Housing policy amendments approved

The San Marcos City Council approved amendments to the Affordable/Workforce Housing Policy regarding criteria for approval of applications to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. 

The council voted during its regular meeting Tuesday to amend policies to ensure if a project is requesting a tax exemption, revenues from such project remain in San Marcos; amend criteria to ensure projects —whether tax exempt or not tax exempt — utilize local support services; add a flowchart to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit application to more easily distinguish the process and criteria for projects that request a tax exemption and projects not requesting a tax exemption; and add minor revisions to the policy language so that it is easier to read.

“I think the fact that we were actually working with two types of developers wanting two different types of projects at the same, at least helped me and others to understand what kind of qualifications we were going to want in there to meet our housing survey needs,” councilmember Melissa Derrick said. “We can tailor it to our specific needs of our housing plan, which is great … We’ve been working on this for a few months. I think the way it happened was chaotic but it was a good learning experience and I think we got everything nailed down.” 

The low-income housing tax credit is administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which awards tax credits to eligible participants to offset a portion of their federal tax liability in exchange for production or preservation of affordable rental housing. 

San Marcos currently has 11 completed or under construction low-income housing apartment projects: Asbury Place, Champions Crossing, Country Oaks, Encino Pointe, La Vista Retirement Community, Mariposa Apartments, Sienna Pointe, Stone Brook Seniors, Sunrise Village (Phase 2), Villas at Willow Spring and Mission Trails at El Camino. The city has three projects that have had their resolutions approved and are under TDHCA review: The Reserve at San Marcos, Riverstone and Villas Del San Xavier. San Marcos has two projects that have resolution applications under review: Redwood and The Lantana on Bastrop.

The amendments made state that “When considering a recommendation of support, projects must show proof that revenues will remain in San Marcos and will be utilized to support local residents with housing; The project shall submit surety documentation to the city that the proposed support services will be included in the completed project. Projects will be required to submit documentation such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or any other legal documentation indicating the partnership between the project and the support service such documentation shall be required prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the project.” 

“I think it’s really grown into, and evolved into, a really good policy,” said Shannon Mattingly, city director of Planning & Development Services. “I think we started out with not a lot of depth to it but we’ve kind of learned as we’ve gone through them and add onto it.” 

In other business, the council approved Ordinance 2020-03, on the second of two readings, amending the official zoning map of the city by rezoning approximately 4.85 acres located at the western corner of South Old Bastrop Highway and Rattler Road, from FD Future Development District to CD-5 Character District 5.

The city council postponed action on two resolutions regarding its partnership with Hays County, Texas State University and San Marcos Consolidated ISD for the creation of a Youth Services Director. The two items were Resolution 2020-32R — which approves an agreement with Texas State University, San Marcos Consolidated ISD and Hays County for the joint funding of a contract with Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas to provide personnel to serve as a Youth Services Director; and Resolution 2020-33R —  which approves an agreement with Community Action to provide personnel to serve as a Youth Services Director for the city, Texas State, SMCISD and the county in an amount not to exceed $110,000 and be jointly funded by the four entities with the city contributing funds not to exceed $50,000. Council expects to see both resolutions back at the next regular meeting on March 3. 

“It’s just a bump on the road,” Derrick said. “It’s just a date change. The county, they need to approve it before we can approve it. So, it’s still moving forward full speed ahead and we’re really excited. But we just had a little bump and it’ll be back next time.”

The council also expressed approval of a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to rename El Camino Real Park to the Kenneth M. Copeland Memorial Park. A formal resolution will come to council at a later date. 

“I think this is a very nice honor for Officer Copeland,” Mayor Jane Hughson said.