Fort Worth zoning commission recommends denial of "proliferating uses" text amendment after community pushback

The Fort Worth Zoning Commission on Wednesday recommended denial of a proposed text amendment intended to limit concentrations of liquor and package stores, credit access businesses and retail smoke shops across the city.

Staff described amendments to define those uses in the zoning code, add separation distances (generally 1,000 feet) between like uses and expand sensitive‑use buffers around retail smoke shops from 300 to 500 feet. At a public hearing, opponents said the changes would stigmatize low‑income neighborhoods, risk creating vacant storefronts and would not address other pervasive sources of exposure such as convenience stores.

Danielle Tucker, who identified herself during public comment, said the proposal "unfairly stigmatizes entire communities" and argued zoning could not fix deeper, systemic problems. "This is not protection. This is not equity," she said, urging commissioners to consider grandfathering for long‑standing businesses.

Jack Star Liquor owner Randy Bishop described his family‑owned store as a neighborhood landmark and warned that losing nonconforming status could imperil his retirement savings. "Jack Star Marquis sign is iconic. People from all over the world come and photograph it," he said, asking that longstanding businesses be exempted or grandfathered.

City legal staff clarified how nonconforming uses operate under the current ordinance. Trey Qualls of the city attorney's office told the commission that, under the zoning code, "if your property is destroyed 75% or more, then, yes, you would lose your legal nonconforming use." Staff also said existing stores could continue operating but expansion or rebuilding could be limited depending on the nonconforming determination.

Commissioners who supported the denial said the ordinance's intent—to reduce saturation of certain uses—was understandable but the draft contained drafting and implementation problems that would disproportionately affect historically underserved areas and empty storefronts. Several commissioners suggested returning with a more narrowly written proposal that addressed measurement methods, exemptions for long‑established businesses and clearer nonconforming‑use language.

The commission voted 11‑0 to recommend denial. Staff noted the item still proceeds to City Council for a final decision.