I am proud to be part of a growing group of citizens who now call themselves SMARTER San Marcos. The proposed development known as the S.M.A.R.T. Terminal, currently being considered for approval by the San Marcos City Council, has been the impetus of our coalition. This 934-acre development is being sold to us by city leaders and staff as a once-ina-lifetime, must-act-now-and-fast, economic development opportunity for our community. But we have grave concerns.
For us, as with all real estate deals, it’s all about location, location, location. The proposed heavy industrial rail development sits in precarious proximity to a natural feature and resource we all hold dear. The proposed Terminal is a mere 1,250 feet from our beloved San Marcos River. That’s less than a quarter of a mile.
Demands, deals and schedules of the developer, and its first likely tenant Katerra, are driving a timeline and approval process that is head-spinning and leaving San Marcos citizens out of the equation. So now, before it’s too late, we are raising our citizen voices with deep-felt feelings and concerns for a river that defines our community.
