Stockyards task force sets boundary and new building heights

The task force charged with creating a design district for the Historic Stockyards took a major step forward Wednesday when the group agreed to set three-story height guidelines for new construction with a boundary.

For the most part, the boundary encompasses what the public considers the Stockyards, along Exchange Avenue on both sides of Main Street, and taking in the historic structures.

What the task force added, though, was the parking lot areas south of the mule barns and behind Stockyards Station, down to Marine Creek. The area takes in a portion of the planned $175 million, 1 million-square-foot development of Majestic Realty and Fort Worth’s Hickman family. The developers own 70 acres in the Stockyards.

Calling it the Marine Creek District, the developers plan to build a hotel and multifamily residences there, according to their master plan. Under the proposed guidelines, the developers will have to seek permission from the Urban Design Commission to build higher.

Craig Cavileer, executive vice president of Majestic Realty, recommended that the area not be included.

“You can’t build hotels that aren’t at least four or five stories and get any economics out of it,” Cavileer said.

For months, the Historic Stockyards Design District task force has been deadlocked on the issue.

After the meeting, Cavileer said the proposed guidelines will influence how the developers design their buildings, but that they will have to work with city staff on the process.

“Today was the most productive meeting,” he said. “We’re making great progress. The Stockyards will never be better protected.”

Outside the boundary, the task force approved language that requires any new construction within 50 feet of a historic structure, or that is planned to be more than two stories higher than the historic structure, also be approved by the Urban Design Commission. That means if a building is planned near a single-story historic structure, it can go up to three stories. Anything higher will require approval.

Otherwise, projects within the design district must comply with the MU-2 zoning standards for the area that set building heights at five stories for a single-use structure and 10-stories for a mixed-used structure.

The proposed boundary of the design district generally runs from north of 28th Street on the north, stretches to Clinton Avenue at its farthest most western edge, 22nd Street on the south and the railroad tracks on the east.

A public meeting with the task force is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at River Ranch, on Northeast 23 Street, just south of the Stockyards.

In September, the task force will vote on a final document. It will also need City Council approval.

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 7:55 PM with the headline "Stockyards task force sets boundary and new building heights."