“With competition coming around us, it’s so imperative and important that we update and upgrade our facilities to match future demand,” said Rupesh Bhakta, chief operating officer for Prism Places, an operating partner for Legacy West Investors.
Plano City Council members unanimously amended a portion of Legacy West’s development agreement and discussed the changes coming to the area, including the street closure, during an April 14 meeting.
The city received more than 20 comment letters related to the project as of April 11, a majority of which were in opposition of the changes. No residents chose to speak during the public hearing for the item.
Breaking it down
The amendments change the open space requirements and signage development standards for a little over 275 acres. The amendments allow for the closure of Water Street, a small side street between Windrose Avenue and Communications Parkway, in order to build a platform stage, incorporate more pedestrian spaces, add signage and more.
“Really our focus here is to drive people to stay longer,” said Jessica Clements, a principal and partner with the architectural firm Studio Outside.
A total of 13 parking spaces will also be lost as part of bringing in the people spaces, Clements said. All accessible parking spaces will be left as-is and the removed spaces were considered convenient but not necessary, she said.
Turning Water Street into a pedestrian park is a part of a larger plan for the area similar to the plans for the former JCPenney site, Clements said.
“To create a green spine where Water Street currently is we think will really amplify the area,” she said. “People will learn new behaviors on how to move their car and there are plenty of places for the car but there really are not plenty of places for the pedestrian.”
The platform stage will not be used for major performances and is geared toward smaller gatherings such as children’s events, fashion shows, yoga classes, private photoshoots and acoustic-only performances, according to a meeting presentation. It will also incorporate metal sculpture art from Dallas-based artists Christy Coltrin and Brad Oldham.
What else?
Planning Director Christina Day said a city traffic study found closing off Water Street is not expected to increase traffic in the area. Drivers should still be able to cut through the parking garage after losing road access, she said.
“The results of that analysis by the transportation engineering staff is ... it won’t have a meaningful impact, so they are in support of the change,” Day said.
Apartments and businesses with a Water Street address will be readdressed to Communications Parkway once the road closes.
Other changes include adding large digital signs to the sides of existing buildings and adding eight sign kiosks and one retail kiosk. None of the digital signs directly face residential units, Day said.
Current plans for the digital signs include a schedule that will keep them from staying at full brightness overnight, according to a meeting presentation.
What comes next?
Updates on the Water Street closure and construction plans are expected to come in the future.
