The McKinney City Council is working to bring some new lunch spots to McKinney thanks to an idea from Mayor Pro Tem Randy Pogue to help spur economic development along the city's most popular corridors.

In June, Pogue pitched the idea to bring a restaurant row to the city, hoping to meet the needs of the lunch rush associated with corporations looking to move into the city.

"My reason for bringing it forward is to try to fill a void we are experiencing by way of the corporations who have chosen other locations rather than McKinney," Pogue said. "They are telling us we do not have mid-level shopping or restaurants for their employees' lunch time traffic. So restaurant row, even though its focus is on restaurants, will still include some retail components along with the destination center type or sit down type restaurants."

During the July 18 city council work session, council asked city staffers to further develop guidelines for a request for proposal, which includes both developed and undeveloped land. Pogue said he anticipates the city will be able to issue a request for proposal "sooner rather than later."

During the work session, Council member Tracy Rath urged council to consider a pedestrian-friendly development.

"I think some kind of pedestrian friendly development where it is pedestrian-only traffic with some patio components that open to a common courtyard so that children can play safely with some kind of a water, art or educational feature would be great."

City officials said the request for approval will focus on major thoroughfares in the city such as US 75, US 380 and SH 121.