Zoning panel denies three vape‑ and tobacco‑store rezoning requests near schools

The San Antonio zoning body denied three rezoning requests on May 7 that would have allowed tobacco and vaping stores or smoking areas within roughly 1,000 feet of nearby schools.

Staff presented each case and recommended denial, citing the proximity of the proposed uses to school campuses. The proposals included an application for 3109 North Saint Mary Street (item 8), a Babcock‑area site (item 18) and a location at 6430 Callahan Road (item 19). During the meeting staff said the projects were close enough to schools to raise child‑safety and marketing‑exposure concerns.

Resident Jack Finger urged commissioners to reject the applications. “Porque, recuerden, todos ustedes van a estar votando en cada una de ellas… Es una tienda de tabaco, un área de fumadores, productos de vapeo,” he said, arguing that the stores would expose children walking to and from school to electronic‑smoking advertising and products. Staff reiterated that the commission recommended denial for each site because of their distance from local schools.

For item 8 (3109 North Saint Mary Street) staff reported three notices were sent, two in favor and none opposed; staff and the zoning commission recommended denial. For item 18 (Babcock area) staff reported nine notices with one in favor and two in opposition; the recommendation was denial. For item 19 (6430 Callahan Road) staff said two notices were sent with one in favor and one opposed; staff again recommended denial. In each case a motion to deny was made, seconded and the chair stated the motion passed.

The transcript does not record roll‑call vote tallies for the individual motions. The meeting minutes and any formal vote record should be consulted for exact tallies and individual member votes.

The commission moved on to other agenda items after the denials.