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Mystic Canyon developement. Photo courtesy of the city of San Marcos

Vote on Mystic Canyon delayed pending talks

City Council
Thursday, August 9, 2018

A city council decision on the proposed Mystic Canyon development near the Castle Forest, Franklin Square and Bishop Crossing neighborhoods will be delayed until the developer and city staff can hold more discussions.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, council was set to vote on a zoning change for the 56 acres where the low-density development would be built. The developer, Jim Ladner, is requesting a zoning change from Future Development to Single Family-6. 

However, during the public hearing on the issue, several members of the public spoke against the development, noting concerns such as runoff, flooding and the potential environmental impacts on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.

“There are a lot of concerns involving this development,” said Greg Clayton, who lives in one of the neighborhoods near the proposed low-density development. “No one in the neighborhood right now is completely confident with this zoning.”

Bob Holder, another resident of the area near the proposed Mystic Canyon site, echoed Clayton, saying that his neighbors are “very concerned about this development.”

Council members also expressed concerns about stormwater runoff, traffic and the environmental sensitivity of the site, with Mayor Pro-Tem Lisa Prewitt saying she could not support new development on top of the aquifer’s recharge zone.

“I can’t support a bunch of roadways in there, even with two and a half structures per acre,” she said.

Ladner said the development would include large lots, with about two and a half structures per acre, and would adhere to strict impervious cover limits. A detention pond already exists on the land, Ladner said. Moreover, city staff said that the development would have to adhere to Code SMTX standards, which limit runoff and include more environmental restrictions than the city’s previous requirements.

Mayor John Thomaides pointed out that Code SMTX includes regulations and requirements designed to address most of the concerns about Mystic Canyon.

“The code that we just passed was supposed to deal with all this,” he said. “... So I kind of feel like I don’t think we should move the goalpost again.”

The council voted on the zoning change with Thomaides, Jane Hughson and Scott Gregson voting yes and Prewitt, Melissa Derrick and Ed Mihalkanin voting no. Saul Gonzales was absent. The motion died due to a lack of majority. 

Thomaides then made a motion to postpone a vote on the zoning change until the applicants and city staff can discuss the concerns voiced during Tuesday’s meeting and “try to find a way forward.” The motion passed unanimously. 

 

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666