Upcoming Blanco Gardens and Dunbar/Heritage Neighborhood Area Plan Workshops!

Are you a resident, business owner, employee, or property owner within the Dunbar/Heritage Neighborhoods or the Blanco Gardens Neighborhood? You're invited to an exciting opportunity to participate in the future of your neighborhood!

The Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan under development strives to create a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive city comprised of complete neighborhoods that provide equitable and people-focused development and amenities for the whole community. In addition to guiding how San Marcos will grow and develop, Vision SMTX calls for the development of several smaller geography Neighborhood Area Plans for San Marcos including the Dunbar / Heritage Neighborhood Area and the Blanco Gardens Neighborhood kicking off this month with Neighborhood Workshops!

Dunbar / Heritage Neighborhood Workshop
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Dunbar Recreation Center, 801 MLK Drive
5:30-8:00 PM | Interactive Event
Visit the Project Webpage

Blanco Gardens Neighborhood Workshop
Thursday, November 17, 2022
San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E Hopkins Street
5:30-8:00 PM | Interactive Event
Visit the Project Webpage

The Neighborhood Area Plans will take a closer look at the needs, challenges, opportunities, and vision for your neighborhood! At the event, we want to know what you love about your neighborhood and opportunities for improvement in the future. We'll be discussing topics such as housing, transportation, parks, trails, connectivity, history and culture, access to services and businesses, and how to improve quality of life in your neighborhood!

The events will include interactive activities, food, games, and raffle prizes! If you live in one of these areas and want to learn more, please email planninginfo@sanmarcostx.gov or sign-up for our mailing list or visit the project webpage.

About Area Planning
Over the past 2 years, the City has been working with the community to develop the Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan, which establishes city-wide vision and goals for the future of San Marcos for the next 20 years. As this plan nears completion, several Neighborhood and Regional Area Plans are kicking off to offer residents an opportunity to take a proactive role in planning at a smaller-geography / neighborhood scale. An Area Plan will take a closer look at the needs, challenges, opportunities, and vision for an area or neighborhood. The plan will be developed using input from residents, property owners, business owners, and stakeholders in the areas, will provide ideas about how to improve quality of life, and outline specific ways to implement the goals of Vision SMTX at the neighborhood scale.

Second City Center Regional Area Plan Survey

As part of the Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan process, we heard from the community that they envision the area near the San Marcos High School as a dense place with diverse housing opportunities, jobs to support residents, and access to amenities, services, parks, and businesses within walking or biking distance to support neighborhoods east of IH-35. Learn more about the Second City Center project area and surrounding area here!

Participate in a 5-minute survey to let us know your vision for this area plus a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Take the Survey in English

Encuesta en Español

Mayor Jane Hughson along with members of the City of San Marcos Planning Division and Legal team during a proclamation for National Community Planning Month.

Get to know the Planning Division

As we close out National Community Planning Month during the month of October, we want to highlight the members of the Planning Division and provide a glimpse into what interests them most about their role as planners in the San Marcos community.

Amanda Hernandez, AICP, CNU-A, Interim Director of Planning and Development Services

In school, I thought I wanted to be a civil engineer. After a couple years I realized I was more interested in planning because it is more fluid, and frankly, more fun! I’ve always enjoyed public sector planning over private sector because you get to know your community, both the terrain and the peoples, and you get to see the results of your hard work. Now that I’ve called San Marcos home for over six years, and after having worked here for ten, I’m invested in this amazing City.

Andrea Villalobos, AICP, CNU-A, Planning Manager

Growing up, I've always enjoyed exploring new cities and neighborhoods. Becoming a bike rider later in life helped me see my community with a new perspective. My job as a planner gives me profound purpose. As a San Marcos area native, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to my fellow community members for good planning practices so that all residents have equal access to a sustainable and resilient community at all stages of their lives. I get most excited when facilitating outreach opportunities and events to engage, educate, and empower residents on planning initiatives.

Alison Brake, Historic Preservation Officer

After working a State government agency, the Planning profession found me. Through it, I've developed a love of historic preservation and planning at the neighborhood scale. Since moving to San Marcos to attend SWT in 1998, I have felt a deep connection to this city. Being able to help shape its future while living and raising a family in San Marcos, really is special. San Marcos has great potential and I want to be a part of bringing that potential to light.

Julia Cleary, Senior Planner

I chose to work in planning because I believe that everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status and where they live in the world, should be able to live somewhere with access to open space, amenities, transportation options and utilities such as safe drinking water and waste disposal. I took these things for granted when I was growing up - it wasn't until I was older that I realized that these things didn't just appear by themselves and that there was a whole institution of rules, regulations and local officials working behind the scenes to make it happen.

Will Rugeley, Planner

Whether it was going from a greenfield to a built environment or repurposing a downtown building, growing up I was always fascinated by the evolution of cities. This fascination along with my parents both being public servants naturally lead me to the public sector planning profession. Throughout my 10-year tenure in city planning I’ve come to realize that I chose this vocation for one simple reason: today’s decisions affect not only tomorrow but also decades into the future, and, 50 years from today, I want to be able to say, in good faith, that my participation resulted in something collectively considered a positive for and an asset of the City.

Craig Garrison, Planner

I’m born and raised in the hill country around Austin, Texas, and spent most of my youth in nature, and the built environment that was connected to it. I’ve always had a strong appreciation for public places and connection with their “Spirit of Place.” The Planning profession chose me when I was going to school for Environmental Science. I realized that Planners are able to enact real meaningful change that impacts the health of our environment, people, and society by harnessing long range plans and establishing a framework of ordinances that ensure an equitable and livable society for all of its citizens.

Anna Essington, Planning & Mapping Analyst

As a GIS professional, I’m committed to answering the questions of where. Providing the maps and data to the planners, elected officials, and public so that we all can make informed decisions about the community we live is such a rewarding challenge.

Brittany Faulkner, Senior Planning Technician

I chose a career in planning because it touches so many different aspects of the built environment, and in turn has a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of people living in a city. My focus specifically has been on integrating nature into the built environment in order to create resilient neighborhoods that people enjoy living in. That’s why I love planning for San Marcos, because the river and parks are such an integral part of the history, culture, and daily life of the city. I want to help create similar spaces throughout the area, so that everyone can enjoy nature in their own neighborhood.

Jack Ruth, Planning Intern

Planning is important to me because it is a foundation upon which our communities are built. San Marcos has a great community, and I enjoy working with our community on projects to see what our community wants to build together.

Art Naylor, Mapping Analyst Intern

My interest in planning was initiated through my love of cycling, community, and cartography. My position as Mapping Analyst Intern allows me to use my cartographic skills to aid in the development of the city’s GIS, and participate in community outreach events. Being a San Marcos resident for the last nine years I am incredibly thankful to be able to work for the community that has given so much to me.

National Community Survey - Closes Today!

The City of San Marcos recently launched the National Community Survey to gather feedback from residents on an array of issues including housing affordability, transportation, education, recreational opportunities, and civic engagement. The survey, administered by Polco, is available in English and Spanish. The survey closes tonight, November 4, at Midnight.

Take the survey online at: sanmarcostx.gov/survey.

CDBG CAPER - Open for Review

The community is invited to review the 2021-2022 Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER provides a summary of the projects and programs supported with Community Development and Block Grant (CDBG) funding during the 2021 program year that began October 1, 2021 and was completed September 30, 2022.

Any person wishing to submit comments must do so via e-mail to cdbg@sanmarcostx.gov or in writing at: City of San Marcos, Attn: CDBG Program, 630 E. Hopkins, San Marcos, Texas, 78666. The last day to submit written comments will be Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

For assistance in obtaining a copy of the CAPER, please contact Carol Griffith at 512-393-8147 or cgriffith@sanmarcostx.gov.

Department Staff Updates

Stevie Deleon, Planning Technician

Stevie is the newest member of the Planning & Development Services Team! Originally from the small town of Lytle, Texas, Stevie moved to San Marcos in Fall 2017 to start school at Texas State University where she graduated with a BA in Geography Resource and Environmental Studies and continued school to get her Masters in Sustainability Studies. Previously Stevie made her rounds as an intern in various San Marcos City Departments such as Parks and Recreation, Resource Recovery, and the Discovery Center. She wanted to join the Planning and Development Services team full time because of her love for San Marcos, she wanted to be a part of the development and growth, and to help build of the city she now calls home. In her free time she enjoys kayaking the San Marcos River, roller skating, going on walks with her dog Riley, and watching Gilmore Girls.

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 permitinfo@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.