Plano residents want more details on proposed development in The Colony

Plano officials are taking a similar wait-and-see approach.

Andrea Mills moved to Kings Ridge subdivision in July and knew some day the tracts of vacant land beyond her backyard would be developed. She just didn't expect it to be possibly the world's largest single-use retail store.

"Our true hope is to not only get information about what's going to be happening in our backyards, but also that we can get some sort of input in the planning process," Mills said. "We don't want to be the forgotten neighbors. We want to be part of the process and be informed."

At a regular city council meeting Tuesday night, The Colony publicly announced its partnership with Warren Buffett's development company to create a $1.5 billion development on land roughly south of State Highway 121, east of Plano Parkway and west of Spring Creek Parkway. The development will feature two stories and a footprint of approximately 1 million square feet, equating to 2 million square feet of structure, or approximately 53 football fields. In addition to other unannounced retail sales, the building will house the Nebraska Furniture Mart, a company owned by Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

While it is too early to tell if the new development will make a positive impact to the westernmost neighborhoods in Plano, concerns are already being raised among the communities in and near Kings Ridge, Kings Gate and Shoal Creek regarding their place in the process, or if they have one at all.

"I think obviously there are concerns about traffic and disrupting our views," said Mills, whose home on Brook Forest Circle backs up to the planned development. "But the big concern at this point is lack of info. We really only had 24-hour notice of [Tuesday's] meeting even taking place.

"We haven't even seen anything concrete to know if we need to be excited or horrified," Mills said. "Technically, we don't have a seat at the table to discuss this in any way, shape or form. We're not taxpayers, so we're really not any of their concern. We certainly expected for there to be something built there, it's not shock and awe, just lack of information."

Plano officials are taking a similar wait-and-see approach. Mayor Phil Dyer said he was aware of the development, but wouldn't have any comment until all of the details are released. Sally Bane, the executive director of Plano Economic Development, said she had no comment on the development. She also refused to comment on whether the city's economic development team was in on the bidding to attract Nebraska Furniture Warehouse to the city.

Frisco Mayor Maher Maso said he was happy for The Colony, but had some concerns with the project.

"It is no secret that we were familiar with the developers and were talking with them for a year or so," Maso said. "In the end, Frisco was not willing to rebate 100 percent, or close to 100 percent, of every revenue stream for the city at taxpayers expense."