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Autobahn, currently located on White Settlement Road near the West 7th entertainment district, is exploring options to move its car dealership to Benbrook or Fort Worth. The company is no longer moving to Clearfork as planned last year. (Emily Wolf | Fort Worth Report)
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Fort Worth-based car dealer Autobahn is reconsidering its application with the city of Benbrook as it continues to explore future locations for the site of its new campus. 

Autobahn’s proposed relocation to Benbrook from its existing Fort Worth location near the West 7th entertainment district was first reported by the Fort Worth Report. That possible move came one year after Clearfork, a mixed-used planned community in southwest Fort Worth, announced the $400 million second phase of its development with Autobahn as the anchor tenant. 

Clearfork received $22 million in incentives from the city of Fort Worth for the expansion of the project. 

Benbrook’s Planning and Zoning Commission planned to consider Autobahn’s proposal May 9, but the meeting was canceled after Autobahn withdrew its application, the city secretary said. 

However, Autobahn President Brendan Harrington told the Report it is pausing its proposed relocation to Benbrook, taking time to fully explore the two locations in mind for the company, one of them being the Benbrook site.

The second site is somewhere in Fort Worth, but Harrington declined to share more information. 

As for the Clearfork site initially proposed for Autobahn, that option has been tabled, Harrington told the Report. It is unclear who will be the anchor tenant for the second phase of Clearfork. 

“We loved the idea of Clearfork and Cassco, the whole development are great partners, but there’s just a lot of logistical challenges that come with trying to run car dealerships in such a tight amount of space, intertwined with high-end restaurants and retail,” Harrington said. 

After Clearfork, Autobahn was eyeing a lot on the south side of Interstate 20 and east of Winscott Road in Benbrook. The site in question is owned by EG Benbrook Ltd., a subsidiary of Cassco Land Co. Inc., the company behind the Clearfork development. 

The potential move of the auto dealer to Benbrook initially faced some pushback from Benbrook officials concerned about changing the city’s plans for the site, which included homes and a shopping center. 

“I think the important thing to remember is that for Benbrook, that’s their last piece of large, developable land. They cherished it more than you would a typical parcel,” Harrington said.  “And so that’s why we just want to take a little bit more time.” 

In an April 25 letter to city officials, Harrington acknowledged Benbrook’s initial resistance to bringing an auto dealership to the proposed location but emphasized the potential economic impact the move would bring. 

Autobahn estimated the relocation of its operations to Benbrook would bring about $3.8 million in sales and property taxes in 2027 and another $4.5 million in 2028. 

Benbrook’s current comprehensive plan has the site set aside for mixed-use, commercial and multi-family housing. In order for Autobahn to move its operations there, the city would need to amend the comprehensive plan before requesting the appropriate zoning change. 

Autobahn’s proposed campus in Benbrook would have divided the 77 acres of land between the car dealership and future mixed-use development, according to an April 25 letter submitted to the city. (Plan courtesy | City of Benbrook)

Plans submitted by the dealership to the city April 25 laid out the design of its future Benbrook campus in a way that “considered and will continue to consider the concerns of the community.” Proposed plans for the campus included using only 50 acres of the 77 acres available along Interstate 20. The remaining 25 acres were to be saved for a future mixed-use retail development. 

The campus was going to have vehicles placed in the back of the site, behind “high-end luxury buildings and landscaping that are required by our premium brands,” according to Autobahn’s plans. 

The company had promised to also implement various noise mitigation measures such as enclosing all service operations to the middle of the property, closing operations at 6 p.m. and planting a 20-foot natural buffer. 

Autobahn also noted in the letter it would add amenities to its design such as parkettes, dog parks, community gardens, pickleball courts, event spaces and bike/walking trail connections. 

“These measures are proactively being considered in order to address any potential concerns that may arise from Timber Creek residents and to foster a harmonious coexistence with our proposed development,” Autobahn wrote in the letter. 

While those plans were specifically for the Benbrook site, Autobahn plans to implement a similar concept at the other undisclosed location should the company decide to remain in Fort Worth. 

“I would say we are big believers in having more green spaces where you can do more community engagement events,” Harrington said. “What we would like to put forth is this blending of future retail where, if you’re coming to a car dealership, it shouldn’t just be a building on the side of the freeway. It should be a place where you can hang out, enjoy your life. We like all those components of the mixed retail and environmental.”

Autobahn’s current campus, home to car dealerships for brands like Porsche, Land Rover, Jaguar, BMW, MINI, Volvo and Volkswagen, is located at 3000 White Settlement Road. 

Autobahn has business ties to Bob Bass, who is also involved in the ownership of a portion of land connected to the former Fort Worth ISD administration building site, according to previous Fort Worth Report reporting. The property was recently rezoned to bring a proposed $850 million mixed-use development to almost 12 acres stretching along White Settlement east from University Drive.

A decision regarding the new Autobahn site is expected in the next 30 days, Harrington said. 

“These are 50-year decisions. You’ve got to think about how you’re going to work with the community around you, where growth is going, what the flow on and off freeways is like,” he said. “The intent is to have the stores be very community and environmentally oriented.”

Disclaimer: Autobahn is a sponsor of the upcoming Fort Worth Report Charity Calendar. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

Sandra Sadek is a Report for America corps member, covering growth for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at sandra.sadek@fortworthreport.org or @ssadek19.