The project, if approved, could feature as many as 350 multifamily units, according to the presentation.
The gist
The development is planned for the southeast corner of McKinney Ranch Parkway and future Collin McKinney Parkway.
The proposal comes from real estate investment firm Allen Harrison Company, which would act as the developer and general contractor for the project, project representative Kevin Kuntz said.
While the site totals 18 acres, the development of the future Collin McKinney Parkway connection would bisect the site, leaving about 10.8 acres on the northern end for the multifamily development. A rezoning request for the project would allow for the development of up to 350 multifamily units on that tract, which is more than the current zoning would allow.
“Once you put in Collin McKinney Parkway and you shrink that northern lot, the density is then calculated on that 10.8 acre lot, which inflates the density calculation,” Kuntz said of the need for the rezoning request.
The developer proposed that the southern end of the site, spanning 5.8 acres, would be converted into a community recreation area. While the plan for the site has not been finalized, the space could feature a sport court, a playground or hiking and biking trails, Kuntz said. The community recreation area would open to the public and would be maintained by the property owner.
“We really think this is a really unique feature that this development brings,” Kuntz said.
The specifics
The proposed project would include six four-story buildings situated around a central parking structure, according to a site plan presented by Kuntz.
The site plan also includes a swimming pool and amenity center, according to city documents. Kuntz said the project would include seven amenities, as well as two additional amenities in the community recreation area.
The design of the project was also inspired by the nearby McKinney ISD Stadium, Kuntz said.
How we got here
A rezoning request for a previous iteration of the project was considered by the McKinney Planning and Zoning Commission in October and received a recommendation for approval.
However, McKinney City Council members denied the rezoning request in a 5-2 vote at an Oct. 17 meeting, with council members Justin Beller and Rick Franklin voting against the denial.
Council members expressed a number of concerns with the project, including the multifamily residential use and some of the variances requested at the time, such as a decreased parking ratio and the unit density.
Since then, the developer has reconfigured the site plan to address some concerns presented by council members, including a lower total number of units allowed and the addition of a parking structure, according to the presentation.
What they’re saying
City staff recommend disapproval of the project due to its lack of alignment with the city’s comprehensive plan, which designates this tract of land as entertainment center place type.
Jake Bennett, a member of the city’s planning staff, also noted that the project has close proximity to other multifamily developments, with over 1,800 planned or existing multifamily units within a mile of the site.
During a public comment period at the meeting, McKinney resident and commercial developer Bucky Gillett said that he was the previous owner of the site.
After he purchased the site in 2020, he explored options for commercial development ranging from office and retail uses to athletic complex and entertainment uses. Gillett said that due to the lack of visibility and accessibility of the site, he was unable to carry out a development. However, he did express support for the multifamily development being proposed.
“After going through this for the last four years, ... the highest and best use [for the site] is what we are looking at here,” Gillett said.
The McKinney Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended a rezoning request for the project at the meeting. The item will be considered by the McKinney City Council at its March 19 meeting.
