New drive-thru restaurant proposed along US 380 in McKinney

Developers are seeking approval from the city of McKinney on a specific use permit request to build a drive-thru restaurant along US 380 just west of Custer Road.

The overview

McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved the request during a Feb. 10 meeting. A specific use permit is required because the building and speakerbox are located near a single-family neighborhood located just south of the proposed location.

Navaz Ebrahim, project manager with the Benchmark Group, said developers intend to deliver the building as a “cold, dark shell.” Two tenants are anticipated at the new building: a quick-service restaurant and general business, according to a letter of intent.

“We are expecting Qdoba Mexican Grill, but on the adjacent tenant, we don’t have a potential tenant yet,” Ebrahim said.

McKinney City Council members are expected to take final action on the permit request at a March 3 meeting, according to a city document.

Breaking it down

The proposed location for the drive-thru speaker box is located about 66 feet away from the nearest residential property lines to the south, said City Planner Jake Bennett. Since it’s located within 200 feet of the homes, a specific use permit is required after council approved new distance requirements in 2025.

City staff is recommending denial of the request because it does not meet the intent of McKinney’s unified development code, he said.

The proposed building is part of a larger 11.62-acre commercial project along US 380 called The Landing. A preliminary site plan attached to the agenda shows plans for a 5,500-square-foot retail building with 27 parking spaces.

Developers plan to mitigate potential impact from the drive-thru by adding a landscape buffer along the rear property line made up of 12-foot-tall canopy trees, according to the letter of intent. An existing 8-foot-tall masonry wall at the rear property line is also expected to mitigate any impact on adjacent single-family homes.