Residents urge denial of rezoning at 419 East French Place; applicant asks to postpone case

At a meeting of the San Antonio Zoning Commission, dozens of residents urged the commission to deny a rezoning request for 419 East French Place that they said would allow a bar to operate adjacent to a stable residential block. The applicant asked to postpone the case and the commission continued the item to Aug. 19.

Residents told the commission that the block already has repeated late-night noise, public urination and vomiting, trespass onto private property and threats associated with a nearby nightlife business. Multiple voicemail comments and more than a dozen live speakers registered opposition, while one nearby resident said she had known the bar owner for years but still opposed converting houses to commercial use.

The matter drew extended public comment during the meeting. Several callers identified themselves as residents of East French Place and East Trench Place and described repeated quality-of-life and safety problems tied to customers of nearby nightlife establishments. Sam Aguirre told the commission in Spanish, “Este negocio ha sido una molestia desde que abrió” ("This business has been a nuisance since it opened"). Other speakers described customers urinating and vomiting on private property, blocking curbside parking, and threatening residents; one caller said she had been threatened.

Joyce Rice, who said she lives across from the existing bar, said she has known the bar owner and acknowledged his assistance to neighbors but added she opposed rezoning because “we want to live next to neighbors, not businesses.” Several callers asked the commission to preserve the historic residential character of the street.

Patrick Christianson, the applicant’s representative, addressed commissioners and said he would delay action while the applicant revises the request and does further outreach to neighbors. Commissioners described the procedural options: the applicant could withdraw and refile (which would create a new case number), or request a postponement that preserves the case number and prompts new notices to properties within 200 feet.

Commissioner Watson moved to continue the item (together with item 9) to Aug. 19; Commissioner Barros seconded. The roll call recorded all commissioners present voting in favor of the continuance (Watson, Barros, Kelem, Hinojosa, Huey, Sipes, González, Woodsett, Chase, President Bustamante). The motion carried and the commission did not take a final zoning action on 419 East French Place at this meeting.

The commission chair told speakers the postponement would include a new mailed notice if the applicant modifies the request, and urged residents to watch for the next notice. The commission’s decision to allow a postponement leaves the case open and the applicant may resubmit an amended request for a future hearing.

For now, no formal rezoning was approved or denied; the record indicates only that the applicant requested and received a postponement and that neighbor opposition will be preserved in the file until the case returns to the commission.

Ending — The commission set a continued hearing date of Aug. 19 for the postponed items and asked staff and the applicant to follow up on neighborhood notice and any changes to the request. Residents were told they may return to speak when the item is re-noticed.