San Antonio Board of Adjustments Meeting Summary – February 9, 2026

The San Antonio Board of Adjustments convened on February 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM with all 11 members present. The meeting included a vote on leadership positions, continuances, several variance and special exception requests, and a discussion on public comment procedures. The board also received a director's report noting that voicemail comments will be discontinued as of April 1, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the previous meeting were approved by voice vote.

Leadership Elections

• Chair: Donald Orion nominated by Commissioner Cruz and seconded by Commissioner Benavides. Approved by voice vote.
• Vice Chair: Andrew Olduna nominated by Commissioner Cruz and seconded by Commissioner Ozuna. Approved by voice vote.
• Pro Tem: Commissioner Bragman nominated by Commissioner Cruz and seconded by Commissioner Benavides. Approved by voice vote.

Discussion Items

• Item 3 (BOA 25103025) – 154 Babcock: Request for a 15-foot rear setback variance for a barbed wire fence. Staff recommended denial. Bianca Maldonado from the Monticello Park Neighborhood Association spoke, requesting a continuance to March 9, 2026, due to communication issues with the new case manager. She expressed concern that the city plans to stop accepting voicemail comments (effective April 1), which she considers an important engagement tool. The board voted to continue the case to March 9, 2026 (unanimous).

• Item 4 (BOA 2501030276) – 1038 Sherman Street: Requested a 12-foot variance for a 13-foot corner clear vision and a 9-foot fence entrance. Staff recommended approval for the clear vision and denial for the special exception. A continuance to March 9, 2026, was requested and approved (unanimous).

• Item 2 (BOA 25103007) – 118 Park View Drive: Variance for development on a 2,680 sq ft lot (required 5,000 sq ft) and 37-foot lot width (required 45 ft). Staff recommended approval, noting 27 notices sent with no responses. The applicant, Analisa Alvarado, described a new construction project. The board granted the requested variances with a unanimous 11–0 vote, citing consistency with neighborhood character.

• Item 5 (BOA 25-103-00282) – 371 Everest Avenue: Request for a 14-foot rear setback variance (to allow 6 feet) for an addition. Staff recommended approval. The applicant, Artemis Moore, described an addition to the rear of the home. The board granted the variance unanimously (11–0), noting the lot's reverse configuration.

• Item 6 (BOA 26-10301) – 4028 Colonial Sun Drive: Request for a 4-foot 6-inch side setback variance (to 6 inches) and a 6-foot front setback variance (to 4 feet) for a carport. Staff recommended denial. The applicant, Peter von Perdzek, sought to protect vehicles from hail and sun. Neighbor Debbie Johnson expressed concerns about drainage and visual obstruction. The board amended the request to limit the carport to a maximum 20-foot length (from 23 feet) and to require a continuously sloped roof to the front, and granted the variances (11–0).

• Items 7 & 8 (BOA 26-10302) – 5703 MacDonald Street: The applicant, Raul Garcia, first requested a waiver of the 12-month time limitation to re-file for a parking variance (from 4 to 2 spaces) for a four-unit duplex development. The board waived the limitation (majority vote). The variance request was debated; the board ultimately denied it (7–3, with 1 abstention), with some members favoring a three-space alternative or suggesting the applicant explore on-street parking. The motion to grant the 50% parking variance failed.

• Item 9 (BOA 26-103-0004) – 9218 Echo Port Drive: Request for a fence height special exception (to allow 8-foot gates and 6-foot fence) and a 4-foot 8-inch driveway clear vision variance. The applicant cited security concerns with police reports. The board granted the clear vision variance unanimously. For the fence height, an initial motion for 6-foot height passed (10–0, 1 abstention), after an amendment to 7 feet failed (6–5). The applicant was advised that an additional 6 inches might be possible via an administrative variance.

• Item 10 (BOA 26-103-0005) – 510 Belmont: Request for a 3-foot side setback variance (to 2 feet) for the primary structure and a 4-foot 6-inch side setback variance (to 6 inches) for an existing carport. Staff recommended denial. The applicant explained the house (built 1920) required extensive framing replacement. The board granted the variances (11–0), limiting the structures to their current footprint and placement.

• Item 11 (BOA 26-10306) – 7830 Louis Pasteur Drive: Request for a 1-foot special exception (to allow 6-foot fence) for a commercial property. Staff recommended denial. The applicant cited security concerns due to homeless activity. The board granted the exception (11–0) for a predominantly open fence.

Key Outcomes

• Leadership: Donald Orion (Chair), Andrew Olduna (Vice Chair), and Commissioner Bragman (Pro Tem) were elected for the coming term.
• Workshop: The board will schedule a workshop to discuss potential UDC amendments; a motion to set a date was approved. Commissioners were asked to submit suggested topics to staff.
• Voicemails: Staff announced that voicemail comments will no longer be accepted or played as of April 1, 2026, per direction from the City Clerk's and City Manager's offices. Several commissioners expressed concern about the impact on public engagement.
• Variances Approved: Items 2, 5, 6, 9 (clear vision and fence height for 6-foot), 10, and 11 were approved.
• Variances Denied: Item 8 (50% parking variance) was denied.
• Cases Continued: Items 3 and 4 were continued to March 9, 2026.
• Time Waived: Item 7 (12-month re-filing limitation) was waived for the parking variance request.