Ft Worth Times

The City of Fort Worth continues to explore opportunities to support strategic planning efforts in the Echo Heights area of southeast Fort Worth.

“Over the last year, residents’ genuine efforts to improve their neighborhood by attending City Council meetings, advocating for their neighborhood at City Hall and attending town hall-style public meetings has resulted in City staff taking a fresh look at conditions in Echo Heights,” said Eric Fladager, assistant director of the Fort Worth Lab, which oversees the comprehensive planning process.

Activities that have taken place in the Echo Heights neighborhood this year include cleanup campaigns and heightened efforts to encourage collaboration regarding requested zoning changes and planning for future land use. In addition, City staff conducted reviews for any environmental violations brought about by commercial and industrial activity.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Oct. 25 that Fort Worth was not among 88 entities to receive grant funding through the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program.

“While I am disappointed that the City of Fort Worth did not receive the U.S. EPA grant, District 11 and the City are dedicated to finding alternative funding for desired environmental services in the Echo Heights and surrounding communities,” said District 11 Councilmember Jeanette Martinez.

Cody Whittenburg, Environmental Services Department interim director, agreed: “Staff will continue to explore funding opportunities, agency partnerships and resources – there will be future grant opportunities with U.S. EPA, as well.”

Fort Worth will soon begin a citywide public engagement effort – including a robust schedule of virtual and in-person meetings – to significantly change the Comprehensive Plan for the first time since 2000. Meetings will begin after a consultant is on board to lead the process.

The latest version of the City’s comprehensive plan no longer calls for industrial zoning for certain sections of Echo Heights. The City’s updated Comprehensive Plan, approved by the City Council, limits industrial zoning in the neighborhood.

Original source can be found here.