Plano City Council voted to deny a 38.7-acre, mixed-use development at the southwest corner of SH 121 and Rasor Boulevard at Monday night’s meeting after hearing roughly 60 speakers for and against the development.

The mixed-use development, Mustang Square, would have offered a mix of office space, retail, restaurants, hotels, single-family residences, apartments, townhomes and an assisted-living facility.

At the Feb. 27 Plano City Council meeting, attendees held signs for and against the mixed-use development Mustang Square. At the Feb. 27 Plano City Council meeting, attendees held signs for and against the Mustang Square mixed-use development.[/caption]

After discussion among citizens, developers and council members, a zoning change and site plans were not approved for the proposed development. The rezoning was needed before developers could move forward with a residential component.

Applicants said the project must incorporate a residential component for its anticipated economic benefit and is not viable without this component.

Director of Planning and Zoning Christina Day said the city received 1,005 public responses with 473 in support of Mustang Square, 530 against and two with a neutral response.

However, 11.5 percent of the landowners within a 200-foot area of the development were opposed, Day said. According to state law, 20 percent of those within that area need to be opposed to require a supermajority vote from the council.

City Council voted 5-2 to deny the Mustang Square development with Mayor Harry LaRosiliere and Councilman David Downs opposed.

Citizens in support of the development said this is how a city develops, and it is just a matter of time before something like this is developed. Others in support applauded the “cross-generational” development that allows for multifamily living along with a place for assisted living.

Attendees who opposed the development argued additional multifamily homes and communities would worsen traffic on already crowded roadways, decrease home values in the area and cause Plano ISD and Frisco ISD schools in the area to become overcrowded.