Final Draft Comprehensive Plan & Downtown Area Plan - New Consideration Dates

The Final Drafts are available on the project website!

The Final Draft Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Area Plan were developed by the community over the past 2 years to create and achieve a vision for the future of our community. Combined, the projects have received over 4,000 community comments throughout the plan development and represent over 100 meetings and engagement events! We thank the community for their dedication and participation in shaping the future of the places where San Marcans live, work, shop, and play so that San Marcos is a vibrant and unique city for all.

The Final Draft Plans were considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, February 28th. The Commission postponed action on both plans to the dates below:

Comprehensive Plan Action: Tuesday, April 11 @ 6 p.m.
Downtown Area Plan Action: Tuesday, April 25 at @ 6 p.m.

One may watch the meeting in-person in the City Council Chambers, 630 E Hopkins Street, on Grande channel 16, or online. Please contact planninginfo@sanmarcostx.gov for more information.

Those interested in speaking during the Citizen Comment period either in-person, virtually, or would like to submit a written comment can view instructions below:

Citizen Comments at Planning and Zoning Commission

April 13: Learn about Historic Preservation in the Dunbar Neighborhood

Join the City of San Marcos for an informational meeting to learn about historic preservation projects in the Dunbar Neighborhood! The Informational Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 13 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Dunbar Recreation Center, 801 MLK Drive.

Attendees will have an opportunity to learn about and discuss plans for the Dunbar Historic District and the Dunbar School Home Economics Building. This includes new nominations to the National Register of Historic Places and a historic preservation plan for the school building. City staff and consultants from Stantec, McDoux Preservation, RVK Architects, and Post Oak Preservation will be on hand to share information and answer questions.

For more information, visit the project website: https://arcg.is/nS4KH

April 27: Blanco Gardens Neighborhood Workshop

Are you a resident, business owner, employee, or property owner within the Blanco Gardens Neighborhood? You're invited to attend the second community workshop as part of the creation of the Blanco Gardens Neighborhood Area Plan!

The Neighborhood Workshop will be held on Thursday, April 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E Hopkins Street. The event will include activities, prizes, and refreshments! Staff will present progress made on the plan as well as draft recommendations to address opportunities and challenges identified by residents so far in the process. To learn more about input received so far, visit the project website: https://arcg.is/1LeTPD

Can't attend the event? You can participate virtually after the event or pick-up a take-home toolkit of the workshop activities! To learn more about how to participate, please email planninginfo@sanmarcostx.gov.

Recap: Dunbar/Heritage Neighborhood Area Plan Workshop

On Wednesday, March 22, staff hosted the second Neighborhood Workshop for the Dunbar/Heritage Neighborhood Area Plan at the Price Center.

Staff presented progress made on the plan and draft recommendations on key topics being addressed in the plan. The draft recommendations will be used to achieve the needs and goals communicated by the neighborhood on various topics. Interactive stations during the workshop collected resident input on public spaces & amenities, streetscapes, getting around the neighborhood, housing, building form & development, business community, and history, arts, and culture.

Additionally, a "Coffee and Chat" was held the morning of Thursday, March 23, to provide residents an additional opportunity to participate. In total, approximately 50 people attended.

More information on the Neighborhood Area Plan can be found on the project website. Workshop results will also be posted to the website in the coming weeks: https://arcg.is/19nLqq0

Planning Department Receives Downtown Partner of the Year Award!

The City of San Marcos Main Street Department recognized several downtown businesses, partners, and volunteers at its 8th Annual Love Downtown Awards in February. The event honored the "contributions of downtown merchants and volunteers who work to foster a downtown that is a unique and culturally vibrant destination, where people of all ages can connect, create, and celebrate."

The City of San Marcos Planning Department was awarded the Downtown Partner of the Year Award for work on the Downtown Area Plan. The Downtown Area Plan kicked off in May, 2022 and is being considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission on April 25, 2023. For more information on the plan visit www.visionsmtx.com.

May 9: SMTX 2023 Open House

We invite you to meet the people behind City of San Marcos' departments and programs! SMTX 2023 will take place from 5-7 pm, on May 9, at the Pauline Espinosa Community Hall, 170 Charles Austin Dr.

Attendees will get the chance to learn about citywide updates, get free swag, and meet city staff from various departments. Stop by and say hello! To learn more, visit sanmarcostx.gov.

Provide Input on the San Marcos Hazard Mitigation Plan

The City of San Marcos is updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Hazard Mitigation Plan evaluates the historical occurrences of natural hazards and identifies mitigation strategies and projects with the goal of minimizing or eliminating the long-term risk to human life and property from known hazards.

There are multiple ways to participate in the Plan creation! For more information, visit the project website.

Virtual Survey - Take the virtual survey here.
Risk Assessment Public Meeting - May 10 @ 5 p.m. at the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins Street.
Mitigation Strategy Public Meeting - July 12 @ 5 p.m. at the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins Street.

Fair Housing Month Webinars

April is Fair Housing Month, and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) is partnering with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to present a series of informational webinars on the Fair Housing Act and some of the most commonly encountered fair housing issues in Texas.

For questions on the webinars, or requests for reasonable accommodation for the training, please contact the TDHCA at fairhousing@tdhca.state.tx.us.

Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications: Tuesday, April 11 at 10:30 a.m. Register here.
Assistance Animals: Tuesday, April 18 at 10:30 a.m. Register here.

Amanda Hernandez, AICP, CNU-A - New Director of Planning & Development Services

The City of San Marcos has selected Amanda Hernandez to serve as the Director of Planning & Development Services! Amanda was chosen following a nationwide search and her appointment became effective March 20. Amanda has served the City of San Marcos since 2012 in various positions including Senior Planner, Development Services Manager, Assistant Director of Planning, and most recently Interim Director. She has overseen numerous projects, complex development agreements and planning cases, and has overseen two Comprehensive Planning projects in San Marcos.

Amanda has almost 20 years of public and private professional planning experience, including roles in Hidalgo County and the City of McAllen. She received a Bachelor of Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati, and her Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University. Hernandez is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and Congress for the New Urbanism. You might find Amanda walking or biking from her home in Southwest Hills to visit locally owned small businesses around town. She and her husband have a 12-year-old fur baby named Piper.

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.