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>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO OUR ZONING AGENDA.
ITEM 13 HAS BEEN POSTPONED, IT WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY. ITEM 23 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT AND ALSO WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CONTINUED TO DATES. WE HAVE ITEM 28 THAT WILL BE CONTINUED TO DECEMBER 7TH. THEN WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS THAT WILL BE CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 19TH. THOSE ARE ITEMS 5, 9, 18, 24, AND 26.
SO FAR I HAVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS THAT WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY.
ITEMS 10, 14 AND 15, ITEMS 19 AND 20, ITEM 27, AND ITEM 32.
ANY ITEM THAT I DIDN'T CALL OUT WILL BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA SO WE'LL TAKE THAT ALL UP IN ONE ACTION. SO THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS TIME.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW. IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA. IF YOU CAN GIVE ME A MOMENT, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CALL UP FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING ON CONSENT. OKAY. SPEAKING ON ITEM -- ITEMS 1, 2, 3, 4 AND THAT'S IT, JACK FINGER. ALSO ON 26, 36 AND 37.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. JUST TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS, YOU SUGGESTED 1, 2, 3, 4 AND ITEMS 26, DID YOU SAY, MR. MAYOR?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: 26. >> OKAY. YEAH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NO, I'M SORRY, JACK. I'LL CALL YOU UP FOR 26.
ALSO ITEMS 36 AND 37. >> 36 AND 37. I SHALL SPEAK RIGHT NOW YOU ARE SUGGESTING. OKAY, WELL, WE'LL TRY AND DO WHAT WE CAN WITH A MINUTE AND A HALF HERE. 36 AND 37. THIS IS A LONG AGENDA.
WELL, THE IDEA IS THAT, YOU KNOW, MR. WHYTE, I BELIEVE THIS IS IN DISTRICT 10.
IT'S ABOUT THE IDEA OF PUTTING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OVER ON TO THE NORTHEAST LOOP 410. THE BIG PROBLEM I HAVE WITH -- COUNCILMAN; THAT THE NOTICES THAT WENT OUT TO -- WITHIN 200 FEET HAD MENTIONED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. IT DIDN'T TELL THE RESIDENTS WITHIN 200 FEET WHAT KIND OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. WE'RE FINDING OUT IT'S GOING TO BE THAT FOR DRUG
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REHABILITATION WHO MAY HAVE BEEN IN PRISON. THAT'S FINE, BUT I THINK YOU MAY WANT TO POSTPONE THIS JUST TO LET THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW IN THAT AREA KNOW THAT IT REALLY IS FOR DRUG REHABILITATION AND NOT JUST SOMETHING SIMPLY FOR ORPHANED KIDS OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW. I THINK THEY REALLY WOULD WANT TO KNOW THE NATURE OF THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BEFORE THEY GIVE THEIR CONSENT TO THIS THING WITHIN 200 FEET THERE. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING HERE. NOW, ALSO, ITEMS 1, 2, 3 AND 4.THESE ARE ALCOHOL VARIANCES. MR. MAYOR, DID YOU SAY NUMBER 3 WAS EITHER
WITHDRAWN OR POSTPONED? I DON'T RECALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YES,
ITEM 3 IS POSTPONED. >> WELL, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE THAT'S RIGHT NEAR CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, AND YOU HAD SOME CONFLICTING OPINIONS ON
THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY, JACK.
ITEM 3 IS ON CONSENT. ITEM 13 WAS POSTPONED. >> NUMBER 3 IS POSTPONED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: 13. >> 13. WELL, CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, MS. KAUR, THIS IS IN YOUR AREA, THAT AND A COUPLE OTHER ALCOHOL RAINS.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO ALLOW TO BE SOLD WITHIN 300 FEET OF CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. HIGH SCHOOLS, THEY PASS BY THERE AND TEMPTED BY THE ALCOHOL. I MEAN, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH THIS?
WHY NOT SAY NO TO IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. JUST TO CLARIFY, ITEM 13 HAS BEEN POSTPONED, WILL NOT BE HEARD. ITEM 3 IS BEING CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALSO ON ITEM NUMBER 1, IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD, TONI
MARIE VAN~BUREN. >> HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M HERE ABOUT THE PROPERTY AT WOODLAWN AND LET ME READ A QUICK STATEMENT THAT WE ASK COUNCIL TO THINK ABOUT THIS REZONING REQUEST AS IT MIGHT PERTAIN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. WITH THE CITIZENS IN YOUR DISTRICT APPROVE OF HAVING A COMMERCIAL RETAIL BUSINESS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL STREET IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK I SENT EACH OF YOU
AN EMAIL YESTERDAY LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WE -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MS. VAN~BUREN, I CALLED YOU UP FOR ITEM NUMBER 1. I'LL CALL YOU UP AGAIN FOR
ITEM 18. >> I HEARD 10. I'M SORRY, I HEARD 10.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 1. >> I'M SIGNED UP FOR 10.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU ARE ALSO SIGNED UP FOR 10. I'LL CALL YOU UP AT THAT TIME. THANK YOU, TONY. ALL RIGHT.
I BELIEVE THAT IS EVERYTHING --O SIGNED UP ON ITEMS THAT REMAIN ON CONSENT.
ACTUALLY ONE MORE PERSON HAS SIGNED UP ON CONSENT. THAT'S CHRIS OBRECHT, YOU
ARE SIGNED UP TO ITEM 29? >> I BELIEVE SO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 29, YOU CAN DO THAT NOW. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M HERE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS DEVELOPMENT ON PEBBLE STREET AND MOONLIGHT WAY FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT REASONS. NUMBER 1, MY WIFE AND I AND A HANDFUL OF NEIGHBORS, SIX OR EIGHT OR TEN PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN THIS AREA OF WOODLAWN MANOR IN RELATIVE SECLUSION AND SOLITUDE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON HUEBNER ROAD. WE'VE ENJOYED THAT LIFESTYLE FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO DIVIDE THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS ON BOTH SIDES OF IT AND BE PLANTED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. IF IT GOES THROUGH, THE NOISE, THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, THE DIRT, THE DUST, AND NO TELLING WHAT ELSE, THE EQUIPMENT IS GOING TO DISRUPT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE ENJOYED LIVING THERE FOR FOR QUITE A WHILE, SEVERAL MONTHS, IF NOT LONGER.
NUMBER 2, AND I UNDERSTAND FROM LAURA THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A TRAFFIC STUDY BEFORE THIS THING GETS SIGNED OFF, RIGHT? IS THAT RIGHT? TRAFFIC STUDY? OKAY. ANYBODY THAT'S FAMILIAR WITH HUEBNER AND VANCE JACKSON AREA, THERE'S ONLY TWO STREETS THAT ARE GOING TO EXIT OFF THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. ONE OF THEM IS MOONLIGHT WAY, THE OTHER IS HONEYCOMB. HONEYCOMB IS HALF A BLOCK FROM HUEBNER ROAD AND VANCE
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JACKSON. TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW IS A NIGHTMARE, PARTICULARLY BETWEEN 6:30 AND 9:00 IN THE MORNING ON SCHOOL DAYS, AND 4:30 TO ABOUT 6:30 IN THE AFTERNOONS, WHICH MOST PEOPLE COMMUTE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. OBRECHT. ALL RIGHT.
THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT REMAIN ON CONSENT, SO WE'LL MOVE NOW TO OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. WE'LL START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
REGARDING ITEM 29, THE -- THE ZONING CASE THAT WE JUST HEARD ABOUT FROM MR. OBRECHT, I WANT TO THANK THE OBRECHTS AND THE NEIGHBORS FOR ENGAGING WITH US AND REALLY FORCING THIS CONVERSATION TO MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT HEADWAY. ORIGINALLY THIS WAS SLATED TO BE PRETTY DENSE APARTMENT COMPLEX. WE'VE GOT IT DOWN NOW JUST TO TOWN HOMES WITH SIGNIFICANT HEIGHT RESTRICTION.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT TREE PRESERVATION COMPONENT TO THIS. GREEN VEGETATIVE DRAINAGE. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE LIMITING THE NUMBER OF UNITS THERE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE TRAFFIC CALMING.
MIKE SHANNON, ONE OF THE THINGS I NEED TO MAKE SURE FROM YOU AND WE CAN TALK OFF LINE LATER, I NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY THAT IT'S NOT DONE ON A WEEKEND, THAT IT'S DONE DURING PEAK HOURS ARE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN SO WE REALLY CAN CAPTURE THAT DATA AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND MINIMIZE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, MY COLLEAGUES, FOR SUPPORTING US ON THIS
ITEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA? OKAY.
IF THERE IS NONE, THERE IS A NOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 16, 17, 21, 22, 25, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, AND 36 AND 37. HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. I'M GOING TO TAKE UP THE ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 19TH. SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION
FOR ITEMS 5, 9, 18, 24, 26 TO BE MOVED TO OCTOBER 1ST >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE
MOVE ITEMS 5, 9, 18, 24 AND 26 TO OCTOBER 19TH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE OF THOSE ZONING ITEMS. WE HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON A FEW OF THEM.
SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HEARD TODAY, SO I'LL ASK YOU IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND SPEAK ANYWAY, YOU ARE WELCOME TO DO THAT. IF YOU ARE NOT -- IF YOU DON'T, WE CAN ALWAYS -- AGAIN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HEARD TODAY SO YOU CAN COME BACK WHEN IT IS BEING HEARD AND SPEAK AT THAT TIME. SO JACK FINGER ON ITEM 9?
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER, AND I DO WISH TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO AT LEAST ONE OR SO ITEMS ON THIS PORTION. ITEM NUMBER 9 IS ABOUT CHANGING RESIDENTIAL TO -- RESIDENTIAL MIXED TO MEDIUM INTENSITY. INFILL DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
THERE IS A REASON WHY YOU HAD AS MANY AS 11 PEOPLE CALLING IN AGAINST THIS, MS. KA.
THEY CALLED IN, SAID THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT, THEY DIDN'T WANT IT.
TWO PEOPLE, WHEN YOU GET AT LEAST TWO OR MORE PEOPLE COMING DOWN TO THE MEETING AND SAYING THEY DON'T LIKE IT, THAT'S QUITE A BIT COMING ALL THE WAY FROM THEIR HOME THERE. AND I GUESS WHEN YOU HAVE -- BUT THE BIG THING IS THAT THE -- YOU HAD 37 NOTICES AROUND THE 200-FOOT AREA. YOU HAD AS MANY AS OVER 10% OF THE PEOPLE SAYING NO, THEY DIDN'T WANT IT. THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.
ANYTHING OVER 5 OR 10%, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT. SO BASICALLY PROBABLY THAT THEY DON'T WANT IT BECAUSE YOU ARE SHOEHORNING FIVE UNITS INTO THIS LITTLE PROPERTY. SO I WOULD SUGGEST -- WHY NOT JUST SAY NO TO THE WHOLE
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THING RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WOULD. MR. MAYOR, I SIGNED UP ON A COUPLE OF THESE OTHERS. ARE YOU GOING TO CALL THEM UP OR SHALL I SPEAK AT THISTIME? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL CALL YOU WHEN THE ITEMS ARE
UP, JACK. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JACK, IF YOU ARE SPEAKING ON OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE BEING CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 19TH,
NOW IS YOUR >> I'LL DO MY BEST, MR. MAYOR.
ITEM NUMBER 18. THIS IS IN MS. VIAGRAN, YOUR DISTRICT THERE, YES, FROM SINGLE RESIDENTIAL TO -- WELL, PUTTING THREE -- SHOEHORNING AUDIO]. I MEAN, WHY NOT JUST SAY NO TO THE WHOLE THING RIGHT HERE AND NOW, IF YOU WOULD. I THINK THEIR BIG THING WAS THE PARKING.
ALSO, LET'S SEE, ONE OF THE OTHER ONES BEING CONTINUED I THINK IS --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO MAYOR NIRENBERG NETHERY. IS MAYOR NIRENBERG NETHERY HERE? -- MAYOR NIRENBERG. MARION. OKAY.
I'VE GOT SOME FOLKS WHO ARE HERE FOR ITEM 18. AND AGAIN, THESE ITEMS ARE NOT GOING TO BE HEARD TODAY, SO LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO TAKE YOUR TIME TODAY. LEROY GARCIA ON ITEM 18. OKAY.
RACHEL ROAR. ROY ROAR. VERA GOMEZ.
Y LAND TODAY GARCIA. -- YOLANDA. TOM WETZLER.
BETH CARR. DENISE MARTIN. OKAY.
I THINK THAT IS EVERYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 19TH,
SO I HAVE A MOTION -- >> I'M SORRY. HARRY PARKER. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE NOW WHO IS WISHING TO SPEAK TO ITEMS CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 19TH. THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE OF 5, 9, 18, 24, 26 TO OCTOBER 19TH. ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
OKAY, WE'LL DO A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 11-0.
ALL RIGHT. NOW THERE IS ONE ITEM, ITEM 28, TO BE CONTINUED TO DECEMBER 7TH. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THAT.
THERE'S A MOTION AND THERE'S A SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE OF ITEM 28 TO DECEMBER 7TH.
>> NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. IS THERE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, A MOTION AND SECOND TO MOVE ITEM 28 TO DECEMBER 7TH. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'LL GET TO OUR INDIVIDUAL ZONING ITEMS. WE'LL START WITH ITEM NUMBER 10.
FAVOR, NINE OPPOSED. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION AND TOBIN HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ARE OPPOSED. OUTSIDE THE 200-FOOT THERE IS 44 IN SUPPORT AND TWO
OPPOSED? ,. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 10. I'LL CALL FOLKS UP IN ORDER
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OF SIGN-UP. IF YOU WANT TO CED. YOUR TIME TO SOMEBODY ELSE, LET ME KNOW. GROUPS UP TO SIX MINUTES. I'LL START WITH ANISSAWHO? >> JAMES MCKNIGHT. OKAY. ANN VAN PELT.
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, MS. VA? YOU CAN COME UP NOW. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ANTONIO GARCIA. >> MY NAME IS ANN VAN PELT. YOU ARE HEARING THAT THE APPLICANT ONLY NEEDS 300 FEET. 300 FEET. IT'S SUCH A SMALL SPACE.
WHY WOULD WE CARE THAT THIS IS ABOUT 300 FEET AND CHANGING THE ZONING FOREVER.
THE APPLICANT COULD SELL TOMORROW, BUT THE ZONING WOULD STAY.
THE ZONING CHANGE IS LIKE A CANCER. THIS FORM OF CANCER IS CALLED COMMERCIAL CREEP. THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE ZONING BOARD CONSISTING OF MEMBERS SHOWS EVEN BY YOU REJECTED THIS TWICE, UNANIMOUSLY.
WHY WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO OVERRUN YOUR ZONING BOARD? MEMBERS OF THE ZONING BOARD UNDERSTOOD THERE IS MORE TO THE LARGER PICTURE. THIS PROPERTY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY TIGHT BLOCK OF SINGLE-FAMILY AND MULTI-FAMILY HOMES.
THIS SHOP WAS SO IMPORTANT TO THIS APPLICANT, HE SHOULD HAVE MADE THAT CONDITION TO HIS PURCHASE WHEN HE MADE THE CASH OFFER JUST A YEAR AGO IN 2022.
IT CLEARLY WAS NOT SO IMPORTANT AT THE TIME HE BOUGHT THE HOUSE.
WHY NOW? WHY NOW IS SO IMPORTANT FOR HIM THAT HE'S GOING DOOR TO DOOR TRYING TO WIN A POPULARITY CONTEST THAT'S NOT ABOUT HIM AS ALL.
IT'S ABOUT LOSING ONE MORE HOME TO COMMERCIAL CREEP. JUST BECAUSE HE WANTS TO, IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE NEEDS IT. THERE IS A RENTAL UNIT WITHIN A HALF A BLOCK THAT'S ON THE MARKET RIGHT NOW. HE COULD USE THAT.
TO ME IT BEGS THE QUESTION THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A DISTRICT 1 COUNCILMEMBER AND THIS APPLICANT WAS A LARGE CONTRIBUTOR TO OTHER CAMPAIGN, HE -- TO HER CAMPAIGN, HE THOUGHT NOW WAS THE TIME TO COME BEFORE YOU AB GET THE ANSWER HE WANTS.
AS A RESIDENTS OF MONDAY TAKE VISTA, I TRULY BELIEVE IT'S MY DUTY TO PROTECT THE HOUSING STOCK OF THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT. THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT ADDS REAL VALUE TO YOUR URBAN CORE OF SAN ANTONIO. I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY FOR 50 YEARS TO PROTECT THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HOPE YOU'LL VOTE NO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. VAN PELT. ANTONIO GARCIA.
MR. GARCIA, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CARL ROBINTIQUE. OKAY.
THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE GIVING MR. -- WHO ARE YOU, MA'AM?
OKAY. YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES, MR. GA. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS TONI GARCIA.
I LIVE AT 243 EAST [INAUDIBLE] IN SAN ANTONIO. I CHAIR THE ZONING AND CODE COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE FOR THE MONDAY TAKE VISTA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE IN OPPOSITION TO THE REZONING REQUEST FOR 137 EASTWOOD LAWN.
LAND USE PRINCIPLES ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF OUR CITY'S POLICIES FOR REVIEWING AND APPROVING ZONING AMENDMENTS. OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 35.421 STATES THAT, QUOTE, IN ITS REVIEW OF AN APPLICATION FOR REZONING, THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA.
NO SINGLE FACTOR IS CONTROLLING, INSTEAD EACH MUST BE WEIGHED IN RELATION TO OTHER STANDARDS. THE SIX STANDARDS ARE CONSISTENCY, ADVERSE IMPACT ON NEIGHBORING LANDS, SUIT JACKET AS PRESENTLY ZONED, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE, PUBLIC POLICY AND SIZE OF TRACT. MANY OF THE COMMENTS HEARD AT THE ZONING COMMISSION HEARINGS REVOLVED AROUND THESE STANDARDS.
ULTIMATELY INFLUENCING THE FINAL OUTCOME OF DENIAL ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BEFORE THE ZONING COMMISSION. ONE IMPORTANT PROVISION IN SECTION 35.42 STATES, QUOTE, THE CITY'S ZONING MAPPING SHALL BE RESPECTED AND NOT ALTERED FOR THE SPECIAL BENEFIT OF THE LANDOWNER WHEN THE CHANGE WILL CAUSE
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SUBSTANTIAL DETRIMENT TO THE SURROUNDING LANDS OR SERVE NO SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE, END QUOTE. THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IS SITUATED MID-BLOCK ON A STREET WITH A WIDE MEDIAN.RESULTING IN CONSIDERABLE DENSITY ON THIS BLOCK. ADDITIONALLY, MANY OTHER PROPERTIES ON THIS STREET WHICH ARE SINGLE-FAMILY AND MULTI-FAMILY DO NOT HAVE DRIVEWAYS. SO PARKING IS ON THE STREET. AND THERE IS A SCHOOL, KEYSTONE SCHOOL NEARBY. AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY, ON-STREET PARKING IN THIS AREA IS CONGESTED AND HAS PRESENTED SOME SAFETY ISSUES FOR STUDENTS, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. THERE ARE COMMERCIAL OFFICE USE ON THE STREET BEHIND THIS PROPERTY ON MISTLETOE. BUT THESE PROPERTIES ARE CORRECTLY ZONED FOR THEIR USE AND PROVIDE AMPLE PARKING WITH LARGE PARKING LOTS FOR CUSTOMERS AND WITH MISTLETOE BEING ONE OF THE LARGEST STREETS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO SMALL BUSINESS. WE ACTUALLY SUPPORT IT IN THOSE APPROPRIATE AREAS OF MONTA VISTA. AS AN EXAMPLE, THERE IS A SMALL RESTAURANT AND BEAUTY SALON LOCATED UP THE BLOCK FROM WHERE I LIVE AT MCCULLOUGH. THESE BUSINESSES WERE SUPPORTED BY THE ASSOCIATION. THE CURRENT ZONING OF THIS PROPERTY IS SUITABLE FOR TWO OF THE THREE USES THE APPLICANT PROPOSES. SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, AND A RENTAL PROPERTY, WHICH WE UNDERSTAND IS BEING OPERATED AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROVIDING MORE CONGESTION TO THIS ALREADY DENSE AREA.
OVERRIDING THE ZONING COMMISSION'S DECISION AND APPROVING THIS ZONING REQUEST WOULD NOT BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE UDC REQUIREMENT THAT CITY COUNCIL PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF ITS CITIZENS, AND IT IS ALSO COUNTER TO THE OTHER STANDARDS LISTED UNDER THE UDC.
JUST A REMINDER, THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN AN HISTORIC DISTRICT WHICH MEANS THAT LEGALLY CITY COUNCIL MUST CONSIDER ADDITIONAL FACTORS IN IN REZONING APPLICATION. SECTION 35-333 OF THE UDC GOVERNS REZONING OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND REQUIRES ALL DECISIONS FOR REZONING AN HISTORIC LANDMARK OR PROPERTY IN AN HISTORIC DISTRICT PROTECT ADJACENT PROPERTY AND ENCOURAGE PRESERVATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD INTEGRITY. IN ADDITION TO SAFETY AND INTENSITY OF USE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, WE ARE COGNIZANT THAT ZONING STAYS WITH THE PROPERTY IN PERPETUITY AND THAT PROPERTY OWNERSHIP IS ALWAYS CHANGING HANDS. INTRODUCING A COMMERCIAL USE HOWEVER SMALL IS THE FIRST DOMINO TO FALL, CREATING A COMMERCIAL FOOTHOLD ON THIS HISTORIC BLOCK.
GRAND THAT THIS APPLICATION IS FOR 328 SQUARE FEET, BUT FROM EXPERIENCE WE KNOW THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE CAN BE REQUESTED TO BE INCREASED. AND WE KNOW THAT THIS C-1 USE CAN ALSO BE REQUESTED TO BE CHANGED IN THE FUTURE. WE HAVE BEEN THERE AND WE FIND THIS REQUEST TO BE A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE. OVERRIDING THE DECISION OF THE ZONING COMMISSION IS AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY THAT SPECIFICALLY STATED IN UDC 35-333 THAT REQUIRES DECISIONS IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS TO BE MADE TO PRESERVE NEIGHBORHOOD INTEGRITY. ALLOWING THE C-1 COMMERCIAL USE ON AN HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL BLOCK WILL NOT PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF MONTA VISTA. GIVEN THAT IN THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT CURRENTLY FACES OUR COMMUNITY, RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC POLICY WOULD DICTATE THAT THIS PROPERTY REMAIN ONLY RESIDENTIAL IN USE AND NOT BE CHANGED FOR THE SPECIAL BENEFIT OF ONE OWNER AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. UPHOLDING THE DECISION OF DENIAL BY THE ZONING COMMISSION, CITY COUNCIL WOULD ALSO SUPPORT THE CITY'S POLICY OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENT PLAN, WHAT WE CALL SHIP. PLEASE PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR LEGACY NEIGHBORHOODS BY PROTECTING AND PRESERVING OUR LEGACY RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. CELIA OSERO.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HARRY PARKER. >> HELLO.
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CELIA OSERO, 422 EAST ROSEWOOD, A RESIDENT OF MONDAY ONTA VISTA SINCE 1972. I WILL SPEAK ABOUT PARKING. APPLICANT'S RESIDENCE IS NESTLED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN AN ALREADY SUPER BUSY AND CONGESTED NARROW STRIP FULL OF PARKED CARS. KEYSTONE IS ONE OF THE MANY NEARBY SCHOOLS.I WILL QUOTE MY NEIGHBOR, JASON BLANCHARD,EN A GRADUATE OF KEYSTONE SCHOOL.
THIS IS WHAT SHE SAYS. MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW BUT KEYSTONE SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE ON-CAMPUS PARKING. STUDENTS PARK ON BOTH SIDES OF WOODLAWN AND ACTIVITIES ARE ALWAYS HAPPENING ON CAMPUS. ONCE STUDENTS BECOME OF AGE TO DRIVE, THEY FACE THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING A PARKING SPOT ON WOODLAWN.
KEYSTONE DOES NOT HAVE A CAFETERIA AND STUDENTS ARE CARS ARE ALLOWED TO LEAVE CAMPUS DURING LUNCH AND FOR ATTENDING ACTIVITIES OFF CAMPUS.
BUT WHEN THEY RETURN, THEY FACE THE CHALLENGE OF COMPETING FOR A PARKING SPOT, OFTEN CIRCLING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND BEING LATE FOR CLASS.
THE PARKING AT KEYSTONE BECAME SUCH AN ISSUE DURING YEAR SCHOOL YEARS THAT HER FAMILY HAD TO PAY FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO PARK AT A NEARBY ORIENTAL RUG SHOP SO SHE COULD FIND A PARKING SPOT. PARENTS AND VISITORS ALSO FACE THIS CHALLENGE OF FINDING PARKING SPOTS. PLEASE, NO RELOANING OF 137 EASTWOOD LAWN, PLEASE NO COMMERCIAL CREEP. AND I THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. OSERO.
HARRY PARKER. IS HARRY PARKER HERE? MR. PARKER, YOU WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY WENDALL FUQUA. >> THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON.
I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO COME AND SPEAK IN BEHALF OF BILL VANY.
I'VE KNOWN BILL VANY, MY WIFE AND I HAVE FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
WONDERFUL PERSON. AND I THINK VERY MUCH IN THE SPIRIT OF SOME OF THE THINGS SAN ANTONIO STANDS FOR. THERE'S TRADITIONS, AND WE HAVE LOTS OF TRADITIONS HERE. WE HAVE LOTS OF HISTORY HERE.
WE HAVE MULTICULTURAL. AND IN ADDITION WE ARE A CITY THAT LOVES KEY BUSINESSES AND BUSINESSES THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. SO I WANT TO SPEAK TO EACH ONE OF THOSE IN HIS BEHALF. FIRST, WE'RE A CITY OF TRADITIONS AND HISTORY.
WE HAVE THE MISSIONS, WE HAVE THE ALAMO, BUT WE ALSO IN THE LATE 1800S, WE HAD KING WILLIAM AND THE PIONEER FLOUR MILLS AND NOW WE HAVE THE GUNTHER HOUSE.
VERY MUCH TRADITION AND HISTORY. AND IN THE 1900S, ALL OF A SUDDEN MONTA VISTA, A TRADITIONAL AREA, THE ARCHITECTURE THERE IS JUST BEAUTIFUL. SO THAT IS VERY MUCH IN THE SPIRIT OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE ARE MULTICULTURAL. IN FACT, I GREW UP, I MEAN MANY OF YOU, I WAS BORN IN THE KNICKS HOSPITAL. I WENT TO A SCHOOL CALLED LAMAR ELEMENTARY IN THE PARK AREA. HALF OF MY CLASS, MORE THAN HALF OF MY CLASS AND SOME OF MY NICEST FRIENDS WERE HISPANIC. SO WE GREW UP IN THE '70S IN A CITY -- '60S IN A CITY THAT DIDN'T HAVE RACE RIOTS.
WE WERE MULTICULTURAL. ALL TYPES OF CULTURES INSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PARKER. >> I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE
WAS A TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WENDALL FUQUA.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> YES, MY NAME IS WENDALL FUQUA, I'M A RESIDENT OF THE MONTA VISTA AREA AND A MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION WAS ESTABLISHED ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO -- ACTUALLY 50 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR IN ORDER --E RESIDENTS WERE FEELING LIKE THEY WERE SEEING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD DEGRADED. AND SINCE THEN THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING A FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL EFFORT AGAINST UNIVERSITIES AND CHURCHES AND DEVELOPERS AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO COME IN AND TRIES TO CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST HISTORICAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN
[00:35:02]
THE UNITED STATES. IT'S A VALUABLE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT 137 WOODLAWN. IT'S A NICE LITTLE STRIP OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSES. STILL NOT CHANGED BY TOO MUCH BY COMMERCIAL ENTITIES CLOSE BY. BUT MONTA VISTA KEEPS BEING NIBBLED AWAY WITH A LITTLE AT A TIME AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO STOP THE NIBBLING AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. JACK FINGER. MR. FINGER, YOU WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY JAMES MCKNIGHT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS STAND CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, THIS ITEM IS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
THIS CASE IS IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, MS. KAUR, YOU'VE GOT A BASKET CASE HERE, FOR REAL. AND I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU WHY. NUMBER ONE, THE -- ONE OF THE BIG RED FLAGS IS THAT THE ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL. THE ZONING COMMISSION.
ABOUT TO GET INTO REASONS FOR THAT SOON. OTHER REASONS ARE YOU HAD AS MANY AS 41 PEOPLE CALL IN OR SPEAK AT THE MEETINGS SAYING NO.
MR. AUDIO-VISUAL PERSON, WOULD YOU PUT THAT UP THERE? THAT'S A LIST OF SOME OF THEM RIGHT THERE. BRIEFLY SHOW THAT, IF YOU WOULD.
SCROLL UP A LITTLE BIT THERE, SCROLL DOWN. HERE'S THE REST OF THAT LIST. SHOW YOU JUST SO YOU CAN SEE AN IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE CALLED IN OR SAID NO, DO NOT DO THIS. THANK YOU.
RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD. NOW, ALSO I -- I USED TO LIVE IN THAT AREA. I LIVED JUST THREE LOTS DOWN FROM IT.
I KNOW HOW CRAMPED IT IS. AND YET YOU ARE GOING TO PUT A -- WHAT'S IT CALLED? AN HERB SHOCK -- SHOP THERE. THE RECOMMENDED PARKING FROM WHAT I CALCULATE, YOU NEED ABOUT 13 SPACES -- PUT THAT UP THERE, MS. AUDIO-VISUAL WOMAN.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CRAM 13 CARS INTO THAT SPACE? IF YOU COULD SEE THOSE DIAGRAMS OF CARS THERE. THE UPPER AREA, CAN YOU REALLY PUT NINE MORE CARS INTO ANY SPACES THERE? AND WHERE WOULD THE DRIVEWAY BE FOR IT? HOW SO YES, HOW --
THIS? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. JAMES MCKNIGHT. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
KATHY KENNEDY. >> ASK IN JUST A SECOND, MS. KENNEDY. THANK YOU.
>> MR. MAYOR, I BELIEVE MATTHEW GILBERT IS GOING TO CEDE HAS TIME TO ME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COULD YOU WAVE YOUR HAND? YOU WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES,
JAMES. >> JAMES MCNIGHT HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CASE. IT'S ABOUT A SMALL HOME OCCUPATION TYPE USE AND THE ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS R-4 CONDITIONAL, R-4 RIGHT NOW. THE BASE ZONING IS GOING TO REMAIN THE SAME. THE HOME IS MR. VARNEY'S HOME AND THE STRUCTURE IS GOING TO REMAIN AS IT IS. THE STRUCTURE TO THE SIDE THAT'S ATTACHED TO IT IS PART OF THE GIFT SHOP HE WANTS TO USE. EVERYTHING IN THAT STRUCTURE REMAINS AS IT IS IN HIS HOME. FOR CONDITIONAL USE, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT YOU DRILL DOWN ON THE DETAILS OF THAT USE AND THAT ZONING.
SO THIS IS A ZONING MAP. AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THIS IS A REAL MIXED BAG OF ZONING. YOU'VE GOT C-2 COMMERCIAL ON THE WESTERN END, EASTERN END, MISS HE WILL TOLL. R CONDITIONAL FOR OFFICE USES, FOR DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES. THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL STREET THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. HERE'S THE GIFT SHOP LOCATION.
AGAIN, SMALL. AND IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE IN ANY WAY.
THIS IS THE INSIDE OF THE GIFT SHOP. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS NOT LARGE. THIS IS 328 SQUARE FEET THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, A LOCATION WE CAN SELL SOME OF THE PRODUCTS MR. VARNEY MAKES HIMSELF.
THAT'S A DOOR ON MR. VARNEY'S HOME. THIS IS ATTACHED TO HIS HOUSE. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A HOME OCCUPATION EXCEPT THERE'S AN ISSUE. BECAUSE HE IS WORKING IN THIS.
ANY TIME YOU SELL PRODUCTS, IT KICKS YOU OUT IN OUR ZONING CODE FROM A HOME OCCUPATION USE INTO A COMMERCIAL USE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING
[00:40:03]
WITH. IT'S ESSENTIALLY A HOME OCCUPATION USE, BUT THE CODE DOESN'T ALLOW US TO DO THAT WHICH IS WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR A GIFT SHOP USE.NOT GENERAL COMMERCIAL, A GIFT SHOP. WHAT IS HE SELLING? THESE PRODUCTS ARE ALL MADE BY MR. VARNEY HIMSELF. HE GROWS HERBS AND USES THEM TO CREATE LOTIONS, AFTER-SHAVES, HE'S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ON THIS SUBJECT. AS PART OF THIS CONDITIONAL USER, WE HAVE TO HAVE A SITE PLAN. THEY SHOWED THE SITE PLAN, WE'RE ONLY ASKING FOR THOSE FOUR SPACES. IT HAS TWO NOW. THE CODE ONLY REQUIRES ONE OR TWO SPACES FOR THIS KIND OF USE ACTION BUT WE'VE DONE BEYOND THAT.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION. SO THAT'S IN RECOGNITION. IT IS AN HISTORIC AREA, BUT WE ARE RESPECTING THAT AND THEY HAVE ALREADY APPROVED THIS.
BUT ONE OF THE KEY THINGS ABOUT THIS SITE PLAN THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS THAT IT LOCKS CERTAIN THINGS IN. WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT A GIFT SHOP USE. ALSO LOCKS IN THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
THIS IS NOT A COMMERCIAL CREEP. THIS IS A HOME OCCUPATION USE WHERE HE JUST WANTS TO SELL HIS PRODUCTS. NOW I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CLAIMS THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS MADE. ONE IS ABOUT TRAFFIC.
THIS IS 328 SQUARE FEET. THIS IS NOT A TRAFFIC GENERATOR.
WE ONLY ARE REQUIRED ONE OR TWO SPACES. THE STREET PARKING IS DIFFICULT, BUT WE ARE NOT THE ONES CREATING THE TRAFFIC ON THIS STREET.
AND AS PART OF OUR APPLICATION, WE PROVIDED MORE PARKING THAT IS REQUIRED AND HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. BUT I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS PROBABLY SAW THE APPLICATION AND SAID COMMERCIAL, WE'RE HAVING COMMERCIAL THAT'S GOING TO KEEP INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE DRILLED DOWN ON THE ACTUAL DETAIL OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AND THE FACT WE'RE ONLY AT 300 SQUARE FEET. I WANT TO BRING THIS MAP UP AGAIN BECAUSE I MEAN LOOK AT THIS MIX OF USES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
OFFICES, LAW OFFICES, DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES. THIS IS A REAL MIXED BAG.
THIS IS A REAL NEIGHBORHOOD THE WAY NEIGHBORHOODS USED TO BE DESIGNED.
IT'S NOT A RESIDENTIAL STREET. AND HAVING A LOCAL SHOP OR ALLOWING A LOCAL SHOP IN THIS CASE DOES NOT ERODE OR DESTROY THE CHARACTER, IT ACTUALLY CREATES THAT NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER. STAFF AGREED WITH US.
STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL FOR THIS. THEY ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF WATCHING OUT FOR COMMERCIAL CREEP IN THESE AREAS AND STAFF SAID THIS IS NOT COMMERCIAL CREEP, THIS IS R-4 ZONING, A SMALL SHOP AND YOU ARE ONLY A QUARTER BLOCK IN NEAR MCCULLOUGH. THEN WE TALKED TO THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA.
NOT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BUT THE RESIDENTS AND ONE BY ONE ALL OF THEM SUPPORTED US. 44 LETTERS FROM SUPPORT IN THAT AREA.
SAMPLE LETTER FROM MR. CANTU, TWO DOORS DOWN FROM US.
HE RECOGNIZES NOT JUST IN SUPPORT OF THIS BUT RECOGNIZES THIS AREA HAS HAD COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES FOR A LONG TIME. USES LIKE COFFEE SHOPS, AD AGENCIES, A LAW FIRM. AND ALLOWING A GIFT SHOP WILL NOT ALTER AN ALREADY HEAVY COMMERCIAL BLOCK. AND THIS IS THE GUY THAT LIVES NEXT DOOR.
HE'S IN FULL SUPPORT. THIS IS A MAP SHOWING THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE RIGHT AROUND US. OVERALL WE'VE RECEIVED 55 IN FAVOR, 44 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN IN MONTA VISTA. IN OUR GENERAL AREA, NINE IN FAVOR DIRECTLY WITHIN 200 FEET. THE SIX OPPOSED ARE FROM THAT RED CORNER, THAT'S ALL FROM ONE CONDOMINIUM. SO ALL OF THEM ESSENTIALLY ARE ON THE SAME PROPERTY.
IN CONCLUSION, I THINK I'VE SHOWN THE DETAILS OF THIS. THIS IS A MINIMAL USE THAT'S MORE AKIN TO IT'S NOT A COMMERCIAL USE IN MID-BLOCK AT ALL.
IT HELPS CREATE THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT DESTROY IT IN ANY WAY.
AS EVIDENCED BY ALL THE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THOSE RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MCKNIGHT.
KATHY KENNEDY. >> SORRY. YOU'RE CEDING YOUR TIME TO WHO?
>> I'LL CALL YOU UP IN JUST A MINUTE, MS. GERMAN. WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH LYNN BOYD. MR. BOYD, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY PETER HUGO.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. THIS PARTICULAR APPLICANT HAS COME BEFORE THE ZONING COMMISSION TWICE AND BEEN DENIED.
I THINK THAT SAYS VOLUMES TO THE RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE BEFORE.
IN THE PAST WE HAVE HAD 38 RESIDENTS CALLING IN TO OPPOSE THIS REQUEST.
[00:45:05]
I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT IS OF GREAT CONCERN IS ONCE THIS -- IF THIS WERE TO BE GRANTED, IT STICKS WITH THE PROPERTY. THE APPLICANT, HOWEVER FINE HIS INTENTIONS ARE, AT SOME POINT IN TIME IF HE GOES TO SELL THIS PROPERTY, THEN IT BECOMES A PROPERTY THAT SOMEBODY ELSE COULD PUT ANOTHER SHOP IN OR ANOTHER BUSINESS THAT DOES NOT FIT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. CURRENTLY, THE TRAFFIC IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT AND DENSE.PULLING IN AND OUT OF THAT DRIVEWAY CAUSES AN OBSTRUCTION TO THE STREET.
YOU HAVE A SCHOOL ACROSS THE WAY, WHICH IS REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THOSE CARS DON'T MOVE IN AND OUT DURING THE DAY. WE REALLY ASK THAT THIS COUNCIL TAKE THE ADVICE OF THE ZONING COMMISSIONERS AND DENY THIS REQUEST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BOYD. PETER HUGO FOLLOWED BY RANDOLPH
OSHERO. >> HERE? THEN WE'LL FOLLOW WITH RYAN REED.
>> MR. MAYOR, COUNSELORS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME . I'M THE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CHAIR FOR MONTE VISTA. AND I WISH TO REMIND YOU HOW DENSELY TRAFFIC MONTE VISTA CAN BE IN PLACES. I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL VERY WELL AWARE OF THE TRAGEDY WE WOULD ON HILDEBRAND NOT LONG AGO WHERE A PERSON WAS KILLED. WOODLAWN CARRIES QUITE A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN THE RUSH HOURS AND I AM VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND THE HEAVY TRAFFIC THAT ALSO PASSES DOWN MCCOLLOUGH. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT ON THE INTERSECTION OF MCCOLLOUGH AND WOODLAWN. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, FROM THE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY POINT OF VIEW, I THINK ANYTHING THAT INCREASES TRAFFIC ON WOODLAWN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SCHOOL THERE AND WITH THE HEAVY TRAFFIC ON IT IS NOT A GREAT IDEA.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. HUGO.
RYAN REED. MR. REED, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THOMAS SERING.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M RYAN REED.
I'M A MONTE VISTA RESIDENT . I'M CHAIR OF THE MONTE VISTA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION'S ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE. I HAVE MET MR. VARNEY AND FOUND HIM A VERY NICE GENTLEMAN. THE MONTE VISTA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION HAS NO ISSUE WITH THIS BUSINESS OR WITH HIM OPERATING OUT OF HIS HOUSE. I WORKED WITH MR. VARNEY'S PREVIOUS ATTORNEY, PAUL FLETCHER AND THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR OF ZONING AND PLANNING FOR DISTRICT 1 TO COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE. WE DETERMINED THAT MR. VARNEY COULD OPERATE HIS BUSINESS OUT OF HIS HOME UNDER HOME OCCUPATION WITH THE CURRENT ZONING. THE COMPROMISE WAS THAT HIS CUSTOMERS WOULD NEED TO CONTACT HIM FIRST AND NOT WALK IN OFF THE STREET. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL BLOCK. THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS CORRIDOR LIKE MAIN AVENUE.
THE PEOPLE WALKING THIS BLOCK ARE KEYSTONE TEACHERS WHO PARK THEIR CAR AND WALK ACROSS THE STREET TO THE SCHOOL . SO MR. VARNEY DISTRIBUTED LETTERS TO NEIGHBORS TO SIGN IN SUPPORT OF THIS REZONING BUT WHAT WAS NOT TOLD IS THAT ZONING CARRIES ON WITH THE PROPERTY IN PERPETUITY. MR. VARNEY WILL NOT LIVE THERE FOREVER AND WHEN HE SELLS THIS PROPERTY, SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO MOVE IN WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BUSINESS.
BEYOND POTENTIAL FUTURE USES THIS SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
OUR GOAL AS AN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION IS TO PRESERVE THE FABRIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT INCLUDES PREVENTING COMMERCIAL CREEP AND THE CITY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THERE'S A LACK OF HOUSING STOCK AND THIS, TO ME, IS AN INVITATION FOR MORE STRUCTURES TO TURN FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL IN OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF AVAILABLE RETAIL SPACES ALONG MAIN AVENUE AND OTHER CORRIDORS IN MONTE VISTA .
IN CLOSING, THIS CHANGE IS UNNECESSARY. IT'S A MOVE, THE WRONG DECISION
FROM THE CITY, AND PLEASE DENY IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, MR. REED. THOMAS SERDON. >> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS TOM SERDON, 129 WEST AGARITA. I LIVE WITH MY WIFE, MY MOTHER, AND MY SENIOR RESCUE DOG.
WE ARE ONE OF YOUR NEWEST CONSTITUENTS. WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WE REALLY JUST MOVED IN IN OCTOBER. WE WERE PRETTY MUCH CHASED OUT OF OUR HOME -- FOREVER HOME IN HOUSTON OF 27 YEARS BECAUSE OF INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH NOW PUT OUR PREVIOUS HOUSE AT RISK FOR FLOODING. WE PICKED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OUT
[00:50:07]
OF ANY PLACE IN TEXAS TO MOVE. IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE MOVED THAT WE WEREN'T MOVING FOR SCHOOLS OR A JOB. WE WANTED TO LIVE HERE AND WE WANTED TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, WE LEARNED VERY QUICKLY, WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU -- YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD WHY THIS IS A BAD IDEA BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN OUR LITTLE BLOCK. WE'VE GOT 11 HOUSES IN OUR BLOCK. THEY'RE DIVERSE. THEY'RE FROM 1400 SQUARE FEET TO OVER 6,000 SQUARE FEET. IT'S LIKE THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG SONG.
PEOPLE WALK BY. A TYPICAL NIGHT ON MY FRONT PORCH IS A BANKER AND HIS WIFE. A YOUNG MOTHER, WHO IS PREGNANT, STOPPING BY ON THE PORCH, ALL TALKING. A RECENT WIDOW WHO IS NOW STARTING TO DATE.
SINGLE PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE. IT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALL THESE HOUSES ARE DIFFERENT. ALL THE PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT BUT THE THINGS WE HAVE IN COMMON, IT IS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD -- AND I'M TALKING TO MY NEWLY-ELECTED COUNCILWOMAN. WE ALL LIVE THERE.
IT IS OUR HOME. IT IS OUR HEARTH AND HOME. I MOVED HERE TO RETIRE WITH MY FAMILY. WE'VE GOT -- I'M SORRY. I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION.
WE HAVE A GREAT MEDICAL PLACE HERE FOR ME. WE MOVED HERE BECAUSE IT'S OUR HOME. WE LOVE THE BUSINESSES. WE WANTED IT WALKABLE.
THERE ARE WALKABLE BUSINESSES AND WE WANT THE BUSINESSES WHERE IT'S ALREADY ZONED FOR
BUSINESS, NOT IN OUR RESIDENTIAL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. SERDON. WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH TONY VAN BUREN.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN AND HELLO. YOU HAVE HEARD HOW GREAT A NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO MANY OF YOU HOW ACTIVE OR NEIGHBORHOOD IS, NOT JUST BY THE PEOPLE HERE BUT THE PEOPLE BEFORE. I'M REALLY PROUD OF MY NEIGHBORS AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANT TO TAKE ONE MINUTE TO READ YOU -- THIS IS OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION EARLIER, MAYOR. I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO READ OUR PURPOSE TO YOU.
FOUNDED 50 YEARS AGO BECAUSE JUDGE LEROY DENMAN'S HISTORIC HOME ON THE CORNER OF FRENCH AND MAIN WAS LEVELED. THAT'S WHY WE WERE FOUNDED. WE'RE SORT OF BASED IN FEAR THAT WE DON'T WANT SOMETHING ELSE TORN DOWN. TO ENCOURAGE THE PRESERVATION OF THE DISTINCTION HERITAGE OF THE MONTE VISTA AREA. TO KEEP THIS DISTRICT INTACT, TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR INHERITED NEIGHBORHOOD VALUES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO A WHOLESOME URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
THAT'S BEEN OUR MANTRA FOR 50 YEARS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT ONE LITTLE BLOCK THAT YOU SAW OF WOODLAWN IS VERY, VERY NARROW AND ADD TO THAT THAT THERE'S CONSTANTLY CARS PARKED ON IT. SO THERE'S VERY LITTLE PARKING.
IF YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY, VERY NARROW.
THAT STRETCH OF WOODLAWN IS NOT THE BIG BOULEVARD WOODLAWN THAT'S A BLOCK DOWN.
IT'S MUCH, MUCH NARROWER AND VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS NOW BEEN DENIED TWICE BY ZONING COMMISSION. DESPITE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOU HEARD RYAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WERE MADE AND SOME OF THE THOUGHTFULNESS AND YET WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. QUOTING ANN VAN PELT AT THE LAST ZONING COMMISSION MEETING, CONDITIONAL DOESN'T EVER GO AWAY .
SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR ZONING COMMISSION.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. VAN BUREN.
VICTORIA GERMAN. YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES AND YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY BILL
VARNEY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS VICTORIA GERMAN. I LIVE AT 515 BELKNAP PLACE. MY EXPERTISE IS IN PUBLIC FINANCE, PRIVATE FINANCE WOODLAWN ZONING APPLICATION. I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE A COMMENT MADE BY OUR FORMER MAYOR AND SECRETARY OF HUD, HENRY CISNEROS WHO REMARKED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE WOMEN OF SAN ANTONIO, MANY OF OUR HISTORIC SITES IN TOWN WOULD HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN.
THAT'S IMPORTANT. THIS IS OUR LEGACY. THIS IS OUR HISTORY.
THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE. SO RECENTLY WE LOST ANOTHER HOUSE ON THE EXACT SAME BLOCK TO A FIRE. AND THEN THE HOUSE WAS BULLDOZED BEFORE THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION HAD A CHANCE TO EVALUATE IT. SO WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO CHIP AWAY AND LOSE THE INTEGRITY OF THAT BLOCK. NOW WHILE MONTE VISTA
[00:55:05]
HISTORICAL DISTRICT NORTH OF MULBERRY IS LARGELY INTACT -- YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS MAP THAT YOU SEE ABOVE THERE. SO THE YELLOW SECTION ABOVE IS NORTH OF MULBERRY.THE PART OF MONTE VISTA SOUTH IS GETTING CHIPPED AWAY. THIS IS WHERE I LIVE.
IT'S UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE FROM COMMERCIALIZATION AND YOU'RE CHIPPING AWAY AT THE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING STOCK EVERY TIME YOU GRANT A CONDITIONAL USE.
AND IT'S FOREVER. THE ASSOCIATION SEES REASONABLE COMMERCIAL USE ALONG SAN PEDRO WHERE YOU SEE THE PINK LINE ON THE LEFT. AND THEN THERE ON MCCOLLOUGH ON THE RIGHT. AND THEN MAIN IN THE MIDDLE. AND IN THIS WAY THERE IS AMPLE PARKING AND WAYS TO HAVE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USE THAT MAKES SENSE.
THESE ARE THE CORE AREAS OF BUSINESS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS VACANT COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS ON SOUTH MONTE VISTA WITH AMPLE PARKING IN THE ESTABLISHED COMMERCIAL STREETS WITHOUT ADDING MORE PRESSURE TO THE CENTER OF THE BLOCKS.
THIS AREA OF TOWN WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR CARS. REMEMBER, THESE WERE HORSES THAT WERE GOING THROUGH THIS AREA. AND SO NOW YOU HAVE THESE GIANT SUVS. IT DOESN'T WORK. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.
IN ADDITION, SAN ANTONIO HAS AN ESTABLISHED HOUSING SHORTAGE. MONTE VISTA IS UNIQUE IN THAT THE HOUSING STOCK IS OF ALL PRICE RANGES AND SIZES AND YOU CAN RENT AND YOU CAN LEASE.
YOU CAN PURCHASE. YOU CAN BE A STUDENT. YOU CAN BE A RETIRED PERSON.
YOU CAN BE THE HEAD OF A CORPORATION. ANYONE CAN LIVE THERE AND THAT'S PART OF THE CHARM AND PART OF THE THING THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.
WE TALK TO EACH OTHER. WE WORK THROUGH THINGS. IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE.
IT'S A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF ALL AGES. WE HAVE BABIES AS WELL AS PEOPLE IN THEIR 100S ALL IN THE SAME COMMUNITY. PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE JOGGING, THEY'RE USING THEIR AREA. ITS LOCATION TO DOWNTOWN, ITS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MEANS YOU CAN STRENGTHEN THE USE AND LEVERAGE THE HISTORICAL CACHET OF THIS GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, INCOMES, SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, INTERESTS.
IT'S AMAZING. YOU ALL SHOULD WANT TO LIVE THERE.
SO IN SUMMARY, JUST TO REMEMBER, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION IS REALLY COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, INCREASING OUR HOUSING STOCK FOR RESIDENTIAL USE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, AND USING APPROPRIATELY-ZONED COMMERCIAL AREAS, THOSE CORRIDORS SO THAT IT ISN'T CHOPPED UP LIKE IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'LL ALL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. REALLY THANK YOU FOR COMING TO WORK TODAY AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GERMAN. WILLIAM VARNEY .
>> HELLO, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND COUNCILPEOPLE. MY NAME IS WILLIAM VARNEY AND I OWN THE HOUSE AT 237 EAST WOODLAWN. I AM VERY PROUD TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I LOVED HERE AFTER 38 YEARS IN FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS.
WHEN I WAS SHOPPING FOR A PLACE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, I WAS THRILLED AND I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO LIVE IN MONTE VISTA. WHEN MY REALTOR, WHO IS HERE TODAY TOO AND ALSO THE REAL ESTATE FIRM THAT HAD IT LISTED, WHEN I SAW THAT HOUSE I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THE HOUSE WAS PERFECT FOR ME BECAUSE IT HAD THE HOME THAT I LIVE IN NOW AND THEN IT HAD THE SIDE THAT HAD BEEN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE. I THOUGHT THAT'S PERFECT FOR MY HERB SHOP.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I DO. I HELP IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES THROUGH THE USE OF HERBS. I DON'T DO ANY KIND OF ILLEGAL HERBS.
I ONLY DO PARSLEY, SAGE, ROSEMARY, AND THYME FROM IMPROVING YOUR COOKING TO AROMATHERAPY. I LECTURE ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS AND OTHER STATES AND OVERSEAS. THIS BOOK IS THE LAST BOOK THAT I WROTE THAT WON OUTSTANDING GARDENING BOOK OF THE YEAR. I'M THRILLED ABOUT MY YARD. I CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE LANDSCAPING THAT ATTRACTS POLLINATORS. AND I'M ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT MONTE VISTA. WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, BEFORE I EVEN PUT THE APPLICATION IN, I JOINED THE MONTE VISTA HISTORICAL ASSOC ASSOCIATION .
MY HOMES IN FREDERICKSBURG WERE ALWAYS HISTORIC HOMES AND I HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED HISTORICAL HOMES. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF DOING ANYTHING TO DEVALUE THE VALUES OF MY HOME OR ANY OF THE HOMES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. IF ANYTHING, I'LL IMPROVE IT AND MAKE IT LOOK BETTER THAN EVER. I'VE SUPPORTED MONTE VISTA BY
[01:00:06]
GOING TO THEIR EVENTS AND DONATING MONEY AND I'M A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.I'VE TAUGHT SCHOOL KIDS -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VARNEY.
>> AND MY WHOLE LIFE HAS EVOLVED AROUND HERBS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. >> I'M HOPING YOU'LL SUPPORT ME IN THIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I
DO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 10.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY FOR SHARING YOUR VOICE, SHARING YOUR ADVOCACY.
LIKE I SAID ALWAYS, WE ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR COMMUNITY SHARES WITH US, SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD. TODAY I HAVE HEARD CONCERNS FOR THIS PROPERTY, SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CONDITIONAL USE OF A GIFT SHOP FOR FUTURE USES, FOR PARKING AND TRAFFIC AND COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT. THAT WOULD CHANGE THE CULTURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I THOUGHT WE COULD JUST TALK ABOUT EACH ONE OF THEM TO UNPACK WHAT'S IN THEM. SO FOR FUTURE USES, SPECIFICALLY FOR STAFF.
SO IF WE APPROVE THIS REQUEST TODAY, IS THERE ANY OTHER POSSIBILITY OF ANY OTHER USE
EXCEPT FOR A GIFT SHOP IN THIS SPACE? >> NO, IT WOULD ONLY BE THE
GIFT SHOP. >> KAUR: WHAT IF THEY WANTED TO INCREASE THE SIZES OF THE
SHOP AT THE HOME? >> SO, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IDENTIFIED ON THE SITE PLAN SHOWS 328 FEET. ANY CHANGES TO THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO COME BACK THROUGH THE
PROCESS TO AMEND THAT. >> KAUR: SO EVEN IF THE PROPERTY WAS SOLD AND ANOTHER HOMEOWNER CAME IN, BECAUSE MR. VARNEY MAY NOT LIVE THERE FOREVER, THE NEXT HOMEOWNER THAT CAME IN COULD ONLY USE IT FOR 300-SOME SQUARE FEET AND A GIFT SHOP.
>> CORRECT. >> KAUR: THAT CAN NEVER CHANGE UNLESS THEY COME BACK
FOR A ZONING CHANGE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> KAUR: THANK YOU.
THAT'S ALL FOR YOU. AND FOR THE APPLICANT, I KNOW THERE IS ONE -- I TALKED TO THE FOLKS AT ZONING COMMISSION AND SOME FOLKS CAME UP TO ME AND SAID THE REASON THAT THEY HAD CALLED IN WAS THEY WERE WORRIED THIS IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM A SCHOOL AND THERE WOULD BE CBD SOLD IN THIS SHOP BECAUSE OF THE NAME OF THE SHOP, URBAN HERBAL.
IS THERE CBD BEING GROWN AT THIS SITE? >> NOT AT ALL.
>> KAUR: THAT'S NOT A PART OF THE MODEL AT ALL? >> NOT AT ALL.
>> KAUR: WHAT ARE THE HERBS BEING USED? >> HE SAID PARSLEY, ROSEMARY, SAGE, THYME. MINT, BASIL. JUST THE STANDARD HOUSEHOLD
HERBS. >> KAUR: SO EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING -- AND I'VE BEEN TO THE SHOP. I USE THE ALLERGY TEAS AND THE INCENSE.
THAT'S ALL. THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL -- >> NO, MA'AM, NOT AT ALL.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU. FOR PARKING AND TRAFFIC. YOU CAN STAY UP THERE.
FOR PARKING AND TRAFFIC, I'M TRYING TO IMAGINE -- I DRIVE UP AND DOWN THIS STREET ALL THE TIME. HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE PARKING AND TRAFFIC BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS IN FREDERICKSBURG SO HE HAS A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT KIND OF TRAFFIC HE CAN EXPECT. THE SHOP THERE WAS SIMILAR SIZED.
WE'RE ONLY EXPECTING ONE OR TWO CARS AT A TIME, WHICH IS WHAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED ALREADY.
AND PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, IF YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO CARS THAT ARE PARKED THERE USING IT AND SOMEONE PULLS UP AND THEY CAN'T PARK, THEY TRY TO PARK ON THE JUST LIKE THEY WOULD WITH ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR ANY OTHER MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX THERE.
>> KAUR: OKAY. SO YOU GO IN, YOU PICK UP WHAT YOU NEED, AND YOU KIND OF
LEAVE. >> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S RIGHT.
>> KAUR: OKAY. AND I KNOW ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP FROM OUR SPEAKERS WAS ABOUT A HOME OCCUPATION. WHY WASN'T IT JUST KEPT AS A HOME OCCUPATION IF MR. VARNEY IS ACTUALLY WORKING AND KEEPING THE SHOP GOING?
>> WE WOULD LOVE IT TO BE THAT WAY BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE CODE DOES NOT ALLOW HOME OCCUPATION USE IF YOU ARE SELLING GOODS. IF YOU ARE PROVIDING SERVICES, LAW SERVICES, ACCOUNTANTS, YOU CAN DO THAT BUT AS SOON AS YOU SELL GOODS IT TRIGGERS A COMMERCIAL USE.
THAT'S REALLY THE PRIMARY REASON. >> KAUR: GOT IT.
FOR COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT. CAN YOU BRING UP THE MAP AGAIN THAT SHOWS WHAT'S ACTUALLY ZONED ON THAT STREET? OKAY. SO FROM WHAT I COUNT, THERE'S ABOUT FOUR, FIVE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ON THAT STREET AND ALMOST EVERYTHING ELSE IS
ALREADY COMMERCIAL. >> NO, IT'S NOT COMMERCIAL. THE COMMERCIAL USES ARE TO THE WEST. THE R-4 CONDITIONALS THAT YOU'RE SEEING ARE FOR DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES. WHEN THERE WAS A LARGE AREA REZONING RECENTLY THEY HAD EXISTING UNITS SO THEY MADE THOSE CONDITIONAL. THE COMMERCIAL USES -- THERE
ARE -- >> KAUR: SO I UNDERSTAND IT'S JUST MULTIFAMILY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. MULTIFAMILY USES. >> KAUR: AND ONE OF THE
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CONCERNS THAT WAS JUST BROUGHT UP ALSO IS AROUND THE LACK OF HOUSING STOCK THAT WE HAVE IN GENERAL, WHICH I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH. ARE WE DECREASING OUR HOUSINGSTOCK AT ALL? >> NOT AT ALL. NO, THIS IS STILL REMAINING A HOME. THE BASE ZONING IS STILL RESIDENTIAL.
>> KAUR: OKAY. AND FOR THE HISTORICAL ASPECT, IS THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF
THIS PROPERTY CHANGING AT ALL? >> NONE. NO, THE ONLY ITEM THAT NEEDED APPROVAL WAS THE CHANGE OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE ADDITION OF THE DRIVEWAY.
AND THAT WENT TO THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THEY APPROVED IT.
THE HOME ITSELF, THE OFFICE -- I MEAN, THE GIFT SHOP IS NOT CHANGING.
>> KAUR: OKAY. SO GIVEN ALL OF THAT, I THINK WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED TODAY IS A 330 SQUARE FOOT CONDITIONAL USE OF A GIFT SHOP FOR BODY PRODUCTS, FOR HERBAL TEAS, AND INDEPENDENCE SENSE INCENSE THAT I PERSONALLY USE.
GIVEN THAT I FEEL IT IS NOT A CHANGE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN A NEGATIVE WAY. AND SO, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO -- AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION ALSO IS THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT. ON THAT MAP THAT YOU SHOWED, I DID SEE THAT EVERY NEIGHBOR THAT LIVES AROUND THE BLOCK ACTUALLY SENT A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THIS ENDEAVOR. SO GIVEN THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ZONING
CHANGE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 10. IS THERE ANY FURTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM NO. 14. >> CLERK: STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
50 NOTICES MAILED, THREE IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED. AND OUTSIDE THE 200-FOOT
BOUNDARY WE HAD ONE IN SUPPORT AND ONE OPPOSED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A FEW CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 14.
CALL THEM UP IN ORDER. DEET COLE. >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MS. COLE, I'LL CALL STEVE UP IN JUST A SECOND.
JACK FINGER. STEVE, YOU'LL BE NEXT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK FINGER AND I TRY TO ADD SOME TRUTH TO POWER HERE TODAY. LET'S SEE WHAT YOU DO WITH THIS CASE. THE ITEM 14 AND 15 IS THE IDEA OF CHANGING SOMETHING FROM LIMITED -- I REPEAT LIMITED DENSITY MULTIFAMILY TO 50 DWELLING UNITS.
50 DWELLING UNITS. YES. THE BIG RED FLAGS OUT OF THIS ONE, MR. MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, IT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT THERE, IS THAT THE PLANNING STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL AND THE ZONING STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL.
WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE TWO GROUPS SAYING DON'T DO THIS, THEY USUALLY HAVE PRETTYRE GOOD REASONS. WHAT I READ IN THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS BASICALLY SAYS, QUOTE, UNQUOTE INTRODUCES DENSITY. DENSITY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. NOW, YOU HAD AS MANY AS 50 NOTICES GO OUT TO THE SURROUNDING AREA, AS MANY AS 14% SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT IT. ONE OUT OF SEVEN.
ANYTHING OVER 5% OR 10% -- 14% IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. NOW, SO THE QUESTION IS: DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTINUE TO BE PLACED OUT OF CHARACTER IN THIS AREA? OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO LET IT DETERIORATE LIKE SO MANY HAVE WITH THESE DECISIONS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
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STEVE VERSITY. >> MY NAME IS STEVE VERSITY, 105 RENO STREET.
I LIVE IN THE GOVERNMENT HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THIS VERSION OF CITY COUNCIL . WELCOME TO THE FIRST TERM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HELLO AGAIN TO OTHERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THE PLAN AMENDMENT CHANGE FOR 815 GRAYSON. REGARDLESS OF THE VISUAL APPEAL OF THE PROJECT, REGARDLESS OF THE MERIT WHICH THE ZONING COMMISSION HAD SEEN IN THIS IDZ-3 SITE PLAN, THIS CANNOT BE APPROVED UNLESS THE FUTURE LAND USE IS AMENDED.
THE PLAN IN THIS CASE IS NOT A 20 OR 30-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
THIS PLAN IS ONE OF THE SA TOMORROW PLANS. IT IS THE MIDTOWN REGIONAL CENTER AREA PLAN APPROVED BY THIS CITY COUNCIL JUST FOUR YEARS AGO.
SIGNIFICANT TAXPAYER FUNDS WENT TO THE SA TOMORROW PLANNING. MUCH WAS SAID ABOUT THE NEED FOR CHANGE AND CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE FUTURE LAND USE BASED ON THESE SA TOMORROW PLANS. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A NEW ROAD MAP FOR ALL TO FOLLOW TO LEAD US INTO THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. SURE, PLANS NEED TO CHANGE SOMETIMES BUT THAT'S ONLY WE HAVE WORKED TO FOLLOW THE PLAN AND DISCOVERED IT IS NOT WORKING IN SOME WAY. NOW IS MOST CERTAINLY THE TIME TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE NEW SA TOMORROW PLANS. BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING WELL SO FAR, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.
FOLLOWING THE PLAN MEANS ZONING CAN ONLY CHANGE WITHIN IF FUTURE LAND USE DEFINED.
HERE AT 815 GRAYSON, THE SA TOMORROW FUTURE LAND USE IS URBAN LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND THE REQUESTED PLAN AMENDMENT IS FOR HIGH DENSITY. WE WANT VACANT BUILDINGS OCCUPIED. WE WANT PROPERTIES DEVELOPED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOWEVER, WE WANT TO DO THAT BY FOLLOWING THE PLAN. SURE WE CAN FIND LANGUAGE IN THE MIDTOWN PLAN THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT BUT YOU HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE PLAN AND LOOK AT THE DETAILS THAT SHOW THIS BLOCK TO BE LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
THE SA TOMORROW PLAN DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS CHANGE. THE PLAN DEFINES THE DENSITY AND INTENSITY AND IF WE STICK TO THE PLAN, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS MORE STABLE.
WHEN INCREASES IN DENSITY ARE RUBBER STAMPED FOR PLAN CHANGES, THEN THAT MAKES THE LAND ITSELF MORE VALUABLE EVERYWHERE IN THE AREA. IF YOU APPROVE THE CHANGE FROM LOW TO HIGH-DENSITY HERE, THEN YOU HAVE WRITTEN THE OWNER A CHECK BECAUSE THE VALUE OF HIS PROPERTY JUST WENT UP. THEREFORE, NEARBY LOW-DENSITY LAND, EVEN UNDER A SINGLE-FAMILY IS MORE VALUABLE. THAT'S HAPPENED TO HOMEOWNERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY CHALLENGE THEIR TAXES. THEY GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THEIR HOME BUT THEIR PROPERTY GOES UP MORE THAN THAT. TAXES WILL INCREASE NO MATTER WHAT. FOLLOWING THE PLAN MITIGATES THOSE TAX INCREASES.
COUNCILMAN COURAGE, I KNOW YOU SAT ON THE DAIS WHEN PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THIS AND YOU YOURSELF VOTED TO RECOMMEND DENIAL. I AGREE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS THAT THIS IS NOT A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO CHANGE THE RULES. IF THE MARKET DEMANDS THESE 50 TOWNHOUSES, THESE HIGH-RATE, MARKET-RATE TOWNHOMES THAT LOOK SO GREAT, THERE'S PLENTY OF VACANT LAND TO BUILD THOSE TOWNHOMES AND BUILD THAT MANY, JUST NOT -- WE JUST NEED TO FOLLOW THE PLAN ON DENSITY. THERE'S OTHER LAND TO DO THIS. LET'S BUILD SMART AND FOLLOW THE PLAN. STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THIS PLAN AMENDMENT AS WELL THEY SHOULD. COSA SHOULD BE SUPPORTING EVERY FUTURE LAND USE ON EVERY PROPERTY IN AN SA TOMORROW PLAN. THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WORKED HARD TO INFORM CITIZENS OF THESE PLANS. THEY GOT THEIR SAY IN THE SA TOMORROW PLANS ALSO. AGAIN, STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL AND AFTER FIVE CONTINUANCES, PLANNING COMMISSION DID APPROVE. COUNCILMAN COURAGE VOTED TO RECOMMEND DENIAL. SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET ARE OPPOSED.
TEN NEIGHBORS WROTE A LETTER IN OPPOSITION. THIS GOES AGAINST THE NEWLY-ENACTED MIDTOWN REGIONAL AREA PLAN. A MOTION OR VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE MIDTOWN REGIONAL PLAN IN ITS INFANCY IS A VOTE THAT
DISRESPECTS SA TOMORROW. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VERSITY.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
YOU KNOW, OVER THE PERIOD THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, IT'S CHANGED FROM AN APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR MORE THAN 90 UNITS AND FOUR STORIES TO THE CURRENT REQUEST, 50 UNITS AND THREE-STORY TOWNHOMES, SIMILAR TO THE LEVEL OF COMPROMISE THAT I BELIEVE I HEARD ON ITEM 29 IN DISTRICT 8. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE AMENDMENT TO THE MIDTOWN AREA PLAN BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO NOTE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION'S SUPPORT OF THE TOWNHOME PROJECT. THIS PROJECT IN PARTICULAR IS CHALLENGING FOR ME BECAUSE THERE ARE CONFLICTING OPINIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO I TRUST, VALUE, AND RESPECT VERY MUCH.
CONCLUDING, STEVE WE JUST HEARD FROM AS WELL AS MY ZONING COMMISSIONER AND MY ZONING STAFF. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE DETAILS AS NOTED BY MY
[01:15:03]
ZONING COMMISSIONER. THE PROJECT PROVIDES HOUSING AT AN ATTAINABLE PRICE POINT FOR FAMILIES COMPETITIVE IN THE GOVERNMENT HILL AREA, NOT THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY I WOULD INCENTIVIZE OR SUBSIDIZE BUT COMPETITIVE. THE PLAN INCLUDES MEDIUM-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ACROSS THE STREET AND THE PROJECT DOESN'T DEVIATE FROM USES IN THE SURROUNDING AREA IN A DRAMATIC WAY. MY ZONING COMMISSIONER SERVED AS A COMMITTEE MEMBER REPRESENTING MAH AND SO SHE'S VY PRIVY TO THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE HAPPENING AT THE FOUNDATION OF THE PLAN AND BELIEVES THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP ACHIEVE THE UNDERLYING GOALS OF THE PLAN. LASTLY, DUE TO THE LOT SIZE, SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ARE NOT NECESSARILY A VIABLE OR AFFORDABLE OPTION AT THE LOCATION BUT GIVEN THE SURROUNDING USES, HOUSING UNITS ARE THE BEST FIT.I DO REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. I KNOW THAT ZONING IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY FUN AND YOU DON'T GET INVOLVED IN IT UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK AND INVOLVEMENT. AS I UNDERSTAND, THE 200-FOOT OPPOSITION WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS 90-PLUS UNITS.
AND WE DIDN'T RECEIVE BACK FROM THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE 200 FEET ON THE 50-UNIT PLAN.
ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I DO MOVE TO APPROVE THE PROJECT WITH THE UPDATED SITE PLAN AS
SUBMITTED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE WAS A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM
NO. 14. WAS THERE A SECOND? >> VIAGRAN: SECOND.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THIS IS ITEM 14 AND 15, CORRECT? >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, THE LAST ISSUE WE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH I BELIEVE IS RELATED TO THIS IS IT'S WHERE THE COMMUNITY STANDS UP AND ASKS FOR CERTAIN THINGS THAT IT BELIEVES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR ITS COMMUNITY.
I VOTED FOR THE LAST ISSUE BECAUSE THEY WERE ONLY CHANGING A VERY SMALL PART OF AN EXISTING BUILDING AND IT WAS ONLY FOR THIS PROPERTY OWNER AND IF IT HAPPENED TO BE CHANGED AGAIN IT HAD TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL. I CONSIDER IT A SMALL CHANGE BUT THIS IS A BIGGER CHANGE GOING FROM LOW-DENSITY TO HIGH-DENSITY.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT THIS IS IT IS AGAINST THE PLAN THAT THE CITY WORKED VERY HARD WITH THE COMMUNITY TO APPROVE. OF COURSE, A LOT OF THIS WAS DONE BEFORE YOU WERE ON THE COUNCIL AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THAT BUT I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT. AND IF WE START MAKING LOT BY LOT CHANGES TO WHAT WE PUT INTO OUR CITY PLAN EVERY TIME A DEVELOPER THINKS I'VE GOT A BETTER IDEA FOR THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, WE DON'T HAVE A CITY PLAN ANYMORE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PART OF TOWN IT'S IN. I THINK WE NEED TO STICK WITH THE LAND USE PLANS THAT WERE DEVELOPED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WITH A LOT OF INPUT FROM MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE THERE HAVE STOOD BY AND EXPECT TO SEE THE FUTURE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS CONTINUE TO BE THAT WAY. I THINK WE DON'T SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WELL WHEN WE START MAKING CHANGES TO PLANS THAT THE COMMUNITY'S AGREED WITH AFTER A LOT OF LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS AND DELIBERATIONS.
I COULD NOT VOTE FOR APPROVING THIS LAND USE CHANGE. AND I THINK THE ZONING COMMISSION AGREED, THE STAFF AGREED, THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAY NOT HAVE BUT I VOTED AGAINST IT WHEN I WAS ON THERE AND THERE WERE OTHERS WHO DID TOO, BUT IT STILL PASSED.
BUT I THINK THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND I'VE ALREADY SAID I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGED. I WANT TO SEE MORE COMMUNITY INPUT IN THAT.
BUT REGARDLESS OF THAT, I CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS. I THINK WE NEED TO RESPECT THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE PLAN BETTER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
I COMPLETELY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF SA TOMORROW AND THE WORK THAT PLANNING DOES.
I THINK, AGAIN, WE GO BACK TO THIS IS A DISTRICT BY DISTRICT COUNCILMEMBER FORUM WHERE THE COUNCILMEMBER IS TRYING TO DO THE BEST BY THEIR DISTRICT. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO NOT -- WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SA TOMORROW PLAN AS A GUIDE BUT UNDERSTAND THAT IS FLUID AND WE JUST GOT OUT OF A PANDEMIC. I HAVE TURNBACK ON ROOSEVELT, THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY AND I HOPE MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES DO ALSO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, SO A LOT OF
[01:20:05]
DISAGREEMENT WITH SOME OF THE PAST BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE LOOKED AT THIS ONE.BUT BEING ON ZONING COMMISSION FOR THREE YEARS, LIKE I WAS, ON THE TOUGH CLOSE CASES, TO ME THE TIE GOES TO THE OPINION OF THE COUNCILPERSON OR WHEN I WAS ON ZONING COMMISSION IT WAS THE ZONING COMMISSIONER FOR THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT. BUT HERE I THINK THIS IS A CLOSE CALL BUT IF THE COUNCILMAN IN DISTRICT 2, WHO KNOWS THIS AREA CERTAINLY BETTER THAN I DO, BELIEVES THAT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE LAND USE, THEN THAT'S THE WAY THAT I
THINK I'LL VOTE. SO, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM?
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I HAD ONE EXTRA NOTE THAT I ADDED AND I THINK -- I HAD OPEN OFFICE HOURS THE OTHER DAY AND STEVE SHOWED UP AND WE DID SPOKE.
SOMETHING I WILL BE THINKING ABOUT AND THAT I'M AMENABLE. I LISTED ALL THE REASONS THAT THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO HAVE MY SUPPORT TODAY BUT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT THAT WE USE ZONING AS A TOOL THAT WHEN DEVELOPERS PURCHASE LAND THAT THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR, THEY KNOW WHAT IT'S ZONED FOR, THEY KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS EXPECTING. THERE'S A PLAN IN PLACE, THAT THEY USE ZONING -- THEY PURCHASE THE LAND AND THEY COME TO US AND SAY, OH, I CAN'T MAKE MONEY OFF OF THIS IF I DO WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT I'LL ABSOLUTELY BE HAVING WITH APPLICANTS GOING FORWARD. I DO WANT TO NOTE WE CHANGE THE PLANS QUITE FREQUENTLY SO I WOULD ASK FOR SOME CONSISTENCY FROM MY COLLEAGUES, YES TODAY WE HEARD ABOUT IT AND WE HEARD ABOUT OPPOSITION BECAUSE OF AN AMENDMENT TO A PLAN BUT YOU'VE ALSO CAST VOTES BEFORE TO
CHANGE PLANS. SO, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION -- AND POINT WELL TAKEN FROM COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
OBVIOUSLY, WITH RESPECT TO WELL. MY ONLY QUESTION IS -- AND MAYBE THIS PERTAINED TO THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL BUT WHAT WAS THE RATIONALE BEHIND STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR DENIAL
ORIGINALLY ON THE PLAN? >> SO, YES, SIR. THE SA TOMORROW PLAN THAT WAS RECENTLY ADOPTED, IT IDENTIFIED THE URBAN LOW-DENSITY. THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS THERE TODAY WITH THE MF-18. WHAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR ORIGINALLY WAS THE 92 UNITS.
THAT WAS QUITE DENSE FOR US. WITH THE MF-18, THEY COULD GET TO 22 UNITS ON THAT PROPERTY.
THIS IS DOUBLING THAT TO 50 SO THIS IS, IN A SENSE, MEETING IN THE MIDDLE FOR THIS PROPERTY.
ORIGINALLY WHEN IT FIRST CAME IN, THERE WAS 92 UNITS PROPOSED AND THAT WAS TOO MUCH FOR
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN IN THAT THESE PLANS ARE A GUIDE.
WE'RE TRYING TO STICK TO THE SPIRIT OF THEM BUT WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING ZONING MEETINGS OR PLANNING MEETINGS IF THERE WEREN'T CHANGES TO PLANS THAT WERE IN PLACE.
WE DO WANT TO RESPECT COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH ITEMS NO. 19 AND 20.
COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL. THREE NOTICES MAILED, ONE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.
FOUR IN FAVOR OUTSIDE THE 200-FOOT BOUNDARY . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. EXCUSE ME -- THAT'S TWICE.
JACK FINGER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THIS FALLS IN MS. VIAGRAN'S DISTRICT. IT'S ABOUT PUTTING UP A
[01:25:06]
SO-CALLED MANUFACTURED HOME. A TRAILER PARK HOME WITH ALL THE CONNOTATIONS THAT GO WITH TRAILER PARKS AND THEIR HOUSES. MS. VIAGRAN, ONCE AGAIN YOU HAD THE PLANNING STAFF SAY DO NOT DO THIS. THE ZONING STAFF SAID DO NOT DO THIS. WHY? WELL, I GUESS IT'S BASICALLY THEY THOUGHT THAT THE RURAL AREA THAT SURROUNDS THIS AREA ISN'T READY FOR IT.SO FOR THOSE REASONS, ALL THOSE RED FLAGS, PLEASE, MS. VIAGRAN, DON'T DO THIS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO THANK THE APPLICANT FOR WORKING WITH MY OFFICE STAFF AND WITH OUR ZONING COMMISSIONER ON THIS REQUEST. THIS PROPERTY WAS FORMERLY IN BEXAR COUNTY AND ANNEXED INTO THE CITY A FEW YEARS AGO. THE APPLICANT HAS SUBMITTED OFFICIAL FIELD NOTES FOR THE ONE-ACRE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING TO REZONE FOR ONLY ONE MOBILE HOME UNIT SO THEY CAN RESIDE ON THE SAME PROPERTY AS THIS FAMILY. ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE AND THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH SIDE, THERE ARE GOOD FAMILIES AND GOOD PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MANUFACTURED HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES. AND THISIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF REPURPOSING EXISTING SURPLUS LAND FOR LEGACY FAMILIES SEEKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.
SO AT THIS TIME I WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE FOLLOWING MOTION: MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 19 AND 20.
ANY FURTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. GO TO ITEM 27. >> STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL, ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
30 NOTICES MAILED, ZERO IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED. MEMORIAL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS NEUTRAL. OUTSIDE THE 200-FOOT BOUNDARY, THREE IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED
. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK. JACK FINGER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK FINGER AND UPON THIS CASE I BELIEVE THIS IS IN MS. CASTILLO'S DISTRICT. YES. MS. CASTILLO, THERE IS A REASON THE ZONING STAFF THOUGHT THIS WAS A BAD IDEA. BASICALLY YOU'RE CHANGING A RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY LOCATION TO A MULTIFAMILY LOCATION.
AND FROM WHERE THEIR DETERMINATION IT IS, QUOTE, EXCESSIVELY DENSE FOR THE SURROUNDING AREA. IT DOES NOT FIT WITH THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, MS. CASTILLO, WOULD YOU PLEASE SAY NO TO THIS DRASTIC CHANGE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO LIVE AROUND THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO THANK THE APPLICANT FOR WORKING WITH THE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND OUR TEAM. WITH THAT, I MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 27. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 32.
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THE APPLICANT IS AMENDING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER TO NO NINE IN FAVOR, 31 OPPOSED. AND OUTSIDE THE 200-FOOT BOUNDARY, ONE IN FAVOR AND ONEOPPOSED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO COMMEND THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE'VE GOT A REDUCTION TO 48% FOR IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THEY'VE ALSO SET ASIDE 17 ACRES OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY NOT TO BE DEVELOPED.
SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PROPERTY OWNER. I MOVE TO APPROVE WITH THE CONDITIONS AS STATED.
I'M ALSO SUBMITTING DEED RESTRICTIONS, FOR THE RECORD. >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 32 WITH CONDITIONS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR AGENDA TODAY. THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THE TIME IS 3:46 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.