Housing proposal called inappropriate

A zoning change that would have allowed the construction of 12 zero lot line houses on property in the Westover neighborhood did not garner the Planning and Zoning Commission’s approval Tuesday night.

Property owner Lance Huber sought a zoning change for about 1.2 acres of vacant property at the corner of Baylor Avenue and Earle Street from Single Family-6 to Neighborhood District-3. Several property owners and neighbors that would be affected by the zoning change spoke against the idea, voicing concerns about drainage, traffic, parking and noise.

“Westover is a wonderful place,” said resident Yolanda Hernandez, who lives near where the proposed development would have occurred. Hernandez said that density that high would not fit in what she characterized as a quiet neighborhood.

Joe Schneider, who owns three properties adjacent to the proposed development, noted that the zoning change would double the number of housing units on the lots and that there would be only two parking spaces per dwelling. Resident Joel Barnard pointed out that adding impervious surfaces would create drainage problems. Other residents said that some houses in that area already come close to floodingafteraheavyrainandraisedconcerns that more development could worsen the problem.

“I’m not building a student housing complex or anything like that,” said Huber. He characterized the zero lot line houses as affor dable new construction in an established neighborhood. Zero lot line means that there would be no space separating the houses; two residences would share one roof with a property line running through the fir ewall between them. With the smaller lots, the houses could be sold for less money.

“‘Infill’ isn’t a bad word,” commissioner Lee Porterfield noted.

Commissioner Angie Ramirez observed, “Nobody’s building $120,000 homes in this town.”

Commissioner Mike Dillon said that while he would like to see affordable houses built in San Marcos, he would like to see a smaller development that would blend in with the rest of Westover better.

Chair Jim Garber said that the city’s new Neighborhood District designations are appropriate if the neighborhood wants them. In the case of the proposed development in Westover, he said, “I’m hearing that they don’t want it, and that’s good enough for me.”

A motion to deny the zoning change passed with Porterfield as the only no vote.