San Antonio Zoning Board Meeting Summary – May 19, 2026

The San Antonio Zoning Board of Adjustment met on May 19, 2026, at 1:15 PM to consider zoning change requests, continuances, and other agenda items. The board approved the consent calendar, granted continuances, and debated several individual rezoning cases, including a proposed pickleball facility that sparked significant public opposition. Key votes and decisions are detailed below.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda items 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 were approved unanimously. Specific items included:
  • Item 9: Change from R5 to RC5 (two units) at 210 MacAlon Avenue – 27 notifications, no support or opposition.
  • Item 10: Change from R6 to R6 C D (two units) at 10523 Mount Baker Drive – 19 notifications, 6 in favor, neighborhood association in favor.
  • Item 13: Change to C2 with IDZ3 at 290 Blanco Road – Bacon Hill in favor.
  • Item 16: Change from MF-18 to MF-33 at 8210 Pinebrook Drive – amended by applicant to MF-25 (lower density).
  • Item 17: Change from I1 to C2 at 1711 City Al Place – 17 notifications, no response.
  • Item 18: Change from C2 to R4 at 306 World Avenue – 27 notifications, 1 in favor, Riverside neighborhood association in favor.
  • Item 19: Change from C2CD (two-screen theater) to C2CD (home improvement) at 24000 West Interstate – conditions: 8-foot fence and 15-foot setback from residential uses; 45 notifications, 1 in favor.
  • Item 21: Change from QDS (concrete/asphalt) to C2NA at 5415 Norlup 1604 – 12 notifications, no response.
  • Item 23: Change from R6 to C2 at 7701 Bucha y Drive – 20 notifications, no response.
  • Item 24: Change from C1 to C2 at 3939 Medical Drive – 11 notifications, 2 in favor.
  • Item 25: Change from IDZ1 (four units) to IDC1 (parking) at 311 HB Blade – 39 notifications, no response from Beethoven Hill or Mental Villa Historic associations.
  • Item 26: Change from C2 to IDZ2 at 6296 Broadway Street – 18 notifications, no response.
  • Item 27: Change from C1 to IDZ1 (O1) at 937 South Alamo Street – 44 notifications, 2 opposed (parking concerns), King Williams association did not respond.
  • Item 28: Change from C2S (bingo hall) to TOD MX3 at 7171 San Pedro – 96 notifications, no response from Nording Hill or District 1 associations; outside 200 feet: 4 in favor, 16 opposed.
• Public comments were received for Item 10 only (one speaker).

Continuances Granted

• Agenda items 4, 6, 8, 12, and 15 were continued to June 2, 2026, by a unanimous vote. The chair clarified that no violation fines would accrue on the property for Item 4 during the continuance period.
• Item 5 (1139 New Laredo Highway, C2 to C2CD for vehicle sales/repair) was continued to June 2, 2026, to allow the applicant to work with staff on a proposed 6-foot solid fence and 15-foot landscape buffer for the residential adjacency. The applicant had 31 letters of support from neighbors, but staff had recommended denial due to inconsistency with the 2007 comprehensive plan and lack of buffering.
• Item 7 (2814 Veracruz Street, high-density infill) was continued to June 2, 2026, because the applicant was not present; staff recommended denial due to lot size non-conformance.
• Item 11 (223 Petaluma Boulevard, R4 to R4CD for four units) was continued to June 16, 2026, after public opposition (Rachel Martinez, Ruby Ramos, Jaime Ramos) citing noise, crime, and property maintenance concerns. The applicant requested 30 days to meet with the neighborhood association.
• Item 22 (5995 Heat Road, C1 to C2 for pickleball facility) was continued to June 16, 2026, after extensive public comment. Residents Jenny Benavides, Hillary Laredo, Adrian Guerrero, and Maria Gonzalez opposed the change, citing traffic, noise, lighting, emergency access, and the potential for future more intensive uses. The district commissioner offered to facilitate a meeting between the applicant and the neighborhood association.

Discussion Items

• Item 2 (200 block Stonok Parkway, C2 to C2S for a reception hall/event center) was approved unanimously. The applicant, representing the Asian Community Center, presented plans for a 10,000-square-foot facility with banquet hall, exhibition space, and cultural programs. The site is currently undeveloped (4.7 acres, trees). Staff and SOS (Edwards Aquifer protection) recommended approval with 65% maximum impervious cover. No public comments were received.
• Item 3 (19000 block Highway 281 North, MF-33 to C2 for medical office) was approved unanimously. The applicant proposed a two-story medical office building on 3 acres of undeveloped land. The site is adjacent to a church that supported the change. Staff noted the property is zoned commercial and is appropriate for the area. No public comments were received.
• Item 5 (1139 New Laredo Highway) – See continuances above. The applicant originally sought C3 for vehicle sales/repair but amended to C2 with conditional use permit for the same. Staff and some commissioners expressed concern about the lack of buffering between the existing use and nearby single-family homes, despite 31 neighbor letters of support.
• Item 14 (114 Glenwood Court, R4 to R4CD for four units) was approved unanimously. The applicant plans to build four townhomes on a vacant lot behind his home. The Riverside neighborhood association supported the project. Staff had recommended approval for three units; the applicant accepted but noted engineering costs.
• Item 22 (5995 Heat Road) – See continuances above. The applicant proposed converting a former medical office into an indoor pickleball facility with four courts, limited to 5,000 square feet per building and 15,000 square feet total. Staff noted that C2 allows a wider range of uses (e.g., supermarkets, carpet stores) that could be more intense than pickleball. The applicant offered to place deed restrictions limiting future uses, but the city attorney clarified such restrictions are private agreements between the property owner and the neighborhood, not enforceable by the city.

Key Outcomes

• Approvals: Consent calendar items (9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) – all unanimous. Individual items 2, 3, and 14 also approved unanimously.
• Continuances granted: Items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15 (to June 2, 2026) and Item 11 and 22 (to June 16, 2026).
• Denials: None – all pending items were continued rather than decided.
• Next Steps: The next meeting is scheduled for June 2, 2026. Items continued to June 16, 2026, include those requiring additional community engagement. The board will revisit all continued cases at those dates.