Storybook Ranch in McKinney, which provided space for events and gatherings for more than 20 years, received an initial nod of approval Feb. 23 for its land to be rezoned for cottage homes.

The McKinney Planning and Zoning Commission supported a rezoning request that could allow these smaller homes to be constructed on the property located on about 38 acres at 3701 Custer Road, McKinney.

With the commission's support, the item will move to McKinney City Council’s March 16 agenda for its consideration.

The applicant proposed for the 38 acres to be divided into two tracts: one portion of the land—about 2 acres facing Custer—will be dedicated to commercial uses, and the other 36 acres will allow for the cottage residential development.

Meeting documents defined a cottage residence as a “building that is designed to be occupied as one dwelling unit and is located on a lot with other similar dwelling units.”


The project includes about 240 units in one-, two- or three-bedroom options available for rent, with oversized bedroom windows, privacy fences and yards.

The residential component of the project is able to be split between the creek, according to a letter to the city from the applicant.

“We plan to add amenities to this creek and make it an important feature of this development,” the letter said.

In early 2020 commissioners approved a request to redevelop the land into apartments, but the project was withdrawn following opposition from residents.


The cottage residence project from Stillwater Capital received a letter of support from the nearby residents.

Clay Roby with Stillwater Capital said the existing owner had tried to look for office users for the site but “essentially came up with nothing.”

“After years of trying, [they were] unsuccessful in attracting office users or office-type investors to pursue the tract, and so they pivoted to residential a couple years ago,” he said.

Commissioners acknowledged that the land in this area is difficult to work with and said this project is better than having apartments. They approved the project 6-1 with Deanna Kuykendall casting the sole vote against the project.


Editor's note: The original post has been edited to correct errors. Deanna Kuykendall's name and Storybook Ranch in the headline was misspelled.