Council delays vote on controversial Rockwood Park gas well until January

The Fort Worth City Council is planning to put off tonight's scheduled vote on the controversial gas well near Rockwood Park until January.

Tonight's city council meeting was expected to be dominated by comments from dozens of residents, some for and many opposed to the gas well, which would be on undeveloped land owned by Greenwood cemetery within 600 feet of the city park. Because of the proximity to the park, drilling requires a special permit from the council.

Protests arose because Chesapeake plans to route trucks past a playground and a baseball field. Trucks would also have to use Rockwood Park Drive, an old city road next to the river that is popular with bicyclists and joggers.

Councilman Carter Burdette said he was delaying the vote until January 6 at the request of Chesapeake so that both the energy company and Greenwood Cemetery have time to address some "serious access issues."

“I think it’s going to require [Chesapeake] to go back with their engineers and take an in-depth look,” Burdette said.

At last week's meeting, when the vote on the well was delayed until today, Mayor Mike Moncrief told those in attendance they were still welcome to speak on the issue if they wanted. Dozens did with most requesting a moratorium on new drilling permits.

Given the interest on whether this well is approved, plenty of residents are expected to do so again tonight, even though a council vote is now four months away.

-Aman Batheja