The Frisco City Council has rejected a proposed change in zoning to allow for the development of 61 townhomes in the area surrounded by single-family housing.
The vote came after a decision to rezone the property for the development of these townhomes, according to the Community Impact Newspaper.
The council voted 5-1 not to change the zoning on about 400 acres on the northwest and southwest corners of Legacy Drive and Stonebrook Parkway in its meeting on May 17, 2022. Council Member Bill Woodard voted in favor of changing the rezoning, and if approved, the request would have allowed the townhomes to be built on a triangular tract of land in the development named Heartwood at Edgestone at the northeast corner of Stonebrook Parkway and 4th Army Drive.
“What I was hoping would happen did not,” said Mayor Jeff Cheney. “Comments tonight were very compelling by the residents.”
Dozens of nearby residents spoke against the project at the council’s April 19 meeting, and the decision was tabled to allow more discussion between the developer and residents near the proposed project. Mayor Cheney said he was hoping the extra time would allow the developer to address their concerns, but he did not feel there was a resolution. He was the first to say he would vote against the project.
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More than 20 residents addressed the council again at the May 17 meeting about concerns including traffic, the impact on schools, and higher density housing.
While the townhome project received support from some Frisco residents encouraging the city to diversify housing options, the council members who voted against rezoning said they felt the proposal is the right project for the city but in the wrong location.
Mayor Jeff Cheney said he was hoping the extra time before the decision would allow discussions between the developer and residents to address their concerns, but did not feel there was a resolution. He was the first to say he would vote against the project.
While the townhome project received support from some Frisco residents encouraging the city to diversify housing options, the council members who voted against rezoning felt the proposal is the right project for the city but in the wrong location.
“The townhomes are beautiful,” said Council Member Laura Rummel said. “I hope you build them in our city. I’m super supportive of townhomes being built in Frisco.”
[Community Impact Newspaper] — James Bell