McKinney planning commission approves two agricultural rezonings, forwards to City Council

The McKinney Plan and Zoning Commission on June 24 voted 7-0 to approve two requests to zone properties to AG (Agricultural) District and forwarded both items to the City Council for final action in July 2025.

Jake Bennett, planner with the City of McKinney, told the commission the two properties are currently in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction and are the subject of pre-annexation agreements signed in 2015. "Staff is recommending approval," Bennett said, explaining that annexation decisions will be made by the City Council while zoning cases must be heard by both the Plan and Zoning Commission and the council.

The first zoning case (item 250060Z2) applies to a property on the west side of Trinity Falls Parkway about 1,600 feet north of Lot Haul Haul Parkway. Commissioner Diedra moved to close the public hearing and approve the rezoning; Commissioner James seconded. The motion passed 7-0 and the matter will be forwarded to City Council for final action in July 2025.

The second zoning case (item 250063Z2) covers a property located approximately 90 feet east of Spur 195. Staff described it as the same situation as the earlier case: a straight zoning to AG tied to an existing pre-annexation agreement from 2015, with future development to require separate rezoning. Commissioner James moved to close the public hearing and approve item 250063Z2; Commissioner Diedra seconded. The motion passed 7-0 and will also be forwarded to City Council for final action in July 2025.

No members of the public spoke on either zoning item at the commission's public hearings. Earlier in the meeting the commission approved the minutes from its June 10 meeting by a 7-0 vote. In other business, planning staff member Caitlin said the city is updating its agenda-posting process to meet a new three-business-day requirement; agendas and related notes will be posted by the Wednesday before meetings so commissioners receive materials earlier.

Commission discussion on the zoning items focused on process questions rather than substantive changes to the requests. Commissioners asked why the city was proposing AG zoning prior to annexation; Bennett explained that AG zoning allows the properties to continue their current use and that any future development would require a new rezoning application to the commission and council. A commissioner asked about a notary referenced for the pre-annexation agreement that expired in 2018; staff replied the annexation-related paperwork did not require re-execution for the zoning action to proceed.

Both rezoning approvals are procedural votes forwarding the cases to City Council; no final annexations were enacted by the commission. The City Council is scheduled to consider final action on both items in July 2025.