San Antonio Board of Adjustment Meeting - May 4, 2026

The San Antonio Board of Adjustment met on May 4, 2026, beginning at 1:00 PM and adjourning at 4:56 PM, with all 12 commissioners present. The board heard requests for special exceptions and variances for short-term rentals, fences, setbacks, buffer zones, and lot sizes. Several items were postponed or withdrawn.

Consent Calendar

• Item 4 (439 Calumet — solid fence and visibility variance) and Item 13 (607 McOvin — unspecified request) were postponed to May 18, 2026.
• Item 15 was withdrawn.

Public Comments & Testimony

• For Item 1 (122 Rialto Vista): 21 notices sent; 0 in favor, 1 in opposition. The Richview neighborhood association opposed.
• For Item 2 (1722 N. Olive): 34 notices sent; 0 in favor, 1 opposition (voicemail). No response from the association.
• For Item 3 (247 Princeton): 21 notices sent; 0 responses.
• For Item 5 (503 Old Pearson Road): 10 notices sent; 1 in favor, 0 opposition.
• For Item 7 (720 N. West 24th): 31 notices; 5 in favor, 1 opposition. Prosper Hill neighborhood association opposed.
• For Item 8 (1419 W. Malone): 41 notices; 0 responses.
• For Item 9 (1023 N. Pine): 55 notices; 1 in favor, 0 opposition.
• For Item 10 (103 Connelly): no specific notice tally provided.
• For Item 11 (1910 Montezuma): 37 notices; 0 responses.
• For Item 12 (3239 Highway Dr.): 31 notices; 0 responses.
• For Item 14 (4260 Mickey Road): 15 notices; 0 responses.

Discussion Items

• Item 1 — Special exception for Type 2 short-term rental (STR) at 122 Rialto Vista Applicant Enrique Leavittman requested a special exception to renew a lapsed STR permit. The property is a single-family home in a multi-family area. Staff recommended denial because approval would push the block’s STR density to 18.1%, exceeding the 12.5% cap. The applicant cited a three-year history without complaints, a 4.95 average guest rating, and recent code-compliance improvements. The board voted 2–3 against the motion, denying the request.

• Item 2 — Special exception for Type 2 STR at 1722 N. Olive Applicant Sonia Nieto sought a permit for a single-family home on a block with only three units. Staff recommended denial; the block already had one STR at 66% density, and adding this would exceed 10% limit. The applicant argued the property is her part-time residence and she needs flexibility. The motion failed 5–6, denying the request.

• Item 3 — Special exception for Type 2 STR at 247 Princeton Applicant Elvis Treviño requested a permit for a unit previously operated under a prior owner. Staff recommended denial due to density. The applicant noted prior compliance and offered to obtain written neighborhood support. The board postponed the item to May 18, 2026, to allow time to gather support.

• Item 5 (BOA-103073) — Buffer zone variances at 503 Old Pearson Road Applicant Taylor Ericsson sought to eliminate a 30-foot buffer along the rear property line and reduce a 15-foot buffer to 10 feet along Medina Base Road. The lot is small and oddly shaped, limiting development. Staff recommended denial because the reduction would remove 90% of the required buffer. After discussion, the board approved a motion with an amendment providing a 5-foot buffer along the rear (instead of elimination) and a 10-foot buffer along the street. The vote was unanimous.

• Item 7 (BOA-26103076) — Variances for a food truck establishment at 720 N. West 24th Applicant Juan Vargas requested a 12-foot rear setback reduction (from 30 feet) and elimination of a buffer along the street to accommodate a pavilion for his food truck business. Staff recommended denial, citing sufficient space. The board approved a motion granting an 18-foot reduction to allow a 12-foot setback, a 3-foot reduction of the rear buffer, and elimination of the street buffer. The vote was unanimous.

• Item (BOA-26103065) — ADU setback variance at 33 Mission Street Applicant Michael Pérez sought to convert an existing garage into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that is 11 inches from the side property line. The property is in the King William Historic District. After discussion about parking and a separate STR on the lot, the board approved the variance with a vote of 9 in favor, 1 opposed, and 1 abstention.

• Item 8 (BOA-103031) — Fence height and clear vision variances at 1419 W. Malone The applicant requested a special exception for a 4-foot-1-inch solid front fence (3-foot maximum) and an 18-foot clear vision area variance (required 20 feet). The fence had existed for over 11 years. Staff recommended approval for the clear vision variance but denial for the solid fence. The board approved both: the solid fence as built (due to hardship and long existence) and the clear vision area reduction based on the one-way traffic pattern and parking conditions. Both motions passed unanimously (11-0).

• Item 9 (BOA-26103069) — Fence height special exception at 1023 N. Pine The city, as applicant, sought to replace existing chain-link fencing with an 8-foot-6-inch wrought-iron fence on the side and a 6-foot-6-inch fence in front. The property is a future community center in a historic district. Staff recommended approval because the open design maintains visibility and security. The board approved unanimously.

• Item 10 (BOA-103070) — Corrugated metal fence variance at 103 Connelly Applicant Jarvis Moore requested approval for an existing corrugated metal fence, which is not an allowed material. The property is used for industrial storage. The applicant argued the fence is necessary for security and that similar fences exist in the area. Staff recommended denial. The board granted the variance, noting the material is appropriate for the area and the fence has been in place since before 2016. Vote was unanimous.

• Item 11 (BOA-103071) — Rear setback variance at 1910 Montezuma Applicant Alfonso García sought to reduce the required 20-foot rear setback to 5 feet for a small lot (24 ft wide, 74.8 ft deep). The lot is non-conforming. Staff recommended denial due to fire safety and density concerns. The board approved a compromise of 7.5 feet (a 12.5-foot variance) to maintain separation while allowing development. Vote was unanimous.

• Item 12 (BOA-103072) — Side setback variance at 3239 Highway Dr. Applicant Adam Velasco requested an 11-inch variance to the side setback to rebuild a fire-damaged home on its original foundation (existing 4 ft 1 in from property line vs. required 5 ft). Staff recommended approval as restoration of a non-conforming structure. The board approved unanimously.

• Item 14 (BOA-103078) — Lot size variance at 4260 Mickey Road Applicant Abraham Sánchez requested a variance from the 25-acre minimum lot size to allow a single-family home on a 12.67-acre lot. The lot resulted from a subdivision of a larger parcel. Staff recommended approval to preserve the rural character. The board approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1 — Denied (2–3 vote).
• Item 2 — Denied (5–6 vote).
• Item 3 — Postponed to May 18, 2026.
• Item 4 & 13 — Postponed to May 18, 2026.
• Item 5 — Approved with amendment (10–0).
• Item 7 — Approved (11–0).
• ADU at 33 Mission — Approved (9–1–1).
• Item 8 — Both variances approved (11–0).
• Item 9 — Approved (unanimous).
• Item 10 — Approved (unanimous).
• Item 11 — Approved with 7.5-foot setback (unanimous).
• Item 12 — Approved (unanimous).
• Item 14 — Approved (unanimous).
• Minutes — Approved.
• The board noted the continued vacancies on the Board of Adjustment and asked staff to follow up with the city council.

Meeting adjourned at 4:56 PM.