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Commission approves rooming‑house rezoning at 1837 Santa Monica after applicant narrows request
Summary
The Zoning Commission approved an amendment to rezone 1837 Santa Monica to Neighborhood Commercial (NCCD) with a conditional use limited to a furnished rooming house after the applicant removed a proposed bed‑and‑breakfast use and reported direct neighborhood outreach.
The San Antonio Zoning Commission on March 18 approved a rezoning at 1837 Santa Monica Street to a Neighborhood Commercial Conditional District (NCCD) with a conditional use authorizing a rooming house, after the applicant withdrew a request for a bed‑and‑breakfast.
Staff, represented by zoning planner Samantha Benavides, recommended denial, saying the proposed uses could represent commercial encroachment into an established single‑family area and that the lot’s size limits on‑site parking and buffers. Benavides said the surrounding pattern includes R4, R6, C1 and O1.5 zoning and warned that adding a B&B raised the possibility of future commercial uses. Planning staff nevertheless noted the city’s Strategic Housing Implementation Plan encourages varied housing types.
Applicant Nathan Moore told commissioners he revised the request after the prior hearing, removing the bed‑and‑breakfast and focusing on a rooming house design intended to provide furnished units for stays of 30 days or more. Moore said he went door‑to‑door within 200 feet, that most of the neighbors he directly contacted supported redevelopment, and that his design preserves the existing structure, provides two owner parking spaces and proposes pervious paving features to mitigate runoff.
Commissioners asked technical questions about the proposed underground/graded parking, site grading, stormwater treatment and construction staging. Staff said the alley in the rear is public right‑of‑way and would have to be upgraded to city standards if used for access. Staff also noted that rooming houses are reviewed as a commercial development for permitting and that building and stormwater regulations would apply.
Commissioner Kellum moved to approve the request as amended (removal of the B&B); Commissioner Gonzales seconded. The motion passed by roll call (yes: Kellum, Gonzales, Watson, Nejosa, Bartels, Chase, Bustamante; no: Huey, Sipes, Whitsett). The commission’s approval advances the case to City Council for final action.
