Historic Design Review Commission Meeting - March 4, 2026

The Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) of San Antonio met on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM. The meeting included approval of minutes, a consent agenda, and several contested cases involving signage, a gate, and a rear addition in historic districts. Key decisions included approval of a gate at St. John's Lutheran Church with modifications and referral of a rear addition design to the Design Review Committee.

Consent Calendar

• Six consent agenda items were approved with staff stipulations (items 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6) after item 2 was pulled for discussion. Properties approved: 307 Delaware, 9800 Airport, 423 Blue Star, 801 North Olive Street, and 222 Mary Louise.

Discussion Items

• Item 2 – 307 Delaware (St. John's Lutheran Church): Applicant pastor Reverend Burke requested approval for a wrought iron gate at the church porch to address homelessness and security (defecation, urination, damage to doors). Staff found the gate reversible and not overwhelming due to building scale. Concerns were raised about obscuring original Gothic Revival features (leaded glass, eagle of St. John). Two design options were presented: one with grapevines on the arch and one simpler version. The commission approved the simpler design (7-2 vote; Commissioners Savino and Holland dissenting). Vice Chair Fetzer noted the gate would be placed at the front of the step for better anchoring to concrete columns.
• Item 7 – 3428 Roosevelt (Mustang Sally's): Applicant Isaac Ortiz and owner Rudy Lopez sought approval for a 123-square-foot internally illuminated cabinet sign for the bar. Staff recommended denial, proposing a sign no larger than 50 square feet with indirect/halo illumination and metal faces. The applicant argued the sign was needed for safety, citing 10 pages of prior crime (burglaries, shots fired, theft). Owner stated the sign (installed without approval) improved safety, but admitting it was a violation case. Staff noted other signage on the building (window vinyl, north side box) had not been reviewed. The commission voted 7-1 (Commissioner Galloway dissenting) to uphold staff recommendation and deny the current sign, directing the applicant to re-submit within guidelines.
• Item 8 – Garage Construction: Applicant Adrian Zamudio requested approval for a 375-square-foot detached garage with a 288-square-foot covered porch at a rear property. Staff recommended conceptual approval with stipulations requiring detailed drawings, window specifications (2-inch inset, no white, traditional trim), and compliance with setback standards. Chairman Gibbs noted conflicting submittals (vinyl vs. clad wood windows, smooth vs. wood-grain siding). The commission approved conceptual approval with all staff stipulations (unanimous vote) with a reminder to include elevations and site plan.
• Item 9 – Rear Addition: Applicant Chris Coker proposed a 500-square-foot rear addition to a house in the King William area. Staff recommended approval with stipulations to extend the existing gabled roof form, eliminate a proposed dormer, and add a vertical trim piece to demarcate old and new construction. Coker presented two designs: one with a shed roof and dormer, and a revised version extending the gable full-length. The King William Association submitted a letter supporting staff stipulations. Commissioners Savino and Fetzer raised concerns about roof form collisions and legibility of the addition over time. The commission voted unanimously to refer the case to the Design Review Committee (next available meeting) for further discussion on roof forms, with a time certainty for the next HDRC agenda.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent agenda (items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6).
• Approved simpler gate design at 307 Delaware (7-2).
• Denied internally illuminated sign at 3428 Roosevelt; directed applicant to re-submit within 50 sq. ft., indirect/halo illumination (7-1).
• Granted conceptual approval for garage project (unanimous) with stipulations for detailed drawings.
• Referred rear addition case to DRC for roof form resolution (unanimous).
• Next HDRC meeting scheduled for March 18, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments or voicemails were submitted for any agenda items.