Page 6 - San Marcos, TX Design Manual

A

Design Guidelines APPENDIX

reduced massing, increased setbacks, and landscaping.
Key Characteristics: Outdoor space, such as courtyards and green space, is a
key feature in new development.
a. Scale: Buildings express heights between two and
three floors at the street edge. Upper floors are set Key Characteristics:
back from the front.
a. Scale: Buildings express heights between two and
b. Building massing: Buildings vary in their massing three floors at the street edge. Upper floors are set
to express modules similar in form to those seen back from the front.
historically.
b. Building massing: Buildings vary in their massing,
c. Street level character: Building fronts convey active to express traditional residential forms and smaller
uses inside (including storefronts and offices) with commercial buildings.
a high degree of visibility. Others have plazas and
courtyards that connect to the street. c. Street level character: Building fronts convey active
uses inside (including storefronts and offices) with
d. Frontages and setbacks: Setbacks vary, with some a high degree of visibility. Others have plazas and
buildings close to the street, while others are set back courtyards that connect to the street.
with lawns and courtyards in front.
d. Frontages and setbacks: Setbacks vary, with some
e. Parking: Parking is located in the rear or in tuck-under buildings set close to the street, while others are set
designs. back with lawns and courtyards in front.

5. Approach. The Approach context is the corridor between e. Parking: Parking is located in the rear or in tuck-under
the highway and Downtown, providing an entry procession designs.
into the heart of Downtown. New development in this
area should provide visual interest and not overwhelm the 6. Midtown Entertainment District. The Midtown
distinct character of the district. The Approach context is Entertainment District is defined as the area west of IH-35
the corridor between IH-35 and the Transit Neighborhood, within CD-5, Midtown on the Comprehensive Plan. New
providing an entry procession into the heart of downtown. development in this area should enhance the public realm
New development honors the culture and history of the and the pedestrian experience by defining street edges
area, especially drawing on Hispanic heritage. Design with buildings and spaces that are visually interesting
conveys a preview of the character of downtown while and attract pedestrian activity. Providing sidewalks of
drawing upon the distinct features of this area, including sufficient width for circulation, and outdoor activities, and
culturally significant sites such as the Cheatham Street installing appropriate landscape and streetscape elements
Warehouse, the site of the MKT Railroad and the Centro is important. This area is a complement to the Downtown
Cultural Hispano de San Marcos. These important CD-5D and is an appropriate location for density and
sites are emphasized rather than overshadowed in new student housing, as well as associated entertainment,
development. restaurant, and retail services.

New, larger development focuses along Guadalupe and
LBJ Streets with a mix of commercial and residential
uses. It is scaled to be compatible with older established
buildings that remain. The context is framed with lower
density residential districts along the eastern and western
edges. In these areas, projects are designed to provide
compatible transitions to these neighborhoods with

San Marcos Design Manual A:7