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

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DEMOLITION DELAY FINDINGS 4 1. The demolition delay ordinance does not specifically address contributing resources in National Register districts that may not fall under any of the other criteria for delay. 2. Avoiding the demolition of historic resources whenever possible is a core goal of preservation. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards recommends recordation as mitigation for the loss of historic resources. However, in practice, the demolition delays rarely results in avoidance of demolition, and alternatives are rarely identified. 3. There is no clear process and assignment of responsibility for 1) conducting additional research on properties subjected to the demolition delay and 2) developing demolition alternatives. 4. There is no mechanism to stop demolition after the delay period. SOLUTIONS 1. Consider amending Section 2.7.4.1(B)(2) of the SMDC to clarify that contributing resources in National Register Historic Districts are also subject to the delay period. 2. Provide property owners who submit a demolition permit with a packet of resources, including information on funding, grants, tax credits, and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, as applicable. 3. Create an HPC committee to meet with property owners after a demolition delay has been issued to brainstorm alternatives to demolition, and facilitate collaboration with preservation stakeholders, such as local advocacy groups. 4. Consider updating the SMDC to require a documentation package for all demolition permits issued after a delay. This package should align with the National Park Service's Standards for Documentation and follow the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscape Survey documentation guidelines. At minimum, include photos and a brief property history. In cases of financial hardship, explore City subsidization or partnerships with Texas State or other organizations like Preservation Texas to assist with documentation. Where feasible, salvage significant architectural elements for reuse or archival preservation in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. 5. Establish a process and responsible parties for research during the 90-day delay window to determine if a property meets local landmark designation criteria. 6. Consider updating the SMDC to allow denial of the demolition for properties meeting landmark criteria unless hardship is demonstrated. Assign structural safety determinations to the Building Official and historic or cultural value decisions to the HPC. 124 SAN MARCOS HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN (2026)