[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6472577,"mediaKeyId","5776213-7dded1cd948c0e39e3cb17e10e51bd1a","parentId",5776213,"title","Historic commission sends three proposed downtown digital billboards to DRC after public opposition","audioSeconds",2657,"startMs",2106000,"endMs",4763000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5776213-7dded1cd948c0e39e3cb17e10e51bd1a&start=2106&end=4763","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5776213-7dded1cd948c0e39e3cb17e10e51bd1a/thumbnail_2106000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6472577/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Historic-commission-sends-three-proposed-downtown-digital-billboards-to-DRC-after-public-opposition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6472577-b7c7aa5633d4cac60229ceb25dcac4d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500791&Signature=FO~7s07kNwrETMhMfJ7eMV-IbpnO4PgGvuGULYoyHWjQqzNYNAoazPwfXChr7uEYytSwKGYlUenAtxi9YxCJecnDZQziJQ2EXXWa41dP3qpN2w1KFo~3b1eO3Pq34Pjhg9eCfiY9ikUjUOAdNCNH9dy6WllzV8Om5k1-bZrwwpqImAl1ujY6OzK3xcOutn1yfFwew3TlPF~CAkSfvosAcODl4i8fHbnDH~UrdtM-qBvhg8vD-SgoOnoSy0WEHJikj~GBKt9Y1mSeDKx2ikeGrLkeLAIsbOeV-d~LynXdlhF-dZnUagtVOnOEIMrm~IvLUvbor7RXCUtAN1esRVcIWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-09-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Historic and Design Review Commission on Sept. 17 voted to send three applications for large digital billboards in downtown San Antonio to the Design Review Committee for more detailed review of placement, attachment, visibility and integration with historic surroundings.

The three cases — proposed digital displays at 101 Buoy Street, 106 South St. Mary’s and 105 Auditorium Circle — drew multiple public comments opposing the installations and extensive questioning from commissioners about structure, visibility, art components and whether the pilot program’s rules had been fully addressed.

Speakers during public comment said the billboards would harm downtown’s historic streetscape. Patty Zayanes of the Conservation Society of San Antonio said, “The Conservation Society of San Antonio opposes the 1,200 square foot billboard proposed for 101 Buoy Street,” and objected that the application provided no TxDOT approval and no permanent art element required by the pilot program. Kathleen Trinchard said, “I am opposed to the idea of digital billboards placed or projected anywhere in or near our historic downtown,” citing a city survey she said showed more than 70% opposition.

Applicants and sign operators said they had engineering drawings in progress, planned rear treatments or murals for visible backs of signs and wanted to maintain operator contact information on sign frames. An Orange Barrel representative said the firm could provide engineered rear elevations and consider perforated panels or murals on the backs of signs. The applicant for one sign said a design-build firm (ANC) would produce sealed structural drawings and sign attachments.

City staff explained the permitting sequence under the city’s Digital Media and Arts pilot ordinance, amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC) and the sign code (Chapter 28). Rachel Parrish, a Development Services engineer, told commissioners the TxDOT permit timeline is “about 3 months” for signs visible from state roadways and that the pilot ordinance does not include a requirement to remove signs at the end of the pilot: “They did not put the requirement for the signs to come down at the end of the program.”

Staff also described the pilot’s limits: the city divided the area into eight districts with a maximum of three signs per district; the three cases discussed would all be in the Downtown East district and, if they reach permitting first, would take up available spots for that district. Under the ordinance, a sign could be up to 25% of a building façade but other limits (including TxDOT and other code requirements) may reduce allowable size.

Commissioners said they were not being asked to overturn the council-approved pilot program but that the commission’s role is to review how a sign “fits” an individual building and the visual impacts on adjacent historic resources. Commissioners raised concerns about lumens, flashing and neighborhood impacts, and several members asked the staff and applicants to bring detailed attachments, rear elevations, site plans showing tree canopy and full structural drawings to the DRC review.

After discussion, the commission voted to send each of the three cases to the Design Review Committee for further design review; motions to refer the individual cases passed on roll-call votes. Staff and applicants were asked to bring more detailed drawings, site-context images showing tree canopy and visibility corridors, and structural engineer submittals to the DRC.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - Historic and Design Review Commission Sep 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After extended public comment and internal debate, the Historic and Design Review Commission referred three proposed digital billboards in downtown San Antonio to the Design Review Committee for further review and details on attachment, visibility and art component.","taxTitle","San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",2771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6472582,"Historic and Design Review Commission approves two Alamo Plaza signs with staff stipulations",747,830000,1577000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5776213-7dded1cd948c0e39e3cb17e10e51bd1a&start=830&end=1577","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5776213-7dded1cd948c0e39e3cb17e10e51bd1a/thumbnail_830000.jpg","/articles/6472582/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Historic-and-Design-Review-Commission-approves-two-Alamo-Plaza-signs-with-staff-stipulations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6472582-28bc38ab2b23f4cd046565aa807e0be2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500791&Signature=BH~6r4YqWAI103nk19BgMfSg~XJRfBXfU6Xan-QVXEy5nXtv4ukA2d8CYwh89WssZbHDgcYsJmBDW47pobPriee7wjv24YYf8X79wh8NIzrGopFCBm8dKNr9eKq1O2orw8wCJZ2TNl9GKh4doNWf7SeJlZ7NMk5CgmnDohJVCAX2jyrTxRZxOEp97Zv14gtnb5Fzd9ZQP3ei8g7CznVfZyh2BDrBaWd3sylKn2GF-5R7shMBON4Jn6-8Q~QCaphTB0-A8geAnl~-iBgS4jL88P4n0RYppm0c~yEfmWSdMg4v6NsCbkYWGg0n-holtUMzxcgRR99c1nDliSEZjLcR6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Historic and Design Review Commission on Sept. 17 approved two new signs for properties on Alamo Plaza, with stipulations to reduce visual intrusion and to align sign elements with the building’s window and cornice lines.

Commissioners voted to approve a storefront sign proposed for 1123 Alamo Plaza and a rooftop restaurant sign for the same building, subject to staff stipulations. The rooftop sign was approved with a requirement that the southwest-corner sign be lowered, centered on the second-story brick course and reduced so it “doesn’t look like part of the Aztec sign,” the commission said.

The commission’s action follows discussion about proportion and placement. Commissioner Velasquez said the proposed storefront sign “appears that the sign is ... too big,” arguing the design steps into window details and “asks for too much of the façade.” Commissioners asked the applicants to reduce intrusion into window reveals and to align the bottom of the storefront sign with existing masonry lines.

Greg Burkett of Apex Sign Group, the applicant for the storefront sign, told commissioners the sign uses the tenant’s logo developed by a marketing firm and that the proposal is a reduction from existing neon elements. “They will be removed, and they will not be they will never be seen down on Alamo Plaza again,” Burkett said, describing removal of existing neon graphics.

Vice Chair Jeffrey Fetzer and other commissioners said their role is to judge the sign’s relationship to the building—not to redesign the logo—and supported approval within the 50-square-foot limit noted by staff. Staff noted that previous subcommittee reviews recommended raising the bottom of the sign to align with the top of the transom and that the current proposal represents the subcommittee’s recommendation.

For the rooftop restaurant sign, commissioners asked the applicant to lower and slightly reduce the size so the rooftop sign would not visually merge with the Aztec marquee; commissioners suggested centering it on the second-floor brick course or using a clamshell orientation to separate the new sign from historic marquee elements. The commission approved the rooftop sign with a stipulation requiring the applicant to lower and reduce the southwest-corner sign and to center it on the second-story brick course.

Motion and vote records show the commission’s approvals passed by roll call. The commission and staff said final permits and sealed structural drawings must be submitted during the permitting stage; staff reminded applicants that the Office of Historic Preservation and Development Services review and structural verification will be required before permits are issued.

The commission’s certificate of appropriateness letters and any stipulations will be emailed to applicants within 10 days, staff said.

The commission also approved other consent items (cases 3 and 7) with staff stipulations during the meeting; those cases were not discussed in detail.","The Historic and Design Review Commission approved two signage proposals at Alamo Plaza, limiting placement and size to better align with existing architectural features. Commissioners pressed applicants to reduce visual intrusion and to remove existing neon elements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Historic commission sends three proposed downtown digital billboards to DRC after public opposition

Historic and Design Review Commission approves two Alamo Plaza signs with staff stipulations