Largest Residential Project Wins Initial San Marcos OK

A proposal by the Baldwin Co. to build 1,565 single-family homes on 530 acres in San Marcos has won preliminary approval of the San Marcos City Council.

The proposed development, the largest single residential project ever in San Marcos, would be located in the area of Las Posas and Borden roads, northwest of Palomar College.

The average lot size would be 7,200 square feet. Site improvements are expected to begin before the end of the year, said San Marcos Planning Director Jerry Backoff.

The City Council’s action Tuesday night was the adoption of a specific plan, which called for construction of residential “villages” sharing an early-California/Mediterranean architectural theme.

The developer would be required to lengthen Las Posas, construct a park and fire station to serve the new neighborhood, bring water lines to the area and negotiate with the San Marcos Unified School District for the construction of a new school, Backoff said.

The requirements are similar to what would have been required of the developer had Baldwin’s proposal come to the city later in the year and been made to comply with a proposed growth management ordinance which San Marcos voters will consider on June 7, Backoff said.