The Fort Worth City Council has turned down a homeowners request for zoning to allow her house in the Como neighborhood to be used as a short term rental.
Fort Worth has required special zoning for short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods since 2018. The case in the Como neighborhood is the first time a request has made it to the Fort Worth City Council for consideration.
Owner Laura Tucker explained to the City Council that she had moved out of the home after getting a new job in another city in north Texas. She argued that converting the property into a short-term rental would be good for the neighborhood and the economy.
"Without my property being utilized as a short-term rental...there's less people visiting the City of Fort Worth, there's less people going to your restaurants, visiting your coffee shops, getting gas at your gas stations and whatnot," she said. "I'm not a corporation. I am a real human just like everybody else here. I'm just trying to make the most economically feasible decision for myself but also for the community. It would also benefit not only the neighborhood of Como but the City of Fort Worth and everybody involved."
Neighbors told the City Council that they were opposed to any short-term rentals and asked the Council Members to reject the zoning change request.
"Como has worked hard to revitalize our neighborhood. It has been a long struggle. Finally, we have the zoning that we have asked for and was approved," said Dorothy DeBose. "We have always been a community that know our neighbors. That has been one of our strengths."
The Council voted unanimously to reject the requested zoning change.
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