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<br />an airport is commercial or industrial <br />uses which can serve as a "buffer" zone. <br />Uses which place large congregations of <br />people near the airport for extended <br />periods of time or uses which would be <br />sensitive to operational noise are the <br />least desirable near the airport. <br /> <br />Often times, communities have bowed <br />to developmental pressures to allow <br />uses such as residential, schools, or <br />other uses which are not ideal in close <br />proximity to an airport. In some cases, <br />these airports have become significantly <br />constrained or limited in providing <br />facilities necessary to meet deman€l. <br />because of these conflicting land uses. <br /> <br />The San Marcos Airport is currently <br />situated with most properties <br />surrounding the airport utilized for <br />agricultural purposes. Sparse <br />residential development, however, has <br />occurred near the airport. Future <br />planning should consider local planning <br />and zoning measures that will ensure <br />the long term viability of the airport. <br /> <br />San Marcos Municipal Airport lies <br />approximately eight miles east of the <br />downtown business district. The <br />airport is within the corporate limits of <br />the city, however, most areas, beyond <br />the airport boundary, lie outside of city <br />control in Hays and Caldwell counties. <br /> <br />The most effective means of controlling <br />areas outside of airport proper is to <br />have controlling interest and/or <br />jurisdictional control over the zoning <br />and planning of these properties. This <br />would require the full purpose <br />annexation of areas surrounding the <br />airport. Annexation can have both <br />positive and negative attributes. <br /> <br />4-14 <br /> <br />Obviously, full purpose annexation <br />would allow the city to effectively <br />control land use zoning and planning, <br />however, the city would be required to <br />provide city services to the annexed <br />areas. These services would be costly. <br />The primary benefit associated with full <br />purpose annexation is complete <br />jurisdictional authority over zoning and <br />land use planning. <br /> <br />It should be noted, however, that zoning <br />and land use planning measures can <br />change. There is no guarantee that if <br />current City leaders choose to protect <br />the airport with appropriate zoning and <br />planning measures that future leaders <br />will follow suit. This has been the case <br />far to often with airports across the <br />country. <br /> <br />Other measures short of full purpose <br />annexation are at the disposal of the <br />city to attempt to ensure adequate <br />zoning and land use control. Limited <br />purpose annexation would not require <br />the immediate full purpose annexation <br />of an area, but would provide the city <br />with authority for land use regulation. <br />This option has unclear procedural <br />requirements which could be <br />substantial, including a requirement to <br />fully annex the area within two years. <br />Another option is the Joint Airport <br />Zoning Board currently in place. The <br />joint zoning board is authorized under <br />state law to regulate land through <br />multi-jurisdictional cooperation. The <br />negative aspect of this alternative is <br />that the City representation is <br />outnumbered by other jurisdictions <br />which may hinder adequate controlling <br />measures from being implemented. <br />