Denton planning commission rejects MN rezoning, recommends R‑7 for East McKinney parcel

The Denton Planning & Zoning Commission on Oct. 8 recommended that City Council rezone two subject parcels near East McKinney Street from their current mix of R‑4 and RR to R‑7, rejecting staff’s request to rezone the land to the Mixed‑Use Neighborhood (MN) district.

Senior planner Mia Hines told the commission the applicant requested MN across roughly 6.63 acres to create a single, marketable zoning for sale. “The proposal is generally consistent with the future land use map,” Hines said, noting MN’s pedestrian orientation and buffer/transition rules intended to limit impacts on adjacent single‑family areas. Staff recommended approval to the commission but warned the rezoning is a straight zoning case: no site plan, traffic study or detailed civil plans accompany the request.

Neighbors urged caution. Betty Keeley of Gaelic Court told commissioners she had not received clear notice of the project and said existing commercial activity nearby already creates safety and nuisance concerns. “I’m opposed to the change,” she said. Mike Keeley, also a nearby resident, described bright lights, overnight truck idling and…