After two prior development plans failed to move forward, the property is still zoned as multifamily. City Council requested city staff to bring the property before the Planning and Zoning Commission to determine if a zoning change would be appropriate.
However, commissioners agreed to delay any immediate rezoning at their Oct. 6 meeting and put the property on the commission’s work plan as staff resources allow.
Commissioners also recommended involving Plano’s Rewrite Advisory Committee in the discussion.
Some background
The 7.8-acre property is currently zoned multifamily due to a former development plan but is designated as "neighborhood" in the city’s future land use plan, according to city documents.
The property was previously proposed to include 22 single-family detached residences in a 2016 development plan and 80 multifamily units in a 2022 plan, according to city documents. After neither development moved forward, the city acquired the property in 2023.
City officials are also considering the future of additional city-owned properties along Los Rios Boulevard and if that land and additional private property should be rezoned.
Mike Bell, assistant planning director, said there are no “imminent plans for development” on the site, and the city does not intend to build a park or sell the property for multifamily development, which is why the zoning change is being discussed.
Bell said if the city were to eventually sell the property, including the parks-owned properties would potentially “increase the feasibility of developing single-family homes” as the single site has significant drainage and topography challenges.
What you need to know
Commissioners discussed four options for the future of the property, including:
- Rezoning only the 7.8-acre subject property to either single-family or agricultural
- Rezoning the subject property and the additional 10 acres along Los Rios Boulevard
- Rezoning the entire 70 acres at Jupiter Road and Los Rios boulevard, including the subject property, additional city properties and all public and privately owned property currently zoned agricultural
- Delaying rezoning for the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Rewrite
City staff confirmed the Parks and Recreation department has no intention to divest the properties along Los Rios Boulevard as of the Oct. 6 meeting.
What they’re saying
Commissioner Michael Bronsky said he would prefer not to leave the property as multifamily while they determine the property’s future but agreed to put zoning changes on hold since the property is city-owned.
“Considering a lot of the legislation [and] also what we have heard for a long time with our citizens, I have a hesitancy in leaving it as the MF-1 district,” Bronsky said. “Since it is city owned, there is no urgency of somebody coming in and doing something with it, so I’m completely fine with [waiting] as long as we’re always walking in the same direction."
Commissioner Michael Brounoff shared similar concerns and said he would prefer zoning the property as agricultural as a placeholder, particularly due to concerns with the multifamily designation and the eastern portion of the property being affected by “floodplain and drainage issues.”
Commissioner Sean Lingenfelter said from his perspective as a former developer, combining the tracts would be necessary if the property were to ever be developed.
Also of note
Commissioners also discussed potential options to restrict the property through its deed if development moves forward from the impact of Senate Bill 15, which went into effect in September.
The new state legislation requires the minimum required lot size for single-family homes to be 3,000 square feet and restricts city authority on parking, open space and building height requirements.
Looking ahead
The future of these properties will require a public hearing, and city staff will also reach out to neighboring property owners as discussions continue.
