Historic church, Westover zoning change on tonight’s agenda

Tonight’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting includes a public hearing about one issue that has received plenty of community support and another issue that is already inspiring opposition from neighbors.

The commission will hold a public hearing and consider a request to grant local historic landmark status to the old First Baptist Church on the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Comanche Street. The city Historic Preservation Commission voted last month to give the church local historic status. The building is 110 years old and once served as the center of the African-American community. Restoration efforts are being spearheaded by The Calaboose African-American History Museum and have garnered support from the Main Street program and other organizations and individuals throughout the community.

The church restoration project is also competing in a nationwide contest for a share of $2 million in restoration funds. To support the project in the contest, visit https://www.nationalgeographic.com/voteyourmainstreet/san-marcos/. 

Another public hearing concerns a zoning change request for about 1.2 acres at the corner of Earle Street and Baylor Avenue in the Westover neighborhood. The request would change the acreage from Single Family-6 to Neighborhood Density-3. Property owner Lance Huber wants to subdivide the property, which is currently vacant, into a maximum of 12 lots and build zero lot line houses there. Neighbors and property owners have already voiced displeasure about the potential zoning change. 

Partners in Hogan-Schneider Properties, which owns numerous lots around the property in question, wrote a letter of protestation regarding the zoning change request, citing overflow parking and drainage issues that could arise if the allowed density is doubled from the current six single-family lots to 12. A resident of Westover has also voiced opposition to the zoning change based on concerns about additional traffic and noise. 

In other business tonight, P&Z will hold public hearings on conditional use permits for Cheer and Chow and Ivar’s River Pub. Cheer and Chow, which is relocating to the property that most recently served as a location for Erbert’s and Gerbert’s sandwich shop, could include an outdoor dining area and may host live music. Ivar’s is requesting the renewal of a conditional use permit to allow the sale of mixed beverages. 

Planning and Zoning will meet at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins St. P&Z meetings are also streamed online.