To approve an expenditure for professional services in the estimated amount of $150,000 from Freese and Nichols, Inc. for Economic Development; and authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.  Approved

The City of Plano is seeking professional services to conduct comprehensive public outreach in support of the development of a Master Plan for the Legacy and Granite Park area. In the past year, the City completed a Property Owner Sentiment Survey in partnership with Freese and Nichols to gather feedback on the area’s strengths and future opportunities. The survey helped the City better understand perspectives from property owners and tenants regarding existing challenges, future needs, and the desirability of infill and redevelopment. Based on the study’s findings, the development of a Master Plan was recommended to help guide future development and redevelopment within the Legacy/Granite Park area.

Over the past several decades, Plano, particularly the Legacy area, has experienced sustained and highly successful economic growth. As the area approaches build out, opportunities for rapid growth through new development have naturally diminished. In addition, shifts in the office market following the COVID-19 pandemic have altered corporate preferences, placing increased emphasis on the quality, flexibility, and experiential aspects of office environments.

Recently adopted state legislation related to land use represents a shift away from the City’s long-standing vision and policy direction for development in the Legacy area. This approach has emphasized reserving land for employment generating uses since the 1980s.

While the area has been successfully guided for more than four decades by the City’s Comprehensive Plan, evolving market conditions and changes in the regulatory environment underscore the need for a more focused, area specific planning effort.

This plan will evaluate future land use strategies, opportunities for walkable amenities, and enhancements to the public realm, with the goal of sustaining economic vitality while preserving the strong employment base. This initiative directly supports the Diverse and Resilient Economy Policy and Land Use Policy as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan:

• DRE3 - Review undeveloped land and priority redevelopment areas within the city to identify anticipated infrastructure needs required to assist with economic development activities.
• LU7 - Develop locations for special area plans to focus development and redevelopment efforts in conformity with the Comprehensive Plan.

The City is exempt from the competitive bid process for this purchase as allowed by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 252 Subchapter B Section 252.022(a)(4). (Contract No. 2026-0138-X)

Funding for this item is available in the Economic Development Budget. The contract for professional services to conduct a comprehensive public outreach study in support of the development of a Master Plan for the Legacy and Granite Park area has a total expenditure amount of $150,000 ($100,000 in FY 25-26 and $50,000 in FY 2026-27). The contract will begin January 2026 with an expected completion date of April 2027. All future year expenditures will be made within the annually approved budget appropriations.