CITY OF SAN MARCOS
The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association has recognized the City of San Marcos with Planning Achievement Awards. The statewide program honors planning achievements, projects, programs, individuals and organizations. The awards are based on originality, innovation, engagement, quality and promotion, as well as implementation and effectiveness.
The Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan earned the top honor in the Comprehensive Plan category, and the Blanco Gardens Neighborhood Area Plan received a Gold Award in the Environmental Planning category.
Adopted in October 2024, the Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan serves as a long-term vision and policy document intended to guide the city’s growth and development over the next 20 – 30 years. The plan features both physical and programmatic recommendations rooted in years of community engagement on issues most important to residents. It was recognized for its extensive outreach initiatives and inclusive approach to addressing population growth while preserving San Marcos’ unique character and history.
The Blanco Gardens Neighborhood Area Plan, adopted in March 2025, establishes goals and strategies for the Blanco Gardens neighborhood for the next 10 – 20 years. The plan emphasizes resilience by incorporating flood mitigation measures and cross-cutting strategies to advance multiple community goals. It was commended for fostering strong partnerships between community members and government agencies, while ensuring that neighborhood priorities remained central throughout the process.
“We’re honored to be recognized by the American Planning Association as a leader in comprehensive and environmental planning,” said Senior Planning Technician Brittany Faulkner, the project manager for the Blanco Gardens Area Plan . “This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of community members, city staff, city council and the various boards and commissions who helped guide these planning efforts.”
The City of San Marcos was also awarded the 2025 Richard R. Lillie, FAICP Planning Excellence Award for the second consecutive year. The program recognizes the professional qualifications of city staff and the city’s planning projects.
For more information about the Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan and the Blanco Gardens Neighborhood Area Plan, visit www.visionsmtx.com. For media inquiries, contact communicationsinfo@sanmarcostx. gov.
