Fort Worth council approves parkland easements, zoning cases and eminent domain resolution

FORT WORTH — The Fort Worth City Council on March 25 approved a package of land-use and development items, including eight parkland or right-of-way actions under Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, a board appointment, multiple zoning approvals and a resolution authorizing use of eminent domain for a wastewater lift station.

The approvals included temporary and permanent use of portions of public parks for utility and maintenance access and the formal documentation of rights of way through Forest Park. City staff said the actions are needed to support utility projects and to minimize construction impacts.

Laurie Gordon, planning manager for the Park and Recreation Department, told council the parkland conversions follow the notice and review process required by state law and that the Park and Recreation Board had endorsed the proposals earlier. Gordon said no trees would be impacted for several of the smaller maintenance-area changes; for Zebo South Park staff identified 37 impacted trees and estimated a tree-mitigation fee of about $134,000.

The council also confirmed a board appointment recommended by District 10: “I would request your consideration to appoint the following individual… Mr. Brian Ketchum to the Historical and Cultural Landmark Commission,” Councilmember Bylock said from the dais. The council voted to approve the appointment.

On zoning, the council granted approvals on several matters appearing on the agenda. Council members voted to approve ZC-25-301 to allow an expansion by U.S. Gold Storage, and they approved ZC-25-307, a rezoning of certain Keller Independent School District–owned properties in North Fort Worth to community-facilities (CF) zoning (see "Votes at a glance" below). A separate zoning decision, ZC-24-157, involving a roughly 3-acre property near Montgomery Street, was approved with a maximum height limit and a requirement for an eventual site plan.

In one of the final actions of the meeting, Councilmember McCrane moved and the council approved a resolution authorizing use of eminent domain to acquire 5.332 acres needed for the Mary’s Creek Confluence Lift Station, which staff said is required to serve wastewater needs in rapidly developing western portions of the city.

Votes at a glance

- Board appointment: Brian Ketchum — Historical and Cultural Landmark Commission (partial term beginning 03/25/2025, ending 10/01/2026). Outcome: approved.

- M&C 205-0270 series (parkland conversions and rights of way under Chapter 26, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code): • Sequoia Vasquez Park — permanent utility easement. Outcome: approved. • Chapel Hill Park — 0.29 acres for a water-line maintenance area. Outcome: approved. • Carter Park — 0.12 acres for a water-line maintenance area. Outcome: approved. • Thomas Place Park — 0.07 acres for a sanitary-sewer maintenance area. Outcome: approved. • Zebo South Park — 2.01 acres for a sanitary-sewer maintenance area; staff identified 37 impacted trees and a tree-mitigation fee of about $134,000. Outcome: approved. • Forest Park — formal documentation/authorization of existing public rights of way. Outcome: approved.

- Zoning cases: • ZC-24-157 (Mazur Capital parcel near Montgomery Street) — approved with a maximum height of five stories/85 feet, excluded uses and a site-plan requirement. Outcome: approved. • ZC-25-301 (U.S. Gold Storage expansion) — approved. Outcome: approved. • ZC-25-307 (rezoning of Keller ISD properties in North Fort Worth to CF) — approved. Outcome: approved.

- M&C 25-0258 — resolution authorizing use of eminent domain to acquire 5.332 acres for the Mary’s Creek Confluence Lift Station (property at 10301 Camp Bowie West Boulevard, Fort Worth). Outcome: approved.

What council said and next steps

Laurie Gordon presented the parkland items in a series of brief public-hearing reports, noting the required Chapter 26 findings that “no feasible or prudent alternative exists” and that staff had advertised the conversions in local newspapers. For the Zebo South Park item, Gordon said staff had received one public inquiry and provided project information.

Council members moved each item following the staff presentation and voted to adopt the motions; the meeting record shows unanimous or majority "motion carries" outcomes but does not include roll-call tallies in the public audio.

The eminent-domain resolution directs staff to pursue acquisition; the motion description and exhibits attached to the council communication describe the tract and the project purpose — routing wastewater to a future Mary’s Creek Water Reclamation Facility to serve growth in the western city.

The approvals for parkland conversions include conditions and planning commitments to minimize impacts during construction; for the Zebo South Park sewer alignment staff noted tree impacts and the mitigation fee that will fund replacement or other mitigation work.

Mayor’s statement and community reaction

Mayor Parker thanked residents and staff for their engagement on items that affect neighborhoods and infrastructure. Several council members offered brief comments during the meeting in support of the staff recommendations.

What’s next: staff will proceed with the rights-of-way and utility work, implement tree-mitigation payments where required, and continue project-level engineering. The Mary’s Creek acquisition requires property conveyances; subsequent administrative steps and any eminent-domain filings would be governed by statutory process and appear in future council records.