Fort Worth Board of Adjustment Meeting Summary – February 18, 2026

The Fort Worth Board of Adjustment held a public hearing on February 18, 2026, with nine members present (one short of the full 11-member board). The board elected a presiding chair, approved prior minutes, and heard seven cases plus two tabled items. Due to the reduced quorum, all approvals required a unanimous 9–0 vote, though some motions passed with one dissenting vote (denials and continuances do not require unanimity).

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (January 2026): Approved unanimously by voice vote (9–0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke in support or opposition during the meeting. A written opposition letter was received for case BAR‑26‑001 but the author did not attend.

Discussion Items

1. BAC‑25‑045 (5151 & 5159 Greenlee Street) – Applicant sought a variance for screening fence materials (chain-link with tarp and barbed wire). The applicant was absent due to a family emergency; the board tabled the case to the end of the agenda and later continued it to the March 18, 2026 meeting.

2. BAR‑25‑131 (4929 FitzU Avenue) – Applicant requested a variance from the Stop Six overlay district’s two-car garage requirement for a new single-family home. The applicant asked for denial without prejudice; the board voted to deny without prejudice (9–1, with Board Member Garza dissenting).

3. BAC‑26‑002 (10901 S Hewland Street & 4885 Cleburne Crowley Road) – Applicant requested special exceptions for two monument signs with electronic changeable copy (ECC) at a proposed convenience store/gas station. Staff noted no other ECC signs in the vicinity, adjacent residential to the south, and roads classified as neighborhood connectors. The applicant explained the signs are needed at two entrances to display fuel prices. No opposition. Approved unanimously (9–0).

4. BAC‑26‑004 (5324–5334 Trail Lake Drive) – Special exception for a monument sign with ECC at an existing Texaco station. The sign is a reface of an existing sign, using the same LED display. No opposition. Approved unanimously (9–0).

5. BAR‑26‑001 (2628 Townsend Drive) – Variance to allow two required parking spaces in front of the front building wall (instead of behind) for a three-bedroom home. The applicant (Brian Lemmerman, on behalf of his son Kyle, a TCU student) explained the house has no garage, alley access is impractical, and 16 of 23 older homes on the block have similar parking. The board discussed tying the variance to the existing structure. Motion approved with a condition that the variance expires upon demolition of the current structure. Approved (9–0).

6. BAR‑26‑003 (7712 Pensacola Avenue) – Special exception for an existing carport in the front yard. Staff noted the property also lacks required parking behind the front building wall, which will require a separate variance. The applicant agreed to a continuance to combine both requests. Continued to March 18, 2026 (9–0).

7. BAR‑26‑004 (2511 Fifth Avenue) – Variances to reduce the side yard setback from 5 ft to 1 ft and the rear yard setback from 5 ft to 0 ft for a new detached garage. The existing garage and carport (both non-conforming) will be demolished. The applicant cited a shared driveway and limited space. No opposition. Approved (9–1, with Board Member Duffy dissenting).

8. BAR‑26‑005 (2821 Donnelly Street) – Variances for lot width (60 ft required, 50 ft proposed) and lot area (10,000 sq ft required, 6,750 sq ft proposed) in the A‑10 district. The lot became undersized after a deed transfer; the applicant stated this is the full extent of the land available. No opposition. Approved unanimously (9–0).

9. BAR‑26‑006 (4617 Washburn Avenue) – Variance for lot coverage (50% maximum to 52%) for a bedroom addition. The applicant added permeable pavers to reduce driveway coverage. No opposition. Approved unanimously (9–0).

10. Tabled Cases – Revisited – BAC‑25‑045 was continued to March 18, 2026. BAR‑25‑131 was denied without prejudice (9–1).

Key Outcomes

• Approvals: BAC‑26‑002, BAC‑26‑004, BAR‑26‑001 (with condition), BAR‑26‑004, BAR‑26‑005, BAR‑26‑006.
• Denials: BAR‑25‑131 (denied without prejudice, 9–1).
• Continuances: BAC‑25‑045 (to March 18, 2026), BAR‑26‑003 (to March 18, 2026).
• Other Notices: The board acknowledged that with only nine members present, a unanimous vote is required for approvals. Several board members requested future training on the consequences of approving smaller lot developments and noted that the board is working to schedule a special-called meeting for an appeal case.