Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by the City of McKinney to Amend the Comprehensive Plan, Including the Master Thoroughfare Plan Regarding the Proposed Alignment of the Intersection of Custer Road (F.M. 2478) and the Future Extension of Wilmeth Road.
Summary
MEETING DATE: October 9, 2012
DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT: Alex Glushko, Planner II
Michael Quint, Director of Planning
Jack Carr, PE, Director of Engineering
APPROVAL PROCESS: The recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission will be forwarded to the City Council at the November 6, 2012 meeting.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, including the Master Thoroughfare Plan (MTP) regarding the proposed alignment of the intersection of Custer Road (F.M. 2478) and the future extension of Wilmeth Road.
ITEM SUMMARY: Custer Road (FM 2478) north of U.S. Highway 380 (University Drive) is currently a two-lane asphalt roadway (rural cross-section) and is designated in the McKinney MTP as a future principal arterial roadway.
In 2009, the City of McKinney initiated the design of Custer Road between US 380 and FM 1461. This section of Custer Road crosses Bloomdale Road (aka CR 123 or Prosper Trail) and Wilmeth Road. The Custer-Bloomdale intersection will be located at the existing intersection; however, the location of the Custer-Wilmeth intersection has not been determined. The current City of McKinney MTP shows Wilmeth crossing Custer at a point where Whitley Place (a residential subdivision in Prosper) has been constructed.
Since Wilmeth Road can no longer continue west of Custer at Whitley Place, the Custer design consultant was requested to complete a route study to determine the best alignment for Wilmeth Road. The Wilmeth Route Study developed potential routes and analyzed the options within a corridor that started approximately 4,000 feet west of Custer Road to a point approximately 7,000 feet east of Custer Road. The results of the Wilmeth Route Study have been presented and discussed at the following meetings:
• July 20, 2009 - City Council Work Session
• October 13, 2009 - Planning and Zoning Commission (Public Hearing)
• October 6, 2010 - Capital Assets Committee (City Council subcommittee)
• October 19, 2010 - City Council Work Session
• March 26, 2012 - City Council Work Session
Computer models prepared as a part of the study demonstrate the need for the capacity provided by Wilmeth Road for east-west movement through this corridor. These computer models are based on fully-developed conditions; therefore, the Wilmeth connection between Custer and Stonebridge Drive does not need to be completed immediately, but needs to be completed prior to reaching fully developed, built-out conditions. At that time there will be destinations (schools, retail, entertainment, recreation, etc.) that will generate traffic that can only be served by the arterial roadway.
The Wilmeth Route Study indicates the best alignment for the Custer-Wilmeth intersection is at a location that allows Wilmeth Road to be a continuation of First Street.