Ahead of a third window of public feedback later this year focused on updating Richardson’s comprehensive plan, council members previewed potential topics that will be shared with the public.

Richardson City Council received an update on preliminary place types, draft visions for five reinvestment zones and middle housing options appropriate for different land use areas in the city during the April 8 meeting.

What you need to know

Since the last briefing during a Feb. 5 meeting, consultants and city staff working on the project have refined secondary land use types within various areas of the city. Mark Bowers, urban design and practice planning builder with consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates, said the secondary uses can be used to support the primary functions of a place type and add more vibrancy.

According to a presentation made to council, the consultants also identified various middle housing types—a kind of housing between a single-family residence and multifamily complex, such as a townhome or duplex—that would be appropriate for different places within the city. The final component was establishing preliminary visions for five highlighted reinvestment zones in Richardson:
  • Areas along the intersection of North Plano Road and East Belt Line Road
  • Areas along East Belt Line Road near the intersection with Bowser Road
  • A corridor along West Campbell Road between Floyd Road and Custer Road
  • A corridor along West Arapaho Road between US 75 and Newberry Drive
  • A corridor along West Spring Valley Road between US 75 and Weatherred Drive
Bowers said all feedback received from the meeting will be incorporated into presentation materials ahead of the final community input window ahead of the plan’s adoption later this year.


“We will be getting quite a bit more feedback on whether we’ve heard the community correctly and whether we’re headed in the right direction,” Bowers said.

What’s next?

A presentation to council is expected during its June 3 meeting, which is a few days before the final community summit begins. The final summit is scheduled to begin June 7 and last through July 7.

Adoption of the updated comprehensive plan is expected in late 2024, after which council and city staff can address specific implementation measures for how to achieve goals outlined in the plan. Unlike zoning decisions, land uses in the comprehensive plan are not binding for the city, but outline the type of development city officials and council might be eyeing for the city.


“When people come back to look at your zoning, they have an idea of what the input from the community was,” Bowers said.