The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a plan‑development (PD) rezoning for New Jerusalem Baptist Church to construct a new sanctuary, daycare, K–3 elementary school (adding a grade each year), a community center and café on the church campus.

City planner Jake Bennett said staff had no objection to the proposed uses but recommended denial because the applicant requested reduced setbacks from the Unified Development Code (UDC) residential adjacency standards (front setback reduced from 20 to 16 feet; side/rear reduced to 5 and 8 feet in places) and a reduced parking ratio (1 space per 64 square feet of sanctuary area instead of the UDC's 1 per 50). Bennett said the rezoning also did not propose the "exceptional qualities" typically required for PD zoning.

Pastor Myra Bradford and co‑pastor Deborah Bradford described a multi‑program expansion intended to provide affordable childcare, early education and community services on the East Side of McKinney. "We need room. We're expanding," Myra Bradford said. Deborah Bradford said the expansion would include a daycare, elementary school, community center with after‑school tutoring and a café; the applicants said the project would create jobs and serve underserved neighborhoods.

Architect Kenny Whistler and civil engineer John Rhodes presented conceptual plans. Whistler said the sanctuary footprint in the conceptual plan is about 4,100 square feet; using the UDC ratio that would require 82 parking spaces, while the schematic site plan as drawn showed 65 spaces, a shortfall of 17 spaces. Whistler and the applicants said the congregation is negotiating to acquire or secure rights to adjacent land (including outreach to Encore Wire) to add parking and that some activities would not coincide, reducing peak parking demand.

Several community members and partners spoke in support, including Catherine McGill (New Jerusalem board), Angela Richardson Woods and representatives from McKinney Christian Academy. McKinney Christian Academy leaders said they intend to partner on educational programming.

Commissioners discussed the tradeoffs between strict adherence to setbacks/parking and the community benefits described. Commissioner Whatley moved to approve the rezoning; Commissioner Craig seconded. The motion passed 7–0 and will be forwarded to City Council for final action on Nov. 18, 2025.

What it means: The PD zoning recommendation allows the applicant to continue toward site plan and permitting steps; staff and the applicant will need to resolve utility easements, finalize parking solutions (acquisition or shared parking agreements), and confirm that required utilities and easement relocations are acceptable to the city before construction.