McKinney planning commission approves rezoning of 1400 S. College for government-complex park; cemetery protections discussed

The City of McKinney Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 on Feb. 25 to approve a staff-recommended rezoning of a city-owned parcel at 1400 South College Street from PD (Planned Development) to GC (Government Complex). The matter will be forwarded to the City Council for final action on March 18, 2025.

Staff planner Ari told the commission that an archaeological survey was completed after earlier concerns about an on-site cemetery and that the city had included a protective setback on the plan. "Therefore our staff recommends approval of the request and I stand for any questions," Ari said.

Jenny Baker, parks planning and development manager for the city, said the Texas Historical Commission (THC) had reviewed the archaeological report and the parks department plans to install a decorative fence and signage around the cemetery area. "We do plan to install a fence," Baker said, adding that additional mechanical trenching was completed along the proposed fence line and that the THC found "no findings of any evidence within that area that we trench." She also said construction would halt immediately and the city would work with the THC if anything were unearthed during construction.

At the public hearing, resident Lars Ray asked whether a traffic study had been completed. "Do we know? That's the question," Ray said, citing crash concerns at the nearby intersection and traffic related to the high school. Staff responded that a traffic impact analysis is typically required at the site-plan phase when an actual layout is proposed and technically reviewed; it is not usually required at the rezoning stage.

Commissioners and staff noted limited historical documentation about who is buried at the site. Baker said the cemetery is not the same as Pecan Grove across the street and that the city had engaged a private firm, Horizon Environmental Services, which submitted findings to the THC. Members of the public and commissioners discussed the possibility, referenced in some historical records, that the site has been identified in THC records as an early settlers' cemetery historically described in some sources as a Black or slave cemetery; Baker said the city would coordinate signage language with the THC during plan development.

The commission voted to close the public hearing and approve item 230099Z3 with staff recommendations; the motion was made by Commissioner Charles Whatley and seconded by Commissioner Russell Buettner. The item will go to the City Council on March 18, 2025 for final action.

The rezoning only changes the property's zoning classification; project-level details (site plan, final parking and circulation, exact signage language and fence extent) will be reviewed during subsequent development phases, and staff said they would require work-area protections to prevent encroachment on the cemetery during construction.