San Marcos City Council voted to approve a rezoning request Jan. 7, 2013, that would allow an Athens, Ga.–based developer to build a 291-unit apartment complex on about 25 acres near the San Marcos River.
As part of a development deal worked out between the Dovetail Companies and the city, the developer will donate 20 acres of the land for use as park space near its development, The Woodlands of San Marcos.
Much of the discussion on the issue focused on the development's proximity to the San Marcos River. The tract was the largest undeveloped parcel along the river within the city limits.
The development is currently in the permitting process, a company official said.
Diane Wassenich, San Marcos River Foundation director said her main concern about the development is the flooding propensity of the area of the development.
Wassenich said a heavy flood, like that seen in 1998, could potentially flood the Woodlands and another nearby neighborhood.
"[The Oct. 30–31] flood was not a bad enough flood to make that happen. This is going to be a problem in the future when we have a big flood in San Marcos, like we did in '98," Wassenich said.