The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a zoning change for the United Campus Ministry from Public to Character District - 5 in a request by Pastor Todd Salmi. City staff presented the application and recommended approval of the zoning change, which is accompanied by an alternative compliance for a six-story building height.
The property is .93 acres and located just south of Texas State University between three streets: Woods Street, North Guadalupe Street and North LBJ Drive. The current use of the property is to house the Christ Chapel and United Campus Ministry. The proposed use would be mixed use development with religious ministry on the first floor and multifamily above. The property is located across the street from the new TXST hotel site.
“This ministry plans to maintain ownership of this land,” Pastor Salmi said. “Any redevelopment that will happen on this property will be through a ground lease where the ministry will maintain ownership of the land and continue to do its ministry in this location.” Salmi mentioned this development would generate new property tax revenues for the city and SMCISD schools. He said that if zoning is denied, the ministry might be forced to sell the property.
“This multifamily use is not purpose-built student housing, so it will not require a conditional use permit,” said San Marcos Chief Planner Lauren Clanton.
The existing zoning is Public, which allows for public and civic uses, while the proposed zoning of Character District-5 would allow for a variety of uses including multifamily, mixed use, office and retail.
“This property is within the boundaries of the Downtown Plan so we take the recommendations of the Downtown Plan into account,” Clanton said.
The Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in October 2024, designates the property as Conservation/ Cluster which identifies areas to conserve and reserve for future development as a means of focusing more intensive development in other areas of the community. The plan also states that development that does occur in this designation should have a low impact on the natural environment by using a variety of development techniques and strategies. The property lies within the Edwards Aquifer Transition Zone, which means construction will need to meet all environmental requirements.
The church on the property was built in 1966. It was flagged in 2019 by the Historic Resources Survey and given a high priority designation.
Additional infrastructure proposed would be streetscape improvements, bicycle and sidewalk improvements.
During discussion, Planning and Zoning Commissioner William Agnew brought up concerns.
“If I didn’t know anything about the Comprehensive Plan I would be all in favor of this. In substance I think it’s great but I cannot reconcile a six-story apartment building in Conservation/ Cluster,” Agnew said.
Commissioner Agnew was the only one to vote against rezoning. The item will go before City Council for a vote with the recommendation from Planning and Zoning.
