Photo by Krista WadsworthMuch development—retail, commercial and residential—has taken place in the eight years since Frisco last updated its vision for the city.
Throughout the next year, 23 Frisco residents appointed to the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee are tasked with examining the changes the city has undergone since 2006 and determining what Frisco should look like in the future.
Land use, destination areas and tourism, public transportation, diversification of neighborhoods and water conservation will be explored by consulting firm Jacobs Engineering, the CPAC, the Planning & Zoning Commission, the Frisco City Council and the public.
"If you are a growing community, it is a good idea to update the comprehensive plan periodically to make sure it's staying current," said John Lettelleir, city Development Services director. "We need to revisit the vision as things change over time."
Frisco Chamber of Commerce President Tony Felker, a CPAC member who remembers the last two comprehensive plans in 2000 and 2006 as first a resident, then a Frisco City Council member, said he looks to build on previous plans.
He said it's important to look back at the decisions made with a current perspective and see what changes need to be made based on current trends, such as transportation and land use.
"Retailers are always impacted by public transportation or the lack thereof," Felker said of exploring bus and train routes not just in Frisco, but in the greater metro area. "Transportation is always an issue."
Market-based land studies will be used to discuss changes to the land uses along major roadways, including U.S. 380, U.S. 121, the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road.
"We need to make sure there are enough different types of retail, commercial and office space and that we are offering those opportunities to developers," Felker said.
Finding a way to distinguish Frisco from surrounding cities such as McKinney, Plano and Allen is an important factor of the new plan, Lettelleir said.
"Frisco is in competition with these cities," he said. "We have the same builders and contractors When we look the same, what is the attraction value of Frisco?"
Liveability, including what people want to see in housing developments in Frisco and how to preserve its existing neighborhoods, is also a plan priority.
"Frisco has been keen on preserving open space, using it in neighborhoods and preserving it for amenities," Lettelleir said. "People value open space and those open spaces add value in the neighborhood."
Spreading the word
City staff members and consultant team members are planning extensive Web-based interaction as well as a social media campaign in an effort to get feedback and suggestions from Frisco residents. Town hall meetings will be held as well.
Dave Wilcox, a first-time CPAC member who was elected chairman, said one of his biggest concerns moving forward with the process is ensuring residents have a chance to voice their thoughts early enough in the planning so they can be incorporated.
"Everyone who knows Frisco knows our residents are very tech savvy," Wilcox said. "We need to absolutely wear them out as far as social media is concerned."
Updating the plan
Lettelleir said the past few years, the city decided to delay updating the comprehensive plan because Frisco, like many cities, dealt with a period of slow growth.
In keeping with a tightened budget, the city at the time chose not to spend the nearly $447,000 consultant fee they are currently paying Jacobs Engineering.
"It seems expensive, but the purpose of having it done is to plan for the future," Lettelleir said.
Frisco is required by the Local Government Code and its own city charter to have a comprehensive plan.
How the process works
- The Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee is made up of 23 committee members. At the January kickoff meeting, members elected Dave Wilcox chairman and John Hamilton Jr. vice-chairman.
- Committee members are responsible for visiting with neighbors and other residents for input, and relaying that information back to city staff and the consultant firm. During the planning process, the contractor will be interviewing business leaders as well as city staff members for input. Town hall meetings will be scheduled for public input.
- The first draft is expected to go before the Frisco City Council in January 2015. The new comprehensive plan is expected to be ready for adoption in March 2015.
2000 Comprehensive Plan highlights
- Updated the planned development section of the zoning ordinance stating how and when planned development would be used
- Agreed on a major creek ordinance—avoiding channelizing creeks and treating them as an amenity in the city
- Developed traffic analysis ordinance
- Developed thoroughfare standards ordinance
- Implemented the Preston Road overlay district
- Implemented the tollway overlay district
- Created design and development standards for garden style apartments and neighborhood retail centers
- Created a residential green building program
- Identified possible rail stations
- Updated the land uses and definitions, parking requirements, and light ordinance in the zoning ordinance
2006 Comprehensive Plan highlights
- Created a form-based code manual for planned developments that focused on place-making principles
- Reviewed and updated the parking requirements in the zoning ordinance
- Placed cluster development in the zoning ordinance
- Creation of the "Alternative Compliance"—allows the city to approve mixed use with a site plan where mixed use is identified on the city's Future Land Use Plan
- Conducted a public transit study
- Water conservation—updated the landscape section of the zoning ordinance
