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District 4 City Council member Charlie Lauersdorf (center) listens to a speaker at a City Council meeting May 21, 2024. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CityCouncilMembers_May21_CamiloDiaz11-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CityCouncilMembers_May21_CamiloDiaz11-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button”>In a move that could reshape the landscape surrounding Keller ISD’s Basswood Elementary, the Fort Worth City Council voted unanimously Aug. 27 to initiate a rezoning effort near the school.The rezoning would transform approximately 32.3 acres near the school from industrial to more community-focused uses. The decision, driven by ongoing community concerns and spearheaded by council member Charles Lauersdorf, aims to enhance student safety and develop a more conducive environment for future educational and community facilities, said Lauersdorf, who represents the area.“We can go ahead and protect our schools,” Lauersdorf said.The initiative follows intense public scrutiny and debate over the proposed construction of a Studio 6 extended-stay motel near Basswood Elementary — a plan that was ultimately halted by Keller ISD due to safety concerns raised by parents and educators.The resolution also continues to mark a pivot in the city’s approach to urban planning near schools. During its Aug. 6 meeting, city staff presented a proposed amendment that would require a planned development district designation for any new hotel, motel or inn within 1,000 feet of public or private primary and secondary schools up to the 12th grade.Both the proposed amendment and the rezoning effort are to protect the safety of current — and future — Fort Worth students, Lauersdorf has said.How does council-initiated zoning work?

Council-initiated zoning is a process where a council member puts forward a rezoning proposal for a vote to the City Council. If approved, the proposal then goes to the Zoning Commission. Once the commission has made a recommendation to approve or deny the rezoning, it comes back for a final vote at City Council. Lauersdorf isn’t the only council member to use council-initiated rezoning to improve a neighborhood; council members Elizabeth Beck and Jeanette Martinez have also used the process to rezone properties.The resolution changes the property’s designation from light industrial, which includes general commercial and service uses, to intensive commercial and community facilities. The change would primarily target areas bounded by Clay Mountain Trail, Sandshell Boulevard, Corrine Drive and the Interstate 35W frontage road in north Fort Worth.The resolution also highlights that the area’s existing industrial zoning did not align with the City Council’s adopted 2023 comprehensive plan and its vision for a mixed-use growth center — or urbanized places containing many characteristics of a downtown, including high concentrations of jobs and housing, schools, parks and other public facilities. Under the proposed zoning resolution, 21.7 acres will transition from light industrial uses to intensive commercial, which could pave the way for more retail and service-oriented businesses. Additionally, 10.6 acres — including 2.22 acres previously purchased by Keller ISD — are now designated for community facilities, potentially allowing for expansions of educational facilities or public spaces.On April 15, Keller ISD approved the purchase of the 2.22-acre property adjacent to Basswood Elementary that was planned to host the Studio 6 extended-stay motel, as officials said the purchase would stop the motel’s construction while providing the district with land that could be developed into green space or facility expansions. The proposed zoning change incorporated a conditional use permit for Caliber Car Wash within the area, ensuring it remains operational while not violating the new zoning regulations.Before they are finalized, the zoning changes will go to a public hearing and vote by the Zoning Commission Sept. 11, followed by final approval from the City Council scheduled for Sept. 17. Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @MatthewSgroi1. 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.