SAN MARCOS — A new 16.5-acre park is coming to the growing North City area of San Marcos, and several residents provided feedback at a Sept. 19 meeting.
The unnamed park has long been a planned element of the city’s University District Specific Plan, which was adopted in 2009 and outlines development standards for a 195-acre area of the city’s downtown.
Known as North City, this area stretches south of state Route 78, north of Barham Drive, overlaps Twin Oaks Valley Road to the east and west, and is bordered by CSU San Marcos and Kaiser Hospital.
The specific lot for the park was chosen in early 2023 when the San Marcos Planning Commission approved the consolidation of 24 parcels into seven new lots for future development within the larger undeveloped area west of Twin Oaks Valley Road, which is referred to as North City West.
At a public outreach meeting on Sept. 19, San Marcos planning staff presented conceptual renderings of the park along Discovery Street as well as planned amenities.
These include two tennis courts, four pickleball courts (one shared with a basketball half-court), playground structures for different ages, a hill slide, a dog park with areas for small and large dogs, walking trails, an event lawn, a shade structure with an event space, and an overlook area.
“We’re just trying to get a feel of what people are looking for,” said San Marcos Principal Planner Scott Nightingale.
Around 20 residents viewed the plans, provided feedback on initial designs, and asked questions about parking, security, hours of operation, and noise restrictions.
Some attendees expressed concerns that the 16 planned parking spaces would not be sufficient. However, planning staff noted that there will also be plenty of free parking along North City Drive.
Because much of the lot features steep inclines, only about five acres can be developed with amenities, while the rest will feature native vegetation and landscaping.
According to Nightingale, staff will consider community feedback and incorporate it into the design. In the next couple of months, they will submit a site development plan to Parks and Recreation Department leaders. Plans may also require approval by the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
“The park was already approved through the [University District] specific plan, so this will only be an internal approval,” Nightingale said.
Shea Homes is building and paying for the park, along with three housing projects and associated infrastructure, roads and landscaping in North City West. The park will then be given to the city of San Marcos to be added to its park network.
Other North City development
The North City project plans for 3,400 residential units including mixed-family residences, student housing and affordable housing, as well as 250 hotel rooms, 920,000 square feet of office space, 345,000 square feet of retail, and up to 31 acres of parks and urban open space.
In lots near the park, Shea Homes, in partnership with Lennar Homes, has announced plans to construct 48 condos and 206 townhomes across three communities. According to Nightingale, grading for some of these projects has already begun.
Another lot directly west of the park space is being held as a potential school site. The San Marcos Unified School District has been eyeing the site, but no plans have been finalized yet.
“SMUSD has been in discussions with the North City developer for years regarding this lot. As development progresses, we continue to be in contact with the developer about this potential school site as we consider future plans. SMUSD is still considering acquiring this property, pending developing a viable financial plan for the purchase,” said district spokesperson Amy Ventetuolo.
Further construction is also taking place on the east side of Twin Oaks Valley Road, known as North City East. The massive 222 North City mixed-use development, which will include 463 residential units split between two 12-story towers, is expected to be completed in 2025.
Buildings of this height became possible in 2022 when the San Marcos City Council approved Sea Breeze Properties’ request to increase the maximum building height in North City from eight to 16 stories.
