Vision SMTX Appendix Adopted 2024

APPENDIX E: PREFERRED GROWTH SCENARIO DEVELOPMENT

Summary of Community and Stakeholder Input The community gravitated to Scenario A and appreciated the efforts to reduce growth pressures on Downtown and historic neighborhoods. They emphasized the need for the new activity center to be highly walkable with a mix of amenities and encouraged a strong transit connection between the two centers. The community showed support for some level of small and more distributed neighborhood centers; however, they were concerned that this scenario would not relieve enough pressures in the downtown area. The disbursement of medium density developments was also an area of concern. They expressed not wanting to turn San Marcos into a mini-Austin by allowing the spread of these types of developments. The community did show interest in providing more housing and shopping along FM 110 and responded positively to the disbursement of amenities throughout the city. Overall, the community expressed a general preference to combine scenarios A & B. They thought that the historic resource overlay, cultural resource overlay, and environmental overlay should continue to be priority. They requested to continue exploring placing medium and higher density commercial at strategic locations as well as making places more walkable, not just by adding a sidewalk network, but also creating destinations to walk to. Additionally, there was a strong desire to minimize acres developed and impervious cover and wanted to note that a heavy emphasis on new growth east of I-35 would likely require the need to invest in new infrastructures such as roads, utilities, treatment plant, etc. When asked about the top four most important development types for new development in the City, respondents chose Parks/Open Space, Natural Areas; Medium Density Neighborhood; Community Activity Center; and Neighborhood Commercial/Center. During the Council Lunch and Learn, Council expressed wanting to be fully informed when making decisions on the future of San Marcos and asked for more insight on the impacts of COVID-19 on the proposed growth forecasts. Additionally, Council and the City Manager mentioned that more outreach to youth and Spanish speaking community was needed and that social events and gatherings in parks or other areas should be a focus of engagement moving forward. Through the community survey crowdsourcing map, the community identified locations of opportunity and/or needs for new housing, a new town center, art, or more jobs. Existing areas and development of concern were also identified, e.g. unsafe intersections for both vehicles and pedestrians.

SAN MARCOS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2024

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