Commission recommends approval of office‑warehouse buildings at Frisco Park 121, 4–1

The Frisco Plains Zoning Commission on June 10 recommended that City Council approve a specific‑use permit (SUP) allowing two office‑warehouse distribution buildings totaling just over 180,000 square feet on a site at Frisco Park 121. The commission’s recommendation passed 4–1 after several commissioners pressed the applicant and staff to strengthen screening and landscaping along the park and trail edges.

Staff presented the SUP request and told commissioners the two buildings are oriented east–west so truck docks are internalized and the primary facades and main entrances front the parkland and the trail. Staff’s recommendation included renderings and landscape plans as required exhibits. The SUP was needed because the proposed development would allow warehousing that exceeds the 50 percent threshold that separates “office‑showroom” uses from an office‑warehouse distribution center under highway zoning.

Applicant representative Jake Petrus identified himself and said the applicant had met with nearby homeowners associations and that tenant demand for flexible office‑warehouse showroom space drives the product type. Developer representative David Hicks described past projects along the 121 corridor and said tenants range from 15,000 to 100,000 square feet, including showrooms and conditioned training or wholesale facilities. "We think there is a need for this kind of flexible product in Frisco so small businesses can stay local," Hicks said.

Commissioners who supported the recommendation said the design responds to site constraints and that landscaping and the internalized docks reduce impacts on the trail and park. Commissioner Brittney Kolberg said she appreciated the building orientation and the added seating and amenities facing the hike‑and‑bike trail. Commissioner Steve Cohn opposed the recommendation, saying the site is one of Frisco’s more visibly attractive park edges and he worried the development could limit longer‑term options for the 121 corridor; Cohn recorded the lone nay vote.

The commission added a directive that staff should work with the applicant to incorporate a living screen where possible and to specify a minimum planting size for the screening trees (the commission asked for a minimum 5‑inch caliper in the motion) and to finalize those plans before the case goes to City Council. Commissioners also discussed using additional mature trees and targeted planting where retaining walls exist; the applicant said portions of the wall range from about 8 to 10 feet in height and that the design team planned layered screening and supplemental plantings.

The commission’s recommendation and the staff‑directed landscape conditions will be forwarded to City Council for final action.