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Council approves rezoning of motel site to higher-density housing amid debate over nearby industrial uses
Summary
The council approved a rezoning and land-use amendment at 11221 San Pedro Avenue to convert a former Motel 6 into higher-density residential (MF-50); supporters said it expands affordable housing options near transit, while opponents cited noise, airport flight path, and industrial adjacency concerns raised by planning staff and some neighbors.
The San Antonio City Council on Thursday approved a land-use amendment and rezoning at 11221 San Pedro Avenue to allow higher-density residential development (rezoning from Business Park/C-3 to MF-50/high-density residential), a proposal supporters said would convert a Motel 6 into housing and provide affordable units near transit and jobs.
Supporters at the meeting included David Cruz, who said many of the city’s fastest-growing job categories for the Alamo area pay under $40,000 and that more housing is needed closer to employment. Councilmember Cora (spoke in support) said the city’s housing bond presentation earlier in the day underscored the need and praised the project and neighborhood advocates for supporting affordable housing.
Opponents and public commenters raised concerns echoed in zoning and planning staff recommendations. Jack Finger urged denial, citing staff opinion that the rezoning would place residences adjacent to commercial/industrial activities, nearby airport flight paths and associated noise, and that the rezoning could set a precedent for incompatible development. The staff summary in the agenda said both staff and the planning commission recommended denial while zoning commission recommended approval; notices were mailed to 25 addresses with 10 opposed cited in the staff summary.
Councilmembers who supported the rezoning highlighted the plan to rehabilitate an existing motel into residential units and the potential for transit access to employment centers, including airport-area jobs accessible via the bus (the green line). Councilmember Cora moved approval, and the motion carried.
The council did not record a full roll-call tally in the public transcript excerpted here; the staff packet indicated outreach numbers and that several neighborhood representatives had expressed opposition outside the 200-foot notification boundary.
What happens next: With zoning approval, the applicant may proceed with development permitting subject to standard development-review and building-permit processes.
