Spring Road proposal dead-ends

After much debate and discussion and input from neighbors, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted Tuesday night not to recommend a zoning change for 4.85 acres on Spring Road. The developer wants zoning to change from Future Development to Character District 3 and intends to put in 27 single-family residential lots and two detention and water quality pond lots. 

This was the second time the issue had come up for P&Z; the commission postponed a vote two weeks ago to allow the developer to meet with neighbors — a process that some neighbors said was incomplete.

“I was not contacted, nor did anyone try to contact me, during that two-week period,” said Ann Dupont, who lives on Spring Road across from the proposed development. 

Speaking during the public comments portion of the meeting, Dupont called the proposed development “irresponsible” and threatening to both the sensitive environmental features in the area and the neighborhood. 

Jay Horton, who also lives on Spring Road, voiced his displeasure with the proposed development, noting its location over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and near Sink Springs, which are part of the spring system at the headwaters of the San Marcos River. He also pointed out that Spring Road is a narrow road that cannot handle much traffic.

“Because of the college people that have been in the rent houses in that area, which I know that development will turn into eventually, I’m probably not going to want to live there,” he said. 

San Marcos resident Ryan Perkins also voiced concerns about the development because of the site’s environmental and historical importance.

“This is a very sacred spot,” he said. “... This is a very, very environmentally sensitive area.”

Thomas Rhodes, the developer, spoke to the commission. He said that after the last P&Z meeting, he spoke with Horton and two other neighbors in the lobby of City Hall for about 30 minutes. He noted that some of the hazards currently on the property that people have spoken about, such as wells and debris, were already there.

“We’ve inherited these,” he said. “We’ve been trying to clean this up and make this situation better.”

Rhodes spoke about the local housing market and the need for more housing affordability in San Marcos, noting that the median household income in San Marcos is low enough that “affordable” home prices in San Marcos should range between about $93,000 and $174,500. However, when asked, he said the houses he intends to build will cost in the high $100,000s to low $200,000s. 

“These aren’t going to be any more affordable than anything else around town,” P&Z Chairman Jim Garber said.

Most of the commissioners said they would vote to deny the zoning change, citing concerns about the environment, the lack of infrastructure and the effects that more homes would have on the existing neighborhood.

“I have no doubt in my mind that this large of a project would absolutely bog down that neighborhood,” commissioner Maxfield Baker said. 

Commissioner Betseygail Rand said she was disappointed that the developer did not hold more thorough meetings with the neighbors. 

“I don’t think that was handled well,” she said.

However, she noted that the location is close to Travis Elementary and in many ways would be a good spot for single-family residential development. Moreover, when Rand asked Rhodes what he would do if the zoning change is denied, he said he would go back to the drawing board and come up with a development plan that would be approved.

“If it weren’t for the environment, I think this is an ideal neighborhood,” she said. “... This is half a mile away from Travis, an elementary school.”

Rhodes said that if the zoning change is denied, he will go back to the drawing board and come up with a development that would be approved. 

The only two commissioners who voted against denying the zoning change were Rand and Lee Porterfield. 

Because P&Z’s vote was just a recommendation, the issue will still go to council, but because P&Z voted not to recommend the zoning change it would need a supermajority of the council to be approved. 

rblackburn@sanmarcosrecord.com

Twitter: @arobingoestweet