Plano has cleared the way for a four-story hotel to be built south of its historic downtown district. Plano City Council on Monday approved a zoning amendment that would allow developers to construct a hotel at the northwest corner of where K Avenue meets the President George Bush Turnpike frontage road. With the change the developer could construct a building taller than the previous two-story limit. The council also approved a set of facade standards that would require any hotel built on the property to meet the requirements for new development along the Dallas North Tollway across town. These new standards require 80 percent of the exterior of the building to be made of "glass, native stone, clay-fired brick or tile or a combination of these materials." The piece of land poses challenges for developers, both for its narrow land structure and its proximity to two frontage roads, a representative for the property owner told council members. The proposal passed by a 6-1 margin, with Council Member Tom Harrison casting the sole vote against it. Council Member Angela Miner was not present at Monday's meeting.

Next step for Legacy pedestrian bridge

The city of Plano on Monday also approved a $105,100 contract with Kimley-Horn & Associates to design the pedestrian and bike bridge that will someday connect The Shops at Legacy with the newer Legacy West development. The bridge would be located where Legacy Drive crosses the Dallas North Tollway. Crews have been constructing a new U-turn lane leading from the southbound to northbound frontage lanes. The pedestrian bridge, yet to be designed, would go where the old U-turn lanes used to be. The construction making way for this bridge is one of the primary reasons, along with the Tennyson bridge project, for several full Dallas North Tollway closures this past year in Plano.