Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Sidewalks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission upholds staff denial of sidewalk exemption for Heron Valley Phase 1
Summary
The Planning Commission denied an appeal by H and G Homes seeking an administrative exception to avoid constructing a sidewalk on the Heath Circle Drive frontage of the Heron Valley Phase 1 subdivision, upholding staff’s determination that the county cross‑section exception did not apply.
The City of San Antonio Planning Commission on March 12 denied an appeal from H and G Homes and upheld staff’s denial of an administrative exception that would have exempted the Heron Valley Phase 1 subdivision from the Unified Development Code sidewalk requirement along Heath Circle Drive.
Kevin Collins, Development Services engineer, told commissioners staff reviewed the applicant’s request under the Unified Development Code (UDC) sidewalk requirement and the county‑road cross‑section exception in UDC subsection cited by staff. Collins said Heath Circle Drive has a variable cross section and prior development has existing sidewalks at some locations, so staff concluded it would be possible to place a standard sidewalk behind the existing bar ditch adjacent to the property line without reducing drainage capacity.
Omar Rodriguez, representing H and G Homes, argued the proposed sidewalk would not connect to a continuous pedestrian network to the north or south, pointed to an outfall and multiple upstream culverts that concentrate flow at the location, and expressed concern that placing a sidewalk at the property line could reduce channel capacity and push runoff toward the street or homes. Rodriguez said the planned subdivision includes internal sidewalks and proposed a ramp and crosswalk at the subdivision driveway to connect children to the school across Heath Circle Drive.
Several commissioners raised pedestrian‑safety and connectivity concerns given an elementary school across the street and the development’s 40 platted lots. Commissioner Siegel moved to deny the appeal and uphold staff’s denial; Commissioner Milam seconded. The motion carried 5–3, with Commissioners Roulette, Bustamante and Proffitt voting no and the remaining voting yes.
By denying the appeal, the commission left in place the staff requirement that the developer install the required sidewalk segment along the frontage where the developer fronts Heath Circle Drive, subject to final engineering to address drainage and site conditions. Staff and the developer indicated further design and mitigation (for example, a ramp, crosswalk, or Traffic Impact Analysis mitigations requested by the school district) would be considered during engineering and permitting.
