[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6552391,"mediaKeyId","5118077-6203948df0678eec8f4a922b54a26e0e","parentId",5118077,"title","Residents press council for downtown parking garage, transparency on 'deck' connector; nonprofit introduces homelessness outreach","audioSeconds",130,"startMs",768000,"endMs",898000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5118077-6203948df0678eec8f4a922b54a26e0e&start=768&end=898","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5118077-6203948df0678eec8f4a922b54a26e0e/thumbnail_768000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6552391/McKinney/Collin-County/Texas/Residents-press-council-for-downtown-parking-garage-transparency-on-deck-connector-nonprofit-introduces-homelessness-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552391-535aac0c17258ec2ebfca94e1f38b7ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137073&Signature=SnlPZDvxDw1Xmgs7PFiZgIo2U3hnjnm4am0Ky27EviXqWYOsXrL7~U3rxxAHU23DdBgdkAaDq-P6e33SZt6FwQYcSB-Kziv8ZOAwZed100MEVRvpgLmmvXYx~~NYDu3H~zR2nVexOxire~AM~sUQn5XseQ2pRQEgwDpu~JOQJWuAcNtFiLXVzHwEe3FJejtHlqn2AFToM0SKr4yqxl4~~qlvVeW0NuVuT-SyeezuslTyDtjp~cH6zibWZDT1px-kfKVhsNtwUBdUZXjDqE-nwTT5-Fu~HRfeExYNiC1XFmmh2sQYSn4uZ4o5KW9KuoV~NOvPaANmBDvmN5BpkmWJNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","McKinney","date","2025-07-01T00:00:00Z","article","Several residents used the public-comment period at the July 1 McKinney City Council meeting to press the council for clearer plans on downtown parking and to raise safety and management questions about a proposed deck or connector project; a local organizer also introduced a new homelessness outreach group.

Jim Schwalz, a local resident who said he works in real-estate consulting, told the council the city’s square remains the heart of McKinney and urged officials to consider building “at least 1 strategically located garage” on former city office tracts to address persistent parking shortages. “Success may kill the golden goose,” Schwalz said, adding that the city could consider graduated or paid parking to keep short-term spaces available. He also recommended technology such as phone apps that show available spaces and parking-time reminders.

Kyle Sims, another resident, said he supports connecting the east and west sides of Highway 5 but urged transparency about safety measures for any proposed underground or covered connector — referred to in public discussion as a “deck.” “I’m not opposed at all for connecting East Of Highway 5 to West Of Highway 5,” Sims said, “but with the proposal that I’ve heard about… I have a big concern about safety. If we're gonna do something underground, I would like to know camera outlay, lights, what kind of management is it… is it gonna be open 24/7? What are we gonna do about the homeless, what are we gonna do about vagrancy?” Sims asked the council to share details on amenities, security and costs as the project moves forward; he also noted public outreach steps such as a survey and additional meetings are expected.

Paul Ballesteros, founder of Emmanuel Labor, introduced his organization and described its approach to homelessness as relationship-based outreach and follow-up. “Homeless is a situation and not a personality trait,” Ballesteros said, adding that many people experiencing homelessness in McKinney have existing ties to the community. He said his group focuses on “hand up” follow-up to reduce time people spend in crisis and wastes of public resources.

Mayor and council members did not take action during the public-comment period; the remarks were recorded as input for city officials and staff. City staff have previously noted outreach efforts and surveys related to the downtown connector; the transcript indicates further public engagement is planned.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","McKinney - City Council Regular Meeting - Jul 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment at the July 1 McKinney City Council meeting residents urged action on downtown Square parking and paid-parking options, raised safety and management questions about a proposed deck connector across Highway 5, and a local nonprofit leader introduced Emmanuel Labor's outreach approach to homelessness.","taxTitle","McKinney, Collin County, Texas","taxId",2778,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6552396,"Council approves annexation term sheet for 141-acre site and rezones Alma Road parcel to C-1",223,308000,531000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5118077-6203948df0678eec8f4a922b54a26e0e&start=308&end=531","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5118077-6203948df0678eec8f4a922b54a26e0e/thumbnail_308000.jpg","/articles/6552396/McKinney/Collin-County/Texas/Council-approves-annexation-term-sheet-for-141-acre-site-and-rezones-Alma-Road-parcel-to-C-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552396-a3917a5da4c50882f6cb14de01b10015/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137073&Signature=eyuLBpwqH75ucYdGQL3bA~QZW5a1rZq1Ne2oc41LW4LSSaH7wS8wB2sQoTfkku8h11JLNBwjaVpBYShWrSOebsN9jPsmxFPHs3S9x3P3bLcLzZJtIyrbstBpTIMyxtQ3SdBsgitrbKBtAb9Kz8GJRJqhWTmP5InPQhmb4GCgkvRu0JX6LzaI-VLcvCRKBp42K7HZl~ifRvf3a2dnmoMsCo04Nsq~9vXYFYMbvdo7LZYvX56oDj-2A8KLEiLH3900PC~QyNz7LG4lue9Q15Tt~n6Xu7mesg6xhf4le-Xj1R7p0nUm5B8zQ4KN4AoTjIlVMHX1n5IJKNa6R8Oh0GHffw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The McKinney City Council on July 1 voted to authorize a term sheet with private landowners for annexation and to approve a rezoning at the request of staff.

The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a term sheet with Longhorn Corporation and North Texas Natural Select Materials governing annexation, zoning and development of a 141-acre site at the northeast corner of U.S. Highway 75 and Spur 195. Michael Quinn, director of development services, told the council the term sheet generally allows a maximum of 900 multifamily units on the property and requires a minimum of 25 acres be devoted to light-industrial uses. Quinn said the term sheet also specifies that residential uses would not be allowed inside areas designated for nonresidential use, a provision he tied to “recent legislation adopted down in Austin.” Quinn said the parcel is subject to a 2015 annexation agreement that the city could pursue if a partnership is not reached; staff recommended approval of the proposed resolution and term sheet.

The council then approved a rezoning request to change a parcel from Planned Development (PD) to C-1 neighborhood commercial zoning at the northwest corner of Alma Road and West 6 Court. Kate Strickland, planning manager, said the rezoning would modernize development standards for the area while retaining low-impact commercial uses; she also noted the REC overlay — an urban-design overlay that exists only in the councilmember’s district — is being removed because staff believes its standards no longer align with how McKinney is developing. Strickland said no site plan has been submitted; she added that any future request for a drive-through would still require additional council review (referred to in the meeting as “S. and P.”).

Both items were moved, seconded and approved; the meeting record shows the motions carried but does not include a roll-call vote tally in the transcript.

The annexation term sheet, if executed by the city manager, will govern next steps for development negotiations and zoning consistency on the 141-acre tract. The rezoning decision allows future applicants to pursue commercial development under C-1 standards; staff and applicants will return to the council for any required site-plan or special approvals.","At its July 1 meeting the McKinney City Council approved a resolution authorizing a term sheet to pursue a development partnership on a 141-acre tract near U.S. 75 and approved a rezoning request converting a planned development parcel to C-1 neighborhood commercial at the northwest corner of Alma Road and West 6 Court.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press council for downtown parking garage, transparency on 'deck' connector; nonprofit introduces homelessness outreach

Council approves annexation term sheet for 141-acre site and rezones Alma Road parcel to C-1