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Fort Worth City Council members say they want to protect Keller ISD schools in the city from incompatible development — a move that the district officials oppose. Zoning commissioners decided March 12 to approve the city-initiated request to change various ordinances — including intensive commercial and light industrial zoning — for 23 properties near schools to “CF” community facilities.The zoning change will be considered by City Council members on March 25.The rezoning initiative comes as Keller ISD trustees debate the possibility of splitting the district into two — a proposal that has already triggered the superintendent’s exit, multiple lawsuits and a student walkout. Charlie Lauersdorf, who represents parts of north Fort Worth, also pointed to controversy over a Studio 6 extended-stay motel proposed at 3056 Clay Mountain Trail near Keller ISD’s Basswood Elementary School in February 2024.“We can go ahead and protect our schools,” Lauersdorf previously told the Fort Worth Report. “We can make sure our schools and staff and our parents, who may not otherwise get the notice, are in the know about future planned developments.”Lauersdorf joined council members Alan Blaylock and Macy Hill in sending a letter to interim Superintendent Cory Wilson to inform the district of the council’s intention to bring the 23 properties into conformance with the city’s comprehensive plan’s future land use map and policies.Zoning commissioners supported the council’s position and rejected a suggestion by John Allison, the Keller ISD’s chief operating officer, to delay the vote for 60 days so the district could “do its due diligence” regarding the properties.The district intended to sell the 2.22-acre property next to Basswood Elementary that it bought for $3.2 million in April 2024 to prevent the extended-stay motel from being built near the school, Allison previously said.Zoning for the 23 properties includes “AG” agricultural, “A-7.5” one-family residential, “A-5” one-family residential, “AR” one-family restricted, “B” two-family residential, “CR” low-density multifamily, “E” neighborhood commercial, “G” intensive commercial and “I” light industrial.Barbara Brewer, who lives in Keller ISD, urged commissioners to approve the rezoning so the cash-strapped district — facing a $12.4 million budget deficit for the 2025-26 school year — wouldn’t try to sell the land.“They’ve backstabbed us,” she said, alluding to Keller ISD board members’ controversial attempts to split the district in two.Commissioner Jacob Wurman said it was up to Fort Worth “to protect schools,” citing that the Keller district board members have not earned the goodwill of its constituents.Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@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.