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San Antonio planning commission approves MPA amendment to light industrial after split votes
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Summary
The San Antonio Planning Commission on April 8 approved an MPA amendment to change a parcel from agriculture to light industrial after a split series of votes; staff had recommended denial citing adjacency to residential uses, and the applicant said outreach to the HOA reduced concerns.
San Antonio — The San Antonio Planning Commission voted April 8 to amend the municipal plan designation for a parcel from agriculture to light industrial, approving the applicant’s request after a divided series of motions and roll-call votes.
Clayton Wall, interim principal planner with Development Services, told the commission staff recommended denial because “light industrial is intended to be built or placed next to other manufacturing and heavy business uses, not next to residential,” and staff was concerned about placing light industrial adjacent to an existing neighborhood. Wall said 56 notices had been mailed and that staff had counted six opposing notices for the current hearing after some property owners submitted responses following the prior continuance.
The applicant, Ashley Fairmont of Killen Griffin and Fairmont, told commissioners she had followed up with the neighborhood association and management company after the prior hearing and said, “as of last week, they said they have no questions, and would let us know if they want to discuss further.” Fairmont said the project site is across from the base and that the applicant believes light industrial is an appropriate use there.
Commissioner Siegel moved to deny the applicant’s request; that motion failed on a 3–4 roll-call vote (Siegel, Sanchez and Garcia voting yes; DeSuki, Lopez, Bustamante and Chair Peck voting no). Commissioner Lopez then moved to approve the request, seconded by Commissioner Bustamante. The approval passed 6–1 (Sanchez, Lopez, Bustamante, Garcia, DeSuki and Chair Peck voting yes; Siegel voting no).
During discussion commissioners pressed staff and the applicant about notice counts and whether approving this change could encourage neighboring property owners to seek similar rezoning. Staff explained that four opposition letters had arrived after the cutoff for the prior meeting and were counted for this hearing; commissioners asked that staff continue outreach and record any additional correspondence.
The commission’s action changes the plan designation for the parcel as requested; no additional formal conditions or permit authorizations were recorded on the public record at the meeting. The applicant indicated willingness to answer follow-up questions from staff and neighbors about specific operational details.
Next steps: the amendment will be reflected in the community’s plan records and any subsequent zoning applications or site development proposals will go through required city permitting and review processes.
