Allen City Council approved three zoning changes at a Jan. 28 meeting, bringing retail, commercial and residential developments to the city.

The Allen Planning and Zoning Commission recommended all three changes at its Jan. 6 meeting.

1. Northwest corner of Allen Heights Drive and Exchange Parkway

In a 5-2 vote, council approved changing the zoning of roughly 0.7 acres at the northwest corner of Allen Heights Drive and Exchange Parkway to a local retail zoning type. The site’s previous zoning plans for agricultural and open space uses.

The change comes at the request of the property owner, who has been unable to sell the land under the current zoning designation, city documents state. In 2023, the commission held a public hearing to establish a planned development to construct a dental office on the site, and City Council denied the request, city documents state.

This is a straight zoning request, which means there is no concept plan, but the developer anticipates being able to meet all the requirements in the city’s code of ordinances, Community Development Director Hayley Angel said.

The next step in the process is a site plan review, Angel said.

2. Intersection of Heritage Parkway and Bethany Drive

Council also unanimously approved that an approximately 1-acre parcel of land at the northeast corner of the intersection of Heritage Parkway and Bethany Drive be changed from the agriculture and open space zoning type to a single-family residential zoning.

This zoning designation allows for a maximum of three units per acre, per city documents. City staff said there would be one new home built on the property.

3. Northwest corner of Allen Heights Drive and Main Street

Finally, council unanimously approved a planned development with a base zoning of light commercial uses. The property is located on about 2.4 acres at the northwest corner of the intersection of Allen Heights Drive and Main Street.

A concept plan shows three commercial buildings encompassing 16,200 square feet with parking and one driveway off Main Street, city documents state. The developer said he is planning to put office buildings in the space.