Government
BY JACQUELYN BURRER
New state law expected to bring Plano development changes
Plano residents could see substantial develop- ment changes as the city prepares for new state laws aimed at spurring housing development. The big picture Senate Bill 840, authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, allows multifamily and mixed-use residential developments to be developed by right in all nonresidential zoning districts in Plano. “1,300 people are moving to Texas everyday,” Hughes said. “We’re all going to have to stretch a little bit to meet the needs for housing.” The bill applies to cities with a population over 150,000 located in a county with a population over 300,000, including Plano. While only 4% of land in Plano is currently undeveloped, SB 840 impacts approximately 30% of Plano’s land, Planning Director Christina Day said. Breaking down the bill SB 840 also limits cities’ ability to regulate resi- dential density, building height, setbacks, parking, open green space and building height. It also waives the requirement for a traffic analysis and extra parking for new office or retail buildings. What’s being done Plano Planning and Zoning commissioners unanimously approved the following changes to Plano’s zoning ordinances: • Regulating residential density through height limits and minimum unit sizes • Introducing updated building, site and land- scape design standards
Areas impacted by SB 840
Commercial zoning subject to new residential units Commercial zoning with 45-foot height limit Key:
SRT TOLL
CUSTER RD.
DNT TOLL
PARKER RD.
75
PRESTON RD.
PARK BLVD.
PGBT TOLL
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
SOURCE: CITY OF PLANO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
said. “It would open up many vacant and unusable properties to viable commercial developments.” Looking ahead Day said that Plano residents should be prepared to see changes in Plano’s development, particu- larly at retail corners and adjacent neighborhoods, after the bill takes effect on Sept. 1. “It’s those retail corners that could be redevel- oped with a 45-foot apartment building,” Day said. “That was not allowed to happen by right in the past. It would have required a zoning change and public hearings, [and] now, none of those public hearings or a zoning change are required. It’s just allowed.”
• Allowing single-family tier 2, such as townho- mes, in select nonresidential zones • Removing multifamily housing as an allowed use in the residential community design district • Prohibiting residential balconies facing express- ways and requiring landscape buffers near expressways The other side Local developer William Pierce Cravens said Aug. 6 the changes “feel very reactive,” and city officials should separate amendments made to be in compliance from discretionary changes. “SB 840 will offer a lot of development oppor- tunities, within specifically east Plano,” Cravens
Your Social Calendar, Simplified! Visit Community Impact’s new events calendar to attend local happenings, explore hobbies, and meet people.
Start Exploring Today!
8
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook