Jarrett Miller and his wife, Evelyne Miller, dreamed of living in Fort Worth’s historic Oakhurst neighborhood for 20 years.
Once a property became available in February, the couple decided to take advantage of the opportunity and moved in early summer. Their new home neighbors Mercy Culture Church, a nondenominational Christian church on Oakhurst Scenic Drive, northeast of downtown.
For the past two years, church leaders and residents of Oakhurst have been disagree on safety and parking concerns for a proposal multimillionairetwo-story building that would be located next to the church’s Fort Worth campus. Formerly known as The Justice Residences, the building is intended to house and disciple survivors of sex trafficking. The site is proposed by The Justice Reform, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the church.
On Oct. 17, the Millers and other members of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to hire legal counsel to represent them before the city in their opposition to the church’s proposal.
The 99-0 vote Thursday night comes nearly two weeks after Heather Schott, founder of The Justice Reform, and state Rep. Nate Schatzline, who also serves as the church’s pastor, announced the Instagram that the project will have a hearing before the Fort Worth Zoning Commission on November 13. Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, represents the area around the Mercy Culture campus in the Texas House of Representatives.
The Millers learned about the judicial reform proposal a couple of years ago, but thought it had subsided when they bought their house. If the church project is approved by the Zoning Commission and City Council, the couple will reconsider staying in the neighborhood.
“If this happens, we will move because we have young grandchildren,” Jarrett Miller said. “We want to be able to bring them into our house and be safe, be able to walk down the street and feel safe.”
Landon and Heather Schott launched Mercy Culture Church in April 2019. A year later, Heather Schott started a nonprofit called The Justice Reform with the goal of ending sex trafficking in the region. (Haley Samsel | Fort Worth Report)
Pastors accuse city of discrimination in zoning process
The reform of justice sent a site plan application to the city in July that sought to add a multi-story building located at 2001 Oakhurst Scenic Drive, just off Interstate 35 near downtown. The building would be adjacent to Mercy Culture’s Fort Worth campus, located at 1701 Oakhurst Scenic Drive.
The building would be two stories high and a two-level basement. One level would include the dining room, gym, business offices, kitchen and storage rooms. Each of the upper two levels would have meeting rooms, storage and sleeping quarters for up to 115 people combined. A chapel would be located on the first floor, according to site plan documents.
When judicial reform proposed a similar project in spring 2022city staff recommended denial, saying the land was not suitable for the developers’ plans. Staff said the house’s restoration was inconsistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, which projects the city’s plans for land throughout Fort Worth. Justice Reform withdrew its application before it was presented to zoning commissioners.
A representation of the Residences of Justice. The house will be located at the north end of the Church property. (The Reform of Justice)
This summer, city staff determined that the proposed new construction would not be permitted under the property’s current zoning, requiring the organization to apply for a zoning change if it wanted to proceed.
During September 29 sermonLandon and Heather Schott, senior pastors at Mercy Culture, accused the city of Fort Worth’s government procedures of discriminating against the church and delaying the shelter construction process.
The Schotts also argued that the church had a “legal right” under the freedom of religion clause of the First Amendment to build the shelter.
“We are prepared to exercise and defend our rights even if it means seeking justice through the judicial system,” Landon Schott said during the church sermon on Sept. 29.
Days after the sermon, Heather Schott and Schatzline met with Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and received approval to appear before the Zoning Commission in mid-November, Schott wrote in Instagram. His account has since been disconnected.
Texas Rep. Nate Schatzline represents District 93 and is pastor of Mercy Culture Church, located at 1701 Oakhurst Scenic Drive. The Oakhurst neighborhood and the church belong to the district that Schatzline represents. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)
Residents vote against and prepare for legal waters
Members of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association filled the Riverside Community Center Thursday for their general membership meeting, where they heard from Deputy City Manager Dana Burghdoff and Development Services Director DJ Harrell, who presented information about the proposed church building.
Residents expressed concerns about the shelter to city officials and raised questions about the legality of the construction.
During a meeting between the church attorney and the city attorney, Burghdoff said, they discussed the Religious Land Use Law, which prohibits zoning and signage laws that substantially tax the religious exercise of churches.
A project like the shelter, designated as group housing, would be permitted by law if it had a church-related purpose, Burghdoff said.
“In this case, its primary use is permitted under the ordinance as church-related activities. And that can allow for a wide range of uses as primary uses, if they are owned and operated by the church and are part of that mission,” Burghdoff said.
Deputy City Manager Dana Burghdoff answers questions during an Oakhurst Neighborhood Association meeting on Oct. 17, 2024, before residents voted to remain in opposition to the proposed location of The Religious Discipleship Center Justice Reform. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)
Some residents told city staff they were concerned about a lack of parking to accommodate residents and church members. Other residents, like Patti Law, expressed concerns about safety.
Law has been a resident of Oakhurst since 1965. He voted to remain in opposition to the religious discipleship center because his concerns are the same as with the Justice Residences proposed in 2022.
“They’re talking dirty,” Law said, referring to the church. “My concern is that this will generate crime. And my other concern is that they are bringing people (and) there is no regulation.”
More parking spaces have been added, along with plans for 24/7 security, fencing around the property and a “rapid response system” to authorities, according to information from September. steering wheels distributed by La Reforma Judicial.
Libby Willis, who was president of the neighborhood association from 2005 to 2011, said details of the shelter are still unknown.
“It’s not that we don’t care,” Willis said. “It’s about whether this is the right place for this facility. Is it suitable for women? Is it right for the neighbors?
Burghdoff told residents that the Nov. 13 Zoning Commission meeting could have four different outcomes. Commissioners can approve the application as is, approve it with changes, delay the case if revisions are requested or reject the project entirely.
If the commission votes to reject or approve the zoning change request, the project will go to the City Council for a vote. If that happens on Nov. 13, the Fort Worth City Council would vote on the project on Dec. 10.
The neighborhood association’s preliminary budget for hiring legal counsel to represent residents’ interests before city officials was set at $3,500.
Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member and covers faith for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org or @marissayverde. At Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and our financial sponsors. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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