The developer behind a major mixed-use project to develop unused land near the former J.C. Penney-owned headquarters building in Plano is clearing the way for a new hotel in the heart of the Legacy West corporate office area. The Plano Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 20 approved a site plan for a 10-story, 250-room hotel at The Campus at Legacy West, the name of the mixed-use development spearheaded by Sam Ware’s Dreien Opportunity Partners. Ware has not confirmed the identity of the hotel, but said a high-end Japanese hotel group was interested in building on the property. Marty Neilon, first vice president for Los Angeles-based commercial real estate firm CBRE, declined to comment on the project or provide the identity of the hotel developer, citing a confidentiality agreement. The hotel would be located on the southeast corner of the pond in front of the J.C. Penney office building, which the retail giant sold to Ware in December of 2016. The company still leases space at the building. Most of the future development of the office property will take place on the grassy slopes surrounding the property’s existing pond. The hotel plans call for reducing the size of the pond using retaining walls to “maximize developability” of the property, Ware said. Ware had previously put forth plans to the city’s planning commission to build apartment units at The Campus at Legacy West, but withdrew them in May. He declined to say at the time why he withdrew the apartment plans, or what the decision meant for the future of the project. In September, however, Ware said his company was continuing talks with potential partners for the redevelopment project. “We have had very strong interest in the 45 acres of undeveloped land for the last 18 months,” Ware said.