by A city commission debated design and density issues for two meetings before granting a developer its best chance to get approval for four one-story commercial buildings facing the Trinity River in a 10-acre proposed signature development off of University Drive south of Interstate 30.
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A commissioner indicated she would not support the proposal, therefore the vote would fall one vote short of the minimum nine commissioners needed under city ordinance for approval. As a result, the Fort Worth Board of Adjustment commissioners continued the matter at their July 16 meeting.
After the developer’s representatives first stated that they wished to withdraw in order to reconsider the issue, the commission decided 9-0 to approve the developer’s request at a special meeting on July 30.
At the beginning of the meeting on July 30, Kyle Poulson, principal of Transwestern Real Estate, who was representing the property owner, Carriage House Development LLC, told the commission, “This is a very big deal for us and the city.” We’re just being extremely cautious.
In order to find out the board members’ opinions, the commission chose to hear the case, which allowed Carriage House’s representatives to ultimately determine whether to withdraw. In the end, a commissioner seconded a motion to approve the developer’s withdrawal request. A replacement motion to approve the case was subsequently made by Commissioner Kay Duffy and seconded. The original motion became moot because the commission voted on the substitute motion first, 9 to 0.
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Carriage House Development intends to construct 337 apartments in addition to retail stores and dining establishments. With the exception of authorization to construct four one-story commercial buildings facing the river in mixed-use zoning, which calls for two floors, it had previously obtained all the city permissions required for the project.
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Based on a clause in the city law that permits deviations if the applicant can demonstrate an unwarranted hardship or practical obstacle, Carriage House requested approval.
Given that the developers intend to raise the development’s level by 8 feet in order to remove the site from the 500-year floodplain, Carriage House representatives informed the commission that leasing the second floors would be challenging and that the commercial buildings facing the river would have an excessively imposing profile for pedestrians.
At the hearing on July 16, Jennifer Oliverio, senior vice president of Transwestern Development Co., speaking on behalf of Carriage House, informed the commission that it would undoubtedly necessitate a reevaluation.
During that hearing, a few commissioners asked if there was a hardship. The Press Cafe, located in the adjacent Clearfork development and facing the river, has two stories, with a party and conference area upstairs, Commissioner Adrianne Holland noted. Holland did not attend the July 30 hearing, although she stated during the July 16 hearing that she was unable to support the case.
Regular Meeting
Name of documenter: Bryan Kloesel
Agency: Board of Adjustment Commercial Fort Worth
Date: 16 July 2025
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Notes
BAC-25-022, Case 1, Bryant Irvin Road, 4665
- Special exception for a monument sign
- Applicant: Giant Sign Co.
- Property owner: Tselev Hotel Group LLC
Background of the case and the commissioner’s action: The applicant asks for authorization to replace an existing sign. Zoning regulations have evolved since they were implemented in 1998, necessitating variance. For Giant Sign, Andy Park gave a presentation. Park explained that in order to adhere to the new rules, the new sign will be smaller. Cast your vote: The motion to approve was overwhelmingly approved after being seconded.
Case 2, BAC-25-029, Merrimac Circle, 1551 and 1561 University Drive, 1501, 1525, 1533, 1541, and 1555
- Variance to allow a single-use commercial building below the minimum height requirement (Buildings B, C, D and E)
- Applicant: Transwestern Development Co.
- Property owner: Carriage House Development LLC
Background of the case and the commissioner’s action: The case was referred to the Board of Adjustment by the city’s Urban Design Commission. Four commercial structures were the focus of the applicant’s request for a variance. The applicant requested permission to construct the structures as one story apiece, deviating from the zoning regulations that mandate two stories in order to improve urban center density. Jennifer Oliverio of Transwestern Development Co. and architect Diana Su of the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture presented. According to Su, the development is intended to be scaled by people. Adrianne Holland, a board member, asked if the variance compromises too much density. In order to approve the variance, some commissioners questioned whether the case satisfied the city ordinance’s requirements for undue hardship. The board had to have a strict quorum of at least nine members in order to grant a deviation. After Holland stated that she was unable to support the variance, the board decided to proceed with the case.
BAC-25-032, 3301 E. Berry St., Case 3.
- Special exception for a freeway sign with electronic, changeable copy
- Applicant: Empire Sign & Canopy
- Property owner: 3301 E. Berry St. LLC
Background of the case and the commissioners’ action: The commissioners carried on with the case. The candidate wasn’t there.
Case 4, 8100 Comanche Springs Drive, BAC-25-033
- Special exception for a monument sign with electronic, changeable copy
- Applicant: Bryce McCarthy, VLK Architects
- Property owner: Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD
Background of the case and commissioners’ action: A permit application was filed in March 2025 and is pending variance approval. The monument sign at Prairie Vista Middle School is a typical one.The application was unanimously approved by the commissioners.
BAC-25-034, 6129 Texas Shiner Drive, Case 5
-
Variance
to allow a monument sign across from a one- or two-family district to be illuminated - Special exception for a monument sign with electronic, changeable copy in community facilities district
- Applicant: Bryce McCarthy, VLK Architects
- Property owner: Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD
Background of the case and the commissioners’ decision: The application was approved by a unanimous vote of the commissioners.
BAC-25-036, Case 6, 5901, and 5949 Retail Way
-
Variance
to allow two monument signs separated by 293 feet (minimum is 300) - Applicant: Pattison ID
- Property owner: Chisholm Trail Center LP
Background of the case and the commissioners’ action: The application was unanimously approved by the commissioners.
Case 7, BAC-25-037, 4675 Railhead Road
- Variance to allow 158.41-square-foot sign exceeding the max area by 70.66 square feet
- Applicant: Anderson Levingston
- Property owner: Jason Campbell Company LLC
Background of the case and the commissioner’s action: The applicant stated that a larger sign is required in order for truckers to see it. Commissioners stated that they needed more concrete proof that a sign that complies with size requirements won’t be able to be seen. The case was carried over to the August conference by the commissioners.
Early adjournment: Due to time constraints, the meeting was adjourned before the board had had a chance to consider the final two cases. These two cases were continued by the commissioners until their August meeting.
BAC-25-038, 928 E. Berry St., Case 8.
-
Variance
to allow metal paneling (disallowed) on an existing screening fence - Applicant: Mohammed Neak and Farooque Neak
- Property owner: Shahla N LLC
Case 9, BAC-25-039, 4310 W. Vickery Blvd.
-
Variance
to allow 16 parking spots when the size dictates minimum of 25 - Applicant: David Sirois, Schwarz-Hanson Architects
- Property owner: Security State Bank & Trust
Please send an email to [email protected] with the subject “Correction Request” if you think anything in these notes is incorrect.
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