The Fort Worth Zoning Commission on Wednesday gave unanimous support to a proposed 51‑acre housing development on the city’s east side. The recommendation moves the plan to the City Council, which will consider it at its Oct. 13 meeting.
Developer’s request
The California‑based Elbaz Family Foundation seeks to rezone two heavily wooded parcels at 7911 Meadowbrook Drive near Cooks Lane. For the 33‑acre tract, the foundation wants to replace the current single‑family minimum lot size of 7,500 sq ft with a new minimum of 5,000 sq ft for detached single‑family homes. The adjacent 17.8‑acre tract would be rezoned to allow zero‑lot‑line detached single‑family homes on 3,000‑sq ft lots or two‑family homes on 2,500‑sq ft lots.
Commission’s rationale
Commissioners praised the project for aligning with the city’s comprehensive plan, which encourages appropriate infill development of vacant land in established neighborhoods. Commissioner Charles Edmonds noted the site is one of the largest forested tracts in east Fort Worth, and the rezoning would help expand the local housing supply while creating ownership opportunities for future residents, according to the developer’s filing.
Community and traffic concerns
Commissioner Tammy Pierce raised questions about the condition of Meadowbrook Drive and asked whether a traffic impact study had been performed. Forestar Group’s director of entitlements, Landry Stewart, admitted no study had yet been conducted but said the developer could undertake one if required.
Related development activity
In the same area, a 22½‑acre parcel at 9201 NW U.S. Highway 287 is slated for warehouse use. Dickies Fort Worth DC Holdings LLC proposes rezoning the land for 275,000 sq ft of light‑industrial space, including semi‑truck bays and distribution facilities for the Dickies workwear brand, which was founded in Fort Worth in 1922. The request would replace intensive commercial zoning with light‑industrial zoning.
In November 2024, VF Corp., the parent of Dickies, announced the brand would relocate its headquarters from Fort Worth to Costa Mesa, California.
Future city projects
The commission also advanced recommendations for the future Panther Island district near downtown Fort Worth. Austin‑based Seco Ventures plans a 12‑story, 290‑unit apartment complex with roughly 9,000 sq ft of ground‑floor retail. The rezoning would replace several existing zones with two new zones that permit dense, multistory development at the project’s core and edges.
All of these recommendations will be reviewed by the Fort Worth City Council on Oct. 13, where council members will vote on the housing rezoning, the warehouse proposal, and the Panther Island district plans.
What’s next
Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to attend the council meeting or submit comments during the public‑comment period. The outcomes will shape the growth and character of east Fort Worth’s neighborhoods for years to come.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
