Frisco’s downtown might look a little different, as at a recent Oct. 21 meeting, the city council unanimously agreed to approve new land use rules for the area. 

The new land use rules aim to make downtown more pedestrian friendly, which is one of the goals outlined in the 2040 comprehensive plan, a document that outlines certain developments expected to occur in the city by 2040. 

Among the new rules are prohibitions on the opening of new big-box retailers, bus terminals, full-service car wash facilities, convenience stores with gas pumps, and laundromats. Additionally, new and currently existing businesses are not allowed to provide drive-thru service. 

Council members originally considered the changes at a meeting on Aug. 26, but voting was delayed due to business owners who opposed the new rules, expressing their worries that the elimination of drive-thrus would negatively affect their businesses. 

According to the city of Frisco Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jon Kendall, though, the new land use policies won’t have that aforementioned impact, and on the contrary, may benefit businesses. 

“You will still have permission to operate, permission to sell your business,” Kendall said in a Community Impact article. “In many ways I just felt like it’s protecting those that already have their business there so they don’t have to worry about additional drive-throughs coming in. It almost kind of strengthens their business.”