TMP a ‘go,’ amendments are pending
The city’s long-awaited Transportation Master Plan passed 5 to 0 on the first of two readings Tuesday night at the San Marcos City Council meeting.
Last month, the council held a public hearing on the plan and was scheduled to vote on adopting it. However, council followed City Manager Bert Lumbreras’ suggestion to hold off on a vote to have more time to look through the amendments to the plan that have been made.
The TMP has undergone numerous changes, including the removal of the Craddock Extension — a route that would have provided connectivity between the Hill Country west of town and the interstate by moving traffic along a route that would affect environmentally sensitive areas – and will most likely undergo more changes before it goes for a second vote on Dec. 12.
Council also discussed the prioritization of Vision Zero, a policy to commit to the goal of zero traffic deaths and severe injuries. The original goal was to have a Vision Zero Action Plan adopted by 2023, but pressure from city council members and members of the public have moved the goal up to spring of 2019 to establish a Vision Zero Task Force and develop a Vision Zero Action Plan. Vision Zero will most likely be a separate document from the Transportation Master Plan and looks to come back before the council sometime in the spring.
City Council also received a presentation and held a public hearing on a zoning change that would allow the construction of 12 zero lot line houses on acreage located at Earle Street and Baylor Avenue. The property owner is seeking a change from Single Family-6 to Neighborhood Density 3.
Though staff recommended approval of the request based on compatible density of Neighborhood Density 3 and Single Family-6 zoning, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-1 to deny the zoning change request at the Nov. 13 meeting.
Because of the Planning and Zoning Commission’s vote, at least six members of the city council would have to vote in favor of the request for it to pass.
Lance Huber, the property owner, requested before the meeting that city council postpone the vote, due to only five members being present and a super majority of six votes being necessary to pass the zoning change.
Several residents from the area came out to speak against the zoning change, including resident Yolanda Hernandez, who voiced concerns about preserving the neighborhood’s characteristics.
“That neighborhood is a wonderful neighborhood; it’s one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city – I’ve lived there since streets were even put in – and I really don’t think the city would bring justice to this neighborhood by bringing in zero lot line homes,” she said.
Resident Jonathan Budd spoke about issues with parking and traffic as well as safety.
“This particular block already has apartment complexes and duplexes, if you put another 12 units of two bedrooms with two people per bedroom, that’s going to increase density that people are going to be living on top of each other,” Budd said. “I don’t think that’s conducive for quality of life for the other residents in the neighborhood... When I came home today it was nice quiet day and there were little girls across the street riding their bikes in the street, one had training wheels. I don’t see that being able to occur if you start stacking people on top of each other down the street.”
Council Member Ed Mihalkanin made a motion to postpone the decision until January, after the two new members of the city council, who are currently in runoff races, will be confirmed.
Council Member Saul Gonzalez asked that the motion be changed to deny the zoning change, out of concern for the residents having to return at a later date. Mihalkanin responded that he respected the neighborhood’s concerns, but he did not feel comfortable voting on the item at the time.
“I do appreciate everybody who spoke from the neighborhood, and I was taking notes on it, it’s just the council has never denied the request of an applicant to postpone a decision and I mean in fairness we only have five up here,” Mihalkanin said.
“It’s no disrespect to the neighborhood to comply with the request of the applicant… Procedurally I just don’t feel comfortable voting tonight on it since we have less than seven people.”
Council member Lisa Prewitt reminded residents that they can submit a letter voicing their concerns about the zoning change to city council to be considered. City staff will also send out notices to residents within 400 feet of the property to remind them about the item reappearing on the City Council agenda. The City Council voted 5-0 to postpone the vote until the Jan. 15 meeting.
