City Council opens discussions on Village at Posey Road PID after residents urge protections for San Pedro Cemetery

The San Marcos City Council voted to enter discussions with developers of the Village at Posey Road about a proposed public improvement district and directed staff to refer the matter to the city's PID committee for further review.

Supporters and local historians urged the council to condition any PID-related assistance on concrete protections for the historic San Pedro Cemetery, which speakers said has suffered erosion and vandalism in recent years. Anna Juarez, a retired Texas State faculty member who works with students on community research, told the council she and others have long worked with San Pedro and asked councilmembers to "approve their request to begin discussion regarding their PID proposal." Anita Collins, speaking for the Council for the Indigenous and Tejano Community, said the Village at Posey Road developer had "generously offered to include the historic San Pedro Cemetery in their PID request to preserve and protect this burial ground."

Why it matters: A PID is a financing tool that can be used to fund public infrastructure tied to new residential developments. The council's decision begins a staff-led negotiation phase in which city officials, the developer and community stakeholders can identify proposed public benefits and safeguards before any final action is taken.

Details and developer proposal: City staff described the subject tract as roughly 50 acres, annexed and zoned in 2022, with an approved plat, watershed protection plan and public improvement construction plans. Developers and their consultants told the council the project could produce more than $75,000,000 in additional assessed value and roughly $450,000 a year in incremental ad valorem tax revenue for the city. They said the project anticipates more than $12,000,000 in public infrastructure work, and the developer seeks to finance about $5 million to $5.5 million of that amount through PID proceeds.

Corey Nicholas, the developer, described community amenities proposed for the site: "It's over 18 acres of additional parks and open space," he said, and cited plans for a 1.5-acre amenity center with recreational features and a trail connection to the adjacent Trace development. He also said the developer has discussed utility upgrades, including larger water and sewer lines and a lift station, that could benefit future nearby development.

Community requests and commitments: Anita Collins and other speakers asked the council to make cemetery protections a condition of city support. Collins said the Council for the Indigenous and Tejano Community has earmarked $5,000 toward San Pedro's restoration and asked the city to consider matching that contribution. The developer and their consultants told the council they have been brainstorming potential cemetery improvements including drainage stabilization, boundary fencing, lighting, cameras and trash disposal.

Council action and next steps: Staff recommended sending the petition and the initial materials to the existing PID committee (Mayor Mary Houston and Councilmembers Saul Gonzales and Matthew Mendoza) which is already reviewing other PID matters. Council members said they supported entering discussions and signaled willingness to include cemetery stakeholders in the committee's outreach and follow-up. No final PID approval or financing commitment was made tonight; the direction was to begin negotiations and consultation so that any formal PID creation would come later for council approval.

Quotations used in this story come from speakers recorded during the citizen comment period and the staff presentation during the April 1, 2025 San Marcos City Council meeting.

Ending note: Staff said they will report back to council as the committee and staff complete initial questions and community outreach; any future ordinance or resolution to form a PID would require a formal council vote.