UDC grants waiver allowing 0% post-oak preservation at 7901 Eddardville Road

The Fort Worth Urban Design Commission voted 7–0 on July 16 to approve a staff-recommended waiver that reduces the 50% post-oak preservation requirement for 7901 Eddardville Road to 0%. Staff senior plans examiner Cale Bolson told commissioners the 1.34-acre site contains 19 protected post-oak trees that are small in diameter and sit where extensive grading and retaining walls will be required for development.

Bolson said the site’s required canopy coverage is 17,474 square feet and the applicant proposes 24,550 square feet of new canopy, exceeding the standard and parking-canopy requirements. “Their proposed canopy is actually 24,550 square feet,” Bolson said, noting the developer would plant cedar elms, Chinese pistachios and crepe myrtles to meet and exceed canopy targets.

An applicant representative attended and made themselves available for questions but did not offer substantive opposition; a nearby resident, Daniel Naga of Mesquite, registered but had no additional comments. Commissioners described the staff recommendation as straightforward. Commissioner DeBose moved for approval with a second from Vice Chair Ramsey; the vote was unanimous.

The action was framed as a waiver under City of Fort Worth zoning ordinance section 6.302(j)(4) and was supported in staff analysis by the combination of constrained existing tree conditions, grading impacts, and the applicant’s proposed on-site plantings. Staff also noted species-specific treatment for post oaks under the current ordinance but said this site came before the commission with circumstances that support a waiver. The commission’s approval authorizes staff to proceed with the applicant’s phase 1 urban forestry plan under the conditions described in the staff report.

The item is final for the commission; further permitting steps and final plan submittals remain part of the development process.