Plano residents gathered at the city council meeting on Nov. 9 to discuss the proposed Dallas Stars arena that would anchor a $3 billion redevelopment of The Shops at Willow Bend. The session marked the first public hearing since the Nov. 3 election, in which voters turned down a ballot measure that would have allowed the city to levy several taxes to fund the arena.
Public comments
Seventeen community members took the floor. Eleven speakers expressed opposition, four voiced support, and two asked council members to weigh all options carefully.
Karen Dubrow, chair of the Stop the Stars Arena Political Action Committee, cited the election results as a clear signal that Plano citizens do not want city funds diverted to an arena. “We reject siphoning dollars from successful businesses that are already in the zone to go to an arena instead of streets, parks, lights and our wonderful city staff,” she said.
Opponents also raised concerns about confusing ballot language, a potential rise in crime, and environmental impacts to the Willow Bend area should the arena be built.
Supporters highlighted the community’s love of hockey and the economic promise of the project. Resident Ian Driskell noted, “What I think is so exciting is what the president of the Stars said on The Ticket when this project first became public, which is that they view Plano as the new economic belly button of the metroplex.”
Project background
The arena would be financed through a suite of taxes that voters rejected, including up to a 5 % short‑term motor‑vehicle rental tax, a short‑term hotel occupancy tax of up to 2 % of the room price, a $3 per‑vehicle event parking tax, a ticket admissions tax of up to 10 % of each price, and a $5,000 per‑game fee on major‑league team members.
City officials previously held open houses in July, where 84 % of participants identified traffic as a primary concern. To address those worries, Plano contracted the consulting firm Fehr & Peers to study transportation impacts. Potential mitigations include new left‑turn lanes, an additional driveway into the development, and a new traffic signal on Chapel Hill Boulevard.
City leadership response
Mayor John Muns and City Manager Mark Israelson issued statements the morning after the Nov. 3 election, indicating the city will reassess its financial approach to the arena. Muns told Community Impact that negotiations with the Stars are ongoing and are expected to conclude in late November.
The mall currently occupying the site is slated for demolition in February, pending the outcome of the city’s financial review.
What’s next?
While the council did not formally vote on the arena at the Nov. 9 meeting, the public hearing provides a snapshot of community sentiment as the city re‑examines its options. Residents can continue to submit written comments, and the council is expected to schedule a follow‑up meeting to discuss any revised financing proposals.
Stakeholders, including local businesses, neighborhood groups, and the Dallas Stars organization, are encouraged to stay engaged as Plano navigates the balance between economic development and preserving the quality of life that residents value.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Plano — read the source article.
