Prosper planners deny rezoning for two vacant Business Park Drive buildings

The Prosper Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-1 on Sept. 15 to deny a rezoning request for two existing vacant buildings on Business Park Drive (zoning case 260004), which would have changed the property from Agriculture to Planned Development for commercial and light-industrial uses.

Town planner introduced the case and said the site is roughly 2 acres with two buildings totaling about 18,537 square feet — “Building A contains 11,297 square feet, and Building B contains 7,240 square feet,” the planner said. Town staff told commissioners the application had been noticed with no public responses and recommended approval; staff also said the item would have gone to the town council Oct. 13 if the commission had approved it.

Applicant representatives Michael Doggett of Animus Civil Engineering and Scott Shipp of Blue Star Land said the buildings passed structural inspections and the goal was to make the properties leasable without changing the exterior footprints. “And buildings are in perfect shape. You know, they're great, great buildings,” Doggett said in describing the condition of the properties and the applicants’ preference to adapt rather than demolish the structures.

Commissioners pressed the applicants on road and infrastructure timing. The applicants distinguished between limited, near-term pavement and site work needed to allow occupancy and a longer-term, full-width reconstruction called out in packet materials as a 10-year improvement. The applicant said the initial work would include an overlay to extend Business Park Drive to the property and site utilities; the ultimate, full-width improvement would be a larger expense and could require agreements with other frontage owners.

A commissioner asked whether the rezoning was consistent with the Dallas North Tollway guidelines; a commissioner’s reply was, “Generally not,” and staff pointed out the buildings and some activity predated those guidelines. After discussion, Commissioner Fury moved to deny the rezoning request; the motion was seconded and the commission recorded a 5-1 vote in favor of denial.

Because the commission denied zoning case 260004, the recommendation will not advance to the Oct. 13 council agenda as presented. The transcript records the planning staff recommendation, applicant statements about building condition and planned site improvements, and commissioner concerns over guideline consistency and the timing/cost of ultimate road reconstruction.