Let local homeowners expand TCU overlay

The TCU residential overlay adopted by the Fort Worth City Council more than two years ago was supposed to resolve the problems caused by so-called stealth dorms.

Bu the issue is again rearing its ugly head with the construction of a 4,500-square-foot, 10-bedroom structure at 2537 Rogers Ave.

The building will sit on a University West neighborhood block that is not covered by the overlay, meaning the restrictions that apply to most of the surrounding streets — namely that three unrelated adults can live in a single-family home — have no effect.

When the zoning change was under debate, the residents of those blocks did not support it.

But the new stealth dorm going up on Rogers seems to be changing their minds.

The overlay was a carefully wrought compromise between homeowners and investors that balanced the needs of both.

If enough residents support extending the coverage area, the city should oblige them.

This story was originally published May 16, 2017 at 5:31 PM with the headline "Let local homeowners expand TCU overlay."