AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
7:00PM Receive a Staff presentation and hold a Public Hearing to receive comments for or against Ordinance 2016-07, approving an amendment to the preferred scenario map of the city’s comprehensive plan to change the land use designation for a 50.643 acre, more or less, tract of land out of the William H. Van Horn survey, abstract 464, located West of IH-35 along Posey Road, from an area of stability to employment center; and including procedural provisions.
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Meeting date: March 15, 2016
Department: Planning and Development Services
Funds Required: N/A
Account Number: N/A
Funds Available: N/A
Account Name: N/A
CITY COUNCIL GOAL: Community Wellness / Strengthen the Middle Class
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENT(s): Land Use, Goal 1
BACKGROUND:
This request to change the Preferred Scenario Map has been reviewed against Vision San Marcos: A River Runs Through Us, the City’s Comprehensive Plan and was found to be generally consistent with the intent of the Plan as outlined in the staff report. All figures used to review this case are attached.
The applicant is proposing to install an off-premise freestanding sign located on the portion of the property inside the City Limits, approximately 2.3 acres, that is currently zoned “Agricultural Ranch District.” In order to request a zoning change to “General Commercial”, which is needed to allow for the sign to be located there, the applicant is requesting to amend the Preferred Scenario Map from Area of Stability to Employment Center. The Plan states that Employment Centers are areas where new development, such as industrial, manufacturing, large office park and intense commercial uses are appropriate. The installation of the off-premise freestanding sign itself will not promote economic development but designating the site as an Employment Center has the potential to promote economic development and employment opportunities, developing a site that is adjacent to the IH-35 corridor. In addition to the zoning categories listed in the Zoning Translation Table, new zoning categories, specific to Employment Centers, may be available with the completion of Code SMTX.
At this time the Council is considering the request which will change the City’s Preferred Scenario Map. Any future changes in the zoning of the property would be required to follow the standard process of notice and public hearing. Zoning requests are considered separately and require full staff analysis.
Staff recommends approval of the request to change from an Area of Stability to an Employment Center as submitted.
A public hearing at the Planning and Zoning Commission was held on February 23, 2016. During the public hearing, one citizen spoke but was neither in favor nor opposition; they own the property adjacent to the subject property and had a general question about the process. The Commission recommended approval of the request (9-0).