City Council quietly approves initial step for major north McKinney project near Bloomdale Road and Taylor Burke Drive

McKinney has taken an early step toward what could become one of its largest future developments, after the City Council approved preliminary action tied to a proposed 300-acre sports and entertainment complex in north McKinney.

The measure passed during the council’s April 7 meeting as part of the consent agenda, allowing it to be approved in a single unanimous vote without separate discussion or public comment. The proposal was also not addressed during the council’s earlier work session or during the regular meeting before the vote.

North McKinney Site Positioned for Long-Term Growth

The proposed project would be built on roughly 300 acres of city-owned land near Bloomdale Road and Taylor Burke Drive, west of U.S. 75 in a part of north McKinney that remains largely undeveloped.

City documents identify the site as a combination of several tracts within the W. Butler, William Rice and T. Cunis surveys. The land includes an estimated 230-acre main parcel along with about 70 additional adjacent acres.

Its scale points to a project far larger than a single venue. At around 300 acres, the site is roughly four times the size of the land occupied by AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Even so, the city has not yet released specific plans outlining what the development will include.

City Approves Exclusive Negotiation Period

As part of the action, the council authorized the city manager to begin an exclusive negotiation period with Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, a Texas-based planning and engineering firm.

The company was selected through a formal request for qualifications process connected to the Brinkmann tract project. According to the city, four responses were submitted, and Parkhill was chosen as the preferred firm to lead planning, development and programming for the site.

The negotiation period is intended to produce a full development agreement that would later return to the council for review and approval. If no agreement is finalized and presented by October 15, 2026, the authorization will expire.

Key Project Details Still Undecided

Although the council action establishes the project’s location, size and immediate next step, many important details remain unclear.

The city has not publicly said what types of facilities may be included, how the project would be funded, whether it would involve public-private collaboration, or when construction could begin. At this stage, officials are describing it broadly as a landmark sports and entertainment complex, with the final scope to be shaped during negotiations.

Approval Came With No Public Discussion

Because the item was included in the consent agenda, it was grouped with other routine matters and approved in one vote. No separate council debate took place, and no residents addressed the proposal during the meeting.

A more detailed public review would likely happen later, if a final agreement is brought back before the council.

Growth Pressures Continue to Shape McKinney Planning

The approval comes as McKinney continues to manage rapid development and long-term land use planning.

During the council’s earlier work session, Michael Quint said the city recorded about $1.4 billion in new construction value in 2025. He also pointed to recent and planned entertainment-focused development, including a Dave & Buster’s near Hardin Boulevard and U.S. 380, and said more related projects are expected in that area over the coming years.

Quint also referenced the Sunset Amphitheater, which is already under construction, as another major entertainment project underway in the city. According to Quint, McKinney is now about 76% built out, with projections showing the city could approach full build-out within the next seven to ten years.

Separate From McKinney’s Amphitheater Project

Council members did spend part of the meeting discussing progress on the amphitheater project near U.S. 75 and Spur 399, including land acquisition steps needed to advance that development.

That effort is already moving through a more defined phase, with infrastructure and site development tied to a specific venue. The Bloomdale site, by contrast, remains at a much earlier stage, with negotiations only just beginning and major elements still undecided.

What Happens Next

The next phase will center on negotiations between the city and Parkhill to develop a master plan for the property.

Before the project can move ahead, any final development agreement must return to the City Council for approval.

For now, the proposal remains preliminary. Still, the size of the site and its location in a major growth corridor suggest it could become an important part of McKinney’s long-term development strategy.