The Marco, a proposed Italian-styled district built around a lagoon and canals at the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. 380, is back before the Town Council on Tuesday, Oct. 27, a month after council members put off a decision.
The council voted Sept. 22 to postpone the zoning case to this meeting, according to the staff memo in the agenda packet. It is scheduled as a public hearing on the regular agenda of the 6:15 p.m. meeting at Town Hall, 250 W. First St.
What is proposed
The request would replace the current commercial zoning on about 143 acres at the northeast corner of the tollway and University Drive with a mixed-use planned development. The tract is bounded by the tollway on the west, U.S. 380 on the south and the BNSF Railway on the east, and the land across the highway to the south is in Frisco.
The applicant is BlackStone Communities, whose principal, Jeffory Blackard, signed the letter of intent; Godwin Investments Ltd. owns the property. The plan calls for:
- up to 4,400 homes in all, including no more than 2,500 mid-rise flats, 400 high-rise units, 500 age-restricted units and 1,000 villas, townhomes, cottages and live-work units
- more than 1 million square feet of office space
- up to two hotels, a performing arts venue, a grocer and a market hall
- a central lagoon that would double as regional stormwater detention, with navigable canals running from it
Buildings at the tollway and U.S. 380 corner, plus two structures inside the lagoon area, could reach 14 stories or 190 feet. Most of the rest of the site would be capped at eight stories or 160 feet. If land to the north is later zoned for single-family homes, buildings within 75 feet of that line would be limited to two stories.
Open space, including the lagoon, a promenade, piazzas and a perimeter trail, would total about 28.7 acres, or 20% of the site. Work would come in three phases, beginning with the outer edges, the lagoon and sitewide infrastructure.
