— With the upcoming vote on the Paso Robles development expected in less than a month, some San Marcos residents are stepping up to voice either their objections or support of the planned community in southern Hays County.

One issue of contention involves environmental concerns related to the community’s proposed golf course, which is to be designed to use reclaimed or potable water on three of the 18 holes planned over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.

Steve Harvey of San Marcos said at last week’s public hearing that he is surprised that the city is still considering building a golf course.

“The aquifer is in serious danger of pollution if a golf course is built,” Harvey said.

He recommended that the city work with an aquifer expert they can trust during the process.

San Marcos resident and city council candidate Dave Newman addressed the council at the hearing to say he is not in favor of the planned development.

Newman said watering the golf course would “be like trying to keep a rain forest alive during this drought.”

Carma Developers General Manager Shaun Cranston said he has been hearing this and other concerns from area residents, but the most common questions he receives are related to the proposed western arterial road.

The city’s Transportation Master Plan’s Thoroughfare Plan includes a road along the western boundary of the development.

Interim City Manager Laurie Moyer recently said the city kept the road on the plan in case a developer needed to buy right of way, but “it’s not critical that it be there. It serves no great transportation need.”

Cranston said he has no plans to build the road that would run through multiple properties and require the purchase of privately-owned land for right of way, but the city asked Carma to include it on its plans.

“It was never our intention to force a road into anyone’s property beyond [Paso Robles] property boundaries,” he said.

Carma has also been receiving questions about the proposed Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), but Cranston said, “It’s not so much opposition, but more like confusion.”

According to the city, a TIRZ is a “special district created by local government to publicly finance needed structural improvements and enhanced infrastructure within a defined area.”

The defined area in this case would be the Paso Robles community.

“In a nutshell, what we’re proposing is that the city consider a TIRZ and the TIRZ be limited to the Paso Robles community,” he said.

A third common question Cranston said he receives is related to the use of Type 1 reclaimed water on the planned golf course holes over the Edwards aquifer recharge zone.

Cranston said the city agreed to sell Paso Robles potable water to irrigate the golf course over the recharge zone to avoid the use of reclaimed water over the aquifer.

John Hoyt, assistant general manager of Aquifer Management for the Edwards Aquifer Authority, said in an Aug. 31 letter to Carma, “...Authority staff would support a decision that avoids the use of reclaimed water on the recharge zone....”

This letter is available on the city’s website with related Paso Robles documents.

Cranston said that while there are people who speak out against Paso Robles, the community does have its supporters.

“For every person we have that says ‘we don’t like your plan,’ there are 10 people saying ‘we like your plan, please don’t go away,’” he said.

San Marcos Realtor Robbie Wiley said she is in favor of building Paso Robles because it will be good for city growth.

“I’m tired of losing business to Kyle and New Braunfels because they’re more progressive,” she said. “This development will create jobs, create housing, and not only affordable but desirable housing.”

San Marcos resident Anita Fuller said she is also in favor of the development, but it bothers her that some residents seem to be against any kind of development.

“People seem to be afraid of change,” she said. “Many people say ‘I bought here because I wanted all this openness’ but at the same time, this area is going to grow. Anybody who buys land close to a city has to know that it’s going to be developed someday.”

Cranston said Carma chose to build in San Marcos primarily because of its location and development potential.

“San Marcos is the absolute epicenter of all the good things happening in Texas for the next generation,” he said.

Paso Robles includes 1,338.584 acres with 432.052 acres of land currently within city limits, and Carma is requesting to annex an additional 906.532 acres into city limits.

The next step in the process is for city council to vote on the annexation request after two readings.

Council will have the first reading of the annexation ordinance at 6 p.m., Sept. 21.

The second reading will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 and council will take action on the following items related to the development: petition for development agreement for the entire site that addresses annexation, utility services, transportation, development standards, parkland and other project amenities accompanied with duties and responsibilities of the developer, city and Property Owners Association over the term of the Development Agreement; land use amendments and zoning changes.

More information about Paso Robles including schedules and documents are available on the city’s website.