Good afternoon.

The time is now 2 p.m.

on Thursday, October 2nd, 2025, and the City of San Antonio zoning and land use session is called to order.

Madam Clerk, please call roll.

Councilmember Corr.

Councilmember Mickey Rodriguez.

Councilmember Via Gran.

Councilmember Mungia.

Councilmember Castillo.

Councilmember Galvan.

Councilmember Alderete Gavito.

Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez.

Councilmember Spears.

Councilmember White.

Mayor Jones.

Here.

Mayor, we have quorum.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

For the record, item seven has been postponed and will not be considered today.

Items to continue to October 16th are meeting items two, three, and five.

Is there a motion to continue the items?

I make a motion to continue.

Okay.

Madam Clerk, anyone signed up to speak on these items?

No, we do not.

Okay.

Hearing none, is there any council discussion on the items to be continued?

Excuse me.

Okay.

I'm just gonna go around.

Um, any council discussion on the items to be considered, continued rather, excuse me.

None are on the room.

Okay.

There's a motion and a second to continue items two, three, and five to October 16th.

Uh, we will do a vote vos vote.

Excuse me.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Okay, the motion carries.

Uh next, we will review items uh to continue to November 6th.

Um, item to continue is item number 11.

Is there a motion to continue the item?

I make a motion to continue.

All right, we've got item number 11.

Madam Clerk, anyone has signed up on this item?

Nope.

Okay, thank you.

Is there any council discussion on the item to be continued?

Okay, hearing none, there's a motion and a second to continue item number 11 to uh November 6th.

Please vote.

We'll do both by voice again.

Um, those um in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

Motion carries.

Okay.

Uh we will now move on to the consent agenda.

The following items are listed for individual consideration.

Items 13, 14, 15, and 16.

The remaining items on today's agenda will be considered on the consent agenda.

Do any council members wish to pull an item from the consent agenda to be heard individually?

Okay.

Hearing none, uh, madam clerk, is anyone signed up to speak on these items?

We have just a few.

Okay.

On item six and ten.

Okay.

We have several individuals that are signed up to speak on item six.

Each will have uh, given we have a significant list list, each will have two minutes.

Um, the first person to speak, uh, Mary Ann Smith, followed by Sylvia Rencone.

Okay.

Ma'am, the clock, unfortunately, is not working, but we'll keep time here and you'll hear the buzz.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um Madam Mayor and Council members, I am Mary Ann Smith.

Sorry, I get nervous.

My name my voice shakes.

Um, I am Mary Ann Smith.

I'm a homeowner at Mission Delago.

I come to you today not only as a neighbor, but as someone with 40 years of mortgage finance and understanding of how land use impacts facilities, schools, and property values.

Last fall I reached researched this case, spoke with the zoning staff, and worked with my neighbors to collect signatures from more than 900 households opposing the rezoning.

The zoning office is only counting about half of those, discounting those from neighbors just outside the city limits or collected electronically.

But to us, every one of those voice banners together.

We are seeing clearly we do not want a cemetery.

My opposition is rooted in three concerns.

First is the tax revenue, which you will hear several people reference today.

Currently, SCI owns Sunset Memorial Park and has not paid property taxes of 1.17 million due to the exception for the last four years.

That's over the four-year period of time.

Secondly, is oversaturation.

Bear County already has 250 cemeteries within a five-mile radius of this site.

Four cemeteries still have available space.

Council has also recently approved another cemetery in District 2 and a funeral home in District 3.

At the same time, cremation now accounts for more than 60% of families and is projected to reach 80% by 2045.

This project is simply not needed.

Third, property values.

With decades of lending, I can tell you location drives values.

Cemeteries are considered external obsolescence and reduce the demand and soften the resale value.

That affects not only Mission Delago, but long-term growth on the South Side.

To avoid to add insult to injury.

I thought it was hilarious when I opened my mail last night, and I received a marketing campaign from the Neptune Society, which is held by SCI.

In summary, I'm asking respectfully that you deny.

Ma'am, you can submit the rest of your comments for the record if you'd like.

Okay.

Thank you.

Sylvia Rincon, followed by Andrew Nicholas.

Sylvia Rencon.

Followed by Kathleen Nicholas.

So Kathleen Nicholas and Marissa Nicholas will yield their time to me.

So I'll have six minutes.

You have four minutes, thanks.

Six minutes.

Four.

Marissa Nicholas is also yielding her time to me.

Um, okay.

Six.

Go ahead.

Um mayor council.

For the last 70 years, our family has been farming and ranching on the south side of San Antonio.

Our property shares 2100 uh feet of property line with the applicant's property that they're looking to purchase.

This property is located eight miles south of downtown along Highway 281 South in a rapidly growing area surrounded by newly built residential communities.

The residents of District 3, many of whom are working class families are in desperate need of basic services such as grocery stores, restaurants, retail stores, and medical clinics, in addition to more workforce housing.

A cemetery development does not address these urgent needs, nor does it address the city's equitable development and housing plans.

District 3 already is home to 21 cemeteries, with four of them located within three miles of the proposed site.

The two largest are San Jose Burial Park, which is owned by the City of San Antonio, and Mission Burial Park South, both of which have ample burial capacity to serve the needs of this community for the next 50 years.

Giving the existing surplus, the proposed development is currently unnecessary and unwanted by area residents, landowners, and the South Side Independent School District.

The South Side Independent School District has already submitted a formal opposition to this uh zoning uh request.

For those of you who don't know, cemeteries are exempt from property taxes under Texas Property Code 11.17.

Rezoning the land for a cemetery use would remove it from the county's tax base, leading to a significant loss in revenue for the City of San Antonio, South Side Independent School District, Alamo Community College, and University Health Systems.

In a time when the city is facing a budget shortfall, we cannot afford to diminish the revenue base that supports emergency services, infrastructure, public education for the benefit of one single corporation who generates four billion dollars a year in revenue.

Okay, four billion dollars a year in revenue is what they generate as a corporation.

The surrounding community stands to lose as a school district will struggle to provide teachers with competitive salaries, address building repairs, and other necessary educational resources.

Meanwhile, the city will find it harder to meet the needs of district three residents as a result of reduced funding.

The applicant Service Corp International has a troubling track record of unethical business practices.

In 2022, SCI agreed to pay 209 million dollars to settle a federal class action lawsuit for deceiving 87,000 residents in the state of Florida.

Okay.

Those residents purchased pre-burial plans and they were deceived by what they bought.

More recently, in 2024, SCI was found in violation of California's unfair competitive law and false advertising laws due to deceptive marketing of cremation services resulting in 23 million dollars of settlement.

Will our community be the next one that falls victim to this deceptive trade practices?

Given the history of deceptive business practices, I asked, is this the kind of corporation we want our community?

Are we willing to give up millions of dollars of tax revenue to allow this kind of behavior in our community in a time that we can't even balance the budget?

Are we willing to lose out on millions of dollars of tax revenue and shift that burden to residents who are property taxpayers?

That's the question I have for you all today.

We are at a crossroads.

So the people that live on the south side, many of which are already struggling to put three meals of food on the table to repair their cars to repair their houses.

Guess what?

We're gonna ask them to pay more taxes because we have to make up that funding somewhere.

And where is it gonna come from?

Cemetery developments, unlike other types of developments, do not grow the local economy, nor do they provide vital services.

Rather than removing valuable land from our county's taxable base, we should focus on supporting additional development in the area to serve community needs.

With housing retail and medical facilities that will support sustainable growth and improve the quality of life for district three residents.

The average sales price on the South side is hovering around 200,000 dollars, which is affordable for most people in our economy today.

What why are we taking a piece of property that already has electricity, it already has sewer and not using it to build residential housing for our community?

We many of you stand up here constantly and you go before the media and you talk about the need for housing.

Well, 200,000 dollars is fairly affordable, it's significantly less than the median sales price of a house today.

And I'll say this.

So you can submit the rest of your comments for the 60 69 acres times $3,000 per burial plot.

Sir, you can submit the city.

James Knight.

Followed by Mike Goudino.

Mate Goudino followed by Rosalio Gonzalez.

Okay, so I'm gonna speak for his time in Spanish.

Okay.

Okay, got it.

Okay.

So 12 minutes.

Is that right?

Twelve minutes, thank you.

I have 12 minutes.

There's there's three of you, correct?

No, Rosalia's speaking for hope.

Speaking for herself.

Okay, so it's just Mike and Okay.

So Mike Goudino and Osvaldo Valdez.

Okay, got it.

Okay.

Maybe it's eight minutes.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um Maite Gudino Albidres.

My name is Maitea Goyino Adidas.

I live in the Mission Lao de Lago Community.

In the district three, less respectable mente.

And I'm here, I am coming from district three to ask you respectively.

I'm asking respectfully of the city council to vote no cementerio, porque como mamadha, those niños que tengo en la primaria, estoy completamente in this accord that I got uncementary.

And I vote to vote no in the cemetery because as a mother of two children, I completely disagree to have a cemetery so near.

I'm asking respectfully of the city council to vote no al cementerio que tengo en la primaria estoy completamente in desacuerdo de que Igaun Centerio Tancercas and I vote to vote no in the cemetery because as a mother of two children I completely disagree to have a cemetery so near no quiero que esa constanza de recordatorio de muerte para los niños que cada vez que uno stemejando en el dos ochentayuno because I don't want that reminder of death uh for the children as you drive on two eighty one is porque los taxes um cementerio no prover taxes para los distritos y eso affect and also the cemetery will not provide a tax base for the schools in that district experiencia que stado yendo de puerta in puerta avisando les informando cementerio en realidad mucha gente and I have been walking door to door informing people about the cemetery.

Many people in district three do not want the cemetery, they are do not agree with it.

And uh there's it's not possible for more people from the community to be present because this is at 2 p.m.

when many people are picking up their children from school or they're at work, so they cannot be here in person to say that they oppose the cemetery.

I think creo que ya todos mis punto.

I think I've uh spoken about all the points I had to make.

Uh, do I still have any time left?

Okay, uh so la que no quiero cementerio.

Another reason why I don't want the cemetery.

Just to speak about all the chemicals that we are used to keep the grounds in that cemetery that would be so close by.

So I respectfully ask to oppose it.

I ask, would you uh be willing to be there driving by every day to have that reminder of death?

I quatro minutes left.

Okay, um can somebody else take my time that is left?

No.

Unless that person is signed up on the list.

Oh, okay, because I think I point everything out.

I'm just okay.

No, too.

I mean you can give it to Rosalia if you'd like to.

Good afternoon.

So Laura Rosalia Gonzalez de Mission de la Gotham.

I'm my name is Rosalia Gosales from Mission de Lago.

And just to confirm, sorry, so you're gonna get the your remaining time plus the four minutes that you get, so you have eight total.

Okay.

Okay.

Go ahead, thank you.

So I stand repetitive.

Okay.

Another point would be the concern of any environmental uh damage and to that area.

As far as uh you know could talking about all the uh residues that could be involved in developing the cemetery, and regarding the smells uh caused by the chemicals used.

The impact of all these substances into the soil y otra forma de affectación in domicilios cercanos.

And any effects these might have in residences close by traffic local perdon.

Another concern is local traffic, which is bothersome and also causes stress.

So we just asked ourselves that this is such a vast and such a large area, why don't we develop green spaces, green areas with playgrounds, recreation?

So this would be an area and opportunity to have this green area that families, pets, children can enjoy in this area that is growing and is being not yet completely developed.

And uh considering and with all the respect to those that have passed away, and we all know someone that has passed away, um we just don't think that this would be the place for it.

So this wouldn't be a good place for it because there's already other funeral homes, other uh cemeteries that are 10 to 15 minutes away drive, so why would we need another one there?

So in la communidad.

It's a very nice area, it's peaceful, it's it's pretty, and I think we could find better developments uh for this area.

So we cordially invite you to join us in in supporting a no for this development of this the funeral home and cemetery.

Matthew Gilbert followed by Evan Wagner.

I'm ceding my time to James McKnight along with Evan Wagner.

Ceding your time to James McKnight.

And I actually I have a presentation.

I wasn't gonna there we go.

Thank you.

That's great.

Um just to I had waived my time before as I didn't think I was gonna speak, but I'd like to address a few things.

Um that they're they'd like to give their time to me.

Okay, so it's four minutes.

Correct you.

That's right, thank you.

So my name is James McKnight.

I'm here on behalf of SCI, the applicant, and um there's just a few things I think that I'd like to point out.

One is the context for the property.

If you look at this map, you can tell that we are not just nestled in a neighborhood.

Mission Del Lago is across the highway from us, but we're also surrounded by some industrial development and a lot of undeveloped land, a lot of undeveloped land, and and that means a great deal to this area, as you'll see in these upcoming slides.

We won't talk about the actual zoning itself because I think it's more important to talk about the the uses.

Um a lot of that land is outside city limits at the moment, but that doesn't mean that's not going to be developed for certain uses that are gonna benefit this area.

This is the site plan.

One important aspect of that is the five acres that you see.

Uh, this is uh plan to the left.

That's five acres that we are not zoning because we're don't dedicating that land to the city.

As part of this process, it was important for us to show how important community is to us.

Having a cemetery is a truly integral part of any community, and we wanted to prove that all along the way.

And so with the councilwoman's leadership and help, we said, well, what is it that this community really needs?

And so that's what that five acres is.

And we've actually entered into an agreements to give that five acres to the city for purposes of a library or or whatever other civic use could be useful.

But we also have access from highways on either side, so that if there is any traffic concerns, we have plenty of access.

This is a list of all of the outreach that we have done in the last year to try to talk to folks and been refused and turned away in many points.

Uh we have tried a lot, and I think a lot of you up there know how hard we work at trying to talk to everyone.

Um this is a rendering that shows what the property is going to look like at the entrance and along the fence line.

One thing that we try to focus on is making the properties really look uh park-like to be part of that community.

It's a rendering of uh an example of a funeral home in Horizon City.

This is what I really wanted to get to.

This is a study that was done by Zonda to show the growth in the area of where that's a heat map showing where all the homes new starts, new homes are being built.

And ours is right in the middle of all of that red area.

This is a tremendous growth area.

That's just a study.

This is the reality.

These are mapped out developments showing over 8,000 homes that are being developed in this area.

That's why we're looking in this location.

And that's why loss of tax revenue is a non-starter, especially because you would anyone will lose out on the taxes, no matter where you went.

We decided as a state that it was good policy to not have cemeteries pay property taxes.

Wherever you are, in city limits, outside city limits, is not a zoning issue.

It doesn't matter where you are, cemeteries don't pay taxes.

And this shows all of the growth that it's coming in this area and the reason for having these having a cemetery in the area because we're looking at the future.

We're looking at what who we are going to be serving and when we want to be part of that community.

Other items as part of that um evidence that we are part of this community, more than just dedicating the five acres.

We're dedicating or donating 100,000 over several years to scholarship programs for the area in in partnership with the SoTex Foundation.

Internship opportunities for those students.

These are things that at one point the school district came to us and said, Can we offer?

We did.

The school district rejected us, but we're still offering it.

And and I believe that this is still something that the community can really use.

Um, as well as ongoing collaboration with the community and the stakeholders in the area.

This is um and and and perhaps one of the my other colleagues can speak to it, uh in the valley.

They become an integral part of the community of any community that they're in.

So I'm gonna summarize it with this.

We are providing more than just a cemetery.

We're providing a partnership with this community, scholarships, acreage, all of that to show that we're we're once we're an integral part of their lives.

Thank you.

Abel Petas, followed by Darren Somer.

Darren Salmer, if you could go ahead and stand up and line up behind him, that'd be great.

Thanks.

Yes, I'll be speaking briefly about the uh RGV, the rear grand value that was uh mentioned in the RGV.

We have a total of eight cemeteries, which would be combo locations, similar to what we are in uh looking forward to do here in in San Antonio, and we are part of the community.

We are very embedded, not only in helping in the community, but we are also part of it.

But what do I mean by that?

We have over 16 events on a yearly basis where we connect with the families in the community from doing school drives from helping families in need, and that's just mentioned a few of the items.

Someone mentioned that um, yes, we are um owned by a corporation, but we are operated locally by team members.

We expect to have over 50 uh team members that are going to be running this cemetery, and that's in addition to all the additional work that's going to be brought into this area.

That's that's all I had to add.

Darren Somer, followed by Brady Alexander.

I just like to say that when we um we look at what we do for the Hispanic community.

I'm fortunate to work with uh our company in growing the Hispanic and serving the Hispanic community.

Um, although I don't look like it, por suerte puedo hablar un poco en español, emocionado de servir montón de gente in una forma totalmente distinto.

We have over 10,000 people that show up at Dio de los Muertos in Tucson, not because we offer Dio de los Muertos, they show up, they want to be there to recognize their family members.

Um we've done many things to help with jobs uh in the sense of how to build a resume, how to work on a resume.

Um in very difficult times we're there to serve the Hispanic community unlike any others.

And uh I think it'll be a great fit for us to be in that area.

Brady Alexander, followed by Alejandra Martinez.

They are ceding their time to me.

My name is Brigie Alexander.

Do you need them to uh the name of the other two, please?

My name is Alejandra Martinez, and I'm giving my time to Brady.

Okay, and the other person.

Alejandra Martinez.

My nombre is Livia Santana, you le say the mi tiempo at Sande.

Okay.

You have six minutes, sir.

Thanks.

My name is Briggie Alexander.

I represent the Hot Wells Mission Reach Neighborhood Association, and I'm also authorized to represent the Via Coronado Neighborhood Association, which is adjacent to this proposal.

We support our neighbors in opposing this and their wishes to be followed.

There are many issues here that have been brought up already about taxation, etc.

But let's be honest.

Highway 90 is a border in this town due to topography reasons and also economic.

We have Nelson Gardens, Covell Gardens, and we're pretty much the state hospital is going to be used for the third dump, unfortunately, for people.

We get things down here that nobody else wants.

They move the sexually transmitted disease clinic down to District 3 on Hackberry from downtown.

There are many other items I could mention that are disinvestments in this area.

This is a poor marginalized area that needs catalysts, incentivizations for businesses to move in, not things that are detrimental to this and only perpetuate the pre-existing poverty, and let's be honest, racial segregation in this town.

It is a disgusting tradition that this town continues to incentivize developments, whether it be in housing, business, etc.

We destroy our schools with tax incentivized, high density, low quality housing, especially south of 90, as I'm sure you're aware, and those that live in nicer areas of town, I'm sure they're happy that it's not in their backyard, but it is on the south side.

It is wrong.

This is where San Antonio started.

This is our World Heritage Area, and what do we do?

Nothing.

It is a shameful tradition of this town being founded on exploitation, segregation, and indoctrination.

This project and others check the box on those two.

And it is terrible.

Every time I go home, I drive through Bernie.

I get to see why Bernie is the fourth most expanding suburb in the state of Texas.

Unfortunately, city policy contributes to that.

And that is wrong.

I hope that that will quit happening.

We have plenty of cemeteries already in the area.

We have one in our neighborhood.

It's an ancient one, et cetera.

But it's there.

And it's been there since about 300 years ago.

In this area, there's going to be expansion.

Yes, there's going to be houses, etc., but they should not bear the burden of this taxation.

Currently, this property is valued at 3 million.

That equates to about a thousand typical Southside homes.

Or one-eighth of what they talked about is projection.

So they're going to take out 12 and a half percent of the tax base.

And what other stuff do we have that's been incentivized?

Toyota, TJ Maxx, truck companies, etc.

But if this were occurring at 281 north and 410, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

It wouldn't be happening.

Or closer to home, this wouldn't be happening if it was on Brooks.

They won't allow it.

So even though stuff south of 90 compared to the city is rather segregated, there are areas in the South Side that are segregated too.

Brooks thinks it's the wind crest of the South Side.

They got another thing coming.

They can't insulate themselves for what is going around there.

Projects like this are dumped out into neighborhoods, housing, etc., businesses they don't want, and it sets a tone.

It's why you are seeing investment going north, this town moving to the north.

It all comes down, unfortunately, to capital and where are people coming in.

This company sees an opportunity.

They see cheaper land, they want to come in and do this.

It is not correct for this area to be further.

This really bothers me.

I choose to live on the south side.

I don't have to.

But I choose here.

I can go back to a small German town that has nearly as many wineries as San Antonio has dialysis clinics.

But I care about this area, and it's really sad.

I mean, the sewer plants are down there.

Mitchell Lake next to it was the first sewer plant.

That was due to topography.

I can understand that.

I can understand that you know what rolls downhill.

But there does not have to be a crap magnet on the south side with the property of City San Antonio etched on it.

This is just wrong in so many ways, and with this city's plan for zero vision on pedestrian fatalities, they won't have to take them too far off of Roosevelt to bury them, and that is just wrong.

And it's really sad if you go down there.

And I challenge all of y'all, including our district three representative, go take a drive down there and see how it is, what it could be.

It's really sad.

And then go drive 281 north and look at that.

It's just sad beyond beyond words, and I hope that y'all will do the right thing and stop incentivizing inappropriate development in already marginalized communities and help people lift up the area, not degrade it.

Thank you for your time.

Julian Cruz, followed by Johnny Aguilar.

Mr.

Johnny will be donating his time to me.

You have four minutes, sir.

Yes.

Good afternoon.

My name is Julian Cruz.

I'm a real estate agent here in San Antonio.

I provided copies that outline our main concerns and kindly ask you to take a moment to review them before casting your vote.

Did you receive those?

No.

I want to begin by saying this group of ordinary but determined citizens feels like David against Goliath.

We're members of the community fighting SEI, a massive corporation that owns and operates more than 19 funeral homes, 1900 funeral homes and cemeteries across the United States.

A company traded in the New York Stock Exchange to us, they're a faceless corporation pushing their way through to force this deal at the expense of our neighborhoods.

We are frustrated, disappointed, and discouraged because this vote has been dragged for so long.

Yes, continuances are legal.

But while their attorneys are well compensated for their appearance, many of us have to miss work, close our businesses, or rearrange medical appointments just to be here and make our voices heard.

I want to say this with all respect.

Not listening to reasons.

From the many reasons we oppose this project, I want to highlight two critical points.

What we need are instead our homes, businesses, and developments that create jobs and generate tax revenue.

Imagine the impact of having an HEV here.

Something our community truly needs.

Donating five acres.

Well, who's gonna pay for that?

Um library.

Legally permissible?

Yes.

Ethical or moral?

Absolutely not.

Their voices, fears, and concerns did not disappear.

Yet their votes were silenced by a technical adjustment.

Citizen planners Samantha Benavides provided us with the following votes counts after those revisions.

Within 200 feet, two in favor, which is the property owner twice.

Opposition, FM 1937 holding.

South side also opposing.

Outside the 200 feet, only four in favor, and 467 oppose.

And this not include tenants because supposedly they don't count because they're not property owners.

This number clearly shows where the community stands.

I also ask you to review the statements from the Texas representative John Lujan, who explains the reasons for opposition in a way that strongly aligns with our concerns.

Please vote no.

You cannot go wrong with voting in favor of your constituents.

Stand with the people you represent.

Thank you.

Ruth Rodriguez, followed by Sandra Diaz.

Sandro Diaz.

I'm Ruth Rodriguez, and I give my time to Brady.

Two minutes, sir.

Couple of points that uh they wanted me to uh reiterate.

Um one second, sir.

What do you think?

Debbie.

Okay.

She ceded his time to him though.

Okay.

Sir, I'm told I'm told you're not able to take the time as you've already taken the max time.

Um, Ms.

Rodriguez, if you'd like to speak, you have two minutes.

Sorry.

Good afternoon.

My name is Ruth Rodriguez, and I live in Mission Delago.

I propose the proposed cemetery zoning will negatively impact schools' traffic and property values in our neighborhood.

The schools are already overcrowded and underfunded.

Rezoning removes nearly two million dollars in annual tax revenue, worsening conditions for Southside ISD students.

Creating congestion during morning commutes from six to nine, midday funerals from 10 to 2, and evening rush hours, including visitor weekends.

Most of us will ever make.

Homes near cemeteries sell lower and appreciate less.

Hurting family equity in our neighborhood.

The South Side doesn't need another cemetery.

We need community focused development, such as recreation centers, senior services, and family supporting facilities.

Thank you.

Sandro Diaz.

You're not speaking.

Okay.

Does any council member wish to pull an item from a consent from the consent agenda to be heard individually?

Based on some of the information that's been presented, I'd like to pull item six for a couple of uh uh points of clarification.

Sir Is there a motion to approve the balance of the consent agenda minus item six?

Make a motion to approve.

Okay.

Is there any council discussion on the items on the consent agenda minus the item that's been pulled?

Okay.

Uh okay.

Uh that concludes uh council discussion on the consent agenda.

There is a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda, which are items one, four, eight, nine, ten, twelve, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, and twenty.

Please vote.

Okay.

The motion carries.

We'll now move on to the individual items.

Please start with uh staff, please start with items uh 13 and 14.

Uh make a motion order of the day.

Can we start with the item six?

Yep.

That's fine.

All right, thank you.

Agenda item number six is a change of zoning from R4 to C2NA C D with conditional use for a funeral home slash undertaking parlor on 3.01 acres, and to R4S with a specific use authorization for a cemetery columbarium or mausoleum on 69.08 acres amended down from the original 73.75 for a total of 72.09 acres and waiving provisions of the City of San Antonio City Code Chapter 7 Cemeteries Section 7-1 burials in cemeteries.

The property is located at 13297 FM 1937.

Staff and zoning commission recommend approval.

Staff mailed 10 notices, two were returned in favor and one in opposition within the 200 foot notification boundary.

There is no registered neighborhood association within 200 feet.

Uh outside 200 feet, five were received in favor and 486 in opposition.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Um can I have somebody uh speak to the um based on some of the concerns that have been been raised about the vendor?

Um by my estimate, it's been 240 million dollars in either uh restitution the company has had to pay or in uh settlements, class action settlements.

Um that's just in the last three years.

So would appreciate some some clarification about uh the work that has been done to ensure that our community is not similarly the victim of some of those practices.

Yeah, so the the change of zoning process doesn't look at settlements in or out of state.

I might offer the applicant an opportunity to respond to some of those, but that would fall outside the purview of a staff review.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh James McKnight for SCI.

Mayor Jones, I'm not prepared to speak on any of those items because that's not really what we're here to talk about when it comes to zoning.

I know that it's a it's a uh common practice for cemeteries to come under fire for those kinds of lawsuits, and we work hard to comply with every bit of the law.

And but here we're here to talk about land use, so I don't have an answer for that.

Yeah, I appreciate were you finished with your comments?

Yes.

Okay.

Yeah, I appreciate your uh your your sentiment, um, but most certainly this body will review other factors um that may contribute to how we understand uh point of order.

I'd like the legal to clarify what we're doing here today regarding zoning.

As part of that though, um the legal it is point of order.

Can we have legal answer, please?

Sure, go ahead.

So just as a general reminder, as far as zoning goes, it's governed under the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 211.

And so the state kind of sets the parameters of what is generally considered uh by the governing body when they are looking at a zoning case, and that typically tells us to focus on land use issues.

Yeah.

Thank you for that.

I appreciate that.

Is there anything in the law prev uh prohibiting us from discuss uh discussing other factors that may um impact our understanding of uh the the decision, the zoning decision as part of the prohibiting no?

Okay, thank you.

Um Mr.

McKnight.

Okay.

Um to be very clear, you said you were not able to speak to to those judgments or any of the practices that may be of concern, not maybe actually were raised by some of the folks in the audience.

Um final opportunity if you wanted to do that, or if anybody else on your team wanted to speak to those items.

I mean, 220 240 million in three years is is significant.

Um and again, want to make sure that we're doing what we can to best serve our community.

And that is what we need to do.

That's what we're gonna do.

Okay, appreciate that.

Thank you.

Would any of my other council colleagues like to speak on this item?

Okay.

Um go ahead, councilman.

Thank you.

Uh I I just want to reiterate um what our what our attorney stated uh and and the councilwoman via Grant's point here.

This is we we could consider any anything in the world, I guess, and nothing nothing prohibits us from thinking about other matters, but when we are talking about zoning issues, we we are we are charged to think about the land use implications uh of the potential project, right?

That that is what what zoning uh is about.

Do we want to make this zoning change based on uh land use considerations?

So uh I would just offer that uh at least for for me personally and how I've seen things done during my time on the zoning commission as well as here at council, that we are best served when we stick to consideration of land use issues.

Thank you, Councilman.

Uh I do want us to um recall we had frankly a similar conversation um around how we might consider um the impacts of um a project that came before here that included one affordable housing and uh and early childhood education, and we similarly spoke about um uh understanding the ramifications of our decisions in the course of making decisions about zoning, understanding again, those were not mutually exclusive, and there are certainly other things that we would look to consider.

So there's certainly precedent for this body considering and having wider deliberations in the context of these decisions.

Councilwoman.

Oh, yeah, okay.

Thank oh, sorry, one second.

If for um so that's uh Chair Corps that would like to speak for others, um, if you'd like to speak on this item, please sign in.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I actually was going to make that exact same point and agree with Councilmember White and would consider um push all my colleagues to make sure that we do continue to focus on land use.

So when we're thinking about housing, it doesn't matter whether it's affordable housing or market rate housing, it's housing.

And when we're thinking about education, does it matter if it's public charter school or an ISD?

It's education.

And so um this is a cemetery, and I will be voting to support uh councilman this.

Thanks.

Um councilman uh chair, excuse me, McKee Rodriguez.

Thank you.

And I uh uh I'll disagree a bit with uh council member white and uh councilman core.

Um there's a few things that we often consider when we're discussing zoning cases.

For example, crimes that may occur if a specific uh business or development uh happens, jobs that are created as an incentive to support that development, uh, environmental concerns that uh exist either by residents, property owners, or uh community at large, as well as affordability and uh whether or not a project contributes to gentrification.

And so I do think a lot of uh what's been brought up today is uh worth exploring and should be weighed into our decision-making factors.

Um I do have a question that I hope you are ready to you are able to answer this.

Um one of the concerns was about environmental and maintenance issues.

Specifically, there's a quote that was cited.

Cemeteries can be considered a potential sources of soil and groundwater contamination and burial places where there is no system for collecting and treating uh necroleachate and effluent rich in organic matter and in or inorganic elements produced during the decomposition of corpses.

So essentially the liquid that's created from corpses could uh either in rain or in a and I'm a development like this that is not properly managed, it could uh have harmful impacts on the environment on surrounding communities.

So can you tell me a little bit about how your development will not do that?

Well, I can say this.

Oh great.

I've been with the company 28 years, and I don't know of any that I'm aware of.

Um there's been situations where we've had environmental issues like the gnat catcher in San Diego, and we've given up land to take care of the gnat catcher.

And I do want to, with regard to legal issues, I don't I'm not an attorney with our company, I don't know the details on that, as he mentioned.

I will say this the president of our company at about four in the morning reviews all families, almost all the families he can for about an hour.

The survey work that they send in on if we've served them well or haven't served them well.

We were recognized, I think with there's either five or eight JD Powers presidential awards awarded to companies, we receive that.

So our goal is to serve families at the highest level all the time.

But there are 25,000 employees, so I don't know the the details of each one of those cases, but we do everything we can to serve them well.

I hear you.

I don't know that that quite answers the environmental concerns.

Well, I do want to I want to add because I'm the land use guy, so I'm gonna add the the permitting part of this is that when it comes to drainage or taking care of the environmental issues, one of the things that we discussed with the city attorney during this process was making sure that we did have to comply with every uh regulation that you would need to during that process because it was stated at some point that maybe we didn't.

And so we made it uh they made it very clear to put it in the ordinance to make sure that we did comply with everything.

So all the drainage concerns, surface water, groundwater would be handled through that process.

For sure, I appreciate it.

I have a few more questions.

I do intend to support the item, so I just want to make sure my colleagues don't get antsy.

Um I have a number of cemeteries in my district, including the historic cemeteries on East Commerce, as well as the Fort Sam cemeteries, uh, and there's a difference in uh the way a cemetery can be embraced by a community or viewed as an eyesore or uh has to do a lot with maintenance and also has to do with types of material used.

And so the pictures that I saw looked really good.

I'd be happy if a number of cemeteries got improved in my district to look like that.

Um can you tell me about the fencing that's going to be used?

So we we did use a rendering that was open fencing that was wood primarily.

Um I don't think we've made any commitments on that yet, but that that was intentional to show that that was something that we've done in the past and and could certainly do.

We just haven't made any commitments towards it yet.

No fence link.

No, yeah, yeah.

No change.

We did hear that at several points, yes, and that was part of why that rendering looks the way it does.

And then I will share a few things that I really like, and these are considerations that weigh into my decision making that are outside of land use, right?

Is uh five acres that will be contributed for a positive uh community development, libraries, community centers.

I wish a developer would uh hear my concerns and offer acres to uh for a community need if anyone's looking for a way to get a good development approved like that, uh, as well as the hundred thousand dollars for a scholarship program.

I think those are two really good uh I wouldn't call them concessions, but really two good um community benefits that I look forward to supporting today.

Thank you would any other uh no one else okay.

Yep.

Um item number six is in uh district three, councilwoman Via Granada is recognized.

Thank you, Mayor.

I want to thank all the area residents, stakeholders, and businesses that have reached out to me and my office on this proposed zoning case during the past year.

Uh as you are aware, or you may not be aware, I'm very familiar with this area and and Los Soya, Texas, because that is where my family comes from.

And so, of course, the consideration of what the school district needs and what the neighbors would like and where we go.

The the where this property sits though is does not have a neighborhood association affiliated with it.

The neighbors are few and far between because it sits in between FM 1937 and the highway.

And it is not the most attractive place to build homes, because as you saw from the slideshow, they're building homes in other parts of the area and in the county because it sits between FM 1937 and the highway.

So as they looked and as we looked, and and I wanna HEB in retail just as much as anybody else.

But what we were put forward with was a cemetery, and we began the conversations, and we beg and SCI and the group began going back and forth on the conversations.

And as time went on, what I saw was that this became with city staff and zoning's approval of this, is that this is where cemeteries were going to go.

And then a few weeks ago, I get a rendering from the neighbor that sits in the county on the southern sector of this property.

That is what not a retail space, it's another cemetery.

So here we are today, and I've got the commitment from the community from the company that once that says we're here in San Antonio, and we want to be a good neighbor, and we want to be involved.

This I have the footage, the slideshow of the howming the housing is going in, and it is going to come, and people are going to need places to bury their loved ones.

I am familiar with the cemeteries that they have mentioned.

They are very small cemeteries.

And I can tell you what was there just north of that property.

Massage parlors.

And while I would love more housing and housing everywhere and the HEBs, that is not what's coming.

And I am not about to get in the way of a property owner that says this is what I have, this is what's on the table, and tell him no, because the neighbor to the south of you wants to build a cemetery.

So I this is the land use that city staff and zoning commission have recommended for approval on this item.

We've reviewed with the application the associated materials.

I believe the proposed cemetery is appropriate to sit along next across from TJX.

And it's compatible with the adjacent land use, which is international down the street.

And with that being said, I will make the following motion, motion to approve with motion to approve.

Thank you.

Is there any other council discussion on item six?

Okay.

Okay.

Councilman McKee Rodriguez.

Just one question.

I saw the renderings and I like saying the trees and whatnot.

How many trees are currently on this property?

And what I guess what does the tree canopy look like?

Bushes?

No trees.

Yeah.

I really wish I could answer that question.

I'm sorry, I don't know.

Gotcha.

Do you know how many trees you intend to plant?

Oh, well, uh, it's very, I mean, the only other property they have in northern part of San Antonio right now is planted trees constantly throughout the that just makes better shade, better uh plots for people.

So I know that is a big part of what they do on Socrum.

But we don't have that plan yet, no.

For sure.

I guess I I missed the opportunity to do this, but I do appreciate everyone who came out to speak.

I know that it's a lot to ask you to come out during the work day uh to speak about something that uh you know you're concerned about in your community.

I do want to convey that you know we hear you and we also hear and respect our colleague, and I don't live in the area, um, and I don't necessarily represent the area, but I want to defer to my colleague who's done the research who's done the the engagement over the past year and some change, and I believe that she does wholeheartedly have your best interests at heart.

Uh and so uh I'm going to be supporting today.

Okay.

Please vote.

The motion carries staff, please um move to items number 13 and 14.

Staff, please move to items number thirteen and fourteen.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Items 13 and 14 are a plan amendment and change of zoning, amending the downtown area regional center plan from neighborhood mixed use to medium density residential and rezoning the property from R6 C D with conditional use for a duplex to IDZ two with uses permitted for four dwelling units.

And the property is located at 301 East Fest Street.

Staff, Planning Commission, and Zoning Commission recommend approval.

The applicant has submitted an updated site plan for the council's review.

Staff mailed 38 notices.

Seven were received in favor, six returned in opposition.

The Lone Star Neighborhood Association is not opposed outside of the 200 foot notification boundary.

We received 13 in favor and one in opposition.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, anyone signed up to speak on this item?

We do not.

Okay.

We're on 13 and 14.

Yeah.

Okay.

Um there being none items uh 13 and 14 are in district five.

Councilman Garcia is recognized to speak.

Thank you, and thank you, Logan, for the presentation.

Um with this item, there were some concerns around not enough on-site parking.

So I want to thank Colton on our team working with the applicant to secure some on-site parking, uh, as well as working with the applicant to secure um some sound buffers with this.

Um so with that uh I motion to approve as amended.

Is there any other council um discussion on items 13 and 14?

Okay.

There is a motion and a second to approve as amended.

Items 13 and 14, please vote.

Okay.

Yep, the motion carries.

Uh staff please present on 15 and 16.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Items 15 and 16 are a plan amendment and change of zoning, amending the loans to our community plan from low density residential to low density mixed use and rezoning the property from R6 to IDZ one with uses permitted for one dwelling unit.

The property is located at 117 Raymond Street.

Staff Planning Commission and Zoning Commission recommend approval.

Forty-one notices were mailed.

One was returned in favor, eight in opposition.

No response was received from the Collins Garden Neighborhood Association, and outside the 200 foot boundary, three were returned opposed.

Uh this does trigger a supermajority approval requirement uh as 21.51% of those notices were returned in opposition.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, is anyone signed up to speak on this item?

Just the two.

Okay.

We have two individuals, Lucy Oriosco, followed by Conrad Jarvis.

You each have two minutes.

Good afternoon.

My name is Lucy Ardosco.

I'm the applicant for um 117 Riemann Street.

Um my husband and I got married last year.

We um leaf near the area.

We are very um we know a lot about like Lone Star.

We enjoy in a lot of the recreational areas around there.

Um and this is how we found that lot.

It's an empty lot.

The only purpose we want to give to that land is to build a house.

Um and we really hope that you support um support us in that.

Hi, my name is Conrad Jarvis.

Um second, we're just gonna reset your time to two minutes.

Okay, go ahead.

Hi, my name is Conrad Jarvis.

I'm Lucy Roscoe's husband, and I also own uh the lot on 117 Riemann.

Uh I feel that her points have been she communicated her points very efficiently.

So I'll all I want to add is um I hope you'll approve this uh motion for um rezoning and an amendment for the for the plan uh so that we have an opportunity to build a home.

Thank you.

Items 15 and 16 are in district five.

Councilwoman Castillo is recognized to speak.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, uh Logan and applicants for um the presentation.

This rezoning will allow a new single family home on an otherwise vacant lot with the proposed zoning, observing the same established height standards existing in the neighborhood.

Uh some of the opposition that was established was because there was concerns about uh this being a short-term rental.

However, staff has confirmed that the block base is at STR capacity.

A lot of the public comment uh also had concern regarding commercial or office space, and uh as presented, this will be again uh for a single family home.

Uh the Collins Garden Neighborhood Association has also expressed for uh this rezoning and it falls within alignment of the West Side Tomorrow plan.

So with that, I move to approve this item.

Okay.

There's a motion and a second to approve items 15 and 16.

Please vote.

The motion carries.

That concludes today's zoning and land use session.

The time is now 311 and the meeting is adjourned.