Commission members voted during a Sept. 23 meeting after hearing a presentation from city staff. The recommendation will be forwarded to McKinney City Council for final action Oct. 21, according to a city document.
In a nutshell
If approved by council, about 2.8 acres of land would be rezoned in order to modify the types of trees planted in each home lot, according to the city document. The applicant is proposing to revise tree planting requirements from one canopy tree per lot to one ornamental tree per lot, City Planner Stewart Starry said.
The modification is requested to address dimensional constraints and prevent conflicts between canopy tree roots and infrastructure, such as city utilities and the townhome foundations. No other modifications are being suggested by the applicant.
City staff are recommending approval of the zoning change, Starry said.
“Staff recognizes the dimensional constraints of the site and finds that the applicant’s proposal represents a practical solution that allows the project to proceed while minimizing impacts on the city’s tree canopy and maintaining the overall quality of the development,” he said.
The background
Townhomes in the Cotton Groves development in McKinney are built from shipping containers, leading to a decreased cost for materials compared to a traditional home. The community, which started construction in October 2020, is located near the corner of Kings Row and Bumpas Street.
Habitat for Humanity of Collin County is pursuing the development as an affordable housing solution for low- to moderate-income families. More information can be found on Habitat for Humanity’s website.
