06.25.20 City Council/Planning and Zoning Commission Joint Workshop

Home Browse Search

City Council Meeting Minutes June 25, 2020 We are seeking a slower way of life with people walking and biking more and fewer cars and large parking garages. She suggests more green infrastructure in the standards including solar panels and pervious cover greenways. Mayor Hughson said we are not creating barriers, but setting expectations. There was consensus by the Council and the Commission for sustainable, green components. Council Member Baker inquired if we have a sense of the costs associated with different design expectations? His concern is the cost to business owners for the different options. Mr. Winter will consider this. Commissioner Rand wants to ensure that street trees are also options for shade in terms of making it appealing to pedestrians. Mr. Winter stated that we are working on the design documents and streetscapes are already addressed in the code. We will be aware of this when working on building design. He noted that there are limits in the current code for forecourts which could work well along sidewalks. #2 Would you propose any changes to the existing design context boundaries? Mayor Hughson noted the boundaries on the map for the Approach, Transit Oriented Development, Redidentail/Transition Edge, University Edge, which surround the Historic Downtown area. Council Member Derrick stated that we need to have a hard edge at Moore Street with no commercial developments west of Moore Street. We also need to protect the Dunbar neighborhood from any businesses that would affect their quality of life. Mayor Hughson noted that this should be addressed in the Comprehensive Plan update. Mayor said this workshop is for design context boundaries and asked staff if this would happen in another avenue. Ms Villalobos said these may be directed more towards zoning but it is pretty consistent with what is on the ground currently. Most of the area marked on the map for the design context boundaries is CD -5D and a bit of T4. After extensive discussion about modifying the edge boundaries and where those decisions should be made, the consensus was to leave the boundaries where they are. Some of that discussion may be held when the Comprehensive Plan is updated. Mr. Winter said he will look at design that would reflect the context of the area and the square. #3 Within the design contexts, where would you consider focusing density and growth downtown? Council Member Derrick would like to see the bulk of City of San Marcos Page 12