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Planning commission denies request to reclassify West Side parcel to light industrial after neighbors oppose auto-sales expansion
Summary
The commission voted to deny a requested plan amendment and rezoning that would have allowed light-industrial/C3 uses at 402 and 406 South Sarzamora Street, citing staff concerns and extensive neighborhood opposition including complaints of outside storage and safety issues.
The San Antonio Planning Commission on April 23 denied a plan amendment and rezoning request that would have reclassified two parcels on South Sarzamora Street from low-density mixed use to light industrial and allowed C3 general commercial zoning.
Development Services staff presented the case and recommended denial, saying light industrial would be inconsistent with nearby residential and low-density mixed-use blocks and could permit heavy commercial activities near homes. The applicant, represented by Solvius Noriega of Noriega Studio, said the property owner has operated a vehicle sales business at 402 South Sarzamora for more than 20 years and seeks to formalize the use and avoid repeated annual nonconforming-use permits; the owner also recently acquired 406 South Sarzamora.
The commission heard multiple voicemails and an in-person public speaker, Frank Sanchez, an adjacent neighbor, who described repeated problems he attributes to the dealership: vehicles parked on both sides of the street for extended periods, blocked driveways, debris and oil left in the alley, customers and tow trucks crowding residential streets, and an unpermitted overhead metal structure with an improvised power feed. Several recorded voicemails also opposed the rezoning and cited traffic and neighborhood-safety concerns.
Applicant representatives said they would not conduct oil changes, painting or other heavy maintenance and proposed mitigation steps including an updated site plan with defined entry and exit points and a no-chemicals policy for vehicle cleaning; they said some parking problems stem from neighborhood density rather than the dealership alone.
Commissioner Garcia moved to support staff’s recommendation to deny the plan amendment; Commissioner Siegel seconded. The motion carried on roll call. Commissioners and staff discussed alternatives the applicant could pursue, including C2 or C2CD with conditional use limitations or a conditional C3 that would restrict certain higher‑intensity uses.
Votes at a glance: plan amendment from low density mixed use to light industrial for 402 and 406 South Sarzamora Street — mover: Commissioner Garcia; second: Commissioner Siegel; outcome: denied.
