San Marcos City Council is not necessarily approving an agreement that will add 2,400 homes, as well as park space, commercial and retail sites and more to a tract just outside of the city's limits, but they are at least willing to listen to the developer proposing the project.

On June 3, City Council unanimously approved reopening an existing agreement for a residential development called Lazy Oaks. That agreement was approved in 2013 after a lengthy round of negotiations and amendments. The developer recently came back to the city with a new proposal, rechristened "La Cima," that increased the size of the development and changed the mechanism by which the neighborhood would be built.

At the meeting June 3 City Council also approved creation of a subcommittee to handle the negotiations with the developer. Councilmen Ryan Thomason, John Thomaides and Wayne Becak comprise the subcommittee.

"I want to say how nice it is to be talking about a single-family development as opposed to a multifamily development, so thanks to all of the La Cima people walking around," Thomason said. "Aside from the billions of dollars these things bring in over the decades, they're game-changers for certainly my generation. Not everything is going to win with everybodybut we are lacking in single-family development."

Thomason, who works as a real estate broker and contractor, said he knows of 16 single-family lots in San Marcos, and he called 13 of them "virtually unbuildable."

The new proposal would require the county to issue up to $98 million in bonds to fund infrastructure and amenities in the development. Those bonds would be repaid by residents moving in to the development who would pay an "assessment" similar to a tax. That method of development is known as a public improvement district. Annexation of the residential portion of the development would be deferred until the bonds are paid off.

Thomaides said he felt that the original agreement, which he helped author, was strong. The proposed new agreement includes a section that says the city will not oppose the creation of the public improvement district nor any additional bond issuance beyond the $98 million already mentioned in the agreement.

"I can't tell you how many PID requests we've had at this city, and we've turned down everyone so far because of our concern for the precedent that [would] set if we approve one," Thomaides said. "Everyone gets in line."

The proposal also includes a clause that states if the first series of PID bonds have not been issued by a date to be determined, the 259 acres designated as conservation open space or proposed habitat preserve area may be developed as single-family lots with a maximum density of one unit per acre.

"[The Lazy Oaks agreement] was a good agreement," Thomaides said. "We came out and we all pitched it to the rest of the council and it received a 7-0 voteI feel kind of bait-and-switched to be honest with you."

Under the terms of the new proposal, the city would extend water and wastewater lines to the development at the developer's expense. Because the residents would be outside the city limits, they would pay a 25-percent premium for the city's water and wastewater services.

San Marcos resident Kendall Bell-Enders said she is not against all growth, and she believes La Cima could bring needed jobs to the city. But the threat to the environment is too great, she said.

"As we all know, San Marcos is the fastest-growing city in the nation, but it is known for its stunning beauty and ambience," Bell-Enders said. "I ask the council to really consider the long-term impacts of this development and what that means for the city and surrounding area."

Brian Bondy, San Marcos Chamber of Commerce president, submitted a letter to council that, in part, read, "An opportunity does exist to take our community to the next level. Master-planned communities offer amenities for diverse demographics including parks, walking trails, shopping, commercial offices, schools and homes with a wide variety of pricing options."

Bondy said the Lazy Oaks agreement was lacking in space to offer companies looking to relocate to San Marcos.