Growth Measure Put on San Marcos Ballot

SAN MARCOS, CA-Voters in the North County community of San Marcos will decide on a charter amendment aimed at ensuring that all of the City Council’s actions jibe with the community’s general plan.

The council voted Tuesday night to put the measure before voters on the November ballot. It would ask local residents whether the city’s charter should be amended to include a provision that zoning in the city be consistent with the general plan.

The general plan is the city’s blueprint for long-term development. However, the City Council currently has the power to essentially override parts of the plan by providing zoning or other changes.

The ballot measure could further politicize real estate development in San Marcos. It will appear on the same ballot as a proposal that would require virtually any change to the city’s general plan to first be approved by a public-wide vote if the change would either increase residential density or change a residential parcel’s zoning to commercial or industrial.

Current members of the San Marcos City Council are also up for re-election in November, and at least two of their challengers have voiced concerns that the area may be growing too fast.