Tonight the city council will take up the matters of the rezoning and annexation of 934 acres of land along State Highway 80 and Farm to Market Road 1984 for the development of the SMART Terminal industrial rail park.
Council will receive a staff presentation and hold a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the city’s zoning map to designate the acreage as Heavy Industrial. In December, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the zoning change, but last week after receiving additional information the commission recommended approval. Approximately 66 acres of the land in question is slated to be the site of the Katerra manufacturing facility that will offer more than 500 jobs at more than $15 an hour based on an economic development agreement with the city. In exchange, the city is providing tax incentives and waiving certain development standards for those 66 acres.
Council is also set to consider, on the first of two readings, an ordinance annexing the 934 acres and approving a service plan for the area. There has been some concern about portions of the acreage lying outside the San Marcos extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and within the Martindale ETJ. However, city officials have said they are in talks with the city of Martindale regarding the overlap to reach a settlement.
Council will also consider a zoning change at the intersection of Earle Street and Baylor Avenue, where the landowner wants to change 1.2 acres of land zoned Single Family 6 to Neighborhood Density District 3 to allow the construction of 12 zero lot line houses on the property. In November, P&Z voted to deny the zoning change request, meaning approval will require support from six members of the city council.
In other business, council will consider a resolution amending the guidelines for the Business Improvement and Growth (BIG) Grant Program guidelines to prohibit city employees and officials from benefiting from the program funds. The proposed amendments would prohibit city employees or officials and their immediate family members from applying for or receiving BIG funds, and would prevent BIG funds from being awarded for any improvements to property or buildings owned wholly or partly by city officials or employees or their immediate family members or any business organizations in which city employees or officials or their immediate family members are equity owners, shareholders, members, partners or officers.
According to the council agenda, the The BIG Grant Program was funded with a one-time appropriation, which has been drawn down since 2016. The amount available for future grants as of the end of FY18 is $69,400.
Council will meet at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins St., after its 3 p.m. work session meeting and executive session. City council meetings are also televised live on Spectrum Ch. 10 and Grande Ch. 16 or 123-16 and streamed online.
