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Planning Commission approves rezoning at 422 Heartline Drive to community commercial after applicant amends request
Summary
The commission approved a plan amendment to change land use and rezone 422 Heartline Drive to community commercial (C2) with discussion about oversized vehicle storage, neighborhood impacts and the need for conditional use permits.
The San Antonio Planning Commission on June 11 approved a plan amendment and rezoning for 422 Heartline Drive, changing the site's designation to community commercial (C2 NA) after the applicant amended an original request for regional commercial. Staff had recommended denial of a regional commercial plan amendment.
Samantha Benavides, planner with Development Services, summarized staff analysis: the property sits in an area predominately neighborhood commercial and low-density residential, and regional commercial is typically intended for parcels of 20 acres or more and uses that generate large volumes of commercial traffic. "Staff recommends denial," Benavides said. Benavides also reported that the department mailed 39 notices for the case; staff received 0 in favor and 10 opposed, and that there was no registered neighborhood association within 200 feet of the site.
The applicant, Arnold Uribe, identified himself as the owner; his son Aldo Uribe said the owner seeks to rezone the nearly two-acre lot to community commercial so a small mechanic business can operate and the property will be occupied rather than left vacant. "We're not commercial developers ... Our goal is to rezone this property and reduce it to a community commercial zoning so that the small business owner that is there right now is able to have space to work for themselves and, you know, put food on the table," Aldo Uribe said.
Neighbors and commissioners raised concerns about large trucks and vehicle storage on the site. Staff said temporary staging for a nearby city construction project had placed larger equipment and materials on the lot; staff also said oversized vehicle storage and long-term vehicle parking would require a conditional use even under C2/CD. Benavides explained that site plan, setbacks, landscaping and fencing requirements would be reviewed with any certificate of occupancy, and that a solid fence of six feet is required by code (with up to eight feet possible, above that would require Board of Adjustment approval).
Commissioners asked whether the current uses had compliance issues and whether storage for large vehicles was permitted. The applicant said the contractor storing materials on the site said they would vacate by October; the applicant and staff said the applicant intends primarily light mechanical work on box trucks and vans rather than long-term heavy-truck storage. The applicant said typical operating hours are roughly 8 a.m. to 5:30 or 6 p.m.
Commissioner Jacob Sanchez moved to approve the plan amendment to community commercial as amended by the applicant; Commissioner Lopez seconded. A roll-call vote recorded: Commissioner Dustin Orian — yes; Commissioner Lopez — yes; Commissioner Sanchez — yes; Commissioner DeSueck — yes; Commissioner Lett — yes; Commissioner Bustamante — aye; Commissioner Siegel — yes; Chair Peck — yes. The motion passed.
Staff noted that any oversized-vehicle storage or similar industrial uses would require a conditional use approval at a later stage and that site-specific conditions such as downward lighting and noise mitigation could be requested by the zoning commission or city council. The commission approved the amendment as amended to community commercial (C2 NA) and did not adopt additional conditions at the hearing.
