Council Meeting Recap: Zoning changes in Downtown approved, new board will help shape Downtown | City of Allen
Council Meeting Recap: Zoning changes in Downtown approved, new board will help shape Downtown | City of Allen
Allen City Council met on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Read on for the highlights and approved projects. The full agenda and meeting video are available here.
City Council takes next step in revitalizing Downtown Allen by adjusting the area’s Land Development Code
The area formerly known as the Central Business District has now been rezoned and renamed the Downtown District, after City Council approved several amendments to the Allen Land Development Code.
More than a simple name change, this new redesignation defines what purpose each section of Downtown Allen will serve and sets the stage for the long-awaited revitalization of the area.
Community Development Director Marc Kurbansade, who presented this zoning change to City Council, described how this change will help make the community’s vision for Downtown Allen a reality.
“The Downtown Revitalization Plan that was provided to City Council in July 2022 by the Downtown Steering Committee represented the community’s vision for downtown,” said Kurbansade. “This new zoning action approved by City Council provides the guidelines and regulatory mechanisms to ensure that Downtown Allen is developed or redeveloped in concert with that vision.”
The new redesignation includes one overall district, the Downtown District, and three overlay districts to help further distinguish each area’s intended use. Each overlay district will also have its own corresponding residential density and building height limits.
- Downtown District (outlined in yellow): Replaces the Central Business District as the new overall district in Downtown Allen.
- Cultural Core Overlay (blue): The central part of the Downtown District and the core area where the oldest storefronts from the early 1900s exist. It is intended to form the heart of the downtown through mixed-use development with active pedestrian-scale development.
- Cottonwood Creek Overlay (green): Intended to serve as a mixed-use area focusing on activating Cottonwood Creek for pedestrians.
- Residential Transition Overlay (red): Will support the revitalization of the Downtown District by providing for appropriate transitions between the higher-density commercial and mixed-use development in the Downtown District and the surrounding single-family residential neighborhoods.
Kurbansade refers to the Cultural Core Overlay (marked in blue on the map above) as a good example of how this new zoning preserves the district’s unique character.
"The Cultural Core Overlay is where the remnants of the Downtown’s oldest buildings exist. With the new zoning regulations, this area will have lower density structures compared to other parts of Downtown and will be primarily non-residential in nature to reflect that historical character.”
This zoning redesignation is one of many steps taken in the Downtown Revitalization Plan and will open the way for the area’s development into the heart of Allen.
New board formed to help guide Downtown Allen revitalization
In addition to the new Downtown District zoning, City Council approved the formation of the Downtown Design Review Board. This new seven-member citizen board will hear, review, recommend and determine matters related to the Downtown District.
The board is open to Allen residents and those who own or operate a business located within the downtown district. Experience in real estate development, architecture, landscape architecture, planning, urban design or a similar professional field is beneficial but not required.
Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Applications will be reviewed by the Council Nominating Committee with board terms expected to begin in March 2023.
The creation of this new board is a direct outcome of the citizen-led Downtown Steering Committee, which gathered community input through workshops, events, surveys and meetings. In July 2022, the committee provided its final report to City Council. The report included a vision, goals and an implementation plan to revitalize Allen’s downtown. Public recognitions and Mayor’s proclamationsAllen Community Band Day
Mayor Ken Fulk proclaimed January 10 as Allen Community Band Day, recognizing the hard work of the band members and the artistic service they have provided the Allen community for the past ten years.
Collin County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Appreciation Day
January 16 has been proclaimed Collin County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Appreciation Day, in honor of Dr. King’s legacy. On January 16, All Community Outreach and Kids Against Hunger invite all to participate in a day of service,
Allen residents are encouraged to join the Collin County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Appreciation Day Service Planning Committee, Change the World: Allen and First United Methodist Church Allen in a day of service on January 16 benefiting All Community Outreach and Kids Against Hunger.
Mayor’s Distinguished Service Award
Mayor Fulk presented the Mayor’s Distinguished Service Award to long-time Allen resident Jane Bennett.
Serving the Allen community for over 22 years, Jane Bennett is a long-time supporter of both Allen Public Library and public art. As a member of Friends of the Allen Public Library since 2000, Bennett helped created the ALLen Reads program, which has continued to grow and receive community support. A believer in the benefits of a robust art program, Bennett joined the Public Art Committee in 2006 and has overseen the development and growth of Allen’s vibrant public art scene.
Recognizing the Downtown Steering Committee
Members of Allen’s Downtown Steering Committee were honored for their outstanding volunteer work gathering community input, hosting events, administering surveys – which led to the creation of a vision and plan for a vibrant and community-focused downtown area.
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