McKinney planners vote to deny rezoning that would have allowed self‑storage on South Central Expressway

The McKinney Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7‑0 July 22 to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed a multistory self‑storage facility and other commercial uses at 22250 South Central Expressway.

City planning manager Kate Strickland told commissioners the 3.373‑acre site is currently part of a planned development district that allows many commercial uses but specifically does not allow self storage; staff recommended denial because self storage “doesn’t align with the professional center place type” in the comprehensive plan and is not appropriate on a high‑visibility highway frontage.

The applicant, Tyler Adams with Greenlight Studio, said the site’s steep topography, overhead utility easement and existing site constraints make office development difficult and that modern, multistory self‑storage can be designed with office‑style facades, lower traffic and a smaller parking footprint than an office. Adams also described proposed design controls: a 45‑foot street buffer (up from 30), a 15‑foot vehicular buffer, increased canopy tree count, at least six canopy trees along the highway frontage and masonry and other architectural standards for facades and front entrances.

Commission discussion noted the site’s limited visibility and steep grades, with one commissioner saying those constraints “lend themselves to only a handful of economically feasible uses.” Despite that, commissioners agreed staff’s comp‑plan concerns and the traditional preference for retail/office along the frontage weighed against allowing self‑storage in this PD.

A motion by Commissioner Tim to deny the rezoning, seconded by Commissioner Gina, passed 7‑0. The Commission’s denial will be forwarded to City Council for final action on Aug. 5, 2025.

The record shows staff opposed self storage because of plan conformance; the applicant said design and traffic impacts would be lower than for office uses. The commission did not approve any alternative conditions or a continuance.