Legal Challenge Brings Down the Plano Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan

Plano Tomorrow, a comprehensive approved in 2015, has been rescinded and replaced with the city's previous master plan, approved in 1986.

2 minute read

August 5, 2020, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Texas

Tudoran Andrei / Shutterstock

"The Plano City Council is done fighting in court with five residents over its master development plan," reports Sharon Grigsby.

The Plano Tomorrow comprehensive plan had been caught up with "legal jousting" for five years, after Beth Carruth filed a petition in 2015 calling on the city to appeal the just-approved plan. "The city secretary never forwarded the petition to the council because the city maintained that development plans such as Plano Tomorrow fall outside the sounds of referendum petitions," explains Grigsby.

The city had little wiggle room after a July 23 ruling by the state's Fifth District Court of Appeals, however. The court decision, "rejected the aren't subject to referendum petitions and ordered the secretary to present the referendum petition within 14 days." The July 23 ruling overturned a previous judge's decision in September 2019.

According to a separate article by Daniel Houston, written at the time of the judge's ruling, the petitioners believed that Plano Tomorrow made it too easy for the city to approve the development of multi-family buildings.

The Plano City Council is expected to discuss next steps at its meeting on August 10, but for now, the city is functioning under its previous master plan, approved in 1986. Grigsby writes in the hope that the divisive political atmosphere created by the Plano Tomorrow controversy will dissipate and allow the city to move forward.

Monday, August 3, 2020 in The Dallas Morning News

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.