P&Z commissioners highlight strengths and weaknesses facing McKinney development

By Brandi Hart
McKinneyUpdate.com editor
Created at 11 p.m. on June 28, 2009

The pace of growth, variety of development types and the McKinney ISD were some of many strengths that the McKinney Planning and Zoning Commission members compiled in a recent retreat.

The commissioners met in three separate retreats that began in mid-May and compiled a list of McKinney's development and zoning strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. The last retreat was held on June 23 at the Hall Memorial Library.

Commissioners met with Janet Tharp of the Tharp Planning Group and Ray Stanland of Stanland and Associates,who were hired by the city for a total of $10,000 to facilitate the retreats with the commissioners and city staff.

The commissioners were asked to include six weaknesses. Some of those weaknesses include timing and efficiency of the city's development process; better understanding of the development process for applicants to get things through the system; comprehensive plan issues, such as the streets in the Regional Employment Center, where Craig Ranch is located, are "narrow and chopped up"

Some opportunities that the P & Z members listed were the revitalization of the gateway corridors at major entrances into the city; encouraging east and west transit; and expanding use of traditional neighborhood design.

Threats McKinney is facing, according to the commissioners, included the need for industrial and commercial growth; increase traffic impacts; spending too much money on transportation; and too much time being spent on getting people out of town and not enough time keeping people in McKinney.

P&Z commissioner Mark Messer also suggested that the commissioners and city staff monitor the impact fees, which he felt are too high.

P&Z Commission Chairman Robbie Clark suggested providing incentives for people to build new businesses and revitalize parts of State Highway 5, which is mostly comprised of metal buildings, Clark said. He also suggested that the McKinney Economic Development Corporation give tax abatements to businesses to relocate or construct newer buildings on SH 5.

Tharp told the commissioners that McKinney has some of the highest quality residential developments in the region.

The P&Z Commission will present its findings from the retreat to the McKinney City Council in an upcoming meeting. For more information about when that will occur, check the city's Web site www.mckinneytexas.org to view upcoming council agendas.

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