Fort Worth Urban Design Commission Meeting – August 20, 2026

The Fort Worth Urban Design Commission (UDC) met on August 20, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The meeting was chaired by Chairman Benner, with Commissioners Carr, DeBose, Halliday, Harrier, Hughes, Moss, and Reed present. The commission considered a continued case, three new cases, and two urban forestry cases, along with routine announcements. All votes were unanimous (8-0), with one case continued for further refinement.

Announcements

• AIA Fort Worth will celebrate its 80th anniversary on Saturday, August 29, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the ACMA BRIC headquarters.
• Staff proposed moving the October UDC meeting from October 15 to October 22 to avoid conflict with the Texas APA conference in Irving (October 14–16). Commissioners were asked to check their calendars; no formal vote was taken.
• District 11 announced a food and diaper drive on Saturday, August 22, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the UJ McRae Community Center.

The minutes from the July meeting were approved on a motion by Commissioner DeBose, seconded by Commissioner Carr (8-0).

Continuation Case: UDC 2026-128 – 2458 Ellis Avenue (Structured Parking Garage in Stockyards)

This case was continued from the July meeting due to noticing issues. Staff presenter Joseph Flaws outlined the proposal: a four- to five-story, 296-space cast-in-place structured parking garage with 2,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, located at the corner of Ellis Avenue and Northwest 25th Street. The site is currently a surface lot with 53 spaces. The applicant (ML Leddy’s Boots and Clothing, owned by the Franklin family, in partnership with Parking Systems of America) seeks a Certificate of Appropriateness with six waivers:

1. Street-facing building length (189 feet vs. 150-foot maximum)
2. Building materials (synthetic stucco as primary material, allowed only as secondary)
3. Ground-floor transparency (10% along Ellis and 25% along NW 25th Street vs. 40%)
4. Parking setback (7 feet along Ellis and 12 feet along NW 25th Street vs. 30 feet)
5. Building entrance spacing (177 feet and 86 feet vs. 75-foot maximum)
6. Rooftop height encroachment (stair/elevator towers at 0 feet from roof edge vs. 10-foot setback)

Staff recommended approval, noting that a conditional use permit for the structured parking use was already approved by City Council on June 9, 2026. The applicant worked with the Fort Worth Stockyards Inc. Design Review Committee, which was generally supportive. Three letters of support were submitted (Fort Worth Chamber, Historic North Side, Hispanic Chamber).

The applicant’s architect, Shannon Beardon (Dunaway), presented the design, emphasizing that the garage would improve parking capacity (adding 240 spaces), replace vacant surface lots, and activate the corner with retail. She addressed each waiver, citing grade changes, functional requirements of the garage, and efforts to create a four-facade building with architectural details such as pilasters, cornices, and a cowboy boot mural. The building lighting will be 2700K (warm) and designed to minimize light trespass.

Public comment: Paul Payne, President of Fort Worth Stockyards Inc., expressed support for the project and noted the organization’s role in reviewing the design.

Commission discussion: Commissioners commended the design but questioned certain details. Commissioner Carr noted the waiver for building materials was the most significant. After discussion, a motion by Commissioner Carr to approve all six waivers was seconded by Commissioner Reed and passed unanimously (8-0).

New Cases

UDC 2026-190 – 2511 Mitchell Boulevard (Tree Preservation Waiver)

The applicant (Fort Worth Housing Finance Corporation, represented by Laura Presley of Kimley-Horn) requested a waiver to reduce the required 25% tree preservation to 0% for a new building with parking. Staff explained that the site has a natural drainage ravine requiring extensive grading, and trees shown for preservation may not survive grading changes; the owner will still protect trees shown on the plan but the waiver allows administrative flexibility. The site will provide 36.2% tree canopy (42,000 sq ft) against a requirement of 34.9% (40,460 sq ft). Staff recommended approval. Commission discussion focused on practicality. A motion by Commissioner Harrier to approve at 0% was seconded by Commissioner Moss and passed 8-0.

UDC 2026-191 – 6250 West Bailey Boswell Road (Tree Preservation Waiver)

A similar waiver for a phased development (Boat Club Road area) where the existing trees on the first phase are all unprotected species (volunteer Chinese pistache). The waiver reduces preservation from 25% to 0% for the first phase; future phases will meet the standard. The provided tree canopy will be 33.8% (144,300 sq ft) against the 30% requirement (128,023 sq ft). Staff recommended approval. A motion by Commissioner Harrier, seconded by Commissioner DeBose, passed 8-0.

UDC 2026-137 – 5812 Eastland Street (Pedestrian Lighting Waiver in UR District)

The applicant (Reza Safe) proposed a two-story duplex and requested a waiver from the pedestrian-scale lighting requirement in the Urban Residential (UR) district, proposing alternative lighting on private property. Staff noted the site plan was incomplete and recommended a continuance to allow the applicant to revise plans, address outstanding UR standards, and identify any additional waivers. The applicant was not present. The commission voted unanimously (8-0) to continue the case to the next meeting.

UDC 2026-149 – 213 South Roberts Cut Off Road (Pedestrian Lighting Waiver in UR District)

The applicant (Ruth and Randall LLC, represented by Jay McKeever) sought a waiver from the UR pedestrian-scale lighting requirement for a new duplex. The site is one of six lots rezoned to UR as part of a larger multifamily development that was never built. The applicant proposed wall-mounted sconces and pathway lights on private property. Staff recommended approval with conditions requiring at least one pedestrian-scale light on private property illuminating the public sidewalk and wall-mounted sconces. Commissioners expressed concern about maintenance and precedent, but decided to approve without conditions due to the unique context (isolated UR lots inconsistent with surrounding zoning). A motion by Commissioner Harrier to waive the requirement without conditions was seconded and passed 8-0.

UDC 2026-192 – 900 West Magnolia Avenue (Signage Waiver in Near South Side)

The applicant (Star DFW, represented by Paul Centoyo) requested a Certificate of Appropriateness for two crown building signs on a single facade (medical office building) in the Near South Side Form-Based Code district. The existing sign for Baylor Scott & White will be replaced with a new sign for Star DFW (cancer research organization). The code allows only one crown building sign per facade. Staff recommended approval, noting that other buildings in the district have similar conditions and the waiver allows flexibility. Commission discussion was brief; a motion by Commissioner DeBose to approve was seconded by Commissioner Hughes and passed 8-0.

UDC 2026-131 – 1329 May Street (Six Townhomes with Four Waivers in Near South Side)

This case involved a proposed development of six three-story townhomes on West Morphe Street (addressed to May Street) in the T4 General Urban District. The applicant (Jack Romai, architect) requested four waivers:

1. Minimum roadside width for new construction (5 ft 6 in. vs. required 10 ft 6 in.)
2. Street tree planting (none along West Morphe vs. required spacing of 15–35 ft)
3. Pedestrian lights (none along West Morphe vs. required in roadside zone)
4. Garage orientation (garages facing public street vs. required access from alley or rear)

Staff presentation by Joseph Flaws noted that the street is narrow (18 ft curb-to-curb) and the adjacent development to the west (Morphe Street Townhomes) established a pattern of front-facing garages. The applicant proposed to plant street trees and install pedestrian lights on the south side of the street (in the city right-of-way) to mitigate. The Near South Side Design Review Committee supported the project after the applicant revised the streetscape plan.

The applicant’s architect described the design: each townhome has a two-car tandem garage on the first floor, with three bedrooms. Finished floors will step down across the site to accommodate a three-foot grade change. Wall-mounted lights on pilasters will illuminate the sidewalk. The applicant committed to forming an HOA for maintenance of private landscape areas.

Public comment: Rachel Bradford of Near Southside Inc. spoke in favor, noting the DRC’s support after revisions.

Commission discussion: Commissioners raised concerns about the narrow street and potential parking problems, the lack of detailed grading and curbside plans, the feasibility of planting on the south side (city right-of-way) without the adjacent property owner’s agreement, and the absence of the developer to address these issues. Several commissioners felt the project needed more work, particularly regarding streetscape execution and the impact of six curb cuts on pedestrian experience. A motion by Commissioner Halliday to continue the case to the next meeting (September) for more detailed plans was seconded by Commissioner Carr and passed unanimously (8-0).

Key Outcomes

• UDC 2026-128: All six waivers approved (8-0).
• UDC 2026-190: Tree preservation waiver to 0% approved (8-0).
• UDC 2026-191: Tree preservation waiver to 0% approved (8-0).
• UDC 2026-137: Continued to next meeting (8-0).
• UDC 2026-149: Pedestrian lighting waiver approved without conditions (8-0).
• UDC 2026-192: Second crown building sign approved (8-0).
• UDC 2026-131: Continued to next meeting for revised plans (8-0).
• The October UDC meeting date is tentatively rescheduled to October 22, pending commissioner availability.
• The meeting adjourned at 12:00 PM.