at 817-392-8027. Thank you for your attention. Mr. Chair, or Ms. Chair, Commissioners, the first order of business is the approval of the minutes for March 12th meeting.

All right, two minutes are in front of you. Hopefully you had a chance to review them as well. Motion or discussion?

I move that we approve the previous meeting minutes from CPC on March 12th.

I second. We have a motion by Commissioner Johnson and a second by Commissioner Turner. I believe we were competing for that. You call the vote, please.

Commissioner Bearden, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Adams, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Lambert, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Johnson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Turner, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Henderson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Kelly, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Risher, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Gillette, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Reed, how do you vote? Yes. Chair Kranz, how do you vote? Yes. The motion passes.

Okay. First case, VA-2603, vacation of a portion of Curry Street right-of-way and a portion of Weissenberger Street right-of-way adjacent to Block 18, Weissenberger Addition, Council District 9. General location is north of Whitmore Street, south of Wingate, east of Foch, and west of Wimberley. This case will be continued to next month due to the Urban Design Commission. They need to meet before the Urban Design Commission prior to coming here. I think next week they're meeting, or when are they meeting, Urban Design Commission? On the 16th, so they'll be coming on the 30th for this case. I think we still have to vote on it, though.

Do we have a motion? Yes, this is District 9. I don't have District 9 here.

Make a motion to continue VA-26003 until consideration by the Urban Design Commission.

Second.

Motion by Commissioner Henderson, second by Commissioner Johnson. If you'll call the vote, please.

Commissioner Bearden, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Adams, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Lambert, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Johnson, how do you vote?

Yes.

Commissioner Henderson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Turner, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Kelly, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Risher, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Gillette, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Reed, how do you vote?

I recuse myself from this here right here because it's coming before the urban design committee.

Chair Krantz, how do you vote? Yes. The motion passes.

Next case, VA 26005, vacation of a portion of Sandshell Boulevard right away north of Basswood Boulevard. A waiver request, section 3163E6A, street vacation recommendation, expiration, council district four. This case will also be continued or we're requesting a continuance to the city planning commission. Last month we needed one because of the master transportation plan. I think we have things figured out, but we needed one more continuance on this to move forward on April 30th.

I motion to continue VA-26005 until the April 30th City Planning Commission meeting. Second.

Motion from Commissioner Lambert, second from Commissioner Johnson.

Call the vote, please. Commissioner Bearden, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Adams, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Lambert, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Johnson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Henderson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Turner, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Kelly, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Risher, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Gillette, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Reed, how do you vote? Yes. Chair Krantz, how do you vote? Yes. The motion passes.

All right, let's get started with the new cases, VA-25-028, Vacation of a Portion of Northwest 35th Street, Ross Avenue and an Alley, Block 23, Washington Heights Addition, and Vacation of All the Alley and Block 117, MG Ellis Addition, Council District 2. General location is north of Northwest 34th Street, south of Northwest 36th Street, west of Clinton Avenue, and east of Meacham Airport.

Good morning, Commissioners. This application here is a collection of right-of-ways that is being proposed to be vacated. The applicant is the City of Fort Worth. This is to be a support facility for the Meacham Airport. Essentially, it's going to be located there at the intersection of Northwest 35th Street and Ross is where the facility is to be located. But in order to vacate those two rights-of-way, It would have ended up creating a dead-end alley there to the west, which is the reason for the inclusion of the alley that's running north-south adjacent to Ross Avenue. And obviously by vacating that portion of 35th Street, it would have dead-ended the alley going north and south. And since the subdivision ordinance prohibits dead-end alleys, those two rights-of-way had to be included with what their original submittal was. It kind of increased the scope of the project a little bit. So here's those vacations in a little bit more detail with the proposed development. So this is pretty straightforward. Staff recommends approval of the vacation of all these rights of way to city council. And that's what our CPC recommendation is as well. Are there any questions?

I just had a couple of quick questions. Does the city of Forth own all the adjacent property to what's being –

No, so as you can see, there's a small facility there at the northwest corner of the alley there that is owned by what is known as the, now their name is just all of a sudden slipped my mind, but there's a trust, a family trust that owns, a Hospers family trust that owns the land there. For that, there's two, if I go to this exhibit here, you can, I don't know if you can see it. Let's see if I can zoom in. Nope. But they own this land right here. The remainder of the property is. So when the property is replatted, they will be getting their half of the alley, and that will be replatted with what is lots four, five, and this sliver or remainder of lot 18, and that'll be a part of the plat as well. So the city will be replatting the properties here to the south. as a part of this alley abandonment and then these adjoining lots here as well to the north.

All right, the owner of that has been notified.

Yes, they've signed the application. They're in agreement. Our property management division has been in contact with them and they're participating in the replanting process and so forth.

Thank you, Alex.

Yes, sir.

Any other questions for staff? Thank you, Alex. Is anyone here to speak on this matter? Don't see anyone. I think I have a green paper, though. You'll state your name and your city, please.

My name is Cody Watson, City of Fort Worth. I'm the signing surveyor on this. I'm just here on behalf of the applicant in case there was any other questions that need to be answered.

Thank you for being here. Any questions for the applicant's representative? I don't see any. Thank you very much. All right. I will close the public hearing and entertain discussion or a motion. And this is in Council District 2.

Madam Chairman, is it appropriate to motion, or to have one motion that includes all three? Is that fine with everyone?

Yes, they are one matter, so yeah, one motion would be appropriate.

Okay, here we go.

I'd like to motion that the Commission approve VA 25028, Vacation of a Portion of Northwest 35th Street, Ross Avenue in the Alley in Block 23, Washington Heights Addition. and Vacation of All of the Alley in Block 117, M.G. Ellis Edition. And we approve VA 25030. Is that? That's what I was asking.

Oh, no, no, no. All three sections of this one. Sorry, I misunderstood. No. One case at a time.

That's my motion then.

Thank you.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Motion by Commissioner Bearden, second by Commissioner Reed. Call the vote, please.

Commissioner Bearden, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Adams, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Lambert, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Johnson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Henderson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Turner, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Kelly, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Risher, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Gillette, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Reed, how do you vote? Yes. Chair Krantz, how do you vote? Yes. That motion passes.

All right, next case, VA 25030, Vacation of an Alley and a Portion of an Alley in Block 18, Exchange Subdivision, Council District 2. General location is north of 24th Street, south of Exchange Avenue, west of Houston Street, and east of Clinton Avenue.

Okay, Chairman, so here's, this one's a little bit different. What I mean by that is, They're classified as alleys because that's what they have become. But when you look historically at this, I didn't notice this until after this was already reviewed, approved, and sent out. So they're functioning as alleys now. The northwest, the north-south portion of this actually was a former street right-of-way that has been narrowed down to this alley section. I think it was originally called Anderson Boulevard. But what remains essentially after the vacations, as you can see along the east and west sides of this, is approximately 10 foot wide, what we'll call an alley section. So some time ago, multiple decades ago, these portions of right-of-way on either side were vacated and left essentially an alley running north-south in that location. Historically, there's always been an alley running east-west, but the street there is what was, this is basically a leftover portion of a street right of way, but functioning as an alley or vacating it as an alley, because it's no longer really a street. All right, so all that being said, the purpose of this is it's to be vacated and they're going to develop a new hotel on this side of the property. They are, however, replatting the entire block as multiple lots, but the sole purpose of this really is for this new hotel on this side of the block. Are there any questions?

Just one. That northeast corner, it looks like it's a different land ownership than the rest of the applicants.

It is. That is correct.

Okay. Are they also agreeable to the vacation?

Everybody sign the application.

Any other questions for staff? Okay. Anyone here to speak on this matter?

I believe we may have one.

State your name and city, please.

Good morning. Phillip Ruggies, Fort Worth, Texas. I'm here representing the applicant. I'm here to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for being here. Any questions for the applicant's representative? Sandy, thank you. Anyone else here to speak on this item? All right, we'll close the public hearing. Discussion or a motion, please? This is two again.

I have a question maybe Stephen can answer. We do a lot of vacations, and I realize that it's administrative to some degree because we don't own the land. We just have the right-of-way that we're vacating. And I don't even know if this is legal, so I'll give that the heads up. I mean, does the city ask for considerations if we're going to vacate land such as, we will vacate that alley to give you additional access to help you with your building, but we want you to redo the curbs on the north side that are crumbling. I mean, is there any horse trading or is that just not appropriate?

It's not allowed, that horse trading aspect. However, what we can do is whenever they redevelop the site, require them to come up to current code. So if there are no... curb cuts or sidewalks and things of that nature, then they would have to do that. Alex has something to say.

So anytime they vacate right of way, they're required to replant it into the adjoining property. During the replanting process, we do a rough proportionality analysis of the existing infrastructure that's adjacent to the site. And if there's any improvements that are necessary, then the plotting stage is when we exact things onto the property. And so that's when, if there were, that they're not limited just around the property. So if they have an impact by vacating these rights-of-way, if it has an impact to the overall transportation system, that's one of the reasons they do a traffic study with these, and it requires updating signal timing at intersections that are adjacent to it, then that could be part of the exactions that we acquire on this property. So there are things that are done We're not just willy-nilly giving these rides some way out. We're looking at the overall transportation system when we do these. So your concerns, I think, are being remedied.

This is just the first step, and then it moves on in the process. I understand. Yes, sir.

That was a good question.

I'd like to motion approval of VA-25030, vacation of an alley and a portion of an alley in Block 18, Exchange Subdivision.

Second.

A motion by Commissioner Bearden, a second by Commissioner Johnson.

Call the vote, please. Commissioner Bearden, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Adams, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Lambert, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Johnson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Henderson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Turner, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Kelly, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Risher, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Gillette, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Reed, how do you vote? Yes. Chair Kranz, how do you vote? Yes. The motion passes.

Next case is VA-26006, Vacation and Portions of Northwest 36th Street and Loving Avenue, Council District 2. General location is north of Northwest 35th Street, west of Columbus Avenue and east of Angle Avenue. Applicant is Master Plan Consultants.

All right, so this one, the applicant has actually prepared a special presentation for this that I'll pull up here shortly. But essentially the property owner that owns the properties on either side of Loving Avenue there has sought to, and they also own the property to the north of Northwest 36th Street, they've sought to replant this property and consolidate it as one lot for future development of their existing industrial property they have there. Essentially, they're looking to clean up these encumbrances from their property and then replant it altogether as one lot. Does anybody have any questions about that?

All right, sounds like the applicant is here to speak on this. If you'll come forward, please state your name and your city.

Wes Hoblet, Fort Worth, Texas. And we can give a presentation or not, you know, we just wanna be prepared. So, you know, we think it's pretty straightforward, but we're happy to go through it if you guys want or.

You've put the work in. Why don't you run through it real quick?

We made it, so might as well do it. All right.

Can I control it over here?

Is that possible? So here's the aerial of the site that shows that the roadway was never created, even though it's existing on the plat. So we're just looking to clean it up and obviously replat and consolidate the property all into one, since that's technically right-of-way that is not really visible. Next slide. And then as you can see here, there's a square foot total for the right-of-way we're looking to add to the property. Next slide, please. And then the City of Fort Worth owns pretty much all the property to the east of the site. And there's a photo later on that shows pretty much access on 35th Street is blocked near the airport with Meacham to the north and to the east. And then we have a couple other property owners, but predominantly the City of Fort Worth is the ownership of most of the properties to the east and south. Just another slide of the total square footage survey. Here's just some side photos, you know, looking. It's kind of hard to even tell, you know, that there was a street there. They don't have any buildings on the street, of course, but, you know, it's hard to determine looking to the south. And then on the next slide, you can kind of see the blockage where there is no access to the east side of the property. So Loving Avenue is really the access point for the site. And that's pretty much it. That's all, thank you.

Any questions for the applicant? Sandy, thank you. Appreciate your presentation. Anyone else here to speak on this case? See anyone? We'll close the public hearing and discussion or a motion. Second.

Second.

A motion from Commissioner Bearden, a second from Commissioner Henderson. Call the vote, please.

Commissioner Bearden, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Adams, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Lambert, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Johnson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Henderson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Turner, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Kelly, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Risher, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Gillette, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Reed, how do you vote? Yes. Chair Kranz, how do you vote? Yes. The motion passes.

All right, we'll move to other matters of business. First case is OMB Mount Olivet Cemetery. Waiver requests section 31150 issuance of a building permit. General location is north of Watauga, south of 28th Street, west of Sylvania, and east of Interstate 35.

Good morning, Chair, Commissioners. Today we have a OMB case for Mount Olivet Cemetery. They are requesting a waiver to apply for a building permit without the required final plat. So just to let you know, currently the property is unplatted. It's been unplatted for quite a while. And they are looking to take down the old maintenance facility and then rebuild it in another location within that same area. As you can see on the site plan to the south, that's the existing maintenance facility and they're basically gonna move it to the west. They feel that this is a better location for it because it's not directly adjacent to residential property. The new location would be adjacent to, I believe it's a railroad track and some industrial use. And just to be clear, they have no intention of applying this property. They feel that it's been, and platted for years. It's never gonna change. It's always gonna be a cemetery. And it's worth noting as well that this will not be open to the public. This will only be for cemetery staff.

In general, are the cemeteries in town not platted?

I have not come across any other one. This is the first one that I've come across.

Yeah, I think it's a state law thing where they're not really required to do that.

Thank you, Steve. So yeah, we're just requesting, or I'm sorry, recommending approval of a waiver of section 31150 of the subdivision ordinance to allow for issuance of a building permit for construction. This is actually a typo, it's for a maintenance facility. So without a required, or I'm sorry, recorded final plat.

Any other questions for staff? Thank you, Paul. I think we have a couple folks here to speak on this matter. If you'll come forward, please.

Good morning.

My name is Josh Kennerly. I am with Kimley Horn representing Mount Olivet. Cemetery Association for any plotting or engineering questions on this case. We also have John Steven who is with Mount Olivet Cemetery Association. Cemeteries are normally not plotted with the city as individual graves and lots are sold off internally. The site is located internal to the site, which poses a problem for plotting just the portion of the maintenance facility as it would require public access and public utilities to be brought to it. And so we are requesting a waiver to the plot requirement for a building permit essentially to build a new maintenance facility to replace the existing. I'm available to answer any questions.

Thank you for that explanation. Any questions for the applicant's representative? Thank you very much. And I know I have another green sheet here. Did you want to speak? You don't have to, just wanna give you the opportunity.

I'm just here to answer any questions.

Thank you for being here. Any questions for Mr. Steven? Appreciate you. Anyone else here to speak on this item? All right, close the public hearing and discussion or a motion. All right, I think this is up for grabs if anyone would like to make a motion.

Isn't it District 11? Is it 11?

I'll go ahead and get the verbiage. Motion to approve waiver of section 31150 of the subdivision ordinance to allow for the issuance of a building permit on the construction of retaining walls without a permit recorded final block.

It's actually a maintenance facility. That's a typo. My apologies.

Maintenance facility.

I second. We have a motion from Commissioner Risher, a second from Commissioner Turner.

Call the vote, please. Commissioner Bearden, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Adams, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Lambert, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Johnson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Henderson, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Turner, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Kelly, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Risher, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Gillette, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Reed, how do you vote? Yes. Chair Krantz, how do you vote? Yes. The motion passes.

Thank you. All right, that was our final case. So I believe we are ready to adjourn. Thank you all for being here.