Historic and Design Review Commission Meeting - August 20, 2025
Historic and Design Review Commission Meeting - August 20, 2025
The Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) of San Antonio met on August 20, 2025, with all 11 commissioners present. The meeting was called to order at an unspecified afternoon time, a quorum was confirmed, and the commission proceeded to approve the August 6, 2025 meeting minutes unanimously. The agenda consisted of eight items, all initially placed on a consent agenda. After public comment, items 1 through 7 were approved unanimously with staff stipulations. Item 8 (1901 West V Satch Avenue) was pulled by a commissioner for separate discussion and subsequently approved unanimously with staff stipulations.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of August 6, 2025 Meeting Minutes: Motion carried unanimously (11 ayes).
- Items 1–7: Approved unanimously with staff stipulations. These included addresses: 120 Callahan, 110 South Laredo, 205 West We Setz, 2011 West Summit, 1305 South St. Mary’s, 1932 West We Setch, and 2106 Steve’s. Certificates of appropriateness to be emailed within 10 days.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 4 (2011 West Summit Avenue, Case 2025-206):
- Albert Martinez (neighbor) expressed full support for the proposed demolition and construction, citing the applicant’s responsible workmanship and coordination with the historic residence.
- Betty Duchet (Conservation Society of San Antonio) voiced concern that the proposed accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is taller than the original landmark home and wider than the only other two-story ADU in the neighborhood.
- Two additional neighbors (Mr. Rerer and Phil Tiharina) spoke in support of the garage apartment at the proposed height.
- Robin Foster (Monticello Park Neighborhood Association Architectural Review Committee) stated the association generally supports the project but objects to the ADU height exceeding the primary residence, citing design guidelines requiring new structures to be visually subordinate. They recommended reducing the first-floor plate height.
- Item 6 (1932 West Weatch Avenue, Case 2025-167):
- Robin Foster (Monticello Park NA) noted the accessory structure’s unique orientation and scale, expressed regret over its loss, and believed it is worthy of rehabilitation or preservation of its original footprint.
- Item 8 (1901 West V Satch Avenue, Case 2025-190):
- Robert Sosedo (neighbor, 1902 West Summit) spoke in support of Mariana Pedrosa’s renovation, describing the property as a former site of drug activity and gang problems. He urged approval to encourage the owner and prevent a return to previous conditions.
- Robin Foster (Monticello Park NA) submitted a detailed voicemail expressing concern about massing, scale, materials (metal roofing, stucco, vinyl siding), window patterns, porch design, and foundation treatment. They requested a redesign to better integrate the project into the historic district.
Discussion Items
- Item 8 (1901 West V Satch Avenue, Case 2025-190): Commissioner Savino pulled the item and asked the applicant, Mariana Pedrosa, to confirm she accepted staff stipulations and had addressed neighborhood concerns. Pedrosa stated she consented to all stipulations and had submitted updated plans. No further discussion occurred; a motion to approve with staff stipulations carried unanimously (11 ayes).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (Items 1–7): Approved with staff stipulations unanimously.
- Item 8 (1901 West V Satch Avenue): Approved with staff stipulations unanimously after the applicant confirmed compliance.
- Next Steps: Certificates of appropriateness to be emailed within 10 days. Permits must be obtained before any work begins.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to call the order of the historic design review commission for Wednesday August 20th, 2025. May I have a roll call, please. Mammon. Present. Sevino. Here. Velasquez. Here. Galloway Mazooka. Givara. Here. Group. Here. Cervantes. Holland. Fetzer? Here. And Gibbs. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you. May I have translation services, please. Good afternoon, everybody. Buenas tardes. Gracias. Thank you. The Historic and Design Review Commission is an advisory board appointed by the City Council. I am Jay Maurice Gibbs, Chairman and the Vice Chair is Jeffrey Fetzer. It is the function of the Commission to advise the city manager and all relevant city departments concerning all applications for permits for properties and historic districts for landmarks on city property and the river improvement overlay and for demolitions. And considering whether to recommend approval or disapproval of an application for certificate of appropriateness, the commission shall be guided by the city's Unified Development Code and design guidelines and standards that have been adopted by City Council. An appeal of a decision by an administrative official can be filed in accordance with the city's Unified Development Code. If anyone present wishes to speak in favor or in opposition to any item on today's agenda, please sign up on the public comment sheet. It is not necessary to sign up if you are the owner of or of representative for a project on the agenda. You will be called on as the case is called. Case representatives will be given no more than 15 minutes to present their case with an additional two minutes to respond to public comments. Speakers for or opposed to a case will be limited to two minutes each. Speakers may also sign up to yield their two minutes to another speaker who has signed up. Anyone who is yielding their time must be present at the time the speaker is called upon. Speakers will be called upon in the order in which they are signed up. Following public testimony, any commissioner may call upon any speaker to respond to further questions. Approval by the commission does not take the place of any type of permits. Permits must be attained for all work. Certificates of appropriateness for work approved by the commission will be emailed to you within 10 days. No work of any type is to be started without obtaining the appropriate city permits after a certificate of appropriateness has been issued by the Office of Historic Preservation. At this time, please silence your cell phones. So they weren't here during roll call, but just noting that. Mr. Chair, I move for approval of the August 6th, 2022 2025 HDRC meeting minutes. Second.
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