Plano voters are heading toward a November decision that could clear the way for a new Dallas Stars arena at The Shops at Willow Bend, and the fight around Proposition A is already taking shape on the streets of the city.
The arena would anchor a broader sports and entertainment district at Willow Bend, with the city of Plano saying its contribution would be limited to $700 million and funded through money generated inside the district, including venue-related taxes. Even with that cap in place, the proposal is drawing sharp resistance from residents who say they have not been given enough detail about what the project really means for the area.
Karen Dubrow, who chairs the Stop the Stars Arena PAC, has emerged as one of the loudest opponents. Her group is against both the arena itself and the taxes that would help pay for it.
"We are completely being railroaded because they want us to approve this prop with no details of a plan," Dubrow said.
"It doesn’t make any sense, and they want us to pay for it," Dubrow said.
Dubrow, who lives near the proposed site, also pointed to possible infrastructure expenses that she says have not been fully addressed.
"Then there’s all these infrastructure costs that have not been discussed," Dubrow said.
She said the plan clashes with the city’s long-range direction.
"And its mission is to keep Plano a suburb. Nowhere in that plan does it say an arena is a suburb," Dubrow said.
Supporters are organizing too. Signs both for and against Proposition A are already popping up around Plano, and the Victory Green PAC is pushing voters to back the measure. The group did not respond to a request for an interview.
The proposal lands at a moment when Willow Bend is preparing to lose its last major anchor in January. On Thursday night, an advisory committee of 10 city-appointed residents who live near Willow Bend met to talk through the redevelopment.
"Now we’re looking at an anchor that will be here for decades to come. And we can really build something special around that," Michael Platt, executive vice president of Centennial, said.
The Dallas Stars also issued a statement backing the effort.
“The Dallas Stars are proud to support this effort. We’re committed to making Plano our next home, and our investment reflects this commitment and dedication to building a lasting partnership with the Plano community...”
For now, Dubrow says her side is not letting up.
"It doesn’t make sense," Dubrow said.
Plano, meanwhile, said in a statement that it wants residents and stakeholders to have access to updates and information about the proposed arena and redevelopment at The Shops at Willow Bend. The city said it is posting plans, studies and other key documents on its website.
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