The proposed SMART (San Marcos Air, Rail and Truck) Terminal project was not the subject of any action at the San Marcos City Council’s meeting Tuesday night, but it was the subject of public comments from residents concerned about the project’s proposed location.
Karen Ford of Water PR, a firm engaged by the recently formed SMARTER San Marcos residents’ group, spoke to the council about the group’s concerns.
“Tonight, we respectfully ask the council to take no action on the 380 agreement,” Ford said. “... This project seems to be moving forward at a pace that defies logic for something of this magnitude.”
In executive session before Tuesday night’s meeting, council had discussed a Chapter 380 economic development agreement with the SMART Terminal. Action on the potential agreement was possible in open session.
Ford said that SMARTER San Marcos is not opposed to the development itself — she noted that the large investment and increase in property tax valuation are “very appealing” — but would like to see it located somewhere else after more deliberate consideration. The edge of the more than 900-acre proposed development is about 1,250 feet from the San Marcos River, and that proximity is what SMARTER San Marcos’ concerns hinge upon.
SMARTER San Marcos is asking for three things from council, Ford said: to slow down and let engaged citizens learn more about the potential development; to require an environmental impact and traffic impact study and allow time for residents to review them; and to consider the proposed location and see if any other suitable locations are available.
“We fear that the current site of the SMART Terminal is fatally flawed,” she said.
Erin Magee, a SMARTER San Marcos member and notable competitor in the Texas Water Safari, had some positive thoughts about the proposed industrial rail terminal project as an opportunity for San Marcos, and she noted that east of Interstate 35 is a good region for it.
“It does need to be on the side of the interstate that you’ve chosen,” she said. “It’s not in the recharge zone.”
However, she asked council to consider lowering the maximum allowable percentage of impervious cover and consider semi-pervious cover options.
Frank Parrott, president of SMARTER San Marcos, said that he has lived in San Marcos since 1975.
“I remember jumping into the San Marcos River the second day I lived here,” he said before asking council to consider the protection of the river when it considers the SMART Terminal.
“Please do not test the [development] code with this project,” he asked.
Becky Patterson echoed Ford’s comments about the speed at which the approval process for the proposed development has occurred.
“We ask council to please slow down the process, as this process has moved so quickly,” she said, adding that it is “not right or good” for the safety of the river or the surrounding neighborhoods.
Attorney David Sergi also spoke to council on behalf of SMARTER San Marcos, calling on the “warriors of Sessoms” to come forward about the proposed development.
He spoke about the fight several years ago to keep a large development from being built along Sessom Creek.
“That was a time when we were all arguing to update the comp plan, when we were all fighting a development that need to be at that place in that time,” he said.
Sergi said he re-read the city’s Comprehensive Plan in light of the proposed SMART Terminal.
“When you consider this development, you have to consider whether it is actually in tune with our comp plan,” he said. “... Do we fulfill the promise we made for ourselves?”
Besides the public comments, council received written statements from three people regarding the Chapter 380 economic development agreement with the SMART Terminal. Mayor Jane Hughson said that in executive session, the council gave direction to staff. She added that part of what council is looking at is an agreement that would put limits on use of the land.
“At such time as we are ready to vote on an agreement, the agenda will show an item stating that we are voting on it, and it will be in the packet.”
During the portion of the meeting devoted to questions from the public, San Marcos resident Jordan Buckley asked what the next steps are with the SMART Terminal. City Manager Bert Lumbreras said that council will be considering a formal Chapter 380 agreement and the annexation and zoning of the land at its March 5 meeting.
The SMART Terminal would be located on 934 acres of land along Farm to Market Road 1984 and State Highway 80. That acreage includes about 66 acres set aside for the construction of a Katerra manufacturing plant for which the city struck a Chapter 380 economic development agreement in October 2018.
