Plano’s plan commission puts off making a decision about landmark Haggard farm project

Plano planning officials put off making a decision about the development of part of the city’s pioneer Haggard family land along the Dallas North Tollway.

Haggard Enterprises Ltd. and Dallas developer Stillwater Capital want to rezone more than 142 acres on Spring Creek Parkway just east of the tollway to build a mixed-use project with office, retail, hotel and residential construction.

The more than 2 million-square-foot development would be built on part of the family’s original farm.

Stillwater Capital’s Clay Roby told the plan commission that his firm worked with the Haggard family to come up with a unique construction plan.

“There was a concern by the family about what was going to occur on this property as the last major parcel that they own in Plano,” Roby said. “This would ensure a major portion of this project — essentially the centerpiece — would be a tribute to the family and something that would be owned as a legacy asset.”

Parts of the planned project would have a farm theme, giving a nod to the property’s agrarian past.

The centerpiece would be a destination food and beverage and event venue called The Almanac.

“It’s the entire reason for the project to exist, from Stillwater’s perspective,” Roby said. “What you see here is a very low-density, walkable and agrarian-inspired farm-to-table restaurant and event space.

“The driving factor for the design was to come up with a plan that looked like a repurposed farm,” he said. “If you visit this project after it’s complete, you might wonder if it’s been there for 100 years since the family first developed the property.”

The farm-themed complex would include an event barn, a winery and a brewery and distillery. There would be a greenhouse and an outdoor event lawn, too.

Along with The Almanac complex, the developers are seeking zoning for more than 700,000 square feet of offices, 700 multifamily residential units, a 98-room hotel, 30,000 square feet of retail space and a 427-unit seniors housing community.

There would also be a retail “village.”

About 13 acres at Spring Creek and Windhaven parkways would be set aside for future single-family home construction.

The tallest of the proposed buildings — the hotel and an office close to the tollway — would have a maximum height of only five stories. Most of the offices would be three or four floors high.

The first phase of construction would be The Almanac farm complex and an office building. The boutique hotel and the first apartment building would follow.

More than 28 acres would be set aside for open space.

Plano city planning staff is recommending approval of the new development plan.

“The applicant is requesting a new planned development district to implement a development concept that would align the zoning on the site more closely with the current market for both commercial and residential uses,” according to the staff filings. “While there is a requested increase in development density, the required phasing, open space and other limitations result in improved development standards compared to the current zoning.”

Residents who spoke out against the project at Monday night’s meeting raised concerns about traffic and density. There was also pushback against the proposed apartments.

“This should not be considered,” said resident John Donovan. “There’s just way too much.”

Commissioner David Downs said he wasn’t put off by the planned apartments.

“This is not affordable housing, but it is 700 more places to live,” Downs said. “There is not enough housing in Plano.

“We have so many new jobs,” he said. “We need the residential in order to support this.”

Current zoning would allow the developers to build most of what they are proposing with much greater building heights.

Plan commissioners voted to put off making a decision about the project until next month due to concerns about screenings on proposed parking garages and access to a neighborhood park.

“I think it’s a beautiful project, and I think it makes sense where it is,” said chairman Nathan Barbera. “I think some more work needs to be done to address some of these issues.”

The Haggard property sits between Plano’s Legacy business park and residential districts. It’s surrounded on three sides by commercial development and zoning.

The Haggard family was one of Collin County’s earliest major landowners, acquiring properties starting in 1856 to use for farming and ranching.

At one time, the family owned thousands of acres between U.S. Highway 75 and the current tollway corridor. Over the decades, the land has been sold off for neighborhoods, shopping centers, offices and all kinds of development.

Stillwater Capital is also working on a $1 billion mixed-use development next to the new PGA headquarters and resort. Called The Link, the 240-acre development just south of U.S. Highway 380 would include office, retail, luxury residential, entertainment, a boutique hotel and sports wellness uses.