Plano residents favor parks over denser housing at four sites

City staff presented findings in early December that made clear a strong local preference for parks and lower density uses at four former Plano ISD campus sites the city plans to acquire. The staff reports were presented on December 8 and published on December 10. They summarize input gathered through open house meetings and comment boards where residents ranked options for redevelopment and left written feedback.

The outreach showed consistent interest in public recreation areas, green space, and neighborhood friendly development rather than higher density housing. That community feedback arrived as crews began demolition at the closed campuses, signaling the start of a multi stage process to convert the properties into new uses. City planners are compiling the resident preferences to inform a master plan and potential land use proposals that will be considered by elected officials and planning staff.

The immediate implication for Collin County residents is that public expectations will be a central factor in shaping future proposals. Residents seeking more park acreage, trails, playgrounds, or community programming are likely to see those priorities reflected in early drafts of planning documents. At the same time, choices about lower density uses carry trade offs for housing supply and affordability, which will require careful balancing by city leaders as they move forward.

City staff described the outreach as a first step in a longer engagement process that will include additional public meetings and formal zoning or land use actions. The demolition work on the former campuses allows planners to more quickly assess infrastructure conditions, environmental considerations, and site constraints that will shape realistic design options.

This moment reflects a broader challenge for growing communities across Collin County and beyond, where cities must reconcile desires for open space with pressures for more housing. For local residents the next months will be the time to stay involved, attend planning forums, and review proposed plans as the city translates community preferences into formal land use decisions.