San Antonio Board of Adjustments Meeting – October 20, 2025

The Board of Adjustments met on October 20, 2025, at 10:02 AM, with all 11 commissioners present. The meeting adjourned at 5:58 PM. The board heard 12 cases involving variances, special exceptions, and appeals. Below is a summary of each agenda item.

Case 11 – BOA-25-103-00193 (1058 Steves Avenue)

• Request: Variances for a carport (one inch from west side property line), an accessory structure (six inches from east side property line), and a driveway clear vision variance (6 ft 10 in instead of 15 ft).
• Staff recommendation: Approval for driveway clear vision; denial for the carport and accessory structure.
• Public comment: One voicemail in favor.
• Outcome: Approved unanimously (11-0). The motion included a condition that the applicant add gutters to the carport.

Case 1 – BOA-25-103-00150 (704 Cunningway) – Appeal of STR Permit Revocation

• Request: Appeal of revocation due to failure to pay hotel occupancy taxes.
• Staff recommendation: Denial (noted partial payment made after final notice).
• Public comment: None.
• Outcome: Denied 10-1. The board found no error by staff; the applicant had a history of delinquent filings.

Case 2 – BOA-25-103-00155 (311 Waring Drive) – Special Exception for Additional STR

• Request: Special exception to allow a second type 2 STR on a block face already at 10% density (10 units, one existing STR).
• Staff recommendation: Denial.
• Public comment: None.
• Outcome: Approved 9-2. The board noted the timing issue (applicant closed on March 18, another STR permit issued March 21) and low density in the area.

Case 3 – BOA-25-103-00164 (1211 South Pine Street) – Appeal of STR Permit Revocation

• Request: Appeal of revocation due to HOT non-payment; applicant claimed inability to access the reporting portal.
• Staff recommendation: Denial (noted 7 delinquency notices and partial payment after final notice).
• Public comment: Seven letters in favor, Denver Heights Neighborhood Association in favor.
• Outcome: Denied 6-5. The board cited the applicant’s failure to resolve the issue over nine months.

Case 4 – BOA-25-103-00194 (104 Dickey Avenue) – Parking Adjustment Waiver for STR

• Request: Waiver of one required off-street parking space for a type 2 STR (property has an 8 ft 4 in wide driveway, 8 inches short of 9 ft minimum).
• Staff recommendation: Denial.
• Public comment: One speaker in opposition (neighbor cited narrow street, fire safety concerns), one voicemail in opposition, one voicemail in favor. Collins Garden Neighborhood Association opposed.
• Outcome: Continued to November 17, 2025, to allow the applicant to explore an easement agreement with the adjacent property owner.

Case 5 – BOA-25-103-00160 (3803 Southwest Military Drive) – Mobile Food Court Separation Variance

• Request: 185-ft variance from 200-ft separation from residential use to allow a mobile food court (15 ft from a single-family home via an alley).
• Staff recommendation: Denial (noise/light concerns).
• Public comment: One opposition letter (neighbor citing noise).
• Outcome: Denied 7-5. The board found insufficient distance from residential properties.

Case 6 – BOA-25-103-00175 (838 Broadway Street) – Rear Setback Variance for Andy’s Frozen Custard

• Request: 10-ft variance from 30-ft rear setback to allow a 20-ft setback for a new commercial building.
• Staff recommendation: Approval.
• Public comment: None; the applicant secured a letter of non-opposition from the neighborhood association and support from the adjacent apartment complex.
• Outcome: Approved unanimously (10-0). The board noted the similar variance previously granted for an adjacent property and the applicant’s mitigation measures (lighting, landscaping, fence contribution).

Case 7 – BOA-25-103-00176 (703 West Rosewood Avenue) – ADU and Accessory Structure Variances

• Request: Variances for an oversized ADU (1,080 sq ft, exceeding 50% of primary structure) and two sheds (later withdrawn). Additionally, setbacks for the accessory structures.
• Staff recommendation: Denial (cluttered lot, precedent).
• Public comment: Beacon Hill Neighborhood Association opposed; two letters of support from neighbors.
• Outcome: Approved 10-1 after the applicant amended to remove the sheds and keep only the ADU. The board limited the variance to the existing 1,080 sq ft ADU with no further expansion.

Case 8 – BOA-25-103-00190 (191 Remont Drive) – Accessory Structures and Carport Setback Variances

• Request: Variances for two accessory structures (7 inches from east side line) and a carport (1 inch from west side line).
• Staff recommendation: Denial (insufficient space for water runoff, fire safety).
• Public comment: None.
• Outcome: Approved unanimously (11-0). The board noted that the adjacent city-owned lot provides separation and that the structures were already built.

Case 9 – BOA-25-103-00191 (939 Southwest 38th Street) – Multiple Accessory Structure Variances

• Request: Variances for a patio cover (1 inch from north side line), a metal shade structure (2.5 ft from north side line), and a chicken coop (1.5 ft from north side line).
• Staff recommendation: Denial for the patio cover and chicken coop; approval for the metal shade structure.
• Public comment: None.
• Outcome: Approved 9-1. The board noted the applicant’s son (who built the structures) had passed away, and the neighbor had no objection.

Case 10 – BOA-25-103-00192 (3101 Vance Jackson Road) – Church Alley Access and Turnaround Variance

• Request: Variances to allow vehicular access via an alley and head-in parking without a turnaround for a church expansion (Gospel Myanmar Church).
• Staff recommendation: Denial (traffic flow, pedestrian safety).
• Public comment: One letter in favor, one in opposition (fire apparatus access).
• Outcome: Approved unanimously (10-0). The applicant committed to improving the alley, providing a 20-ft easement, and plating the lots into one.

Case 12 – BOA-25-103-00195 (602-606 North New Braunfels & 1513 Dawson Street) – Mobile Food Court Separation Variance

• Request: Elimination of the 200-ft separation from residential use to allow a mobile food court on three vacant lots.
• Staff recommendation: Denial.
• Public comment: Two voicemails in opposition (from Harvard Place East Lawn and Dignity Hills Neighborhood Associations). Six letters of support from nearby residents.
• Outcome: Initially failed 6-4, then the board reconsidered and continued to November 17, 2025, to allow the applicant to conduct additional outreach to the neighborhood associations.

Key Outcomes

• Approved variances: Cases 11, 2, 6, 7 (amended), 8, 9, 10.
• Denied appeals/variance: Cases 1, 3, 5.
• Continued: Cases 4 and 12 (to November 17, 2025).
• Minutes: Approved unanimously.
• Director’s report: None.
• Chair’s announcements: Noted that several commissioner reappointments remain pending with the mayor’s office.