San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

Local News

January 17, 2012

Sessom project decision expected tonight

By Anita Miller News Editor

San Marcos — City Hall is expected to be packed tonight as members of the City Council are scheduled to vote on a controversial housing/retail development planned for environmentally-sensitive acreage on Sessom Canyon.

“We expect a lot of neighbors will show up,” Dianne Wassenich of the San Marcos River Foundation said.

The SMRF is among organizations opposed to San Antonio developer Darren Casey’s vision for the project on grounds including preserving the San Marcos River and protecting the safety of motorists and pedestrians in the area.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. People who either support or oppose can speak at that time and also during the public comment period shortly after 6 p.m. However, the latter limits comments to three minutes.

The 14.28 acre project, as most recently amended, would be multi-story apartments wrapped around a central parking garage. Access would be from Loquat Street; and a retail strip would be set back from Sessom.

The design also features outdoor plaza areas and a stormwater detention pond beneath the parking garage. Four acres would be left undisturbed.

The project has the approval of current landowners and the Planning & Zoning Commission voted 5-2 last week to approve it.

But concerns about the increased volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic it would create have been expressed by many residents over the course of the past several weeks; while others believe no amount of advance planning can insure pollutants from the city during and after construction won’t harm the San Marcos River, since Sessom Creek empties directly into it.

Wassenich has likened the project to the Embassy Suites Hotel and San Marcos Conference Center, which was originally planned for the hill above Spring Lake. Public outcry about the potential damage to the River resulted in that project being moved to IH-35 and McCarty Lane.

Others have pointed out the economic benefits, both in terms of jobs and the tax revenue the project would generate.

Those wishing to speak during the public comment period need to sign up in advance. They can do so from 8 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. at the City Clerk’s Office, or by email to citizencomment@sanmarcostx.gov or by fax of an online form (www.sanmarcostx.gov/councilmeetings) to 396-1576.

Council meetings are broadcast live on Time Warner Channel 10 and Grande Channel 16 and video streamed live at sanmarcostx.gov.



 

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