OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Antonio Board of Adjustments Meeting – October 6, 2025

Boards & Commissions — Monday, October 6, 2025
BodySan Antonio, Texas
SessionBoards & Commissions
DateMonday, October 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:57:02

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

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

0:04

Have the Spanish interpreter come out, please.

0:14

Good afternoon.

0:15

Buenas tardes para aquellas personas que requieren the interpretación al Espanyol, por favor, passing a la cabina because encuentra in the parte trasera del salon.

0:23

Gracias.

0:24

Thank you very much.

0:25

Stephanie Call roll.

0:29

Commissioner Barrington.

0:30

Here.

0:31

Commissioner Stevens.

0:32

Commissioner Ibanez.

0:34

Present.

0:35

Commissioner Dean.

0:36

Present.

0:37

Commissioner Cruz?

0:38

Here.

0:39

Commissioner Gomez.

0:41

Commissioner Mana.

0:43

Commissioner Bragman.

0:44

Present.

0:45

Commissioner Benavides.

0:51

One more time, Commissioner.

0:53

Gotcha.

0:55

Commissioner Ozina.

0:56

Present.

0:57

Commissioner Dothcat?

0:58

Present.

0:59

Commissioner Bunyath.

1:02

All right.

1:03

Chair Oyan.

1:04

And I'm present.

1:04

So we've got 10 seated at this moment.

1:06

If everyone could please join me in the pledge.

1:11

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:16

And two are republicans.

1:18

One nation.

1:20

Under God.

1:24

Honor the taxes like I pledge at least.

1:36

All right.

1:39

So before we proceed with today's cases, I'd like to offer a few words of explanation.

1:43

This board follows an agenda which is available online.

1:46

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

1:50

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

1:55

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

1:58

I ask that the board members submit these announcements to me as the chair, and I will read them at the appropriate time in the meeting.

2:03

We are private citizens appointed to this board by the City Council.

2:07

The board is supported by members of the city staff competent in the rules and regulations governing the city's owning codes and other codes and aspects pertaining to this area.

2:14

This is an administrative body and not a court of law.

2:17

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

2:23

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

2:28

They are clearly defined in Chapter 211 of the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 35 of the City Code, and other ordinances passed by the City Council.

2:35

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

2:50

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.

2:58

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

3:05

Every decision or recommendation to the board must be based upon the findings of fact.

3:10

And every finding of fact must be supported in the records of the board's proceedings.

3:14

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

3:19

Any opposition to the request will be presented in a like manner.

3:22

After everyone has heard the case, it will be closed and a member of the board will make a motion.

3:26

Each member will be asked to vote on the motion.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Land Use██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Short-Term Rental Regulation████████████████████20%
Procedural██████████████14%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Lighting Regulations████4%
Tourism██2%
Taxation██2%
Stormwater Management██2%
Summary of Proceedings

San Antonio Board of Adjustments Meeting – October 6, 2025

The San Antonio Board of Adjustments held a regular meeting on October 6, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Ten board members were present. The board heard ten agenda items, including postponements, continuances, appeals, and variance requests related to short-term rentals, fence materials, lot sizes, and setbacks. Key decisions included approval of a fence material variance, approval of a lot size variance for a vacant lot, and approval of setback variances for a supportive housing campus. A short-term rental appeal and a special exception request were denied.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 1 and 2 (122 Vitcher Place and 235 East Commerce) were postponed.
  • Item 5 (174 Brookshire) was withdrawn.
  • Item 9 (2119 San Pedro Avenue) was continued to November 3, 2025.
  • A case from the previous week (BOA-25-1030160) was added to the October 20, 2025 agenda to allow it to be heard without restarting the process.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 8 (519 West Highland Boulevard): No public comment was received.
  • Item 10 (3038 Eisenhower Road): Two voicemails and two speakers were heard.
    • Debbie Reed (702 Thunder Drive) expressed opposition due to increased impervious surface and flooding risk, stating the setback is needed to mitigate flooding.
    • A representative of the San Antonio Quakers (705 Van Diver Drive) stated they are fine with the setback and zoning change but are concerned about runoff from the proposed parking lot potentially undercutting a drainage tube and causing tree falls.
    • Goggy Gabriel (319 Rainbow Drive) expressed concerns about privacy and security, requesting an 8-foot fence along the shared property line because current tenants smoke in the back and she wants to rent to families.
    • Richard Erholtz (235 Rainbow Drive) raised concerns about flooding, privacy, light pollution from light poles, noise from air conditioners, and security, noting his property adjoins the subject site.

Discussion Items

  • Item 3 – Special Exception for Short-Term Rental (2306 East Houston Street): Applicant Jessica Flores requested a special exception to allow one additional Type 2 short-term rental, exceeding the 12.5% block face density limit (currently 18%, would become 27%). Staff recommended denial. The applicant argued the STR would support tourism and be responsibly managed. The board discussed density and neighborhood saturation. Motion to grant failed 2-9.
  • Item 4 – Appeal of STR Permit Revocation (6215 Via La Contera, Unit 285): Applicant Jitender Paul Singh appealed the revocation of his short-term rental permit due to HOT (Hotel Occupancy Tax) delinquency. He stated he paid taxes under the wrong category and assumed overpayments would roll over. Staff noted that filing reports monthly—not just paying—is required, and only four filings were made in 14 months. Staff recommended denial. Motion to grant the appeal failed 5-6.
  • Item 6 – Variance for Fence Material and Height (1206 & 1200 West Avenue): Applicant Calvin Medrano requested a variance to allow a corrugated metal fence and a 10-foot rear yard fence (vs. 8-foot max). Staff recommended denial. The applicant explained the fence provides security for the tire shop. The board suggested a continuance to meet with the neighborhood association (Los Angeles Heights, which opposed). The applicant agreed, and the case was continued to November 17, 2025.
  • Item 7 – Fence Material Variance (203 West Buchanan Boulevard): Applicant Jesus Touris Day requested a variance for a corrugated metal fence in the rear yard, already built to 7 feet. Staff recommended denial. The applicant stated the fence provides security and privacy, and neighboring properties also have metal fences. Motion to grant the variance passed 11-0.
  • Item 8 – Lot Size and Width Variances (519 West Highland Boulevard): Applicant Gina Perez requested variances for a 5,600 sq ft lot (required 6,000) and 40-foot width (required 50) to build a single-family home. Previous variances had expired without building permits. Staff recommended approval. The board supported the project to reduce vacant lots. Motion passed 11-0.
  • Item 10 – Setback Variances for Supportive Housing Campus (3038 Eisenhower Road): Applicant Faye Hunter (Stephen G. Cook Engineering) requested a 145-foot front setback variance and a 30-foot rear setback variance to develop a drug and alcohol recovery facility. Staff recommended approval. The board discussed drainage, lighting, and fencing concerns. The applicant noted the facilities would include a retaining wall and underground drainage. Motion passed 11-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Special exception for STR (Item 3): Denied (2-9).
  • Appeal of STR permit revocation (Item 4): Denied (5-6).
  • Fence material and height variance (Item 6): Continued to November 17, 2025.
  • Fence material variance (Item 7): Approved (11-0).
  • Lot size and width variances (Item 8): Approved (11-0).
  • Setback variances for supportive housing campus (Item 10): Approved (11-0).
  • Continuance of sign variance (Item 9): Continued to November 3, 2025.
  • Addition of case BOA-25-1030160 to October 20, 2025 agenda: Approved.

Meeting Transcript

I hereby call this meeting of the Board of Adjustments into session. Have the Spanish interpreter come out, please. Good afternoon. Buenas tardes para aquellas personas que requieren the interpretación al Espanyol, por favor, passing a la cabina because encuentra in the parte trasera del salon. Gracias. Thank you very much. Stephanie Call roll. Commissioner Barrington. Here. Commissioner Stevens. Commissioner Ibanez. Present. Commissioner Dean. Present. Commissioner Cruz? Here. Commissioner Gomez. Commissioner Mana. Commissioner Bragman. Present. Commissioner Benavides. One more time, Commissioner. Gotcha. Commissioner Ozina. Present. Commissioner Dothcat? Present. Commissioner Bunyath. All right. Chair Oyan. And I'm present. So we've got 10 seated at this moment. If everyone could please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And two are republicans. One nation. Under God. Honor the taxes like I pledge at least. All right. So before we proceed with today's cases, I'd like to offer a few words of explanation. 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, I will make announcements such as community calendar events. I ask that the board members submit these announcements to me as the chair, and I will read them at the appropriate time in the meeting. We are private citizens appointed to this board by the City Council. The board is supported by members of the city staff competent in the rules and regulations governing the city's owning codes and other codes and aspects pertaining to this area. This is an administrative body and not a court of law. We only examine the facts pertaining to the relief sought, and we do not get involved in disputes or legal claims between parties. Specific powers have been granted to us by the Texas legislature and the San Antonio City Council.

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