Rezoning Along Renner Road in Plano

A request for rezoning of approximately 120 acres in Plano north of Renner Road, west of Shiloh Road, and bordering Bush Turnpike is being considered by the City of Plano. At this writing the Plano City Council has scheduled a hearing on Monday, October 27th to consider the issue. Richardson has requested that the hearing be delayed so additional studies can be conducted to determine the impact of such a zoning change on traffic and on other establishments in the area. The property is currently zoned for RT (Research Technology uses), which include low-density office research and development facilities.

The proposed rezoning would allow for numerous retail establishments, offices, commercial buildings and entertainment establishments in addition to a maximum of 1,200 multifamily units and 330 senior living units. In total, the new planned development would permit approximately 2.7 million square feet of new development.

Traffic along Renner Road is the main concern of Richardson. The Richardson Mayor and City Manager have discussed the rezoning with their counterparts in Plano and have requested the delay of the hearing.

Other current news: 

• UTD is working on campus enhancements to achieve Tier One University status. It is reviewing its internal roads and improving the quality of life at the university. It is forecasting that about $75 million will be spent on construction. The University currently has 16,000 students and is projecting 20,000 in the future. UTD brings approximately $500 million into the area and is the largest employer in Richardson with 6,500 employees.
• The Richardson Police Department has been requested to make a presentation at an upcoming education forum of the Texas Criminal Justice Integrity Unit on techniques of witness identification management. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals made this request because of our police department’s good reputation in this area.
• The Dallas Morning News has encountered problems with its distribution of the “Briefing,” which is a free, highly condensed version of the DMN. If you do not want to receive the paper, you may call the DMN at (214) 977-833 and have it stopped.
• The National Purchasing Institute has awarded Pam Kirkland, the City’s Purchasing Manager, the Carlton N. Parker Award for her outstanding service.
• The City’s nine-member Environmental Advisory Commission held its first meeting on October 21.
• The 2008 revitalization award evaluation tour will be held on November 14. The City has recognized about 150 properties. Awards will be made February 2 by the City Council.
• The Dallas County Childhood Immunization Program is being kicked off for 2008. This program is available to all children in Dallas County. The program has been in operation for 15 years and has immunized 40,000 children in Richardson. The City sponsors this program with the Richardson Junior League/RRMC.
• The Huffhines and Breckinridge ball fields and complex ground breaking was held on October 14. The construction is expected to be complete next fall. Crowley Park Deck was kicked off on October 14, Yale Wall ribbon cutting was held on October 22, and Huffhines Art Trail was held on October 25/26. The City now has $100 million in programs in varying stages of planning and/or construction at this time.
• October, 2008 sales tax receipts are down $360,000, or 1.5%. The original 2007-2008 city sales tax receipts were down 5.6%. In the middle of last year the city revised the budget and expenditures. Richardson ended the year with 1.6% more income relative to the revised budget. The City is keeping a sharp eye on the economy and will adjust expenditures as necessary.
• Monica Heid was promoted to Community Projects Manager a few weeks ago. John Webb, who was her assistant director, has now filled her vacated post as Director of Development Services.
• The City is participating in the FEMA Flood Insurance Maps program. FEMA is revising the flood maps in 20,000 communities. In Richardson there are about 1200 homes that are impacted in some way by possible flooding.
• Sherrill Park Golf Pro, Ronny Glanton, has received another PGA award. This time he received the Bill Strassbaugh Award for club relations. This is the fourth time he has received this award from the North Texas PGA.
• The eleventh Neighborhood Leadership Workshop was held on October 9. This workshop covered building standards and more specifically the Ashley Place apartment problem and demolition. Sixty interested HOA members attended the workshop.
• On National Night Out, Richardson had 270 parties, which is more than Dallas had. An effort will be made to begin the parties earlier next year to avoid running into darkness so soon.

 
 

<< PREVIOUS

NEXT >>