Council approves road eminent domain, medical-district street vacation and a string of zoning and variance measures

The Fort Worth City Council on April 8 voted to authorize acquisition of property needed for a road-widening project, approved a right-of-way vacation to support Cook Children’s Medical Center, granted an alcohol-distance variance for a restaurant, and approved a series of zoning, site-plan and board-appointment items noted on the agenda.

The actions affect transportation planning on West Bailey Boswell Road; the medical district near Cook Children’s; a restaurant seeking to sell alcohol less than 300 feet from a church; and multiple development and land-use proposals across the city.

The council adopted a resolution authorizing use of the power of eminent domain to acquire a 0.426-acre right-of-way easement from Boaz Holdings LP for the West Bailey Boswell Road Street and Transportation Improvement Project. Council member Matt Hill moved the measure and the council voted to approve the resolution. City staff said the easement is needed “to widen existing undivided roadway to divided 4-lane roadway with dedicated turn lanes” to support vehicle safety. The property is described in the motion as located at 6250 West Bailey Boswell Road and is needed for construction, operation and maintenance of…