San Marcos Planning And Zoning Commission Approve CUPs For Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Stonecreek Crossing Apartments

Staff Reports

On Tuesday, the San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commission held several public hearings, two of which were over potential Conditional Use Permits.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar submitted a request for the sale of mixed beverages for on premise consumption.

The burger bar is one of the proposed projects to be located in the Springtown Shopping Center. The restaurant currently has five locations in the I-35 Corridor: three in Austin, one in Round Rock and one in San Antonio.

Springtown Shopping Center is a proposed mixed-use development with a commercial ground floor and several floors of residential above.

The restaurant is proposing hours from 11 AM to 10 PM seven days a week. It is proposed to have a 4,000 square foot interior and 1,051 square foot patio. The restaurant will 112 indoor seats and 20 outdoor seats.

Staff recommended approval with the standard conditions:

1. The permit shall be valid for one (1) year, provided standards are met.
2. The permit shall be effective upon issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy.
3. The permit shall be posted in the same area and manner as the Certificate of Occupancy.

Commission Chair Jim Garber made a motion to amend the CUP to include the stated hours of operation.

Garber said the commission has had cases where businesses changed their business models after the CUP was approved, such as, changing their hours of operation and adding items that causes concerns for neighbors.

According to representatives of Hopdoddy Burger Bar, the restaurant has 15 locations, which all have the same hours that were stated on the restaurant’s application.

The amendment and main motion passed 8-0 with Commissioner Mark Gleeson absent.

Commissioners also held a public hearing and considered a CUP to allow multifamily apartments to be built on Lot 9B Block 3 Stonecreek Crossing. The developer would be limited to 24 units per acre for an approximately 16.7-acre tract within the limits of the Stonecreek PDD.

According to staff, approximately 4 acres are proposed to remain commercial property and will not be counted towards units per acre; the developer has also agreed to follow the city of San Marcos’s multifamily design standards.

Staff recommended approval of the project with the following conditions:

• The project shall comply with Section 9.4.3 of the San Marcos Land Development Code, the Multifamily Residential Design Standards with the exception of section 9.4.3.4 (B)
• The property is limited to 24 units per acre.
• The development shall be substantially similar to the proposed site plan.

The CUP had one speaker against the project. During the public hearing, Linda Porterfield, co-owner of Gulf Business Forums, which is located a few yards from the property expressed concerns of traffic on Barnes Drive.

Garber said the proposed project, with its walkability to potential industrial jobs, easy access to I-35 and walkability to a grocery store, isn’t something San Marcos typically offers and could make it a big seller.

The property is adjacent to a Target as well as within walking distance of multiple manufacturing companies. It will also have direct access to the I-35 frontage road.

According to the developers, the average rent will be $1,100 a month; some of the buildings will have tucked under garages, which residents can rent for an additional $85 to $100 a month.

A motion to approve the CUP for the Stonecreek Crossing Apartments passed with a 7-0 vote with Commissioner Gleeson Absent and Commissioner Lee Porterfield recusing himself.

Porterfield said his reason for recusal related to family owning a business near the development.