Council approves $1.1 million in fee waivers for Garden Springs Habitat pilot amid neighborhood pushback

Fort Worth City Council voted on Oct. 21, 2025, to authorize up to $1,099,132 in development-fee waivers for the Garden Springs affordable-homeownership project under the city’s housing affordability incentives pilot. Trinity Habitat for Humanity will use the waivers to reduce development costs on an 88-home project intended to expand homeownership opportunities for moderate- to low-income working families.

The item drew vocal opposition during public comment. Neighbors raised concerns that fee waivers shift infrastructure and service costs to existing taxpayers and argued that schools, sidewalks and other public resources must be in place prior to adding new homes. Jasmine Trimble, a homeowner in District 6, cautioned against “waiving fees of this magnitude” and asked how long homes would remain affordable and what safeguards would prevent resale at market rate.

Trinity Habitat CEO Gage Yager defended the program and the pilot’s approach, saying the organization builds deed-restricted, owner-occupied homes and that homeownership “is the great equalizer.” Yager told council the Garden Springs project covers 20 acres and 88 homes, with development costs of about $20 million overall, and said Trinity Habitat provides financial education, background checks and post-purchase supports; he cited a 2.5% foreclosure rate among Habitat homeowners.

Council member Macy Hill, who spoke in favor of the waiver, said the measure seeks to preserve and expand homeownership amid rising housing costs. Supporters argued that new homeowners become property taxpayers and that homeownership yields long-term community benefits including reduced crime and stronger school stability.

Opponents’ testimony included economic and market-based concerns. Eric King, a lifelong Fort Worth resident, warned of concentrated subsidized housing creating neighborhood instability and declining property values. Public commenters also voiced practical worries about the precedent of waiving neighborhood-development fees; Jasmine Trimble calculated the waiver equates to roughly $12,491 per home.

After debate, the council approved the fee-waiver pilot. The motion calls for continuing standard Habitat program safeguards — including deed restrictions and financial education — and directs staff to monitor program outcomes. The council recorded plans to examine possible private-philanthropy and Chamber of Commerce supports to ease business impacts in related development cases and to study long-term accountability measures to preserve affordability.