San Marcos City Council Hold First Of Two Public Hearings On Annexation Of Smart Terminal Property

On Tuesday, the San Marcos Planning and Zoning voted against the rezoning of the property, which is currently located in San Marcos’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.

By, Terra Rivers, Managing Editor

The San Marcos City Council held the first of two public hearings regarding the annexation of approximately 934.34 acres, more or less, along State Highway 80 and FM 1984, Wednesday, December 14.

On Tuesday, the San Marcos Planning and Zoning voted against the rezoning of the property, which is currently located in San Marcos’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. The rezoning request will come before the city council in the future and will require a supermajority vote to pass.

According to the agenda packet, the property would be developed into a “Smart Terminal,” with an industrial rail park and manufacturing facility. Katerra Development is one of the companies anticipated to inhabit the property.

Staff recommended the approval of the zoning change.

In October, City Council approved a 380 economic incentive agreement with Katerra; the company is expected to provide more than 500 jobs paying at least $15 an hour.

During the discussion, City Council expressed concerns that Planning and Zoning did not have all of the information necessary to make a zoning change vote for the property.

Residents near the property expressed concerns regarding runoff and flooding during the public hearing. Heavy Industrial zoning allows for 80 percent impervious cover.

However, staff reminded the council that the annexation of the property would require the development to follow the city ordinances regarding flood mitigation and runoff.

Additionally, Marybeth Harper, who lives between Martindale and San Marcos, argued that most of the area up for rezoning was in the Martindale ETJ and not San Marcos’s.

According to City Staff, staff recreated the maps showing the city limits and ETJ lines using every San Marcos ordinance ever passed, and the maps show the 934 acres have been in San Marcos’s ETJ since 1984.

Harper addressed traffic on FM1984, Highway 80 and Highway 21 and the impact it would have on the city’s projected emergency response times.

Dianne Wassenich spoke to Planning and Zoning’s lack of information regarding the economic incentive agreement with Katerra. Wassenich addressed the environmental sensitivities of the area including the creeks that run through the property and flow into the San Marcos river.

Caldwell County Commissioner Pct. 3, Edward Theriot, said the Caldwell County Commissioners Court has been very supportive of the project and has passed a 381 agreement with the Katerra project. Theriot said the project is slated to bring $109 million in investment into the area, “which Caldwell County very badly needs as related to our tax base.”

According to Adriana Cruz, President of the Greater San Marcos Partnership, the Smart Terminal stands for San Marcos Air, Rail and Truck terminal. Cruz noted that the property would be part of the future FM 110 when it is constructed.

“It provides wonderful infrastructure to attract high-quality manufacturers like Katerra, which we have come and spoken with you before in prior months,” Cruz said. “As Commissioner Theriot mentioned, we have a couple of other projects that are interested in this location specifically because of its ability to provide the rail and truck transportation.”

City council will hold two more public hearings regarding the annexation on December 19, 2018. The annexation will return to city council on January 15, 2019, for a vote.

Council will also hold a public hearing regarding the zoning change request on January 15, 2019. The second reading and approval of the ordinance will take place at the City Council meeting on January 29, 2019.