POSTING LANGUAGE: MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN AMENDMENT: Consideration of a request to amend the Major Thoroughfare Plan, a component of the City of San Antonio Master Plan, by realigning a proposed segment of East & West Connector, a Secondary Arterial Type A requiring 86’ feet of right-of way, between existing Cagnon Road and existing Loop 1604. Staff recommends approval. (Marco Hinojosa, AICP, Senior Transportation Planner, (210) 207-4087, Marco.Hinojosa@sanantonio.gov, Transportation)
DEPARTMENT: Transportation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Tomika Monterville, MSP
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Major Thoroughfare Plan Amendment - East & West Connector
SUMMARY:
A resolution amending the Major Thoroughfare Plan, a component of the City of San Antonio Master Plan, by realigning a proposed segment of East & West Connector, a Secondary Arterial Type A requiring 86’ feet of right-of way, between existing Cagnon Road and existing Loop 1604.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Major Thoroughfare Plan (MTP) adopted as a component of the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan generally identifies the location for major roads within San Antonio and its extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The MTP assures an adequate transportation network that works to move people, goods, and services in an optimal and efficient manner through right-of-way dedication for future roads.
Previous Council Action
The MTP was adopted by City Council through Ordinance 49818 on September 21, 1978. The MTP has been amended several times through the years to calibrate and realign the thoroughfares along with development of the greater San Antonio metropolitan area. The MTP is generally built as development occurs. In 1986, East & West Connector from 1604 to the Bexar/Medina County Line was designated as a new alignment on the MTP by City Council through Ordinance 63551.
ISSUE:
The request is to realign a proposed segment of East & West Connector, a Secondary Arterial Type A requiring 86’ feet of right-of way, between existing Cagnon Road and existing Loop 1604.
The Westlakes Master Development Plan (MDP) was approved by the City of San Antonio’s Development Services Department on June 8th, 2018. The adopted MTP alignment within the Westlakes development site was realigned under the old assumption that an alignment can be adjusted anywhere along a property as long as the connection is maintained. This realignment avoids the conservation easement, however, because it didn’t go through the formal MTP process, it remains as adopted on the MTP map. The city initiated proposed realignment matches what was approved in the Westlakes MDP. This realignment moves the thoroughfare north, outside of the floodplain.
A prospective buyer/developer is initiating an MTP amendment for the western portion of the adopted alignment in conjunction with the amendment describe in this memo.
ALTERNATIVES:
Planning Commission could choose not to recommend approval of the MTP amendment to realign East & West Connector in favor of keeping the adopted alignment unchanged. If the alignment remains unchanged as adopted, any future development along the alignment will need to dedicate the minimum 86’ feet of right-of-way to meet the requirements of the MTP.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this resolution.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution amending the Major Thoroughfare Plan (MTP), a component of the City of San Antonio Master Plan, by realigning a proposed segment of East & West Connector, a Secondary Arterial Type A requiring 86’ feet of right-of way, between existing Cagnon Road and existing Loop 1604. The MTP Amendment for East & West Connector was reviewed by the Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee (PCTAC) on April 12, 2021.