Residents in Plano have effectively halted a proposed development on a section of the historic Haggard Farm after a concerted community effort.
The proposed project aimed to introduce additional retail space to an area already saturated with such establishments. However, following community opposition, a 13.5-acre parcel of land on the northeast corner of Park Boulevard and Custer Road will remain part of the Haggard farmland.
The proposal, which sought to build a grocery store, retail space, and approximately 33 townhomes, was met with strong resistance from local residents. Sara Stettler, a nearby homeowner, expressed relief at the decision, emphasizing the desire to maintain the residential character of the neighborhood.
While some residents, like Stettler, preferred to see the property preserved as farmland, others advocated for maintaining the current zoning for townhomes or single-family homes, rather than introducing new shopping centers that could exacerbate traffic congestion.
During a Plano Planning and Zoning meeting, commissioners announced that the developers had submitted a request to withdraw their rezoning application, citing the lack of community support. The request was unanimously accepted by the commission.
Christina Day, director of planning for the city of Plano, noted that while it’s not uncommon for developers to withdraw proposals, it is relatively rare for such decisions to be made after significant time and resources have been invested in the process.
Moving forward, the fate of the property rests with the landowners, who could potentially pursue development under the current zoning regulations. The Haggard family, who owns the land, has previously sold or developed portions of their property. In recent years, the city council approved a large mixed-use development on another section of Haggard farmland.
Stettler encouraged residents to stay informed and engaged in local development proposals, citing the success of community organizing efforts in opposing the proposed development on Haggard Farm.
