San Antonio Planning Commission Meeting - May 13, 2026

The San Antonio Planning Commission met on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at approximately 2:12 PM. A quorum was present with 12 commissioners. The meeting included officer elections, consent agenda approval, and individual hearings on several zoning and plan amendment requests. Two public speakers addressed the commission.

Consent Calendar

• All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously by roll call vote, with amended minutes as noted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jane Schaefer (address 505 Costano Avenue) spoke in opposition to Item 11 (3200 block South Foster Road rezoning request). She argued the requested high-density commercial zoning was incompatible with the surrounding residential neighborhood, that the property owner had violated UDC codes by clearing the lot and storing oversized trucks without permits, and that approving the rezoning would reward violations and set a bad precedent. She urged denial of both the continuance and the underlying rezoning.
• Unnamed advocate for Item 14 (12139 Joel and Smaltzberger Road) presented on behalf of the applicant, an auto paint and body repair business. He stated the business had been operating, desired to add a paint booth (which is regulated by the city), and had engaged with nearby residents who were now customers. He argued for commonsense approval of the plan amendment to regional commercial.
• Ashley Fairman (Killin Griffin and Fairman, 10101 Reunion Place) represented the applicant for Item 18 (5995 Heath Road). She described a proposed indoor pickleball and paddleball facility, noting the site is zoned C1 but the existing land use plan designates low-density residential. She requested a plan amendment to community commercial (C2) to allow larger buildings, arguing the use is a community amenity and that the property’s floodplain location makes residential development impractical. She emphasized no alcohol sales (NA restriction) and that buffers would exceed requirements.

Discussion Items

• Item 1 & 5 – Commissioner Bustamante recused himself from these items (no further detail provided).
• Item 11 – 3200 block South Foster Road: Applicant requested a two-week continuance to May 27. After public opposition, Commissioner Sanchez moved to deny the continuance request; seconded by Commissioner Siegel. The motion carried unanimously (12–0). (No further action was taken on the underlying rezoning.)
• Item 12 – 1139 New Laredo Highway: Requested continuance to May 27. Motion to grant passed unanimously.
• Item 14 – 12139 Joel and Smaltzberger Road: Request for plan amendment from community commercial to regional commercial to allow C3S zoning for auto paint/body repair and oversized vehicle storage. Staff recommended denial, citing incompatibility with adjacent residential uses and insufficient buffering. After questions about existing buffers (six-foot chain-link fence) and the applicant’s current mechanical repair business, commissioners expressed concern about regional commercial on a half-acre tract. Motion to deny (by Commissioner Siegel, seconded by Commissioner Wallersted) passed 9–3 (Lopez, Orion, Bustamante dissenting).
• Item 15 – 2814 Vera Cruz Street: Continuance to May 27 granted unanimously.
• Item 16 – 223 East Petaluma Boulevard: Continuance to May 27 granted unanimously (two registered speakers did not wish to speak).
• Item 18 – 5995 Heath Road: Request for plan amendment from low-density residential to community commercial to allow C2 zoning for an indoor pickleball/paddleball facility. Staff recommended denial due to the intensity of uses allowed under C2. Commissioners discussed the potential for future incompatible uses (e.g., auto shops), the applicant’s willingness to restrict uses, and the lack of response from the neighborhood association. Commissioners also noted the property’s floodplain and current C1 zoning. Motion to recommend approval (by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Siegel) passed 11–1 (Bustamante dissenting).

Key Outcomes

• Officer Elections: George Peck reelected Chair, Matt Prophet elected Vice Chair, Meredith Siegel elected Pro Tem (all by acclamation).
• Nominating Committee for PTAC: Commissioners Peck, Sanchez, and Wallersted (primary) and DeSucci (alternate) appointed to review applicants for the Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee.
• Alternate to Technical Advisory Committee: Commissioner Wallersted appointed as the planning commission alternate to the TAC, replacing outgoing Commissioner Oulette.
• Item 11: Continuance denied; motion to deny passed 12–0. No further action taken on the rezoning.
• Item 14: Plan amendment denied; motion passed 9–3.
• Item 18: Plan amendment recommended for approval; motion passed 11–1. Case will go to Zoning Commission and City Council.
• Meeting adjourned at 3:17 PM.