Council rezones North Fort Worth school properties to CF after residents' concerns

FORT WORTH — The Fort Worth City Council voted March 25 to rezone specified Keller Independent School District parcels in North Fort Worth to community-facilities (CF) zoning after residents urged the council to act to protect school-owned property amid concerns about an internal school-board plan.

The action came after public comment from residents who said the school board had considered detaching parts of North Fort Worth from Keller ISD without public input. Barbara Brewer, introduced in the meeting as a District 10 resident, told council she was asking for help “to change the zoning on our school property to CF.” Brewer said residents wanted safeguards to preserve school-owned parcels while the district’s internal discussions are unresolved.

Rachel Jenkins, also speaking during public comment, urged the council to rezone the properties to preserve the parcels and allow residents to petition future changes should the school district’s plans change. “I believe that rezoning the Keller ISD properties in North Fort Worth for CF will give the North Fort Worth stakeholders an opportunity to have a say,” Jenkins said.

Councilmember Larsdorf moved to approve the rezoning, and council adopted the motion. Mayor Parker and other council members acknowledged constituent concern and said they supported steps to give local stakeholders additional time and clarity while the school district addresses its internal process.

Why it matters

The CF zoning classification limits future commercial redevelopment options and is commonly used to reflect public or institutional uses, such as schools and civic facilities. Residents at the meeting said the rezone would give families and voters more control over the future of the parcels and prevent an immediate sale or redevelopment contrary to neighborhood expectations.

What the council did

- Approved ZC-25-307 to rezone specified Keller ISD properties in North Fort Worth to CF. The motion recorded in the meeting audio passed; council members voted and the mayor declared the motion carries.

What residents asked for

Residents and speakers emphasized transparency in the school board’s process and requested that the city act to preserve the status of the parcels while district deliberations continue. Mayor Parker said the city’s action was intended to provide time and clarity to families and voters while the district resolves its internal matters.

Next steps

The rezoning changes the city’s zoning map for the affected parcels to CF. Any future sale or redevelopment of the properties would occur under the new zoning unless changed by a subsequent council action. Residents at the meeting said they will continue to monitor the school board and city actions.