The San Antonio Planning Commission on Oct. 8 approved a package of plan amendments and associated rezoning recommendations for the Arena District/East Side after a day of public testimony and deliberation that split residents and property owners.

The approved action aligns portions of the Arena District/East Side community plan with proposed rezoning to support future redevelopment and reduce the presence of heavy industrial uses near established neighborhoods, while preserving light industrial or conditional uses for some properties requested by owners.

Why it matters: The amendment package — proposed after a Council District 2 CCR (Oct. 3, 2024) and a City Council resolution (Feb. 27, 2025) that directed Development Services to initiate a large‑area rezoning — seeks to protect longstanding East Side neighborhoods by limiting heavy industrial uses near homes, parks and schools and encouraging mixed‑use and community commercial development along certain corridors.

Staff presentation: Ashley Liao, senior planner with Development Services, described the study area as generally bounded by Frostbank Center Drive, the Union Pacific tracks, Salado Creek and Willow Springs Golf Course. Staff proposed 49 plan amendments to align with 67 proposed rezoning changes: "32 of those are going from light industrial to community commercial, 14 from residential and parks open space to community commercial, and 3 others going from community commercial to light industrial and mixed use," Liao said. Staff recommended approval and noted the item was tentatively set for City Council on Nov. 6.

Public testimony: More than two dozen callers and in‑person speakers addressed the commission. United Homeowners Improvement Association and the Government Hill Alliance submitted support for the changes and some neighborhood speakers urged the commission to downzone heavy industrial uses to protect air quality, quiet, property values and safety near Bella Cameron Elementary and local parks. "For decades, UHIA has held monthly public meetings...the rezoning will prevent new heavy industrial uses from further harm in this community," neighborhood leader Cliff Sadano told the commission.

Residents described truck traffic, dust and noise near homes and schools. Veronica Sance described the area as historically "redlined" and urged action to protect longtime residents. Several callers said they had documented dust and parked trucks near bus stops and residences.

Business and owner comments: Owners and property representatives asked the commission to preserve light industrial (L) designations for specific properties to maintain leasing flexibility for existing small industrial or warehouse tenants. Tom Rohde, owner of Alamo KOA Campground, told commissioners he supports removing heavy industrial but opposed blanket C2 commercial zoning, noting state law changes can allow high‑density housing on commercially zoned parcels in the future and that his property’s desired classification may be manufactured housing park (MHP) rather than C2.

Zoning commission and staff differences: The Zoning Commission met Oct. 7 and recommended a set of "friendly amendments" for certain parcels (several Paulson Street and Brussels Street addresses) — effectively recommending light industrial for a handful of tracks while leaving the broader staff proposal intact. Forest Wilson, principal planner, listed the properties the Zoning Commission recommended to be removed from the proposed plan amendments or changed to light industrial.

Deliberation and votes: The Planning Commission first voted on a motion to accept staff’s proposal as presented; that motion failed on a roll call (three yes, five no). A second motion to adopt the recommendation consistent with the Zoning Commission — which excluded several Paulson/Brussels parcels from the large‑area plan amendments and amended two parcels (including 639 Gembler Road and 1030 Brussels) to light industrial — passed on a roll call vote and the item was approved "as amended." The commission directed staff to carry the amended plan forward to City Council for final consideration.

Next steps: The amended plan amendment and corresponding rezoning package will proceed to City Council (tentatively set for Nov. 6) for final action. Staff and neighborhood representatives said they will continue engagement with property owners about specific conditional uses and compliance matters raised during testimony.