San Antonio Board of Adjustment grants multiple variances and exceptions, continues one case

The San Antonio Board of Adjustment on April 7 approved a series of variances and special exceptions affecting short-term rentals, residential setbacks, driveway clear-vision requirements and front-yard fences across multiple neighborhoods, and continued one rear-setback request to April 21.

The board approved relief ranging from a single-space parking waiver for a short-term rental on Callahan Avenue to multiple side-setback variances for infill homes on Chihuahua Street. A request for a driveway clear-vision variance at 9103 Callahan failed, but a related front-yard privacy fence request at the same address was approved with limits tied to the current as-built condition.

Why it matters: the decisions change where structures, fences and driveways may be placed in several neighborhoods and affect how homeowners and small-scale developers may recover projects started without permits or adapt sites with tight lots or unusual topography.

What the board decided (high level)

- 118 Callahan Avenue (BOA-25-10300017): The board granted a parking adjustment to waive one required off‑street parking space for Unit B of a two-unit property and thereby allowed the unit to qualify for a Type II short-term rental permit. Motion passed 10–1. Applicant who spoke: Jayme La Oco, owner. The Lavaca Neighborhood Association submitted a voicemail withdrawing a prior objection after the applicant modified the request.

- 306 Odell Street (BOA-25-10300014): The board granted a side-setback variance that allows a structure to sit 1 inch from the side property line (a 4-foot 11-inch reduction from the 5-foot requirement). Motion passed 10–1. Applicant: Due South Properties/Brad Warr.

- 610 NW 20th Street (BOA-25-10300027): The board granted a front-setback variance to permit an expanded carport (allowing a 4-foot 8-inch front setback including a 2-foot 4-inch overhang). Motion passed 11–0. Applicant: Santos Barrera.

- Chihuahua Street infill (BOA-25-10300020): The board approved side-setback and driveway clear-vision variances to permit three single-family homes with reduced 3-foot side setbacks and a 5-foot driveway clear-vision relief (from the required 15 feet). Motion passed; Historic Westside Residents Association sent a letter in support and petitions from nearby neighbors were included with the application. Applicant representative: Maricela Casanova (Arcasas Residential Council).

- 165 E. Petaluma Blvd (BOA-25-10300033): The board granted a one-foot front-yard fence-height special exception to allow a predominantly open (wrought-iron style) 6-foot fence in the front yard for security reasons. Motion passed 11–0. Applicant: Gudbrander Branson.

- 135 E. Palfrey Ave (BOA-25-10300034): The board granted a 4-foot 6-inch side-setback variance allowing an attached carport to remain 6 inches from the side setback and separately approved a one-foot front-yard fence support-beam exception for rolling-gate supports. Motion(s) passed. Applicant: Rudolph Cavazos.

- 9115 Callahan Road (BOA-25-10300036): The board granted a three-foot front-yard fence-height special exception to allow a 6-foot privacy fence facing Callahan Road. Motion passed 11–0. Applicant: Leroy B. Horn III.

- 9103 Callahan Road (BOA-25-10300037): The board denied a driveway clear-vision variance (the request as proposed would have reduced the required clear-vision area) — that motion failed 8–3. The board then approved a front-yard fence-height special exception as amended: the approved relief lets the owner retain a primarily 6-foot privacy fence in front, with narrowly defined, site-specific allowance for limited height exceedance where slope forces panels to slightly exceed 6 feet; the board tied the approval to the existing as-built condition and to defined exterior panels adjacent to the driveway. Applicant: Raymond L. Johnson Jr. (The board emphasized the clear-vision requirement remains an important safety standard and asked staff and the applicant to verify measurements for the driveways.)

- 215 S. Pinto Street (BOA-25-10300039): The owner requested a 4-foot 11-inch reduction in the minimum 5-foot rear setback to allow an addition to a detached garage to be 1 inch from the rear property line. The board continued the case to the April 21 meeting to allow the applicant time to meet with neighbors and the Historic Westside Residents Association. Applicant: Wendell Brown.

Selected discussion points and evidence

- Short-term rental parking (118 Callahan). Staff told the board the block face contains eight units and that, if both requests had been approved, Type II density on the block would rise to 25 percent of units. The applicant, Jayme La Oco, told the board she and neighbors reached an agreement to operate Unit A as long-term rental and requested only the parking waiver for Unit B. A voicemail from Melissa Bridal on behalf of the Lavaca Neighborhood Association said the association would withdraw its earlier objection after the applicant modified the request.

- Odell Street pier foundations (306 Odell). Due South Properties' Brad Warr told the board the contractor who placed piers went out of business and that the foundations had been staked by the installer rather than a licensed surveyor; the applicant recorded a maintenance easement and said he would revise building plans for the adjacent lot. Several board members said the lot’s unusual constraints and the abutting property ownership by the applicant justified the variance; Commissioner Dean dissented citing concerns about new construction errors and public-safety risks from piers rather than slab foundations.

- Callahan Road fences (9115 & 9103 Callahan). Multiple applicants argued for taller front-yard fences because of past break-ins, trespassing and proximate commercial/transportation corridors. Board members repeatedly referenced a 2011 precedent (9022 Callahan) and several nearby side/rear fences when weighing consistency and public-safety claims. In the 9103 case the board split the relief into two outcomes: the clear-vision variance failed while a narrowly tailored fence-height approval passed.

A sample direct quote from the meeting: "We're really just asking for the 1 parking variance for Unit B," applicant Jayme La Oco said during public testimony on the Callahan request.

Votes and formal actions (at a glance)

- BOA-25-10300017 (118 Callahan Ave) — Parking adjustment (waive 1 space for Unit B). Motion: grant. Mover: Commissioner Bragman. Second: Commissioner Ozuna. Vote: 10 yes, 1 no (Commissioner Dean). Outcome: approved; legal threshold (9 of 11) met.

- BOA-25-10300014 (306 Odell St) — Side-setback variance down to 1 inch from property line. Motion: grant. Mover: Commissioner Manner. Second: Commissioner Cruz. Vote: 10 yes, 1 no (Commissioner Dean). Outcome: approved.

- BOA-25-10300027 (610 NW 20th St) — Front-setback variance (4'8" setback with 2'4" overhang). Motion: grant. Mover: (recorded as motion moved on the floor). Second: Commissioner Mena. Vote: 11 yes, 0 no. Outcome: approved.

- BOA-25-10300020 (222/226/2230 Chihuahua) — Side-setback variances (reduced to 3-foot setbacks in the plan) and 10-foot driveway clear-vision allowance (staff recommended limited approval). Motion: grant with conditions. Mover: Commissioner Manner. Second: Commissioner Cruz. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

- BOA-25-10300033 (165 E. Petaluma Blvd) — Front-yard fence-height special exception to allow a predominantly open 6-foot front fence. Motion: grant. Mover: Commissioner Ozuna (moved on the record as Commissioner Azuna in transcript). Second: Commissioner Bragman. Vote: 11–0. Outcome: approved.

- BOA-25-10300034 (135 E. Palfrey Ave) — Side-setback variance to allow carport 6 inches from setback; fence-beam height exception for gate supports. Motions: grant both requests. Mover (variance): Commissioner Manner. Second: Commissioner Cruz. Vote: passed. Mover (fence): read and approved on the record. Outcome: both approved with conditions (gutters added for the carport were included as part of the motion).

- BOA-25-10300036 (9115 Callahan Rd) — Front-yard fence-height special exception to allow a 6-foot privacy fence facing Callahan. Motion: grant. Mover: Commissioner Bragman. Second: Commissioner Bragman (second recorded on the floor). Vote: 11–0. Outcome: approved.

- BOA-25-10300037 (9103 Callahan Rd) — Two separate outcomes: (a) driveway clear-vision variance as submitted was denied (motion failed 8–3); (b) fence-height special exception was approved as amended to limit the scope to the as-built condition and to permit limited panel height exceedance on exterior panels adjacent to the driveway; motion passed. Outcome: clear-vision variance denied; fence-height special exception approved with site-specific limits.

- BOA-25-10300039 (215 S. Pinto St) — Rear-setback variance (request to allow an addition to a detached garage to sit 1 inch from the rear property line). Motion: continue to April 21 for additional neighborhood outreach. Mover: Commissioner Cruz (recorded as "Crews" in the transcript). Second: Commissioner Barrington. Vote: unanimous to continue. Outcome: continued to April 21, 2025.

What the board said about process and evidence

Board members repeatedly asked applicants to document conversations with neighborhood associations, submit clear as‑built measurements where clear-vision is at issue, and to provide mitigation (for example, gutters to handle roof runoff) when an as‑built condition placed a structure close to a property line. Staff presentations included relevant UDC citations and a summary of neighborhood notifications and returns, and the board noted the statutory voting threshold for Board of Adjustment actions (75 percent of the full board, nine votes where 11 seats exist). The board emphasized that it relies on findings of fact in the record.

Next steps and follow-up

- Cases continued by the board will return to the April 21 agenda for final action (the applicant for 215 S. Pinto was told to consult neighbors and the Historic Westside Residents Association). The board asked staff to work with applicants on exact measurements and to document any agreed-on easements or maintenance commitments.

- Staff and applicants were told to verify clear-vision dimensions on Callahan driveways where the board conditioned or denied relief; the UDC clear-vision standard and its accompanying triangular measurement (UDC 35-5-14) were cited by multiple members.

Sources and evidence

This article is based on the Board of Adjustment meeting transcript and on staff presentations and public-submitted communications read aloud at the meeting, including a voicemail from the Lavaca Neighborhood Association and a written statement from the Historic Westside Residents Association. Excerpts from staff presentations and the board’s roll calls are included in the provenance section below.

Ending note

Because several approvals were based on site-specific conditions (as-built measurements, recorded easements, or commitments such as adding gutters), applicants and neighbors should consult the Board of Adjustment file and staff to confirm the exact limits and any imposed conditions before commencing construction or applying for permits.