<\/p>\n
Residents gather during a community open house events regarding the Dallas Stars arena project at the Shops at Willow Bend mall, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Plano.<\/p>\n
Shafkat Anowar\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
PLANO \u2013 Can a\u00a020,000-seat arena<\/a> be a good neighbor?\u00a0<\/p>\n That was the issue at the center of an open house Wednesday at The Shops at Willow Bend<\/a>, where city officials, the Dallas Stars president and real estate developers met with about 250 nearby residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n It was the first of two community meetings meant to ease concerns about traffic, noise and lighting\u00a0from the planned hockey arena<\/a>\u00a0and to get feedback from Plano taxpayers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Some residents have questioned whether the $3 billion mixed-use district and its arena, supported by $700 million in public funds, can fit harmoniously in the suburban area near<\/a> the Dallas North Tollway.<\/p>\n Steve Bratton lives less than two miles from the mall and opposes the arena project<\/a>, saying it \u00a0does not fit with the suburban area he chose to call home. The mall\u2019s area of West Plano is largely made up of affluent residential neighborhoods.<\/p>\n Michael Platt, (right), Executive Vice President of Mixed-Use Development at Centennial Real Estate discusses about the renderings with residents during a community open house events regarding the Dallas Stars arena project at the Shops at Willow Bend mall, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Plano.<\/p>\n Shafkat Anowar\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s such a unique opportunity for the Stars,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I don’t see the value for Plano.\u201d<\/p>\n Dallas Stars CEO Brad Alberts<\/a> met with residents at the mall and said the team communicates with Plano officials nearly every day to make the project a reality.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n He said he hears neighbors\u2019 worries as plans move forward.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTheir concerns are our concerns,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cWe don’t want their neighborhoods to be full of congestion and traffic either. \u2026 Our goal will be to improve the fan experience and make it better than it exists today.\u201d<\/p>\n Plans for traffic, light and noise<\/p>\n Between the Equinox gym and Crate & Barrel, residents formed a line to walk through presentations given by city staff on transportation, parking, lighting, noise and neighborhood character.\u00a0<\/p>\n Plano transportation manager Brian Shewski said the city will begin studying traffic<\/a> in the area after the school year starts to identify roads and intersections that could reach capacity and determine what improvements may be needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> What to know about Plano’s Shops at Willow Bend, Dallas Stars’ planned new arena site<\/a><\/p>\n Those could include adding lanes, upgrading traffic signals, creating designated rideshare areas, improving roads and expanding pedestrian infrastructure.<\/p>\n Over the next five years, the city will work to<\/a> design and implement the changes, with a goal of getting traffic out of the arena in 45 to 50 minutes after events.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city has hired California-based consulting firm Fehr & Peers to conduct the traffic study. The firm has worked on the Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 Intuit Dome and the Golden State Warriors\u2019 Chase Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n Josh Peterman, a principal with the firm who lives in Plano, spoke with residents Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Residents gather during a community open house events regarding the Dallas Stars arena project at the Shops at Willow Bend mall, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Plano.<\/p>\n Shafkat Anowar\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n \u201cEvery single arena gets plopped down in a place that has some sort of impact to the business or to a resident,\u201d he said. \u201cWe study it to see what the actual impacts are likely to be so that we can be prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n His firm will produce a report with recommendations for minimizing traffic issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s a whole host of levers we can pull,\u201d he said. \u201cThen it’s up to the city and the council to act on those.\u201d<\/p>\n Some residents were not encouraged by the city\u2019s plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cAlready, the toll road is very busy,\u201d Bratton said, \u201cand now we want to build a huge sports and entertainment venue right along there, where the bottleneck already exists.\u201d<\/p>\n He believes surrounding neighborhoods will suffer.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> How Plano scored the Dallas Stars: The NDAs, $700 million and \u2018wolf\u2019 behind the deal<\/a><\/p>\n Plano officials will study how much parking is needed by comparing the project to similar-sized arenas and will seek to prevent eventgoers from parking in nearby neighborhoods.<\/p>\n Neighborhoods also can petition the city to restrict street parking, according to the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Plano has local rules on how much light and noise can spill onto residential properties. Officials will study those impacts and enforce regulations, staff said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mixed emotions\u00a0<\/p>\n Hundreds of residents came to the open house and greeted the plans with concerns and excitement<\/a>. The city offered a survey to gather feedback on the presentations.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAn arena would be a real bonus to Plano,\u201d said Sandra Hammer of Plano, who said she\u2019ll consider buying season tickets. \u201cFrisco has got their share of fun stuff going on up there. \u2026 We need that here.\u201d<\/p>\n Residents wait to enter a community open house events regarding the Dallas Stars arena project at the Shops at Willow Bend mall, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Plano.<\/p>\n Shafkat Anowar\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Jim McDevitt, a three-decade resident who lives about a mile and a half from the mall, is excited about the project, which he hopes revitalizes the area after years<\/a> of little progress in redeveloping the ailing shopping mall.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWill there be problems initially? Sure,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I think they’ll be mitigated as they learn more.\u201d<\/p>\n For the mall\u2019s tenants, the transition has been difficult.<\/p>\n Mary Manning, who owns a salon in Willow Bend, said the months leading up to the Stars\u2019 announcement were filled with uncertainty and anxiety for small businesses at Willow Bend.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re excited for the Stars,\u201d she said. \u201cBut the transition I feel like has been super unprofessional.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n