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1. What is the difference between the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance?

The Comprehensive Plan is a 20 to 30-year framework to guide the city’s future, providing policy and direction related to future growth and redevelopment. The Zoning Ordinance acts as a tool to implement and enforce the Comprehensive Plan by regulating the uses of land; the height, number of stories, sizes of buildings and other structures; and the density of housing units. All zoning change requests, along with updates to the Zoning Ordinance and other development regulations, are reviewed for conformance with the Comprehensive Plan.

2. Does the Comprehensive Plan restrict what someone can do with their property?

No, only zoning can regulate the use of private property.  Per state law, comprehensive plans shall not be used as zoning; but if a city has zoning regulations, they must be created in conformance with a Comprehensive Plan.  

3. Are zoning change requests still required to go before the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council for approval?

Yes. Any future development must still be approved through the Planning & Zoning Commission and ultimately, the City Council.  The Commission and Council will consider each proposed development as they have throughout Plano's history, with objective and careful scrutiny to determine if it is appropriate for Plano.

4. Who can help me understand how the Comprehensive Plan impacts my property or how the zoning process works?

Click here for more information about the Zoning Process. Questions and concerns regarding the Zoning Process should be addressed to city staff at 972-941-7151.

5. How much land is left to develop in Plano?

5%

6. How does the plan protect existing neighborhoods?

Per the Comprehensive Plan Guiding Principles, the Plan promotes the safety, viability, and vibrancy of Plano’s existing neighborhoods, managing growth, and shaping change the complements the city’s suburban character and rich history. The Plan respects the suburban character of Plano and seeks to preserve and enhance the built environment.

Each Future Land Use Dashboard includes a general description, list of priorities, mix of uses chart, and table of design characteristics which are desirable to meet the community’s vision for these areas. In the “Neighborhoods” Future Land Use areas, single-family residential should remain the primary use within neighborhoods. It is the intention to preserve and enhance these uses and to regulate the design of new residential infill products to be within the context of the surrounding environment.

Click here to learn more about the Future Land Use Map and Dashboards.

7. How much more is Plano expected to grow?

With less than 5% undeveloped land remaining and approximately 500 acres currently zoned for residential uses, the potential for new housing growth in Plano will depend largely upon redevelopment of existing commercial sites. Since precise market support for redevelopment is unknown, population and housing projections for Plano in 2050 have been provided in Low and High Redevelopment Scenarios, projecting future population between 322,600 and 331,000.