Plano residents gathered Tuesday for a town‑hall meeting to press City Council members Vidal Quintanilla and Bob Kehr on the proposed Dallas Stars arena near Willow Bend. The community voiced concerns about traffic congestion, neighborhood parking, and the impact on the city’s suburban character.
Residents ask for concrete plans
“What are you going to do to stop people from parking in my neighborhood, short of putting a gate up?” asked Blair Partlow, a homeowner near the site. Camille Hall added, “We’re just interested in hearing what’s going to be done for all the streets, the infrastructure.” Council members acknowledged that the city is still studying traffic data and evaluating parking options.
City’s current actions
The council approved the first traffic study for the project last month, with results expected by mid‑October, Kehr said. The city is also in talks with DART about public‑transport options to serve the arena and surrounding development.
Funding and approval process
The arena and its 90‑acre entertainment district would be financed through a tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) that uses sales‑tax dollars. A special election in November will let voters decide on the venue‑related taxes needed for the project. Officials stressed that the election concerns only funding, not the arena itself, and that the city could pursue alternative financing if voters reject the measure.
Community divided on benefits
Some residents, like Allan Samara, see the arena as a way for Plano to compete with neighboring cities and generate tax revenue. “We have virtually no entertainment facilities in the city except restaurants,” Samara said. Others, such as Karen Dubrow, worry the arena could undermine Plano’s suburban character and question whether the city’s tax dollars would be wisely spent.
Next steps
Council members emphasized that they are listening to concerns and will continue to gather data before making final decisions. “We’re here to understand the whole picture before we can decide,” Kehr said. The upcoming traffic study and the November election will shape the future of the proposed arena and its surrounding district.
Original reporting: Plano Magazine — read the source article.
