Texas State’s crunch for land has forced the university to be one of the most space-efficient higher education institutions in the state.

Texas State should have more than 2.9 million square feet of space supporting its current level of students, according to the space model formula designed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. However, the university falls short at 1.8 million square feet. Bill Nance, vice president for Finance and Support Services, said space at Texas State has to be used very efficiently because of the square footage deficit.

Members of the San Marcos City Council affirmed prohibiting Zelicks Icehouse from having live, outdoor, amplified music during their Feb. 19 meeting.

The councilmembers voted 5-2 in favor of an appeal to Zelicks’ conditional use permit from Barry James and his wife Brenda Smith. Live outdoor music will no longer be allowed at the bar. Councilmembers Jude Prather, Place 2, and Ryan Thomason, Place 5, were the dissenting votes.

James and Smith own the Young Building across the street from the bar and appealed Zelicks’ conditional use permit because of concern about the high volume of noise during evenings.

Councilmembers first approved James’ appeal during the Jan. 15 meeting, sending the conditional use permit back to the Planning and Zoning Commission upon the request of Chairman Bill Taylor. The commission reapproved Zelicks’ permit with a 5-2 vote on Feb. 12. The city council still had the final vote, despite the bar receiving the commission’s approval.

The San Marcos City Council approved a piece of development Tuesday that would create up to 1,750 new single-family residences in the city’s outlying land.

The councilmembers voted 6-1 in favor of the development agreement for the western extraterritorial jurisdiction. The approval allows Lazy Oaks Ranch, LP to build single-family neighborhoods on a 937-acre tract near San Marcos Baptist Academy, with an additional 469 acres of open space and floodwater drainage area. Councilman Jude Prather, Place 2, was the dissenting vote.

Kristy Stark, assistant director of Development Services-Permit Center, said Lazy Oaks Ranch would sit entirely on the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, with Purgatory Creek dividing the site. Stark said the amount of land to be developed depends upon the results of federal environmental studies.

The St. David’s School of Nursing at Texas State announced a monetary gift Monday that will assist in plans for a new master’s degree.

Marla Erbin-Roesemann, St. David’s School of Nursing director, said St. David’s Foundation donated $2 million to help Texas State create a Master of Science in the nursing field. The gift will provide funding for hiring faculty, recruiting students and developing the curriculum for the next five years.

“It is a very substantial gift,” said Associate Provost Cynthia Opheim. “It means recruiting top-notch faculty and having the kind of facilities you need for this level of program.”

The $2 million gift is contingent on the university receiving approval of the master’s program from the Texas Board of Nursing and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Texas State University System Board of Regents and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board have already approved the program.

Dan's Discount Bookstore, located on LBJ Drive, has shut its doors due to a lack of business caused by downtown construction, among other reasons. Many businesses are feeling the strain from construction.

Downtown construction has caused a local business owner to close the books on his North LBJ Drive store.

Daniel Mull, owner of Dan’s Discount Bookstore, said sales and customers decreased by 50 percent due to construction blocking part of North LBJ Drive, and closed his business’ doors Saturday.

“I was in denial for at least a month or two,” Mull said. “It was my brother who said ‘I am really worried about you because I’ve seen construction kill a lot of businesses.’ Then I realized he was right because I have seen the same thing.”

Members of the San Marcos City Council voted 5-2 during their Jan. 7 meeting to allow the development of a student housing complex at Cape’s Camp. The property is the largest undeveloped piece of land on the San Marcos River, and more than 75 percent of San Marcos voters during the November said they wanted the 45-acre tract to be acquired as parkland. About 20 concerned residents protested the councilmembers’ votes before the Jan. 15 meeting.

Despite this, the development of a 306-unit, 1,000-bedroom apartment complex called The Woodlands of San Marcos at Cape’s Camp was approved during the second reading with the same 5-2 vote.  Below, the city councilmembers and the mayor explain their votes.

    For:

Mayor Daniel Guerrero:

Melissa Derrick, right, protests the proposed apartment complex to be built on the site of Cape's Camp Jan. 15 outside city hall after San Marcos City Council members voted in favor of developing the land.

More than 20 protestors gathered before Tuesday’s city council meeting and 40 more piled inside during the debate, but councilmembers did not change their minds during the second reading of the controversial Camp’s Camp student housing development.

In a filled lobby, protestors held up numerous neon signs reading “Save it for our children.” However, the zoning that would allow Georgia-based Dovetail Development to build a 306-unit, 1,000-bedroom student apartment complex was approved with the same 5-2 margin as the first reading.

Residents voiced their concerns through emails, petitions and during the November elections, but it was not enough to convert the largest undeveloped property on the San Marcos River into parkland.

City council members voted 5-2 during their Jan. 7 meeting to approve zoning changes that would allow the development of a 306-unit, 1,000-bedroom student housing complex at Cape’s Camp called The Woodlands of San Marcos.

Less than half of the 45 acres approved for zoning will be donated by the Georgia-based Dovetail Development to the city to be used as parkland as part of the proposal. The 20 acres will include Thompson’s Island.

Future goals and plans for the city were tackled during the San Marcos City Council’s Nov. 20 meeting.

After a lengthy discussion, the council unanimously voted to approve the Comprehensive Master Plan’s final goals. The goals will be used to draft a new master plan. The final draft is scheduled for council consideration in 2013. The big-picture goals intend to shape the city’s approach and give direction to several entities including environmental protection, transportation and housing.

“This is a full realignment of city processes,” said Matthew Lewis, director of Development Services.

The environmental protection section of the master plan will encourage public and private sectors to collaborate to protect water quality and development around the San Marcos River, including the Edwards Aquifer.

A small blue and red building with a line of cars and pedestrians can be easily identified as Lolita’s Cafe, a San Marcos breakfast staple.

Since 2004, Lolita’s Cafe has won over the hungry stomachs of many San Marcos residents. The cafe has been recognized as a San Marcos Star for the best breakfast tacos in town for the fourth consecutive year.

Marta Carrillo, owner of Lolita’s Cafe, said winning San Marcos Star is a “big, big gift.” Carrillo said seeing her customers every day is special to her.

Chris Hernandez, San Marcos resident, said he has been a frequent patron of Lolita’s since transferring to Texas State in 2008. Hernandez said when he first moved to San Marcos he tried several local restaurants that reminded him of home cooking. It took Hernandez awhile before he tried Lolita’s.