Zoning Commission approves multiple rezonings, denies auto-sales conditional use at South Sazamora; several items continued

The City of San Antonio Zoning Commission on June 3 approved a series of rezonings and conditional uses, denied a conditional use for motor vehicle sales at 402 and 406 South Sazamora Street, and continued four items to a June 17 hearing.

Why it matters: The commission’s recommendations now move to City Council for final action. Several decisions affect residential neighborhoods adjacent to commercial corridors and include conditions or site-plan constraints meant to limit future uses.

Key outcomes (motions approved at the commission meeting):

- Items 3 and 10: Approved — The commission approved two combined-hearing consent items changing zoning to allow additional dwelling units at 301 East Fest Street and at 1144 West French Place, both with amended site plans. Motion by Commissioner Watson; second by Commissioner Bottos. Vote: unanimous in attendance (recorded votes: Chair John Bustamante — Aye; Commissioner Watson — Yes; George Hinojosa — Yes; Eddie Reyes — Yes; Kinhui Huey — Aye; Rob Sipes — Yes; John Whitsett — Yes; Marco Barros — Yes; plus other commissioners recorded as present). These approvals forward to City Council; applicants must take their applications to council within six months.

- Item 5 (402 & 406 S. Sazamora St.): Denied — The commission voted to deny the applicant’s request to reclassify two parcels to C2 PCD with a conditional use for motor vehicle sales. Motion to deny by Chair John Bustamante; second by Commissioner Watson. Vote: motion carried (roll call recorded as Aye by Chair Bustamante and a majority of commissioners present). Neighbors testified about traffic, vehicle storage, odors and alleged noncompliant activities; the commission concluded the use was not appropriate adjacent to residences.

- Continuances (Items 4, 6, 9, 12): Continued to June 17 — At the request of Commissioner Kellum these four cases were continued for two weeks. Motion by Commissioner Watson; second by Commissioner Barros; roll call vote carried.

- Item 7 (7630 Potranco Road): Approved to C2 — The commission approved rezoning from R6 to C2 for a 1.77-acre corner lot at Potranco Road and Sedgwick, despite staff recommending C2NA (commercial, nonalcoholic) as an alternative. Motion by Commissioner Hooey; second by Commissioner Reyes. Commissioners were told the applicant has no final end user but anticipates neighborhood-serving uses such as restaurants and was prepared to work with neighbors on buffering and access. Vote carried by roll call.

- Item 8 (5000 block of Rogers Road): Approved — The commission approved rezoning to C2NA with a conditional use for construction trades contractors (item carried as presented). Motion by Commissioner Huey; second by Commissioner Reyes; roll call vote carried.

- Item 11 (4215 Hilton Head St.): Approved as amended — The commission approved rezoning to R5 CD with a conditional use for an assisted-living facility, amended on the record to limit the facility to a maximum of eight residents. The applicant, who operates other assisted-living homes in San Antonio and said the property has functioned as an eight-bed home for years, agreed to the amendment. Motion by Commissioner Whitsett; second by Commissioner Reyes; roll call vote carried.

- Item 13 (6000 block Royal Ridge Drive): Approved with site-plan/acreage amendment — The commission approved rezoning from O-2 to C2NA with a conditional use for office warehouse (self-storage proposal). The applicant amended the legal description/acreage on the record from 4.73 to 4.727 acres. Motion by Commissioner Whitsett; second by Commissioner Barros; roll call vote carried.

What happens next: Commission recommendations will be forwarded to City Council for review and final action; for items approved the applicants have up to six months to bring the case to council. Continued items will return to the commission on June 17.