A few of the commissioners said the redevelopment could plausibly harm existing home values in specific instances in the project, but they appeared skeptical whether that would happen on a broader scale around the neighborhood. Some of the commissioners wondered whether any adverse impact at all was enough to meet the statute\u2019s intention.<\/p>\n
Central to the commissioners\u2019 hesitation at both meetings was the availability of information to them and residents.<\/p>\n
Will Northern, Crescendo\u2019s<\/a> developer, turned over studies on traffic and drainage impact \u2014 among others \u2014 to the city staff prior to the August meeting, but those didn\u2019t make it to commissioners before that meeting.<\/p>\n Documenters<\/a> empowers people like you to help fill the gaps in reporting on Tarrant County public meetings. Find out how you can join here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Commissioners then asked for a study on the potential impact on property values. Northern completed and turned it over to the staff before the Sept. 17 meeting. However, some homeowners told commissioners that the city had just turned over a number of records to residents the previous evening; property owners had sought the records.<\/p>\n Heading into the Oct. 1 meeting, the commissioners asked Northern for the identity of the firm that did the study \u2014 but didn\u2019t ask for any other information.<\/p>\n One of the commissioners indicated he\u2019d like to see more \u201ccollaboration\u201d between Northern and the property owners who oppose the project. Such a discussion would be limited to the placement of lots and amenities, such as streets, given that the City Council already approved land uses.<\/p>\n Commissioners voted 3-2 to continue the case to Oct. 1, after hearing updates and debate for much of the afternoon on Sept. 17.<\/p>\n Commissioner Tye Lamberth voted not to continue the case, suggesting the panel wouldn\u2019t learn anything new by waiting another two weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so subjective,\u201d he said during the discussion.<\/p>\n The Woodhaven redevelopment has been a very unusual and complex case for the commission, which is unused to controversy.\u00a0<\/p>\n State law protecting homeowners who live around golf courses threw a big wrinkle into the discussions. Texas bars cities from replatting golf courses unless they\u2019ve first determined that such a plan would have no \u201cmaterial adverse effect\u201d on single-family values.<\/p>\n Commission chairman Don Boren recused himself from the discussion and board vote. Boren is president of the East Fort Worth Business Association<\/a>, which has endorsed Northern\u2019s plan. Boren, who has served on the commission for years, said he couldn\u2019t remember a more controversial case.<\/p>\n In continuing the case, commissioners didn\u2019t consider two waivers Northern is seeking from city requirements.<\/p>\n In one, Northern wants to exceed the permissible length<\/a> on four \u201cblock faces\u201d \u2014 the distance on a street between two intersections or other boundaries.\u00a0<\/p>\n The proposed development has a lower-than-permissible street \u201cconnectivity index\u201d score under the city\u2019s requirements, for which Northern wants a waiver.<\/p>\n Northern recently removed one controversial aspect of the project \u2014 a planned connection of a cul de sac at the northern end of Doral Drive to Crescendo\u2019s proposed extension of Country Club Lane through the property.<\/p>\n City staff recommended approving both waivers and the preliminary plat, assuming the commissioners find no projected adverse impact on property values.<\/p>\n Richard McCracken, assistant city attorney, told the commission that the city had met the 15-day public notice requirements for the Sept. 17 meeting and that the information the residents were seeking wasn\u2019t relevant to the notice requirement.<\/p>\n Potential impact on property values<\/strong><\/p>\n Northern\u2019s report studied what happened to surrounding single-family values after the redevelopment of two Texas golf courses.<\/p>\n Jason Claunch, president of Catalyst Commercial, went over findings at the Sept. 17 meeting.<\/p>\n After reviewing over 100 closed golf courses, the firm studied two redevelopments in detail, although Claunch admitted that no perfect analog to Woodhaven could be found.<\/p>\n The results showed no adverse impact to neighboring property values. In fact, they found evidence that homes adjacent to redevelopments appreciate faster than the broader market, Claunch said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The study predicts that the Woodhaven project will generate about $168 million in private investment and over 950 jobs in the first 10 years, as well as $15.6 million in sales and property tax revenues for the city.<\/p>\n Six Woodhaven residents spoke in favor of the development, saying it would be for the greater good of the community and that increased street connections in Northern\u2019s plan would be beneficial.<\/p>\n Three residents spoke in opposition. Along with concerns over new homes, apartments and traffic in the established neighborhood, they were concerned whether the developer will follow through on promises made.\u00a0<\/p>\n The commission found favorably for the development on several questions required by state law<\/a> before a municipality can approve a replat of a golf course. These included:<\/p>\n (3) The new plat is consistent with all applicable land use regulations and restrictive covenants and the municipality\u2019s land use policies as described by the municipality\u2019s comprehensive plan or other appropriate public policy documents.<\/p>\n The commissioners decided to focus the Oct. 1 meeting on the question of impact on single-family values. They are expected to consider the two waivers and approval of the preliminary plat during that meeting.<\/p>\n \u00a0Doug Wilhelm is a member of the Fort Worth Report\u2019s Documenters crew.<\/p>\n Senior editor Scott Nishimura contributed to this report.<\/p>\n If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at scott.nishimura@fortworthreport.org<\/a> with \u201cCorrection Request\u201d in the subject line.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"Documenters\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758255851_526_cropped-Documenters_logo_v1.png\"){kind=logo}
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