San Antonio Board of Adjustment Meeting - October 26, 2026

The San Antonio Board of Adjustment met at 1:02 p.m. on October 26, 2026, with a quorum of 11 commissioners. Chair Oren explained that the board is an administrative body, that applicants bear the burden of proof, and that approval requires 75 percent of the full board, or 9 votes. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation was available for the public. The board heard short-term rental permit revocation appeals, zoning variance requests, fence special exceptions, and a buffer-landscaping modification. The meeting adjourned at 3:37 p.m.

Public Comments & Testimony

• In the Arriaga case, adjoining property owner Angie Trujillo testified in opposition, saying the enlarged carport came too close to her fence and directed rainwater onto her property. She said she would not object if professional gutters were installed and the structure stayed on the applicant's side.
• In the short-term rental appeal at 10214 Grenadier, 3 neighboring properties and the neighborhood association opposed the appeal by written notice; no opponent appeared in person.
• No opposing residents appeared in person for the Tyrone Fields, Jenny Barrera, Putnam, Horizon Design, and George cases; mailed notices generally produced no written support or opposition.

Discussion Items

1. Tyrone Fields short-term rental appeal - 1439 Lamar Street. Staff recommended denial, citing a delinquent hotel occupancy tax account that led to permit revocation after 90 days' nonpayment. Forty-five notices were sent and none supported or opposed the appeal. The applicant said he had paid all taxes, had no code complaints, and did not receive the revocation correspondence because the account was in the property owner's name, Michael White. The board voted 10-0 to grant the appeal, with commissioners noting that the city's notification system needed fixing.
2. Michael Fernández short-term rental appeal - 10214 Grenadier. Staff recommended denial after missed occupancy tax payments and reports, revocation, and an active listing. Thirty notices produced 3 opposing responses and neighborhood-association opposition. The applicant admitted the missed payments were his responsibility and asked for time to speak with neighbors. The board granted a continuance to November 23, 2026, for that purpose.
3. Arriaga variances and fence exceptions - BOA 2610300159. Staff recommended denial of the accessory-structure setback and fence-height exceptions and approval of the clear-vision variance. After the applicant amended the request to include gutters and minimum one-foot clearances, the board approved the fence exception unanimously and then approved the variances unanimously, with conditions addressing drainage and separation from the neighbor's property.
4. Jenny Barrera variances - 811 Teo Parkway. Staff recommended approval of the requested side setback and lot-size variances and denial of the clear-vision variance. The board approved all three variances 11-0, finding the existing 4-foot chain-link fence and lot configuration common in the Mission Historic District. The applicant said the house had been neglected and the work would preserve it.
5. Putnam fence special exceptions - the transcript lists the address as both 6328 Rollwin and 6326 Railway; the formal motion cited 6326 Railway. Staff recommended denial of the front-yard fence exception and approval of the side/rear fence exception. The board approved the requested 8-foot fence exceptions as modified, including an open front fence set back 20 feet from the property line, by a 10-1 vote. The dissenting commissioner said such height/razor-wire fencing should be limited to critical facilities.
6. Horizon Design Development buffer modification - 111 Fisher Road, with the later motion citing 118 Fisher Road. Staff recommended denial of the request to eliminate the Type C buffer, because the UDC already provides relief for utility easements. The board approved a partial elimination by unanimous vote, requiring the 15-foot buffer on the west side and conditioning the approval so the 5-foot reduction provision was not invoked.
7. George variance request - St. Mary's Street property. The board approved variances for an extensively remodeled 1910 residence, including lot size, a one-inch side setback, rear setback, and carport setback, unanimously, with no opposition after 35 notices.

Key Outcomes

• Tyrone Fields appeal granted: 10-0.
• Michael Fernández case continued to November 23, 2026, to allow applicant-neighbor consultation.
• Arriaga fence exception and variances approved unanimously with conditions.
• Barrera variances approved 11-0.
• Putnam fence special exceptions approved 10-1.
• Horizon Design buffer modification approved unanimously, with conditions.
• George variances approved unanimously.
• Meeting minutes approved unanimously.