[00:00:23]
GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS JOY MCGEE AND I AM THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE ZONING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT THREE ZONING COMMISSIONER.
I HEREBY CALL THIS REGULARLY NOTICED MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO ZONING COMMISSION INTO SESSION.
[Roll Call]
ROLL CALL, PLEASE, BY ALLOWING THE ZONING COMMISSIONERS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, STARTING WITH THE COMMISSIONER ON MY FAR LEFT KENE, DISTRICT SIX, DISTRICT FOUR, XAVIER TOSEN, DISTRICT TWO, SUMMER GRADE HOUSE DISTRICT ONE, MARK WHITE, DISTRICT 10 AND DISTRICT NINE, JOHN BUSTAMONTE, DISTRICT FIVE.ROB SIPES, DISTRICT SEVEN, FRANCINE ROMERO, DISTRICT EIGHT.
AS A QUORUM PRESENT, QUORUM IS PRESENT.
WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
NOW, UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE.
UM, WE HAD A, UH, FELLOW ZONING COMMISSIONER WHO SERVED, UM, UH, AND DID SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB ON BEHALF OF, UM, HIS CITY.
HIS NAME WAS, UH, REAGAN GREER.
AND IF EVERYONE PLE WOULD PLEASE BOW THEIR HEADS.
WE'LL TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND, UH, RESPECT FOR HIM.
UM, PRIOR TO COMMENCING OUR MEETING, UH, STAFF, WOULD YOU PLEASE REVIEW OUR MEETING FORMAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE.
BEFORE I BEGIN, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO TURN YOUR PHONES ON VIBRATE OR TURN THEM OFF.
THE ZONING COMMISSION IS AN 11 MEMBER BODY APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ZONING CASES.
UPON RECEIVING A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION, YOU HAVE SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION TO FORGE YOUR CASE TO CITY COUNCIL.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROCEDURE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CASE MANAGER.
STAFF WILL BEGIN EACH CASE WITH A SHORT PRESENTATION OF THE REQUEST.
PART OF THE PRESENTATION INCLUDES A MAP THAT SHOWS THE AREA TO BE CONSIDERED FOR REZONING AND PROPERTY WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY CHECK MARKS INDICATES THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST AND THE NEXT INDICATES THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS IN OPPOSITION.
FOLLOWING THIS PRESENTATION AND ANY QUESTIONS BY THE COMMISSION, THE APPLICANT WILL PRESENT THEIR REQUEST.
FOR THOSE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE PROPOSED REZONING.
YOU WILL BE CALLED AN ORDER THAT YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THOSE IN SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION WILL BE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO UTILIZE THE MAXIMUM TIME LIMITATION.
YOU'LL HEAR THIS WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'LL HEAR ANOTHER BEEP AND WE WILL INFORM YOU THAT YOUR TWO MINUTES ARE UP.
FOR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO A SPEAKER, THAT SPEAKER WILL BE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF TWO PEOPLE GIVING THEIR TIME FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.
THOSE GIVING UP THEIR TIME MUST BE PRESENT AND SIGNED IN TO SPEAK.
THE APPLICANT WILL THEN BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REBUTTAL LIMITED TO ONE SPEAKER WITH A TWO MINUTE TIME LIMIT ALONG WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS COMMISSION QUESTIONS.
I THINK THAT, UM, WE HAD ORIGINALLY SAID THAT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 12 WOULD BE MOVED TO INDIVIDUAL, BUT WE HAVE, UM, NOW WE'RE HOPING THAT IT'LL BE MOVED TO COMBINED HEARING ITEM NUMBER TWO FOR, UH, CONTINUANCES RIGHT TO CON, UH, COMBINE HEARING TWO FOR CONTINUANCE.
SO, UM, IF WE COULD ADJUST THE SHOWING ON THE SCREEN TO REFLECT THAT PLEASE.
ITEM NUMBER 12 IS MOVING TO COMBINED HEARING NUMBER TWO, NOT, NOT INDIVIDUAL COMBINED.
AND THEN ITEM NUMBER 15 IS MOVING TO INDIVIDUAL.
UM, DO YOU MIND, UH, GOING OVER THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTPONED, WITHDRAWN,
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OR PULLED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY.
THESE ARE ITEM NUMBER TWO AT 1 0 7 WEST ASHBY PLACE ITEM NUMBER THREE AT 50 63 NORTHWEST LOOP FOUR 10 AND ITEM NUMBER FOUR AT 25 20 MONTEREY STREET AND THREE 12 AL SALMO STREET.
AND I, MARCO, I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING VISIBLY, BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND WHILE WE'RE, UH, DISCUSSING THE CASES THAT ARE, UM, SO THE AUDIENCE CAN SEE WHICH ONES WE'RE SPEAKING OF.
CAN WE JUST HAVE THAT ITEM LISTED REAL QUICK? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CAN YOU ZOOM IN A LITTLE BIT TO SHOW THE POSTPONED WITHDRAWN.
YOU'RE PROBABLY JUST GONNA HAVE TO ZOOM IN ALL THE WAY TO ONE PAGE PER SCREEN.
SO IF ANYBODY IS HERE FOR ANY OF THESE CASES, THEY WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY.
[Items 1, 6, 7, 10, 16, 17, 20, & 21]
TO MOVE ON TO OUR COMBINED HEARING ITEM NUMBER ONE.ON ITEM NUMBER ONE, THIS IS A DISCUSSION IN ACTION RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND AUTHORIZING A CHANGE TO THE B O A RULES AND PROCEDURE DOCUMENT IN ORDER TO MODIFY THE B O A COMPOSITION ITEM NUMBER SIX IS A REQUEST TO REZONE FROM C THREE AND A AND C D FIVE A H O D TO C THREE AND A SS N C D FIVE A H O D WITH SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR FACILITY LOCATED AT 7 38 WEST HILDEBRAND AVENUE.
THE FOLLOWING ITEM HAS THIS CONDITION.
ANY STORAGE OR MATERIALS OF MATERIALS OR ANY MATERIALS SHALL BE ENCLOSED IN A WALLED AND ROOF STRUCTURE.
THERE WERE 34 NOTICES MAILED NONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR TO AN OPPOSITION AND BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN FAVOR.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, TO REZONE FROM C TWO A H O D C THREE R A H O D AND O TWO A A H O D TO MF 40 A H O D.
GENERALLY LOCATED NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF WEST LOOP FOUR 10 AND PIN OAK DRIVE.
THERE WERE 12 NOTICES MAILED, NONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR, NONE IN OPPOSITION, AND THERE'S NO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
ITEM NUMBER 10, TO REZONE FROM C TWO M L O D THREE M L R ONE A H O D TO C TWO S M O D THREE M L R ONE A H O D GENERALLY LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF SUMMERFEST DRIVE AND NORTH FOSTER ROAD.
THERE WERE 12 NOTICES MAILED 19 RECEIVED IN FAVOR, NONE IN OPPOSITION AND SUNRISE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED.
THERE WERE ALSO 17 NOTICES RECEIVED IN FAVOR FROM OUTSIDE THE NOTIFICATION AREA.
ITEM NUMBER 15 WENT TO INDIVIDUAL.
SO MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 16 TO REZONE FROM R FIVE A H O D TO R FIVE C D A H O D WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR A PRIVATE LIBRARY LOCATED AT 9 0 3 MELISSA DRIVE.
THERE WERE 25 NOTICES MAILED, THEN RECEIVED IN FAVOR, NONE IN OPPOSITION AND NO RESPONSE FROM THE GREATER HARMONY HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
ITEM NUMBER 17 TO REZONE FROM C THREE NA AND C D FIVE A H O D TO R R THREE AND C D FIVE A H O D LOCATED AT 19 10 19 CAPITAL AVENUE.
THERE WERE 18 NOTICES MAILED, NONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR, NONE IN OPPOSITION.
AND BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT.
ITEM NUMBER 20, TOONE FROM I ONE A H O D AND I ONE H SS A H O D TO I DZ, THREE A H O D AND I D Z THREE H L A H O D WITH THE USES PERMITTED IN C THREE, AN EXTENDED STAY HOTEL AND MULTIFAMILY DWELLING UNITS NOT TO EXCEED 570 UNITS.
LOCATED AT 10 0 8 HOFFAN AVENUE, 10 10 HOFF AVENUE, 10 10 HOFF AVENUE ONE AND 5 0 9 DELAWARE STREET.
THERE WERE 22 NOTICES MAILED, NONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR, NONE IN OPPOSITION.
AND DENVER HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT.
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FROM C THREE A H O D TO R THREE A H O D LOCATED AT 2 41 ROUND STREET.ONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR, NONE IN OPPOSITION AND WEST HOPE IN ACTION NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT.
THAT DOES CONCLUDE THE COMBINED HEARING.
MADAM CHAIR, WE DO HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SOME OF THESE ITEMS. OH, I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR, UH, FOR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE.
WE WILL START WITH ITEM NUMBER SIX.
MARCO, CAN YOU ZOOM IN ON THAT COMBINED HEARING ITEM NUMBER ONE LIST? GOOD AFTERNOON.
SIMA COLVIN FROM THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE ALL THESE ON CONSENT OR COMBINED, BUT WE DO LIKE TO READ OUR STATEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, ESPECIALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMISSIONERS SEE US WHEN WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF CASES AND NOT ONLY WHEN WE'RE IN OPPOSITION.
SO REGARDING 7 38 WEST HILDEBRAND, THE BEACON HILL AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THIS CASE ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2019 WHEN WE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM D S D OF ITS PLACEMENT ON THE 9 17 19 ZONING COMMISSION AGENDA.
THE APPLICANT ATTENDED OUR MONTHLY N A MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 9TH DUE TO TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
THE MEMBERSHIP AGREED THAT MR. HERNANDEZ SHOULD MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ZONING AND URBAN SIGN COMMITTEE, WHICH HE DID.
THE GENESIS OF THIS ZONING REQUEST WAS AS A RESULT OF NEEDING TO REPLACE HIS CARPORT ROOF AFTER A SPRING STORM DAMAGED IT AND HE WAS TOLD HE WAS IN VIOLATION OF HIS ZONING, WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW FOR OUTSOURCE OUTSIDE.
UM, THE AGREEMENT REACHED WITH MR. HERNANDEZ AT THE ZED MEETING WAS THAT WHEN HE, THAT HE WOULD FIRST APPLY FOR A VARIANCE TO ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PERMANENT STRUCTURE AND THEN WE COULD SUPPORT THE ZONING CHANGE FOR THIS REASON.
THE CASE WAS CONTINUED LAST TIME WE WERE HERE.
SINCE THEN, MR. HERNANDEZ HAS APPLIED WITH THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE TWO VARIANCES HE WILL NEED.
AND D S D STAFF ADDED A CONDITION TO THE SPECIAL USE THAT WILL PROHIBIT OUTSIDE STORAGE, FORCING HIM TO EITHER BUILD A STRUCTURE OR USE ONE OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURES ON THE PROPERTY.
EITHER WAY, THIS SHOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE CURRENT SITUATION.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEIGHBOR BEHIND 7 38 WEST HILDEBRAND IS IN OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST AND WE RESPECT HER POSITION, BUT THE CULPRIT OF THE INTENSE USES THAT ARE ALLOWED AT THE PROPERTY IS THE C THREE BASE ZONING.
WHILE ADDING THE SPECIAL USE WILL ADD TO THAT LIST, WE DON'T BELIEVE IT'S IMPACT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT.
WE ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THE REQUEST TO ADD THE SPECIAL USE.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT, UH, INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ARE FOR NUMBER ITEM NUMBER 17, ALICIA CASTLEMAN.
AGAIN, OSA MCKELVIN, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE BEACON HILL AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE BEACON HILL AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THIS CASE ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2019 WHEN WE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM D S D OF ITS PLACEMENT ON THE NOVEMBER 5TH ZONING COMMISSION AGENDA.
AS THIS IS DOWN ZONING THAT WILL BRING THE ZONING IN LINE WITH OUR MIDTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN, WHICH INDICATES LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL FOR THIS PROPERTY.
BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST.
ULTIMATELY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DOWN ZONING OF THE SIX OTHER RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ON THIS BLOCK OF CAPITAL TO ALSO BRING THEM INTO ALIGNMENT WITH OUR MIDTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN.
BEACON HILL AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ASKS THAT YOU RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST TO REZONE TO R THREE N C D FIVE A H O D, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BEACON HILL AREA CONSERVATION DISTRICT AIRPORT HAZARD OVERLAY DISTRICT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE SIGNED IN TO SPEAK.
THE FLOOR, UM, IS OPEN FOR A MOTION.
I MOVE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS IF APPLICABLE FOR ITEM NUMBERS 1 6 7 10 16, 17, 20, AND 21 SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION, UH, FOR APPROVAL WITH A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
[00:15:01]
YES.MADAM CHAIR, IF WE COULD, FOR THOSE THAT WERE HERE, FOR THOSE CASES THAT WERE JUST HEARD AND DECIDED ON, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE COMMISSION MEETING, BUT WE DO NEED TO MAKE SOME ROOM FOR PEOPLE FOR THAT.
WERE HERE FOR CASES THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE CONSIDERED.
SO IF WE CAN TAKE A MINUTE AS CHAIRS BECOME OPEN, PLEASE FILL UP THOSE CHAIRS.
IF YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE DOOR, I'M GONNA NEED FOR YOU TO SHIFT TOWARDS THE WINDOWS SO WE CAN KEEP THE FIRE LANE OPEN.
AND THEN FOR THOSE THAT HAVE WALKED IN LATE AND WANT TO SPEAK ON A CERTAIN ITEM, THEY NEED TO COME OVER HERE TO THIS TABLE AND SIGN IN TO SPEAK.
YOU'LL ONLY BE RECOGNIZED IF YOU'RE SIGNED IN TO SPEAK.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED IN TO SPEAK AND YOU WANT TO SPEAK, YOU NEED TO COME TO THIS TABLE.
COME OVER HERE AND SIGN IN TO SPEAK.
FOR THOSE THAT HAVE EMPTY CHAIRS NEXT TO YOU, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SO THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU.
AND THEN THAT WAY THEY CAN FIND A SEAT.
IF YOU DID SIGN UP OUTSIDE ON A SHEET, YOU'RE FINE.
WE DO HAVE YOUR SIGNATURE, YOUR NAME, AND YOUR, YOUR ADDRESS.
WE'LL TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
JUST A REMINDER OF ANYONE STANDING IN THE AISLE, I NEED FOR YOU TO MOVE TOWARDS THE WINDOWS.
MADAM CHAIR, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, WE CAN START WITH THE NEXT BATCH FOR CONTINUANCES.
[5. 19-8115 (Continued from 10/15/19) ZONING CASE Z-2019-10700161 (Council District 3): A request for a change in zoning from "R-4 CD AHOD" Residential Single-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District with Conditional Use for a Manufactured Home Park to "MF-18 AHOD" Limited Density Multi-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District on Lot 9, Lot 10, Lot 11 and the East 25 feet of Lot 8, Block 8, NCB 7610, located at 138 Hermitage Court. Staff recommends Approval. (Associated Plan Amendment PA2019-11600042) (Michael Pepe, Planner, (210) 207-8208, Michael.Pepe@SanAntonio.gov, Development Services Department)]
THE VERY FIRST ITEM THAT WE'LL LOOK AT FOR A COMBINED HEARING NUMBER TWO IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE AT 1 38 HERMITAGE COURT.THIS, UH, ITEM IS REQUESTED FOR A CONTINUANCE TO DECEMBER THE THIRD.
THERE WERE 39 NOTICES MAILED, NONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR, ONE IN OPPOSITION HOT WELLS MISSION REACH IS OPPOSED.
THIS IS FOR A, UH, FOUR WEEK CONTINUANCE TO DECEMBER 3RD.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE, UM, IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT? NO, MA'AM.
SO IT'S, SO IF IT'S COMBINED, SO WE HAVE TO DO EACH ONE? YES MA'AM.
I THINK THAT'S BEST BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SOME OF THE ITEMS. OKAY, WONDERFUL.
UM, WITH THE, UH, APPLICANT IS NOT PRESENT.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE? NO, MA'AM.
WELL, I AM THE COMMISSIONER, UH, FOR THAT CASE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UM, TO BE CONTINUED UNTIL, UH, DECEMBER 3RD, SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE.
[9. 19-8004 (Continued from 10/01/19) ZONING CASE Z-2019-10700221 (Council District 7): A request for a change in zoning from "C-3 MLOD-2 MLR-2 AHOD" General Commercial Lackland Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 Airport Hazard Overlay District to "MF-18 MLOD-2 MLR-2 AHOD" Limited Density Lackland Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 Airport Hazard Overlay District on the Southwest 51 Feet of Northeast 221.6 Feet of Lot 33, and the Southwest 94 Feet of Northeast 315.6 Feet of Lot 33, Block B, NCB 11514, located at 4119 Willard Drive. Staff recommends Approval. (Michael Pepe, Planner, (210) 207-8208, Michael.Pepe@SanAntonio.gov, Development Services Department)]
IS ITEM NUMBER NINE.THIS IS A REQUEST, UH, TO REZONE FROM C THREE TO MF 18 WITH ALL OVERLAYS REMAINING THE SAME.
AT 41 19 WILLARD DRIVE, THERE WERE 12 NOTICES MAILED, NONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR, NONE IN OPPOSITION, AND NO RESPONSE FROM WOODLAWN HILLS OR UNIVERSITY PARK.
UH, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE TO FOR TWO WEEKS ON THIS ITEM TO NOVEMBER
[00:20:01]
THE 19TH, THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.UM, COMMISSIONER SIPES, DO WE WANT TO ASK IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR NO? I'LL ASK AFTER YOU MAKE THE MOTION.
UM, FOR ITEM NUMBER NINE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A CONTINUANCE TO THE ZONING COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 19TH.
WE HAVE A MOTION, UH, FOR CONTINUANCE, UM, WITH THE, UH, SECOND, UM, ANY, UH, QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE.
[11. 19-8116 (Continued from 10/15/19) ZONING CASE Z-2019-10700225 (Council District 7): A request for a change in zoning from "R-5 MLOD-2 MLR-2 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Lackland Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 Airport Hazard Overlay District to "RM-5 MLOD-2 MLR-2 AHOD" Residential Mixed Lackland Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 Airport Hazard Overlay District on Lot 19, Block 4, NCB 13450, located at 5403 San Benito Drive. Staff recommends Denial. (Mirko Maravi, Planner (210) 207-0107, mirko.maravi@sanantonio.gov; Development Services Department)]
NUMBER 11 IS A REQUEST TO REZONE FROM R FIVE TO RMM FIVE WITH ALL OVERLAYS REMAINING THE SAME.LOCATED AT 54 0 3 SAN BENITO DRIVE, THERE ARE 40 NOTICES MAILED, NONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED NO RESPONSE FROM COLLIBRA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE TO THE ZONING MEETING OF DECEMBER THE THIRD.
THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A CONTINUANCE TO THE ZONING COMMISSION MEETING OF DECEMBER 3RD.
THERE IS A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR CONTINUANCE, UM, WITH A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE.
[12. 19-7852 (Continued from 10/15/19) ZONING CASE Z-2019-10700228 (Council District 9): A request for a change in zoning from "I-1 AHOD" General Industrial Airport Hazard Overlay District to "C-3 AHOD" General Commercial Airport Hazard Overlay District on Lot 37, Block 1, NCB 13197, located at 11902 Warfield Street. Staff recommends Approval. (Michael Pepe, Planner, (210) 207-8208, michael.pepe@sanantonio.gov, Development Services Department)]
ITEM NUMBER 12 IS A REQUEST TO RE RESUME FROM I ONE A H O D TO C THREE A H O D, LOCATED AT 11 9 0 2 WARFIELD STREET.ONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR, ONE IN OPPOSITION AND NO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A CONTINUANCE TO NOVEMBER THE 19TH.
THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
ITEM NUMBER 12 WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE FOR TWO WEEKS.
SO THAT WOULD PUT IT AT THE NOVEMBER 19TH MEETING.
SO I MAKE A MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE WITH A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE.
[Items 14 & 18]
14.I'M GONNA READ ITEM NUMBER 14 AND ITEM NUMBER 18 TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY'RE ADDING A HISTORIC OVERLAY.
AND BOTH OF THESE ARE BEING REQUESTED FOR A CONTINUANCE BY THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
THE REZONING IS FROM R SIX A H O D TO R SIX HHL, A H O D AT 4 34 EAST MAGNOLIA AVENUE, AS WELL AS R SIX A H O D AND R SIX TWO R SIX H L A H O D AT FOUR 30 EAST MAGNOLIA STREET.
UH, THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS STILL WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT AND THEY ARE SEEKING A CONTINUANCE TO DECEMBER THE THIRD FOR BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS, THAT'S ITEM 14.
AND ITEM 18 ARE SEEKING CONTINUANCES TO DECEMBER THE THIRD.
AND WE DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS. OKAY.
MAY WE HAVE, UH, THOSE WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, COME FORWARD PLEASE? FREDERIKA KUSHNER? UM, MY NAME IS FREDERIKA KUSHNER.
[00:25:01]
OF MYRTLE STREET IN TOBIN HILL.UM, AM I TO SPEAK ON BOTH OF THESE OR YOUR HONOR? YES, MA'AM.
UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT I REALLY WANT TO DO THAT AT THIS POINT.
I BELIEVE, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE, HAVE BEEN, UM, GIVEN, UH, COPIES.
I'M HOPING, UH, OF THE STATEMENT OF THE TOBIN HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.
UM, THAT WAS, UH, SENT IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS LATE LAST WEEK.
UM, THAT IS OUR STAND ON THIS.
UM, AND, UH, WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME STAND
SO I DON'T WANNA, UM, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
UH, WE ARE DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC, UH, LANDMARKING OF THESE, UH, BOTH OF THESE PROPERTIES.
COSIMA COLVIN FOR BOTH ITEMS 14 AND 18.
COSIMA COLVIN, BEACON HILL AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'M ALSO GONNA PASS ON MY LETTER.
I'LL READ THAT WHEN WE HEAR THE CASE.
BUT, UM, I WILL SAY THAT THE BEACON HILL AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WILL SUPPORT THE TOBAN HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.
AND PAULA STARNS ON ITEM NUMBER 14 AND 18.
MY NAME IS PAULA STARNS AND I LIVE AT TWO 19 EAST MAGNOLIA, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM THESE TWO PROPERTIES.
UM, I'M A MEMBER OF TOBIN HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND ON THE ZONING COMMITTEE, WE CERTAINLY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE AMOUNT OF DEMOLITION AND HOUSES THAT ARE BEING RIPPED DOWN.
SO I AM CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF HISTORIC DESIGNATION FOR THESE TWO PROPERTIES THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD INTACT.
THAT'S ALL THAT SIGNED IN TO SPEAK.
I LIVE AT 5 0 6 WEST KINGS HIGHWAY IN THE ALTA VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
UH, WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ALTA VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, SENT A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF HISTORIC DESIGNATION FOR BOTH PROPERTIES IN ITEMS NUMBER 14 AND 18.
UH, OUR SUPPORT IS CONTINUING.
AND AGAIN, I'LL ECHO THE CONCERN FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF DEMOLITIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE TOKEN HILL NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE PAST YEAR.
AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT CAME OUT, AND THANKS FOR YOUR BREVITY TODAY.
UM, SO WE'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, TO CONTINUE ITEMS 14 AND 18 TO THE DECEMBER 3RD, UH, ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE.
UM, WHERE ARE YOU GONNA, CASES NEXT.
ALRIGHT, SO I KNOW WE HAVE A BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE.
UM, MANY OF YOU ARE HERE FOR ITEM NUMBER 22, WHICH WILL BE HEARD LAST ON THE AGENDA.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU'RE SITTING ON THE FLOOR.
WE DO HAVE AN OVERFLOW ROOM WHERE YOU CAN HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF CASES THAT ARE GONNA BE HEARD.
BEFORE THAT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE MORE COMFORTABLE, WE CAN PUT YOU INTO THAT OVERFLOW ROOM, WHICH IS JUST DOWN THE HALL.
IT'S GOT SEATS, TABLES, AND WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE THE AUDIO ON BECAUSE I DO HAVE TO MAKE ROOM FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL OUTSIDE THAT HAVE, THAT ARE HERE FOR THESE CASES FIRST.
SO IF YOU LIKE, WE CAN GET YOU TO SOME CHAIRS, THOSE THAT ARE STANDING FOR THAT LAST CASE, ITEM NUMBER 22.
AND WE CAN PUT YOU INTO THE OVERFLOW ROOM.
UM, WE, THE COMMISSION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A BREAK BEFORE THAT, SO THAT WAY WE'LL HAVE MORE SEATS AVAILABLE AS THOSE OTHER CASES CLEAR OUT.
SO IF YOU LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO DO THAT, WE CAN LEAD YOU TO THAT ROOM NEXT DOOR.
[00:30:14]
AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, ARE STANDING FOR ITEMS 8, 13, 15, 19, AS THE SEATS BECOME AVAILABLE, IF YOU WANNA TAKE A SEAT, IT'S NOT THAT FAR.EVERYBODY JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A WHILE.
AND IF YOU ARE GONNA STAY SEATED, I'M GONNA NEED FOR YOU TO SIT NOT ON THE LEDGE.
HEY, I THINK WE GOT EVERYBODY FOR THOSE STILL STANDING AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF SEATS.
RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU HAVE EMPTY SEATS.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL HERE, THAT ARE STANDING OR SITTING, IF THERE'S EMPTY SEATS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THERE'S ONE HERE AT THE FRONT, A COUPLE OVER HERE TOO.
AND THEN EVERYBODY HERE FOR ITEM NUMBER 22.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO OUR INDIVIDUAL HEARING ITEMS. AND DOMINIC WILL BE PRESENTING
[8. 19-8003 (Continued from 10/01/19) ZONING CASE Z-2019-10700220 CD (Council District 2): A request for a change in zoning from "R-4 EP-1 MLOD-3 MLR-2 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Facility Parking/Traffic Control Martindale Army Airfield Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 Airport Hazard Overlay District to "R-4 CD EP-1 MLOD-3 MLR-2 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Facility Parking/Traffic Control Martindale Army Airfield Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 Airport Hazard Overlay District with Conditional Use for two (2) residential dwelling units on Lot 18 and the east 9 feet of Lot 17, Block 4, NCB 1422, located at 419 Belmont. Staff recommends Denial. (Dominic Silva, Senior Planner, (210) 207-0120, dominic.silva@sanantonio.gov, Development Services Department)]
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.UH, FROM R FOUR RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY TO R FOUR CD CONDITIONAL USE FOR TWO DWELL RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS LOCATED AT 4 1 9 BELMONT 39.
NO RESPONSE FROM THE JEFF JEFFERSON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION.
UM, ALTHOUGH THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE ARENA DISTRICT, EASTSIDE COMMUNITY PLAN, AND IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL IN THE FUTURE LAND USE COMPONENT OF THE PLAN, THE AREA IS DEVELOPED IS R FOUR RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY.
THE REZONING WOULD INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL DENSITY NOT ALREADY FOUND IN THE AREA.
IF THE PROPERTY IS OWNER OCCUPIED, AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT MAY BE CONSTRUCTED WITH PROPER PERMITS IN THE REAR.
ADDITIONALLY APPEARS THAT THE LOT WAS ONCE OCCUPIED BY SINGLE RESIDENTIAL HOME, WHICH WAS WHAT CONSISTENT WITH THE AREA STAFF RE MUST DIAL THE REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT.
MAY WE HAVE THE APPLICANT PLEASE? GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M THE ARCHITECT FOR THE PROJECT AND THE AGENT.
UM, UM, I'LL BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHY, UH, OUR CLIENT IS SEEKING, UH, THE REZONING.
UM, ORIGINALLY, UM, THE INTENT FOR THIS REZONING WAS TO REQUEST RMM FOUR, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR THE TWO DWELLING UNITS, UM, ON THE ONE PROPERTY.
UH, AT THE SUGGESTION OF STAFF, WE CHANGED THE REQUEST, UM, TO CONDITIONAL USE BECAUSE WE ONLY NEED TWO RENT, TWO DWELLINGS VERSUS, UH, RMM FOUR WOULD ALLOW UP TO FOUR.
SO THIS IS, UH, MORE RESTRICTIVE.
UM, OUR CLIENT IS A DEVELOPER AND THEY'RE TRYING TO, UH, IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THERE USED TO BE ONE HOME ON IT.
UM, I THINK IT WAS EITHER DEMOLISHED OR THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT CAUGHT ON FIRE.
SO NOW IT IS A, A NUISANCE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT WERE IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT, UH, EXPRESSED CONCERNS WITH, UM, VA VAGRANTS, UH, HANGING OUT AT THE PROPERTY AND SUCH.
SO, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, IT IS A MATTER OF ECONOMICS AND THE ART, THE, THE VENTURE THAT IS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT IS A FOR-PROFIT VENTURE.
AND, UM, TWO HOMES MAKES SENSE FINANCIALLY WHERE ONE LARGER HOME MAY NOT.
IT WOULD ALSO, ONE LARGER HOME WOULD BE AT A HIGHER PRICE POINT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD VERSUS TWO SMALLER HOMES WOULD BE MORE ACCESSIBLE, UH, TO THE MARKET.
UM, WE DO HAVE SOME ATTACHMENTS, UM, IN THIS, UH, U S B DRIVE THAT WE WANTED TO SHARE, UM, WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, UM, RIGHT THERE YOU'RE SEEING OUR SITE PLAN.
SO IT SHOWS, UM, THESE ARE THE LETTERS IN SUPPORT AND THEY JUST, I KNOW THERE WAS A RECAP THAT SIX WERE RECEIVED.
THESE JUST EXPRESS KIND OF WHAT, WHAT THE HOMEOWNERS WERE SAYING.
UM, THE, MAYBE WE CAN JUMP TO THE, UM, UH,
[00:35:01]
JUMP TO THE FLOOR PLANS, WHICH IS THAT ONE? YEAH.SO THIS IS THE SIDE PLAN THAT YOU GUYS ALREADY SAW.
UM, OUR, OUR FLOOR PLANS ARE, UH, WIDER THAN SOME OF THE HOMES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
A LOT OF THE HOMES, UH, HISTORICALLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE BUILT ON, UH, 25 FOOT WIDE LOTS.
SO HISTORICALLY THESE PROPERTIES WERE PLATTED, UM, AS SHOTGUN HOUSES.
UM, AND WE HAVE DONE SOME SHOTGUN HOMES IN THE AREA.
IT'S 60 FOOT WIDE, SO WE'RE, WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING, UH, 20 FOOT WHITE HOMES INSTEAD OF 16.
UM, CAN YOU, UH, I HAVE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS WORK.
THE, THESE, THIS, THESE ARE KIND OF MORE CLOSER TO THE WIDTH OF THE HOMES THAT WE WILL BE PURSUING.
THESE ARE SOME OF OUR DESIGNS.
THESE ARE IN THE DIGNITY HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, IF YOU KEEP SCROLLING, THESE ARE THE SHOTGUN TWO STORY STYLE HOMES IN THE JEFFERSON HEIGHTS AREA THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.
THESE ARE WHEN THE LOTS ARE 25 FOOT WIDE AND ALLOW FOR THIS.
UM, I THINK WITH THIS REZONING, EACH HOUSE WOULD HAVE ABOUT 33 FOOT WIDTH PROPERTIES, UH, OR LOTS.
SO WE WOULD, WE'RE PLANNING ON KIND OF A SIMILAR STYLE OF, OF AS THIS, BUT WIDER.
SO 20 FOOT WIDE INSTEAD OF 16.
UM, AND JUST A FEW POINTS I WANTED TO HIT BEFORE I I LET YOU GUYS, UM, DISCUSS IS, UH, THERE'S SOME MULTIFAMILY, UM, EXISTING MULTIFAMILY DOWN THE STREET FROM US.
UM, THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN CALLS FOR MEDIUM DENSITY IN THIS AREA.
SO, UM, WE THOUGHT OUR REQUEST WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN.
UM, PARKING WILL BE WITHIN THE PROPERTY.
WE'RE NOT DEPENDING ON, ON STREET PARKING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
UM, THE DWELLING UNITS WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING THE DWELLING UNITS FACE, BOTH HOUSES FACE THE STREET TO TRY TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE BLOCK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD VERSUS HAVING ONE HOUSE IN THE FRONT, ONE HOUSE IN THE BACK.
UM, AND THE, THE PLAN ALSO CALLS FOR MIXED USE.
UM, THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN CALLS FOR MIXED USE, JUST ONE STREET SOUTH OF US.
SO THERE'S, THERE IS SOME DENSITY PLANNED, UH, FOR THE AREA AND WE'RE, WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE POINTS WE WANTED TO POINT OUT, UM, UH, AS FAR AS OUR POSITION GOES.
WE MAY, UM, CALL YOU BACK UP FOR QUESTIONS AND POSSIBLY RESPOND IF ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, MA'AM.
UH, FOR THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUTS ON THIS, UH, OWNER REQUEST.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, AM I RIGHT? ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER ROMERO? YEAH, FOR THE APPLICANT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING 'CAUSE I'M SEEING DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TWO, TWO STORY HOUSES SIDE BY SIDE? CORRECT.
THAT IS THE INTENT BOTH WITH THE FRONT DOOR FACING THE MAIN STREET? YES, MA'AM.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS ON RIGHT.
UH, COMMISSIONER GIBBONS, UM, YOU SAID STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT YOU GO R FOUR, BUT YOU WANTED UH, R M FOUR? YES, MA'AM.
ALRIGHT, THEN MY QUESTION TO STAFF, COULD YOU KIND OF GIVE US A RUNDOWN WHY YOU'RE RECOMMENDING DENIAL? I CAN READ IT, BUT LET'S, MOST OF THE, UM, ZONING WITHIN THE AREA WAS ALREADY R FOUR, CONDITIONING IT FOR THE TWO UNITS WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ONLINE WITH THEIR AREA.
WHAT'S YOUR REASON FOR THE DENIAL? BECAUSE MOST OF THE HOW, UM, THE USES IN THE AREA IS ALREADY RESIDENTIAL, SINGLE FAMILY AND NOT FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE OF THE MEDIUM DENSITY.
THEN THESE ARE, THESE ARE RESIDENCES, RIGHT? YES.
THEY WILL BE SINGLE FAMILY OWNER OCCUPIED.
AND, AND AGAIN, THE REASON THAT WE DECIDED TO PURSUE THIS IS BECAUSE THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN CALLS FOR MIXED DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
SO WE, WE MADE THE DECISION BASED ON THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S BEEN NEW DEVELOPMENT ACROSS FROM THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
DO YOU KNOW HOW OLD THAT IS OR HOW NEW? UM, I BELIEVE THAT'S A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AND IT WAS BUILT IN THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS, I WANNA SAY.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, AND I'M REFERENCING GOOGLE THAT KNOWS EVERYTHING
[00:40:01]
LOOKS LIKE A NEW SIDEWALK AND CURB HAS BEEN PUT IN AS WELL.IS THAT ON YOUR SIDE? UM, I AM NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE ON THAT, BUT I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT, UH, STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THAT JEFFERSON HEIGHTS, GREATER JEFFERSON HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN A VACANT LOT, DO YOU KNOW? UM, PROBABLY AT LEAST 10 YEARS.
IF I WERE TO, IF I WERE TO GUESS, A LOT OF THESE VACANT LOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, JADED AND OUTDATED FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, AND THEN YOU GOT FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENCES.
THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF YOUR PROJECT.
DID YOU SHOW THEM THE SLIDES THAT YOU SHOWED US? YES, MA'AM.
SO, UH, I KNOW THAT THE, THAT WE HAVE SIX LETTERS IN FAVOR OF, OF NEIGHBORS IN THE 200 OR JUST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALSO THE 200 FOOT RADIUS.
I KNOW THAT THE, WE, WE, I MET THE, THE HOMEOWNER THAT WAS AGAINST THE PROJECT.
SHE HAD CONCERNS WITH JUST DEVELOPMENT IN GENERAL IN THE AREA.
UM, BUT, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, I, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
SO NO, WE CAN'T, BUT THANK YOU.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT? OKAY.
THANK YOU, UH, SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUTS, UH, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING, UM, PROVIDE INFORMATION AND THE FUTURE LAND USE, UH, THAT THE APPLICANT IS, UH, SPEAKING OF AND ALSO THE PRESENTATION OF THE, UM, WHAT THEY'RE GONNA BE DEVELOPING, UM, AND LOOKING ACROSS THE STREET AND LOOKING AT WHERE, UM, THE COMMUNITY MAY BE MOVING TOWARDS.
UM, GONNA RECOMMEND APPROVAL, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, UH, PARTICULAR DEAL.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL WITH THE SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
ANY DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS ON MY RIGHT.
AND I'M SORRY, I DID HAVE A QUESTION.
SO WHAT'S THE HEIGHT OF YOUR PROPOSED PROJECT? UM, EACH FLOOR WILL BE, UM, OR FLOOR TO CEILING IS NINE FEET AND THEN OUR GABLES WILL LIKELY BE ANOTHER SIX FEET.
SO WE'RE LOOKING NO HIGHER THAN 26 FEET.
THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE UH, HEIGHT IN THIS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IS USUALLY 35.
SO WE'LL BE ABOUT 10 FOOT SHORTER THAN THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M WRESTLING WITH ACTUALLY HERE IN THIS SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT.
I DON'T SEE A PREPONDERANCE OF TWO STORY BUILDINGS AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THESE TWO, UM, SITES OR THESE TWO STRUCTURES BEING KIND OF SQUEEZED TOGETHER ON THAT LOT AND WHAT THAT'S GONNA DO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, LOOK, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT IS THAT WITHIN THE PUR OF THIS COMMISSION, SORRY.
THE PUBLIC, UH, HEARING IS, UH, CLOSED AS A MATTER OF FACT.
UM, UNLESS WE CALL YOU BACK UP, YOU'RE FEEL, UH, FREE TO HAVE A SEAT.
THEY JUST ASKED ME A QUESTION.
ANY OTHER, UH, COMMISSIONERS? UH, COMMISSIONER ROMERO? UM, I'M KIND OF TORN ON THIS ONE TOO.
UH, IT SEEMS LIKE WE JUST KEEP GETTING THE SAME GENERIC CASE OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I'M STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY ON IT.
UM, I'M ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE DI DISRUPTION TO THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS IN OUR PURVIEW.
'CAUSE THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF LAND USE.
IT'S A DENSER LAND USE AND JUST BECAUSE THE PLAN ALLOWS IT DOESN'T MEAN IT REQUIRES IT.
UM, THE SIZE OF THE LOT IS GIVING ME PAUSE AS WELL.
I FEEL MORE, I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS THAN THE ORIGINAL REQUEST, BUT, UM, I'M NOT SURE I CAN SUPPORT THIS ONE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UH, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I CONCUR WITH, UH, THE COMMENTS OF THE LAST TWO COMMISSIONERS.
UM, COMMISSIONER GIBBONS? UH, YEAH, I COULD APPRECIATE THE DENSITY CONCERN, BUT I DO THINK THAT, THANK GOODNESS THAT WE CAN ALLOW THIS TO HAVE TO BE BUILT HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A VACANT LOT THAT'S SITTING THERE VERY STAGNANT FOR OVER A DECADE.
HOW ARE WE GONNA PUT SOMETHING THERE CONSIDERING THE TIMEFRAME, THE ECONOMY FRAME, ALL OF THOSE THAT WE'RE IN TODAY, WE'RE NOT IN THE DATE OF WHEN THESE HOUSES OR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS BUILT.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.
I THINK IT DOES CONFORM WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED ACROSS THE STREET OTHER THAN THE DENSITY, BUT THE DENSITY IS ALLOWING BUILDING TO HAPPEN AND, UM, SO I, I WOULD AS COMMISSIONERS CONSIDER THAT IMPROVEMENT TO THE STREET IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I TEND TO AGREE WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER ROMERO AND COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL.
[00:45:01]
I THINK, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOOKING AT THE STRUCTURES AROUND IT, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ONE STORY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME YARDS AND EVEN ACROSS THE STREET WE DO HAVE SOME NEWER CONSTRUCTION THAT ALSO TENDS TO BE MORE IN LINE WITH THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.SO I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN SUPPORT THIS BASED, UM, ON THE SAME REASONS.
UM, COMMISSIONER, UH, GIBBONS? WELL, I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE WHERE THE COMMISSIONERS ARE COMING FROM, BUT THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION FROM THE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVED THERE AND THEY LIVED THERE.
UM, I THINK THEY'RE, THEY WOULD SAY THEY'RE MORE OPPOSED TO VACANT TRACT WITH A BURNED DOWN HOUSE ON IT AND OVERGROWTH, THEN THE DENSITY AND THE NEW LIFE THAT A HOUSE BRINGS.
UM, SO I I I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION TO, TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION? OKAY, ROLL CALL VOTE.
PATRICIA HAS NUMBER 13 FOR YOU.
[13. 19-7172 ZONING CASE Z-2019-10700208 (Council District 2): A request for a change in zoning from "R-6 MLOD-3 MLR-2" Residential Single-Family Martindale Army Airfield Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 District to "NC MLOD-3 MLR-2" Neighborhood Commercial Martindale Army Airfield Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 District on the east 3.3 feet of the south 118 feet of Lot 11 and the south 118 feet of Lot 12, Block 6, NCB 1177, located at 2551 North Interstate Highway 35. Staff recommends Denial, with Alternate Recommendation. (Associated Plan Amendment PA-2019-11600080) (Patricia Franco, Planner (210) 207-5876, Patricia.franco@sanantonio.gov, Development Services Department).]
PATRICIA FRANCO ZONING.ITEM 13 IS A REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM R SIX TO NC LOCATED AT 2 5 5 1 NORTH INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 35 22.
NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET.
ONE RETURNED IN FAVOR, ONE RETURNED IN OPPOSITION, AND THE GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT.
THE CURRENT R SIX SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROPERTY.
THE PROPOSED NC INTRODUCES COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT INTO A PREDOMINANTLY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BLOCK.
STAFF HAS FOUND LIKELY INDICATION OF ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE.
THE PROPOSED NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL IS AN ENCROACHMENT OF A COMMERCIAL USE INTO AN ESTABLISHED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL WITH AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION OF R SIX CD WITH A CON CONDITIONAL USE FOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICE AND SHOWROOM THE APPLICANT'S PRESENT.
MAY WE HAVE THE APPLICANT PLEASE? THANK YOU.
MADAM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M AN ATTORNEY HERE IN TOWN WITH THE LAW FIRM OF DROUGHT, DROUGHT AND BOBBIT.
AND MY CLIENT IS THE APPLICANT, LOZANO HOMES, L L C.
I WILL BRIEFLY JUST, UH, POINT OUT SOME POINTS IN RESPONSE TO THE, UH, ZONING, UH, RECOMMEND RECOMMENDATION OF DENIAL.
L L C IS IN THE BUSINESS OF BUYING HOMES AND REFURBISHING THEM.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID WITH THIS HOUSE.
THERE IS NO DEMOLITION PERMIT SITTING THERE.
THERE IS NO INTENT TO DEMOLISH.
THEY HAVE SPENT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY MAKING THIS HOUSE BETTER.
THEY'VE RESTORED IT, THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT IN A D A COMPLIANT PARKING AT THEIR EXPENSE.
THIS IS INTENDED HOPEFULLY TO BE USED AS AN OFFICE, UM, AS COMMERCIAL.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, RIGHT NEXT DOOR, QT STORES, QUICKTRIP, WHICH IS A GIANT CORPORATION, IS GONNA MOVE IN DOWN JIM STREET.
AND THAT WHOLE AREA TO THE RIGHT ON THE PICTURE WILL BE A GASOLINE AND QUICKTRIP CONVENIENCE STORE.
UH, AS IF IT'S APPROVED AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.
THIS BENEFITS THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT DETRACTS.
IT WOULD BE A INTERMEDIARY ZONING CHANGE.
UH, WE HAVE THE GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE IN SUPPORT.
WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORS TO THE, TO THE NORTH AND TO THE WEST IN SUPPORT.
UH, CRYSTAL AND FERNANDO LOZANO, WHO OWN LAZANO HOMES, NOT ONLY ARE CLIENTS BUT FRIENDS, GOOD PEOPLE AND HAVE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OF RESTORING HOMES LIKE THEY DID IN THIS CASE.
AND ONCE IT'S REZONED, IT CANNOT BE USED AS AN AD VALOREM COMPARABLE,
[00:50:01]
WHICH BENEFITS ALL OF THE OTHER HOMEOWNERS BEHIND IT INTO THE, TO THE WEST.UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, I 35 FACING THIS IS COMPLETELY COMMERCIALIZED AND JUST TO THE RIGHT IT'S GOING TO BE COMMERCIALIZED AS WELL.
SO THE ENCROACHMENT OF COMMERCIAL EXPANSION HAS BEEN AND IS CONTINUING IN THIS AREA, WHICH HAS A MAJOR HIGHWAY THOROUGHFARE, UH, INTERSTATE.
IT IS A SMALL CORNER, LOT 0.1 5, 4, 4 ACRES.
IT IS NOT IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, AS I SAID, THE UH, THE CHANGE THAT HAS BEEN MADE AT THE EXPENSE OF LANA HOMES L L C HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED THIS PROPERTY AND THEY DON'T INTEND TO D DEMOLISH IT.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL RECONSIDER, UH, THE, UH, THE STATUS OF THIS AND, AND APPROVE THE APPLICATION.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM.
ROSE HILL, FOLLOWED BY LAWRENCE ORTIZ.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS ROSE HILL, UH, PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE.
UM, GOVERNMENT HILL IS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
UH, THIS HOUSE WAS ON THE DEMOLITION BLOCK.
IT WAS OWNED BY AN OUTSIDE PERSON THAT LIVED IN CALIFORNIA, OVERGROWN, UH, GRASS, UM, AN EYESORE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE AL WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO RESTORE THE CHARACTER OF HOMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THIS WAS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT.
UM, LONA HOMES CAME IN AND THEY SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY TO REFURBISH THE HOUSE.
UH, IF YOU LOOKED AT IT THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES, UH, YOU WOULD SEE WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
UM, GOVERNMENT HILL HAS A PROCESS IN WHICH WE HANDLE ANY KIND OF ZONING CASES.
WE ASK THE APPLICANT, ZONING SENDS THEM TO OUR, OUR BOARD.
WE DON'T MAKE A DECISION AND WE TAKE IT TO THE COMMUNITY.
ON OCTOBER THE 29TH, UH, THEY CAME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THEY PRESENTED, UM, AND THEY WERE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF INPUT AND I WANNA THANK THE APPLICANTS FOR DOING THAT, FOLLOWING OUR PROCESS.
AND A VOTE WAS TAKEN, UH, THE COMMI THE, THE COMMUNITY UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE IT.
ONE, UH, WE WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THERE THAT ARE GONNA BE GOOD PARTNERS.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME IN, FLIP THE HOUSE AND TAKE OFF AND LEAVE.
UH, WE THINK THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
UH, AS THE UH, GENTLEMAN, UH, THE APPLICANT, UH, REPRESENTATIVE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGED THAT QT IS TO THE FAR LEFT WHERE THERE'S GONNA BE, UM, GAS STATION.
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING SOON.
UH, THEY'LL BE PROBABLY BE COMING TO BEFORE ZONING.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CONSIDER GOOD, GOOD, GOOD PEOPLE COMING IN, WANTING TO STAY, NOT JUST TAKING, FLIPPING A HOUSE AND ACTUALLY PUTTING QUALITY INVESTMENT AND MONEY INTO A HOME, BUT ALSO WANTING TO BE A GOOD PARTNER AND A GOOD NEIGHBOR FOR THE NEIGHBORS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND SO THEREFORE, IN THAT ESSENCE, WE, THE GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE ARE 100% IN SUPPORT.
I'M ACTUALLY, UH, A RESIDENT TO THE LEFT OF THE ACTUAL, UH, PROPERTY IN QUESTION OR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I ACTUALLY PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS IN DISARRAY, JUST LIKE THE OTHER ONE.
I'M ACTUALLY DOING A LOT OF ACTUAL WORK TO IT, UH, TO BRING IT UP TO, UH, STANDARDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MY HOMESTEAD.
UM, OVERSEEING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THAT'S WHY I ACTUALLY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.
AND WITH IT BEING, UM, CONVERTED OVER TO A COMMERCIAL, IT WOULD ACTUALLY, I WOULD FEEL IT WOULD HINDER MY PROPERTY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IF I WANTED TO SELL IT AT A LATER DATE, IT'S HARD TO SELL SOMETHING RIGHT NEXT TO A COMMERCIAL, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE THAT QT MOVING IN NOW I HAVE ANOTHER FIRE THAT'S GONNA BE BUILDING ON, ON MY PROPERTY.
SO I HAVE THE QT THEN I HAVE THIS PROPERTY.
I'M INVESTING A LOT OF MY PERSONAL MONEY.
UM, AND UH, I WANTED TO MAKE IT MY HOMESTEAD.
DID YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? IT, IT'S 25 47 IH 35.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE SIGNED IN TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, INPUTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR I, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER TOSEN.
UM, WOULD THE, UH, APPLICANT LIKE TO HAVE TIME TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THE COMMENTS BY THE RESIDENTS? OKAY.
[00:55:01]
YOU.WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FOR INPUTS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GREATHOUSE, UM, QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT, PLEASE? YES MA'AM.
COULD YOU TELL ME EXACTLY WHERE THE QUICKTRIP IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOCATED? YES MA'AM.
IF YOU TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT THAT MAP BEHIND YOU, THE SQUARE JUST TO, OR HERE, JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE SQUARE, THAT QT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A QT STORE IF IT'S APPROVED.
SO THAT ENTIRE GYM STREET JUST ABOVE IT TO THE, TO THE, UH, THAT WOULD BE THE NORTH, THAT WILL NOT BE A THOROUGHFARE ANYMORE IF THAT GETS APPROVED.
THAT STREET JUST ABOVE CALLED GEM STREET, THAT QT IS, IS APPLIED TO A PURCHASE CONVENIENCE STORE.
THEY HAVE A, UH, CONTRACT NATIONWIDE WITH CHEVRON.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE CHEVRON, BUT IF THEY ARE APPROVED, UH, WE'VE ALL SEEN THEM, IT'LL BE A QT STORE OR CONVENIENCE STORE WITH A KINDA LIKE A SEVEN 11, UM, WITH A GAS GAS STATION.
AND SO OUR POINT IS THAT THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING AND THE LOZANO HOMES MERELY WANTS TO CHANGE THIS INTO A COMMERCIAL FROM A RESIDENTIAL.
AND THEY'VE ALREADY PUT IN AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
MONEY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING TO THE HOUSE.
THEY'VE MADE IT SO MUCH BETTER AS YOU HEARD THE TESTIMONY OF ROSE HILL FROM GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE.
UM, COMMISSIONER GIBBONS, UM, I GUESS FOR STAFF.
UM, SO 25 51 IS THE CLIENT, THEN THE STREET NUMBER, THEN 25 47, IS THE, UH, ONE OPPOSED NEXT TO THAT 25, 43? IS THAT HOUSE ALSO COMMERCIAL? IF I, AND I'M REFERENCING GOOGLE, WHO KNOWS.
EVERYTHING IS SHOWING THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A HOUSE WITH A BUSINESS 'CAUSE THERE'S AN OPEN SIGN.
IT LOOKS LIKE, I MEAN IT'S 25, 47 IS R SIX.
IT'S SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING OR MAYBE THE, UM, EITHER ONE OF YOU, UM, THE APPLICANT OR THAT OPPOSED NO.
ARE THEY OPERATING A BUSINESS OUT OF THAT? DO YOU WANNA GO TO THE MIC? MM-HMM.
BUT FACING OUTSIDE THE, THE, THE, THE PROPERTY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A SMALL GARAGE, BUT I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN ANY BUSINESS OUT OF THERE.
SO I CAN'T REALLY TELL YOU WHETHER IT IS OR ISN'T.
IT'S A SMALL LITTLE GARAGE AND THEN TO THE LEFT OF THAT IS THE ACTUAL HOUSE.
SO YOU HAVE A HOUSE AND THEN YOU HAVE A GARAGE AND THEY'RE BOTH ON THE FRONTAGE WHILE YOU'RE UP HERE.
SO YOU'RE REMODELING THE COMPLETE REMODEL.
WELL, YEAH, THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK.
UM, BUT YOU PLAN TO LIVE IN IT.
SO IF, IF THIS WAS ZONED COMMERCIAL, WOULD THAT BRING VALUE TO YOUR PROPERTY? IF YOU TOO COULD COME AND, AND MAKE IT COMMERCIAL, WOULD THAT NOT BE ADDED VALUE OR YOU NOT TO MYSELF.
I, I DON'T SEE PERSONAL VALUE IN IT DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT, IT'S, I THINK IT'S HINDERING DUE TO THE FACT THAT IF I WANTED TO SELL IT LATER TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THAT WANTS FROM THE FRONT PORCH, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE HEMISPHERE DOWNTOWN OR THAT'S WHAT SOLD ME ON THE PROPERTY.
SO, UM, YOU'RE FACING I 35, A LOT OF TRAFFIC RIGHT THERE WITHOUT ANY BUFFER? WELL, I'M ON THE HIGH SITES.
SO THERE'S A BRIDGE ON WALTER'S, SO IT'S THE HIGHWAY'S ON THE LOW SIDE AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE NOW THEY WANNA GO COMMERCIAL NEXT TO YOU.
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE IS COMMERCIAL AS WELL.
IT LOOKS LIKE
SO I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK THIS THROUGH THAT IF I REALIZE THAT IT'S RESIDENTIAL AND YOU'RE IMPROVING IT, BUT THE IMPROVEMENT ALSO COULD BE, YOU CAN STILL LIVE THERE AS A RESIDENCE, BUT THE RESALE FIND SOMEBODY ELSE TO BUY IT, TO HAVE RETAIL ON BOTH SIDES IF IT'S RETAIL AND THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR CONCERN.
NOT UNLESS SOMEBODY CALLS YOU UP.
UM, ANY OTHER, UM, QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT? UH, QUESTIONS COMMISSIONERS ON MY RIGHT.
[01:00:02]
UH, QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT PLEASE? SURE.SO STAFF I THINK HAS COUNTERED YOUR REQUEST FOR INEA WITH JUST OUR SIX CONDITIONAL USE FOR THE BUSINESS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TYPICALLY DO, UH, OR WE'VE TYPICALLY HEARD HERE ON OUR, OUR COMMISSION HEARINGS FOR PROPERTIES THAT ARE ABUTTING OTHER RESIDENTIAL HOMES.
IS THERE A REASON WHY YOU WOULDN'T BE, UH, WILLING TO TAKE THAT ZONING? YES.
COMMISSIONER, IF, IF I MAY, AND AND THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER GIBBONS ASKED IF ANYBODY KNEW IF THIS OTHER HOUSE TO THE LEFT OF MR. ORTIZ'S WAS COMMERCIAL.
WE ARE NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT.
AND I WOULD COUNTER AND SAY THE REASON WHY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL, WE WANT THE, UH, NC INSTEAD OF A MODIFICATION IS BECAUSE, UH, IF YOU, IF YOU DO IT M NC NC AND YOU'VE GOT QT NEXT TO YOU, I WOULD ARGUE JUST THE OPPOSITE OF MR. ORTIZ, I WOULD SAY HE WOULD HAVE A MUCH BETTER TIME SELLING HIS HOUSE IF HE EVER DID IN A COMMERCIAL VENTURE BECAUSE NOW HE HAS A STREAM COMING DOWN OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES RATHER THAN BEING THE ONLY RESIDENTIAL ONE THERE, HE WOULD ACTUALLY BE WITH THE FLOW.
AND SO I WOULD ARGUE THAT NC IS WHAT WE WANT BECAUSE WE SEE THAT'S WHAT'S A FETA ACCOMPLI.
WHETHER THE COMMISSIONERS AGREE WITH IT TODAY, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WHOLE STRETCH IS BECOMING COMMERCIALIZED AND QT STORES MOVING INTO THAT WHOLE CLMA JACKSON TRUST, UH, COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL OWNS ALL THE PROPERTY TO THE RIGHT OF THAT PICTURE.
AND THAT'S, UH, FROST BANK AS TRUSTEE, THEY ARE SELLING THAT TO A QT ON CONDITION THAT, UH, A UH, A FULL COMMERCIAL, UH, I GUESS IT'S R THREE, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE, WILL BE IN THAT SPOT, THAT WHOLE CORNER RIGHT THERE, THAT ENTIRE CORNER IN THE CENTER OF THAT PICTURE.
SO WE WOULD ARGUE THAT NC IS THE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE IT IS THE NATURAL CONTINUATION OF SOMETHING AS DRAMATICALLY COMMERCIAL AS THAT.
DO YOU HAVE, UM, SOMETHING IN MIND AS FAR AS WHAT TYPE OF OFFICE THIS IS GOING TO BE? YES, CRYSTAL AND FERNANDO LOZANO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS AN OFFICE FOR, UH, RESIDENTIAL RESALE, UH, DEMONSTRATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL RESALE, UH, UH, RENEWALS FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN AND SEE MODEL HOMES AND HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT IN A COMMERCIAL WAY.
SO THEY HAVE PUT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO IT AND THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT TO MAKE IT A D A COMPLIANT.
AS FAR AS PARKING IS CONCERNED, I THINK I MENTIONED THAT EARLIER.
WHAT WOULD THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION BE, SIR? I THINK THEY'D BE EIGHT TO FIVE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
IS THAT'S ALL FOR YOU? YES MA'AM.
A QUESTION FOR STAFF, HAVE I MISSED SOMETHING? HAVE WE ALREADY REZONED THIS PROPERTY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH SOME GAS STATION? I THINK IT'S COMING THROUGH AT THE NEXT MEETING.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY ZONING ON CURRENT ZONING TODAY THEN IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ROMERO.
UM, I GUESS I'LL ASK STAFF THIS QUESTION 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK MR. FERGUSON REALLY ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.
UM, WITH YOUR ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION, YOU, YOU BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANNA DO ON THIS PROPERTY, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
THE ADVANTAGE TO, UH, CONDITIONAL USE IS THAT WE RE PRESERVE THE BASE ZONE DISTRICT OF RESIDENTIAL AND WITH THE CONDITIONAL USE, UM, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ALSO, UM, LIMIT THE, UH, THE SIGN SIZE.
UM, IT WOULD BE LIMITED TO A, A RESIDENTIAL.
UM, YOU'D KEEP THE FACADE OF A RESIDENTIAL HOME.
UM, BUT ONCE YOU REZONE IT TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL, UM, IT'S, IT'S REZONED IN PERPETUITY AND THE RIGHTS CHANGE BY RIGHT.
YOU COULD HAVE, UM, A FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT, A FURNITURE REPAIR, LAUNDRY, DRY CLEANING COPY SERVICE, A DRUG STORE OR A PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY.
BUT JUST TO REITERATE, JUST YOU BELIEVE YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT IT IS THEY WANNA DO AND YOU BELIEVE THEY CAN DO IT WITH THIS, IT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THE RESIDENTIAL SIX, UH, CONDITIONAL USE.
AND IF THERE'S, UM, A CERTAIN THING THAT NEEDS TO BE LIKE A SIGN OR, OR DEVIATION FROM THE ONE BY ONE NAMEPLATE PERMITTED ON THE, ON THE RESIDENTIAL HOME, THAT COULD SIMPLY BE ACCOMPLISHED AS WELL BY WORKING WITH COUNCIL DISTRICT, UM, AND PERHAPS HAVING THAT MOTION AT, AT COUNCIL.
UM, ANY OTHER, UH, COMMISSIONERS? YES, COMMISSIONER GIBBONS? UM, I JUST WANTED TO ASK ROSE A QUICK QUESTION IF I COULD.
[01:05:01]
BEEN UP HERE BEFORE AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OTHER HOUSES IN THIS INSTANCE, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HOUSE INTO A A BUSINESS.HOW DO YOU SEE IT AFFECTING DOWN, DOWN THE ROAD, ALL THOSE OTHER HOUSES THERE TO HAVE THAT COMMERCIAL THERE ON THE END LOOKS LIKE, LIKE A HOUSE ACTS LIKE A HOUSE, BUT ON PAPER IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT RESIDENTIAL.
HOW DO YOU SEE, JUST LIKE THE GENTLEMAN THAT'S OPPOSED, COULD YOU TELL ME HOW THAT YOU FEEL THAT WOULD AFFECT THEM? I AGREE WITH THE IMPROVEMENT.
I MEAN, YAY ON THAT, BUT I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S REALLY ACTUALLY THE ONLY RESIDENT, I GUESS THE GENTLEMAN WAS TALKING HERE, WE PRETTY MUCH NOTIFIED ALL THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA TO COME TO THE AREA MEETING.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE, AND WE HAD THE APPLICANTS ACTUALLY WALK HOUSE TO HOUSE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY MIGHT'VE MISSED HIS HOUSE AND HE WASN'T HOME, BUT EVERYBODY, WE ASKED HIM TO GO KNOCKING ON THE DOORS AND TALK TO THE RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
AND APPARENTLY MOST OF THE MAJORITY DID.
UM, I DON'T WANNA SAY A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT THAT HOUSE THAT YOU'RE TALKING NEXT TO HAD A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IN IT, ABOUT THREE HOUSES DOWN.
THERE'S A TAX SERVICE, UH, IT THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING, UM, THERE FOR, I I GUESS FOR YEARS THEIR TAX SERVICE PASSED THE TAX SERVICE.
THEN THERE'S MAYBE TWO MORE HOUSES DOWN THERE, RIGHT? A UH, ACROSS FROM PERSHING ELEMENTARY AND TALKING TO THE, UH, PEOPLE, THE TWO HOUSES TOWARD THE VERY TAIL END, THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
I DO WANNA ALSO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION 1923, UM, NORTH PAN AM WAS THE SAME, SIMILAR SITUATION.
THE HOUSE WAS GONNA IN VERY BAD SHAPE.
UH, WE HAD, UH, AN APPLICANT COME IN AND THEY RESTORED A TWO STORY HOUSE.
I BELIEVE IT'S 1923 IF YOU COULD PULL IT UP.
UM, THEY, IT'S IN, THAT WAS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND, UH, ZONING COMMISSION APPROVED IT AND THEY ARE USING IT AS AN OFFICE SPACE.
UM, UH, THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE.
IT'S IN, IN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY CAME IN, THEY SPENT, THEY SPENT OVER MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW HOW, HOW MUCH MONEY, BUT IT WAS A TREMENDOUS, THE HOUSE WAS FORECLOSED ON, IT WAS FALLING APART.
AND, UM, THE APPLICANT CAME IN AND THEY, UH, RESTORED IT, PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO IT.
AND IT IS RIGHT NOW C TWO COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL, UH, FOR, EXCUSE ME, IT'S THE SAME, UH, EXACT ZONING AS THIS ONE IS GONNA BE.
AND THAT ONE'S, THAT ONE HAS MORE HOUSES THAT HAS AN APARTMENT NEXT TO IT HAS THIS RESIDENTIAL HOUSE.
AND THIS WAS APPROVED AND IT'S THE SAME EXACT, UM, ZONING CHANGE AND THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW IN THIS CASE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE RESIDENTIAL HOUSES THAN YOU DO ON THE UPPER PART.
THE UPPER PART IS MORE TOWARD FOR, UH, MORE TOWARD THE MILITARY OUT THE BASE COMING OUT.
UH, SO AND SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT AS A COMPARISON.
BUT THE, THE RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA VOTED IN FAVOR OF, AGAIN, THEY WERE TIRED OF SEEING THAT EYESORE OF A PROPERTY.
NOW, THIS PROPERTY THAT, UM, THAT THEY HAD PURCHASED, IF YOU HAD, IF YOU HAD GONE BACK AND SEEN THE BEFORE PICTURES, IT WAS A, IT WAS, IT WAS A SIGHT TO SEE.
IT WAS COMPLETELY FALLING DOWN.
UH, THERE WERE VAGRANTS IN THERE, THERE WERE DRUG PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE PORCH.
UH, IT WAS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.
SO THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY TO THE, TO THE PERSON LIVING NEXT DOOR TO IT IS IT, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU HAVE PREFERRED IT TO HAVE STAYED THAT WAY WITH A BUNCH OF DRUG PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THERE AND SLEEPING THERE AND MAYBE CAUSING A FIRE OR, WELL, WE, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY MADE AN IMPROVEMENT, SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
IT'S WHETHER THAT IMPROVEMENT STAYS RESIDENTIAL OR GOES COMMERCIAL.
AND I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE MORE INPUT FROM YOURS, FROM YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I THINK IT, I THINK IT WOULD, BEN, I THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT, LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE, UH, THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE TO STAY.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME AND GO, THANK YOU.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT, PLEASE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE IMPROVEMENT YOU'VE MADE TO THE HOUSE AND ALL.
UM, I'M CURIOUS, HELP ME UNDERSTAND, WITH YOUR CLIENT'S, UH, CONDUCTING A BUSINESS OUT OF THIS, UM, ADDRESS, HOW ARE THEY GONNA ACCOMMODATE THE PARKING OF THE CLIENTS, WHICH I'M NOT SEEING OTHER THAN STREET PARKING? IT'S BEHIND THE HOUSE.
THERE'S AN AREA AVAILABLE TO DEVELOP A D A COMPLIANT PARKING WITH HOW MANY SPACES? I WANT TO SAY FOUR SPACES.
UM, THE, THE PROPERTY THAT WAS REFERENCED, UM, 1923 PAN AM COULD YOU, COULD SOMEONE VERIFY WITH IF THE ZONING
[01:10:01]
ON THAT WAS CHANGED TO C TWO? WE HEARD AS WE HEARD FROM MS. HILL, WHAT IS THE QUESTION TO VERIFY? BECAUSE THERE, IT WAS REFERENCED THAT THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROPERTY THAT WAS REZONED TO COMMERCIAL, NOT FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS.KATT AND I WERE VERIFYING THAT DURING THE DISCUSSION THERE'S THE, WE'RE LOOKING AT AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR BLOCKS CLEAR OF ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL ZONING.
THERE IS AN ID Z THERE IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE USES PER, UH, PERMITTED ARE.
WE WOULD HAVE TO GET THE ORDINANCE ON THAT.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS, UH, QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, UH, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, UH, FOR YOUR INPUTS.
UM, WITH IT BEING, UM, WITH THE APPLICANT STICKING WITH NC INSTEAD OF, UH, GOING WITH THE R SIX, THE RECOMMENDED R SIX, UM, CD, UH, AS PER STAFF RECOMMENDATION, I, I, I TOO, UM, FIND THAT R SIX CD IS A, A GREAT, UM, ZONING, UM, CHANGE FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEAL.
BUT IF THE APPLICANT HAS NOT, UH, ACCEPTED THAT, THEN I WILL HAVE TO RECOMMEND DENIAL SECOND.
UM, THERE IS A, UM, MOTION FOR, UM, THE APPROVAL OF THE DENIAL
HOW DOES THAT GO?
WITH AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION IS, IS IT YET? SO IT'S NOT RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A STRAIGHT DENIAL.
SO IF I, I CAN, IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THAT ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION, THEN IT'S JUST A MOTION FOR DENIAL.
IF I COULD MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WITH AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION FOR R SIX CD WITH THE CONDITIONS IN PLACE IN ANY CONDITIONS THAT YOU A TERRIBLE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, BUT, OKAY.
SO WE HAVE A, IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH THAT AMENDMENT, YOU JUST SAY, YES, I AGREE.
I THINK I'M GONNA WITHDRAW MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND, AND PERHAPS GIVE COMMISSIONER TOSEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SAME AND, AND REMOVE, I MEAN IF YOU WANT ME TO MESS IT UP JUST AS WELL, UM,
SO I'M GONNA RECOMMEND ANAYA WITH THE ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION OF R SIX CD FOR THIS, UH, FOR CASE, UH, ITEM NUMBER 13.
SO CURRENTLY ON THE FLOOR WE HAVE A MOTION FOR DENIAL WITH, UH, AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION OF R SIX, UH, CD, UM, WITH ANY CONDITIONS THAT WERE STATED AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION COMMISSIONERS ON MY RIGHT, COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL WITH THAT CONDITIONAL USE, I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUE IF HE WOULD AMEND IT TO INSERT CONDITIONS OF HOURS OF OPERATION MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM EIGHT TO FIVE? YES.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, RECOMMEND DENIAL WITH ALTERNATE, UH, RECOMMENDATION OF R SIX CD WITH, UH, USES OF MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, EIGHT TO FIVE.
[01:15:01]
HOW DOES THE NIA OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.ACTUALLY THIS, UM, ANY NON-RESIDENTIAL USES IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONE ALREADY HAVE PRESCRIBED CONDITIONS THAT AUTOMATICALLY GO WITH THEM.
AND I CAN STATE THOSE FOR YOU FOR THE RECORD IF YOU'D LIKE.
UH, THERE SHALL BE NO EXTERIOR DISPLAY OR SIGN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A NAME PLATE NOT EXCEEDING THREE SQUARE FEET IN AREA MAY PERMITTED WHEN MAY BE PERMITTED WHEN ATTACHED TO THE FRONT OF THE MAIN STRUCTURE.
NO CONSTRUCTION FEATURE SHALL BE PERMITTED, WHICH WOULD PLACE THE STRUCTURE OUT OF CHARACTER WITH THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE BUSINESS HOURS OF OPERATION SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED BEFORE 7:00 AM OR AFTER 6:00 PM BUT THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE DAYS OF OPERATION.
SO IF THERE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S AN ALTERNATE CONDITION TO THAT OF FURTHER RESTRICTING IT FROM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, EIGHT TO FIVE.
SO THEN IN THAT CASE, UM, HE WAS FINISHED MAKING THAT MOTION WITH THAT, UM, CONDITION.
AND THEN DO WE, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER ROMERO SAID SHE STATED SHE ACCEPTED THAT 'CAUSE SHE MADE THE SECOND.
IS THAT OKAY WITH PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE? YOU JUST NEED TO CLARIFY THAT THE CONDITIONAL USE WAS FOR A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE.
SO I JUST NEED TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS, UH, FOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICES.
UM, ANY OTHER, UH, DISCUSSION COMMISSIONERS ON MY RIGHT? OKAY.
UH, DISCUSSION COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT.
UM, SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION, UM, WITH THE CONDITIONS, UM, FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
UM, LOOKING AT THE FUTURE, FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORY FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT'S LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
SO BY KEEPING THE BASE ZONING, WE ARE KEEPING WITH, UM, THE CONSISTENCY WITH THE LAND USE PLAN.
UM, A LOT OF THE, THE TALK, UM, FROM THE APPLICANT, UM, AND THE OWNER WAS ABOUT, UM, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S SPECULATIVE, THAT PROPERTY'S NOT EVEN BEEN PURCHASED AT THIS POINT.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS FORTHCOMING, UM, IT'S A BIT, UH, PREEMPTIVE AND PRELIMINARY FOR US TO BE REZONING THIS PROPERTY BASED ON ANOTHER REZONING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN.
UM, THE PROPERTY TWO DOORS DOWN BEING USED OUT OF CONFORMITY WITH THE ZONING, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE'RE REALLY REQUIRED TO LOOK AT.
UM, I ALSO AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR ADJACENT TO THE, TO THIS PROPERTY AND HOW THAT, UH, NEIGHBOR MAY BE AFFECTED.
SO I THINK BY HAVING THE CONDITIONS THAT'S HELPFUL.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT, UM, UNNECESSARILY DISRUPTING THE, THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY, WHICH IS ANOTHER, UM, ITEM THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT THE ADVERSE IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORING LANDS.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GIBBONS? UM, THAT WAS WELL SAID.
UM, I DO HAVE A CONCERN BECAUSE NOW THAT WE REVEAL THAT THE PARKING IS GOING TO BE IN THE BACK, IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CONDITION OF A SIX FOOT PRIVACY FENCE? UH, ELSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A BUFFER.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW, AND AGAIN, GOOGLE IS TELLING ME THAT THERE'S A CHAIN LINK FENCE THERE.
SO COULD, WOULD THE COMMISSIONER BE, UM, OPEN TO A CONDITION OF A SIX FOOT PRIVACY FENCE ON TWO SIDES? THE BACK AND THE, THE WHAT WEST? AND JUST TO HELP CLARIFY FOR CONDITIONAL USES, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T ADD IT AS A CONDITION, BUT IT, THE CODE ALREADY REQUIRES A SOLID SCREEN FENCE ADJACENT TO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USES.
UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER, UH, DISCUSSION, ROLL, ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE.
[01:20:15]
ALL RIGHT.[15. 19-7986 ZONING CASE Z-2019-10700244 CD (Council District 2): A request for a change in zoning from “R-4 CD NCD-6” Residential Single-Family Mahncke Park Neighborhood Conservation District with a Conditional Use for a Food Service Establishment to “R-4 CD NCD-6” Residential Single-Family Mahncke Park Neighborhood Conservation District with a Conditional Use for a Food Service Establishment to Amend Existing Conditions on Lot 21, Block 1, NCB 6227, located at 118 Davis Court. Staff recommends Approval. (Mirko Maravi, Planner (210) 207-0107, mirko.maravi@sanantonio.gov; Development Services Department)]
PLANNER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.ITEM NUMBER 15 IS ZONING K Z 2 19 1 0 7 0 0 2 4 4, UH, CD WITH A CONDITIONAL USE TO AMEND CURRENT EXISTING CONDITIONS.
UH, WE HAVE 19 NOTICES MAILED OUT, ONE IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED MAHANEY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED.
AND THREE OTHER OPPOSITIONS FROM OUTSIDE 200 FEET.
STAFF HAS NOT FOUND EVIDENCE OF LIKELY ADVERSE IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORING LANDS IN RELATION TO THIS ZONING CHANGE REQUESTS THE PROPOSED USES CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE, DESIGNATION, DESIGNATION AND ESTABLISHED DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS OF THE SURROUNDING AREA.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND THE APPLICANT IS PRESENT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MAY WE HAVE THE APPLICANT PLEASE? STEVEN MARTIN, 1718 ARCHITECTURE, I'M THE APPLICANT.
THE, UH, THE REASON FOR THIS SUBMITTAL IS BASED UPON THE HOURS OF OPERATION THAT COMMONWEALTH COFFEE CURRENTLY OPERATES.
UH, THEY, WITHIN THE CURRENT ZONING, THEY ARE CONSTRICTED TO OPERATING FOR SOLELY 64 HOURS A WEEK.
OF THOSE 64 HOURS THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED, THEY OPERATE FOR 63.
THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING NUMBER OF COFFEE SHOPS THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE AREA TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH ESPECIALLY, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE COFFEE SHOPS OPERATE, UH, WELL OVER 90 HOURS A WEEK WITH LOCAL COFFEE AT THE PEARL OPERATING FOR 98 MERIT COFFEE TO THE NORTH IN ALAMO HEIGHTS FOR 98.
UM, SUMMER MOON AT TRIPOINT OPERATING FOR 72.
THE, UM, THE REQUEST FOR ZONING CHANGE SPECIFICALLY PERTAINS TO SUNDAY BUSINESS, WHICH THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A BUSINESS THAT CAN COMPETE WITH THE OTHER COFFEE SHOPS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, SPROUTING UP THROUGHOUT THAT AREA.
WITHIN ABOUT A GOOD FIVE MILE RADIUS.
UH, THEY ASK THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE ON SUNDAYS.
THE POSSIBILITY OF OPERATING LATER DURING THE WEEK IS, OF COURSE SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE.
UH, OUR CLIENT UNDERSTANDS THE FACT THAT WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED IS, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF THESE OTHER COFFEE SHOPS THAT I JUST LISTED OFF, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN, IN PRIMARILY COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
THEY ARE WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
I ACTUALLY USED TO LIVE, UH, UP DAVIS COURT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE AT DAVIS AND NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS.
SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE, THE FABRIC OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UH, IT'S JUST JUXTAPOSITION TO, TO BROADWAY AND IT BEING A, A, A HEAVILY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
UH, BUT AGAIN, IT, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE MAINTAINING A VIABLE BUSINESS THAT CAN COMPETE WITH COFFEE SHOPS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
HENCE THE REASON WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS, UH, CONDITIONAL, UH, FOR THIS CHANGE TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW, UH, OPERATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE 64 HOURS THAT THEY CONCURRENTLY OPERATE, BUT AGAIN, SPECIFICALLY PERTAINING TO SUNDAY OPERATIONS.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, WE HAVE ONE PERSON, LARRY BROOKS.
UM, MY NAME'S LARRY BROOKS AND I LIVE AND OWN THE PROPERTY AT 1 34 DAVIS COURT.
AND, HI, MY WIFE JOANIE AND I, UM, ARE OPPOSED TO THE AMENDMENTS TO ANY OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS FOR THE PROPERTY AT ONE 18 DAVIS COURT.
ONE 18 DAVIS COURT WAS GRANTED A ZONING CHANGE TO CONDITIONAL USE TO INCLUDE THE FIVE CONDITIONS IN DECEMBER OF 2014.
THIS PARTICULAR CASE HAS MUCH HISTORY AS A RESULT OF A CS A MISTAKE ON THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY.
THE 2014 MENKE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BOARD WORKED MANY MONTHS IN COLLABORATION WITH RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ON DAVIS COURT, THE OWNERS OF COMMONWEALTH COFFEE AND COSA, TO DEVELOP AND AGREE ON THE CONDITIONS TO ALLOW THE RESIDENTIAL
[01:25:01]
PROPERTY TO BE REZONED FROM RESIDENTIAL TO CONDITIONAL USE.IN ADDITION, THE OWNER OF ONE 18 DAVIS COURT SIGNED A DECLARATION OF COVENANTS THAT IS PART OF THE PROPERTY DEEDED AND WAS PART OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE OWNER HAS BROKEN THREE OF THE COVENANTS WITHOUT ANY COMMUNICATION TO THE RESIDENCE ON THE STREET.
ONE SALE OF ALCOHOL 30 SECONDS, TWO, ANY BARRIER SCREEN, AND THREE PARKING, THE REMOVAL SIGNS OF FRONT OF THE PROPERTY.
THE CITY DOESN'T GOVERN AND ENFORCE THE DECLARATION OF COVENANTS, HOWEVER, IT SHOWS THE OWNER HAS NO REGARD FOR THE IMPACT OF THE ACTIONS ON THE RESIDENCE.
DAVIS COURT, IT'S A SMALL STREET WHEN THE SMALLEST IN SA AND ONE 18 DAVIS COURT EXISTS ON WHAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET.
UM, ALL WE ASK IS TO KEEP THE EXISTING CONDITIONAL USE TWO MINUTES AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
THOSE OF US WHO LIVE ON DAVIS COURT SUNDAY'S BEEN THE ONLY DAY WE CAN FEEL WE'RE NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSINESS.
THAT'S ALL THAT'S SIGNED TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE.
UM, WITH THE, UM, APPLICANT, LIKE A MOMENT TO RESPOND? YES, WOULD, AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO REITERATE THE FACT THAT, UM, OUR CLIENT IS, IS VERY, UM, VERY SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE LOCATED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET.
UM, AND, AND THERE WERE CERTAIN THAT THERE WAS, UH, THERE WERE A LOT OF CONDITIONS THAT THEY, THAT THEY DID MEET.
NOW, UM, REGARDING THE RESIDENT'S, UM, UH, CONCERN REGARDING CERTAIN COVENANTS THAT THEY HAVE BROKEN, UM, I, WE COMMONWEALTH COFFEE GOING FORWARD IS COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THEY MAINTAIN A, A PROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RESIDENTS ON DAVIS COURT.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE PERHAPS SOME, SOME ISSUES IN THE PAST, UM, THAT CERTAIN RESIDENTS WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF.
I BELIEVE THAT THE, THE SALE OF, OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, UH, WAS ONE OF THEM.
HOWEVER, AGAIN, WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT GIVEN THE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT ALREADY EXISTS WITHIN THAT AREA WE'RE, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT UP AND DOWN BROADWAY ON A SUNDAY AND BEING ABLE TO OPERATE ON A SUNDAY, WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE MINIMAL IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTS OF DAVIS COURT IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE.
NOW, THE PARKING FOR COMMONWEALTH COFFEE IS ACTUALLY NOT ON DAVIS COURT.
IT'S ACTUALLY OFF OF, OFF OF HILDEBRAND.
THEREFORE, ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WITH REGARD TO TRAFFIC WOULD BE FELT ON HILDEBRAND, NOT ON DAVIS COURT, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO A SUN SUNDAY OPERATIONS.
UH, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENT AT 1 34 DAVIS FOR YOUR INPUTS.
UH, AND ALSO THANK YOU TO THE APPLICANT FOR, UM, YOUR RESPONSE.
UM, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FOR ANY INPUT AND MAKE MY DECISION AFTERWARDS.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS ON MY RIGHT.
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL QUESTION FOR STAFF.
WHEN THIS ZONING WAS DONE, I'M ASSUMING BACK IN 2014, WERE THERE CONDITIONS PLACED AT THAT TIME? YES.
FOR THE ZONING CASE? YES, MA'AM.
THE, UH, THE CONDITIONS, UH, ARE INCLUDED IN THE, UH, SITE PLAN, UM, THE FIVE CONDITIONS.
THE THIRD ONE, THE C IS THE ONE THEY'RE TRYING TO AMEND FOR THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
UH, ONE, THERE SHALL BE NO EXTERIOR DISPLAY OR SIGN WITH EXEMPTION TO NAME PLATE NOT EXCEEDING.
THREE SQUARE FEET IN THE AREA MAY BE PERMITTED WHEN ATTACHED TO THE FRONT OF MAIN STRUCTURE.
TWO, NO CONSTRUCTION FEATURES SHALL BE PERMITTED, WHICH WOULD PLACE THE STRUCTURE OUTTA CHARACTER WITH THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THREE, BUSINESS OR OFFICE HOURS OF OPERATION SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED BEFORE 7:00 AM AND 6:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED BEFORE 8:00 AM OR AFTER 4:00 PM ON SATURDAY.
OUTSIDE SPEAKERS SHALL BE PROHIBITED.
AND LAST ONE, THERE SHALL BE STRICT ENFORCE ENFORCEMENT OF LIGHT POPULATION FROM SIGNAGE AND LANDSCAPING LIGHTS.
UM, SO QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT.
[01:30:02]
SO COMMONWEALTH AGREED TO THESE CONDITIONS AT THE TIME FOR THAT ZONING? THEY DID, YES.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS ON MY RIGHT.
UH, THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR INPUTS.
UM, SO, UM, WITH HEARING EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID TODAY, I I DO APPRECIATE ALL INPUTS.
UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, APPROVE, UM, AND RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR, UM, ONE 18 DAVID STREET.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? YOU HAVE SOMETHING MS. FLORES? YES.
JUST A CLARIFICATION ON THE CONDITIONS.
WE ARE MAINTAINING ALL OF THE CONDITIONS IN ADDING SUNDAY HOURS.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT? COMMISSIONER WHITE? YEAH, I, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATIONS.
UM, I, I'VE JUST TO FREQUENT, UH, THIS COFFEE SHOP AND I'VE BEEN THERE, UM, ON SATURDAYS WHEN IT REALLY HAS BEEN QUITE FULL.
AND, UM, FOR WHATEVER REASON, I THINK THE NOISE IS VERY CONTAINED, UM, COMING FROM, FROM THIS COFFEE SHOP.
ADDITIONALLY, AS, AS WAS STATED, THE PARKING, UM, IS AROUND THE BACK ON THE OTHER SIDE ON, ON HILDABRAND.
AND SO, UM, AT LEAST FROM WHEN I'VE BEEN THERE, I'VE FELT THAT THE DISRUPTION TO THE STREET, UH, THERE ON DAVIS COURT HAS BEEN PRETTY MINIMAL.
SO I'M GONNA BE SUPPORTING THE, SUPPORTING THE MOTION AS WAS SEEN FROM MY SECOND.
COMMISSIONER GREATHOUSE? UM, I, I'M NOT SURE THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION, UM, DUE TO THE FACT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, THIS IS AN AREA THAT WHERE WE COULD SEE POTENTIALLY MORE COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT AS PROPERTY PRICES INCREASE AND WE WOULD SEE MORE DEVELOPMENT.
AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEIGHBORS AS WE HEARD FROM THE NEIGHBOR WHO, WHO SPOKE.
UM, AND ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS HOUSE NEXT DOOR, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF, OF WHERE, YOU KNOW, AND IN FACT, EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE THE PARKING IS LOCATED ON HILDEBRAND AND THEY'RE WALKING DOWN THIS DRIVEWAY, YOU KNOW, JUST IF SOMEONE'S MAYBE A, A NIGHT WORKER AND THEY SLEEP DURING THE DAY AND THERE ARE PEOPLE LAUGHING AND TALKING AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST SEE THERE BEING POTENTIALLY MORE DISRUPTION AND FOR US TO CONTINUALLY EXPAND, EXPAND THE COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S A REAL CONCERN FOR ME.
COMMISSIONER GIBBONS? WELL, I DRINK COFFEE ON SUNDAYS.
BUT I DUNNO IF I WOULD ENJOY MY CUP OF COFFEE IN MY HOUSE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE ON A SUNDAY.
I, SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT COFFEE DRINKING.
AND THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME WISDOM AT THE TIME WHEN THE ZONING WAS, UH, THE CONDITIONS WERE PUT IN PLACE WHEN YOU FIRST GOT ZONED.
I'M THINK I'M GONNA STICK WITH WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR THIS.
IT IS STILL A NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU'RE TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE A BUSINESS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL STREET, THEREFORE BEHAVE LIKE THAT.
STARBUCKS ON A COMMERCIAL LINE STREET IS DIFFERENT WHAT YOU ADOPTED AND, AND AGREED TO.
SO I, I WON'T SUPPORT THE MOTION.
UM, I THINK I'LL STICK WITH WHAT WAS ALREADY THERE.
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL, UH, MY ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE, UH, BACK IN 2014 WHEN THIS PROPERTY WAS REZONED THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET OUT AND TALK TO THE APPLICANTS WHEN THEY'RE BRINGING DEVELOPMENT INTO THE AREA.
UM, I AM ONE THAT WILL DEFEND THOSE RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
I DON'T LIKE TO SEE COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT, BUT THIS IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
HOWEVER, THE APPLICANT AT THAT TIME AND THE CURRENT APPLICANT TODAY AGREED TO THOSE TERMS. AND I DON'T SEE US OVERTURNING THAT EVERY TIME THEY WANNA CHANGE A BUSINESS PLAN.
UM, I WAS ACTUALLY HERE FOR THAT CASE.
MAYBE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS HERE.
UH, AND I JUST WANNA SORT OF BRING MY COMMISSIONERS BACK THERE.
IT WAS AN INTENSELY CONTROVERSIAL ZONING CASE.
[01:35:01]
THE OWNER OF THE COFFEE SHOP WAS IN A BAD SITUATION BECAUSE IT WAS A CITY ERROR.IT REALLY WAS A CITY ERROR, AND THE NEIGHBORS WERE IN A REALLY BAD POSITION AS WELL.
AND I FELT THE NEIGHBORS REALLY STOOD UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND THEY DIDN'T WANT IT THERE.
UM, BUT THEY, THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY CHOICE AND THEY FOUGHT REALLY HARD FOR THOSE CONDITIONS.
AND I REMEMBER THAT CLOSED ON SUNDAYS WAS A BIG ONE FOR THEM.
AND FRANKLY, I'M SURPRISED THAT STAFF IS SUPPORTING THIS 'CAUSE WE WERE ALL HERE FOR THAT.
AND, UM, A LOT OF NEIGHBORS CAME OUT AND THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS THE ONE SUBSTANTIVE THING THEY GOT WAS THE SUNDAY CLOSURE.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THEM.
UM, I, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST LIKE TWO YEARS AGO.
'CAUSE I REMEMBER THIS SO CLEARLY.
IT WAS, I KNOW IT WAS MORE, IT WAS JUST SUCH A BIG DEAL AND, AND THERE WERE WAY MORE NEIGHBORS AND I, AND I, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY, SIR.
UM, SO I DEFINITELY WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION EITHER.
AND, UM, PRIMARILY FOR THE REASONS, UH, PREVIOUSLY STATED.
UM, IT'S, YOU, THE BUSINESS OWNER AGREED TO THESE CONDITIONS AND THE BUSINESS OWNER NEEDS TO REALIZE AS WELL THAT YOU CAN'T IN, IN, IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU CANNOT BE COMPARING YOURSELF TO A COFFEE SHOP THAT'S AT THE PEARL.
YOU CAN'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO A COFFEE SHOP THAT'S IN A CONVERTED ALBERTSONS, WHICH IS WHAT TRIPOINT IS, THAT THIS IS A COFFEE SHOP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE ARE DIFFERENT RULES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
UM, I TOO, UH, CONCUR WITH SOME OF THE, UH, COMMENTS FROM THE ENCROACHMENT TO, UM, REMEMBERING ALL THAT THE NEIGHBORS WENT THROUGH AND CAME TO THIS COMPROMISE.
AND SO I ALSO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO, UH, SUPPORT THIS.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL WITH A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
SO BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN THE NEXT MOTION, 'CAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST HEARING, UM, YOU CAN DO A MOTION TO RECONSIDER IF THERE IS NO MOTION THAT AUTOMATICALLY COMES BACK FOR A SECOND HEARING.
I'M GONNA MOVE TO, WELL, I'M GONNA MOVE TO RECONSIDER.
SO THE MOTION CURRENTLY ON THE FLOOR IS FOR RECONSIDERATION.
UM, ONLY, UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON, UH, THE RECONSIDERATION? ALL RIGHT.
UM, COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK MY NEW COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD TO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO THE WORK THAT WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY BY MANKEY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND ALL THOSE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT AND GOT STUCK WITH SOMETHING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY DID NOT WANT, BUT YET THEY MANAGED TO FORM OUT SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE.
SO I'D ASK YOU TO GIVE THAT SOME WEIGHT.
ANY OTHER, UH, DISCUSSION? OKAY.
VOTE FOR THE RECONSIDERATION, PLEASE.
AND FOR A NEW MOTION, UH, FOR ITEM NINE 15, I MAKE A MOTION FOR DENIAL.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR DENIAL WITH A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT.
[01:40:02]
COMMISSIONER GIBBONS? UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID THIS BEFORE, UM, BUT WE DO HAVE OPPOSED, UH, FROM THE STREET.IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE HAVE SOME OPPOSED ON THERE, SO I'M GONNA STICK WITH THE ORIGINAL AND HONOR THE VERY, VERY WELL FOUGHT FIGHT, UH, YEARS AGO THAT I WAS NOT HERE FOR.
UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT.
[19. 19-8022 ZONING CASE Z-2019-10700251 (Council District 5): A request for achange in zoning from "R-4 AHOD" Residential Single-Family AirportHazard Overlay District to "IDZ-2 AHOD" Medium Intensity InfillDevelopment Zone Airport Hazard Overlay District with uses permittedin “MF-33” Multi-Family District on Lot 8 and the northeast 11.05 feetof Lot 9, Block 3, NCB 2230, located at 1128 Morales Street. Staffrecommends Denial, with Alternate Recommendation. (Michael Pepe,Planner, 210-207-8208, Michael.Pepe@sanantonio.gov, DevelopmentServices Department)]
AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.MICHAEL PEPPY PLANNER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 19, LOCATED AT 1 1 2 8 MORALES STREET IS A REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM R FOUR TO I D Z TWO WITH USES PERMITTED IN MF 33.
43 NOTICES WERE MAILED OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET.
NONE WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR? NONE IN OPPOSITION.
THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE WEST END HOPE IN ACTION SLASH GARDENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THERE WAS A SINGLE, UH, SIGNATURE OF SUPPORT BY A CURRENT TENANT OF THE PROPERTY.
STAFF HAS FOUND EVIDENCE OF LIKELY ADVERSE IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORING LANDS IN RELATION TO THE ZONING CHANGE REQUEST.
THE PROPOSED USE IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE ESTABLISHED DEVELOPMENT PATTERN OF THE SURROUNDING AREA.
THE REQUEST WOULD ALLOW A DENSITY NOT YET ESTABLISHED IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PREDOMINANTLY SINGLE FAMILY BLOCK.
STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL AND THE APPLICANT IS PRESENT AND STAFF RECOMMENDS AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION OF R FOUR CD FOR THREE UNITS.
MAY WE HAVE THE APPLICANT PLEASE? GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.
CAN I HAVE MY PARALLEL POWERPOINT PLEASE REQUEST TODAY IS TO GO FROM R FOUR TO I D Z TWO FOR, UH, MF 33, WHICH BASICALLY ALLOWS WITH THE ACREAGE SIX UNITS ON THIS PROPERTY.
SO THIS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ZONING FOR THE AREA STAFF'S CORRECT, THERE'S SOME MF 33, THERE'S A LOT OF R FOUR AND A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL.
THE, THE PROPERTY ITSELF IS CURRENTLY A FOURPLEX AND, UH, OH, SOMETHING HAPPENED TO MY SLIDESHOW WRONG.
UH, THE PLAN IS, SO IT'S A FOURPLEX RIGHT NOW FULLY OCCUPIED.
UM, THE DEVELOPER USES SHIPPING CONTAINERS TO BUILD STRUCTURES.
THEY RECENTLY BUILT A BRAND NEW TWO CONTAINER, THREE BEDROOM STRUCTURE THAT THEY SOLD ON THE WEST SIDE FOR $95,000, WHICH IS CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE.
THERE AREN'T MANY, THERE ISN'T NOT REALLY ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR A PURCHASE PRICE OF $95,000.
AND WHAT THEY'LL DO WITH THESE CONTAINERS, THEY USE 'EM AS A FRAME.
THEY WILL DRESS THEM UP WITH, UH, HARDY PLANK SIDING, PITCH ROOFS ON THE TOP.
SO THEY'LL LOOK LIKE SMALL RESIDENCES.
BUT THE GOAL HERE WAS TO MOVE AT, AT THE BEGINNING, BUILD THE FOUR UNITS THAT ARE ON THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
REBE ALLEY IS ACTUALLY MORE OF A STREET.
THERE ARE HOUSES THAT FRONT ON THAT ALLEY.
UM, BUT THE GOAL HERE WAS TO BUILD THE FOUR STRUCTURES IN THE BACK FIRST MOVE THE TENANTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE FOURPLEX ON THE STREET INTO THOSE NEW UNITS.
UM, THE RENT WILL BE THE SAME.
SO THERE WILL NOT BE NO, UH, DISPLACEMENT OF CURRENT RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEN TO, TO BUILD TWO, THREE BEDROOM UNITS AT THE STREET ON MORALES STREET.
EACH UNIT WILL HAVE ONE PARKING SPACE OF THE CURRENT FOURPLEX.
THE CURRENT TENANTS, ONLY ONE COUPLE HAS A CAR.
THE OTHER TENANTS DO NOT HAVE A CAR.
WE FEEL WE WILL HAVE AMPLE PARKING, UH, FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S ACTUALLY MUCH MORE DENSE THAN WHAT, UM, THE R FOUR WOULD SEEM TO IMPLY.
THERE'S COMMERCIAL AT, AT THE, SO, UH, WEST CORNER, NORTHEAST CORNERS AND AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST CORNERS ARE BOTH, UM, MEXICAN RESTAURANTS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DENSITY.
AND THIS IS NOT COMPLETELY ACCURATE.
I BASICALLY WAS GOING OFF OF BCAT AND GOOGLE EARTH TO TRY TO DETERMINE HOW MANY UNITS WERE THERE.
I DID NOT GO SNOOPING AROUND LOOKING FOR MAILBOXES OR UTILITY BOXES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THERE IS DENSITY IN THE AREA.
[01:45:01]
WE DON'T FEEL THAT WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS OVERLY DENSE.UM, LIKE I SAID, IT WILL ALLOW SOME INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
THE EXISTING FOURPLEX, IT'S HABITABLE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE REBUILT.
SO THIS WOULD NOT DISPLACE ANY TENANTS BUT ALLOW TWO NEW UNITS WITHIN AN AN INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'VE TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'VE EVEN HAD THE COUNCILMAN'S OFFICE TRY.
THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING OR RETURNING ANY PHONE CALLS.
I WILL WORK WITH THE COUNCILMAN'S OFFICE TO CONTINUE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THEM TO GET SOME SORT OF A MEETING.
BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
WE DID, YOU KNOW, DO A LITTLE BIT OF BLOCK WALKING.
WE'RE ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, ONE LETTER OF SUPPORT, BUT IT'S KIND OF TOUGH TO GET THE, THE TENANTS TO SIGN THINGS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO ONE SIGNED IN TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE.
ALRIGHT, UM, FOR THE A I MEAN, SORRY FOR THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, ONE THING I'M LOOKING AT HERE, EVEN AS WE LOOK AT JUST THE BCA WITHOUT THIS ACCOMMODATION IS WE'VE GOT 1128, WHICH SPANS FROM MORALES TO REBI.
THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE DOOR NEXT DOOR, THERE'S TWO R FOURS THERE, TWO, THREE DOORS DOWN IS ANOTHER TWO R FOUR.
WITH THAT BLOCK BEING CUT IN HALF, WHAT CONSIDERATION, IF ANY, DID THAT PLAY IN THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION? I THINK IT DID PLAY IN, UM, TO SOME DEGREE.
I MEAN WE ARE LOOKING AT I D Z FOR MF 33 USES.
THAT'S UP TO SIX OR SEVEN UNITS.
WE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE TWO, THAT THERE ARE PROPERTIES ON THE STREET THAT HAVE TWO, THREE.
THOSE ARE STILL, AND, AND, AND IF YOU GO WITH THE ORIGINAL GENERAL BLOCK PATTERN OF IT, THERE'S, IT'S STILL EITHER ONE OR TWO ON ONE PARTICULAR, UH, LOT OR COLLECTION OF LOTS THERE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT LED US.
AT NO POINT DOES IT GO OVER, UH, THREE UNITS IN ONE GENERAL LAW AREA.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT LED US TO THE ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION OF THREE RATHER THAN SIX.
BUT I GUESS, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY NO MORE THAN THREE, BUT IF THERE ARE TWO R FOURS AND, AND ONE OF THEM IS OWNER OCCUPIED, THEN THERE COULD BE UP TO FOUR ON A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF SPACE.
REMEMBER, AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT IS NOT THE SAME SIZE AS A NORMAL DWELLING UNIT.
A NORMAL DWELLING UNIT CAN HAVE MORE THAN ONE BEDROOM.
AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT IS LIMITED TO 800 SQUARE FEET MAX SIZE ONE BEDROOM.
AND SO IT'S NOT THE SAME MASSING AND FURTHER.
AND IF I, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THOSE ACCESSORY UNITS SOMETIMES, BUT AT THE SAME RATE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE MIN THEY HAVE MINIMUM SIZES ON THE ACCESSORIES DWELLING UNITS AND MANY OF THESE HOMES ARE RATHER SMALL.
FOR THE APPLICANT, HOW BIG ARE THESE CONTAINERS? I THINK 300 AND 320 SQUARE FEET.
AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY FOUR PEOPLE OR IT'S A FOURPLEX AT THE 1128? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THAT'S OUT OF, OUT OF ZONING RIGHT NOW? IT'S OUT OF ZONING.
ALRIGHT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
ALRIGHT, UM, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS ON MY RIGHT.
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL, PATRICK.
UM, AND WHEN I LIKE THE IDEA OF STORAGE CONTAINERS AS NEW OPTIONS FOR HOME, UH, FOR HOUSING, BUT I AM ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACIDICS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOK AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO MOST OF THAT KIND OF HAS A MODERN LOOK TO IT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN.
WHAT IS, WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THAT TO BLEND IN? WELL, UM, IT, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS, IF YOU CAN WE GO TO AN AREA, UM,
I MEAN, A LOT OF THIS IS COMMERCIAL STORAGE SHED TYPE BUILDINGS IN THIS AREA.
LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT HARDY SIDING, THEY PUT, YOU KNOW, NICE NEW WINDOWS.
IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A SHIPPING CONTAINER FROM THE OUTSIDE.
UM, THERE WILL BE FRONT DOORS FACING MORALES STREET, UM, ON THE FRONT UNITS.
THEY'LL HAVE LITTLE PITCHED ROOFS ON THEM.
THEY WON'T LOOK TOO MODERN NOW.
THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AS THE OLD, WHAT'S THEY'RE IN THE, THE ORIGINAL HOUSING STOCK? NO, BUT I THINK THEY CAN DO A GOOD JOB TO TRY TO BLEND IN AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.
UM, THIS, THE BLOCK, I MEAN, I'LL JUST BE HONEST.
IT'S, IT'S A A, IT'S A HODGEPODGE.
THERE'S A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL, THERE'S EVERYTHING BEHIND THIS PROPERTY IS OWNED INDUSTRIAL.
SOME OF THE, THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER IS ZONED INDUSTRIAL.
UM, I DUNNO IF I HAVE A POINTER HERE, BUT YOU GO AROUND,
[01:50:01]
I MEAN THIS IS A, A TRANSMISSION SHOP RIGHT HERE.MEXICAN RESTAURANT, MEXICAN RESTAURANT, A BIG INDUSTRIAL FACILITY RIGHT HERE ACROSS THE STREET.
UM, THAT'S THE EXISTING STRUCTURE RIGHT HERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S FOUR, FOUR DOORS.
IT'S FOUR EFFICIENCY UNITS UP THERE.
UM, BUT WE, THE GOAL HERE IS, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE TRY TO CREATE SOME NEW HOUSING WITHOUT DISPLACING ANY OF THE CURRENT RESIDENCE.
LIKE I SAID, THE RENTS WILL NOT GO UP.
THEY'LL ALL BE ALLOWED TO, TO MOVE INTO ONE OF THE UNITS AND BACK, WHICH WILL BE NEW, NEW APPLIANCES, UM, VERY THERMAL EFFICIENT, ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS.
AND THEY CAN DEMOLISH THIS STRUCTURE AND, AND BUILD A NEW, TWO NEW THREE BEDROOM STRUCTURES ON THE STREET.
UM, ANY, THERE'S QUESTIONS ON MY RIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GREATHOUSE? SO ARE THESE, ARE THESE ARE GONNA BE FOR RENT? YES.
DO YOU HAVE AN APPROXIMATE IDEA OF WHAT YOUR MONTHLY RENTAL WILL BE FOR THESE? OH, WE ASK THE, THE DEVELOPER TO COME UP.
I LIVE AT 1 25 EAST MANDALAY, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
CURRENTLY THE RENTS ARE $350 PER UNIT.
I DO NOT WANNA RAISE ANY RENTS FOR THE NEW STRUCTURE.
I ALSO WANNA GIVE THEM A NEW STRUCTURE TO LIVE IN.
THE HOUSE IS JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, IT JUST NEEDS SOME WORK AND I'D RATHER GIVE THEM A NEW PRODUCT RATHER THAN HAVING TO DISPLACE THEM AND MOVE THEM.
UM, THE NUKE UNITS WOULD BE, UH, THE THREE BEDROOMS WOULD BE A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A THREE BEDROOM UNIT.
AND YOU'RE CURRENTLY CHARGING 350 FOR THE, THOSE ARE ONE BEDROOM OR THREE.
THEY'RE LIKE EFFICIENCY SMALL, UH, ONE BEDROOMS. OKAY.
AND SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THREE BEDROOMS? WELL, WHEN THE, THE BIGGER UNITS, THE 640 SQUARE FOOT UNITS WOULD BE A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
ANY, UH, COMMISSIONER GIBBONS? UH, OKAY.
UM, I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR, SO YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA DEMOLISH WHAT'S THERE, IS THAT CORRECT? AFTER WE BUILD, IF EVERYTHING'S APPROVED AFTER WE BUILD THE FOUR NEW UNITS IN THE BACKYARD.
BUT YOU'RE DEVELOPING A ROAD THAT GOES FROM ONE STREET TO THE NEXT STREET? CORRECT.
THE ROAD WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH UNTIL WE GET THE FOUR CONTAINERS IN THE BACK COMPLETED.
THEY'LL HAVE ACCESS TO THE ALLEY.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL GO ASK FORWARD AND DEMOLISH.
AFTER WE GET THE, THE RESIDENCE MOVED OUT OF THE FRONT FOURPLEX, WE'LL MOVE, WE'LL DEMOLISH THE FRONT STRUCTURE AND THEN BUILD THE NEW TWO THREE BEDROOM UNITS.
SO THAT'S AN ALLEY AT THE VERY END THERE.
IT'S AN ALLEY AT THE END, BUT IT'S ALL ACTUALLY A STREET.
I MEAN, PEOPLE, THERE ARE HOUSES, IF YOU LOOK AT AN AERIAL THAT ACTUALLY THEY'RE ONLY ACCESSED, THEY FRONT ON THAT ALLEY CARS PARK ON IT AND CAN STILL DRIVE PAST EACH OTHER VERY WIDE ALLEY.
AND THEN SO THESE, THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE STORAGE CONTAINERS, THEY LOOK LIKE SMALL SHOTGUN STRUCTURES.
OH, MAYBE THEY'LL LOOK LIKE A MOBILE HOME.
THEY'LL HAVE HARDY PLANK SIDING.
THEY'RE ON THE GROUND ON A CONCRETE SLAB.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT ELEVATED OR ANYTHING LIKE YOUR AVERAGE.
THESE HAVE A FLAT ROOF OR A LITTLE SMALL PITCHED ROOF.
SO THEY'LL LOOK LIKE SMALL SHOTGUNS.
I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF AN OLDER HOUSING PRODUCT, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'LL LOOK LIKE, AT LEAST THE, THE, THE, THE ONE CONTAINER UNIT'S IN THE REAR.
THEN THEY'LL HAVE MORE OF A PITCH FOR THE TWO CONTAINER UNITS, OF COURSE, FROM THE FRONT.
AND UH, SO YOU WENT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOUND NOBODY HOME OR WHAT HAPPENED? WELL, WE DID GO TO SOME OF THE DOORS BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS ON EITHER SIDE.
AND THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO SIGN THINGS AND YOU KNOW, THE CITY SENT OUT NOTICES AS WELL AND NOBODY RETURNED TO ANY OF THOSE.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANNA RESPOND.
UM, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HEARD THAT YOU HEARD FROM MORE PEOPLE.
THIS IS QUITE A CHANGE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IMPACT SMACK DAGGETT IN THE MIDDLE.
UH, NOT A VERY ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, I MEAN, I CAN'T NO FORCE 'EM TO MEET WITH ME.
AND THAT'S, LIKE I SAID, I'VE GOT THE COUNCILWOMAN TRYING TO GET A MEETING AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY LUCK YET.
I GUESS I, I WOULD JUST HAVE LIKED TO HEARD A LITTLE MORE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT GREAT OF A CHANGE TO PUT IT ON US.
HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO ATTEND SOMETHING.
YOU GOTTA GET THOSE NIKE SHOES ON AND GET OUT THERE.
HEY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT? OKAY, COMMISSIONER BUSANTE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PRETTY CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN.
THERE IS A LOT OF USAGE AROUND THIS AREA.
UM, ONE THING THAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS
[01:55:01]
PROJECT, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MY MIND IS THAT WE ARE SEEING GREATER DENSITY, WHICH I THINK IS A PLUS.THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS, YOU KNOW, ISN'T QUITE THERE.
BUT THERE'S AN I D Z WITH MF 50 WITHIN TWO BLOCKS, PROBABLY ABOUT 600 FEET.
IF WE GO BACK, I THINK IT'S MS 50, WE HAVE A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL USAGE.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE DENSITY.
AND SO AS WE DO THIS, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE DEVELOPING TO TRY TO MITIGATE, ALLEVIATE THE DISPLACEMENT THAT CAN FREQUENTLY GO ALONG WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT.
AND I THINK THIS PROJECT DOES THAT BY ALLOWING THOSE FOUR UNITS IN THE BACK BY STAGING THE CONSTRUCTION AS REPRESENTED BY THE OWNER AND HIS REPRESENTATIVE, UM, TO ALLOW THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LIVING THERE TO REMAIN MAINTAINING THOSE RENTS THAT ACCOMPLISHES THAT.
AND IN LIGHT OF THAT, AND I APPRECIATE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
I APPRECIATE STAFF'S, UH, INSIGHT ON THIS, BUT NONETHELESS, I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 19.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR APPROVAL WITH A SECOND.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS ON MY LEFT? COMMISSIONER GREATHOUSE? YES, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION, UM, FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
UM, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS I, I BELIEVE ONE OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAS WITH RESPECT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION, I AM MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS THAN I WOULD ORDINARILY BE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CO COMMERCIAL OR A VERY, VERY DENSE OR, YOU KNOW, MULTI-STORY, THREE STORY, TWO STORY BUILDING NEXT TO OTHER ONE STORY BUILDINGS.
I'M, I'M A LITTLE WELL STILL CONCERNED, A LITTLE LESS CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS STILL A RESIDENTIAL USE.
UM, IT'S REALLY NOT THAT MUCH MORE DENSE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES.
IF YOU LOOK AT 1727 WEST MARTIN, UM, WHICH ACTUALLY KIND OF IS JUST ACROSS THE ALLEY, THAT'S AN RMM FOUR, IT HAS FOUR UNITS.
UM, AND IF YOU DO THE MATH, WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M ALWAYS DOING MATH UP HERE 'CAUSE I'M NOT THAT GREAT AT IT.
UM, 22 UNITS AN ACRE, UM, ON THAT ONE.
WHEREAS THIS ONE, IF YOU'RE DOING THE MATH, IT'S ABOUT 28 UNITS PER ACRE.
SO IT'S REALLY A VERY SIMILAR DENSITY RIGHT ACROSS THE THE ALLEY.
UM, ANOTHER REASON I'M REALLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS, THIS BRINGS TRUE AFFORDABILITY.
UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME UNITS THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE, THE RENTS HE'S TALKING ABOUT ARE VERY AFFORDABLE AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, I WORK IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH DEVELOPERS WHO GET INCENTIVES FROM THE CITY AND FROM THE STATE AND FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE HERE WHO IS BRINGING TRUE AFFORDABILITY WITHOUT RELYING ON THOSE INCENTIVES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, USED WITH TA WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT GIVEN THE FACT THAT SAN ANTONIO IS FACING A POTENTIAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER GIBBONS? WELL, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT IT GOING I D Z, UM, I LIKE THE STAFF'S, UM, ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR FOUR CD WITH THE USE FOR THREE UNITS.
I FEEL THAT THAT'S NOT A GOOD PRECEDENT TO START SETTING.
USUALLY I D Z IS THESE VACANT TRACKS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERUTILIZED AND NOT USED AT ALL.
UM, AFFORDABILITY THREE 50 SEEMS PRETTY AFFORDABLE THAN THE 1000, UM, A MONTH.
UM, WHAT I WOULD SAY TO IF I WERE TO, AND I HAVEN'T DECIDED YET IN AGREEMENT TO IT, IS MAYBE MORE LIVABILITY LOOKS BETTER, UM, THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
SO I'M GONNA CONSIDER THAT I AM NOT THAT COMFORTABLE WITH THE SIX, THOUGH I WOULD'VE LIKED IT TO.
UH, THAT'S WHERE I'M UNCOMFORTABLE.
SO I'M GONNA PONDER ON THIS ONE.
UM, DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER, UM, UH, RIGHT.
UM, DID YOU LOOK AT MY MEMORY? OKAY.
UM, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? COMMISSIONER WHITE.
[02:00:01]
YES.UM, BEFORE WE, UH, GO TO THE, UH, NEXT CASE, UM, TWO THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN.
WELL, ACTUALLY THREE, UH, NUMBER ONE IS WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE ABOUT, UH, 10 MINUTES.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ANYONE WHO IS CURRENTLY IN THE BOARDROOM, UM, AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND FILL THE SEATS HERE.
AND THEN, UH, THIRD, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE, UM, EXECUTIVE, UH, SESSION, UM, WITH OUR, OH WAIT, WAIT.
OH, WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL WE GET BACK.
I WAS HOPING WE COULD COMBINE THE TWO, BUT OKAY.
WELL, WE'LL COME BACK IN 10 MINUTES.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL MOVE EXPEDIENTLY.
WE'RE GONNA, UH, RECONVENE NOW.
IF WE COULD, UM, GO AHEAD AND GRAB OUR SEATS AND CONCLUDE OUR CONVERSATIONS, PLEASE.
I THINK, UH, BOOSTER MADAM CHAIR, I'M GONNA REQUEST THAT WE, THE COMMISSION MEET AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSES OF A CONSULTING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AT THIS TIME.
[Executive Session]
IS NOW 3:10 PM ON, UM, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2019.THE ZONING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE ATTORNEY-CLIENT CONSULTATION SECTION 5 51, UM, 0.071.
SO, UM, WE'RE EXPECTING IT'S PROBABLY GONNA TAKE, UH, 10 MINUTES OR LESS.
SO, UM, IF YOU'LL, UM, ENTERTAIN EACH OTHER UNTIL THAT TIME.
UM, THE TIME IS NOW 3:25 PM ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2019.
THE ZONING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION STAFF.
[22. 19-8020 ZONING CASE Z-2019-10700255 (Council District 2): A request for a change in zoning from "AE-3 HS EP-1 MLOD-3 MLR-2" Arts and Entertainment Historic Landmark Parking/Traffic Control Overlay Martindale Army Airfield Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 District to "C-2 CD HS EP-1 MLOD-3 MLR-2" Commercial Historic Landmark Parking/Traffic Control Overlay Martindale Army Airfield Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 2 District with Conditional Use for a Human Services Campus on Lot 7, NCB 10241, located at 3310 East Commerce Street. Staff recommends Denial. (Patricia Franco, Planner (210) 207-5876, patricia.franco@sanantonio.gov, Development Services Department).]
COMMISSIONERS.ITEM 22 IS A REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM AE THREE TO C TWO CD WITH A CONDITIONAL USE FOR A HUMAN SERVICES CAMPUS LOCATED AT 33 10 EAST COMMERCE.
32 NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET.
TWO RETURNED IN FAVOR, ZERO IN OPPOSITION, AND THE COLOSSEUM WILLOW PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT.
THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE JEFFERSON HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
ADDITIONALLY, ONE LETTER OF SUPPORT WAS RECEIVED FROM THE DENVER HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THREE LETTERS OF OPPOSITION WERE RECEIVED FROM INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE THE 200 FOOT NOTIFICATION AREA, AND A LETTER OF OPPOSITION WAS RECEIVED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S FIRST ALLIANCE.
THE CURRENT A E THREE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS AN APPROPRIATE ZONING FOR THE PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING AREA.
STAFF FINDS EVIDENCE OF LIKELY ADVERSE IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORING LANDS IN RELATION TO THIS ZONING CHANGE REQUEST.
DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE COMMERCIAL USE ADJACENT TO AN ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PROPOSED USE CONDITIONS DOWN, DOWN ZONE, AN INTENSE COMMERCIAL C THREE DISTRICT INTO A C TWO DISTRICT STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL AND THE APPLICANT IS PRESENT.
MAY WE HAVE THE APPLICANT PLEASE? YEAH.
JAMES MCKNIGHT, 1 1 2 EAST PECAN.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT VISION QUEST, AND I JUST WANNA SAY UPFRONT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS REZONING.
WE'RE, WE'RE NOT BLIND TO THAT.
WE HEAR IT ALL, BUT MY JOB HERE TODAY IS AS A LAND USE CONSULTANT, AND WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT LAND USE, WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT ZONING.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT.
THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO ADDRESS IF THOSE, IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM VISION QUEST HERE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
BUT, UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ZONING, SO THAT'S WHAT I WANNA DO.
IT'S MY DISTINCTION AND HONOR TODAY.
[02:05:01]
COMMERCE.FIRST THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THE SITE AND THE ZONING CONTEXT.
THIS IS THE LARGER AERIAL OF THE SITE.
YOU CAN SEE THIS IS THE SITE, THE FIVE ACRES OF THE PROPERTY.
THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH IS RIGHT HERE, AND RIGHT NEXT TO IT IS THE, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER FOR SECOND BAPTIST THAT WAS BUILT ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO.
HERE'S THE ZONING, YOU CAN SEE UP DOWN COMMERCE.
IT'S A E THREE, THAT'S ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WITH, UM, R FOUR BEHIND US, SOME INDUSTRIAL AND ON THE OTHER SIDE.
NOW I WANNA TALK ABOUT, THAT'S JUST THE OVERVIEW.
I'LL GET BACK TO THAT IN A MINUTE.
BUT THE, THE REQUEST OBVIOUSLY IS GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT TODAY.
SO THE QUEST, THE REQUEST IS FOR A TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT CHILDREN.
MIGRANT CHILDREN PRIMARILY FROM HONDURAS, EL SALVADOR AND GUATEMALA, THEY COME TO THE US WITHOUT A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN.
THEY COME INTO THE CUSTODY OF DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, BUT THE GOAL IS TO GET THEM INTO THE FAMILY OR FOSTER CARE.
SO CHILDREN ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, O R R WITHIN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, O R R SELECTS VENDORS, BOTH PROFIT AND NON-PROFIT ALIKE.
SAME CONTRACT TO CREATE SHELTERS TO TEMPORARILY HOUSE THOSE CHILDREN.
SO WHILE THEY'RE IN THEIR CUSTODY VISION QUEST, IN THIS CASE, THOSE VENDORS, THEY PROVIDE PLACEMENT SERVICES.
REUNIFICATION WITH THE FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE US THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF WHAT HAPPENS OR THEY FIND A FOSTER FAMILY OR HOME.
THE OTHER THING THEY PROVIDE IS SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING, TEMPORARY HOUSING WHILE THEY'RE THERE, FOOD SERVICES, EDUCATION, MEDICAL IF NEEDED, AND RECREATION.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS SECOND BAPTIST, THE OWNER OF THE FIVE ACRES, IS LEASING THAT CENTER, THE COMMUNITY CENTER TO VISION QUEST, JUST THAT COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE PLAN IS FOR UP TO 90 BOYS, AGES 10 TO 17.
THERE'LL BE ABOUT A HUNDRED STAFF MEMBERS THAT'S IN THREE SHIFTS.
THE AVERAGE STAY FOR AN O R R, UM, IN THE STORE ARE CENTERS IS 50 DAYS.
AND THE GENERAL OUTLAY FOR THIS OUTLINE FOR THE BUILDING IS IT'S 46,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
GROUND FLOOR, THERE'S A FULL BASKETBALL GYM AND A BOWLING ALLEY.
THERE'S CLASSROOMS AND OFFICE SPACES EXISTING.
SECOND FLOOR IS 10,000 SQUARE FEET.
THAT'S WHERE ALL THE EXISTING CLASSROOMS ARE.
SO AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE DINING USES, CLASSROOM USES, OFFICE USES AND RECREATION USES IN THAT BUILDING.
THE SECOND FLOOR IS GONNA BE BROKEN UP.
THOSE CLASSROOMS ARE GONNA BE TURNED INTO DORM STYLE ROOMS FOR THE 90 CHILDREN, UP TO TWO PERSONS PER ROOM.
BUT THE, THE USE THAT WE'RE DESCRIBING DOESN'T FULLY EXIST, AT LEAST IN OUR OPINION, IN THE CODE.
SO WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT HOW THE USE THAT WE GOT TO THE USE DESCRIBED IN THE U D C IS A HUMAN SYSTEM.
NOW THIS IS WHAT WE WERE TOLD IS WHAT WE ARE, UH, GONNA BE CLASSIFIED.
AND THAT IS A USE IN WHICH MULTIPLE STRUCTURES AND RELATED GROUNDS OR PORTIONS THEREOF ARE USED TO PROVIDE A MULTIPLE MULTITUDE OF SERVICES, EMERGENCY FOOD, MEDICAL SHELTER, UM, SCHOOLING, VOCATIONAL HEALTHCARE CLINICS, UM, HOUSING FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES, DAYCARE SERVICES, AND FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE HU HUMAN SERVICES CAMPUS IS LABELED AS AN MORE INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL USE A C THREE USE OR A D USE IS BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLE STRUCTURES.
IF YOU IMAGINE, UH, A CAMPUS THAT HAS THESE THINGS IN DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, THEN YEAH, THAT IS POSSIBLY MORE INTENSE.
BUT IN OUR CASE, WE ARE LIMITING THIS ALL TO ONE STRUCTURE WHERE A LOT OF THOSE USES ALREADY EXIST.
SO HUMAN SERVICES CAMPUS, IT'S A COMMERCIAL USE.
C THREE AND D ARE THE PERMITTED, THE ONLY TWO PERMITTED USES.
BUT THIS SITE IS ON A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
IT'S ON A PRIMARY ARTERIAL ACCORDING TO THE MASTER THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, THE USES THAT WE ARE REQUESTING ARE ALL PERMITTED BY RIGHT IN A E THREE.
THAT INCLUDES THE MULTI-FAMILY THAT THE MULTIPLE FAM THE HOUSING USES, THE DORM STYLE USES THAT WE ARE REQUESTING.
ALL OF THOSE USES ARE ALREADY PERMITTED ON THE SITE.
WE ARE NOT ADDING ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION.
SO THE INTENSITY IS THAT, THAT THAT STAFF IS SPEAKING ABOUT IN THIS CASE WOULD ONLY BE ALL INSIDE THE BUILDING.
IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE USES IN A E THREE, IT HAS ITS OWN MATRIX.
IF YOU LOOK AT EVERY ONE OF THE USES, THEY LINE UP WITH C TWO USES.
EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS A C TWO USE EXCEPT THE FEW THAT
[02:10:01]
ARE ARE LISTED HERE.THERE'S A FEW MORE, BUT GENERALLY THE ONES THAT DON'T ALIGN BETWEEN A E THREE AND C TWO ARE HOTEL, MOTEL, PAWN SHOP, CLUBHOUSE, DRIVING RANGE, THOSE ARE ALL C THREE USES, MEANING A E THREE IS A MORE INTENSIVE USE.
I THINK PATRICIA EVEN SAID THIS IS PART OF A DOWN ZONING.
OKAY, DOWN ZONING WE'RE BECOMING LESS INTENSE ON A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR COMMERCIAL USE ON A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
THE REASON I WANNA BRING THIS UP IS BECAUSE OF SIMILAR CASES IN THE AREA WHERE, UM, IN OUR CASE STAFF, IN OUR CASE STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED DENIAL WHERE STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.
THIS WAS THREE WEEKS AGO FOR A HUMAN SERVICES CAMPUS ON DIETRICH ROAD.
IT'S DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, A LOCAL, A ROAD FROM R FIVE.
AND THIS WAS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
AND PART OF THE REASON THEY RECOMMENDED IT FOR APPROVAL WAS THAT IT WAS DOWN ZONING.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES THEY USED TO SAY THAT THIS IS APPROPRIATE WAS BECAUSE WE WERE DOWN ZONING FROM I ONE DOWN TO C THREE.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT THE TRUE LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THE C THREE USES ARE APPROPRIATE.
WE HAVE WHAT IS A MORE APPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL LOCATION PERFORMING THE USES THAT ARE ALREADY BEING PERFORMED.
THE PROPOSED C THREE S GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT IS MORE APPROPRIATE FROM, FOR THE SURROUNDING AREA ACROSS THE STREET FROM RESIDENTIAL AS IT ALLOWS LESS POTENTIALLY HARMFUL USES THAN I ONE.
THAT WAS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS WRITTEN FOR THIS PROJECT.
IT WAS SAYING BEING CLOSER TO THE RESIDENTIAL, OUR RECOMMENDATION SAYS IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE TO BE THAT CLOSE TO RESIDENTIAL, THAT WE NEED TO BE FURTHER AWAY EVEN THOUGH WE'RE REQUESTING A C TWO CONDITIONAL USE.
THE OTHER CASE I WANNA POINT OUT IS THIS IS OUR SITE HERE.
YOU NOTICE ALL OF THAT PROPERTY IS ZONED C TWO CONDITIONAL.
THAT CONDITIONAL IS FOR HARDWARE SALES WHOLESALE, THAT'S A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE.
SO HERE YOU HAVE A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE IN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT RIGHT NEXT TO ALL THE R FOUR AND THAT WAS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
SO CLEARLY THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE WITH RECOMMENDING APPROVAL WHEN YOU HAVE THESE KINDS OF COMMERCIAL USES NEXT TO RESIDENTIAL, THE SITE PLAN WAS SHOWN BEFORE, HERE'S THE RESIDENTIAL BEHIND US.
THERE'S A 16 FOOT ALLEY BETWEEN US, 16 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY, AND THEN OUR PROPERTY AND THEN THERE'S 110 FEET BETWEEN US AND THAT BUILDING.
WE ARE NOT PUSHED UP AGAINST THAT RESIDENTIAL, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STAFF HAS MENTIONED IN THAT REPORT IS IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE WITHOUT PROPER BUFFERING.
WE DON'T, WE BUFFERING IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS SITE, BUT WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PUT THAT IN THERE IF, IF, IF THERE IS A REQUEST AS THIS A CONDITIONAL TO SAY, ADD A LANDSCAPE BUFFER THERE AT A FENCE THERE, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO SO.
THE ONLY NEGATIVE RECOMMENDATION IN THREE AREAS ON THAT STAFF REPORT ALL SAYS THE SAME THING WITHOUT PROFFER BUFFERING.
OKAY, WE'LL PUT THE PROFFER BUFFERING, PROPER BUFFERING IN JUST LIKE THESE OTHER SITES EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT REQUIRED.
AND THEN I WOULD SAY THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
I MEAN, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE PROPER COMPATIBILITY FOR COMMERCIAL.
WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE EVERY ONE OF THESE USES ALREADY EXISTING AND ALL WE'RE DOING IS, IS CHANGING THE DYNAMIC OF HOW THAT'S RUN.
THERE'S NO INCREASE IN TRAFFIC, THERE'S NO INCREASE IN NOISE, INCREASE IN POLLUTION, DRAINAGE.
NONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INCREASE IN LAND USE ARE HAPPENING LIKELY ADVERSE IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORING LANDS IN RELATION TO THE ZONING CHANGE REQUEST.
DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE COMMERCIAL ADJACENT TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT APPROPRIATE BUFFERS.
THE INTENSITY OF THE COMMERCIAL, THE INTENSITY OF THE COMMERCIAL IS CLASSROOMS AND 10 11 YEAR OLD BOYS SLEEPING UPSTAIRS, UM, CONTAINED IN AN EXISTING BUILDING.
WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS PROCESS, WE REACHED OUT TO THE COUNCIL WOMAN'S OFFICE, WE REACHED OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, OBVIOUSLY THE CHURCH ITSELF.
WE DID HAVE A MEETING AND WE WERE GIVEN SUPPORT.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COME BACK LATER AND SAID THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE, BUT WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT, THAT WE ARE ALWAYS ASKED TO GO THROUGH.
WE FELT LIKE WE WERE DOING THE DUE DILIGENCE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO AND WE GOT SUPPORT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SAYING THAT IT WAS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF WHAT WAS CONSIDERED THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH.
SO GIVEN ALL OF THAT, I THINK IT'S VERY PRETTY.
I'M ASKING FOR A COMMERCIAL USE A C THREE USE DOWN IN C TWO ON A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR AND THAT'S THE LAND USE ISSUE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO RESERVE SOME REBUTTAL TIME TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS AFTER THE TIME, BUT THAT'S IT FOR MY PRESENTATION.
UM, AND WE START WITH THE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK
[02:15:04]
AUBREY LEWIS, FOLLOWED BY ROBERT MISSON.PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
UH, ADDRESS IS 10 10 IOWA STREET, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
I CAN SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO COMMISSIONER CHAIRWOMAN, MRS. JOY MCGEE AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I'M A LEWIS PRESIDENT OF DENVER HEIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE ARE HERE THIS AFTERNOON IN SUPPORT OF THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH REZONING REQUESTS THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE DENVER HEIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
IN A LETTER TO COUNCILWOMAN JADA, ANDREW SULLIVAN DATED SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2019, WHICH IS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE ASSOCIATION, VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO SUPPORT THE REZONING REZONING REQUEST OF THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH AGAIN IN OUR OCTOBER 15TH, 2019 EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING.
WHEREAS WE DID IN FACT REVISITED THE REZONING REQUESTS OF THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH AND ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS AN OVERWHELMING VOTE TO CONTINUE OUR SUPPORT OF THE REZONING REQUESTS BY THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
IT IS ALSO FURTHER OUR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING THAT REZONING DEALS WITH LAND ONLY AND NOT THE CONTENTS THEREOF.
AND IN ADDITION, IT'S ALSO OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT CHURCHES NORMALLY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH SUCH A REZONING PROCESS.
ROBERT JAMERSON, FOLLOWED BY THOMAS WASHINGTON.
I AM ROBERT JIMON, PASTOR SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
MY ADDRESS IS 11 4 11 4 2 FOREST SQUARE.
AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I STAND AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN RETIRED MILITARY OFFICER AND PASTOR OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
I STAND MINDFUL OF MY FOREFATHERS WHO CAME TO AMERICA NOT BY CHOICE, BUT CAME AS SLAVES ARE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THESE YOUNG PERSONS WHO COME, WHO COME TO OUR SHORES, THEY COME SEEKING A BETTER LIFE.
WE AS SECOND BAPTISTS, WITH YOUR HELP, THE HELP OF OTHERS, WE'LL CREATE A BETTER LIFE.
WE WILL ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, THEIR QUALITY OF LIVING BY PROVIDING A SAFE SHELTER, BY ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE NEEDS ARE MET.
SECOND BAPTIST, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IS A GREAT CHURCH WHO GREAT NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE GOD THAT WE SERVE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF SECOND BAPTIST, IT'S 140 YEARS OLD.
IN THE LAST 26 YEARS, WE HAVE TAKEN 10% OF OUR OFFERINGS AND GIVEN TO THIS COMMUNITY, WE'VE GIVEN TO SAM, WE'VE GIVEN TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CHRISTIAN JEWS.
WE HAVE BURIED PERSONS WHO DID NOT HAVE FAMILY, CAME TO OUR CITY THROUGH HURRICANE KATRINA.
IT'S OUR MISSION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN WE ARE.
PRAY FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WE SEEK TO CONTINUE THE MINISTRY.
THAT'S TWO MINUTES, SIR, THE MINISTRY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
REST WITH YOU AND REST WITH YOUR WORK.
AND GOD BLESS SAN ANTONIO, THIS COMMISSION AND GOD BLESS HIM.
I'M A DEACON AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
I'M ALSO A RETIRED, UH, AIR FORCE COLONEL, UM, AS SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH AS A CHURCH, WE, UH, OH, BY THE WAY, I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
[02:20:01]
CANNOT FIGHT WITH MISREPRESENTATIONS, EXAGGERATION IN LIES.UH, I START WITH A QUESTION, WHY WOULD YOU DENY A HOMELESS CHILD A PLACE TO LIVE? UH, EACH MONDAY AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, FOR 50 OUT OF THE 52 WEEKS OF THE YEAR, WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, BY ASSISTING THEM TO PAY UTILITIES AND HOUSING AND RENT.
WE PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY CLOTHING, UH, SUMMER DAY CAMP AS PART OF OUR MISSION.
AND AS A PART OF OUR MISSION, WE'RE SEEKING TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR MIGRANT CHILDREN WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT ADULT SUP SUPERVISION, WHO NEED SHELTER TO GET OUT OF THE CAGES AND OFF THE COLD FLOOR, AND INTO A FACILITY WITH COMFORTABLE BEDS, MEDICAL CARE, DENTAL CARE, COUNSELING, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATION, RECREATION, AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE.
IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND EACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED A MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER, MEMBERS OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH HAVE DONATED $3.4 MILLION OF THEIR OWN FUNDS TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE NAME OF OUR FACILITY IS SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THE DONATIONS OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE ENABLED THE NEIGHBORS 30 SECONDS AND COMMUNITY, UH, TO USE THE CENTER WITHOUT CHARGE.
APPROVAL OF THIS ZONING, UH, REQUEST WILL CHANGE.
WILL, WILL, WILL ALLOW, WILL ALLOW SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING YOUTH AND SENIOR CITIZENS.
DARYL ALFORD, FOLLOWED BY JONATHAN RYAN.
I LIVE AT TWO 18 BONITA STREET, UH, SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, PARTNERING WITH HABITAT AND HUMIDITY, UH, HUMANITY.
AND WITH OVER 50 CHURCH, UH, VOLUNTEERS BUILT A HOME ON CLARK STREET FOR A SINGLE PARENT HISPANIC FAMILY.
WE DONATED $50,000 TO A HOSPITAL IN TO HAITI TO BUILD A WELL, PROVIDING CLEAN WATER FOR DOCTORS AND PATIENTS AFTER THE TORNADO IN MEMORIAL OKLAHOMA.
MEMBERS FROM SECOND BAPTIST JEHOVA U-HAUL FULL OF SUPPLIES TO THAT CITY.
AFTER THE HURRICANE IN HOUSTON, A CHARTERED BUS WAS FILLED WITH NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, CLEANING SUPPLIES AND WATER, AND TAKEN INTO HOUSTON AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA'S SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, OR PAID THE RENT FOR SIX FAMILIES FROM THREE FOR THREE MONTHS, PROVIDING FURNITURE, STOCK THEIR PANTRIES WITH FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES AND PARTNERS WITH A LOCAL FUNERAL HOME TO PAY FOR THE BURIAL OF MR. GLORIA.
THE FIRST KATRINA CASUALTY TO PERISH IN THIS KELLY AIR FORCE BASE SHELTER, ONE MEMBER GAVE HER A CREDIT CARD TO PAY FOR CLOTHING FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL.
HELD A SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH TWICE EACH WEEK.
OUR DOORS ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY FOR BREAKFAST AND DINNER.
ONCE EACH WEEK, FAMILIES ARE ASSISTED WITH FUNDS FOR UTILITIES AND RENT.
FIVE DAYS A WEEK, CHILDREN ARE FED AFTER COMPLETING HOMEWORK DURING THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
ENTITLED HOMEWORK AT SECOND EACH YEAR, 30 SECONDS EACH YEAR AT AT LEAST 100 COMPLETE THANKSGIVING MEALS ARE GIVEN TO FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
REGARDLESS OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
WE DO NOT LIMIT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT.
WE PROVIDE CLOTHING, ENTERTAINMENT, BOUNCE OR BOUNCE HOUSES, PETTING ZOOS, CARRIAGE RIDES, AND OTHER AND ALL WHO CAME TO THE THANKSGIVING TO THE PARK OR FOOD FEST.
ALL AT NO COST ARE PARTICIPANTS.
OUR WOMEN'S ADMISSION CIRCLES SUPPORT THE RIVER CITY OUTREACH.
PARAMOUNT NURSING HOME, TRANSLATIONAL LABOR.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
JONATHAN RYAN, FOLLOWED BY JACQUELINE EMERSON.
I LIVE AT 3 9 3 4 BIG MEADOW STREET, AND I'LL BE RECEIVING TIME FROM MY COLLEAGUE, MS. BARBARA PENA, WHO'S AFFORDING THEIR TIME TO ME.
I'M AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND THE C E O OF RA.
AIS RAICES IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF LEGAL DEFENSE SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN GOVERNMENT CUSTODY IN THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE THE LARGEST LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER TO IMMIGRANTS, UH, NONPROFIT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WE ARE BASED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WE WORK WITH ABOUT A THOUSAND CHILDREN WHO ARE IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CUSTODY, AS WELL AS MANY MORE WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM CUSTODY INTO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE ACROSS THE STATE.
SHOULD VISION QUEST BE ALLOWED TO
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OPERATE IN THIS CITY? RAICES WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BECOME CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE CHILDREN BEING DETAINED INSIDE OF THE VISION QUEST CENTER.IN SHORT, MUCH LIKE SECOND BAPTIST AND VISION QUEST THEMSELVES, I STAND BEFORE YOU AND MY ORGANIZATION WILL RECEIVE MONEY IF THIS FACILITY IS OPEN.
HOWEVER, UNLIKE THEM, I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TO SAY WE DO NOT WANT THIS FACILITY HERE IN TEXAS, AND WE DO NOT WANT THIS MONEY.
RIGHT NOW, OVER 50,000 PEOPLE ARE HELD RIGHT NOW, OVER 50,000 PEOPLE.
I I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, BUT IF WE COULD, UM, KEEP IT SO WE CAN KEEP THE MEETING GOING.
RIGHT NOW, OVER 50,000 PEOPLE ARE HELD IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION AND OVER 10,000 OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.
RAICES SEES ROUGHLY 10% OF THE CHILDREN THAT COME THROUGH THIS SYSTEM ANNUALLY, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO HELP GET THEM OUT AND PUT OURSELVES OUT OF A JOB.
WE HAVE A DUTY AND A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT AN END TO THE RAPID GROWTH OF THIS BROKEN SYSTEM.
PRIVATE COMPANIES LIKE VISIONQUEST ONLY WANT TO SEE IT GROW AND GROW.
LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING.
ALL O R R FACILITIES LIKE VISIONQUEST ARE DETENTION CENTERS, NOT SHELTERS.
THEY WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON THE BRIGHT BEDSPREADS AND THE FAMILY REUNIFICATIONS.
BUT WHAT WE KNOW FROM WORKING INSIDE OF THESE FACILITIES FOR MORE THAN A DECADE IS THAT FOR EVERY CHILD INSIDE THERE IS AN ICE PROSECUTOR ATTEMPTING TO DEPORT THAT CHILD.
UH, WE NEED TO VERIFY MS. PENAS TIME.
FROM THE MOMENT OF THE RI THERE'S A NICE PROSECUTOR FOR EVERY CHILD WHO'S SEEKING TO DEPORT THAT CHILD BACK TO THE COUNTRY THAT HE OR SHE FLED.
FROM THE MOMENT THE CHILD ARRIVES INSIDE THE FACILITY, THE RACE IS ON AND IT IS ON GROUPS LIKE RAICES, NOT VISION QUEST TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE COLD MACHINERY OF THE IMMIGRATION COURTS.
MOREOVER, WE KNOW NOW THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED BY THESE FACILITIES IS SHARED WITH ICE AND HAS BEEN USED TO TARGET WOULD-BE CHILDREN'S SPONSORS FOR ARREST AND DETENTION.
THEY GET THE INFORMATION AND GIVE IT TO H H S H H SS GIVES IT TO ICE AND ICE RUNS IT THROUGH SOFTWARE DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM BY THE BIGGEST TECH COMPANIES IN THE WORLD, AND IT PROVIDES A ROADMAP FOR THE ARREST, DETENTION, AND DEPORTATION OF EVERYONE THEY KNOW.
IN THE UNITED STATES, WE'VE SEEN WAVES OF THESE SO-CALLED SPONSOR RAIDS OCCUR UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, AND IT HAS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS COMING FORWARD TO SPONSOR THEIR RELATIVES.
THIS HAS THE RESULT OF INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF TIME CHILDREN SPEND IN DETENTION AND INCREASES THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO GIVE UP ALL HOPE FOR RELEASE AND ASK TO BE DEPORTED BACK TO THE COUNTRIES THEY FLED.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT INCREASINGLY THE CHILDREN BEING SENT TO H H S FOR THIS TYPE OF DETENTION HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES AT THE BORDER.
EVEN AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOMINALLY STOPPED THE FAMILY SEPARATION POLICY, WE CONTINUE TO SEE SEPARATED CHILDREN IN DETENTION.
THESE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THEIR FAMILIES PLACED IN DETENTION AND DEPORTATION COURT PROCEEDINGS ALONE, AND THE FAMILIES ARE FORCED TO PAY EXTREMELY HIGH LAST MINUTE TRAVEL FEES TO GET THE CHILDREN BACK.
IT MAY BE LEGAL OR IN THIS CASE A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, BUT FOR THE FAMILIES THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO WHO ARE PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET THEIR CHILDREN BACK, THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THEY KNOW A SHAKEDOWN WHEN IT HAPPENS TO THEM BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO THEM AT EVERY POINT IN THIS PROCESS.
THEY HAVE SAID THAT ONE OF THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE IS ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES, BUT AGAIN, I MUST REMIND YOU, THAT'S ME, NOT THEM.
THEY ONLY HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO LET MY LAWYERS IN.
THE QUESTION I WOULD ASK YOU TO ASK THEM IS IF THERE IS A CHILD IN THEIR CARE WHOM THEY KNOW IS GONNA DIE, IF THEY'RE SENT BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY, WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO TO STOP IT? NOTHING.
IT'S THEIR JOB TO DELIVER THOSE CHILDREN TO ICE TO BE DEPORTED.
THE SECOND AND FINAL QUESTION I WOULD ASK YOU TO ASK THEM IS, WHY DON'T THEY SEEK NONPROFIT STATUS AS A NONPROFIT? THEY WOULDN'T PAY SALES TAX.
WHERE ARE THEY MAKING THAT PROFIT? HOW ARE THEY GETTING THAT EXTRA MONEY? IT'S THE KIDS WHO ARE PAYING.
JACQUELINE EMERSON, FOLLOWED BY NETTE BRAGG.
FOR THOSE STANDING IN THE AISLE, IF WE CAN HAVE YOU FIND A SEAT.
THERE'S A ROW OF SEATS IN THE FRONT AS WELL.
WE DON'T WANNA BLOCK THE FIRE DOORS.
JACQUELINE EMERSON, 1 1 4 0 2 4 SQUARE.
I ASK YOUR SUPPORT AS WE, THE MEMBERS OF SECOND BAPTIST CONTINUE OUR MANDATE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ALL PERSONS WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, RELIGION, CREED, OR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, AND ALLOW VISION QUEST TO PARTNER WITH US TO PROVIDE A CLEAN, SAFE, WHOLESOME HABITAT FOR CHILDREN WITH LITTLE HOPE, WITH OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE THAT NO CHILD BE FURTHER VICTIMIZED.
OUR NATION HAS A HISTORY OF WELCOMING THE TIRED, POOR HUDDLE, THE MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE INDIVIDUALS CROSSING THE ATLANTIC TO OUR EASTERN SHORES, BUT AS WE SPEAK, ERECTING WALLS FOR THOSE SOUTH OF OUR BORDER, BARRIERS TO THOSE FROM SOUTHERN NATIONS, EVEN TO THOSE FROM WHOM THIS STATE WAS CARVED.
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INTERESTING DICHOTOMY.WE ARE POLITICALLY DIVERSE CONGREGATION RESIDENTS FROM DISTRICTS ACROSS THE CITY DETERMINED TO CONTINUE OUR MINISTRY OF HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS.
JOIN US AS WE SET ASIDE OUR PERSONAL AND POLITICAL ALLEGIANCES AND AGENDAS, AND CHANGE THE NARRATIVE FOR THE FUTURE OF HOMELESS CHILDREN.
NETTE BRAGG, FOLLOWED BY ERICA BRADLEY.
REEDS DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE AND THEY THAT LOVE IT SHALL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF AS A PROUD, PRODUCTIVE RESIDENT BORN AND RAISED ON THE EAST.
DO YOU MIND STATING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? I'M SO SORRY.
AS A PROUD, PRODUCTIVE RESIDENT, BORN AND RAISED ON THE EAST SIDE, TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED SITE, I CHOOSE TO SPEAK LIFE AND EAT THE FRUIT OF LIFE.
MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE VISION QUEST PROGRAM IS NOT A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN.
MY RESEARCH ALSO INDICATES THAT NUMEROUS CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HARMED AND SOME HAVE EVEN DIED UNDER VISION QUEST.
WATCH MY RESEARCH FURTHER INDICATES THAT IF APPROVED, THERE IS NO LIMIT ON HOW LONG THIS PROJECT COULD BE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
APRIL 20TH, 2012, AT 3:00 AM I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THAT MY 85 YEAR OLD FATHER'S HOME WAS INVADED.
WHEN I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, I WAS ADVISED THAT HE HAD BEEN SHOT HOG TIED AND LEFT TO DIE IN HIS HOME TWO BLOCKS FROM THE PROPOSED SITE.
I STAND TODAY FOR THAT 92 YEAR OLD MAN THAT STILL LIVES IN HIS HOMESTEAD AT THREE 11 AETNA, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
THAT OLD MAN THAT SURVIVED THAT INVASION, I STAND TODAY SPEAKING THAT NO PROJECT SHOULD BE APPROVED IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT COULD BE HARMFUL TO THE CITIZENS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
ONE OF MANY OF HIS SAYING TO HIS FIVE GIRLS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TTA ALL MONEY IS NOT GOOD MONEY.
SO I GO BACK TO SAY, DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE, AND THEY THAT LIVE THAT LOVE IT SHALL EAT FROM THE FRUIT THEREOF.
I CHOOSE TO SPEAK ON THE LOVE.
ERICA BRADLEY, FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH HERNANDEZ.
UH, MY NAME IS ERICA BRADY AND I LIVE ON 50 30 IN LOOP 1604.
UM, I JUST MOVED THERE, BUT I AM FROM THE AREA OF THREE 11 AETNA.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY SCRIPTURES.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I'M JUST SPEAKING FROM THE HEART.
UM, AND Y'ALL WANNA BRING THE VISION QUEST IN TO HELP KIDS THAT AREN'T EVEN FROM THAT COMMUNITY.
AND I'M ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN FROM THAT COMMUNITY AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE HELP TO THE POINT TO WHERE IT'S LIKE, I HAVE A SON NOW, SO LIKE Y'ALL ARE HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THAT ONE OUR COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU WANNA TALK INTO THE MIC? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
IT'S LIKE PEOPLE ARE GETTING KILLED IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
THEY SAY THEY HAVE STUFF FOR CHILDREN, BUT IT'S NOT EVEN ON THE SITE TO SEE IT.
SO IT'S LIKE, Y'ALL WANT US TO BE WITH THIS, BUT I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL, BUT IT'S LIKE WE HAVE CHILDREN IN THAT COMMUNITY.
I KEEP SAYING THAT, BUT WE HAVE CHILDREN IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT NEED HELP AND GANG VIOLENCE AND ALL OF THAT.
WE'VE CRACKED IT DOWN, BUT THEN YOU'RE GONNA BRING THIS BACK IN.
NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE GANGS, OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN LOOKING FOR THOSE KIDS.
DO Y'ALL NOT UNDERSTAND THAT? I MEAN, LIKE, I KNOW Y'ALL DO, BUT I'M JUST SAYING LIKE, NOW YOU'RE GONNA BRING EXTRA ACTIVITIES AND WE'RE ALREADY TRYING TO GET OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT? SO NOW Y'ALL BRINGING EXTRANESS IN, BUT Y'ALL CAN'T EVEN HELP THE COMMUNITY IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT Y'ALL WANNA HELP OTHER PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? LIKE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO ALL I'M ASKING IS, AS A COMMUNITY, WE SHOULD HELP OUR COMMUNITY FIRST BEFORE WE TRY 30 SECONDS, HELP ANY OTHER COMMUNITY.
I'M I'M AGAINST IT BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT EVEN TOGETHER FIRST.
SO HOW CAN WE STAND AS A COMMUNITY TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE AND OUR COMMUNITY IS FALLING? THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
DEBORAH HERNANDEZ, FOLLOWED BY ANNA ORTIZ.
BEFORE WE START, UM, JUST WANNA LET Y'ALL KNOW, UH, THESE MEETINGS ARE LIVE STREAMED.
[02:35:01]
FEEDBACK FROM THE MICROPHONE, WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK TOO CLOSE TO IT AND IT GETS LOUD, IT'S CAUSING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.SO TRY TO JUST STAY AWAY FROM THE MIC A LITTLE BIT.
IF WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, WE'LL RAISE THE VOLUME FROM THIS SIDE.
SO JUST TRY NOT TO GET TOO CLOSE TO THE MIC.
HI, UM, MY NAME IS DEBBIE HERNANDEZ.
UM, MY ADDRESS, YOU SAID 57 19 STONY BROOK.
UM, I COME, UM, I I WORK FOR RAICES AND I'M A MEMBER OF SA STANDS WHERE, UM, 27 CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS THAT HAVE UNITED, UM, TO STOP RACISM AND, AND THINGS IN THIS CITY.
UM, THE REASON THAT I'M SPEAKING HERE TODAY IS NOT SO MUCH THE LOCATION, UM, THAT Y'ALL ARE HAVING.
I MEAN, IF IN MY OPINION, AND, AND IT'S MINE, BUT I WORKED FOR THE BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOME.
I'VE WORKED WITH THE BAPTIST BEFORE.
IF IT WAS THE BAPTIST THAT WERE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THOSE, THOSE KIDS, I WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE STANDING RIGHT HERE BEFORE YOU, BUT I'M TELLING YOU ALL THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS THAT SHELL OF A BUILDING IS GOING TO, YOU'RE GONNA REZONE IT.
THAT SHELL OF A BUILDING IS GOING TO BE RENTED.
VISION QUEST IS RUNNING THIS FACILITY.
VISION QUEST HAS A LONG LIST OF HORRENDOUS ATROCITIES TOWARDS CHILDREN, TOWARDS ADULTS.
KIDS HAVE DIED THERE, LITTLE GIRLS HAVE BEEN RAPED.
IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL DOCUMENTED.
AND, AND, AND YOU CAN LOOK ON EVEN ON GOOGLE, LOOK IT UP.
YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE HAPPENED AND, AND THING AFTER THING AFTER THING HAS HAPPENED AND STILL IT EXISTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA BE TAKING CARE OF THESE KIDS.
THE SECOND THOSE KIDS WALK IN THAT BUILDING, THE DOOR SHUTS AND NOBODY GETS TO SEE THESE KIDS ANYMORE, 30 SECONDS EXCEPT THEIR LAWYERS.
SO HOW ARE YOU GONNA KNOW HOW THEY'RE TREATED LATER? SO YOUR NO IS GONNA SAVE KIDS.
DO NOT CHANGE THAT ZONING BECAUSE THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE LIVES OF ALL THOSE CHILDREN ON OUR HANDS, AND I PROMISE YOU THERE'S GONNA BE PICKETERS AND PEOPLE PROTESTING IN FRONT OF THAT BUILDING EVERY DAY UNTIL IT'S SHUT DOWN, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CONCENTRATION CAMP THAT WE'VE SHUT DOWN.
SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THAT TOO.
ANNA ORTIZ, FOLLOWED BY LEE GOODMAN.
I'M A LONGTIME DETAINED MIGRANT ADVOCATE AND ARTS PRACTITIONER.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING INNOVATION LAW LAB, THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER.
UM, I HAVE WORKED WITH DETAINED MIGRANTS IN D H SS, CUSTODY AND OR CUSTODY FOR OVER FOUR YEARS.
UM, I'M AVAILABLE TO EXTEND ANY EXPERT OPINION IF YOU FIND IT HELPFUL.
UM, BEFORE I BEG YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS REZONING REQUEST, I WANT TO REMIND YOU WHO THE CHILDREN DETAINED IN THIS FACILITY WILL BE.
THEY'RE THE SAME CHILDREN THAT HAVE DIED AT THE CRUEL NEEGLE NEGLECTFUL HANDS OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL.
THEY'RE THE SAME CHILDREN OF FAMILIES WHO ARE BEING FORCED TO WAIT IN MEXICO FOR THEIR ASYLUM HEARINGS AND IN DESPERATIONS SEND THEIR CHILDREN ACROSS ALONE IN ORDER TO ESCAPE THE DANGER OF THE VIOLENCE IN MEXICO.
THEY'RE INDIGENOUS CHILDREN, THEY'RE LOVED, THEY'RE PRAYED OVER THEIR CHILDREN.
LET ME REMIND YOU ALSO THAT THE MODELS TO OPERATE THESE CENTERS ARE MORE SIMILAR TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES THAN SHELTERS.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE OVERSIGHT.
LICENSING A SACRED SPACE UNDER THE PRETENSE OF HELPING THESE CHILDREN WOULD PROFOUNDLY DENY JUST HOW MUCH CAPACITY WE HAVE TO REALLY EMPOWER MIGRANT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
IT ALSO DENIES THE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE AS TEXANS TO THE THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS THAT ARE SUFFERING IN IMMIGRATION DE DETENTION CENTERS ACROSS OUR STATE.
IF A FACILITY WERE MIGRANT CHILDREN ARE HELD INDEFINITELY, IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE A COMMUNITY CAN EXERCISE THEIR KINDNESS, THEN WE HAVE FAILED THAT COMMUNITY.
INDEFINITE DETENTION OF CHILDREN IS INCARCERATION.
INDEFINITE DETENTION OF CHILDREN IS OBSCENE.
IT IS FAMILY SEPARATION AND IT IS VIOLENCE.
I ASK THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH THAT IF THEY ARE EARNEST IN THEIR INTENTIONS, 30 SECONDS TO HOLD, OPEN A MEETING TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE MIGRANT COMMUNITY AND HOW TO DO THIS WITHOUT PROFITING FROM THE VIOLENCE INFLICTED ONTO MIGRANTS.
COMMISSIONERS NOTE ONLY DO I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS REZONING REQUEST.
I PLEAD THAT YOU CONSIDER PROTECTING MIGRANT FA FAMILIES AND PLEDGE TO NO LONGER LET ANY IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITIES TO OPERATE IN THE CITY.
LEE GOODMAN, FOLLOWED BY SAMANTHA SMOTHERS, LEE GOODMAN.
I COME TO YOU FROM 2201 CENTER AVENUE IN NORTH BROOK, ILLINOIS AT THE INVITATION OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR TOWN BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL OF THE IMMIGRANT DETENTION CHILDREN'S FACILITIES AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, O R R, OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT,
[02:40:01]
WHICH IS THE ONE THAT ESTABLISHED THESE BUILDINGS.IT IS BEEN MY DELIGHT TO SPEAK WITH REVEREND EMERSON AND SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF HIS CHURCH SINCE I GOT TO TOWN.
IT SADDENS ME VERY GREATLY TO HEAR THAT THEY'RE BEING MISLED BY VISION QUEST AND IT ANGERS ME THAT THEY'RE BEING LIED TO BY THEIR OWN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEBPAGE FOR THIS CHURCH, THEY'VE GOT FAQS ABOUT THIS FACILITY AND IT SAYS, AND I'M GONNA QUOTE, SHOULD A CHURCH BE INVOLVED IN THE ORGANIZATION OF DETENTION FACILITIES FOR MIGRANT CHILDREN? NO.
YOU SEE, THESE PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH DETENTION BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD THIS IS NOT DETENTION.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE TRUTH IS, THAT THESE FACILITIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE PRACTICE IS THE SAME AT EVERY DOOR.
THERE'S A GUARD AND THE GUARD'S JOB IS TO MAKE SURE NONE OF THE KIDS CAN GET OUT AND THEY DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF IT BECAUSE ALMOST NONE OF THE KIDS EVER DO GET OUT.
AND THE WAY THEY DO IT, WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S DONE AT ALL THE PLACES, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT AT SOME OF THE PLACES, THEY DO IT SIMPLY BY INTIMIDATING AND FRIGHTENING THE CHILDREN AND THREATENING THEM THAT IF THEY TRY AND LEAVE, THEY WILL BE ARRESTED, THEY WILL BE, BE DEPORTED, AND THEY WILL NEVER SEE THEIR FAMILIES AGAIN.
NOW, EVERY SO SOME BRAVE CHILD DOES PUT HIS HAND ON THE DOOR TO LEAVE, AND AS SOON AS HE DOES THAT, THESE GUARDS CALL ICE OR BORDER PATROL OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE KIDS ARE ARRESTED AND EVERY KID INSIDE THAT FACILITY KNOWS THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED.
AND THAT'S WHY VERY FEW OF THEM TRY TO LEAVE 30 SECONDS.
THEY CALL THIS A TEMPORARY MIGRANT CHILDREN'S HOUSING FACILITY.
THIS IS A MISCHARACTERIZATION OF THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF WHAT THEY'RE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD REJECT THIS APPLICATION.
IT'S A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE APPLICATION.
SAMANTHA SMOTHERS, FOLLOWED BY ALLIE JACKSON.
TODAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M SAMANTHA SMOTHERS AND I'M FROM DISTRICT SIX.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY TO YOU THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU SIT WERE GENERATIONS BEFORE YOU HAVE SAT AT THE CRUX OF HISTORY, YOU MAY THINK THAT THIS IS MERELY A ZONING ISSUE.
YOU MAY BE SAYING TO YOURSELF THAT THIS IS NOT A MORAL ISSUE.
THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.
THIS IS JUST ABOUT A BUILDING.
BUT DO YOU REALLY WANNA BE SITTING WHERE THE PEOPLE OF NIERENBERG WERE SITTING WHEN THEY SAID, I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB.
I DON'T WANT TO OPEN THE HISTORY BOOKS AND SEE SAN ANTONIO LISTED UNDER THE NAMES OF PLACES RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
I DON'T WANT TO LOOK GRANDCHILDREN IN THE EYE AND TELL THEM THAT I JUST SAT BACK AND DID NOTHING TO STOP THIS.
DID NOT THE SON OF MAN SAY I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT.
I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK.
I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU INVITED ME INTO YOUR HOME.
TRULY, I TELL YOU, WHATEVER YOU DID FOR ONE OF THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS, YOU DID FOR ME TO ECHO THINGS WE HAVE ALREADY ALREADY HEARD IN THIS PRESENTATION.
VISION QUEST AND COMPANIES LIKE THEM, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN MAKE.
THEY CALL IT A SHELTER, BUT THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE NOT FREE TO COME AND GO AS THEY PLEASE.
AS STATED, ANY CHILD WHO DARES TO LEAVE HAS THE SHERIFF OR ICE CALLED ON THEM SECONDS.
AND THOSE 30 SECONDS STILL INSIDE THE WALLS ARE THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION BACK TO HORRIBLE WAR ZONES.
SHOULD THEY ATTEMPT THE SAME? IF VISION QUEST CARES SO MUCH ABOUT CHILDREN, THEN WHY ARE THEY NOT A NON-PROFIT? WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER.
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S PROFITS OVER PEOPLE.
SO DON'T JUST DO YOUR JOBS, DO THE RIGHT THING.
ALLIE JACKSON, FOLLOWED BY SHERLETTA PLUMBER.
I, UH, MY ADDRESS IS 82 0 2 MANUALLY PLACE AND I LIVE IN CONVERSE, BUT I'M A A MEMBER OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
I'M A DEACON AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
AND, UH, FROM THE INDIVIDUALS I'VE HEARD THUS FAR, UH, THERE'S A, A LOT OF CONTROVERSY, A LOT OF MISINFORMATION BEING PROPAGATED HERE.
NOW, WE AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, WE ARE A GREAT CHURCH.
WE, AS A PASTOR MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, WE, NEXT MONTH WE'LL BE OBSERVING OUR HUNDRED AND 40TH ANNIVERSARY, AND THAT'S 140 YEARS OF A BODY OF CHRISTIAN FOLLOWERS, UH, DOING AND DOING THE WILL OF GOD.
[02:45:01]
WAS UP HERE JUST A MOMENT AGO, SHE, UH, INTRODUCED A VERY SIGNIFICANT PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE THAT JESUS GAVE TO HIS, HIS APOSTLES.AND IN IT, HE WAS SAYING THIS, THAT WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER INDIVIDUALS WHO MORE OR LESS, UH, ARE INDEED THEN YOU, IF YOU CAN HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS THAT INDIVIDUAL, AND THAT IS TO REACH OUT AND PROVIDE, WHETHER IT'S SHELTER, WHETHER IT'S FOOD, WHETHER IT'S SAFETY OR SECURITY, WHATEVER YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, THIS IS WHAT JESUS SAYS IN THAT PARTICULAR PARABLE.
NOW, MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS PARTICULAR ROOM DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
UH, I DIDN'T MIGRATE FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU DIDN'T DO THAT EITHER.
BUT THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS LIKE THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, WHO, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE 30 SECONDS.
THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE OF THEIR OWN.
WE AT SECOND BAPTIST, NOW WE'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW SOME OF THE MORE OR LESS THE, THE, THE MODEL OF THIS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND THAT IS THEY HAVE HAVEN FOR HOPE WHERE THEY PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY LOOK OR WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE THE, THE COMMUNITY CAN DO, AND THIS IS WHAT SECOND BAPTIST IS INTERESTED IN.
AND IF WE CAN DO THAT JUST TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ENCOUNTER, WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THAT SCRIPT THAT THE WORDS THAT JESUS ISSUED TO HIS APOSTLES SAYING THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, YOU CAN'T DO IT TO ME DIRECTLY, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE AMONG YOU WHO CAN ABSORB AND CAN USE THE HELP.
THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR OWN HANDS.
SHERLETTA PLUMMER, FOLLOWED BY ALAN JACKSON.
MY ADDRESS IS 50 27 STONEY DRIVE.
I'M RELINQUISHING MY TWO MINUTES TO MRS. PLUMMER.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY, UH, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A LETTER THAT I'VE WRITTEN TO THE MAYOR WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, IF I MAY.
YES, AS LONG AS IT'S IN YOUR TIME ALLOTTED.
I LIVE AT 34 52 CHATEAU DRIVE, AND I AM A RE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US, YOU KNOW, TO SPEAK.
UM, ONE THING, UM, I GUESS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT I THINK WE'VE ALL GOOGLED SOMETHING ABOUT VISION QUEST ON GOOGLE.
AND THE SAD THING IS THAT SOMETIMES, UM, AT LEAST THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN OF, UH, MENTION ON FACEBOOK AND OTHER THINGS, I DON'T DO FACEBOOK, BUT I LOOK AT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SHARE WITH ME.
UM, IT'S JUST KIND OF SAD THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT IS NOT TRUE.
I FEEL THAT VISION QUEST AND SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH HAVE BEEN TREATED ARBITRARILY AND CAPRICIOUSLY BY CERTAIN, UH, GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS.
OUR HONOR, INTEGRITY HAS BEEN DISPARAGED UNFAIRLY, I THINK AS A TEACHER OF 38 YEARS.
AND YOU, WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW THAT ANY AGENCY, ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY, ANY GROUP, ANY CLUB, ANY ORGANIZATION MAY FROM TIME TO TIME HAVE PROBLEMS WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO DO WRONG, BUT THERE IS A WAY TO REDRESS THOSE WRONGS, AND I'VE SEEN IT DONE.
NOW, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT VISION QUEST HAS TWO CAMPUSES IN THE CITY, AND IF THAT'S CORRECT, 30 SECONDS, IF THAT'S CORRECT.
I HAVE NOT SEEN OR HEARD ANY EVIDENCE OF SOME OF THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN.
WE'VE ALL BEEN APPALLED BY THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN ON TELEVISION.
WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, IN THESE, UM, WELL, THE CAGES THAT WERE ON THE BORDER, I DON'T ENVISION THAT HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
UM, I WAS A CHILD ONCE WHOSE MOTHER DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES, COULD NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF ME.
MY THEY WERE, MY FATHER AND MOTHER WERE DIVORCED.
HE WAS A COACH AND EDUCATOR, KNEW NOTHING ABOUT WHERE I WAS, BUT THANKFULLY, THANKFULLY THERE WAS A CHURCH ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDED FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, AND EDUCATION FOR ME.
UM, AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AND THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND VISION QUEST, THAT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ON TV AND WHAT WE HAVE READ ON GOOGLE ABOUT PHILADELPHIA AND CALIFORNIA WOULD NOT BE
[02:50:01]
HAPPENING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.I THINK EVERY, UH, VISION QUEST DESERVES, YOU KNOW, DUE PROCESS.
I THINK THE CHURCH WORKING WITH VISION QUEST WOULD BE AN INCENTIVE FOR THOSE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT WE HAVE READ AND SEEN.
NOT TO HAPPEN, I HAD SOME RESERVATIONS, BUT THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT, I REMEMBER MYSELF BEING A CHILD WHO DIDN'T HAVE EITHER PARENT IN 1963 UNTIL MY MOTHER WAS EVENTUALLY GIVEN, UH, CUSTODY AND MY FATHER WON CUSTODY OF ME.
BUT THAT WAS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE I, I LIVED IN AN ORPHANAGE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS MY MOTHER COULD TAKE CARE OF ME UNTIL MY FATHER RECEIVED CUSTODY.
I AM ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THE ZONING CHANGE FOR SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
AND REMEMBER THAT IT IS 30 SECONDS IS THE CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN WHO ARE THE POLITICAL FOOTBALL HERE.
AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BAD, REALLY BAD, NOTHING I WOULD WANNA SEE OR SUPPORT, I DON'T THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT IN THE SECOND BAPTIST FACILITY.
ALAN JACKSON, FOLLOWED BY SIMONE ISAM.
I LIVE AT 1950 UNIVERSAL CITY BOULEVARD IN UNIVERSAL CITY.
I I'M A MEMBER, I'M A MINISTER AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH AND I SERVE AS ASSISTANT TO THE PASTOR.
I CAME TO SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THE WORK AND THE MINISTRY THAT THEY DO IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, EVERY DAY, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, UH, WE RECEIVE CHILDREN FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, FOR AFTER SCHOOL.
WE HELP THEM WITH THEIR HOMEWORK.
UM, EVERY SUMMER DURING OUR, WHEN THEY'RE OUT OF SCHOOL, WE HAVE A FIVE WEEK CAMP.
CHILDREN COME EVERY DAY FROM 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM THEY RECEIVE A BREAKFAST, LUNCH, A SNACK, BIBLE STUDY, COMPUTER CLASS, ARTS AND CRAFTS DANCE.
UH, AND WE CHARGE THEM THE WHOPPING FEE OF $5 A WEEK.
UM, I SAY THAT TO SAY THIS, THAT, UH, OUR MISSION AND OUR OUR WORK IS ABOUT HELPING CHILDREN, ABOUT HELPING FAMILIES, ABOUT, UH, DOING THE THINGS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, THIS, UH, THIS VENTURE, THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH VISION QUEST, UH, WE BELIEVE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MORE KIDS AND TO ASSIST MORE KIDS IN RECEIVING, UH, AGAIN, SHELTER, FOOD EDUCATION ASSISTANCE, UH, ANY KIND OF HELP THAT THEY WOULD STAND IN NEED OF.
SO I, I STAND BEFORE YOU ASKING THAT YOU WOULD APPROVE OUR REQUEST AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
SIMONE ISOM, FOLLOWED BY JAMES HUDSON.
MY NAME IS NANCY RIDGE, 8 3 1 4 GLEN SHADOW AND I'M DELEGATING MY TIME TO SIMONE ISAM.
MY NAME IS SIMONE ISAM AND I LIVE AT 59 46 WHISPERING LAKE, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
I AM A RETIRED EDUCATOR WITH 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WHERE OVER 25 OF THOSE YEARS HAVE BEEN TEACHING ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
SAM HOUSTON, SS J DAVIS, AND RETIRED FROM HIGHLANDS.
I HAVE ENJOYED LIVING AND GROWING UP ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
I FURTHER ENJOYED 60 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH BEFORE ME.
TWO OTHER GENERATIONS OF MY ANCESTORS WERE MEMBERS DATING BACK TO THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
I CAN PERSONALLY REMEMBER IN 1967 WHERE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EVICTED SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH FROM CHESTNUT STREET BECAUSE THEY WERE MOVING IN IH 37 HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF THE ALAMO DOME.
SECOND BAPTIST GLADLY CONFORMED TO THEIR REQUEST AND ANXIOUSLY FOUND THE BUILDING.
WELL THE ACREAGE ON 33 10 EAST
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COMMERCE STREET.AT THAT, THAT TIME THE PASTOR WAS REVEREND SS H JAMES.
OUR INTENT IN MOVING TO 33 10 EAST COMMERCE STREET WAS TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY ON THAT EAST SIDE.
IT WAS REVEREND JAMES DREAM AND FURTHER, REVEREND JIMON CARRIED OUT THAT VISION AND BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY CENTER TO FRUITION IN 2011.
DURING OUR 139 YEARS IN EXISTENCE, WE HAVE NEVER HAD THE REPUTATION OF PROPERTY OFF OF ANYONE OR ANY ORGANIZATION.
OUR MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO HELP OTHERS.
FOR INSTANCE, ON A WEEKLY BASIS, RESIDENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY COME AND RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR UTILITIES AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY NEED.
EVERY YEAR WE GIVE AWAY 100 TURKEY DINNERS TO THE COMMUNITY WITH ALL THE SIDES AND THE TRIMMINGS AS WELL AS FOOD, CLOTHING, TOYS FOR KIDS.
WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE LOVE CHILDREN.
WE OPEN OUR COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE SUMMERS AND WINTER BREAKS BECAUSE WE LOVE CHILDREN.
SECOND BAPTIST BELIEVES IN NURTURING CHILDREN NOT FOR PROFIT, BUT BECAUSE WE LOVE CHILDREN, OF COURSE, ME BEING AN EDUCATOR FOR 35 YEARS, I LOVE CHILDREN.
WE'VE ALL SEEN THE PICTURES AT THE BORDER OF THE CHILDREN WHO DON'T SEEM TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM SAFE AND COMFORTABLE, BEDS AND COMFORTABLE SURROUNDINGS IN A FACILITY THAT WILL LET THEM WAIT FOR THEIR PARENTS OR RELATIVES TO COME AND PICK THEM UP.
THIS PROJECT THAT WE ARE EMBARKING ON IS GOING TO PUT 41 PEOPLE IN JOBS, CREATE JOBS FOR 41 PEOPLE ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, WHETHER IT BE TEACHERS, TEACHERS ASSISTANTS, NURSES, FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, SECURITY, ET CETERA.
I THINK THAT IS A VERY GOOD PLUS 30 SECONDS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE IS AN OUTSIDE PLAY AREA WHERE THEY CAN HAVE SUNSHINE.
ALSO, THIS WILL NOT BE A DETENTION CENTER BECAUSE THESE CHILDREN HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.
SECOND BAPTIST MEMBERS STAND READY AND WILLING TO HELP WHENEVER HELP IS NEEDED.
AND WE CAN GO INTO THE BUILDING, WE CAN SUPERVISE AND MONITOR IN THAT BUILDING AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
I WENT TO SCHOOL ON THE EAST SIDE.
WE LOVE CHILDREN AND IT IS NOT FOR PROFIT.
JAMES HUDSON, FOLLOWED BY GERALD BILLS.
UM, I LIVE AT 59 54 KISSING OAKS SAN ANTONIO.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS.
I APPROACH YOU THIS AFTERNOON WITH A HEAVY HEART.
I HAD NO IDEA THIS ZONING COMMISSION WOULD BE, UH, THIS INTENSE.
I FEEL LIKE SECOND BAPTIST AND VISION QUEST ARE ACTUALLY ON TRIAL RIGHT NOW AS OPPOSED TO LISTENING TO WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
BUT OUR MISSION AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH IS TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND CLOTHING FOR THOSE IN NEED.
WE WANT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR GOODNESS WITH THE CHILDREN.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE COMING FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER.
WE OPEN UP OUR HEARTS AND OUR DOORS TO DO THAT, TO PROVIDE THOSE THINGS THAT THEY NEED.
THOSE SHELTERS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT IT IS NOT OUR INTENT TO DO OR FOLLOW UP OR CONDONE ANY OF THOSE ACTS OR THOSE THINGS.
OUR INTENTIONS ARE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN SERVE OUR GOD.
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I ASK YOU FOR APPROVAL OF THIS MEASURE SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN THAT ARE COMING WITHOUT PARENTS AND WE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE.GERALD BILLS FOLLOWED BY SELENA PRI.
UM, MY ADDRESS IS 7,600 WEST MILITARY DRIVE TRAILER 44.
OKAY, SO, UM, I'VE HEARD THAT YOU DON'T LIKE TO CONSIDER MORAL ARGUMENTS FOR OR AGAINST REZONING.
SO I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING EXISTING ORDINANCES.
ALCOHOL SALES CAN'T BE SOLD FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR OFF ANY PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN 300 FEET OF A SCHOOL AND SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES CAN'T OPERATE WITHIN 1000 FEET OF SCHOOLS.
NOW THE REASONING FOR THOSE ORDINANCES ISN'T EXPLICITLY STATED, BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH EFFORT TO GUESS THAT THE CITY BELIEVED THEY WERE NECESSARY TO PROTECT CHILDREN.
SO IN THE SPIRIT OF THESE ALREADY EXISTING ORDINANCES, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO REJECT THIS REZONING REQUEST, WHICH WOULD HURT CHILDREN BY FACILITATING THEIR PLACEMENT IN THE HANDS OF A CARETAKER WITH A KNOWN HISTORY OF ABUSE.
YOU AREN'T CUSTODY JUDGES, CHILD CUSTODY JUDGES, BUT TODAY YOU MAY AS WELL BE.
WOULD YOU AS A JUDGE PUT A CHILD IN THE CUSTODY OF SOMEONE WITH A KNOWN HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE? EVEN IF THAT PERSON PLEADED WITH YOU SAYING THOSE WERE ISOLATED INCIDENTS OR THEY HAD CHANGED.
MOST CHILDREN OR CUSTODY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO ARRIVED WITH THEM TO THE BORDER OR IS WAITING FOR THEM IN THE US THE FEW WHO DON'T HAVE FAMILY HERE BELONG WITH A CARETAKER.
THEY THEMSELVES WOULD CHOOSE IF THEY HAD ALL THE INFORMATION.
DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THESE KIDS WOULD VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE THIS FACILITY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THIS COMPANY? I AM NOT HERE TO QUESTION THE INTENTIONS OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
NOW, SOME WILL ARGUE THAT THE CHILDREN WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS WITH SECOND BAPTIST.
UNFORTUNATELY, SECOND BAPTIST IS NOT WHO IS TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS.
THEY'RE MERELY LEASING THE FACILITY DIVISION QUEST.
THEY WILL NOT HAVE OVERSIGHT THE FACILITY OR INFLUENCE OVER HOW THE CHILDREN ARE TREATED.
WHAT'S MORE THE GOAL OF CHILD DETENTION CENTERS LIKE THIS IS NOT TO TAKE CARE OF KIDS, BUT TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT TIME TO SEND THEM BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES BACK TO THE SAME VIOLENCE THEY SACRIFICE SO MUCH TO FLEE THAT IS WRONG.
REZONING TO ALLOW THIS FACILITY WILL HURT CHILDREN FAR MORE THAN A BAR OR A STRIP CLUB NEAR A SCHOOL.
SELENA GILBERT, FOLLOWED BY MARK VERITY.
OF COURSE, I'LL MAKE THAT CORRECTION FOR A CORRECT PRONUNCIATION.
I RESIDE AT 28 43 EAST HOUSTON STREET AND I AM ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IT SEEMS THAT ACTUALLY LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND I AM A SECOND GENERATION EASTSIDER AND BOTH MY NEPHEW AND NIECE WHO HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS BEING AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MEXICAN AMERICAN WILL BE THE THIRD GENERATION EASTSIDER AND FUTURE LEADERSHIP OF THAT COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I AM HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY SPEAKING OF ZONING, THE SOCIAL, THE MORAL ISSUES.
BUT I WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW HERE ON COMMISSION TODAY THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS ALREADY DIVERSE, DIVISIVE.
WE HAVE NO UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, BECAUSE THINGS ARE CHANGING AND BECAUSE OF THE GENTRIFICATION THAT IS HITTING OUR COMMUNITY STRAIGHT HEAD ON.
UM, IT HAS REALLY CREATED A WEDGE BETWEEN BOTH AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES THERE IN THE DISTRICT.
I AM OF THE BELIEF THAT HOUSING AND DETAINING CHILDREN, OR LIKE VERY MUCH THE GENTLEMAN WHO PRESENTED THE ZONING CASE ON BEHALF WHO STATED CONTAINED, UM, MEANS THAT THESE CHILDREN BE, WILL BE CONTAINED.
I DO HAVE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED THE BOARDROOM PROJECT, WHERE I WORK WITH YOUNG GIRLS OF COLOR TO GET MORE WOMEN ONTO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD AND SERVICE THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TEACH AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, BUT AT THE SAME TONE, I HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT UP THE STREET FOR THEM BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THEIR FUTURE AS THEY SEE AND WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL WITH YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE IN THE POSITION AND PROBABLY GOING TO FIND THEMSELVES, UM, POTENTIALLY KNOWING PEOPLE OR CHILDREN WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAS ALREADY CREATED SUCH A HUGE WEB WEDGE BETWEEN NOT ONLY OUR CULTURES, OUR LANGUAGE, UH, BUT NOW WILL INCLUDE HOUSING.
AND YOU KNOW, REALLY AS WE DON'T CONTINUE TO FIGHT OR UNITE, NONE OF US WILL HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE IN THE EAST SIDE, UM, UN UNLESS YOU ARE CONTAINED WITHIN A BUILDING.
MARK CL OR VERITY, FOLLOWED BY ALEX BURNELL IS THERE.
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BURNELL, COME ON UP.I LIVE AT 3 0 9 WEST MAGNOLIA AVENUE AT APARTMENT TWO.
I'M THE ADVOCACY MANAGER AT MOVE TEXAS.
MOVE TEXAS BUILDS POWER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.
WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE MOVE TEXAS IS AN EAST SIDE INSTITUTION.
WE'VE KNOCKED DOORS IN THAT COMMUNITY, TALKED TO VOTERS ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES, AND WE RECEIVE NOTHING BUT HOSPITALITY AND KINDNESS FROM THAT COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, AS AN EAST SIDE INSTITUTION, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMAIN VIGILANT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND AS A MEMBER OF SA STANDS, A COALITION THAT SEEKS TO MITIGATE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN JAIL TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF CUSTODY AND DETENTION CENTERS.
WHEN WE HEARD OF QUEST'S INTENTION TO COME TO THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, WE HAD TO STAND UP.
WE HAD TO TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE HAD TO LET THEM KNOW THAT OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 10 TO 17 WOULD BE PUT BEHIND CLOSED WALLS AND BE POTENTIALLY BE SUBJECT TO ABUSE.
AND THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL, RIGHT? THIS IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN DO THE RESEARCH NEEDED TO BE DONE.
IT WAS SAID, DO WE KNOW WHO WE'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH? VISION QUEST HAS A TRACK RECORD OF ABUSE.
THIS COMPANY HAS PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT THEY'RE NOT THE RIGHT PROVIDERS OF CARE.
MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE RELIEF, THE ALLEVIATION, AND THE CARE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS SITUATION DEEPLY NEED.
VISION QUEST IS NOT THAT COMPANY.
SO AS MOVE TEXAS, ALONG WITH SA STANDS, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR Y'ALL TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR PILLARS OF SUPPORT IN A SYSTEM, YOU CAN EITHER CHOOSE TO VOTE THIS UP OR VOTE THIS DOWN.
AND IF SOMEBODY SAID, YOU DON'T JUST WANT TO DO YOUR JOB, I KNOW THAT THE PURVIEW OF THIS IS JUST TO CONSIDER BUILDING CODES, ZONING CODES.
BUT YOU ENABLE, UH, A COMPANY TO COME TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO POTENTIALLY TO DO DAMAGE TO PEOPLE WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THIS CITY.
AND YOU SHOULDN'T ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
YOU SHOULD STAND WITH COMMUNITY AS THEY OPPOSE IT.
CARMEN VILLA, FOLLOWED BY IRAMA CSOS.
I RESIDE AT 15,802 WHITE CAP DRIVE 7 8 0 5 2.
MY NAME IS CARMEN BELLA AND I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE VISION QUEST REZONING REQUEST.
IN MARCH OF 2019, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OPENED THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER AS A TEMPORARY RESPONSE TO THE INFLUX OF ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO WERE RELEASED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ALONG THE US MEXICO BORDER.
AS OF JULY 20TH, 2019, OVER 25,000 MIGRANTS HAD BEEN HELPED.
THIS ALLOWED THE MANY PEOPLE WHO FELT IMMENSE EMPATHY TO TURN THAT EMPATHY INTO ACTION.
PEOPLE WERE CLOTHED, FED, AND KEPT SAFE.
THAT IS WHAT THE HISTORY BOOK SHOULD RECORD ABOUT SAN ANTONIO DURING THIS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS CAUSED BY RACIST AND CRUEL POLICIES.
THIS IS A LEGACY THAT SHOULD STAND NOT THE OPENING OF DETENTION CENTERS RUN BY VISION QUEST, A COMPANY WITH A HISTORY OF ABUSE, NEGLIGENCE, AND WORST OF ALL INDIFFERENCE.
SHOULD THE REZONING REQUEST BE APPROVED, THE CITY WOULD BE COMPLICIT IN THE HISTORICAL AND GENERATIONAL TRAUMA THAT WILL BE INFLICTED UPON THESE CHILDREN AND UPON THEIR FAMILIES WHO OFTEN CAN'T FIND OUT WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ARE.
THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE INTENTIONAL CRUELTY EMBEDDED IN THIS RACIST AND CRUEL POLICIES.
CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE INCARCERATED 30 SECONDS IF THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WAITING ON THEM.
THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ON THE BACKS OF BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES MUST STOP JUSTIFYING.
PROFITING OF THE PROFITING OFF THE BACKS OF BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANTS IS THE IMPACT OF BECOMING DESENSITIZED TO THEIR SUFFERING BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DEHUMANIZED
[03:10:02]
AND DEMONIZED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS ICE AND C B P LEADING US INTO THE DARKNESS AWAY FROM GOD'S GRACE.I CSOS FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM JOHNSON, CAN CALL I CSOS ON HOUSTON STREET, EAST HOUSTON.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE ZONING COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS WILLIAM B. JOHNSON.
I LIVE AT 43 10 BLOOMVILLE DRIVE SAN ANTONIO.
UH, IT SEEMS TO ME THIS SITUATION HAS, UH, IN A WAY GOTTEN OUTTA HAND.
IT'S, IT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.
A GROUP OF BELIEVERS WANT TO PROVIDE SHELTER TEMPORARILY FOR A GROUP OF, UH, YOUNG FELLAS FOR A GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, WHY IS THAT SUCH A PROBLEM? I, I FAILED TO SEE IT.
UH, IT SEEMS TO ME MOTION AND EVEN POLITICS HAS RAISED ITS HEADS IN A WAY THAT IS DETRIMENTAL IN THIS CASE.
AND I WAS HOPE IT'S NOT CONFUSING, UH, TO YOU AS COMMISSIONERS.
UH, THAT'S REALLY ALL THAT THAT THEY NEED.
THEY SIMPLY WANT A ZONE AND CHANGE IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE A DECENT SHELTER AND OF COURSE, RECREATION AND FOOD AND NURSING AND WHAT HAVE YOU TO A GROUP OF GUYS.
IF THEY DON'T DO IT, GUESS WHAT? SOMEBODY'S GOING TO DO IT.
SO THOSE WHO COME HERE AND STATE ABOUT THE FAULTS OF VISION QUEST AND WHAT THEY DID OR DID NOT DO 25, 30 YEARS AGO, WELL, PERHAPS, BUT THERE'S NO PERFECT COMPANY IN THE COUNTRY THAT I'M AWARE OF.
A CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, FOR EXAMPLE, IS IN BUSINESS TODAY.
THAT RECORD ISN'T TOTALLY, UH, CLEAN.
SO, UH, UH, I ASK THAT YOU REALLY LOOK AT THIS AS ADULTS AND, UH, BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO OVERTURN THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF.
I'M A FORMER MEMBER OF FIRE POLICE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
I CHAIRED THAT BODY AND I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO OVERTURN RECOMMENDATIONS BY STAFF, BUT ASK THAT YOU DO THAT THIS TIME.
SEE THE BIG PICTURE AND ALLOW THIS CHURCH TO PROVIDE AND DO WHAT THEY CAN DO BUSINESS.
UH, THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF DOING WHAT, UH, BEST FOR THEIR MANKIND.
SO WHAT I MEAN, WHY IS THAT SUCH A PROBLEM TO PEOPLE? UH, I ASK THAT YOU TWO MINUTES DO THE RIGHT THING.
DAVID SCHELL, FOLLOWED BY ELLI HARRIS, I THINK.
MY NAME IS DAVID SCHLOSS, FIVE 10 WEST GRAMERCY PLACE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGE.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE A STAND FOR OUR CITY, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE STAND ON THE DEHUMANIZATION AND DETENTION OF IMMIGRANTS AND PROFITING OFF THEIR BACK POLITICALLY AND FINANCIALLY.
I COME BEFORE YOU AS A JEWISH AMERICAN AND THESE QUESTIONS DO BRING TO MIND THE HOLOCAUST FOR ME.
47 OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WERE KILLED IN AUSCHWITZ IN ONE DAY IN THE GAS CHAMBERS FOR ME.
THESE DETENTION CENTERS MAY NOT BE THE DEATH CAMPS, BUT THE HOLOCAUST DID NOT BEGIN IN THE GAS CHAMBERS.
IT WAS A DECADE, A PATH IN THE 1930S STARTING WITH DE HUMAN DEHUMANIZING, I'M SORRY, DEHUMANIZING RHETORIC, RESTRICTIVE LAWS, POLICE AND BUREAUCRATIC VIOLENCE, DETENTION CAMPS, LABOR CAMPS, ET CETERA.
AND I WANNA TELL YOU A QUICK STORY.
IN THE FALL OF 1938, MY GREAT GRANDMAMA, RACHEL WENT TO THE MARKET IN BERLIN TO BUY FISH, AS SHE OFTEN DID FROM HER REGULAR FISH MONGER.
BUT THAT DAY SHE ARRIVED HOME AND SHE CUT OPEN THE FISH, AND INSIDE THERE WAS A NOTE.
IT SAID, THEY'RE COMING FOR YOUR MEN TONIGHT BECAUSE OF THE NOTE, RACHEL IMMEDIATELY SENT HER HUSBAND AND ELDEST SON INTO HIDING HER YOUNGEST SON.
THE NAZI OFFICERS CAME FOR THE MEN.
THEY RANSACKED THE PLACE LOOKING FOR THEM.
THEY INTERROGATED EACH OF THEM SEPARATELY AND THEIR STORY STOOD UP 30 SECONDS.
[03:15:01]
ULTIMATELY BECAUSE OF THE RIDING AND THE FISH, THEY ALL ES THE FOUR OF THEM ESCAPED GERMANY.AND JO JOINED AN UNCLE IN NEW JERSEY BECAUSE OF THE NOTE.
I'M HERE TODAY AND I THINK THIS STORY SHOWS US WE HAVE A CHOICE.
YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO ALLOW THE DEHUMANIZATION AND DETENTION MACHINE TO GO UNOBSTRUCTED.
YOU CAN USE YOUR POSITION TO VOTE NO IN A SENSE.
YOU CAN PUT A NOTE IN THE FISH.
ELLI RA FOLLOWED BY TERESA HU WHO? ELLI OR THERESA? NO.
SO MY NAME IS ADRIANA CASTRO AND I'M GIVING UP MY TIME TO THERESA.
MY ADDRESS IS 6 5 5 EAST HILDEBRAND AVENUE.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING, UH, COMMISSION MEMBERS.
UM, I'M AN ADVOCACY FELLOW FOR MOVE TEXAS AND A MEMBER OF, UH, SA STANDS.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST VISION QUEST ZONING REQUESTS.
THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ABUSE.
CHILDREN HAVE BEEN CHOKED, HIT AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.
ITS FACILITY IN PENNSYLVANIA WAS SHUT DOWN.
NEW MEXICO DENIED THEM A LICENSE WHEN THEY PROVIDED MISLEADING INFORMATION ABOUT PAST ABUSE ALLEGATIONS.
AND IF ANYTHING SHOULD BE CLEAR, VISION QUEST WON'T CHANGE SINCE THE EIGHTIES.
ROBERT BURTON, THE FOUNDER OF VISION QUEST, HAS MADE CALLOUS AND RACIST STATEMENTS THAT ALSO SHOW A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE CHILDREN.
HIS COMPANY CLAIMS IT IS TRYING TO PROTECT ACCORDING TO THE DAILY BEAST.
A 16 YEAR OLD WAS SENT TO A VISION QUEST FACILITY IN NEW MEXICO IN 1984.
HE REPORTED TO NURSES THAT HE FELT ILL, BUT THEY THOUGHT HE WAS LYING.
INSTEAD, HE WAS FORCED TO DIG A LATRINE WITH A DUST PAN IN HIS BARE HANDS AFTER THEY MADE HIM DO CALISTHENICS AND HE KEPT FALLING TILL HE DIED OF A PULMONARY EMBOLISM.
THE LA TIMES REPORTED THAT THIS EVENT HAPPENED FOUR DAYS AFTER ARRIVING AT THE CENTER.
IN RESPONSE, BURTON SAID, WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A MEDICAL ISSUE.
WE THOUGHT THE CHILD WAS A MALINGERER THE DAILY BEAST.
ALSO PORT REPORTED THAT BACK IN 1979, BURTON WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THE USE OF THE N-WORD IS NOT NECESSARILY IMPROPER.
WHEN THE DAILY BEAST ASKED HIM TO COMMENT ON THE COMPANY'S HISTORY, A SPOKESPERSON CALLED BACK SAYING THAT THE FOUNDER HAS NOT PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE COMPANY IN SEVERAL YEARS.
BUT ON VISIONQUEST WEBSITE, BOB BURTON IS LISTED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THIS BOARD OF THE BOARD.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, A VISIONQUEST EMPLOYEE TOLD THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER THAT BURTON WAS AT ONE OF THE FACILITIES IN PHILADELPHIA.
THE EMPLOYEE REPORTED THAT HE TOLD TWO OF HER LATINO COWORKERS TO STOP SPEAKING SPANISH AND HAD MADE A SIMILAR COMMENTS PREVIOUSLY.
IN RESPONSE, A SPOKESMAN TOLD THE DAILY BEAST THAT BURTON WAS TRAINING AS A VOLUNTEER.
IN MAY, W H Y Y PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE REPORTING THAT SEVERAL PAST AND CURRENT VISION QUEST EMPLOYEES IN PHILADELPHIA REPORTED EXPERIENCING A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT FEELING AS THOUGH THEY WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TRAINED FOR THEIR JOBS AND FELT THE FACILITY WAS NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT CHILDREN.
VISION QUEST WANTS MONEY SO LONG AS THERE'S AN IMMIGRATION POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES TO REMOVE CHILDREN FROM THEIR PARENTS.
VISION QUEST AND COMPANIES LIKE IT WILL THRIVE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY GET AWAY WITH DOWNPLAYING BURTON'S CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COMPANY.
ITS EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE AND ITS HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENTS FROM STATE GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THE FACT THAT A CHURCH IN THE EAST SIDE MUST RESORT TO SIGNING A DEAL WITH AN UNTRUSTWORTHY COMPANY TO PAY OFF DEBT SPEAKS TO THE STAGGERING ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN THE CITY.
IT ALSO SPEAKS YET AGAIN TO THE WEALTH VISION QUEST'S.
LEADERS STAND TO GAIN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH ITS $14 MILLION CONTRACT ACCORDING TO NEWS FOR SA MONEY POURED INTO DETAINING CHILDREN, RATHER THAN THE EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, THIS CITY AND MANY CITIES ACROSS THE NATION DESPERATELY NEED, I URGE YOU TO PLEASE VOTE AGAINST VISION QUEST ZONING REQUEST.
THANK YOU MARY GRACE KETNER, FOLLOWED BY SIMONE WASHINGTON.
MARY GRACE KETNER 1 0 9 FIRST STREET, AND I'M A MEMBER.
I'M A CO-CHAIR OF THE INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION.
WE ARE THE PEOPLE BEST KNOWN FOR WELCOMING MIGRANT FAMILIES AT THE SAN ANTONIO BUS STATION AND AIRPORT, UH, GIVING THEM BACKPACKS WITH SUPPLIES FOR THEIR JOURNEYS AS VOLUNTEERS OF MANY FAITH TRADITIONS, THE INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION IS CLEAR IN OUR PURPOSE OF CARING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN WHO ARE ALONE AND FEARFUL OF WHAT BROUGHT THEM TO OUR COUNTRY AND WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THEM NOW THAT THEY ARE HERE.
OUR VOLUNTEERS SINCE 2014 HAVE SPOKEN TO ALMOST 140,000 PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE HORRENDOUS ACCOUNTS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY AND DURING THEIR JOURNEY
[03:20:01]
TO THE UNITED STATES.WE DO NOT WANT TO ADD TO THEIR TRAUMA.
IT IS FOR THAT REASON THAT WE BELIEVE THEY DESERVE AND NEED THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE UNTIL THEY'RE REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS OR FAMILY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES VISION QUEST, THE FOR-PROFIT COMPANY THAT IS CONTRACTING WITH SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH HAS HAD REPEATED REPORTS OF ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR BY STAFF.
AS YOU HAVE JUST HEARD, SAN ANTONIO IS NOT THE KIND OF CITY THAT WOULD ALLOW COMPANIES TO MAKE A PROFIT OFF OF NEGLECT AND MISTREATMENT OF CHILDREN.
WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THE CHILDREN NEED A PLACE TO STAY AND, AND THEY'VE EITHER BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS OR THEY HAVE RELATIVES WAITING IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE BELIEVE THAT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH IS HONORABLE AND HAS ONLY THE HIGHEST EXPECTATION THAT THEY WILL BE HELPING THE CHILDREN BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR THEIR CARE 30 SECONDS UNTIL THEY CAN BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILY.
BUT SECOND BAPTIST IS NOT IN CHARGE OF THIS OPERATION.
THEIR MANY MINISTRIES SHOW THAT THEY ARE LOVING AND KIND, BUT WE BELIEVE THE RISK OF OF VISION QUEST BEING IN CHARGE IS TOO GREAT GIVEN THEIR RECORD OF NEGLIGENCE AND ABUSE.
PERHAPS THE CHURCH COULD ATTRACT AN ARRANGEMENT WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION.
WE ARE GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF THE CITY'S RECENT ACTION IN WELCOMING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES THROUGH THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT TRADITION OF HELPING MIGRANTS.
SIMONE WASHINGTON FOLLOWED BY YOU.
I LIVE AT ONE TRINITY PLACE, 7 8 2 1 2.
I STAND HERE AS A STUDENT OF TRINITY UNIVERSITY, A CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND AS A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE EAST SIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, MY CHURCH BACK HOME HAS AND DOES ENGAGE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT DO NOT INVOLVE COMPANIES WITH DOCUMENTED ABUSES.
WE HAVE DONE SO WITHOUT PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACCEPTING MILLIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THEIR DETAINING AND DEMONIZATION PROJECTS.
THOUGH I CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLICAL AND PHILANTHROPIC MOTIVATIONS THAT THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH HAS.
I DO BELIEVE AS HAS BEEN SAID THAT VISION QUEST HAS MISCHARACTERIZED THE NATURE OF THEIR BUSINESS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
OF COURSE, THE COMPANY WOULD NOT APPROACH THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH THAT THEY WANT TO PARTNER WITH, WITH VISIONS OF ABUSES, CHOKE HOLDS, SEXUAL ASSAULTS, ET CETERA.
BUT INSTEAD WITH A GLEAMING VIEW OF THE SERVICES AND AMENITIES, THEY WILL PROVIDE THE CHILDREN.
THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF WAYS TO FULFILL THE BIBLICAL MANDATE OF CARING FOR THOSE IN NEED, INCLUDING SUPPORTING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE RAICES OR VOLUNTEERING WITH THE INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION AT THE TRAVIS PARK MIGRANT SHELTER, OR EVEN THE BOARDROOM CENTER THAT THE YOUNG LADY MENTIONED BEFORE.
YUKIKO FOLLOWED BY NADINE MONGER.
HI, MY NAME IS KO YAMAZAKI AND I'M A TRINITY STUDENT.
AND SO I LIVE AT ONE TRINITY PLACE.
I ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE REZONING OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEFORE ME HAVE PRESENTED YOU WITH FACTS AND SENTIMENTS AGAINST VISIONQUEST, AND I URGE YOU TO TRULY CONSIDER THEIR ARGUMENTS.
I SIM I SYMPATHIZE WITH MIGRANT CHILDREN ALL OVER AMERICA WHO MAY GO THROUGH A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IN THEIR CHILDHOODS SPENT INSIDE OF DETENTION CENTERS, SUCH AS VISITING QUEST.
I SIMPLY DO NOT WANT, AND THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT FOR SAN ANTONIO TO BECOME A TRAUMATIZING PLACE FOR CHILDREN.
NADINE, FOLLOWED BY NOEL BARRERA.
HELLO, MY NAME IS NADINE MONGA.
SO I LIVE AT ONE TRINITY PLACE.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS NADINE MONGA AND I COME TO YOU ASKING TODAY THAT YOU VOTE AGAINST THE REZONING OF THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
DESPITE THE ASSERTIONS OF PRIOR SPEAKERS, A DETENTION CENTER WILL NOT BETTER THE LIVES OF THESE CHILDREN.
AS WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE NATION, WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP THAT FROM RECURRING IN OUR OWN CITY.
WE CAN EITHER STOP THE DEVALUATION OF THE LIVES OF CHILDREN THAT COMES FROM THESE FACILITIES OR SIT BACK AND ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN.
THERE ARE WAYS TO SUPPORT MIGRANT CHILDREN WITHOUT, WITHOUT ALLOWING VISION QUEST TO PROFIT OFF OF THEIR MISTREATMENT.
THERE ARE WAYS TO HELP THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE EAST SIDE WITHOUT MONEY FROM VISION QUEST.
[03:25:01]
BEFORE, THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE CHURCH, IT'S ABOUT VISION QUESTS.THE CHURCH IS ONLY THE BUILDING TO HOUSE THESE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENS WHILE THE CHILDREN ARE IN THEIR CARE.
DETENTION CENTERS DO NOT REFLECT THE VALUES OF SAN ANTONIO NOR THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY.
INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THIS REZONING THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THE, INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE REZONING OF THIS COMMUNITY CENTER AND ALLOWING VISION QUEST TO MOVE IN, WE SHOULD INSTEAD FOCUS ON THE REVITALIZATION OF THE EAST SIDE AND LET SECOND BAPTIST BE THE START.
NOEL BARRERA, FOLLOWED BY REBECCA FLORES.
HI, UM, MY NAME IS NOEL NOEL RA AND MY CURRENT ADDRESS IS ONE TRINITY PLACE, 7 8 2 12.
WHEN VIS, WHEN VISION QUEST OPENED UP ITS NEW DIRECTIONS SHELTER IN LOGAN PHILADELPHIA.
IN 2011, UH, INSPECTORS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOUND THAT BOYS AND GIRLS COMPLAIN, COMPLAINED THAT THEY WEREN'T PERMITTED ADDITIONAL PORTIONS OF FOOD, AND THAT DIRT AND ANIMAL DROPPINGS LITTERED THE STORE, LITTERED THE STOVE AREA IN 2014 AND 2015.
ACCORDING TO THE, ACCORDING TO THE PHILADELPHIA ENQUIRER, UH, THREE MEMBERS OF THE VI WEST STAFF IN THIS FACILITY HAD NO C P R OR FIRST AID TRAINING, AND FIVE HAD NO MEDICAL PROOF THAT THEY WERE FREE OF SERIOUS COMMUNICA, SERIOUS COMMUNICABLE DISEASES REQUIRED WHEN WORKING AROUND CHILDREN OR FOOD.
UH, SO FAR, THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH MEMBERS HAVE IMPLIED THAT WE ARE IGNORANT OF THE HISTORY OF VISIONQUEST.
BUT ALL BUT WHAT I HAVE READ RIGHT NOW IS A DIRECT QUOTE FROM THE PHILADELPHIA ENQUIRER.
AND IF THIS IS AN EXAMPLE FROM ONE SUCH FACILITY, LIKE, AND THERE ARE MANY MORE EXAMPLES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, WHY WOULD WE THINK THAT SAN ANTONIO WOULD BE DIFFERENT? UM, MY SECOND, MY SECOND COURSE OF ACTION HERE IS TO ASK EVERYONE A QUESTION, UM, TO TO YOU THE, TO, SORRY, TO YOU, THE COMMISSION MEMBERS AND ALSO TO, AND ALSO TO THE MEMBERS OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU LET YOUR CHILDREN ATTEND A DAYCARE OR A PRESCHOOL? WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THERE WAS A HISTORY OF 30 SECONDS OF, OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE AND LIKE EXAMPLES OF THE STAFF CHOKING AND HITTING CHILDREN IN THE FACE? NO.
THEN WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? TO, WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO LIKE COUNTLESS CHILDREN WHO HAVE ALREADY ESCAPED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES? WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS, AS, AS A CITY, AS A COMMUNITY TO DO BETTER AND TO DEMONSTRATE SOLIDARITY, NOT NOT BAKING QUEST, UM, DEFORMED, CORRUPT, UH, EXAMPLE OF CHARITY.
REBECCA FLORES, FOLLOWED BY ETH FLORES.
HELLO, MY NAME IS FATIMA MENENDEZ.
MY ADDRESS IS ONE 10 BROADWAY.
UM, MY NAME AS I MENTIONED IS FATIMA MENENDEZ, AND I'M A LEGISLATIVE ATTORNEY FOR MALDEF, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL, DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND TESTIFYING AGAINST VISION QUEST.
UH, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE YESTERDAY AT THE SUCCESSFUL UNIVERSAL CITY HEARING THAT WE HAD, I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE AN IMPASSIONED PLEA BY VISION QUEST AT THE END OF THIS HEARING, UM, ABOUT ALL OF THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
BUT BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY PRIOR TO MALDEF THAT WORKED FOUR YEARS REPRESENTING THE CHILDREN IN THESE FACILITIES, I'M HERE TO PRESENT YOU WITH FACTS BECAUSE I DO SPEAK FROM A LONG HISTORY OF EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TYPE OF FACILITY.
I'M HERE TO INFORM YOU THAT I KNOW MANY PEOPLE REFER TO THESE FACILITIES AS SHELTERS, BUT THEY ARE INDEED DETENTION FACILITIES.
AND I VISITED MY CLIENTS IN THESE FACILITIES MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK FOR FOUR YEARS.
THE CHILDREN ARE CONTAINED THROUGH VARIOUS SECURITY MEASURES, INCLUDING TALL FENCES, SECURITY CAMERAS, AND BAR DOORS AND WINDOWS.
ALTHOUGH THE CHILDREN DETAINED IN THESE FACILITIES ARE TYPICALLY AWAITING REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE PROCESS CAN TAKE MONTHS AND EVEN YEARS FOR SOME.
DURING THIS TIME, THE CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED A SHORT PHONE CALL WITH A FAMILY MEMBER ONCE A WEEK.
IT'S TYPICALLY 10 MINUTES, AND THEY ARE DENIED ACCESS TO MOST ACTIVITIES THAT BRING CHILDREN JOY AND HELPS 'EM TO DEVELOP MENTALLY.
I HAD SEVERAL CHILDREN ATTEMPT SUICIDE WHILE DETAINED IN THIS TYPE OF FACILITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
PART OF THIS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AVAILABLE TO THESE DETAINED CHILDREN.
I KNOW THAT THE HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE, PHYSICAL AND VERBAL HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED BY VISION QUEST AND THAT MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE SAID THAT REUNIFICATION WILL HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY, 30 SECONDS.
BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, UM, IS SEEKING IN A PROPOSAL TO DETAIN IMMIGRANT CHILDREN INDEFINITELY.
[03:30:01]
THIS PLAN, ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT'S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WOULD SEEK TO TAKE AWAY RECREATIONAL AND LEGAL AID PROGRAMS AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THESE DETAINED CHILDREN PLACES THESE CHILDREN AT AN EVEN GREATER RISK.I ALSO GREW UP ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, AND IT SEEMS REALLY, UH, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS COULD BE VERY DETRIMENTAL TO A COMMUNITY THAT ALREADY FACES A HIGHER RISK OF BEING ARRESTED AND DETAINED, UM, TO BUILD A, THAT'S MINUTES DETENTION FACILITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EAST SIDE.
RUBY WALKER, FOLLOWED BY VICTORIA RETI.
UM, I LIVE AT ONE TRINITY PLACE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, EVERYONE.
UM, THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ALL VERY GOOD PEOPLE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, SORT OF IN RESPONSE TO SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID EARLIER THAT, UM, JUST BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN ABUSES BY THIS COMPANY REPORTED IN THE PAST, BUT I DON'T WANT TO IMPLY THAT THAT IS, UM, IF SOMETHING HASN'T BEEN REPORTED RECENTLY THAT THAT MEANS IT ISN'T OCCURRING.
UM, ABUSE HAPPENS IN SILENCE A LOT OF THE TIMES.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THAT AND JUST SAY THAT, UM, YOU SHOULD VOTE AGAINST THIS FACILITY EXISTING IN SAN ANTONIO.
VICTORIA RETI, FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA ANAYA.
I RESIDE AT 9 7 0 3 EMERALD PLACE, 7 8 2 4 5.
I'M HERE WITH TRINITY UNIVERSITY.
WHEN YOU GO TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S WEBSITE, YOU CAN FIND THE CITY'S VALUES, ONE OF WHICH INCLUDES INTEGRITY.
BUT I'M HERE TO SAY THAT VISION QUEST DOES NOT REPRESENT THE VALUES OF SAN ANTONIO.
THEY DO NOT HAVE ONE OUNCE OF INTEGRITY IN THIS COMPANY, AND IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DECEIVE OUR COMMUNITY AND DECEIVE YOU.
'CAUSE MANY MEMBERS OF THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH HAVE COME UP HERE AND TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS, THIS DETENTION CENTER IS GOING TO BE GOOD AND A SAFER OPTION FOR THESE CHILDREN.
BUT IN FACT, THIS, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A SAFER OPTION.
IT'S GOING TO BE GOING FROM A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO AN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION.
AND WE HAVE REASON TO SEE THAT VISIONQUEST IS NOT A TRUSTWORTHY COMPANY BECAUSE AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE ME, VISIONQUEST HAS, WAS DENIED PERMITS IN NEW MEXICO BECAUSE THEY WERE LYING TO THE, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR, THEIR PAST ABUSES.
SO KNOW WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION TODAY, KNOW THAT VISION QUEST IS MOST LIKELY LYING TO US, LYING TO THE COMMUNITY AND LYING TO