Plano City Council approved a modification of development standards during its Dec. 12 continuation of the Dec. 11 meeting that will accommodate a few compliance issues with the zoning designation of the property, Director of Planning Christina Day said. The changes will allow for some overhangs on buildings, clearly identify another area for independent living, and resolve an issue with full lot coverage next to a street along one block, according to city documents.
The overview
The approved changes would have required a redesign by the developer, if left unresolved, Day said. That process could have added at least two months and further delayed development at Collin Creek Mall for developer Centurion American, she added.
The backdrop to the zoning case includes progress made on completing utility work at the site along with the construction of model homes for the more than 500 single-family residences planned for Collin Creek Mall’s redevelopment, Director of Special Projects Peter Braster said. The construction of a parking garage with 1,976 spaces is also complete, which is planned to sit under future apartment buildings.
Centurion American Vice President Rob Romo said work has also been completed to reinforce three large culverts that will channel Spring Creek under the development.
Quote of note
“We tried to talk through a lot of solutions to make this easier,” Day said. “There were architectural issues with a lot of the solutions we were discussing, and it got to the point where it was easier to fix it from a regulatory perspective.”
Zooming in
The overhangs would not be allowed to be more than 2-foot extensions from the building, similar to an awning, Day said, and necessitate a license agreement between the city and developer. The amendment resolves the encroachments into planned city right of way, Braster said, by granting permanent easements for the encroachments, which are not expected to affect pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
“Fundamentally, the impetus behind it is the roof overhang item that was discovered during the building plan review process,” Day said. “The other items are just technical items that we’re using this opportunity to make these amendments.”
What’s next?
Day said the plan review for the commercial buildings within the Collin Creek Mall development is in the pipeline. Braster added that the site plan approval for other structures planned for the development should be considered by council later this month.
Romo said the concrete podium for the two six-story apartment buildings in the eastern portions of the mall is expected to be poured in the first quarter of 2024.
