Plano City Council reviewed and approved these ordinances Jan. 25 after tabling the item last August. The tabling was originally intended to wait for updates to the comprehensive plan. But with delays from the comprehensive plan committee, developers needed the ordinances to move forward with other zoning items, city Planning Director Christina Day said.
Each of the three ordinances are inter-related, Day also shared.
Two of the ordinances create two new zoning districts for Envision Oak Point. The current focus of creating these districts is the Plano Events Center property. Renovations to the events center, including a potential mixed-use district and the addition of a hotel, are central to current Envision Oak Point plans.
This combination of mixed-use and small-lot division zoning requires a unique approach to residential and neighborhood business zoning districts, Day said.
"Our existing zoning districts don't really meet the needs of the ambitious plan's goals," Day said. "We really needed something that was just right for the area, so that was the purpose behind creating these districts."
These districts include requirements for housing variety, a mix of uses, walkable areas and open space. These requirements look like wide sidewalks, low-rise neighborhood buildings, ground floor entrances and public art displays, according to Day's presentation.
These districts also must be decided on before zoning changes can be approved. With approval of these districts, council then moved to approve rezoning for the 50.3 acres where the Plano Events Center site and surrounding developments would be created. This zoning change allows for the expansion of the events center, the addition of a hotel and accommodates for additional parking.
These ordinances include stipulations that they apply only to specific areas of land and that the council may revisit the ordinances if an updated comprehensive plan is in direct conflict with any parts of the ordinances.
