You're Invited to the Vision SMTX Open House!

Over the past year, we've been working with the community and stakeholders to create the Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan which will create the vision for the future of San Marcos for the next 20 years. Come check out the plan's progress and let us know if we're on the right track!

Vision SMTX Open House
Thursday, May, 26, 2022
San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E Hopkins Street

5:30-6:00 PM | Social Gathering
6:00-6:45 PM | Presentation
6:45-8:00 PM | Open House
Can't Attend? A virtual option will also be available at www.visionsmtx.com

Come early for a social gathering and presentation or stop by the come and go open house to explore the progress made on the plan so far. Light refreshments will be provided along with giveaways! To learn more about Vision SMTX, visit www.visionsmtx.com or email planninginfo@sanmarcostx.gov.

About Vision SMTX:

The City Council provided direction to rewrite the City’s current comprehensive plan, Vision San Marcos, originally adopted in 2013. This comprehensive plan rewrite project, known as Vision SMTX, will establish the goals and vision for the future of San Marcos for the next 20 years. Vision SMTX will create a visionary document that guides long-term decision-making for key components such as housing, the environment, economic development, transportation, and land use.

Join us for a Preservation Celebration!

May is National Preservation Month! To celebrate, we invite you to join us for a Preservation Celebration:

Preservation Celebration
Saturday, May 21, 2022; 10 AM – 2 PM
Cephas House, 217 W MLK Drive

At the event we'll shine the light on some of the undertold stories of San Marcos! Learn about the evolution of historic preservation and hear stories from: Johnson Planning & Preservation Consulting, Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, Dunbar Heritage Association, and local archivist, Beth Grayson.

Stick around for a 30-minute walking tour of the Dunbar Historic District followed by a guided tour of the Calaboose African American History Museum!

Additional details will be posted at sanmarcostx.gov/historicpreservation. Contact Alison Brake, abrake@sanmarcostx.gov, 512.393.8232 for more information.

Natural Area Land Management + Riverfront Parks Public Open House

The Parks and Recreation will host a Public Open House to discuss the Natural Area Land Management Plan and the San Marcos Riverfront Parks Preliminary Design Report.

Public Open House
Saturday, May 14, 2022; 10 AM to 6 PM
San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E Hopkins Street

These two plans will help manage our natural areas and plan for future improvements of the San Marcos riverfront parks. This is a come and go event. Please join us and let us know your thoughts! For more information visit: sanmarcostx.gov/3654/Current-Projects

May is National Bike Month

May is National Bike Month, a celebration of biking as transportation, as recreation, and as a way to improve well-being and health! Bike month is promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and is celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling - and encourage giving biking a try.

Celebrating Bike Month

To celebrate Bike Month 2022, we encourage you to try adding biking into your life and share your bike trip by tagging #BikeThere. Whether you're riding for fun, to coffee, around the block, for fitness, or taking essential trips to work, or school, we'd love to see a photo of your adventure on social media!

Bike Month Proclamation
On Tuesday, May 17, we invite you to join us at City Hall where Mayor Jane Hughson will officially proclaim May as National Bike Month! The public is invited to join us in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 630 E Hopkins Street at 1:30 p.m. for a proclamation photo. Wear your bike helmets and bike swag!

Congratulations to our Graduates!

We're excited to feature members of the department who are graduating or are completing professional educational certificates this May:

Amanda Hernandez

Amanda Hernandez serves as the Assistant Director of Planning and Development Services and has held various positions in the department for almost 10 years! She will graduate from Texas State University with a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS) from the Department of Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies (OWLS). The MSIS program offers flexible course schedules and allows students to design their degree program based on their career objectives. As part of her degree, Amanda completed six of the seven Certified Public Manager tracks and will graduate with a Certificate of Professional Ethics.

Diego Perez

Diego Perez has served as the Community Development division intern for the past year. Diego grew up in rural South Texas and moved to San Marcos to study at Texas State University. He is graduating in May with a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning. His goal is to become an urban planner for a major city in the future with an emphasis on sustainability within communities. We wish him luck on his future endeavors!

Alison Brake

Alison Brake serves as the City's Historic Preservation Officer and has been with the department for 10 years. Alison will complete a Graduate Certificate in historic preservation from the University of Kentucky. The 2-year program, designed for working professionals and graduate students in related fields, helps architects, planners, engineers, and other professionals expand their knowledge and develop specialized areas of practice by examining the history and theory of preservation and providing training in architectural history, revitalization, adaptive reuse, and preservation policy.

Department Staff Updates

Zindi Castillo - Grants Accounting Specialist

Zindi joined the Community Development division of the department in February. She is a San Marcos native and has long-term plans with her husband to raise their son, daughter, and fur babies here as well. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration-Accounting from Texas State University and Master of Accountancy from University of Oklahoma. Zindi enjoys working out, reading, and gardening. Prior to joining the City of San Marcos staff, she was a Supervisor in Student Business Services at Texas State University for 6 years. Since joining the team she has learned a lot, made new friends, and is excited to be a part of the San Marcos team!

Department COVID-19 Update

City Offices are Open with Virtual Meetings

The Planning and Development Services Department is open to the public Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We encourage customers to continue to use our 24/7 online permitting system at www.mygovernmentonline.org or to call to ask questions at 512.805.2630 (Permits) and 512.393.8230 (Planning) when possible.

All meetings, such as Pre-Developments, will remain virtual. Planning and Zoning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, and Zoning Board of Adjustments meetings are being conducted as hybrid (in-person/virtual) meetings. Click here for information on how to view or participate in an upcoming meeting. Additional information and updates on COVID-19 can be found on the City's website.

Inspections

Our inspectors are continuing to keep our single family and commercial construction projects moving while also maintaining their safety by social distancing and hand washing. Our department is still offering video call inspection services as requested, through Skype, for any occupied homes that may prefer that route. Please contact Paul Hinrichs phinrichs@sanmarcostx.gov for more information.

Contact the Planning and Development Services Department

The Planning Department's goal is to manage the growth and development of the community by carrying out adopted Council policies, and providing professional expertise. To contact us, visit our webpage or email us at planninginfo@sanmarcostx.gov. The public can sign up for the monthly Planning Newsletter here.