Council approves alcohol-variance allowing later hours at West Military Drive bar

San Antonio’s Zoning and Land Use session on April 2 approved an alcohol variance permitting on-premise consumption at a bar at 5520 West Military Drive with revised hours of Monday through Sunday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

City staff told the council the applicant amended hours and that three notices were sent to nearby schools; staff said Lackland Independent School District supports the updated hours and that the site is within 300 feet of Lackland Elementary School and Virginia Allred Stacy Junior-Senior High School. During public comment, resident Jack M. Finger urged the council to deny alcohol sales so close to schools, citing Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission rules and concerns about children walking to and from school. "So would you please say no to having these influences right to where the school kids are," Finger said.

Councilman Munguia, whose district includes the location, responded that the two schools noted by staff are on Lackland Air Force Base "behind a large gate, so no one can actually walk past that school from the bar," and said the applicant agreed to start later in the day to avoid school hours. "I want to give kudos to the bar for also agreeing to start later in the day at 4:00 after school lets out, and the school signed off on it," Munguia said. He moved to approve the variance with the conditions as read; the motion was seconded and carried.

The council did not record a roll-call vote tally in the transcript. The action clears the applicant to operate with the amended hours under the conditions approved by council. The meeting then moved on to the next items on the agenda and was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.