The Fort Worth Zoning Commission has delayed approval of a plan to sell approximately 100 acres of property in far north Fort Worth to a developer seeking to build light industrial facilities. The vote occurred during the commission's regular meeting on Aug. 12, resulting in a 9-0 decision to continue the case until an October hearing.
The land in question is owned by Keller ISD and includes parcels at 2766 and 2840 Keller Hicks Road, along with odd-numbered blocks between the 3600 and 4100 ranges of Golden Triangle Boulevard. Denton Walker, representing developer Transwestern Development, stated that the district proposed a planned development allowing warehouse operations.
Walker told commissioners that his team met with seven community groups and adjusted the proposal to address local concerns. Modifications included increasing buffer zones, adding setbacks, reducing a cold-storage building height from 80 feet to 55 feet, installing an eight-foot solid fence, and eliminating regular driveway access to Keller Hicks Road.
Despite these changes, residents of the nearby Crawford Farms and Woodland Springs neighborhoods expressed strong opposition. Lisa Hansen, president of the Crawford Farms Homeowners Association, noted that 1,072 households purchased their homes expecting the land to become a school or community facility. Residents cited concerns regarding increased traffic, noise, and the proximity of industrial activity to their homes.
Keller ISD Superintendent Cory Wilson defended the proposal, stating that light industrial use offers the best economic return in the shortest timeframe. He explained that the district has lost approximately 6,000 students since the 2020-21 school year and closed three schools recently. Wilson argued that developing the land for residential or commercial purposes would take too long to generate the desired income.
Commissioners expressed divided opinions but ultimately agreed with city staff that the proposal did not align with future area plans and that residents had not been adequately informed. The commission also recommended that City Council reject a separate rezoning request for 45 acres near Avondale-Haslet Road, which sought to convert mixed-use land to primarily single-family housing.
