The Frisco City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission chose Tuesday to delay a decision on a planned Universal Theme Park after substantial opposition to the proposal in a meeting attended by The Dallas Express.
During the joint meeting, Mayor Jeff Cheney said more documents would be released to the public soon regarding the park, including an analysis of potential crime increases, a concern expressed by many residents at the public hearing.
The planned park is more than 30 acres, including the park itself and adjoining hotels. The total amount of land purchased by Universal was 97 acres, however.
During the public hearing, dozens of people spoke on the issues, with many being either against building the theme park or wanting more information about it. Some accused the City Council of not being transparent in its plans for the park, while others opined on the potential increase in traffic and crime.
Some, however, spoke out in support of the park, including Jeff Smith, vice president and managing director of Omni PGA Frisco Resort.
“This project will put the trajectory of Frisco to a whole new level,” said Smith, who believes the target demographic of the park, which he said was 10 years old and younger, will remember Frisco forever. “I think you have to think about it in human terms, not business terms.”
John Landon, a land developer from Plano, said he met with representatives from Universal and bought six properties adjacent to where the park would be. He said he was reassured by what the representatives said.
“They were very good to work with,” he said. “I got comfortable with all my concerns.”
Dan Hunt, president and owner of soccer club FC Dallas, called the theme park an “unbelievable opportunity.”
“When you think of what Universal would bring … I think Universal will benefit all the citizens here,” Hunt said. “I think it will continue to cement Frisco’s legacy.”
Melinda Preston, who said she has lived in Frisco for 19 years, spoke against the park. She suggested that the first speakers, including Smith, Hunt, and Landon, had a conflict of interest.
“I love my town and have loved it,” said Preston, explaining her opposition was based on her belief that traffic was already bad enough in Frisco.
Preston said she wants to see things like the economic impact studies before she is convinced. “I’d love to see us go at a much slower pace … I’m not saying this is a bad idea, I’m saying we, the citizens, need more time.”
David Lee, another Frisco resident, said he took a long time going back and forth on the positives and negatives of the project.
“While the case can be made for and against the project … it comes down to whether this project is really for residents or for outsiders,” Lee said.
He was worried that the theme park would mostly benefit tourists at the expense of people who lived in Frisco.
“Shouldn’t we put our lifestyles and benefits first?” Lee asked.
Other residents claimed that Frisco did not have the infrastructure to support the Universal theme park.
“They’re going to be opening at the height and peak of traffic times,” one resident said. She further claimed that staffing at fire stations has not gone up as Frisco’s population has increased and that the project would impact the safety of residents and tourists.
Another resident, who said she was originally from California, held up pictures printed on paper toward the City Council members and the mayor, showing what she said were high spots of crime near Universal theme parks in Orlando, Florida, and California.
“We are not prepared for this, and bad things are going to happen,” the resident said.
Ultimately, the joint meeting of the city council and the planning commission tabled the subject to allow for more time to receive public comment on the issue.
