San Marcos City Council approved a conditional use permit, or CUP, and the rezoning for the east and west side of North Street on April 16.
What happened
On second and final reading, City Council voted 6-1 to rezone west of North Street from multifamily to Character District 5, which allows for accessory dwelling units, townhomes and apartments.
The dais also voted 6-1 to rezone east of North Street from high-intensity downtown to Character District 5 Downtown, which allows for townhomes, apartments and mixed-use storefronts.
Council member Saul Gonzales was the single dissenting vote for both items.
In addition to the rezoning requests, council also approved the CUP with a series of amendments, including giving:
- Current tenants 12 months, instead of six months, to find other living accommodations
- 10 families, instead of five families, or anyone over age 57 living in The Elms or Lindsay Oaks Apartments comparable rent within the new development
“By getting rid of some of the last affordable complexes, you’ll be displacing me and people like me,” Price said at the April 16 meeting.
San Marcos City Council also reduced the height of the development to three stories instead of four. The amended CUP passed 6-1, with council member Matthew Mendoza dissenting.
The developer also cannot sell the property to a non-taxpaying entity for seven years from the effective date of the CUP, which will be memorialized in a restrictive covenant approved by the city attorney that will be recorded in the Official Public Records of Hays County.
“There’s been so many concessions with this development. You really have set the bar,” council member Jude Prather said.
About the project
The McLain Student Housing Project will consist of 650-750 beds spanning across two buildings, according to developer Matthew Kenyon.
Kenyon said the parcel located west of North Street will be a three-story multifamily apartment building. The two parcels on the east side of North Street will be a seven-story student housing development.
He emphasized the student housing development—which is across from the university—will do a “substantial amount for the community” by helping eliminate traffic congestion and allow a more “walkable experience” for Texas State students.
One more thing
Kenyon told Community Impact the homes on the west side of North Street will be moved to new locations, and The Elms and Lindsay Street apartments on the east side of North Street will be demolished.
Moving forward, they will begin exploring different architectural designs and begin submitting building site permits to the city.
