Plano’s Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the latest Legacy Area community survey on September 8, highlighting a clear call for more housing choices and public gathering spaces. The survey, conducted from May through July 2026, gathered 230 responses from residents, employees and local stakeholders.
Key Findings
Only 17% of respondents identified a need for new housing, but those who did expressed a range of preferences, from multi‑family apartments and townhomes to single‑family homes. The same group also emphasized a desire for additional parks, green space, walkability and mobility improvements.
Senior Planner Marium Zahir noted that the majority of feedback focused on enhancing the area’s livability. “The community was looking for gathering spaces for live entertainment, for example,” Zahir said. “Stakeholders were more vocal about wanting convention space, meeting spaces or event space.”
Who Responded?
More than half of the respondents were Plano residents living outside the Legacy district, while 27% were people who work in the area. A small 2% both live and work within Legacy, underscoring the district’s role as a regional employment hub.
Survey participants praised the Legacy Area’s strong employment base but pointed out high vacancy rates in older office buildings and a limited retail mix compared with nearby destinations such as Uptown Dallas, The Star in Frisco and Las Colinas in Irving.
Planning Context
The Legacy Area was first envisioned in a 1981 comprehensive plan that positioned it as a major employment center. In 2024, the city surveyed owners and tenants in Legacy and neighboring Granite Park to gauge current strengths and challenges. Building on that work, planners divided Legacy into eight sub‑areas in the fall of 2025 to better understand economic conditions, demographics and market trends.
According to city estimates, the Legacy district now supports roughly 10,000 residents and 96,000 employees. Zahir said the next step is to develop new goals and strategies for each sub‑area, with additional community input slated for upcoming meetings.
Looking Ahead
Planning & Zoning Commissioner Michael Brounoff stressed the importance of aligning new amenities with the district’s character as a major employment center. “I think it’s important that all the other amenities that have been asked for be arranged in such a way as to serve the ultimate character of the property as a major employment center,” he said.
The city plans to hold further outreach sessions to refine its vision for housing, green space and event venues, ensuring that future development supports both the workforce and the growing residential community.
What Residents Can Expect
Stakeholders can look forward to a more diversified housing stock, expanded parkland and new gathering spaces that cater to live entertainment, conventions and community events. By addressing these priorities, Plano aims to keep the Legacy Area competitive, attract talent and enhance quality of life for the thousands who live, work and visit the district each day.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Plano — read the source article.
