San Antonio Zoning Commission Meeting Summary - September 16, 2025
San Antonio Zoning Commission Meeting Summary - September 16, 2025
The San Antonio Zoning Commission met on September 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM, chaired by John Bustamante. The commission considered a consent docket, a continuance request, and two individual rezoning cases. Key actions included approval of an assisted living facility and a wireless communication tower with reduced setback, both over staff recommendations of denial.
Consent Calendar
- Items 3, 4 (as amended), 5, 6, 9, 11 – Approved unanimously. Item 4 was amended to remove 3851 Kuleba Road from the proposed changes. Notices: Item 3 (11 notices, 0 favor/oppose), Item 4 (152 notices, 0 favor/oppose, Kulibra Park Neighborhood Association in support), Item 5 (27 notices, 1 favor), Item 6 (27 notices, 0 favor/oppose, Beacon Hill Area Neighborhood Association in favor), Item 9 (no details provided), Item 11 (13 notices, 0 favor/oppose). A voicemail in support of a historic landmark designation (related to item 6) was received from the Beacon Hill Neighborhood Association.
Continuance Hearing
- Item 10 – Request to change zoning at 302 East Sunshine Drive (barbershop). Two voicemails opposed, citing traffic and neighborhood character concerns. Commissioner Sipes moved to continue to the October 7, 2025, Zoning Commission meeting; motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Consent items: One voicemail from Beacon Hill Neighborhood Association in support of historic landmark designation (item 6).
- Continuance item 10: Two voicemails from residents (Janet Hernandez and O Sires Can 2) opposed to the commercial zoning change.
- Item 12 (Purit Avenue tower): Paige Johnson, representing AT&T, spoke in support of the wireless tower application.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 (South Beal Street) – Applicant Charles Talbert requested rezoning from R5 to MF-25 for a 12-unit development at 1714 & 1730 South Beal Street. Proposed use: ground-floor assisted living (4 units) and upper-floor short-term rentals for medical professionals. Staff recommended denial, citing density incongruent with surrounding single-family homes. The property backs up to a park, which commissioners cited as a mitigating factor. The El Charo Neighborhood Association supported the request. After discussion, the commission voted 8-1 (Commissioner Kelly dissenting) to approve.
- Item 12 (Purit Avenue) – Applicant Hubinger requested rezoning from R5 to RM5S with a Specific Use Authorization for a wireless communication tower and a reduced setback (196.5 feet instead of the required 200 feet from the nearest residential structure). The site is a triangular lot bordered by I-35 and commercial uses. Staff recommended denial due to the setback variance and potential commercial encroachment. The applicant amended the plan to slide the monopole 10 feet further back (from 166 to 196.5 feet) to comply with RM5 rear setbacks. The tower will serve multiple carriers and include FirstNet for first responders. No opposition was recorded from Collins Gardens Neighborhood Association. The commission approved unanimously as amended.
Key Outcomes
- Consent items 3, 4 (as amended), 5, 6, 9, 11 – Approved; forwarded to City Council.
- Item 10 – Continued to October 7, 2025 Zoning Commission meeting.
- Item 2 – Approved (8-1); forwarded to City Council.
- Item 12 – Approved as amended (unanimous); forwarded to City Council.
- Minutes – Approved by acclamation.
- Announcement: Vice chair election to be held at the next meeting (October 7).
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. If we could please have our Spanish interpretation services statement. So I stonly interpret in Spanish. 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 one o'clock, and I hereby call this regularly noticed meeting of the City of San Antonio Zoning Commission into session. All right. I'd 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 Barrosa District 9. Rob Sipes, District 7. Danny Kellum, District 1. John Witsett, District 10. John Kelly, District 8. George Inojosa, District 3. Eddie Pete Rodriguez, District 4. All right. I and we're trying to get uh Commissioner Chase, the WebEx. Okay. Fantastic. I'm sorry I didn't check that beforehand. You're fine. Um while we wait for Commissioner Chase. Uh staff is a quorum present. Yes, the quorum is present. And when Commissioner Chase uh does appear remotely, we will notice that. All right. In the meantime, we will begin with our pledge of allegiance as we always do. Would everyone please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the five of the United States of America. And to the Republic for wishes and nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay. 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'll 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 shows the area to be considered for rezoning and property within 200 feet of the subject property. Check marks will indicate those property owners in favor of the request, and an X will indicate those property owners in opposition. Following this presentation and any questions by the Commission, the applicant will present their request. For those who 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 in 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 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 that when that speaker is going up to the podium that you are yielding your time. Thank you, Chair. All right. Staff, are there any pro postpone, withdrawn, or pulled items?
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