SM City Council To Review 10-Year CIP Plan, Consider Authorizing Negotiations On Mixed Use Development Agreement

Staff Reports

On Tuesday, the San Marcos City Council will receive a presentation and hold a discussion regarding the 10-year Capital Improvements Projects Plan and consider a motion to approve authorizing negotiations of a Development Agreement request by Warner Land Advisors L.P.

Council members will receive Planning and Zoning’s official recommendation letter and receive a presentation of the highlights of the 2020-2029 CIP, which includes:

• Maintaining capacity in the general fund by limiting expenditures to approximately $10 million per year for 5 years, not including bond projects.
• Stormwater funding over the next 10 years at $125 million in addition to HUD-CDBG projects
• Water and wastewater improvements to maintain the system and accommodate growth with approximately $237 million in funding over the next 10 years with $97 million eligible for funding from impact fees.
• Electric funding over the next 10 years at $51 million.

Staff’s notes state there were changes to the 2020 CIP projects that they did not consider in their recommendation.

According to the agenda, the City Charter requires the 10-year Capital Improvements Program be submitted with Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to City Council 120 days prior to the beginning of the fiscal year.

Council Members will also consider authorizing the negotiations of a Development Agreement with Warner Land Advisors, L.P., on behalf of the Freeman Educational Foundation for a mixed-use property off of Ranch Road 12. Council may consider the appointment of a council committee to participate in negotiations.

The proposed development will be located across from La Cima and is adjacent to the Country Estates neighborhood. The property is located in the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and is within the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone.

According to the agenda, the property is 831.51 acres and will include single-family, multifamily and commercial property. The property is listed to be owned by Freeman Harold M Educational Foundation under the Hays County Appraisal District.

According to Texas State University’s website, Harold M. Freeman bequeathed 3,485 acres of ranchland to the university in 1981 to be held in a perpetual trust as the Harold M. Freeman Educational Foundation.

The ranch was to be used by Texas State University to farm, ranch, game management, educational and experimental purposes. The portion of the ranch owned by Joe Freeman is managed by Frost National Bank and lies adjacent to the university managed land. Maps of the proposed project and its location can be found below. 

If authorization for negotiation is approved, negotiations between Applicant, staff and council committee, if appointed, can begin. 

According to the proposed Parks, Recreation and Greenspace Master Plan, the City of San Marcos hopes to improve the connectivity of the city’s curtain trails with the addition of others. A portion of the proposed greenway trail will pass along the eastern edge of the proposed Freeman Ranch Development. 

Aside from a recommendation of approval of the authorization, the agenda packet did not contain any other notes from staff.

City Council will convene at 6:00 PM in the city council chambers at City Hall.

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