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Planning commission backs sweeping UDC amendments; forwards package to City Council
Summary
City staff outlined technical and procedural changes to McKinney's Unified Development Code, including COA handling, multifamily flexibility, fuel-station spacing, parking ratios and tree-replacement timing; the commission unanimously recommended the package be sent to council on March 3.
Caitlin Sheffield, the City of McKinney's chief planner, told the Planning and Zoning Commission the proposed Unified Development Code (UDC) amendments are split into "fine tuning" edits and substantive procedural and use changes and are slated for City Council consideration on March 3. "So before you tonight to discuss some of the proposed amendments that we are, wanting to discuss with you and then also City Council at March 3," Sheffield said during her opening presentation.
Sheffield outlined several concrete changes staff proposes: (1) permit the historic preservation officer to forward commercial-area Certificates of Appropriateness (COAs) to the Historic Preservation Advisory Board while retaining staff-level approval authority; (2) add a one-year expiration for COAs that do not have a building permit or where the permit lapses; (3) allow traditional multifamily residential in C2 local commercial districts by specific use permit to provide flexibility while remaining aligned with recent state law; (4) require passenger vehicle fuel pumps/islands to be at least 250 feet from all residential uses (now explicitly including multifamily) and add a 1,000-foot radius for counting fuel stations at intersections (no more than two by-right within that area); (5) allow design exceptions to adjacency buffer widths; (6) align medical/dental parking ratios to 1 space per 400 square feet; and (7) require replacement trees to be planted within 90 days of a notice of violation, with fines to be detailed in a later amendment.
The commission asked staff for clarifications and examples for several items — notably how the 1,000-foot intersection radius would be measured and how multifamily forms align with Senate Bill 840. Sheffield said the changes are intended to improve usability and provide procedural flexibility while meeting the legal requirements of state law. After staff presentation and no public speakers, Commissioner Lebo moved to close the public hearing and approve forwarding the package; the motion passed unanimously. The commission's recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for consideration on March 3.
