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Final Draft 04.29.2020 <br />Executive Summary <br />The proposed City of San Marcos, Texas (the "City") Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 5 <br />("Zone No. 5") consists of approximately 244 acres in the downtown core. The City has addressed <br />one challenge, zoning standards that are inconsistent and contrary to creating a downtown <br />environment, with the adoption of the San Marcos SmartCocle (the "SmartCode") in 2011, putting in <br />place a zoning that is predictable and focused on preserving downtown character while enabling <br />pedestrian -oriented mixed-use development. In 2018, the City updated the Development Code and <br />relabeled the downtown core as Character District 5 Downtown (CD -5D). Some of the other <br />downtown challenges remain: a shortage of Class A office space, parking and pedestrian mobility, <br />lack of sufficient lighting and downtown amenities and aesthetic features, and the condition of the <br />stree1scape and sidewalks in parts of downtown. <br />One of the financial tools identified in the plan to help address these challenges is the creation of <br />otax increment reinvestment zone. Under this proposed plan, the City and Hays County (the <br />"County") would participate equally inatax increment reinvestment zone projected togenerete <br />approximately $15,83l,450over the current life ofZone No. 5. |tiscurrently proposed that Zone No. <br />5increment revenues will beallocated for parking, including acquisition ofland, multi -modal <br />transportation/mobility, sidewalks, safety considerations, improved lighting, and overall <br />enhancement of downtown as allowed by Section 311.010(h) of the Texas Tax Code. <br />|norder tobeeligible for Zone No. 5 tax increment revenues, projects nnust(a)supportmulti- <br />modal transportation <br />nu|U'nnnda|transportotion and mobility including sidewalks and downtown shuttle services (b) provide <br />overall enhancement of the downtown area including but not limited to lighting, safety and other <br />aesthetic features and/or (c) include acquisition of property for parking and other public priorities <br />with the amounts allocated to include the required operation and maintenance costs within Zone. <br />No.5 <br />The true value of this approach is that it powerfully leverages tax increment revenues for <br />economic development beyond streetscape or maintenance improvements on a given block. The <br />potential increase intax base can help in supporting possible future job creation through business <br />relocation to the downtown area along with growth of existing businesses which create jobs. This <br />approach also will encourage the engagement of higher education and other potential research <br />partners through the focus on technology and research, ultimately ensuring that the site will be <br />developed toits highest and best use. <br />Citv of San Marcos <br />�onoNo. 5Project Plan and Financing Pk^o 4 <br />