San Antonio Historic Preservation Board Meeting – May 6, 2026

The San Antonio Historic Preservation Board met on May 6, 2026, at 3:03 PM to consider several certificates of appropriateness under the Unified Development Code. The meeting, which adjourned at 4:17 PM, included approval of consent items, a contested seasonal activity site at 1611 Broadway, a barn demolition request, and a proposal for two single-family residences in the Dignity Hill Historic District.

Consent Calendar

• The board approved items 1 through 9 on the consent agenda (except items 3 and 7, which were pulled for separate discussion) with staff stipulations. Certificates of Appropriateness will be issued by email within 10 days.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak.

Discussion Items

• Item 3 – 1611 Broadway (Seasonal Activity Site): Applicant Lorena Gómez Farías (KPNJ) presented plans for a seasonal use lot on Broadway, including a restroom building, electrical equipment, a trash enclosure, and a temporary ice rink / event space. Commissioners raised concerns about the placement of utility buildings along Broadway (rather than the alley), lack of landscaping, and the visual impact of a large concrete pad. A motion to approve with staff stipulations failed, as did a subsequent motion to deny. A substitute motion to approve with additional conditions—relocate Building 1 to the west side of the property (along the alley) and incorporate additional trees and plants—passed 7–3. The applicant noted the owner was reluctant to move the building due to utility connections, but the board adopted the motion.
• Item 7 – Barn Deconstruction (George Ramirez): Applicant George Ramirez requested a certificate to demolish a deteriorated barn on his property, citing structural rot and a $100,000 reconstruction estimate. He planned to salvage cedar beams and rebuild a similar structure for ministry use. The board approved the request with staff stipulations unanimously.
• Item 10 – 731 N Palmetto (Two Single-Family Residences): Applicants Octavio Miramontes, Alex Smortman, and Jack Smortman proposed two two-story homes in the Dignity Hill Historic District, fronting Burnett and Palmetto Streets. Staff identified 12 unmet stipulations regarding setbacks, massing, window alignment, portico design, and landscaping. Commissioners expressed concerns about the scale and mass of the buildings relative to the surrounding one-story historic homes. The board voted unanimously to refer the project to the Design Review Committee (DRC) for further refinement, with a return to the full board on May 20, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved (items 1–9 except 3 and 7) with staff stipulations.
• Item 3 approved with additional conditions (relocate Building 1 to alley, enhanced landscaping) – vote 7–3.
• Item 7 approved (barn deconstruction) – vote 10–0.
• Item 10 continued to the May 20, 2026 meeting after DRC review – vote 10–0.
• Minutes of the April 15, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.