Fort Worth clears the way for new 858-acre community north of Bonds Ranch

Another 858 acres in the sprawling area just north of Fort Worth is closer to being developed after the Fort Worth City Council approved providing water and sewer services once it’s built out.

The council’s approval on Tuesday clears the way for the Shelton Ranch site that will include about 2,656 single-family homes, multifamily housing, open space, a school and commercial amenities, according to city documents.

The land, which is near Bonds Ranch, is currently in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction north of Peden Road, east of Morris Dido Newark Road, west of Business 287 and south of Tinsley Lane.

Development is headed by Green Brick Partners, the Plano-based developer behind Trophy Signature Homes such as the Madero community near Haslet and the Ventana community near Benbrook. Listing home prices for those communities range from about $350,000 to half a million, respectively, according to a Zillow search.

0443 Shelton Tract Masterplan 2025.09.23 (1)Download

The developer’s agreement includes leveling another piece of the former ranchland for development. Extraterritorial jurisdiction land has been rapidly built out over the past decade as the city tries to increase the housing supply to accommodate its fast-growing population, which recently reached 1 million.

Building out the infrastructure and roads needed to meet the new rooftops has proved a challenge for city and county officials. 

Bonds Ranch Road, a two-lane country road just south of Shelton Ranch, sees heavy congestion daily from the thousands of commuters now living along it. Nearby residents have complained about 1-mile stretches of the road adding 40 to 50 minutes to their morning drives.

Fort Worth, Tarrant County and other transit entities have teamed up to expand Bonds Ranch Road with an about $200 million upgrade. However, related projects won’t be finished until 2028 at the earliest. 

Traffic on Bonds Ranch Road is seen on Oct. 18, 2025. (Eva-Marie Ayala | Fort Worth Report)

For Shelton Ranch, the city will form a strategic partnership agreement and utility agreement with developers for the area at a later date. 

That partnership will establish the area’s tax rate and work out a “limited purpose annexation” of commercial areas within the development so the city can collect sales and use taxes. A utility agreement typically addresses items such as roadway repair and provisions relating to water conservation.

Tuesday’s resolution on water and sewer services passed unanimously, with council member Mia Hall absent. It was approved in the consent agenda without discussion.

Drew Shaw is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org or @shawlings601. 

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