BY ERIC WEILBACHER
The breakdown
Next steps
that adding denser development into established neighborhoods would be problematic. “As long as people know when they buy their home what’s going to be surrounding them, that’s fine,” Hughson said. Lee said pushing development away from older areas cause a number of issues. “If you put new developments only on the outside on the edges of the city and that’s the only place you’re willing to increase any kind of density, you’re going to increase the traffic issues that we already have,” Lee said.
The updates in the Vision SMTX++ plan that are causing pause have to do with where “missing middle” housing can be built in the city. “Missing middle” housing refers to types of housing that fall between apartments and single-family homes, said Casey Lee, government affairs coordinator for the Four Rivers Association of Realtors. The updated plan would virtually prevent that type of housing from any neighborhood desig- nated as low density and as already existing with predominately single-family construction. Mayor Jane Hughson said she is concerned
The city council formed a committee of Mayor Jane Hughson and Council Members Alyssa Garza and Shane Scott to seek more community input prior to mid-January, when the body is expected to bring the plan up for another vote once more. “We’ve devoted so much time, effort and energy and money to this, but there still seems to be a fundamental lack of community awareness and opportunity for input,” Garza said. If the plan doesn’t pass, the city’s comprehensive plan goes back to the drawing board for revisions and community consensus at a later date.
Examples of ‘missing middle’ housing types
Duplex
Fourplex
Townhomes
2013
Triplex
Multiplex
Cottage Courts
City adopts comprehensive plan
2020
City Council requests rewrite of the plan with MIG Inc. for $341.5K
In their own words
Feb. 2023
First public hearings and presentations on changes
“We wanted to protect existing neighborhoods. ... As long as people
“San Marcos needs a variety of housing options to be an a ordable place to
Nov. 2023
Approval of Vision SMTX++ postponed for more community outreach
know when they buy their home what’s going to be
live, work and play. [This plan] actively discourages those options.” STEPHANIE RYAN, FOUR RIVERS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, 2023 PRESIDENT
surrounding them.” JANE HUGHSON, SAN MARCOS MAYOR
Jan. 16, 2024
Tentative date for hearing a final approval of the plan
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