Kennedale approves planned development for UK‑based First Fence after council deletes two exhibit conditions

The Kennedale City Council on Jan. 20 approved a planned‑development (PD) zoning request for the former Camper World site at 429 West Kennedale Parkway that will allow First Fence, a United Kingdom–based fence retailer, to open a retail and operations facility in Old Town.

The ordinance (25‑794) passed unanimously after the council deleted two sections of Exhibit B — related to a proposed right‑in/right‑out circulation restriction and specific hours in the draft development standards — following questions about truck turning, noise and enforcement.

Ed McRoy, director of community development, told the council the PD is narrowly tailored for a fence‑company use and that staff found it consistent with the comprehensive plan. He said the plan requires the applicant to substantially conform to the concept plan and noted the planning commission recommended approval unanimously.

Palmer Thomas, the commercial broker for the applicant, described First Fence’s U.K. operations and said the company expects to stage most customer orders the night before to minimize morning loading. "We're looking to primarily do Monday to Friday with a Saturday morning," he said, describing proposed weekday pickup windows beginning at 6 a.m.

Council members pressed on several operational details: how outside storage would be managed near adjacent residences, how high stacked material would be, whether large deliveries would arrive during peak hours, and where loading and customer pickup would occur. In response, company representatives said semitrailer deliveries would be rare — estimated as roughly one per month — and that typical contractor pickups would use smaller trucks.

Neighbors and council members raised concerns about early‑morning noise and truck idling. One council member suggested an amendment to prohibit truck idling before 7 a.m.; the city attorney advised that noise and idling complaints are enforceable under existing city ordinances, and that some operational controls can also be written into the PD if council prefers. Council ultimately removed the two contested sections from Exhibit B and approved the ordinance as amended.

The applicants committed to site improvements including removal of on‑site trailers, removal of an existing paint booth, interior building upgrades to meet current code (including fire separation), and adding a sprinkler system; they also proposed leaving a wooded buffer area to separate operations from residential lots. The company projected phased local hiring, starting with roughly 15 on‑site employees in 2026 and ramping to about 55 on‑site employees at maturity.

Council members said they expect code enforcement and the PD’s exhibit to govern operational impacts and to respond to any future resident complaints. The ordinance passed unanimously; the applicants thanked the council and said they look forward to opening.