San Marcos City Council declined to approve the final design and construction plans for a 6,000-square-foot lot at 214 E. Hutchison St. in the city’s downtown Tuesday night. Instead, three council members will join members of the public and city staff on a subcommittee to formulate a plan for the property.

In 2016, Kimley-Horn, a development consulting firm, was chosen to design a “pocket park” on the property, but council members declined to approve the firm’s design plans, which were presented Tuesday.

“I think Kimley Horn did something really pretty, but I don’t think it’s really reflective on who we are as a community and all the different qualities we have as a community,” Council Member Lisa Prewitt said.

The plans presented to City Council included shade structures, a rain garden and benches. The total estimated cost of construction was $344,566.

Prewitt and other council members voiced a desire for more educational components to be incorporated into the design of the city-owned lot. Council members also said they would like to see electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels to be incorporated on the site.

Council members also said they were concerned about the potential costs of maintaining the vegetation planned on the property.

Council voted 5-2 to form a subcommittee to further discuss the issue and provide recommendations for the property’s future development. Mayor John Thomaides and council member Scott Gregson voted against formation of the subcommittee.

Thomaides and Gregson agreed the lot should be used in the short term to address the need for a downtown business employee parking program. In March, City Council heard from Kyle Mylius and Travis Kelsey, two downtown business owners, who said the parking situation was affecting their ability to operate downtown.

“We have a waiting list of businesses that are waiting to lease [parking spaces] from us,” Thomaides said. “I don’t disagree that this is something nice to have, but let’s mention the price tag. It’s $350,000 for what we see.”

Thomaides said with two city bond proposals on the May ballot, he felt spending $350,000 on the project was inappropriate.

The city has identified areas in downtown that could accommodate dozens of potential new parking spaces for downtown business’s customers and employees. A formal proposal for a downtown business employee parking program is expected to come back to council in May, city staff said.

“There are some things that we need to refine and get some more input but … place-making is so important and it’s what makes people feel at home,” council member Melissa Derrick said. “As we all know, we’re running out of room downtown, so if we’re going to do some place-making and we’re going to make San Marcos a fabulous city that people want to be in, now is the time to do it. I’m very excited about this.”