Res 2026-017 Approving the City of San Marcos Historic Preservation Plan

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LOCAL DESIGNATION PROCEDURES FINDINGS 4 1. Section 2.3.1.1 regarding Universal Applications does not provide guidance specific to the historic designation application "report" or a timeline for the HPC review before forwarding to P&Z and City Council. 2. Local designation requires meeting at least 3 of 16 criteria. Possessing integrity is one of the criteria and is not addressed separately; thus, integrity is not technically required for a property to be designated. 3. The statement "Historic districts shall consist of at least two (2) or more structures within a legally defined boundary that meet at least three (3) of the criteria," could be interpreted to mean that each individual resource in the district must be evaluated for meeting the criteria, rather than considering the district as a whole. 4. The SMDC uses key terms that conflict with NPS definitions (such as "structures" rather than "resources"). 5. The SMDC does not indicate whether there is a minimum percentage of contributing resources required within a potential local historic district. 6. The SMDC does not clearly indicate how it complies with Chapter 211 of the Local Government Code, which requires approval of 75% of the governing body of the municipality and the relevant commission if the property owner/s does not consent to local historic designation. SOLUTIONS 1. Consider revising SMDC Section 2.5.4.2 and Section 2.3.1.1 to illustrate clearly the steps in the local landmarks and districts designation process, including required report content and the HPC review period. 2. Consider revising the SMDC Section 2.5.4.5 to require that all landmarks and districts must possess integrity. 3. Consider revising the SMDC Section 2.5.4.5 to explain the designation criteria for districts more clearly. 4. Provide an application form and/or step- by-step instructions for nominating a resource for local historic designation on the Historic Preservation Program website to supplement the revised SMDC. Prioritize inclusive outreach to raise broad awareness and ensure these materials are widely accessible. 5. Revise language in the SMDC regarding historic properties to align with terms used by the NPS. 6. Update the SMDC to establish criteria for owner opposition or consent regarding designation of local historic landmarks and districts. 7. Update the SMDC to align with Chapter 211 of the Local Government Code. 8. Amend narratives of local landmarks to add information about additional significant associations, including building stewards. This could be accomplished using a form like the NRHP Modified Continuation Sheet. 122 SAN MARCOS HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN (2026)