A proposal to add two additional stories to a planned 13-story mixed use development in downtown San Marcos received only three votes at City Council's Jan. 6 meeting, one vote shy of approval. Councilman Ryan Thomason recused himself from the discussion due to a potential conflict of interest. The Concho Commons project, which began in 2008 as a 3-storybuilding, has grown by 10 stories in the six years since it was first brought to the city. The vacant area where the project is to be built is located at the intersection of Concho and Guadalupe streets. "For the last seven years it has been variance after variance until we had the warrant for the 13 stories," San Marcos resident Melissa Derrick said. "So now they want two more stories just a year and a half later. I really feel like San Marcos is not ready for 15 stories." Council members raised concerns about the effects a building with such high density could have on the downtown traffic grid as well as how the developments proposed water filtration system will be maintained. According to project developer Casey Development Ltd,the additional two stories would have added 16 units to the project, bringing the total to 326 units with 766 beds. Ed Theriot, a consultant working on the project, said units at Concho Commons will be available by-the-bedroom, which is often how student apartments are leased, and by-the-unit, which is generally more common in single-family developments. Council members Jane Hughson, John Thomaides and Lisa Prewitt voted against the proposal. Mayor Daniel Guerrero and councilmen Jude Prather and Shane Scott voted in favor of it.