Concrete Crushing Permit and Light Industrial Zoning Sought for 5850 Elliott Reeder Road
Zoning case ZC 25 207 Wallace Hall
Quick take
On Dec.9, 2025, Councilperson Jeanette Martinez, District 11, notified neighborhoods near property owned by Wallace Hall Jr. at 5850 Elliott Reeder Road, that a case had been filed with the City of Fort Worth seeking a conditional use permit (CUP) to crush rock on the site and also rezone more than 90 acres to light industrial from commercial. The vacant property is near the Performance Foodservice refrigerated warehouse, 5401 E. 1st Street, owned by Scannell Inc. City staff plans to recommend approval. The Zoning Commission will hear the case at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan.9. A CUP is a temporary permit that is time limited.
History with property
Hall unsuccessfully attempted to rezone the same property for a concrete crushing operation a decade ago. Neighborhood pushback was intense and effective. The application was denied. Since that time, Neighborhoods of East Fort Worth Alliance, representing multiple Eastside associations including West Meadowbrook, supported the construction of the Performance Foodservice refrigeration warehouse on the south side of the Hall holdings. Hall owns the land on which the warehouse is built. Performance Foodservice is a tenant. NEFW favored the refrigeration warehouse in part to protect the Trinity River from more intense uses. The current case targets much of the remaining acreage along Elliott Reeder Road on the north side of the Hall property.
Neighborhood response
Arguments against both the concrete crushing option and rezoning are below and may be used in your communications. The late notice to neighborhoods is in part due to lack of communication with District 11 Councilperson Martinez’s office about ongoing negotiations. Neighborhood representatives last spoke to property owners in January 29, 2025 and have had no further communications. NEFW will oppose the case and seeks letters, emails and personal testimony to stop the action.
Why Zoning Commission should say “No” with prejudice
Key points against Conditional Use Permit and Rezoning
Gateway Park Impact
The property on 5850 Elliott Reeder Road is located near the north entrance to Gateway Park and along the Trinity River waterfront. The City of Fort Worth has presented no evidence that the potential for environmental damage has been assessed, nor consideration has been given to future river front access. Rezoning from the current commercial to light industrial would foreclose any expansion of Trinity Trails or use of riverfront for recreation. A City that values its waterways does not build a fortress of warehouses on its riverbanks.
Performance Foodservice Warehouse Cooperation
Neighborhoods of East Fort Worth supported the siting of the Performance Foodservice warehouse in part to prevent more intense uses along the river. Owner Scannell agreed to build a landscape buffer between the warehouse and Gateway Park as part of the negotiations; however, it has failed to live up to that promise. Scannell had also indicated to NEFW that the warehouse would prevent any concrete crushing on adjacent property because of limited road access.
Lack of Communication
In January 2025, NEFW discussed the potential for further development with Hall’s representatives. No further negotiations occurred. On Dec.9, 2025, City staff notified D11 Councilperson Jeanette Martinez that a case would be coming before the Zoning Commission on Jan.14. NEFW and the District 11 Councilperson’s office were left with little time to inform their communities. Rules regarding zoning protests were revised in the 89th Legislative Session, shortening notification timelines and raising thresholds for successful protests. The timing of the filing so close to the holidays compressed the timeline further.
Rezoning vs CUP
A rezoning case and a conditional use permit filing should be addressed separately. Bundling the two is improper. A CUP to crush rock is allowed under current C zoning. Once a site plan and a signed contract for development exists for the property on Elliott Reeder Road, a fully fleshed out rezoning request could be filed to give neighborhoods an opportunity to weigh in. Approving light industrial zoning now leaves the door open to all manner of projects unacceptable to nearby neighborhoods. Changes to state law also leave the property open if rezoned to residential development by right.
Impact on traffic, environment and river
No studies appear to have been done on traffic impact, environmental issues, or influence on long-range plans for the river front. City Staff’s position that light commercial zoning is appropriate seems based on the existence of one warehouse that is not located on the river or near a Gateway park entrance.
Ignoring rules, regulations
The applicant, Wallace Hall Jr, preemptively began crushing rock on the property in question before receiving an air quality permit from the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality or a certificate of occupancy from the City. City staff ordered the operation closed on Dec. 3, 2025 for lack of a permit and proper zoning. Neighbors reported the unapproved activity to the City after noticing a sign on the access road for a concrete crushing business. Based on Hall’s recent violations alone, neighborhoods affected by the proposed rezoning and concrete crushing operation need more than promises and reassurances to support any change of this magnitude.
Sending comments to City Council and Zoning Commission
Personalize your letter or email as much as possible. Address your communications to: Mayor Mattie Parker, Your City Council Member (Councilpersons only want to hear from their constituents).
Copy the Zoning Commission in cc line of email using zoninglanduse@fortworthtexas.gov. Include the Zoning Case Number in subject line. All Commissioners will receive your comments. If you send a letter, the address is: (name and title), City of Fort Worth, 100 Fort Worth Trail, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Please allow for delivery time.
NOTE: Mayor Parker prefers to be contacted via an online webform. You may attach a full letter to this form.
Salutations and Emails
Below are the proper salutations for elected officials and their respective email addresses:
The Hon. Mattie Parker, Mayor, City of Fort Worth
Contact the Mayor – Welcome to the City of Fort Worth
The Hon. Carlos Flores, Councilmember, District 2
The Hon. Michael Crain, Councilmember, District 3
The Hon. Charles Lauersdorf, Councilmember, District 4
The Hon. Deborah Peoples, Councilmember, District 5
The Hon. Mia Hall, Councilmember, District 6
The Hon. Macy Hill, Councilmember, District 7
The Hon. Chris Nettles, Councilmember, District 8
The Hon. Elizabeth Beck, Councilmember, District 9
The Hon. Alan Blaylock, Councilmember, District 10
The Hon. Jeanette Martinez, Councilmember, District 11
In the greeting line of your letter, use the following:
·Dear Mayor Parker
Dear Councilmember (fill in the last name of your council member)
Garden Party & Plant Swap
Join Us, Saturday April 26th from 1-5 pm for our 2nd annual West Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association Garden Party & Plant Swap. Bring a plant to trade with your neighbors or just bring yourself and learn more about gardening, growing food crops, nutrition, native plants, and water-wise gardening. There will be a special hands-on, grow your own plant event for children, along with games, crafts, food and fun!