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Trucks back up to a fence just across from Letitia Waybourn’s home in southeast Fort Worth in March 2022. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)
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Amid conflict between industrial property owners and residents, Fort Worth’s zoning commission voted in favor of rezoning a tract in Echo Heights from industrial to residential use.

The property in question, 4812 Parker Henderson Road, currently houses trucking company Abram Expedited LLC. 

Fort Worth City Council member Jeanette Martinez, who represents the southeast Fort Worth neighborhood where the property is located, requested the new zoning, citing concerns about the “incompatibility” of industrial use with the residential neighborhood. Rezoning the tract to residential is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, which helps guide zoning decisions.

Since being elected last year, Martinez has initiated several cases to rezone industrial land in residential areas within her district. The City Council recently approved the rezoning of industrial tracts in the neighboring Village Creek neighborhood to residential. 

If the City Council approves the rezoning in August, the business may be considered legal nonconforming, meaning it can continue operating if no expansion is done on the property. If the business ceases operation on the site, any future uses would need to be residential, according to city documents. 

The commission voted unanimously in favor of rezoning the property.

“This is a step in the right direction to just get industrial out of people’s backyards. I don’t think there’s an overarching plan to kill all the businesses over here, but getting it out of someone’s backyard is important,” commissioner Jacob Wurman said during the July 10 meeting.

Several members of the Echo Heights community attended the meeting and spoke in favor of the rezoning initiative, including Letitia Wilbourn, a leader of the Echo Heights & Stop Six Environmental Coalition. Her house directly borders the business, and Wilbourn said she has spoken in the past about fumes and noise emanating from the property.

Mike Jones, who said he represented the property owner, opposed the rezoning. Betty J. Williamson has owned the property since 2001.

Jones told commissioners that the property owner has been repeatedly harassed by neighbors, including Wilbourn. He accused homeowners of littering on the grass on the property boundary. 

“What do y’all want? Are y’all trying to drive out every business in this area?” Jones said. “Because once y’all get rid of this business right here on this property, and they build, I don’t know, some more Section 8 crack houses there, y’all are going to move in on those other properties and get rid of those businesses, too.”

Immediately after, commissioner Tiesa Leggett interrupted Jones and took offense to the language used.

“That was extremely rude. Mr. Chairman. We can’t have those kinds of comments. I beg your pardon,” Leggett said.

After the public hearing, Leggett also referenced Jones’ speech and asked for “decorum” from members of the public.

Jones said the previous renters had property and vehicles stolen, and said security cameras showed the people came from Wilbourn’s backyard. Abram Expedited LLC did not respond to a request for comment. 

In an interview, Wilbourn said she has not been contacted by police concerning theft occurring at that property. Wilbourn and the trucking company have complained about each other to city officials in the past. Currently, Fort Worth’s code compliance department has two open zoning code violation investigations at 4812 Parker Henderson Road.  

Wilbourn said she took offense at Jones’ choice of words and said that his inflammatory language is a reaction to the community reporting the trucking business.

“I think he showed everybody the racist that he is. I think he showed his mindset for this community,” Wilbourn said.

Letitia Wilbourn speaks during a Fort Worth City Council meeting May 21, 2024. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)

Wilbourn has long opposed the growth of industrial properties in the area. A resident of the neighborhood since 1985, the retired Tarrant County sheriff’s deputy has seen Echo Heights become the location of an industrial growth center, or area of the city where industrial businesses are encouraged. 

Alongside shipping centers and garbage collection sites in the area are W.M. Green Elementary School, Prairie Dog Park and a city animal shelter. Future industrial development is still planned for the area, but residents have pushed back against that designation as the city revamps its comprehensive plan for the first time since 2000. 

Although the commission’s decision was a good first step, Wilbourn said, she noted rezoning the property won’t force the trucking company to move. She also anticipates the company will become more active in opposing rezoning efforts. 

“When the public isn’t here to see what they’re doing, they are just going to become more and more aggressive towards the community,” Wilbourn said.

The City Council is expected to vote on the 4812 Parker Henderson Road zoning case at its  Aug. 13 meeting.

Ismael M. Belkoura is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org. 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.