Fort Worth's Development Journey: Progress, Challenges, and What Lies Ahead!

by Bob Francis, Breaking Now News
November 12, 2024

Recent surveys have unveiled exciting progress in Fort Worth’s development services process. Yet, respondents highlight that there's still much work to be done. In early 2023, the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth made ten pivotal recommendations aimed at refining the city’s development procedures, leading to a collaborative action plan with the Development Services Department.

These recommendations were driven by concerns over delays that cost the city an estimated $1.4 million in taxable income and $600,000 in fees during a typical 10-week development process. The focus has been on cultivating a problem-solving culture, enhancing interdepartmental coordination, and improving customer service to foster a more efficient and development-friendly environment.

Survey Insights: A Glimpse into Progress

As a part of an ongoing effort to gauge improvements, the council recently released the results of its third survey, which includes feedback from city employees and private developers. Notably, since the inception of these surveys, there has been a remarkable increase of 60% in participants who believe that the recommendations are either improving or have been addressed. Almost all developers and consultants reported that the city is indeed heading in the right direction.

“The survey results clearly show that Fort Worth is heading in the right direction,” stated Bowie Holland, government affairs chair for the council. “However, we recognize that continued work is essential to overcome remaining challenges.”

Key Highlights from the Third Survey

Conducted in September 2024, the survey underscored several significant improvements achieved through collaborative efforts. Here are some key highlights:

• City Manager-Led Development Forums: Biannual sessions hosted by City Manager David Cooke have sparked meaningful discussions between city staff and developers, leading to actionable outcomes.
• Centralization of Staff: The consolidation of development staff from various departments into the new City Hall has streamlined communication and decision-making processes.
• Enhanced Customer Service Training: Ongoing training initiatives have improved interactions with developers, although a deeper cultural shift towards problem-solving is still needed.

Areas Needing Attention

While significant strides have been made, survey participants outlined several areas for further improvement:

• Platting and Infrastructure Study Costs: Developers expressed concerns over the lengthy and costly processes required to record a plat, particularly affecting small, infill projects. They suggested adopting more straightforward development plats to help alleviate these costs.
• Communication in Infrastructure Plan Reviews: Feedback revealed a need for more direct engagement, such as phone calls and web meetings, to resolve issues efficiently.
• Interdepartmental Coordination: Despite advancements, some coordination challenges remain, with suggestions for universal authorization processes and outsourcing recording services for quicker turnaround.
• Employee Workload and Retention: Concerns about staff burnout and the need for improved recognition were highlighted, indicating that better support from human resources could enhance morale and productivity.

“The city has made significant strides since this initiative began, and it’s inspiring to see numerous private developers and consultants acknowledge these improvements,” remarked D.J. Harrell, head of development services for the city.

What do you think?

• Are the improvements in Fort Worth's development processes enough to attract more businesses to the area?
• Do you believe that the current challenges in the development process are a result of systemic issues?
• Should the city consider adopting more aggressive measures to streamline development processes?
• How important is it for local government to engage with private developers in shaping city policies?

Your thoughts are invaluable. Join the conversation and share your insights on Fort Worth's development journey!