The City of Plano Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 4 voted 8-0 to waive a two‑year waiting period in the city’s zoning ordinance, allowing the Billingsley Company to seek later amendment of the Urban Mixed‑Use 2 (UMU2) district to permit a veterinary clinic in one block of the Beacon Square development.

Caroline Stewart, a planner with the Planning Department, told commissioners the UMU2 district for the Beacon Square site was most recently amended Oct. 28, 2024, and the ordinance imposes a two‑year waiting period before successive applications for the same property can be considered. The two‑year period for the subject property ends Oct. 28, 2026. Staff recommended waiving the waiting period because a prospective tenant expressed interest in leasing an existing retail space after the prior zoning case had been approved.

Commissioners asked whether the proposed change would be citywide; staff and Mr. Bell clarified the UMU2 district is specific to Beacon Square and a successful amendment would be narrowly tailored to the single block rather than changing UMU rules citywide. Commissioners also discussed the scope of change‑of‑conditions waivers and were told a subsequent zoning application would be written to apply only to the block where the tenant seeks to locate. Stewart said staff had not received a petition from neighbors at the time of the meeting.

Applicant representatives were registered but not available on Zoom; no public testimony was taken. Commissioner Bender moved to approve the waiver; Commissioner Lolly seconded. The motion passed 8-0.

The waiver permits the applicant to submit a zoning case for consideration; it does not grant the veterinary clinic use. If an unrelated tenant later seeks a use not on the UMU2 list, staff said the applicant would need to seek another waiver at that time.

Key detail: UMU2 amendment last approved 10/28/2024; two-year waiting period for this property ends 10/28/2026. Staff recommended approval of the waiver because the prospective tenant interest arose after the 2024 amendment and is unrelated to the prior zoning changes.