Condos, Apartments : Construction Moratorium Extended in San Marcos

A yearlong moratorium on construction of apartments and condominiums in San Marcos has been extended through June 7--when San Marcos voters are expected to vote on a growth management ordinance to ensure that new residential construction doesn’t outpace street improvements and other public works.

The continued building halt of high-density projects came by a 4 to 1 vote of the San Marcos City Council Tuesday night. Councilwoman Pia Harris objected, saying she favored the moratorium being extended for an additional full year, not just four months.

But the council majority said new residential projects need be put on hold only through June 7, when the issue of growth paying for itself will be addressed at a citywide election.

Adopted in February

The moratorium was originally adopted on Feb. 10, 1987, for 45 days and then continued through this week. In the meantime, the city formed a 16-member Growth Management Task Force that had held a series of meetings throughout the city in recent months, hearing concerns about the city’s rapid growth, flood control problems, residential design standards, traffic circulation and the construction of public facilities, such as improved streets, to keep pace with growth.

The task force is expected to draw up a proposed ordinance in time for City Council review on March 8 so that it could be placed on the June 7 ballot.

The ordinance is expected to require that developers build roads and make other public improvements at their expense and at the same time as new construction occurs.

Councilman Mark Loscher said the moratorium has served the city well, “for the purpose of getting a handle on what is going on in this city. The public has become a little more aware of the price you pay for development--and the price you pay if there is no development in terms of no new public facilities.”

Extension Was Necessary

He said it was necessary for the moratorium to be extended an additional four months so no apartment or condominium projects are approved in the meantime that might not meet new construction criteria that will likely be determined in the June election.

“We don’t want to allow something into the system now that won’t meet the criteria we’ll establish in the election based on the management task force’s recommendations,” Loscher said.

Single-family housing projects were not included in the moratorium because they do not have the impact of high-density apartments and condominium projects, he noted.