McKinney | April 2025

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McKinney Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1 APRIL 25MAY 23, 2025

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Masson Henderson, a water plant operator for the North Texas Municipal Water District, passes by ltration equipment at the Wylie Water Treatment Plant. Puried water ows through the equipment before being distributed to the select North Texas cities, including McKinney.

SHELBIE HAMILTONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Water work underway Local ocials plan $500M in water infrastructure projects as regional ocials prepare for growing water needs

By the numbers

Page 26

Project funding

Page 27

See how McKinney’s water usage has grown over the past ve years

Learn about expansion projects that will grow capacity at regional water facilities

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McKINNEY CITY OF 2025

GENERAL ELECTION

Public Input Meeting Wednesday, May 7 • 5-7 p.m. Presentations at 5:15 & 6:15 p.m. City Council Chambers 401 E. Virginia St. Join us at this come & go event for an important conversation about making McKinney streets safer for everyone. Your feedback will inuence the strategies and improvement priorities to reduce transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries.

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

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Reporters Dustin Butler Karen Chaney Mark Fadden Colby Farr Hannah Johnson Heather McCullough Jonathan Perriello Cody Thorn Jacob Vaughn Graphic Designers Nicolas Delgadillo José Jiménez

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of health conditions and laboratory studies. • Opened in March • 1717 W. University Drive, Ste. 408, McKinney • www.clinicafamiliarhispana.net 3 Flour Mill Bistro The eatery offers breakfast and lunch foods as well as coffee and other drinks. • Opened March 17 • 407 E. Louisiana St., McKinney • 214-592-8599

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The business offers Great American Cookies items such as cookies and brownies, as well as Marble Slab Creamery items such as homemade ice cream with mix-

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ins, shakes and sundaes. • Opened in late January • 3750 McKinney Ranch Parkway, Bldg. 2, Ste. 300, McKinney • www.greatamericancookies.com; www.marbleslab.com

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5 Modera McKinney Ridge The 381-unit apartment community is now leasing to its first residents. • Opened March 5

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• 4300 N. Hardin Blvd., McKinney • www.moderamckinneyridgetx.com

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6 Smalls Sliders The quick-service restaurant offers hamburger sliders made with one or two beef patties, cheese, pickles, and Smauce, the restaurant’s signature sauce. Other menu items include grilled cheese sandwiches, waffle-cut fries, queso, milkshakes and slider combo meals. • Opened April 21 • 1681 N. Hardin Blvd., McKinney • www.smallssliders.com

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1 Another Round Dallas Disc Golf Shop and Taproom The store offers an array of disc golf products, including discs and bags.

2 Clínica Familiar Hispana The clinic offers a variety of services including diagnosis

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on a planned yearlong renovation project. The last day to use meeting and study rooms will be April 30, and programs will end at the library after May 4. • 101 E. Hunt St., McKinney • www.mckinneytexas.org/116/library 10 Corner BBQ Shack Hamm’s Meat + Market co-owners Noah and Lacey Hester are now business partners with John and Brandi Johnson, the co-owners of Corner BBQ Shack, a restaurant in north McKinney. • 3222 CR 168, McKinney • www.cornerbbqshack.com The Giving Machine The Giving Machine made stops in three North Texas cities in late 2024, including McKinney, and raised a total of $634,000 for seven local and global charities. • https://texasgivingmachine.org City of McKinney Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar designated McKinney’s city government as a Transparency Trailblazer at a March 19 ceremony in Austin. • www.mckinneytexas.org

Coming soon

Now open

7 Cavender’s The Western wear store, which offers apparel for men, women and children, is set to open in the storefront of a former Party City location, a representative of the 380 Towne Crossing shopping center confirmed. • Opening summer 2025 • 2097 N. Central Expressway, McKinney • www.cavenders.com

Relocations

8 Mike’s Off The Square The store was previously located at 301 E. Louisiana St. and offers men’s and women’s apparel, including luxury items and accessories, as well as tailor services. • Relocated March 15 • 106 S. Church St., Ste. 2, McKinney • www.instagram.com/mikesoffthesquare

11 Union Bear The restaurant offers beer, burgers and more at its new location in Historic Downtown McKinney. The restaurant’s kitchen serves a variety of snacks and shareable items such as pretzel bites, Texas smothered fries and Korean fried chicken wings. • Opened April 8 • 308 W. Virginia St., McKinney • www.unionbear.com

In the news

9 Roy and Helen Hall Memorial Library The library will close June 13 to allow for work to begin

MCKINNEY EDITION

Impacts West McKinney

4 The Veg Palace The restaurant serves authentic Indian vegetarian cuisine including chaat and dosa. • Opened March 19 • 4051 S. Custer Road, Ste. 2160, McKinney • www.thevegpalace.com

Now open

UNIVERSITY DR.

1 Ghazal Lounge The establishment’s hookah bar menu has various flavors like mint, grape and blueberry. The lounge also offers alcoholic drinks and a food menu. • Opened Jan. 17 • 4051 S. Custer Road, Ste. 1110, McKinney • Instagram: @ghazallounge 2 OrangeTwist The medical aesthetics business offers skin and scalp care treatments, facials, skin tightening, microneedling, Botox and other injectable fillers, according to its website. Other services offered include laser hair removal and body contouring. • Opened April 10 • 8701 University Drive, Bldg. D, Ste. 150, McKinney • www.orangetwist.com 3 Pie Tap The pizzeria and bar offers salads, pasta, appetizers, pizzas and brunch dishes, as well as alcoholic drinks. • Opened March 17 • 6701 Alma Road, Ste. 100, McKinney • www.pie-tap.com

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WESTRIDGE BLVD.

5 Kura Revolving Sushi Bar The restaurant will serve nigiri, hand rolls, sashimi and sushi rolls, as well as sides such as dumplings and edamame, on a revolving conveyor belt. • Opening in late April • 8585 W. University Drive, Ste. 150, McKinney • www.kurasushi.com 6 Pizza Vibes The pizza restaurant is slated to open in McKinney and serve pizzas such as BBQ chicken and Indian veggie. Other items will include pasta dishes, sandwiches and salads. • Opening TBD • 5200 Stacy Road, McKinney • www.pizzavibes.net

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7 Valhallan Esports Training The business offers locations for children to participate in competitive gaming. • Opening TBD • 6541 Collin McKinney Parkway, Ste. 104, McKinney • www.valhallan.com 8 Verlo Mattress The store will offer a variety of handcrafted mattresses made locally at the company’s factory in Dallas, including custom mattress sizes. • Opening in June • 8701 W. University Drive, Ste. 130, McKinney • www.verlo.com

Relocations

Now open

10 My Diamond Shoppe The jewelry store was most recently located at 6150 W. Eldorado Parkway, Ste. 190, business owner Chris Sykes said. The shop, which has since relocated to another McKinney storefront, sells a variety of jewelry. • Relocated in January • 6405 Eldorado Parkway, Ste. 700, McKinney • www.mydiamondshoppe.com

Expansions

11 Escape 360 Cafe The cafe has a new patio with outdoor seating that can accommodate 25 people, a representative of the cafe said in an email. The expansion comes after Escape 360 Cafe initially opened in July. • 7540 SH 121, Ste. 100, McKinney • Instagram: @escape360cafe

12 Keke’s Breakfast Cafe The eatery’s breakfast menu features apple cinnamon waffles, buttermilk pancakes, egg and cheese sandwiches, and more. The lunch options include a portabella panini, a Buffalo chicken sandwich, a chicken Caesar salad and more. • Opened March 27 • 8701 W. University Drive, Ste. 490, McKinney • www.kekes.com

What’s next

9 Lone Star Shine Car Wash New construction would add a 4,721-square-foot facility that features a drive-thru car wash with outdoor vacuum bays, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. • 8301 Eldorado Parkway, McKinney • www.lonestarshinetx.com

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MCKINNEY EDITION

Government

A mixed-use project featuring 135,000 square feet of retail space and 1,500 multifamily units is planned to be developed on a 146-acre site in north McKinney along the planned route of the US 380 bypass, adjacent to the existing US 75. The project, dubbed McKinney Northgate, is a proposal by Dallas-based real estate rm Creation Equity. McKinney City Council members voted 6-1 to approve a rezoning request for the project at a March 31 meeting, with council member Charlie Philips voting against the item. The specics The 135,000-square-feet of retail space proposed includes roughly 67,000-square-feet dedicated for Retail, hotel, more planned adjacent to US 380 bypass

Proposed site plan Multifamily units

Tract 1: 300 traditional multifamily units

Tract 2: 180 Brownstone- style multifamily units

Retail O ce Hotel

Parking garage

Tract 3: 450 urban-style multifamily units, retail space including a grocery store

PLANNED US 380 BYPASS ALIGNMENT

Tract 4: 750 urban-style multifamily units, 100-room hotel, +300,000-square-feet of oce space, 910-space parking structure, retail space

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parking, that much scale opportunity, this rep- resents one of the best corporate campus opportu- nities in [Dallas-Fort Worth],” Bez said. A 100-room hotel will also be adjacent to the oce buildings, and is intended to support the eventual users of the oce space. The hotel brand has not been determined, but Bez said the type of hotel that will be constructed is exible and depen- dent on the development of the surrounding uses. Diving in deeper The proposed development regulations would require 20,000 square feet of non-residential uses, such as retail space, to be in development prior to any multifamily units being developed on the eastern tracts, according to city documents. The project will also include various linear parks, pocket parks and green spaces throughout, as well as pedestrian trails that will connect to city trail systems, according to the presentation. Mann com- pared the site to various other Dallas-Fort Worth area developments, including the Alma Road and SH 121 intersection in McKinney featuring District 121 and Hub 121, and Watters Creek in Allen.

a grocer to develop an anchor store at the north- east corner of Laud Howell Parkway and Trinity Falls Parkway, according to the presentation. “The footprint you see laid out on the rendering is about 67,000 square [feet], so think like a Tom Thumb type of footprint,” Creation Equity Princi- pal Alex Bez said at a March 11 meeting. “If we get a larger footprint grocer, like a Kroger for instance, where they’re going to need 120,000 square feet, we can actually turn that whole tract into commer- cial if we need to and do a larger format grocer.” The retail space within the development will fea- ture a variety of businesses including restaurants, entertainment, tness centers and other shopping establishments. The southeast tract will also feature two oce buildings that are at least six-stories tall and span over 300,000 square feet, Bez said. Tommy Mann, a project representative and shareholder at Texas-based law rm Winstead, said the oce buildings could serve as a corporate campus and that the developers are looking to create facilities that would attract a corporate relocation. “It’s [US] 75 and [US] 380; with that much

The experiential retail portion of the project is located on the southeast tract of the project site.

RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF MCKINNEY

Looking ahead The project is proposed to be developed in multiple phases, Mann said, noting that he expects the tracts north of Laud Howell Parkway to develop rst. While the exact project timeline has not been determined, the project could take six to 10 years to see substantial development completed, Mann said.

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MCKINNEY EDITION

Community isn’t just a word - it’s a legacy. Bill Cox, a third-generation McKinney resident, embodies this legacy with a vision rooted in our shared values and aspirations. Local Experience That Matters attracting and expanding businesses that align with McKinney to strengthen our economy and secures vital funding for essential services, including police, fire departments, infrastructure, and recreational facilities. • Smart Corporate Growth: Bill is committed to attracting a McKinney t vital fundin fire departm • Smart Corpo • Preserving City Charm: Growth shouldn’t come at the expense of identity. Bill is dedicated to maintaining McKinney’s unique character, ensuring that development enhances—rather than diminishes —the qualities that make our city special. • Lowering Taxes: Fiscal responsibility is central to Bill’s agenda. By expanding the commercial tax base and prudent financial management, we ease the tax burden on homeowners while preserving the high- quality services our residents deserve. • Preserving C at theexpe maintaining that develo —thequali • Lowering Ta y a third-generatio legacy with a vis

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Government

BY COLBY FARR

Walmart drone project gets 2nd approvals

The impact

Drone delivery services will be provided by California-based Zipline. The company is partnering with Walmart to launch drone delivery services at stores across the Dallas- Fort Worth metroplex. The fully autonomous drones can carry up to 8 pounds and deliver within a 10-mile radius at speeds of up to 70 mph. Stefanie Cook, representing Zipline, said the drones would likely start delivering within a 2-mile radius at launch and can deliver grocery items such as food and electronics. Operations will be expanded as ocials work with the Federal Aviation Administration and build a customer base, she said. The drone has a 3-foot delivery radius, and customers can choose where their deliveries would land.

City oficials have approved zoning for drone delivery services at the Walmart store on McKinney’s Redbud Boulevard. McKinney City Council voted 5-2 to approve the zoning change at an April 15 meeting, with council members Rick Franklin and Charlie Philips voting against. Council members previously voted 3-2 on the zoning request in March. Despite earning a majority approval from council members present at the meeting, approval of the request would have required four afirmative votes, representing a majority of the seven- person council. A new request was submitted for the same zoning, according to the agenda item. The request approved by the council will allow

The delivery system consists of the drone and a delivery droid, which lowers a customer’s order on a tether.

COURTESY ZIPLINE DRONE DELIVERY & LOGISTICS

for a fenced-off pad with nine drone charging stations and two loading docks to be developed on the property. Construction will commence after securing the required permits and the service is expected to launch this fall, according to Walmart oficials.

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MCKINNEY EDITION

Government

785-acre mixed-use project gets zoning

Changes coming to downtown parking Plans are underway to remove 33 unmarked parking spaces in downtown McKinney in an attempt to improve vehicle circulation along select roads, Engineer- ing Director Gary Graham said. Council members agreed with the plan following a presentation at a March 31 work session. In a nutshell The proposed changes will result in the loss of 33 unmarked spaces that are actively used, according to a sta presentation: • Seven spaces on North Wood Street • Nine spaces on East Lamar Street • Eight spaces on South Church Street • Nine spaces on West Davis Street The roads were selected because they’re less than 30 feet wide, according to the sta presentation. No parking signs will be installed in areas with current active park- ing. Parking will still be allowed in marked spaces, Graham said.

BLOOMDALE RD.

Huntington Park

Plans are underway for a 785-acre mixed-used development in McKinney called Huntington Park. The new development plans for a mix of single-family homes, townhomes, commercial space and urban multifamily units. The project is proposed by Dallas-based development rm Billingsley Company. The big picture McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the zoning request during an April 8 meeting. If approved by City Council, the zoning will allow for devel- opment of multifamily residential, single-family residential and commercial on about 785 acres north of US 380. Lucy Billingsley, partner at the Billingsley Company, said the zoning change was requested in light of the adjacent US 380 bypass route. “The bypass naturally creates a huge barrier in the area and calls for commercial zoning next to it,” she said. A mix of single-family residential and commer- cial development is currently slated for develop- ment on the land. If approved, the new zoning

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Community farm initiative planned for Gray Branch Parkland McKinney ocials have the go-ahead to negotiate an agreement for developing a commu- nity farm on a portion of Gray Branch Parkland. Council members approved a resolution in support of the project at a March 31 meeting. The farm would be operated by McKinney Roots, a nonprot organization currently based north of US 380, with the goal of expanding its educational and community engagement oppor- tunities. The nonprot is seeking a long-term lease agreement to open and operate the farm on a patch of land purchased by the city in 2016. In a nutshell McKinney Roots is a food donation farm that distributes fresh produce to local nonprots and churches within Collin County, according to its would lower the acreage dedicated to single-fam- ily and increase the acreage dedicated to commer- cial. Development ocials are also planning to develop multifamily and open space. McKinney City Council is expected to vote on the zoning request at a May 6 meeting. The details The new zoning would split the land into various planned uses. Single-family residential homes would be built on the west and south sides of the proposed devel- opment, according to the sta presentation, and would include a mix of townhomes and detached houses. Urban multi-family will be developed near the center with commercial planned on the north and east sides.

City hires assistant city manager

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Land purchased by McKinney

Following a nation- wide search, Jennifer Arnold was promoted to serve as assistant city manager. The appointment

GRAY BRANCH PARKLAND

Site of existing barn

comes following the departure of former Assistant City Manager Kim Flom, who left the role in early March. Arnold began in the role March 24. The specics Arnold has worked for the city of McKin- ney since 2007, and most recently served as the director of planning. In her prior director role, she oversaw daily planning activities and contributed to new construction eorts, a news release states. Jennifer Arnold

website. Expanding into Gray Branch can help McKinney Roots grow its educational opportu- nities in many dierent ways, McKinney Roots Director Rick Wells said. The farm would be located on a 62-acre patch of land acquired by the city in 2016 for $3.5 million, city documents state. Plans for the site include developing a center for educational purposes, as well as a catering kitchen and food processing room, a greenhouse, a half-acre community garden, a picnic area and other amenities.

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BY COLBY FARR & SHELBIE HAMILTON

McKinney leaders consider potential drive-thru regulations City ocials could soon update McKinney’s Unied Development Code to add minimum distance requirements between restaurants with drive-thrus and single-family residential zones. The gist In a March 25 joint meeting, members of McK- inney City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission indicated a consensus for updating the city’s development code to require a 150-foot minimum buer between restaurant drive-thrus

Zoning recommended for US 380 cell tower A new cell tower is planned near the cor- ner of US 380 and Lake Forest Drive. McK- inney Planning and Zoning Commissioners voted 5-2 to recommend a zoning request for the project at a March 25 meeting. In a nutshell McKinney City Council tabled the zoning request at an April 15 meeting. The request allows for a 120-foot tall cell tower behind the Advanced Storage facility.

City sta estimate there are currently 163 restaurants with drive-thrus operating in McKinney.

COLBY FARRCOMMUNITY IMPACT

• Require a 200-foot buer next to single-family zoning except when located across an arterial road • Specic use permits required in commercial districts If the city’s development code is updated, exist- ing restaurant drive-thrus that don’t meet updated criteria would be considered legally operating but also non-conforming to the city’s code, Assistant City Manager Jennifer Arnold said.

and single-family residential zones. City sta presented three options:

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• Require a 200-foot buer for drive-thrus next to single-family residential zones except when located across a road

MCKINNEY EDITION

Government

McKinney Mayor George Fuller reects on public service, city growth As his time as the mayor of McKinney comes to an end, George Fuller said he is looking for “pur- pose-driven leadership” from the next grouping of McKinney’s elected ocials. Fuller, who has served in the role for nearly eight years, will end his time on McKinney City Council following the May 3 election. The setup Fuller, along with his wife, Maylee Thomas-Fuller, and family, have lived in McKinney for over 30 years. Fuller said he was drawn to the area, having gotten married in the city and doing professional work here before becoming a resident. Fuller’s professional career is as a builder and developer of custom homes through his company, George C. Fuller Custom Homes, and a developer

Fuller, center right, represented council at many events, like the East McKinney Learning Garden ribbon-cutting in 2024.

PHOTOS BY SHELBIE HAMILTONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

of commercial properties through George C. Fuller Contracting. He is also the managing construction partner for Adriatica Village in west McKinney. Fuller and his wife co-founded the communi- ty-supporting nonprot Love Life Foundation. A working musician, Fuller owns The Guitar Sanctu- ary and The Sanctuary Music and Event Center. A closer look His rst run for local oce in 2017 was inspired by friends and community members that encour- aged him to join the race, he said. He has held other leadership roles in the area,

including serving on the boards of the McKinney Chamber of Commerce and the McKinney Com- munity Development Corporation. “I just have a passion for where I live, for community,” Fuller said. Fuller said his experience as a developer has allowed him a unique perspective on the growth and development of the city. “My business experience has always taught me to be purpose-driven,” Fuller said. “Every decision I’ve made in the city has been purpose-driven. I never allow partisan nonsense to ever enter into my decision making.”

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project, the advancing development of McKinney National Airport and the construction of a new city hall, a facility he considers a “huge catalyst project” for East McKinney. His time as mayor also included challenges. Fuller referenced select state legislation that changed local control at the municipal level as some of the most notable challenges. “In some of these bills that are responding to cri- ses in other parts of the state, unfortunately when you’re going to x a problem across the state, that size shoe doesn’t t over here,” Fuller said. Looking ahead Fuller said he doesn’t know whether he will pursue further political oces. “A lot of politicians make their decisions with a forward-thinking calculus,” he said. “I think I’ve demonstrated suciently that ain’t me.” Instead, he said he is looking forward to priori- tizing personal interests. “My immediate goal is to enjoy more time with my family and the things I enjoy doing: music, biking, traveling,” he said.

The specics Fuller said one of the policy-making decisions he considers to be a notable achievement of City Council included closing a loophole that allowed for the development of multifamily housing in business districts by right. This change allowed for the preservation of business districts such as the SH 121 corridor and the subsequent development of mixed-use projects and other commercial uses. He also cited decreases in the city’s eective property tax rate as a council achievement. While the city’s seen property valuations increase, the eective property tax rate has decreased by nearly 29% since 2015, according to the city’s website. “Whether it’s business development, economic development, preserving our corridors for commercial, entertainment, restaurant, business, oce development; there’s a reason behind that,” Fuller said. “It’s not just because I want our corri- dor to have pretty buildings, because the purpose is, as we more than double our sales tax revenue, that relieves our property tax burden.” His work as mayor has also contributed to securing federal funding for the Lower 5 Plaza park

Fuller has served two terms as mayor.

“I would ask people, moving forward, give your elected ocial the benet of that doubt. You can still disagree and articulate those things in a respectful way.”

GEORGE FULLER, MCKINNEY MAYOR

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Education

BY SHELBIE HAMILTON

Over 840 new and current employees at North Texas-area businesses will benefit from state-funded training at Collin College. Representatives of the Texas Workforce Commission awarded four grants totaling $1.35 million to the college to cover the cost of over 26,000 hours of customized training for local employees. The grant comes from the commission’s Skills Development Fund program, which aims to support businesses through training of existing or new employees in high-demand occupations, a news release states. The grant funding will upgrade the skills of 714 currently employed workers and support the training of 130 new hires at 13 North Texas companies, of which 12 are located in Collin County. Collin College gets $1.3M grant

The context

Funding awarded

$362,157 For over 7,100 training hours at Amphenol Fiber Systems International, Cain Watters & Associates, Cates Control Systems and Natural Polymer International Corp. $353,072 For over 6,500 training hours at CSG Forte Payments Inc., FlexLink Systems Inc., Netrio, and Portable Solar $158,958 For 3,000 training hours at Helm Dental Laboratory and Unicom Engineering

The awards were presented by TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III during an April 9 ceremony at the Collin Higher Education Center in McKinney. The event also included comments from representatives of the benefitting businesses, along with representatives from Collin College and Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas. In her comments at the event, Mercedes Bolen, board chair of Workforce Solutions of North Central Texas, noted that Collin College has received $4.5 million in Skills Development Fund grants since 2015. “Workforce is all about creating opportunities, and that’s creating opportunities and better lives for individuals, but what that really does is ... creates a better community and better region for all of us,” Bolen said.

$478,770 To fund nearly 9,600 hours of training in the manufacturing career field at Encore Wire Corporation, StatLab Medical Products and AXL

SOURCE: COLLIN COLLEGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY SHELBIE HAMILTON

McKinney ISD is forming a bond committee that will con- sider funding needs that would support current and future district facilities. The district’s board of trustees approved a resolution to create the committee in a 6-0 vote during a March 31 meeting, with trustee Chad Green absent from the vote. The committee will advise district officials on what capital improvement projects should be prioritized for inclusion in a possible future bond election, district documents state. Bond committee to assess district facility needs

The gist The bond committee will build on the work of the Long Range Facility Planning Committee by assessing district needs for facilities as well as other programs like athletics, fine arts, and Career and Technical Education, Assis- tant Superintendent of Business Operations Dennis Womack said. “We’ve asked the Long Range Facility Planning Committee to continue on because they’re the most educated parents in the dis- trict right now,” Superintendent Shawn Pratt said. Once capital improvement project priorities are identified by the 2025 bond committee, a bond election could potentially be called for the November 2025 general election, Womack said.

Spendlife Faithfully.

McKinney ISD 2021 bond election The district has nearly exhausted the bond funds approved in the district most recent bond election held in May 2021, Womack said.

Proposition C:

Proposition D:

$245,000,000 in bonds for school facilities and the purchase of land and buses and the imposition of a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.

$30,000,000 in bonds for technology and the imposition of a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.

63.28% For

62.66% For

36.72% Against

37.34% Against

SOURCE: COLLIN COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Collin College to maintain tuition

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Collin College students will con- tinue to pay the school’s current tuition rates for another semester. The Collin College board of trustees voted to maintain the current tuition rates for the fall 2025 semester at a March 25 meeting. The specifics The college’s current tuition rates are:

• $67 per credit hour for in-district residents • $127 per credit hour fo out-of-district residents

• $202 per credit hour for out- of-state and out-of-country residents The school’s in-district tuition rate is the lowest in the state and apply to all degree levels, a news release states.

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MCKINNEY EDITION

Transportation

BY SHELBIE HAMILTON

Airport expansion project gets $52.4M in funding commitments

Over $52 million in funding has been secured for the expansion project that will bring a commercial passenger service terminal to McKinney National Airport. Funding measures approved at a March 18 meet- ing included a $30 million contribution from the McKinney Community Development Corporation and a $22.4 million contribution from the McKin- ney Economic Development Corporation. The specics The 45,000-square-foot commercial passenger service terminal and supportive infrastructure will be added to the east side of McKinney National Airport. The project is expected to cost $75.1 million. The city received $5.5 million in grant funding from the McKinney Community Development Corp. and the McKinney Economic Development Corp. in early 2024. At the March meeting, the MCDC board unanimously approved contributing

an additional $30 million to the project through sales tax revenue bonds that will serve as interim nancing until city ocials can secure a loan from the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program. The MEDC board also unanimously approved the issuance and sale of $62.4 million in sales tax revenue bonds, with $22.4 million expected to be granted to the airport project and the remaining $40 million used for a land purchase, according to the presentation. Looking ahead Work on the airport expansion is set to begin in May, and is expected to be completed by July 2026, according to city documents. Commercial passenger service is expected to begin in late 2026, with announcements of airlines, routes, airfares and other details in 2026, McKinney National Airport Director Ken Carley said.

Airport expansion project funding sources 1 MCDC loan/future TIFIA loan (2025): $30M

2 MEDC grant (2025): $22.4M 3 Federal Aviation Administration, Texas Department of Transportation, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone funding: $14.8M

Total $74.1M

4 MCDC grant (2024): $2.6M 5 Water and wastewater fund: $2.6M 6 MEDC grant (2024): $1.7M

SOURCE: CITY OF MCKINNEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY COLBY FARR

SENECA BLVD.

LAMAR ST.

Ongoing project

Upcoming project

Ongoing project

W. HEARD ST.

W. HALL ST.

W. LELA ST.

W. JONES ST.

BONNER ST.

W. TUCKER ST.

E. VIRGINIA ST.

SRT TOLL

HILL ST.

W. FOOTE ST.

LOUISIANA ST.

2 Infrastructure improvements along Lela, Jones, Foote and Bradley streets Project: Renewal of substandard infrastructure including streets, drainage, and utilities will take place for sections on Lela, Jones, Foote and Bradley streets. Update: Utility construction is underway on Jones and Foote streets. • Timeline: February 2025–summer 2026 • Cost: $7.5 million • Funding source: city of McKinney

3 Medical Center Drive expansion Project: Reconstruction and widening of Medical Center Drive will take place between Frisco Road and Spur 399 as a four-lane divided roadway. Medical Center Drive is currently an undivided three-lane roadway Update: Design is nearing completion and construction is expected to begin in summer 2025. • Timeline: summer 2025–summer 2026 • Cost: $4.5 million • Funding source: city of McKinney

1 Virginia and Throckmorton infra- structure improvements Project: The project covers Virginia Street between SH 5 and Murray Street, and Throckmorton Street between Lamar Street and Louisiana Street. Update: Throckmorton is expected to open by the end of April, and Virginia will be completed by the end of summer 2025. • Timeline: March 2024–August 2025 • Cost: $14 million • Funding source: city of McKinney

MCKINNEY EDITION

Development

BY SHELBIE HAMILTON

Balcones Recycling, McKinney’s new recycling services provider, broke ground on a $61 million facility March 18. The 120,000-square-foot materials recovery facility will process single-stream recyclable materials for both commercial and municipal customers in McKinney and other North Texas communities, and sell the recycled commodities with a focus on reselling in North American markets. The contract began in October, and Balcones Recycling is partnering with Waste Connections for processing of recyclable materials until its permanent facility is constructed in Frisco, Chief Commercial Oficer Joaquin Mariel told Community Impact. Recycling facility work begins

Looking ahead

The facility is expected to be operational in spring 2026 and create over 50 full-time jobs. The facility will include features such as: • Sortation technology with high recovery rates • Solar panels, passive lighting and other energy-eficient design elements • Sustainability-focused infrastructure such as electric vehicle charging stations • A drop-off center for residents looking to recycle materials Mariel said the North Texas facility has been a “long-term priority” for the company. “This project represents a major step forward for recycling infrastructure in North Texas,” he said in the release.

A groundbreaking event held March 18 welcomed a group of local leaders and project ocials.

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BY COLBY FARR

McKinney development adds $1.3B in new construction

In 2024, McKinney officials issued permits for a mix of residential and nonresidential develop- ments totaling $1.3 billion in construction value. That total is driven by new construction in residential developments like Painted Tree, which saw 787 permits issued in 2024, and more than $485 million in nonresidential construction. Develop- ment Services Executive Director Michael Quint pre- sented the department’s 2024 development report at a March 25 McKinney City Council meeting. The gist While total construction value is lower than the total in 2023, strong growth is continuing in McKinney, Quint said. Construction value totaled more than $1.4 billion in 2023 but that number was inflated by some multifamily development, according to the presentation. “Now that those numbers have leveled off, you’re getting a more accurate telling of the construction activity in the city,” Quint said.

Single-family residential development rep- resents nearly half of the construction value seen in 2024. City planners approved 2,310 single-fam- ily residential permits in 2024, the highest number since 2017 when the city issued 2,521 permits. That number includes single-family homes built within city limits and the Trinity Falls Municipal Utility District, according to the presentation. Residential developments that saw the most construction permits issued for single-family residential included Painted Tree, Trinity Falls, Shaded Tree and Erwin Farms, according to the

Total new construction value in McKinney

$1.2B $1.5B

$0 $300M $600M $900M

2020

2021 2022

2023

2024

Value of new construction by type in 2024

presentation. A closer look

Multifamily residential: $207.37M

The value of new nonresidential construction came to more than $485 million. The city issued 76 permits for nonresidential projects during the year, including industrial, retail, medical, office and restaurant uses, city documents state.

Single-family residential: $609.91M

Nonresidential: $485.35M

SOURCE: CITY OF MCKINNEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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MCKINNEY EDITION

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Dr. TAHA ANSARI FOR McKinney CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE 1 OUR CITY, OUR FUTURE, YOUR VOICE

AGAINST FURTHER AIRPORT EXPANSION McKinney is more than just a city to me—it’s my home. With a background in business, education, and healthcare, I understand the challenges our community faces. I have the experience to bring real, lasting solutions. Leadership isn’t just about making policies—it’s about listening, understanding, and taking action. I am committed to work alongside the people of McKinney to build a city that works for everyone. As a candidate for McKinney City Council, I am dedicated to: • Enhancing Public Safety and Community Strength Implementing initiatives that ensure the safety and well-being of all McKinney residents. • Supporting Small Businesses and Sustainable Growth Advocating for policies that help local businesses flourish and ensure our infrastructure meets the demands of our city’s expansion. • Ensuring Inclusive Access to Community Resources Promoting programs that provide every resident, regardless of background, with the tools and opportunities needed for success. • Representing Diverse Voices in Decision-Making Serving as an advocate for families, professionals, vulnerable populations, and those who feel their concerns are overlooked. • Commitment to Transparent and Responsive Leadership Prioritizing active listening, understanding community needs, and taking decisive action to serve McKinney effectively. This is our home. This is our future. Let’s build it together.

WWW.TAHAFORMCKINNEY.COM

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