Frisco City Council remanded the request to rezone 6.9 acres from agricultural to planned development-retail at a Jan. 20 meeting where several residents voiced their opposition to the project.
Explained
The applicant posted signs on the subject property advertising the proposed zoning change, but the case number on the signs was incorrect, so they did not meet their public notice obligations.
Other public notice requirements for the project were met. City officials notified all property owners within 200 feet of the proposed rezoning according to state and municipal regulations, Development Services Director John Lettelleir said.
The backstory
The Planning and Zoning Commission originally denied a request to rezone the property from agricultural to retail in 2023.
According to city staff, commissioners were hesitant about some of the land uses permitted under base retail zoning, and they wanted to ensure that the property would be developed in a single phase.
Based on the commission’s feedback, the applicant worked with city staff to create guidelines for the planned development that center pedestrians and ensure cohesion with the nearby Harold Bacchus Community Park.
The guidelines prohibit a number of land uses that would typically be allowed in retail developments, including:
- Restaurants or banks with drive-thrus
- Convenience stores with gas pumps
- Big box stores
- Child care or fitness centers
Commission Chair Brittany Colberg called the project “a great success story.”
What they’re saying
Eight residents spoke against the project at the Jan. 20 meeting, and an additional seven residents submitted nonspeaking comments in opposition. They highlighted concerns about traffic, child safety and retail in close proximity to a public park.
“It’s going to be a disaster for people living there,” Liberty Crossing resident Selvamani Sivasankaran said.
According to city documents, the Traffic Engineering Department does not expect the development to generate “more [traffic] than what is typically found at the corners of other major intersections” and did not require any additional traffic studies.
Next steps
The Planning and Zoning Commission will vote on the rezoning request again after the applicant posts accurate public notice signs on the subject property.
City officials have also asked the applicant to hold a meeting with residents who spoke in opposition of the project before moving forward with the request.
