🌮 Prosper hits pause on its Venice-style village

Hey neighbor 👋 Welcome back to Taco & Tell, your weekly rundown of what's opening, what's being built, and what local government decided in Frisco, Prosper, McKinney, Celina and Little Elm. This week: one big vote that didn't happen, one big hotel that will, and a lot of German food.

The big one: The Marco vote is pushed to Oct. 27 🛶

Prosper was supposed to decide Tuesday night on The Marco, the proposed Italian-style village with a lagoon and canals at the northeast corner of the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. 380. Instead, the Town Council voted unanimously to put it off until its Oct. 27 meeting.

Here's what happened. Council members sent the town a batch of new questions and comments earlier that same day. "It's going to take some time to work through," Town Manager Mario Canizares said. Town staff and the developer agreed the plan's written rules and maps needed significant changes, so rather than vote on a moving target, the council hit pause.

Quick refresher on what's proposed: 143 acres built around a lagoon of more than 15 acres, with canals big enough for boats and a 26-foot-wide walking path circling the water. Plans call for up to 4,400 homes (mostly apartments, plus condos, a retirement community and up to 1,000 houses and townhomes), more than 1 million square feet of offices, shops and restaurants, a grocery store, up to two hotels and a performing arts venue. Cars and parking would mostly stay on the outer edges.

Before you get excited (or upset): nothing is approved. Prosper's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 4 to 2 in August, but the council has the final say, and a delay usually means the plan comes back with changes.

Why it matters: this is one of the most visible corners in Prosper, right where thousands of drivers enter town every day. Whatever goes there will shape traffic, schools and what Prosper feels like for decades. Our read: 4,400 homes is the number to watch. If the plan comes back on Oct. 27 with fewer apartments, that's a sign the council's questions landed. Either way, nobody is renting a gondola yet.

Frisco

A hotel, ballroom and music hall are coming to Toyota Stadium 🎶

Hunt Sports Development announced plans Tuesday to turn the east side of Toyota Stadium into a hotel and entertainment district. The first phase includes a roughly 290-room boutique hotel, more than 40,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and a 15,000-square-foot ballroom that can convert into a music hall for 3,000 people. There'd also be a restaurant, a rooftop lounge and a spa. Groundbreaking is planned for 2027. This builds on the $182 million stadium renovation the city approved in 2024, and an office complex planned for the west side. Our read: a 3,000-person room would fill the gap between a bar stage and an arena, which North Collin County doesn't really have. And out-of-town FC Dallas fans could finally stay the night instead of sitting in Dallas North Tollway traffic.

Northwest Community Park is officially open

Frisco opened its 122-acre Northwest Community Park on Saturday at 13770 Teel Parkway. The $40 million park has more than 10 miles of dirt, gravel and paved trails, a pump track for bikes, a 20-acre lawn, a five-acre dog park, a splash pad, two mini zip lines and a 20-foot-tall bison play structure. City officials say it's the first community park Frisco has ever built all in one phase. Kids will love the zip lines. Parents will love that the kids are tired by noon.

Frisco will study a new schedule for firefighters 🚒

Frisco's new budget includes $112,500 to study whether the fire department should change its shift schedule. Firefighters now work 24 hours on and 48 hours off. Some nearby departments have switched: Plano moved to 24 hours on and 72 hours off last year. Nothing changes yet. The study comes first, and any new schedule would need a City Council vote. The budget also includes about $420,000 to refresh Fire Safety Town, the miniature village where kids learn fire safety.

Prosper

Cava is coming to Prosper 🥙

Cava, the Mediterranean bowl and pita chain, has filed plans for its first Prosper location at The Gates of Prosper, 1101 S. Preston Road. State filings show about $800,000 in renovation work early next year before it opens, so think spring, not next week. If you've been driving to Frisco for a harissa honey chicken bowl, help is on the way.

Prosper ISD is down to its final superintendent interviews

The Prosper ISD school board is interviewing finalists for superintendent this week. The district says more than 40 people applied. After these interviews, the board will name one "lone finalist." Texas law then requires a 21-day wait before the board can make the hire official, so the community has time to learn about the pick. Acting Superintendent Bill McLaughlin has led the district since May.

The FM 1385 widening has money but no start date

At a Sept. 22 work session, the Town Council heard that the first phase of widening FM 1385, from U.S. 380 to Union Park, is estimated at $38.2 million and is fully funded in the Texas Department of Transportation's long-range plan. The catch: it's programmed for sometime between 2031 and 2036, and there's no bid date. Buying land along the route was on track to finish in October. In other words, the money exists. Your patience still has to, too.

McKinney

Cannon Beach surf resort money gets a clean-up vote 🏄

The McKinney City Council approved a $20.9 million budget amendment on Sept. 15 tied to Cannon Beach, the $200 million surf resort that broke ground last December. City officials stressed that this isn't new incentive money. The city's economic development corporation sold the land to the developer last year for $23 million, and this vote lets it put that sale money back into the project as the developer hits building milestones. Our read: it's an accounting step, not a new deal, but it's a reminder that the city has real money tied to this wave pool working out.

McKinney ISD's tax rate drops about 3.8 cents

McKinney ISD announced Sept. 17 that its board has adopted a tax rate of about $1.07 per $100 of value, down from about $1.10 last year. The district credits state-required rate cuts and a lower rate for paying off bonds. One thing to know: the new rate includes an extra 3.17 cents for teacher pay and programs that voters will be asked to approve on Nov. 3. We'll explain that election before early voting starts.

A new 7-Eleven, and a new kind of KFC 🍗

The council unanimously approved a permit Sept. 15 for a 7-Eleven with six fuel pumps at the northwest corner of Bloomdale Road and Hardin Boulevard. The developer says it will be a "new prototype" with a nicer-looking building. And on Eldorado Parkway near Custer Road, Plano-based KFC is testing a new sit-down concept called Open House, with table service, ordering kiosks, breakfast, spicy pickles and a birthday booth with digital screens. KFC's U.S. president said an eight-piece bucket with two large sides and biscuits will cost $29. KFC says it's opening soon. Colonel Sanders, now with table service.

Celina

Neighbors push back on a future sewer plant near Smiley Road

Celina has asked the state for a permit to build a wastewater treatment plant on Smiley Road north of Parvin Road. City officials say it won't be needed for years: design would start around 2031 and the plant could open as early as 2034, depending on how fast Celina grows. Right now most of the city's wastewater goes to the Doe Branch plant in Little Elm, which is being expanded. But neighbors aren't waiting. As of Sept. 17, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had received 107 comments opposing the plant and 32 requests for a public meeting. Our read: a plant this far off still matters if you're buying a house nearby, so ask your real estate agent about it.

Celina ISD has more than doubled in five years 📚

At its Sept. 21 meeting, the Celina ISD board heard that enrollment grew from 3,359 students in 2022 to 7,159 this year. Three new elementary schools, named Scott, Grumbles and Calvert, are under construction and set to open for the 2027-28 school year. The board also approved a $750 referral bonus for anyone who recruits a new bus driver. If you've ever wanted to be paid for knowing a guy, this is your moment.

Rainwater Crossing opens a park with a 35-foot steel tree

The Rainwater Crossing neighborhood opened Whispering Grove, a two-acre park at its entrance with walking paths, a reflection pond and a 35-foot steel sculpture called Scout's Tree. The branches are mirror-polished and lit with LEDs at night, and the artists hid a purple martin bird in the branches. Go find it. It's like Where's Waldo, but with ornithology.

Little Elm

A contractor hit a gas line Monday

A third-party contractor struck an Atmos Energy natural gas line on the morning of Sept. 21, cutting service to parts of Little Elm, Lakewood Village and Oak Point. Repairs were expected to be done by 8 a.m. Tuesday, and Hill Lane was closed between Oak Grove Parkway and East Dickson Lane during the work. If your stove went quiet Monday, now you know why. Before you dig in your own yard, call 811 so the utilities can mark their lines first.

36 new businesses filed paperwork in one week

State records show 35 new sales tax permits and one alcohol license application in Little Elm for the week of Sept. 21. Several appear to be home-based, like bakers and small studios. A sales tax permit is just one step toward opening, not proof that a business has opened. Still, that's a lot of people betting on Little Elm, and at least a few of them make cookies.

Sign up for a lakefront trail race 🏃

Registration is open for One Ale of a Trail on Saturday, Nov. 7, on the Little Elm Lakefront Trail, with 3-mile, 5-mile and 9-mile options on dirt paths with lake views. Entry is about $76, and there's no race-day signup, so register ahead. Based on the name, we assume the finish line has a refreshment plan.

What's a "specific use permit"? 📝

You'll see this term a lot in council agendas. Some businesses, like gas stations, are allowed on a piece of land only if the city signs off on that particular project. That sign-off is a specific use permit. In McKinney, the new 7-Eleven needed one because it sits within 250 feet of land that could be used for homes. The permit lets the city set conditions, like how the building looks, before saying yes. It's the city's way of saying, "Sure, but let's see it first."

Weekend plans 🍺

McKinney Oktoberfest: Friday through Sunday, Sept. 25 to 27, in historic downtown McKinney. Admission is free, with a stein-holding contest and wiener dog races. Details
State Fair of Texas opens Friday: Sept. 25 through Oct. 18 at Fair Park in Dallas. Worth the drive for the fried food alone. Details
Explore Northwest Community Park, Frisco: the new trails, dog park and zip lines at 13770 Teel Parkway. Frisco events calendar

New and coming soon 👀

Momo2Go (Frisco, 5500 Preston Road) opened at Preston Lebanon Crossing, serving Himalayan dumplings called momos. It's a Canadian chain, and this is its second Texas spot after Irving.
Dutch Bros Coffee filed plans for a second Prosper drive-thru at 1500 W. Frontier Parkway, with construction from October to April.
Cava (Prosper, 1101 S. Preston Road) expects to open after renovations early next year.

Dates to know 📅

Sept. 25: Last day to apply for the Frisco ISD bond committee.
Oct. 5: Last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election.
Oct. 7: Plaza Live!, free music on the new Fourth Street Plaza in Frisco, 5 to 7 p.m.
Oct. 13: Fourth Street Plaza's grand opening in Frisco.
Oct. 13: Little Elm Town Council takes up e-bike rules.
Oct. 15: Prosper's new water and wastewater rates take effect.
Oct. 27: Prosper Town Council is expected to take up The Marco.
Nov. 3: Election Day.

That's the week. Grab a pretzel at Oktoberfest, keep an eye out for KFC's new spot, and we'll be back with more. See you next Thursday!

— Taco & Tell