A prolonged battle between Plano residents and city officials over Plano’s controversial comprehensive development plan is on city council’s agenda tonight.
The City of Plano has spent nearly four years and $400,000 fighting its own citizens in court and losing. Tonight, officials are set to discuss options for repealing the Plano Tomorrow Plan at a joint meeting of Plano’s City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission:
Public Hearing, recommendation and consideration of an ordinance to adopt a new comprehensive plan consisting of the City of Plano comprehensive plan in place on October 11, 2015, immediately before the adoption of the Plano Tomorrow Plan, and repealing the Plano Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan adopted by Ordinance No. 2015-10-9; and providing an effective date.
The city still isn’t offering what citizens want: a plan that includes their input and is responsive to concerns about urban-style high-density development in the suburban city.
City council adopted the Plano Tomorrow Plan in 2015 over objections of many residents, who quickly delivered a referendum petition requiring the city to put the plan to a vote. The city secretary refused to submit the petition to council, claiming the plan was not subject to referendum.
Plano residents representing the 4,300 petitioners sued city officials to act on the referendum. The city unsuccessfully fought the lawsuit all the way to the Texas Supreme Court, costing taxpayers $400,000.
Plaintiffs agreed to postpone a July 19 court hearing to participate in a mediation with city staff. They discussed how the city might repeal and replace the Plano Tomorrow Plan at the July 22 council meeting.
Negotiations broke down over details of a replacement plan, and whether it would even be on tonight’s agenda.
Plaintiffs’ lawsuit is scheduled to be back in district court on August 15. The court may order Plano’s city secretary to present the referendum petition to council for immediate action—unless the city resolves the matter before then.
City of Plano Meeting Schedule for Monday, July 22, 2019
5:00 p.m. – Executive Session and Preliminary Open Meeting
6:00 p.m. – Joint Meeting of City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission
7:00 p.m. – City Council Meeting
