\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlans for a new senior independent living facility are on hold after the Plano Planning and Zoning Commission voted to table a rezoning request for the site.<\/p>\n
The details <\/p>\n
At their Jan. 20 meeting<\/a>, commissioners voted to table a proposal to redevelop the former Plano Athletic Center site, which closed in June, into a new senior living facility.<\/p>\n Integrated Real Estate Group<\/a>, a Southlake-based company that builds and manages senior housing across Texas, is requesting a zoning change to develop a five-story independent living facility on the 6.3-acre property.<\/p>\n The proposed project would be a new Watermere independent living and active adult facility, similar to locations in Frisco and McKinney<\/a>. Trevor Armstrong, development manager for Integrated Real Estate Group, said the project would include 250 one- and two-bedroom units and about 30,000 square feet of amenities space.<\/p>\n The current planned development district, which covers 108 acres at the southeast corner of Park Boulevard and Preston Road, would need to be updated to include independent living as an allowed use and increase the maximum allowed building height for the site.<\/p>\n “><\/p>\n What happened<\/p>\n City staff recommended denial of the request, citing concerns about building height, density and compatibility with surrounding uses, according to city documents<\/a>.<\/p>\n Plano Senior Planner John Kim said current zoning limits the site to specific nonresidential uses and a two-story building. Additionally, Kim said recent Senate Bill 840<\/a> would allow the facility to be built up to 45 feet by right, but the applicant is requesting a 65-foot building.<\/p>\n \u201c[The proposed height] does not match the adjacent buildings and can be out of character,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n Staff also noted the project\u2019s density does not align with Plano\u2019s comprehensive plan, which recommends 10-to-22 dwelling units per acre for multifamily. The development is planned to have about 38.9 dwelling units per acre.<\/p>\n Kim said the city received 175 responses to the zoning change, with 168 in opposition.<\/p>\n