Tarrant County College is facing growing questions after rejecting a major development opportunity that local officials say could have benefited both the college and the surrounding community.
The issue surfaced during a March 9 North Richland Hills City Council meeting, when Tarrant County College representatives presented a request for a sign variance for the Northeast Campus. The college sought approval to install a taller campus sign that did not meet the city’s masonry requirements and ordinance standards.
During the meeting, city councilmembers said Tarrant County College indicated it could not afford the cost required to bring the proposed sign into compliance with the city’s ordinance.
North Richland Hills City Councilmember Matt Blake raised concerns about the request and the college’s financial explanation during the discussion.
“You don’t need a 17-foot sign to find the entrance here, you need a 15-foot sign to find the building you are going to,” Blake said.
“That’s the problem with this campus,” Blake continued.
Blake said a letter submitted as part of the variance request suggested the college wanted to avoid the masonry requirements because of cost.
“The letter that we clearly have is that TCC does not want to put the masonry on there because of cost,” Blake said.
Blake also referenced a recent development opportunity the college declined.
“Tarrant County College has recently had an opportunity to pin a deal that would windfall them about $13 million and passed on it,” Blake said. “That bothers me.”
According to Blake, the revenue from that rejected deal could have covered the cost of the sign improvements the college claimed it could not afford.
The development in question involved a proposed deal with Costco to build on land owned by Tarrant County College between Highway 26 and Harwood Road near the Northeast Campus.
The project would have brought a major national retailer to the area and created more than 200 permanent jobs, according to North Richland Hills officials. A 10-year service clerk at the location was projected to earn an average salary of $72,000 annually.
North Richland Hills Mayor Jack McCarty also addressed the Tarrant County College Board during its March 12 meeting, encouraging trustees to consider the broader benefits of the proposal.
McCarty said the project could generate millions in property tax revenue for local schools, city services, and hospitals while also offering job training opportunities and flexible employment for Tarrant County College students.
He also noted that the land in question has historically been used for gas drilling and dumping, but its location makes it suitable for development while still complying with required setbacks near the gas well.
McCarty added that demographic trends may pose additional challenges for the college in the coming years, noting declining enrollment trends and the rise of online education.
“All I ask is the board openly consider and vote on what benefits all our communities,” McCarty said. “Keep property taxes down and utilize a non-taxed piece of property.”
The Dallas Express reached out to Tarrant County College for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
