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Planning Commission approves plan amendment at 1514 Rigsby Ave. over staff objection
Summary
The commission voted to amend the Southeast Community Area Plan for 1514 Rigsby Ave. from neighborhood mixed use to community commercial (to allow C2CD rezoning and motor vehicle sales) despite staff recommending denial; the applicant emphasized historic mixed-use character and said only basic make-ready (oil changes) would be needed.
The San Antonio Planning Commission voted Jan. 28 to amend the Southeast Community Area Plan to reclassify 1514 Rigsby Ave. from neighborhood mixed use to community commercial, enabling rezoning to C2CD with a conditional use for motor vehicle sales.
Alexa Retana, a planner with Development Services, presented the staff report and said staff "finds the proposed land use classification inconsistent with the surrounding area," noting the request would remove residential zoning options and introduce higher-intensity commercial uses next to single-family residences. Retana reported 38 notices mailed for the item with five responses in favor within 200 feet and no registered neighborhood association within 200 feet.
Elizabeth Russell, representing the applicant, disputed staff’s consistency finding and said the area has historically been mixed commercial and industrial, arguing that surrounding uses -- including bail bonds and restaurants -- support the requested classification. Russell said the property has had a yellow metal building on it for years and that the owner wishes to use the site for used-car sales. "This area has always been mixed use industrial, commercial, and residential," Russell said.
Commissioners questioned whether automotive make-ready or repair work would occur on site. The applicant said only oil changes would be part of prep work and that "if it's going to be a difference between being accepted and not accepted, my client is absolutely willing to not do that." During the exchange, staff initially said C2CD for motor vehicle sales would not permit oil changes, then later clarified that an "oil lube and tune" use could be permitted in situ; commissioners heard both statements during discussion.
Commissioner Siegel moved to approve the plan amendment and Commissioner Milam seconded. A roll-call vote recorded affirmative votes from Commissioner Siegel, Commissioner Milam, Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Lopez, Commissioner Litt, Commissioner Bustamante, Commissioner Prophet and Chair Peck; the motion passed.
The approval allows the applicant to proceed with zoning actions (including a conditional use authorizing motor vehicle sales) and indicates subsequent municipal processes (for example, a board of adjustments review for existing setback noncompliance) may be required before building or operations begin.
