The overview
The Plano Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 on May 15 to approve the designation for the Texas Pool, which is located at 901 Springbrook Drive. Commissioner Tosan Olley abstained from the vote.
Staff members from Plano Planning Department and the Plano Heritage Commission recommended the Texas Pool for the heritage landmark designation.
Heritage designations in Plano are for districts with properties that are recognized for their historic significance by the city, the state or the National Parks Service, the city’s website states.
According to the city, locally designated properties receive the greatest level of protection and are subject to review by the heritage commission.
The background
The Texas Pool Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation formed in 2013, is responsible for maintaining the pool, according to its website.
Through the heritage designation, the foundation can apply for grant funding to help maintain the pool, draw people to the pool to increase tourism in the city and hold community events such as swim safety education, according to its website.
- The foundation also receives funding through the city’s hotel occupancy tax.
- The Texas Pool was built in 1961 as part of the Dallas North Estates neighborhood.
- It was listed in 2019 on the National Register of Historic Places.
Olley said he abstained from the vote because research has shown the pool was “essentially a reaction to a desegregation movement around that time.”
For that reason, he said he has mixed feelings about the designation.
“That being said, the heritage commission is much closer to this than I am,” Olley said.
Sorting out details
The designation meets the requirements of the city’s comprehensive plan, per meeting documents. Plano’s comprehensive plan is a long-range framework that serves as a guideline for policies related to areas such as growth, redevelopment, transportation, housing, city services and other important aspects of the community.
What’s next?
The commission’s role was to make a recommendation regarding whether the local designation should be approved because it is a zoning issue. The designation will now move to Plano City Council for final approval.
The entire presentation is available here.
