Historic and Design Review Commission Meeting - July 16, 2025

The Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) met on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. to consider several certificates of appropriateness, including a waiver request, a proposed observation wheel, a new home construction, and a rear addition. Commissioners in attendance included Chairman Jay Maurice Gibbs, Vice Chair Jeffrey Fetzer, and members Mammon, Savino, Velasquez, Galloway, Mazouka, Group, Cervantes, and Holland. All votes are recorded.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda included items for 945 West Weesatch, 3903 North St. Mary's, 4504 South New Braunfels, 11030 Riadosa, 124 May, 430 East Commerce, 1401 Denver, and 305 Dora.
• Commissioner Velasquez pulled item number three from the consent agenda; no other items were pulled.
• Motion to approve the consent agenda with all staff stipulations except item three passed unanimously (10-0).
• A voicemail from Betty Boucher (Conservation Society of San Antonio) supported landmark designation for 945 West Weesatch, stating the house meets three criteria and retains character-defining features.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Consent Agenda voicemail: Betty Boucher (Conservation Society) spoke in favor of landmark designation for 945 West Weesatch.
• Item 10 (120 Callahan) voicemail: Betty Boucher (Conservation Society) opposed the waiver request, arguing that the front-loading garage (relabeled storage) and parking pattern remain problematic and no appropriate parking plan was provided. However, the Society supported staff stipulations for the building design.

Discussion Items

Item 9 – Observation Wheel at 112 East Bechon (HDRC Case 2025-175? Not specified in transcript)

• Applicant James McKnight presented a proposal for an observation wheel. Staff recommended conceptual approval, noting that the downtown design guidelines do not specifically address observation wheels but the height is relatable to nearby structures (Alamodome, Tower of the Americas, hotels). Staff stressed that street-level elements (seating, auxiliary buildings, materials) must relate to historic context.
• Commissioners discussed the project’s uniqueness and appropriateness in the historic district. Some expressed that it evokes the HemisFair era and can be playful while fitting the area’s character.
• Motion to approve conceptual with all staff stipulations passed unanimously.

Item 10 – 120 Callahan (HDRC Case 2025-175 120 Callahan)

• Part 1: Waiver request – Applicant Daniel Cruz (Design Group) requested a waiver under UDC 35-608(G) to accept the application. Changes from earlier hearings included reduced building height, removal of the garage (now storage for bikes/scooters), additional landscaping, and a hip roof instead of a gable. The Conservation Society opposed the waiver. Staff recommended approval based on findings D and E.
• After discussion, motion to approve the waiver passed 9-1 (Commissioner Cervantes voted no).
• Part 2: Certificate of appropriateness for a two-story single-family home – The applicant agreed to all staff stipulations, but commissioners raised concerns about the blank front facade where the garage door was removed (stipulation #5) and the second-level pergola. Commissioner Group moved to approve with staff stipulations, but after debate an amended motion for conceptual approval with staff stipulations, and requiring fenestration or rhythmic detail on the front facade to be approved by staff, was adopted.
• Motion to approve conceptually with staff stipulations and added fenestration requirement passed 8-1 (Commissioner Velasquez voted no).

Item 11 – 838 East Magnolia (HDRC Case 2025-158)

• Applicant Ivan Solis proposed a 605 sq. ft. one-story rear addition, infilling a front door opening with a window, and replacing all wood windows with 1-over-1 aluminum windows. Staff recommended approval of the addition (with reduced ridge height, wood or aluminum-clad wood windows, fiber cement siding matching historic, and meeting setbacks), approval of the front door modification (using salvaged wood window), and disapproval of wholesale window replacement (retain and repair historic windows).
• The applicant agreed to most stipulations but objected to the vertical trim piece distinguishing addition from historic structure, and to window retention, citing cost and structural concerns (headers needed for modified openings). Commissioners noted during a site visit that windows are largely intact and repairable.
• Motion to approve item one with staff stipulations except the vertical trim piece, item two with staff recommendations, and item three with staff recommendations passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved (10-0) except item three pulled.
• Item 9 (Observation wheel): Conceptual approval granted unanimously.
• Item 10 (120 Callahan): Waiver approved 9-1; conceptual approval with added fenestration requirement approved 8-1.
• Item 11 (838 East Magnolia): Addition and front door modification approved; window replacement denied; motion passed unanimously.
• All approved items will receive certificates of appropriateness within 10 days after final documentation review by staff. Item 10 and Item 11 require further design development with staff before final approval.

Note: The meeting date is provided as July 16, 2025 per instruction; the transcript indicates July 16, 2024, but the directive instructs the use of 2025. This summary uses the given date.