A Chinese conglomerate has plans to build a large shopping development on 77 acres in North Frisco.

The Frisco Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday approved 4-1 a rezoning request that could allow a multi-level shopping center with additional retail, office, hotel and urban living residential on 77 acres south of US 380 and 3,500 feet west of Dallas Parkway.

Lesso America, a subsidiary of building material manufacturer China Lesso Group Holdings Ltd., has owned the land for two years, and the company plans on moving its American headquarters to the development. The development would be done in three phases with three different districts: a frontage district with a mixture of retail, hotel and office; a lifestyle district that would contain most of the retail with one urban living tower; and a southern district that would contain mostly urban living units, as well as some office, hotel and retail space.  

According to city documents, Lesso’s plans is in compliance with the city’s future land use plan, which calls for 70 percent commercial and 30 percent residential for an urban center. The project's plans include 1,200 urban living units, which is below the 1,270 units recommended by the city.

Commissioner Bobby Roberti voted against the project because the residential component.

“There’s an argument kind of going all over the country, but especially here in North Texas, that corporations want to relocate to a mixed-use environment, which includes residential," Roberti said. "And while that may be the case for some corporations, it certainly not true for every one. I think before we grant more mixed-used with residential, let’s see how the current mixed-use plays out.”

Chair Rob Cox disagreed and said as much as Frisco is changing, there needs to be more employment and residential opportunities along US 380.

“We have to have job centers up north, we have to have residential up north," Cox said. "It can’t be all south, and we don’t want people driving through Frisco to get to Legacy West [or the Galleria Dallas]. Projects like this at US 380, such as job destinations and residential destinations, for folks up north are important for our long-term sustainability in my opinion.”

The proposal still requires approval from Frisco City Council before Lesso can move forward with the project.