San Marcos City Council OKs 'big-picture' goals

"We do not believe the comprehensive plan is the appropriate place to tighten restrictions west of I-35 when it comes to growth and development," Rose told the council. "We also acknowledge in this letter that it is already very, extremely protected, and we do not believe the comprehensive plan is the place to increase protections or regulations in that zone."

The environmental and resource protection portion of the plan encourages the public and private sectors to work together to protect water quality and control appropriate development around the San Marcos and Blanco rivers, including their watersheds, as well as over the Edwards Aquifer.

Business owners were alarmed by the possibility that the comprehensive plan could seek to reduce the amount of impervious cover allowed over the Edwards Aquifer from the current 20 percent to 10 percent. City officials pointed out that the 10 percent rule had already been rejected in earlier deliberations.

Rose also said a comprehensive plan should encourage Texas State University students to live near campus, easing traffic elsewhere, and it should offer incentives for development in areas where the city wants it.

Now that City Council has approved what it calls "Big Picture Infrastructure" goals, the plan goes back to the Vision San Marcos committee for work developing more specific objectives. Council members directed the committee to read the letter from business leaders and take it under advisement.