Demolition review up for final vote
A demolition review process could be added to the San Marcos Development Code following city council’s decision on Tuesday.
This week, the San Marcos City Council will consider, on the second of two readings, amending Chapter 2 of the San Marcos Development Code to establish a demolition review process, including a minimum waiting period, for the issuance of permits to demolish certain historic-age buildings.
On Nov. 6, council voted 4-3 — on the first of two readings — to approve an ordinance that will place a 90-day delay on the issuance of demolition permits for certain historic-aged structures. Councilmembers Ed Mihalkanin, Saul Gonzales and Joca Marquez were the dissenting voters.
According to the ordinance approved by council on Nov. 6, the 90-day delay on the issuance of a demolition permit only applies to certain historic buildings or parts thereof. If a property is within the My Historic SMTX resources survey boundaries and is evaluated as medium or high, it will be subject to the 90-day review period. According to Planning Manager Abby Gillfillan, there are approximately 700 properties evaluated as medium or high.
If outside of the boundaries of the resources survey, it will only be subject to the 90-day review period if it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), or is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL) or is 80 years or older.
Upon a request for a demolition permit, city staff will determine whether a property is eligible to undergo the 90-day delay by using the aforementioned criteria. If a property is deemed eligible by staff, it will then go before the Historic Preservation Commission to consider the delay period and to allow for discussion of alternatives to demolition and methods for potential preservation of historic character. However, the HPC may issue a demolition permit before the 90 days are up if there is no finding of historic significance. If the structure is found to be historically significant by the HPC, the commission may then extend the demolition delay by an additional 90 days, for a maximum delay of 180 days.
However, the ordinance only applies to demolitions, not to things like changing windows on a home, and buildings or parts thereof which the Chief Building Official or Fire Marshal determined to be an imminent threat to public safety are an exception to the review period.
In other business, council will consider approving the appointment of Tammy Cook as interim city clerk. Cook was previously the deputy city clerk.
Additionally, Council will consider appointing an individual to the Planning and Zoning Commission in order to fill a vacancy.
Council will hold the second of two public hearings to receive comments for or against Ordinance 2019-40, which would reestablish a juvenile curfew for minors.
Council will hold two public hearings and consider two resolutions providing no objection to the submission of an application for low income housing tax credits to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The two proposed developments are the Redwood Multifamily Housing Project located in the 1600 Block of Redwood Road and the Lantana on Bastrop Multifamily Housing Project located at the intersection of South Old Bastrop Highway and Rattler Road.
Council will consider a resolution that will cast all of the city’s 478 votes in favor of Jane Hughson to serve on the Hays Central Appraisal District Board of Directors.
City Council will meet on Nov. 19 at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins. Council’s work session will begin at 3 p.m. and regular session will begin at 6 p.m.
