OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Antonio Board of Adjustments Meeting – August 18, 2025

Boards & Commissions — Monday, August 18, 2025
BodySan Antonio, Texas
SessionBoards & Commissions
DateMonday, August 18, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:36:03

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

All right.

0:04

Are we uh uh Commissioner Benavides is running a little late?

0:07

Is there another commissioner who's also running a little late?

0:09

Uh Commissioner Bonia should be here any minute.

0:12

Okay, we're gonna go ahead and get started.

0:13

It's uh 101.

0:14

I hereby call this meeting of the uh Board of Adjustments into session.

0:18

Can we have the Spanish interpreter come out, please?

0:32

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:33

Buenas tardes a those.

0:35

Las personas que requieran escuchar esta audiencia in espanhol, por favor passen a la cabina de atrás del lado derecho para que les proportionemos un apparato de interpretación.

0:45

Muchas gracias.

0:46

Thank you so much.

0:46

Thank you very much.

0:48

If everyone could please uh join me in the pledge.

0:54

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which one nation under God and the visible Honor of the Texas flag.

1:08

I pledge allegiance to the Texas one state under God, one and indivisible.

1:17

Okay.

1:26

Commissioner Barrington.

1:27

Here.

1:28

Commissioner Stevens.

1:29

Present.

1:30

Commissioner Ivanis.

1:31

Present.

1:32

Commissioner Dean.

1:33

Present.

1:34

Commissioner Cruz.

1:35

Here.

1:36

Commissioner Gomez.

1:38

Commissioner Mana.

1:40

Present.

1:40

Commissioner Bragman.

1:42

Present.

1:44

Commissioner Benavides.

1:45

Commissioner Ozuna.

1:47

Present.

1:48

Commissioner Monias.

1:50

Chair Orion.

1:51

And I am present.

1:52

So we have nine.

1:53

We have a quorum.

1:54

We'll be expecting a couple more momentarily.

1:56

But we're going to go ahead and get started.

1:59

So before we uh proceed with today's cases, uh, I'm going to offer some words of explanation.

2:04

Uh this board follows an agenda which is available online.

2:07

The cases are listed by number with the name of the applicant and street address.

2:11

Following the conclusion of the cases, the board will consider the minutes from the previous meeting, followed by a director's report.

2:16

Lastly, as chair will make announcements such as community calendar events.

2:19

I ask that the board member submit these announcements to me as a chair, and I'll read them at the appropriate time in the meeting.

2:25

We are private citizens appointed to this board by the city council.

2:29

The board is supported by members of the city staff, combat in the rules and regulations governing the city codes and other codes and aspects pertaining to the city zoning codes.

2:38

Uh this is an administrative body and not a court of law.

2:41

We only examine the facts pertaining to the relief saw, and we do not get involved in disputes or legal claims between parties.

2:48

Specific powers have been granted to us by the Texas legislature and the San Antonio City Council.

2:52

They are clearly defined in Chapter 21 of the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 2 35 of the City Code, and other ordinances passed by the City Council.

3:01

We have the authority to hear and decide appeals from a decision or determination made by the administrative official in the enforcement of Chapter 32 to hear and decide special exceptions allowed under Chapter 35 and authorized variances from the zoning regulations required in Chapter 35.

3:16

We also serve in an advisory and appellate capacity to the Director of Development Services regarding requests for variances from regulations within Chapter 28, Article 1, Section 28-5.

3:27

In addition, we have powers to hear cases and other matters authorized by City Council under Chapter 211 of the Texas Local Government Code.

3:33

Every decision or recommendation to the board must be based upon findings of fact, and every finding of fact must be supported in the record of the board's proceedings.

3:41

The applicant or his representative will present the petition and they will be questioned by the members of the board.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Short-Term Rental Regulation███████████████████████23%
Procedural██████████10%
Historic Preservation██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Personnel Matters███3%
Transportation Infrastructure██2%
Public Comment██2%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

San Antonio Board of Adjustments Meeting – August 18, 2025

The San Antonio Board of Adjustments convened on August 18, 2025, at 10:01 AM with a quorum of nine members present. The board heard ten items, including variances, appeals of short‑term rental permit revocations, a special exception request, and a non‑conforming use denial. Several decisions resulted in continuances, while others were voted up or down.

Consent Calendar

  • The board unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting without corrections.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 9 (207 Helena Street): Neighbor Vanessa Maldonado expressed concerns about the proposed new home’s size, privacy, emergency vehicle access, and property values. The applicant stated the new structure would remain within the same footprint as the existing 1930 house, meeting all setbacks.
  • No other public comments were made on other items.

Discussion Items

  • BOA‑25‑1030114 (626 Fulton Ave) – Variance for accessory structure. The applicant requested a continuance to September 22, 2025, to work with his engineer. The board granted the continuance unanimously.
  • BOA‑25‑1030128 (5454 Vista Trail) – Appeal of STR permit revocation due to delinquent hotel occupancy tax. The applicant’s parents argued emails went to spam and letters were not received; staff noted both email and mailed notices were sent. The motion to grant the appeal failed (6 in favor, 4 against, 1 abstention) because 75% approval (9 votes) was required.
  • BOA‑25‑1030135 (1031 S Givers St) – Special exception for an additional STR on a blockface already at 25% capacity (one existing STR). The applicant sought time to contact the neighborhood association. The board continued the matter to September 22, 2025 (9‑1 in favor, Commissioner Dean opposed).
  • BOA‑25‑1030132 (13223 Lost Lake Dr) – Appeal of STR permit revocation. The applicant explained confusion over tax remittance and paid all outstanding amounts after receiving the revocation notice. Staff confirmed no other code violations. The board granted the appeal 9‑2.
  • BOA‑25‑1030122 (1139 New Laredo Hwy) – Appeal of non‑conforming use denial for auto sales. The applicant built a service garage on a C2‑zoned portion where auto sales are not permitted. Staff found the use was never lawfully established. The motion to grant the appeal failed (8 in favor, 3 against; 75% requirement not met). The applicant may pursue a zoning change.
  • BOA‑25‑1030125 (800 E Gunther St) – Variances for swimming pool setback, garage entry setback, and driveway clear vision area in the King William Historic District. Staff recommended approval. The board granted all three variances unanimously.
  • BOA‑25‑1030129 (508 Elk Dr) – Variance for side setback to reconstruct a home on the original footprint. Staff recommended approval. The board granted the variance unanimously.
  • BOA‑25‑1030130 (150 Storywood Dr) – Variance for carport side setback. The applicant initially sought a carport but later expressed desire for a garage, which would require additional variances. The board continued the case to September 8, 2025, with a $200 postponement fee.
  • BOA‑25‑1030131 (207 Helena St) – Variance from minimum 6,000 sq ft lot size to allow development on a 3,870 sq ft lot. Public comment raised concerns, but the board found the lot was substandard historically. The variance was granted unanimously.
  • BOA‑25‑1030133 (11926 Rail Dr) – Variance for front setback due to an error in the city’s review of building permits. The board granted the variance unanimously.

Key Outcomes

| Item | Case Number | Decision | Vote | |------|------------|----------|------| | 1 | 25‑1030114 | Continued to Sept 22, 2025 | Unanimous | | 2 | 25‑1030128 | Appeal denied (revocation stands) | 6‑4‑1 (failed) | | 3 | 25‑1030135 | Continued to Sept 22, 2025 | 9‑1 | | 4 | 25‑1030132 | Appeal granted (permit reinstated) | 9‑2 | | 5 | 25‑1030122 | Appeal denied | 8‑3 (failed to reach 9) | | 6 | 25‑1030125 | Variances granted | Unanimous | | 7 | 25‑1030129 | Variance granted | Unanimous | | 8 | 25‑1030130 | Continued to Sept 8, 2025 | Unanimous | | 9 | 25‑1030131 | Variance granted | Unanimous | | 10 | 25‑1030133 | Variance granted | Unanimous |

Director’s Report

  • Staff announced leadership changes: Michael Shannon will move to the new Capital Delivery Department; Amin Tamez becomes Director of Development Services; Gabriel (the deputy director) will shift to Code Enforcement and Field Services. All changes take effect October 1, 2025.
  • The board was reminded to contact council offices regarding reappointments.

The meeting adjourned at 3:46 PM.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Are we uh uh Commissioner Benavides is running a little late? Is there another commissioner who's also running a little late? Uh Commissioner Bonia should be here any minute. Okay, we're gonna go ahead and get started. It's uh 101. I hereby call this meeting of the uh Board of Adjustments into session. Can we have the Spanish interpreter come out, please? Good afternoon, everyone. Buenas tardes a those. Las personas que requieran escuchar esta audiencia in espanhol, por favor passen a la cabina de atrás del lado derecho para que les proportionemos un apparato de interpretación. Muchas gracias. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. If everyone could please uh join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which one nation under God and the visible Honor of the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas one state under God, one and indivisible. Okay. Commissioner Barrington. Here. Commissioner Stevens. Present. Commissioner Ivanis. Present. Commissioner Dean. Present. Commissioner Cruz. Here. Commissioner Gomez. Commissioner Mana. Present. Commissioner Bragman. Present. Commissioner Benavides. Commissioner Ozuna. Present. Commissioner Monias. Chair Orion. And I am present. So we have nine. We have a quorum. We'll be expecting a couple more momentarily. But we're going to go ahead and get started. So before we uh proceed with today's cases, uh, I'm going to offer some words of explanation. Uh this board follows an agenda which is available online. The cases are listed by number with the name of the applicant and street address. Following the conclusion of the cases, the board will consider the minutes from the previous meeting, followed by a director's report. Lastly, as chair will make announcements such as community calendar events. I ask that the board member submit these announcements to me as a chair, and I'll read them at the appropriate time in the meeting. We are private citizens appointed to this board by the city council.

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