San Antonio Zoning Commission Meeting Summary - September 2, 2025
San Antonio Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – September 2, 2025
The San Antonio Zoning Commission met on September 2, 2025, at 1:02 PM, chaired by John Bustamante. The meeting covered the consent agenda, continuances, and four individual hearing items. Key actions included approval of several zoning amendments, a continuance, and a denial of a conditional use for a boarding home for foster youth. Three new commissioners were welcomed.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15 were approved by a single motion. These included:
- Amendments to Chapter 35 (Unified Development Code) to conform to state law from the 89th Texas Legislative Session.
- Rezonings at: 11625 Old Corpus Christi Road (to MXD, 25 units/acre); 2512 SW Loop 410 (to C-2 CD with conditional use for lumber yard); 3218 Thousand Oaks Drive (to C-2 CD with conditional use for auto body repair with storage, screened from public view).
- Public comment included a voicemail from Sarah Jones expressing concern about lack of time to review and insufficient information on the change.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 5 (334 Como Street): Neighborhood residents opposed the rezoning for a boarding home for eight foster youth (ages 18–23). Renee Watson (Coliseum Willow Park Neighborhood Association) argued the use is a "shared housing concept" different from a boarding home, raised concerns about density, square footage, parking, and saturation of similar homes (at least 10 in the area). She expressed willingness to support six residents but not eight. Other speakers echoed concerns about impact on seniors, safety, and lack of track record.
- Supporters, including the applicant Ian Riles and his business partner Quarmetra Hughes, highlighted the program's structured supervision, job training, and alignment with DFPS regulations. Robin Hill, a nurse with 20 years of group home experience, argued the stigma against foster youth is unfair.
Discussion Items
- Item 4 (4211 Boxwood Road): Request to rezone from R-20 to R-6 CD (conditional use for two dwelling units) – later amended to straight R-6 for single-family. Applicant Elizabeth Russell mailed 13 letters; no responses received. Commissioner Hinojosa asked about outreach. The amendment removed the conditional use. Staff supported consistency with Strategic Housing Implementation Plan. Motion to approve as amended passed unanimously.
- Item 5 (334 Como Street): Request to rezone from R-4 to R-4 CD for a boarding home with up to eight residents for foster youth transitioning to adulthood. Staff recommended approval. The neighborhood association opposed eight but accepted six. Applicant explained the program (supervised independent living), planned renovations, and parking. After extensive questions, Commissioner Losef moved to approve; motion failed 2–9. A motion to reconsider passed, then a motion to deny passed 9–2. The recommendation is denial.
- Item 10 (1915 Pleasanton Road): Request to rezone from C-2 NA to C-2 NA CD for a tattoo parlor. Applicant Sandro Diaz confirmed no minors, ID enforcement, and covered windows. Staff recommended approval. Motion to approve passed unanimously.
- Item 13 (4031 South Flores Street): Request to rezone from RM-4 to RM-4 CD for a tobacco/retail store (CBD, tobacco, cafe). Applicant Max Moscovich, also attorney and owner, explained he wants to keep residential base zoning. The tenant runs two other professional shops. Commissioner Hinojosa had questions about products and hours. Staff confirmed that non-residential uses in residential districts have restrictions: no exterior signage except a small nameplate, hours 7 AM to 6 PM. Commissioner Sipes proposed a friendly amendment to prohibit temporary signs, wind banners, pennants, and snipe signs; accepted. Motion to approve as amended passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda approved by roll call vote (11–0).
- Item 4 approved as amended (11–0).
- Item 5 denied (9–2). The applicant may appeal to City Council within six months; Commissioner Bustamante encouraged continued neighborhood dialogue.
- Item 10 approved (11–0).
- Item 13 approved with friendly amendment (11–0).
- Continuances: Item 8 continued to September 16, 2025 (approved 11–0); Item 3 continued to October 7, 2025 (approved 11–0).
- Meeting adjourned at 3:01 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. If we could please have our Spanish interpretation services statement. Good afternoon. Hello. Sierra Necesita Servicios Interpretación in Español estamos in la cabina de atrás. Gracias. All right, thank you so much. My name is John Bustamante, and I am the chair of the zoning commission of the City of San Antonio, as well as the District 5 zoning commissioner. The time is 102, and I hereby call this regularly noticed meeting of the City of San Antonio Zoning Commission into session. All right. I like to do roll call by allowing the zoning commissioners to introduce themselves, starting with the commissioner on my far left. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Marco Barros, District 9. Rob Sipes, District 7. John Kelly, District 8. Daniel Kellum, District 1. Mia Losef, District 2. John Whitzett, District 10. George Inojosa, District 3. ADP Rodriguez, District 4. Kinhuit, District 6. General Chase, Mayor's Office. All right, staff, is a quorum present? Yes, the quorum is present. All right, very good. We're gonna go a little bit out of order here because I want to take a point of personal privilege privilege to welcome uh three new commissioners for those who have nothing better to do but watch these meetings. Uh you will notice that we do in fact have three new commissioners. We have uh Commissioner Mia Losef from District 2. We have uh Commissioner Rodriguez from District 4, and we have Commissioner Kelly from District 8. And so we welcome them, we welcome uh their expertise and knowledge that they bring to this commission, and so we look forward to having them here. All right, at this time, if everyone would please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the rebuttal for which it stands one nation under God. All right, prior to beginning our meeting. Uh if staff would please review our meeting format for the benefit of those in the audience. Staff, if you would. Before I begin, please turn your phones on vibrate or turn them off. The zoning commission is an 11-member body appointed by the city council to make recommendations on zoning cases. Upon receiving a recommendation from the commission, you will have six months from the date of the commission's recommendation to forward your case to City Council. If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please contact your case manager. Staff will begin each case with a short presentation of the request. Part of the presentation includes a map that will show the area to be considered for rezoning and property within 200 feet of the subject property. Check marks indicate those property owners in favor of the request, and an X indicate those property owners in opposition. Following this presentation and any questions by the commission, the applicant will present their request. For those that have signed up to speak for or against the proposed rezoning, you will be called in the order that you are signed up to speak. Those in support and opposition will be allowed a maximum of three minutes per speaker, and you are not obligated to utilize the maximum time limitation. You will be informed that the three minutes are up. For those that would like to give their time to a speaker, that will that speaker will be allowed a maximum of two people giving their time for a total of nine minutes. Those giving up their time must be present and signed in to speak. And please announce when that speaker is going up to the podium that you are yielding your time.
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