Fort Worth City Plan Commission Meeting – September 10, 2026
Fort Worth City Plan Commission Meeting – September 10, 2026
The Fort Worth City Plan Commission met in open session on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 9:00 AM to conduct public hearings on subdivision plats, waivers, annexation, and other land-use matters. The commission approved five cases, recommended one annexation to city council, and continued one item to the October 8, 2026 meeting. A presentation on the McCart Corridor Avenue Project was also delivered.
Consent Calendar
- None. All items were discussed individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- VA 26017 (Lake Como Cemetery vacation): Eloise Barrill, president of the Lake Como Cemetery Association, and Ella Burton, former president of the Lake Como Advisory Committee and trustee, testified in support of the vacation. They explained that the vacation would allow the cemetery to reclaim areas identified by ground-penetrating radar as containing gravesites. The applicant (Fuller Engineering) was absent due to illness, but the speakers confirmed the cemetery's historical designation and the need to make the cemetery whole.
- PP25052 (Commerce Center): A resident’s concern about a 24-foot-wide access easement was raised via email. The applicant’s representative (Cole Weber of Westwood Professional Services) acknowledged the concern and volunteered to increase the easement width to 36 feet, though the commission noted it could not require more than the ordinance minimum.
- Panther Island form-based code amendment: During discussion, it was noted that property owners in the Bazaar area and Samuel neighborhood had been contacted, and some spoke at the Zoning Commission the previous day.
Discussion Items
- FS 26002 – Hassett Gardens Edition (Lots 144R1 & 144R2): A request for a waiver to residential driveway access limitations (Section 31-106C13) for a final short plat. Staff explained that the owner had already built a duplex on a B-zoned lot and sought to split it into two lots, but the lots were less than 50 feet wide and lacked an alley, preventing shared or rear access. The waiver would allow front-entry driveways. Commission questioned why permits were issued before the plat was recorded; staff clarified the original lot met duplex requirements. The public hearing had no oral testimony. The commission approved the plat and waiver unanimously (10-0, with one abstention not counted; Commissioner Henderson absent).
- FS 26118 – Chapel Hill Lots 1R1 & 1R2, Block 1: A replat of a multifamily development to sever a gas well lot. The applicant requested a waiver (Section 31-106A8) to allow a cul-de-sac on a public access easement serving an industrial use (gas well) within a multifamily complex. Staff supported the waiver because the lot is landlocked. Applicant James Marlowe (Pape Dawson) confirmed the purpose was financial separation, with no development planned for the gas well site. No opposition. The commission approved the waiver and conditional plat (10-0).
- FS 26174 – Grand Park Edition: A replat of two lots less than 50 feet wide, requesting a waiver to rear access requirements due to a steep slope (8-10 foot drop) at the alley. Staff noted a near-identical case on the same block had been approved two years earlier. No public testimony. Approved unanimously (10-0).
- PP25052 – Commerce Center (Lots 9R1 & 9R2): Preliminary plat for three industrial lots and two open-space lots in a floodplain-constrained area. The applicant sought waivers from Section 31-102B2 (interconnectivity of neighborhoods) to avoid extending Fire Ridge Drive and Whispering Pines Drive into the industrial development, and from Section 31-106A8 (street design standards) to use a cul-de-sac on a public access easement. Staff supported both waivers due to land-use incompatibility and physical constraints. The applicant volunteered to increase the access easement width from 24 to 36 feet to address a resident’s concern. The commission noted the agenda's general location had been incorrectly copied from the previous case, but confirmed proper notice was given. Approved with one dissenting vote (9-1, Commissioner Turner voting no).
- VA 26017 – Vacation of a portion of Helmick Avenue, Little Page Street, and an alley near Lake Como Cemetery: Request to vacate public rights-of-way that encroached on historic cemetery property (Block 509, Chamberlain Arlington Heights addition). Ground-penetrating radar had identified graves in those rights-of-way. The cemetery is a state-registered historic cemetery. The vacation would allow the cemetery to reclaim the land. No opposition. The commission approved a recommendation to city council (10-0).
- AX 2608 – Maverick Golf Ranch Club Annexation: Request to annex approximately 443 acres in far southwest Fort Worth as part of the Villal Ranch development agreement. The proposed use is single-family residential and a golf course (private park, recreation, and open space). The future land use map would be adjusted from single-family residential to also include private park/open space. The annexation is inconsistent with the adopted comprehensive plan, requiring a recommendation. Staff noted a timeline for city council consideration on November 17, 2026. No public testimony. The commission recommended approval to city council (10-0).
- Other Matters – Panther Island Form-Based Code Amendment: Staff presented a proposed update to the Panther Island form-based code, including a simplified regulating plan (two subdistricts instead of nine), new water frontage standards, reduced block perimeters, and a revised district boundary. Several commissioners expressed discomfort in voting without seeing the actual code language (red-line). The commission voted to continue the item to the October 8, 2026 meeting, directing staff to provide a redlined version of the amendments. The motion carried (10-0).
- Other Matters – McCart Corridor Avenue Project Presentation: Kevin Isou (TPW) gave an overview of a 10-mile corridor study from I-20 to future County Road 920, initiated under the 2022 bond program. The study aims to improve safety, multimodal access, and smart technology. Key recommendations include adaptive signals, protected crossings, pedestrian and bike improvements, and catalytic sites at major intersections. The public comment period runs through September 25, 2026, with city council adoption scheduled for October 27, 2026. No action was required by the commission; the presentation was informational.
Key Outcomes
- FS 26002: Approved final short plat and driveway waiver (10-0).
- FS 26118: Approved waiver for cul-de-sac and conditional plat (10-0).
- FS 26174: Approved waiver for rear access and replat (10-0).
- PP25052: Approved waivers for cul-de-sac and non-extension of stub streets; conditional preliminary plat approved (9-1, Commissioner Turner opposed).
- VA 26017: Recommended to city council to vacate rights-of-way (10-0).
- AX 2608: Recommended to city council for annexation (10-0).
- Panther Island form-based code amendment: Continued to October 8, 2026 meeting; staff to provide redlined code language.
- McCart Corridor: Presentation received; no vote taken.
Meeting Transcript
All right, it's nine o'clock. We'll get started. Um this is the City Plan Commission uh meeting for the city of Fort Worth on Thursday, September 10th, 2026. Good morning and welcome to the September 9th in-person meeting of the City of Fort Worth Plan Commission. The commission meets monthly in open session to conduct 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 responsibilities are to review and act upon subdivision plans and platts, street and alley right-of-way vacations and closures, annexation, comprehensive planning, and their land development issues affecting the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction area. The commission is made up of 11 Fort Worth citizens, each of whom have been appointed by the city council. A quorum of six members of the eleven must be present in order to conduct the commission's business. Staff present today, Alex Parks, Paul Rodriguez, Rich McCracken, Jessica Williams, Alex Johnson, Michelle Pinon, Barbara Soltero, Leo Valencia, Christopher Thornton, and David Hood. My name is Stephen Murray, plating manager and facilitating facilitator of today's meeting. Copies of the meeting agenda and staff reports are included in the commission socket 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 hearings are being documented by cable television and streamed on the internet. 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 two minutes for rebuttal. Each side will be allowed a collective total of seven minutes for presentations. We have Barbara Barbara Siltero keeping time today. Uh prior to commission uh addressing the commission, clearly state your name. All dialogue will only occur between the speaker and the commission. Upon the chairman's initial closure 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. If you need additional information about a particular case, please call the development services department at 817-392-8027. Thank you for your attention. Madam Chairman. Commissioners, the first order of business is the approval of the minutes for the August 13th meeting. Commissioners, any discussion or a motion. So moved. Second. Second from Commissioner Johnson. Call the vote, please. Commissioner Beardon, 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 Kelly, how do you vote? Yes. Commissioner Farda, how do you vote? Abstain. Commissioner Reed, how do you vote? Yes.
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