San Antonio Zoning and Land Use Session - May 7, 2026
San Antonio Zoning and Land Use Session - May 7, 2026
The San Antonio City Council held a zoning and land use session on Thursday, May 7, 2026, beginning at 4:31 PM and adjourning at 4:51 PM. The meeting included items continued to future dates, a consent agenda, and individual zoning items. Councilmembers voted on several rezoning requests, with multiple denials for proposed vape and hookah shops near schools.
Consent Calendar
- Items 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, and 22 were approved unanimously under the consent agenda. Councilmember Corr motioned, Councilmember Mungia seconded. One resident, Jack Finger, spoke on item 11, opposing the addition of a tattoo parlor at a Coca-Cola Place location, stating he believes there are already too many tattoo parlors in the city. Councilmember Spears expressed support for tattoo studios.
Discussion Items
- Items 6 and 7 (Continued to May 21, 2026): These identical items sought to amend zoning district boundaries to allow two dwelling units in residential areas with potential commercial encroachment. Jack Finger spoke against them, citing zoning staff concerns that the changes would destabilize the neighborhoods. The council continued both items unanimously.
- Item 1 (Continued to June 18, 2026): This item requested an alcohol variance for a property within 300 feet of the University of Texas at UT Boulevard. Jack Finger argued against mixing education and alcohol so close together. The council continued the item unanimously.
- Item 2 (2520 McCullough Avenue): Change of zoning from C2 to IDZ-1 with uses permitted in C1 Light Commercial District, originally intended for a wine boutique. 84 notices were mailed: 2 in favor, 12 opposed (22.64% of land area within 200 feet), requiring a supermajority. The Mona Vista Neighborhood Association opposed; Tobin Hill Community Neighborhood Association was neutral. Councilmember Corr noted the applicant dropped the wine boutique request, leaving only a parking restriction change, making opponents more comfortable. Motion to approve by Councilmember Corr, seconded by Councilmember Viegran, passed.
- Item 8 (3109 North St. Mary's Street): Change of zoning from C3 to C1 CDS to permit a tobacco store, hookah lounge, vape shop, or consumable hemp retailer within 1,000 feet of Mark Twain Academy. Staff and Zoning Commission recommended denial. 13 notices mailed: 2 in favor (outside 200-foot boundary), no response from Tobin Hill or District 1 associations. Jack Finger spoke against, noting the proximity to a school and the recommendations of staff and commission. Motion to deny by Councilmember Corr, seconded by Councilmember Viegran, passed. A yes vote was to deny.
- Item 18 (1739 Babcock Road): Change of zoning from C2 to C2S for the same uses as item 8, located within 1,000 feet of the International School of San Antonio. Staff and Zoning Commission recommended denial. 9 notices mailed: 0 in favor, 2 opposed; no response from Oak Hills Citizens' Neighborhood Association. Councilmember Alarcón Gabito cited a formal letter of opposition from the school, expressed concern about visible marketing of vape/hemp products to fifth graders, and referenced the city's recent breath ordinance. Motion to deny by Councilmember Alarcón Gabito, seconded by Councilmember White, passed.
- Item 19 (Callahan Road): Change of zoning for a similar vape shop use within 1,000 feet of the School of Health Care Professions. Councilmember Alarcón Gabito restated concerns about proximity to schools. Motion to deny by Councilmember Alarcón Gabito, seconded by Councilmember White, passed.
- Item 21 (12719 Spectrum Drive): Change of zoning from C3R and I-1 to C3R, adjacent to single-family homes in District 8. Staff and Zoning Commission recommended approval. 24 notices mailed: 0 in favor, 5 opposed (30.45% opposition), requiring a supermajority. Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez thanked Hart Ranch residents and the applicant (Gazer family), noting that the applicant amended the application to restrict on-premise alcohol consumption. Motion to approve by Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez, seconded by Councilmember Viegran, passed.
Key Outcomes
- Items 6, 7, and 1 were continued to May 21 and June 18, 2026, respectively.
- The consent agenda (items 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22) was approved unanimously.
- Item 2 was approved.
- Items 8, 18, and 19 (vape/hookah shops near schools) were unanimously denied.
- Item 21 was approved with a restriction on on-premise alcohol consumption.
- The meeting ended with Councilmember White leading a happy birthday song for an unnamed council member.
Meeting Transcript
If my colleagues could please join us at the dais, so we may get our zoning meeting. The time is now 4 31 p.m. If my colleagues can join us, please expeditiously make your way to your seat. You will be seized. Councilman White, your seat is up here. The time is now 4 31 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026, and the City of San Antonio zoning and land use session is called to order. Madam Clerk, please call roll. Councilmember Corr. Councilmember Viewer. Councilmember Mungia. Councilmember Castillo. Councilmember Galhan. Councilmember Alareta Gabito. Council Member Mesa Gonzalez. Councilmember Spears. Councilmember White. Mayor Jones. Mayor Pro Tim McKee Rodriguez. Mayor Pro Tim, we have quorum. Thank you. We have several items to continue today, including items one, six, and seven. Um do do. Is there a motion? We'll start off with items to continue to the May 21st agenda. Those are item six and seven. Is there a motion to continue? Okay, we have a motion and second. We have a few, we have one citizen sign up to speak. Um we'll take all discussion on the continued items, including items one, six, and seven at one time. Understood, Mr. Finger. Thank you. You have three minutes. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Other members of our San Antonio City Council. My name is Jack Finger. A few items I wish to bring to your attention to this portion of the agenda. Yeah, item uh once you're going to continue later on. Item six and seven, they're almost identical, I guess, in the nature of what's happening and uh what the uh city uh zoning staff thought uh was bad about them. Yeah, um item six is simply about uh oh amending the zoning district boundary from the AHOD residential single family airport has it to infield development zone, in field development zone, limited intensity with with users permitted and neighborhood commercial for two dwelling units, two dwelling units. This is over in uh the district one, miss carried district. That's where you are, miss carr. And uh two dwelling units there, excuse me. In fact, the very next one, item seven is almost identical. Once again, it must put two dwelling units. This one over on East Myrtle, just maybe less than a mile away from each other. The reason uh the uh zoning staff thought this these are bad ideas is because the it allows the uh the resulting commercial encroachment, encroachment to to this residential area, and it will throw out their stability, eventually causing the the uh detriment of these two these two areas. So uh, yeah, uh that's why these things are bad.
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