The City of McKinney Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 14 approved minutes and four agenda items by unanimous votes and heard a director’s report summarizing 2024 cases, with staff noting one recent divergence when the City Council denied a McDonald’s request that staff and commission had recommended.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes (agenda item 24‑2340): Motion to approve minutes of Dec. 10, 2024 meeting. Motion by Commissioner Lehi; second by Commissioner Woodard. Vote: 7‑0 in favor.

- Service Street Auto (agenda item 24‑0041 SP): Public hearing and approval of design exceptions to relocate required street‑buffer trees elsewhere on site at 4051 South Lake Forest Drive because a gas easement prevents planting along frontage. Staff recommended approval; applicant agreed. Motion to close the public hearing and approve as per staff recommendation carried 7‑0.

- McKillop Self Storage (agenda item 24‑009 SUP2): Public hearing and approval to recommend a specific‑use permit for self‑storage east of State Highway 5 on Harry McKillop Boulevard (site is zoned C‑3 and requires an SUP). Staff recommended approval; the applicant said the project will be similar in quality to a previous McKinney storage project on Virginia Parkway. Motion to close the public hearing and approve as per staff recommendation carried 7‑0. The item will be sent to City Council with a favorable recommendation for final action on Feb. 4, 2025.

- Rezoning at 6952 Mediterranean Drive (agenda item 24‑0128 Z): The commission approved rezoning the property to a new planned development (PD) that retains existing uses and adds “social/country club” as an allowed use with a defined parking ratio (1 per 200 sq. ft.). Staff said the proposed PD is compatible with nearby offices and residential buffers. The motion to close the public hearing and approve passed 7‑0.

Director’s report and staff notes

Jennifer Arnold, director of planning, presented an annual summary for 2024 showing that nearly all Planning and Zoning recommendations that moved to City Council were aligned with council actions. Arnold called attention to a typographical oversight in the report (item 24‑004 M) and to a recent McDonald’s proposal that had staff and commission support but was denied by the City Council.

Arnold also announced the Planning Department’s move to the new City Hall building this week and said public meetings at the new building are not expected to begin until late February or early March; she said she will notify the commission about tours. Commissioner‑level questions clarified that site‑plan and landscape plan details (buffer walls, landscaping) will be reviewed and approved at the staff level if they meet standards.

Other staff and community notes

Commissioners acknowledged local volunteers who staffed emergency warming shelters during recent cold weather; staff named Emmanuel Labor and a First Baptist Church location as points of volunteer activity.

What’s next

Items requiring additional action will proceed through staff site‑plan review or to City Council as noted (McKillop Self Storage to council on Feb. 4).