Single-family zoning case in north McKinney heads to council

New single-family homes are being proposed for a nearly 39-acre property along FM 543 in north McKinney.

In a nutshell

McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval of a zoning request for the property during an April 14 meeting. Commission Chair Deidre Woodard opposed the motion. The action will be forwarded to McKinney City Council on May 5 for consideration and final action, according to a city document.

If approved by council, 38.9 acres of land would be zoned as an “R5” residential district. This zoning designation is used to accommodate medium-density, single-family residential homes, according to McKinney’s Unified Development Code.

City staff is recommending approval since the requested zoning aligns with McKinney’s comprehensive plan, and the property is surrounded by single-family uses on all sides, according to the city document. City Planner Jake Bennett said development on the property will follow the same standards as developments to the north and south.

More details

Two people expressed concerns about traffic on FM 543 during public comment. Robert D’Angelo, who lives near the property, said multiple housing developments have been underway in the last four years.

“I just don’t believe that we have the infrastructure right now to support all of these additional homes,” he said. “[FM] 543 is still one lane each way, and in the last four years, that has just been a lot more traffic, especially during rush hour.”

D’Angelo said he would request delaying the zoning until FM 543 can be expanded. One lane in either direction doesn’t “seem to support” additional traffic on the road, he said.

LJA Engineering Project Manager Jake Thomas spoke on behalf of Lennar Homes during the meeting. Lennar Homes was listed as the developer on a letter of intent attached to the agenda.

Thomas said 160 homes were currently planned for the property. Those homes would be located on 5,000-square-foot lots at minimum, according to “R5” residential zoning regulations.

FM 543 is owned by the Texas Department of Transportation, Thomas said. The city is requiring a left-turn and a right-turn lane on FM 543 that accesses the property, but plans for expanding the road are unknown at this time.

“On [McKinney’s] Master Thoroughfare Plan, it is designated as a six-lane major arterial roadway,” Bennett said of FM 543. “So at some point it will be expanded to that.”

The city is requiring the additional turn lanes based on the proposed number of homes that would fit on the property, Bennett said.