Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on Certain Amendments to Chapter 150, entitled “Unified Development Code,” of the Code of Ordinances, City of McKinney, Texas to: (a) Article 1 (General Provisions) and particularly to Sections 106 (Transition from Previous Ordinances), 108 (Maintenance, Enforcement, and Penalties), (b) Article 2 (Zoning Regulations) and particularly to Sections 201 (Administration), 203 (Procedures), 204 (Zoning Districts), 205 (Use Regulations), 206 (Development Standards), (c) Appendix 2A (Approved Plant List), (d) Article 4 (Tree Preservation) and particularly to Sections 402 (Tree Preservation Standards), 403 (Tree Protection Measures), 404 (Tree Removal Procedures), 405 (Tree Mitigation and Replacement), and (e) Article 9 (Terms and Definitions) particularly to Section 902 (Definitions), and Accompanying Ordinance
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Direction for Strategic and Economic Growth
(1C: Provide a strong economy by facilitating a balance between industrial, commercial, residential and open space)
MEETING DATE: March 3, 2026
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning Department
CONTACT: Lucas Raley, AICP, CNU-A, CFM, Director of Planning
Caitlyn Strickland, AICP, Planning Manager
Kaitlin Sheffield, CNU-A, Chief Planner
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendments.
ITEM SUMMARY: The purpose of these amendments is to make corrections and minor updates to the Unified Development Code (Chapter 150 of the Code of Ordinances) which have been identified since adoption of the UDC.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
• Staff proposes editorial changes including correcting typos, updating references, making clarifications to various sections of Article 1 (General Provisions), Article 2 (Zoning Regulations), Appendix 2A (Approved Plant List), Article 4 (Tree Preservation), and Article 9 (Terms and Definitions).
• Staff proposes modifications to “Section 203 Procedures” to update submittal requirements for annexation exhibits, zoning exhibits, specific use permit exhibits, and site plan exhibits.
• Staff proposes modifications to “Section 203.E.6 Certificate of Appropriateness” to allow the Historic Preservation Officer the ability to forward certificate of appropriateness applications for properties in the Commercial Area to the Historic Preservation Advisory Board. Staff additionally proposes modifications to this section where a certificate of appropriateness shall expire one year after its approval, if no building permits have been issued for the site, or if a Site Plan or building permit has been issued but has subsequently lapsed.
• Staff proposes modifications to “Section 205.B Table of Uses” to allow traditional multi-family residential in “C2” - Local Commercial District with approval of a specific use permit and to allow accessory structures as accessory uses in non-residential and industrial districts.
• Staff proposes modifications to “Section 205.C Use Definitions and Use-Specific Standards” to modify the use criteria for passenger vehicle fuel sales where fuel pump islands are located at least 250 feet from a property line of a residential use or zone rather than only single family, duplex, triplex, and quadplex uses.
• Staff proposes modifications to “Section 205.E Vehicle Parking and Loading” to modify the parking requirements for medical or dental clinic from 1 space per 300 square feet to 1 space per 400 square feet.
• Staff proposes modifications to “Article 4 Tree Preservation” to clarify when tree preservation or mitigation is applicable to specimen trees.
• Staff proposes modifications to “Section 404 Tree Removal Procedures” to update submittal requirements for tree permits, tree preservation plan exhibits, and aerial tree exhibits.
• Staff proposes modifications to “Section 406 Violations” to require that replacement tress be planted within 90 days of the notice of violation.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• On November 15, 2022, City Council adopted an ordinance that updated the City’s development regulations as part of the New Code McKinney initiative. The initiative focused on improving and updating functionality, processes, and development standards of the code and consolidated all of the development regulations into a single document, known as the Unified Development Code (UDC).
• As part of the ongoing implementation and administration of the UDC, Staff has been monitoring the code to ensure that necessary amendments, improvements, and updates are noted and considered on an annual basis.
OPPOSITION TO OR SUPPORT OF REQUEST: Staff has received no letters of support to this request and no letters of opposition. This does not include emails or letters that may have been sent directly to members of the Council. As part of the Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing(s), Staff has not received any citizen comments through the online citizen portal.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: On February 10, 2026, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the proposed amendments with a vote of 7-0-0.