Demolition review back on P&Z’s docket

An ordinance regarding demolition review for historic-aged resources is back on the San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commissions’ docket. 

After a vote to postpone a recommendation on an amendment to the development code passed at P&Z’s Sept. 10 meeting, the agenda item is back this Tuesday. 

The commission will hold a public hearing and consider a recommendation to the City Council regarding a Development Code amendment to include a demolition review process for historic-age resources. 

P&Z’s recommendation follows the adoption of a temporary ordinance requiring a delay on the issuance of permits for demolitions of historic structures. On June 27, the San Marcos City Council adopted a temporary ordinance placing a 90-day delay on the issuance of demolition permits for buildings that are deemed historically significant or are 80 years or older. Council has since extended the temporary ordinance. 

Following the passage of the temporary ordinance, San Marcos’ Historic Preservation Commission began meeting to discuss a long-term solution. They eventually approved a draft ordinance recommendation on Aug. 28, which proposes a process that requires eligible properties go before the Historic Preservation Commission for a public hearing for consideration as a local landmark. In addition to the public hearing requirement, eligible applicants would be required to facilitate a Neighborhood Presentation Meeting to discuss the proposed demolition.  

According to the HPC’s draft ordinance, eligible properties would include those 50 years or older if located outside of the boundaries of the My Historic SMTX survey. If inside the survey — which was adopted by council on Sept. 3 — properties evaluated with a high or medium preservation priority would be eligible for the demolition review, as well as properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. 

During P&Z’s Sept. 10 meeting, some commissioners expressed concerns about requiring structures 50 years and older to go through the demolition review process. 

P&Z Chair Jim Garber requested that staff generate a recommendation of their own for the demolition review process so that P&Z can compare staff’s recommendation to the HPC’s recommendation. 

If P&Z passes a recommendation, it will then move forward to City Council for consideration.

In other business, P&Z will consider a request from Kissing Tree for a preliminary subdivision plat for approximately 34.9 acres located east of Hunter Road and Centerpoint Road. 

Additionally, the commission will hold a public hearing and consider a request by Gumby’s Pizza for a Conditional Use Permit for the sale of mixed alcoholic beverages. 

P&Z will meet at 6 p.m. at 630 E. Hopkins St.