15 acres at Aster Park rezoned for commercial development
🏗️ During a Sept. 2 meeting, McKinney City Council members approved two commercial zoning cases for land within the Aster Park home development in North McKinney.
The overview: The properties are located on the south and north side of the development and total 15 acres, according to city documents. The action by council approves “C2” commercial zoning for both properties.
C2 zoning is intended for mid-sized, medium-intensity commercial uses, according to McKinney’s Unified Development Code. McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission had previously recommended approval of the requests in August.
Zooming out: Both properties are located next to future arterial roads. One property is located at the future southwest corner of Stonebridge Drive and Coughlin Parkway, according to a city document.
The second property is located at the northwest corner of Laud Howell Parkway and Aster Park Trail.
The background: The Aster Park community, announced in 2022, will be gated and currently includes plans for more than 1,100 single-family homes.
McKinney council approves specific use permit for Movement fuel station
⛽️ McKinney City Council members greenlit development of a new convenience store and gas station near the southeast corner of Coit Road and Virginia Parkway.
Council members approved a specific use permit for the development during a Sept. 2 meeting. The action comes after McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval in August.
The details: The permit reduces the required setback for gas stations by 20 feet with any adjacent residential use or zone, according to a city document. The setback was reduced from 250 feet to 230 feet.
The convenience store itself would total 5,192 square feet and will be located on the east side of the property, according to the city document. Plans include six gas pumps on the west side of the property.
Staff recommended approval of the specific use permit since the fuel station aligns with existing uses in the area and will complement future development, according to the city document.
Roundup: See Collin County property tax rates for FY 2025-26
Collin County residents pay property taxes to various entities, including to the city they live in, the school district, Collin College and to the county.
The overview: While cities in the county have already began setting the tax rates for fiscal year 2025-26, city officials in Celina, Frisco, Plano and Prosper are still discussing potential tax rate options.
Check out a list of the FY 2025-26 tax rates within Community Impact's Collin County coverage areas.
What to know: Most Texas school districts required to display donated Ten Commandments posters under state law
Most Texas public schools are required to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms under Senate Bill 10, a state law that took effect Sept. 1.
The details: On Aug. 20, a Texas federal judge temporarily blocked the following 11 school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments:
Alamo Heights ISD
Austin ISD
Cy-Fair ISD
Dripping Springs ISD
Fort Bend ISD
Houston ISD
Lackland ISD
Lake Travis ISD
North East ISD
Northside ISD
Plano ISD
Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the ruling and directed other school districts to begin displaying donated copies of the Ten Commandments.
The debate: Proponents of SB 10, including Paxton and Republican state lawmakers, have argued that seeing the Ten Commandments on a daily basis will help Texas students better understand U.S. history and learn about morality.
Some religious scholars have stressed the importance of teaching students about religion in an “appropriate educational context.” Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns that non-Christian students will feel left out or be bullied by their peers for not following the Ten Commandments.
4 new Frontier Airlines routes from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
✈️ Frontier Airlines announced new flights out of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport for late 2025 and early 2026.
International flights: The Denver-based airline announced 22 new routes in a news release Sept. 4. The airline will add new routes from DFW Airport to Guatemala and El Salvador starting this winter.
Weekly flights to La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City will start Dec. 20. Two-times-a-week service from DFW Airport will go to El Salvador International Airport in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Domestic flights: Frontier announced flights from DFW Airport to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in an Aug. 26 news release, as well as a route to New Orleans in a Sept. 2 news release. Those are part of 20 new routes added throughout the United States.
