San Marcos hosts workshop on revamped Creek District plan

Public workshop Thursday offers residents a chance to shape housing, commercial space, and other elements in the evolving Creek District

The city of San Marcos is hosting a public workshop on Thursday at City Hall regarding its update to the San Marcos Creek Specific Plan. Courtesy image

SAN MARCOS — The future of the city’s main corridor is undergoing a facelift as the city is set to hold a public workshop this week on the San Marcos Creek Specific Plan.

The plan was first approved in 2007 and outlines a massive swath of land along the creek south of San Marcos Boulevard, east and north of Discovery Street and west of Grand Avenue. The plan initially called for 2,300 homes, 1.2 million square feet of commercial and retail space and 600,000 square feet of office space across 214 acres, according to the plan.

The city is hosting a public workshop from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday at City Hall, 1 Civic Center Dr., and encourages residents to attend and give their feedback, ideas and other thoughts.

Deputy Mayor Mike Sannella said city staff will give residents a thorough presentation of the current plan, along with other elements such as what land is actually available for development. Sannella said much of the land cannot be developed due to the flood plain from the creek, but those parcels available outside the plain will be the center of discussion.

Mayor Rebecca Jones said she expects the new plan to come back to the council for formal adoption next year. Staff anticipates additional public meetings in winter and spring 2026, leading up to public hearings for the project before the Planning Commission and City Council in summer 2026.

“There are many existing property owners in the creek who may choose to operate as they are or may choose to seek to sell to private developers, and that’s still to be determined case by case,” Sannella added.

The plan kicked off with Phase 1 being completed with the $100 million San Marcos Creek Project last year. The creek project included flood protections, rehabilitated the creek, repaired bridges, improved Discovery Street and widened sidewalks. The creek project also included more than 30 acres of open space and creek buffer zones and miles of trails.