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San Marcos council approves University District self‑storage overlay, EIR addendum and related entitlements
Summary
The council approved a package of entitlements to expand the University District boundary, create a self‑storage overlay zone to allow a new CubeSmart replacement facility, and adopted an EIR addendum after staff said no new significant impacts were found. Nearby property owners raised legal and property‑rights concerns during public comment.
San Marcos — The City Council on Dec. 9 voted to adopt an environmental impact report addendum and approve a set of land‑use entitlements that will allow the relocation and expansion of a self‑storage facility and an expansion of the University District (also called North City) boundary.
Staff described the University District Self Storage and District Expansion project as a package of specific plan amendments, a General Plan amendment, municipal code text changes, and a conditional use permit to allow a new 2.71‑acre self‑storage site with about 88,350 square feet of rentable space divided between two buildings. The proposal also seeks to include the Hampton Inn parcel within the University District and update the local Transportation Demand Management plan.
The staff presentation said the project would replace an existing one‑story storage building with a new, landscaped facility intended to screen views from State Route 78 and to provide redevelopment opportunities for the old site. Staff noted a 2022 VMT (vehicle miles traveled) analysis accounted for a small net increase in daily trips and that the city prepared CEQA addenda concluding no new significant environmental impacts requiring a subsequent EIR.
Developer Darren Levitt of North City Development summarized the requests, saying the package represents three main items: incorporating the Hampton Inn into the University District, completing a land swap to build a new CubeSmart facility, and updating the TDM plan. Levitt said the new storage site would be screened with landscape and would not include outdoor storage.
Property owners represented by Liz Santos urged the council to attach conditions protecting residential parcels at 134 and 140 East Barham Drive, arguing approvals and prior grading plans had impaired their ability to rebuild and that they faced legal challenges from the applicant. "We have not sued the city of San Marcos," Santos said, adding she believed the city’s approvals had created a path for litigation against existing homeowners.
Council members discussed the proposal and its neighborhood impacts, with several members expressing support for the land swap and landscaping plans as a visual improvement to the corridor. Mayor Jones moved to adopt the EIR addendum, introduce the listed ordinances, adopt the related resolutions and the conditional use permit; the motion was seconded and passed with no recorded opposition.
Next steps include implementing the conditions of approval and permitting actions noted in the staff report; staff and the applicant said they would continue to coordinate with neighboring property owners and agencies. The council’s formal vote concluded council consideration at the Dec. 9 meeting.
