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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. TIME 2:03 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2024. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL. ROBE ROLLER COASTER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL ZONING SESSION. JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ATTENDING ON ITEMS 15 AND 16, JUST SO YOU CAN BE THINKING ABOUT THIS, WE DO REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY TO PROPERLY CONSIDER THIS CASE. I'M GOING TO BE LIMITING TIME FOR SPEAKERS TO TWO MINUTES INDIVIDUALLY, GROUPS UP TO SIX SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE HEARD.
AND SO JUST IF YOU CAN KEEP THAT IN MIND. IF YOU HAVE PREPARED STATEMENTS, BE READ TO COME UP AND SPEAK FOR YOUR TWO ALLOTTED MINUTES.
FIRST, THERE'S ONE ITEM THAT WILL BE POSTPONED TODAY, ITEM 13 WILL NOT BE HEARD.
AND THEN WE HAVE FOUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS -- EXCUSE ME, FIVE ITEMS, 4, 7, 12 AND THEN 15 AND 16. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS FROM MY COLLEAGUES THEY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR INDIVIDUALLY BESIDES THOSE? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA. THESE ARE ITEMS 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 AND 14.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA.
WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS, JACK FINGER.
ITEM 6. TWO MINUTES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND I DO WISH TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO ONE ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT HAS ME KIND OF CONCERNED HERE. ITEM NUMBER 6.
AND MR. MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, I THINK THAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT THERE.
YES. LET'S SEE. ZONING CASE OVER ON AUSTIN HIGHWAY. AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE IDEA OF PUTTING ANOTHER TATOO PARLOR THERE OVER THERE ON -- AT THE 1900 BLOCK.
I WAS GOING TO SAY, SIR, DO WE REALLY NEED ANOTHER TATOO PARLOR RIGHT THERE ON AUSTIN HIGHWAY ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER USED CAR LOTS AND ALL THE OTHER DETRIMENTALS THERE. APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL. WE'LL CALL UP THE VOTE. PLEASE VOTE.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? COULD YOU GIVE US A HAND SIGNAL.
>> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES.
LET'S PULL UP ITEM 15 AND 16. >> CLERK: CASE] MAILED 47 NOTICES, ONE RECEIVED IN FAVOR, 29 WERE RECEIVED IN OPPOSITION AND THERE IS NO REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WITHIN 200 FEET. THIS ITEM DOES REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY OF NINE VOTES
FOR COUNCIL TO PASS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS
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ITEM SO I'LL CALL NAMES IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP. AGAIN, INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES, GROUPS UP TO SIX. I'LL CALL THE NEXT NAME IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP, IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO COME FORWARD. WE'LL START WITH -- AGAIN,THIS IS ON ITEMS 15 AND 16. JACK FINGER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. ITEM 15 AND 16 SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF PUBLICITY LATELY. IT'S ABOUT THE IDEA OF CHANGING COMMERCIAL TO MIXED USE. AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT? WELL, THE CONTROVERSY IS ABOUT 47 NOTICES MAILED OUT, 29 SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT IT.
THAT'S ABOUT 60%. YOU ARE DOING GOOD IF YOU HAVE A 5 OR 10% ANSWER TO IT THERE. AND YET ANOTHER 27 PEOPLE SPEAK AGAINST IT AT THE MEETING, THE ZONING COMMISSION. 37 ON POSIT FROM OUTSIDE THE 200-FOOT. WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT? WELL, IT'S ABOUT PUTTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVER IN DISTRICT 10 ON NACOGDOCHES ROAD. THE UNUSUAL THING IS THAT IT MADE THE FRONT PAGE ON THE NEWSPAPER. SAID MR. WHYTE FIGHTS HOUSING IN HIS DISTRICT THERE. VERY UNUSUAL CONTROVERSY HERE.
WHEN YOU GET INTO IT, BASICALLY THE ARTICLE MENTIONED ABOUT HOW HE THOUGHT -- THE ARTICLE ILLUSTRATED THE EARLIER SITUATION WITH THE MISSIONS BASEBALL STADIUM. MR. WHYTE DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE DISPARAGING THE BUSINESS OWNERS. MS. ROCHA GARCIA SAID JUST YOU WAIT, BIG BOY -- NO, SHE DIDN'T SAY THAT. BUT DID SAY IT WAS GOING TO BE ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA. DO WE DETECT SOME CLASS WARFARE GOING ON HERE.
MR. WHYTE, I RECALL TEN OR SO YEARS AGO THERE WAS A LADY WHO DIDN'T WANT A HALFWAY HOUSE IN YOUR DISTRICT
SHE BECAME MAYOR ONE DAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
I REALIZE THAT MOST FOLKS HERE ARE FOR ITEMS 15 AND 16, BUT I'M NOTING WE ALSO NEED A SUPER MAJORITY TO CONSIDER ITEM 4. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS LAY 15 AND 16 ON THE TABLE TEMPORARILY. LET'S TAKE UP ITEM 4 FIRST SINCE THAT'S NOT AT ALL CONTROVERSIAL, PEOPLE AREN'T HERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON IT. WE DO HAVE ONE PERSON, BUT IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL
UP ITEM 4, WE'LL CLEAR THAT ONE FIRST. >> CLERK: CASE] WE MAILED 34 NOTICES, ZERO RETURNED IN FAVOR, 22 WERE RETURNED IN OPPOSITION.
THE GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN FAVOR.
GOVERNMENT HILL TOMORROW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION IS NEUTRAL.
AGAIN, THIS DOES REQUIRE THE SUPER MAJORITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY, GREAT. WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN ON THIS ONE, JACK FINGER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. NIRENBERG. ITEM NUMBER 4 IS ABOUT, OH, THE IDEA OF PUTTING THREE DWELLING UNITS, YEP, THREE DWELLING UNITS OVER ON EAST CARSON STREET.
ONCE AGAIN MR. MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, YOUR DISTRICT THERE, YES.
I NOTICE THE CONTROVERSY HERE IS YOU HAD 34 NOTICES SENT OUT, EIGHT DIDN'T LIKE IT. THAT'S 24% RESPONSE SAYING NO.
AND WHEN YOU GET TWO PEOPLE SPEAKING OUT AT THE ZONING COMMISSION MEETING, THINGS ARE STARTING TO HEAT UP. WHY DO THEY NOT WANT THIS? IT'S ABOUT PUTTING THREE DWELLING UNITS ON ONE -- SHOEHORNER OF ONE LITTLE LOT.
MAYBE THEY DON'T LIKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD GOING IN -- DETERIORATING TO THE POINT WITH ALL THE EXTRA DENSITY GOING ON THERE. SO YES, I FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO SAY PLEASE SAY NO TO THIS PROPOSAL TO PUT SO MUCH -- SO MANY DENSE UNITS ON ONE
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LITTLE LOT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY COLLEAGUES' KNOWLEDGE, THE DOCUMENTED OPPOSITION WAS FOR THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT WHICH WAS FOUR UNITS ON TWO LOTS. SINCE THEN THERE'S BEEN A MONTHS-LONG PROCESS WHERE THE APPLICANT AND THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, CAME TOGETHER, HAD SOME DISCUSSION, HAD SOME DISAGREEMENTS, BUT ULTIMATELY CAME TO A CONSENSUS AND THERE WAS SOME CONCESSIONS MADE THAT NOW THEY'VE AMENDED THE PLAN TO BE THREE UNITS SO THAT OPPOSITION IS NO LONGER THERE. THAT BEING SAID, I MOVE TO APPROVE.
>>>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 4.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> CARRIES. WE'LL RESUME ITEM 15 AND 16, AND WE ARE NOW GOING TO HEAR FROM ROBERT ABRAHAM. ABE, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MANILA RIO.
THIS IS BACK TO ITEM 15 AND 16. >> HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTY ON NACOGDOCHES BEING BUILT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND TO BE CLEAR, I AM A HOUSING COMMISSIONER AND I'VE BEEN ONE FOR THREE YEARS. AND FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS ISN'T ABOUT BRICK AND MORTAR. THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE. OKAY? WE HAVE A COMPASSIONATE CITY HERE AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE LOOKING OUT FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN US. SAN ANTONIO VOTERS APPROVED THE $150 MILLION HOUSING BOND BY A VAST MAJORITY. SAN ANTONIO VOTERS WANT US TO HELP BUILD AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, SUSTAINABLE AND SAFE HOUSING. WE NEED YOU TO DO THAT.
WE NEED YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS. THEY ALSO VOTED FOR YOU TO CARRY OUT THE PLAN. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR JOB, DO WHAT THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE MANDATED YOU TO DO. TO BORROW A PHRASE FROM A FRIEND OF MINE, WE HAVE A PLAN. WE DON'T HAVE A CONCEPT OF A PLAN, WE HAVE A PLAN. LET'S MOVE THE PLAN FORWARD. THIS IS -- LIKE I SAY, THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE. AFTER A SHIP EVENT, A LADY SAID YOU'RE THE REASON I'M NOT HOMELESS. SHE TOOK MY BREATH AWAY. ANYWAY, I TOLD HER THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED YOU ALONG THE WAY AND WE NEED TO DO THAT.
SHE'S A MOTHER WITH -- FORMER MILITARY WITH TWO LITTLE CHILDREN.
BE THE REASON THAT PEOPLE HAVE HOUSING, AND WHEN YOU LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN TONIGHT IN A HOUSE THAT YOU CAN AFFORD, FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT YOU DID TODAY AND HELP PEOPLE GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ABRAHAM. MANILA RIO, YOU WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY EDWARD CASTILLO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST WITH MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY. I AM PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE SO FAR AND I WAS ECSTATIC TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS MUCH NEEDED DEVELOPMENT ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF TOWN MAY NOT MATERIALIZE. I WORKED FOR HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR 30 YEARS STARTING IN THE MID-'80S.
I DEALT WITH THE NOT IN MY BACKYARD ISSUES, THE MISINFORMATION ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN PERSONS AND FAMILIES THAT SOUNDED IN MY OPINION LIKE PROFILING.
WE ARE IN THE YEAR OF 2024 AND I THOUGHT HE HAD GROWN UP ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
THE RESIDENTS OF THIS APARTMENT COMMUNITY WOULD BE WORKING PEOPLE.
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA WOULD CONSIST OF PEOPLE WHO WORK AS EDUCATORS, OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS, RETAIL TRADES LIKE GROCERY WORKERS, YOUNG FAMILIES STARTING OUT WHO ARE SAVING UP FOR A HOME OF THEIR OWN AND MAYBE SENIORS WHOSE RETIREMENT INCOMES CONSIST OF HARD-EARNED SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. THE POINT IS MANY ARE WORKING FAMILIES, LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS LIKE YOU AND ME. I SUSPECT THEIR KIDS GO TO
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THE SCHOOLS WITH THEIR KIDS. I SUSPECT THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES THAT MOVE IN ARE ALREADY PART OF THESE COMMUNITIES. I ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ZONING AMENDMENT. THIS IS WHAT WE WERE TASKED TO DO.THIS IS HELPING US MEET THE SHIP GOALS, THE GOALS THAT ALL OF SAN ANTONIO VOTERS VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY AND APPROVED. THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. EDWARD CASTILLO. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A
GROUP, OLIVIA AND ANITA FERNANDEZ. >> MY NAME IS EDWARD CASTILLO AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10 ON 5110 SEARAT TAKE STREET.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE ZONING AND TO CHANGE THE ZONING AREA FOR THE PROPOSED MULTI-FAMILY COMMUNITY VISTA PARK ON NACOGDOCHES.
I'M A VETERAN, A RETIRED U.S. POSTAL SERVICE WORKER AND I HAVE BEEN A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 10 FOR OVER 40 YEARS. I LIVE APPROXIMATELY ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE PROPOSED VISTA PARK SITE. I KNOW THIS WILL BE A GOOD AREA FOR PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOME WHO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE IT HAS ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS, PUBLIC TRANSIT, JOBS, SERVICES, AND IT WILL EVEN HAVE A PRE-K ON SITE THAT WILL BENEFIT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE MULTI-FAMILY COMMUNITY VISTA PARK. I HAVE HEARD FROM THE DEVELOPER AND I DO NOT SEE ANY REASON WHY THEIR ZONING REQUEST SHOULD NOT BE
APPROVED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. CASTILLO. OLIVIA TRAVE SE, ANITA FERNANDEZ, YOU WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES. OLIVIA, YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THE MEANT FROM ANITA
AND ANALCO. >> YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION TO SHOW AS WELL. ARE THEY ABLE TO PULL UP THOSE SLIDES? GREAT. MY NAME IS OLIVIA. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3 WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED AND I'M PROUD TO BE A CO-OWNER OF THE LOCAL LATINA-OWNED AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FIRM OCI DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE CO-DEVELOPERS OF THE VISTA PARK COMMUNITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ATLANTA PACIFIC COMMUNITIES AND THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PETE AND THE HOUSING TRUST BOARD AND STAFF WHO WORKED WITH US FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO CREATE MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M ALSO PLEASED TO SHARE THAT THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY.
VISTA PARK WILL BE THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT IN SAN ANTONIO TO HAVE ON-SITE PRE-K AND ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS NOW THAT THE STATE HAS MADE ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ONE OF ITS GOALS FOR NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDITS. WE ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH ESSENCE PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS OPERATOR OF THIS HIGH-QUALITY PRE-K WHICH WILL BE FREE TO RESIDENTS.
THANK FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY. I'M JOINED BY TWO OF MY PARTNERS IN OCI DEVELOPMENT. WE BEGAN THIS COMPANY IN RESPONSE TO SEEING OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS WHO WERE STRUGGLING TO FIND PLACES TO LIVE THAT MATCHED THEIR INCOME LEVELS. AND WOULDN'T TAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THEIR PAYCHECKS WITH NOTHING LEFT TO LIVE ON. OR WHO WERE STRUGGLING WITH THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF HOMEOWNERSHIP BUT KNEW THERE WERE NO OTHER OPTIONS TO FALL BACK ON. AS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OURSELVES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF LIVING.
FORTUNATELY WE HAD FAMILY TO SUPPORT US THROUGH THE LEAN TIMES.
WE KNOW NOT EVERYONE IS THAT LUCKY AND TOO MANY FELLOW SAN ANTONIANS ARE ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM EVEN HOMELESSNESS. WITH THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING OUR PART TO CREATE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. HERE ARE SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE A PART OF AND ARE UNDERWAY. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT VISTA PARK, A HIGH-QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY WITH 81 APARTMENT HOMES THAT ARE 100% AFFORDABLE AND RENTS THAT RANGE FROM 20% TO 60% AMI.
IT INCLUDES GREAT AMENITIES, WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT SERVICES LIKE FINANCIAL LITERACY AND WORKFORCE TRAINING, HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT ON SITE. IT ALSO ACCOMPLISHES THE COSA STATED POLICIES
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INCLUDING THE SHIP'S COMMITMENT TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY. AS MENTIONED, WE'RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH ESSENCE PREP FOR THE FIRST ON-SITE PRE-K IN SAN ANTONIO AND YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THEM AS WELL AS TO REMIND HOW THIS ALSO ALIGNS WITH THE CITY AND STATE COMMITMENT TO FREE CHILDHOOD EARLY EDUCATION. VISTA PARK WILL BE LOCATED ON NACOGDOCHES ROAD NEAR SPRING FARM STREET. THIS LOCATION HAS RANKED HIGH WITH THE CITY AND THE STATE BASED ON THEIR SELECTION CRITERIA.BUT WHY IS THAT? WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A TARGETED AREA IN A CENSUS TRACT WITH A POVERTY RATE BELOW 20%. IT HAS ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, WITHIN A VIA LINK. AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO CREDIT APPLICATION PROCESS. THEY LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY INDEX.
IS IT LOCATED NEAR GROCERY, PHARMACY, MEDICAL, HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES. HAS THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION RECEIVED TAX CREDITS WITHIN THE PAST TEN YEARS, WHICH THIS ONE HAS NOT. AGAIN, WHAT IS THAT PROXIMITY TO JOBS AND THERE ARE OVER 10,000 JOBS WITHIN TWO MILES OF THIS PARTICULAR SITE. THE SITE IS UNDER CONTRACT. THE FINANCING IS IN PLACE.
THE LOCATION HAS BEEN DETERMINED IDEAL BY BOTH THE CITY THROUGH A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AND BY THE STATE WITH THE 20 MILLION TAX CREDIT AWARD, AND IT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONS. WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD PENDING TODAY'S ZONING DECISION. I WON'T GO THROUGH THE TAX CREDIT PROCESS, BUT I WILL JUST SAY IT IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TAX CREDITS THAT ALLOW US TO REDUCE THE COST OF BUILDING WHICH THEN WE ARE ABLE TO PASS THOSE SAVINGS ON TO THE FUTURE RESIDENTS ALLOWING FOR AFFORDABILITY.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT WE INTERACT WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THE LOCAL WORKFORCE AND THE LIFE BLOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY. THERE HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE EFFORT TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE HAD FOUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS DATING BACK AS FAR AS JANUARY, AND ENSIGNS OUR ZONING COMMISSION MEETING WE STILL MET WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE CONTINUED ONGOING COMMUNICATION THROUGH EMAIL AND PHONE, EVEN WITHIN THE PAST TWO WEEKS SINCE IT WAS CONTINUED. SO WE ARE DEDICATED TO TRYING TO FIND A COMPROMISE, TRYING TO CREATE VALUE AND COMMUNICATION WITH OUR NEIGHBORS FOR VISTA PARK.
WE HAVE ALSO GONE WHAT WE BELIEVE IS ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT THEY'VE RAISED WITH US SUCH AS DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY BE LESS THAN THE CURRENT ZONING ALLOWS FOR WHICH IS C-2. BUILDING HEIGHT AND DISTANCE, WE REDUCED THAT FROM FOUR STORIES TO THREE STORIES AND INCREASED THE SETBACK. WE RECONFIGURED THE SITE PLAN.
ADDRESSED NOISE AND LIGHTING WITH THEM AS WELL. ULTIMATELY THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST AFFORDABLE HOUSING. FOR US THIS IS --
YOUR SENTENCE, THANK YOU. >> THIS IS A MORALS VALUE DECISION.
JUST LIKE THE BUDGET THAT YOU ALL PASSED TODAY WHICH REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND THE COUNCIL PRIORITIES, NOT ONLY THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED BY THE SHIP BUT THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED BY DECISIONS AND ACTION TAKEN BY THIS COUNCIL. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TREAT THIS AS SUCH, NOT A TYPICAL ZONING CASE, BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT PASS UP MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS ONE SENTENCE. I WAS LISTENING.
[LAUGHTER] DIANE CAN TOO. CANTU.
CHRISTEN LOPEZ. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CONCHAS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN LOPEZ. I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE ZONING CHANGE AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT IT ALSO.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I GREW UP ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE. I ATTENDED A TITLE 1 HIGH SCHOOL, JOINED THE MILITARY AB NOW I'M WORKING AT A TITLE 1 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HIGH SCHOOL. THANKFULLY WITH THEIR BEING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL ACROSS TOWN JUST TO GET TO AND FROM WORK AND HOME. I'M SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE THAT GREW UP IN THAT AREA THAT WANT TO STAY LIVING IN THAT AREA BUT NEED RENT THAT IS AFFORDABLE.
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OUR CITY NEEDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE IS A TREMENDOUS HOUSING CRISIS. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH APARTMENT HOMES THAT MATCH THE INCOME LEVELS OF OUR EVERYDAY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THERE ARE MANY MILITARY PERSONNEL AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN THAT AREA -- EXCUSE ME, IN THAT AREA WHERE THE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX IS TRYING TO BE CONSTRUCTED.WITH THEIR BEING AN ON-SITE PRE-K, AS AN EDUCATOR, I BELIEVE THERE WOULD BENEFIT -- THIS WOULD BENEFIT EACH CHILD TO DEVELOP SOCIALIZATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THIS IS ABOUT LIFE. WITH THIS I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. LOPEZ. JACOB CONCHAS, FOLLOWED BY
LUCY LENDING. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I AM CURRENTLY A RESIDENT AT THE EVEREST LOCATION. I AM FOR THE ZONING AND I'M HERE TO EXPLAIN WHY AND I BELIEVE YOU GUYS SHOULD BE TOO. IT'S BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF AND FIANCE WHO NEED THE EXTRA HELP AND THE ASSISTANCE TO NOT ONLY BECOME INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE BUT ALSO AS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. NOT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD. HOWEVER, WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, IT'S GIVEN A LOT OF FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY THEY NEED TO GROW.
THE VIST AT EVEREST PROVIDES A ROOF OVER OUR HEAD WITH FOR OUR EVERYDAY NEEDS AS WELL AS A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
ME PERSONALLY, I AM ARRIVING FROM OUT OF STATE. I'M FROM ARIZONA SO I'M TRYING TO START MY LIFE HERE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, GIVEN THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP ME KIND OF GET A GOOD, FRESH START FOR MYSELF AND MY FIANCE, I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN MY SITUATION WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET A GOOD START GOING. TO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE FORTUNATE THAN OTHERS SHOULD NOT MEAN WE HAVE TO IGNORE THESE.
ACKNOWLEDGING THOSE WHO NEED S A START. HOWEVER, PROVIDING THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY MIGHT NEED IS ALSO A STEP. AND I ENCOURAGE THIS IS A
STEP WE SHOULD BE TAKING. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. CONCHAS. LUCY LENDING. JEANNIE MURPHY.
MS. MURPHY, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TALIA GUARDO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL PERSONS, LEADERS, COMMUNITY. I AM SO EXCITED TO BE BEFORE YOU.
I AM DR. JEANNIE MURPHY, DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOREST SENSE PREP PUBLIC SCHOOL. -- FOR ESSENCE PREP. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH OUR SOLARS AND WOULD REMISS NOT TO SHARE -- LEAVE THE CLASSROOM OR PLAYGROUND TO BE HERE TODAY. HERE ARE JUST A FEW THOUGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR SCHOLARS WHEN I HAD A FOCUS GROUP TO ASK THEM SPECIFICALLY WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE VISTA PARK PROJECT. HERE ARE A FEW QUOTES. OH, WOW, VISTA PARK, I SAW THE PICTURES. IT LOOKS AMAZING. IT'S BRIGHT, IT'S COLORFUL AND I CAN IMAGINE KIDS PLAYING AND FAMILIES HAVING FUN.
ANOTHER COMMENT FROM A SCHOLAR, I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TREES, A LOT OF FLOWERS AND I HOPE WE HAVE A SWING SO THAT WE CAN LAUGH AND HAVE A GOOD TIME ON THE PLAYGROUND. ONE MORE COMMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU, I'M SURE THIS NEW COMMUNITY WILL HAVE A LOT OF DOGS, A LOT OF CATS AND MANY OF US CAN GO AND RIDE OUR BIKES. I JUST WANT TO HANG OUT TOGETHER JUST LIKE A BIG FAMILY AND HAVE FUN. I SHARE THESE COMMENTS WITH YOU BECAUSE OUR SCHOLARS ARE NOT HERE BEFORE YOU. WE ARE GROWING THEM AND ALLOWING THEM TO BECOME AGENTS IN CHANGE. WE DO A GREAT JOB TO COME TOGETHER AND VOTE AND MAKE DECISIONS ON WHAT WE THINK IS BEST.
HOW OFTEN DO WE STOP AND TAKE THE TIME TO ASK THE CRITICAL QUESTIONS TO THOSE THAT WE ARE BRINGING UP. HOW MANY TIMES DO WE TAKE IN OUR DAY TO DAY TO REALLY HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LITTLES? OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS?
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. MURPHY.
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T ALIA. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PETE ELENESE.>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M A PROUD LATINA FEMALE BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. WHEN I DECIDED TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH TO LIVING ON MY OWN, AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS MY ONLY OPTION. I WAS A MAZED BY THE QUALITY OF THE HOMES ATLANTIC PACIFIC PROVIDED. I STARTED AS A LEASE I AGENT AND NOW A MANAGER 2024 TWO OF OUR COMMUNITIES. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE GIVEN AS RESIDENT AND EMPLOYEE. THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT I COME ACROSS DAILY WHO COME INTO MY OFFICE LOOKING FOR AVAILABLE UNITS IS ASTOUNDING.
THERE'S SO MANY SAN ANTONIANS THAT DEPEND ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I DO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR PROPERTY LOOKING FOR PLACE.
PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION IN DECIDING IF THIS PROJECT IS TO BE CONTINUED. THINK OF THE MOTHERS AND FATHERS AND GRAND PARENTS WHO DESPERATELY WANT A PLACE THAT IS SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL TO ENJOY.
AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN GOOD SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUCH AS THE ONE IN DISTRICT 10. VISTA PARK WILL ALSO BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE AMAZING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS TO HAVING AN ON-SITE PRE-K. IF THIS PROJECT ISN'T CONTINUED, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL MISS OUT ON THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY SUCH AS LIVING IN AN AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY IN SUCH A DESIRABLE SIDE OF
SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU. PETE ELENE SE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST. A NON-PROFIT CREATED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO SPECIFICALLY FACILITATE THE CREATION AND PRESERVATION OF HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE REZONING NECESSARY TO ADVANCE VISTA PARK. I'M ALSO HERE IN MY ROLE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TRUST TO EDUCATE OUR POLICYMAKERS ON MATTERS IMPACTING SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING SYSTEM. I THINK EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER CAN AGREE, NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE OR PHASE IN LIFE, EVERYONE DESERVES QUALITY HOUSING OPTIONS THAT WORK FOR THEIR LIFESTYLE AND BUDGET. WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY. I'VE HEARD THOSE SENTIMENTS FROM EACH ONE OF YOU.
AND AS MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YOU ALL KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT WE ARE A GROWING, DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC CITY OF CLOSE TO 1.6 MILLION PEOPLE. IN 2023, WE GREW BY 20,000 PEOPLE. WE HAVE NEARLY 90,000 VETERANS, 185,000 SENIORS OVER THE AGE OF 65. HOWEVER, TODAY'S MARKET PRESSURES ON OUR HOUSING SYSTEM ARE LIKE AT NO OTHER TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD IN RECENT MEMORY.
189,000 RENTER HOUSEHOLDS PAY MARCH THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING COSTS.
96,000 RENTER HOUSEHOLDS PAID MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR INCOME IN HOUSING COSTS.
56,000 OF OUR OLDER ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 65, 40% OF THEM RELY SOLELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY. YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU I SHARE OUR CONCERN WITH HOW MUCH FINANCIAL STRESS OUR HARD-WORKING FAMILIES AND OLDER ADULTS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND VETS CAN TAKE. RIGHT NOW ONE IN FOUR RUNTERS IN DISTRICT 10 PAY MORE UNANIMOUS 50% OF THEIR INCOME -- MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR INCOME TO RENT AND UTILITIES. THIS WILL TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF 85 HOUSEHOLDS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES. THERE IS TREMENDOUS VALUE TO THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING MORE OPTIONS BACK TO THE HOUSING TRUST AND CITY COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE. YOU CAN ALSO RELY ON THE HOUSING TRUST TO GIVE YOU CLEAR AND OBJECTIVE EXPERTISE ON ALL THINGS RELATED TO HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. AKEEM BROWN.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JILLIAN MOORE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH OF MY TWO MINUTES BECAUSE IN AUDIO] VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT COUNCIL, I WORK FOR HER.
SO I WILL LET HER TAKE MY TIME OR MOST OF HER TIME. ANYWAY, YOU GUYS KNOW WHY I'M HERE. OF COURSE YOU HEARD ESSENCE PREP.
I'M THE CEO AND FOUNDER. I KNOW ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS.
THIS IS A PLACE THAT'S VERY FAMILIAR TO ME. I'VE TRAVELED THIS CITY FOR THE TEN YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED HERE AND I CAN TELL YOU AS I SHARE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, WHY NOT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ON TO HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION. RIGHT THERE WHERE THEY LIVE.
[00:35:05]
I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I'M A VIA BOARD MEMBER. I REQUEST TELL YOU THAT THE -- CAN TELL YOU THE COST OF LIVING IS BEING GRIFFIN BY TWO ALLOCATIONS, HOUSE AND TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE PRESENTING A SOLUTION TO THREE, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE IF I COULD JUST DROP THE KID OFF AT THE FRONT DOOR OF MY BUILDING, AND QUALITY EDUCATION, FREE AT NO COST, ALL-DAY PRE-K.MOST OF YOUR PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CITY ARE HALF DAY. AGAIN, I AM URGING YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS. THIS IS GOING TO BREAK GROUND NOT ONLY FOR OUR DISTRICT, BECAUSE I CONSIDER YOUR DISTRICT MINE, BUT FOR OUR CITY.
OUR CITY. OUR CITY NEEDS ACCESS TO PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.
NOW, THERE ARE MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO COME UP HERE AND QUESTION YOU ABOUT YOUR MORALS, THE MORALITY OF THIS DECISION. YOU ALL MAKE THOSE DECISIONS EVERY THURSDAY. I HOPE YOU MAKE THE RIGHT ONE TODAY.
ALWAYS IN GREAT SUPPORT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE YOU, TRULY DO,
BUT I'M HOPING YOU ARE VOTING IN THE RIGHT WAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, MR. BROWN. JILLIAN MOORE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND DISTRICT COUNCIL LEADERS. TODAY I WILL BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. THE VISTA PARK PROJECT.
FOR THE VISTA PARK PROJECT IS NOT JUST A BUILDING, IT'S SOMEWHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE HAPPY AND COMFORTABLE. IT'S ALSO A PLACE WHERE PRE-KERS AND KIDS LIKE ME CAN LEARN. LEARNING IS VERY IMPORTANT. IF YOU SAY YES TO THIS, YOU WILL BE GIVING A BUNCH OF KIDS LIKE ME AND PRE-KERS A LONG LIFE WHEN THEY GET OLDER. AND I HOPE THAT YOU SEE THAT IF YOU GIVE PEOPLE A STRONG LIFE, ONE DAY THAT THE KINDNESS WILL COME BACK TO YOU.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND I HOPE YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
AND I ALSO HAVE A PICTURE FOR YOU. THIS IS A PICTURE THAT A BUNCH OF SIXTH GRADERS MADE SO THEY COULD SHOW YOU HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD MAKE VISTA PARK SOMEWHERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN AND BE EDUCATED AND ALSO LIVE SAFELY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. MOORE.
JILLIAN, MS. MOORE, CAN YOU COME HERE FOR A SECOND? DO YOU GO TO ESSENCE PREP?
>> YES, SIR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHAT GRADE ARE YOU IN?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: FIFTH GRADE. YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB
TODAY. GOOD JOB. >> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY ON ITEMS 15 AND 16.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE ITEMS. >> COURAGE: MAYOR, I MOVE THAT ITEM 15, A PLANNED AMENDMENT CASE, AND ITEM 6, A ZONING CASE, BE APPROVED
BY THIS COUNCIL AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO MY MOTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.
WE'LL TAKE UP DISCUSSION IN JUST A MOMENT. THANK YOU.
THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 15 AND 16.
I'LL JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE I DO TO LEVEL SET A FEW THINGS.
MY FIRST POINT IS TO NOTE THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT'S APPLICATION FOR A 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AT THE STATE IN FEBRUARY 1ST THIS YEAR. THAT RESOLUTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ALSO STATED THE LOCATION OF THIS DEVELOPMENT. IN A SENSE, COUNCIL HAS ALREADY SAID YES TO THIS DEVELOPMENT AND ITS LOCATION.
THE CURRENT ZONING C-2 IS CONDITIONAL WITH AUTO, BOAT AND RV STORAGE.
THAT MEANS A LUBE AND TUNEUP SHOP AND REPAIR SHOP AND MORE COULD BE BUILT ON THAT SITE TOMORROW WITH ZERO INTERVENTION FROM THIS CITY COUNCIL.
THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US WILL ENABLE HOUSING TO BE BUILT WHICH TO ME IS A FAR MORE IMPORTANT AND FITS FAR BETTER WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND WOULD GENERATE, AS YOU'VE SEEN, FAR LESS TRAFFIC THAN THE CURRENT COMMERCIAL ZONING USE. THIRD POINT. BECAUSE COUNCIL SUPPORTED THE APPLICANT'S ATTEMPT TO GARNER STATE TAX CREDITS, $20 MILLION HAS BEEN AWARDED TO THIS PROJECT WITH ZERO GUARANTEES IF THIS MEASURE FAILS THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPLY THAT ANYWHERE ELSE LOCALLY. MORE THAN LIKELY IT WOULD LEAVE SAN ANTONIO BASED ON ALL THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED.
[00:40:03]
I WILL TELL YOU WITH RESPECT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS COMMUNITY WE'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS. THE ONLY WAY WE MAKE INCOME-RESTRICTED HOUSING POSSIBLE IN THIS CITY IS WHEN THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT. ONE SUCH PROJECT IS BUILT BY THESE SAME TEAM MEMBERS WHICH AT THE TIME WAS GENERATING QUITE A BIT OF OPPOSITION BUT TURNS OUT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS WE'VE EVER SEEN. AND IT'S VERY CLOSE TO MY HOME, ACTUALLY, HERE WURZBACH PARKWAY, IT'S CALLED INTER PARK AND IT'S A VERY SUCCESSFUL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT THAT IS EVERYBODY IS BEING MANY FAMILIES.I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. I DON'T SUPPORT LEAVING THE $20 MILLION AT THE TABLE OR MAIN INNING THE CURRENT ZONING WHICH WOULD BE FAR MORE DISRUPTIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AGAIN, WE'LL START OUR CONVERSATION WITH CITY COUNCIL, WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE WANTED TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 FOR MANY YEARS. AND WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ELECTED LAST MAY.
AND WHEN I WAS ELECTED, I SWORE TO MY RESIDENTS THAT I WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE FOR THEM. AND THAT I WILL ALWAYS PUT THEIR INTERESTS FIRST.
DISTRICT 10 IS A VERY NEIGHBORHOOD-CENTRIC DISTRICT.
AND I TOLD THOSE FOLKS DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND AFTER I WAS ELECTED THAT I WOULD ALWAYS, ALWAYS FIGHT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUT OUR RESIDENTS FIRST.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WE NEED MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE NEED MORE HOUSING IN ALL FOUR CORNERS OF OUR CITY.
I VOTED FOR MORE HOUSING DURING MY THREE YEARS ON THE ZONING COMMISSION.
AND I'VE DONE IT HERE WHILE ON COUNCIL. I WANT TO BE REALLY, REALLY CLEAR. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR CITY. AND I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT ARE DONE RESPONSIBLY, THAT TAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO ACCOUNT AND THAT FOLLOW PROPER LAND USE PRINCIPLES. THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT, THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHETHER IT IS A MARKET, WHETHER IT WAS A MARKET RATE COMPLEX OR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX HAS ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING ON MY FEELINGS ABOUT WHETHER THIS SHOULD MOVE FORWARD. NONE.
THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT I WOULD WELCOME IN SO MANY PARTS OF DISTRICT 10. OVER THE LAST WEEK I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH CEO OF THE OPPORTUNITY HOME. I'VE SPOKEN WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AT THE HOUSING TRUST. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'VE ENJOYED THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND APPRECIATE THEIR UNDERSTANDING ON THIS ISSUE. WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE ROLLING OAKS AREA IN DISTRICT 10 WOULD BE A GOOD SPOT FOR THIS PROJECT. WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE HOUSING TRUST HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN ROLLING OAKS. BUT THIS PARTICULAR SITE ON NACOGDOCHES ROAD IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS PROJECT. AND HERE'S WHY.
THERE ARE THREE APARTMENT COMPLEXES DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS LITTLE LOT WHERE THIS PROPOSED APARTMENT COMPLEX WOULD GO. WE HAVE 12 APARTMENT COMPLEXES WITHIN TWO MILES OF THIS LOCATION. EIGHT OF THEM ARE WITHIN A MILE, INCLUDING ONE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX I SHOULD ADD.
THE DENSITY IN THIS AREA IS SIGNIFICANT. I HAVE OVER 115 EMAILS,
[00:45:04]
CALLS AND VOICE MAILS TO MY OFFICE FROM MEMBERS OF THIS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD TALKING TO ME ABOUT THE NIGHTMARE THAT IT IS TO GET OUT EVERY MORNING TO GO TO WORK AND TO COME HOME IN THE EVENINGS. THIS IS A DENSE AREA.NUMBER 2, THIS PROPOSED COMPLEX, THREE STORIES -- AND IT'S NOT JUST THREE STORIES, IT'S THREE STORIES ON REALLY ELEVATED LAND. THAT WOULD TOWER OVER A SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD. ONLY 50-FOOT SETBACKS. HARDLY ANY BUFFER.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, YOU'LL SEE SIGNIFICANT BUFFERING. TWO OF THEM ARE ONLY TWO STORIES AND THE ONE THAT'S THREE STORIES IS ACTUALLY ON LOWER-LEVEL LAND. THERE ARE LAND USE PRINCIPLES IN PLAY HERE. AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS MUST COME FIRST. WE HAVE TRIED, AS I ALWAYS DO ON EVERY ZONING CASE, TO MAKE A DEAL HERE. I'M ALWAYS PUSHING FOR THAT. AS WAS STATED EARLIER, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON THIS. I CONTINUED THIS CASE TWO WEEKS AGO UPON A REQUEST FROM THIS DEVELOPER, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD THEN BE REACHING OUT WITH ONE MORE ATTEMPT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE FACT THAT THEY NEVER REACHED BACK OUT TO ME FOR THAT MEETING. MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD DONE ALL THEY COULD, MAYBE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST AT A DEAD END, BUT ALL THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IS A LOBBYING EFFORT AND REALLY AN UNSEEMLY LOBBYING EFFORT, IF I CAN SAY THAT. AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING.
I'VE TALKED TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
I REACHED OUT TO THEM, AND MAYOR, I'M SIMPLY GOING TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR COMMENT.
THESE TAX CREDITS ARE NOT GOING TO LEAVE SAN ANTONIO. THEY WILL BE HERE ON ANOTHER PROJECT. AND I HAVE SOME EMAILS TALKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
BUT I DON'T WANT THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY TO CLOUD MY MAIN POINT WHICH IS THAT THIS PROJECT, WHETHER IT'S AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT OR NOT, IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THIS SPECIFIC AREA DUE TO THE REASONS LAID OUT.
LACK OF ADEQUATE BUFFERING, SETBACKS, THE HEIGHT OF THE PROJECT AND THE DENSITY OF THE AREA. THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF MY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 10 IN THIS AREA MUST COME FIRST. LASTLY, I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN THE MEDIA THAT WERE REFERENCED EARLIER ABOUT VILLIFYING CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE. AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THE KINDEST WORD THAT I CAN USE FOR THOSE COMMENTS ARE SIMPLY THAT I THINK THEY ARE VERY, VERY UNFORTUNATE.
THEY ARE DIVISIVE. THEY DO NOT ADD TO THE DISCOURSE THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING UP ON THIS DAIS. TO SUGGEST THAT ME OR MY DISTRICT 10 RESIDENTS FEEL A CERTAIN WAY ABOUT THIS PROJECT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO MAY BE LIVING IN THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX IS FLAT OUT WRONG. IT'S WRONG, IT DOESN'T SET THE RIGHT TONE FOR THIS CONVERSATION, AND IT'S JUST EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING.
THIS FOR ME TODAY IS ABOUT ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY.
IT'S ABOUT WHETHER AN APARTMENT COMPLEX OF ANY TIME SHOULD BE PUT ON THIS SITE. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD.
[00:50:02]
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
[APPLAUSE] COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. YEAH.
I'M SORRY. YEAH, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN
AND THEN -- >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I HOPE YOU ALL CAN HEAR ME AND THE CONNECTION AS WELL. ANDY OR SUE, I DON'T KNOW WHO IS THE CITY ATTORNEY THERE, I CAN'T QUITE SEE. IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET THOSE EMAILS THAT COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WAS TALKING ABOUT? BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE STATE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL STAY WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY OR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND IF THAT'S THE CLAIM, IF THERE IS AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WASN'T SHARED BEFORE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY.
I THINK IT'S NECESSARY, I THINK THAT IT'S WHAT THE CITY NEEDS.
I DID READ SOME OF THE LETTERS THAT WERE SENT BY NEIGHBORS THAT WERE AGAINST AND THEN SOME OF WHOM GOT VERY INAPPROPRIATE, I FELT, IN TERMS OF THEIR ILLUSIONS TO WHO THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE LIVING THERE WHEN THIS WAS CLEARLY WORKFORCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ALREADY OR PEOPLE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY.
I AM -- I AM AGAINST ANY SORT OF TYPE OF MODERN-DAY RED LINING AND I THINK IF WHAT I'M HEARING IS THIS WOULD GO BETTER IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT, IN A BROWNER DISTRICT IS WHAT I'M HEARING. SO I THINK WE NEED TO EMBRACE THE DIVERSITY WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO AND MOVE THIS FORWARD AND REALLY THEN TAKE A LOOK AT OUR POLICY ABOUT WHAT WE APPROVE IN TERMS OF LITEC AND SEND UP TO THE STATE. AND IF THERE ARE COMMUNITIES OUT THERE THAT ARE AGAINST IT, THEN REALLY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION BEFOREHAND.
SO I'M HOPING WE CAN VOTE ON THIS SHORTLY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND INTO WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN TERMS OF HOW -- HOW WE MOVE AND THE DIRECTION AGAIN THAT THIS CITY IS HEADED BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE ARE ON THE RIGHT DIRECTION WHEN IT
COMES TO HOUSING. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, I DON'T ENVY YOU TODAY, AND I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS CASE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT ONCE. ONE, THIS PROPOSED PROJECT IS FANTASTIC.
THE MERITS OF THE PROJECT ARE GREAT. AND TWO, THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC. I DROVE PAST THE SITE LAST NIGHT ON MY WAY HOME AND THAT'S THE SECOND TIME I DROVE PAST THE SITE. FIRST WAS DURING THE DAY AND THIS WAS ONCE THE SUN HAD GONE DOWN. I STILL THINK THE SITE IS PROBLEMATIC, I THINK THAT LOCATION IS TOO SATURATED WITH APARTMENTS.
MARKET RATE AND LUXURY RATE AND TAX CREDIT APARTMENTS WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THAT SITE. REASONABLE MINDS ARE WELCOME TO DISAGREE WITH ME.
TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT ONCE. ONE, THE ZONING COMMISSION CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND TWO, I CAN DISAGREE WITH THOSE ASSESSMENTS.
AND BOTH OF THOSE OPINIONS COULD BE ON THE TABLE AND PRESENTED IN GOOD FAITH.
THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES IN THE PAST WHERE I THINK EACH OF US HAS HAD A ZONING RECOMMENDATION WITH WHICH WE DISAGREED. I KNOW I HAVE ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS CAREER TO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT'S BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THE DISCRETION LIES WITH THE 11 PEOPLE AT THIS DAIS. TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT ONCE. I CAN SUPPORT THE HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM AND VOTE AGAINST THE SINGLE PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE LOCATION AND THAT NOT BE A VIOLATION OF MY -- OR THE FAILING OF A LITMUS TEST TO THE I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING LITMUS TEST. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE DURING THE TIME IVES AND I THINK THIS IS AN OUTLIER AND MAYBE
[00:55:04]
THE ONLY OUTLIER AS FAR AS TAX CREDIT PROJECTS. I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT NOT SUPPORTING IT BUT IN CLOSE TO EIGHT YEARS I VOTED FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM AND I THINK THIS IS THE EXCEPTION. I JUST DON'T LIKE THE SITE.AND WHILE I ENTHUSIASTICALLY VOTED FOR THE SHIP, I DON'T THINK I SIGNED ON TO A SUICIDE PACT. I DIDN'T PLEDGE AN OATH TO SUPPORT IN AND ALL PROJECTS WITHOUT REGARD TO LOCATION OR NO MATTER WHAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE PROJECTS HAVE TO SATISFY TWO CRITERIA FOR ME. ONE IS THEY GOT TO BE WONDERFUL -- AND I THINK THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE THAT I VOTED ON TO APPROVE IS WONDERFUL. AND, TWO, THEY GOT TO SATISFY ME THAT THEY'RE THE RIGHT SITE. AND TODAY, LASTLY, THE TWO OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE TRUE AT ONCE IS THAT MY PROJECT, THIS PROJECT'S NOT GOING TO GET MY VOTE.
AND I'LL CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT YOU GUYS NEED TO BE BRINGING MORE PROJECTS LIKE THIS TO DISTRICT 8 TO THE RIGHT SITES. I'LL POINT TO TWO OF THEM THAT ARE MY FAVORITE ONES IN DISTRICT 8. ONE OF THEM IS AN NRP PROJECT CALLED THE BALTAZAR ON I-10 CLOSE TO DE ZAVALA. ANOTHER ONE IS CALLED PARK 38 ON GARDENDALE. BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS GOT THE NMBE TREATMENT FROM NEIGHBORS AND WE STILL WENT FORWARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE PROJECTS WERE EXCELLENT AND THE LOCATIONS WERE CORRECT, DESPITE THE NMBE OBJECTIONS.
I DON'T MIND GETTING CALLS BUT I DO MIND THIS BINARY CHOICE THAT'S PUT IN FRONT OF US AND I THINK IT'S A FALSE CHOICE. YOU EITHER SUPPORT THIS CHOICE OR YOU DON'T LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I THINK THAT'S A DISHONEST APPROACH AND I GET THAT SOME PEOPLE SEE IT THAT WAY. AGAIN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DISAGREE WITH ME BUT I HOPE YOU'RE PICKING UP WHAT I'M LAYING DOWN.
THAT'S WHY I'M VOTING THE WAY I'M VOTING TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I THINK WE'VE ALL GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THIS CASE AND IT'S BEEN SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN BY EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS DAIS THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A PRIORITY AND THAT IT'S NEEDED ALL OVER THE CITY IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT. WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NMBEISM IS A CHALLENGE TO ACHIEVING OUR HOUSING GOALS AND WHAT I HEAR IS THIS IS A FANTASTIC PROJECT BUT IT NEEDS TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. I'M NOT MAKING THE CASE THAT IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT AN INDIVIDUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT THAT YOU'RE OPPOSED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO SEE IS CITY COUNCIL GOING TO CAVE TO NIMBISM OR MAKE A DECISION. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN SITES HAVE NOT BEEN AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR ME BUT IF THERE'S CONCESSIONS MADE OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING REMARKABLE ABOUT A PROJECT, YOU CAN LOOK PAST CERTAIN PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES AND PEOPLE REALLY DO WANT TO KNOW IF YOU CAN WALK THE WALK.
YOU CANNOT REWRITE HISTORY BY CLIMBING THE NUMBER ONE -- BY OFFERING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PEOPLE DO NOT, YOU KNOW, WAKE UP ONE DAY AND DECIDE TO BE HOMELESS. THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IS INTERCONNECTED TO THE POLICY DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ESPECIALLY AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
COUNCILMAN WHYTE, YOU KNOW, I CONSIDER TO BE A VERY GOOD FRIEND AND SOMETIMES WE'RE UNLIKELY FRIENDS. THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO DISAGREE ON ISSUES.
WE CAN GET INTO VERY HEATED DISCUSSIONS, ARGUMENTS EVEN BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE KNOW WE'RE VOTING WITH OUR VALUES, EVEN IF WE DISAGREE. THAT'S THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP I BELIEVE I HAVE WITH ALMOST EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE BUILT THAT SAME RELATIONSHIP. AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT -- THERE'S A NORM WHEN IT COMES TO ZONING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH WHATEVER THE COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS. THAT'S THE STANDARD. THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS DONE THE ENGAGEMENT. THEY HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY. THEY KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOES NOT WORK IN THEIR DISTRICT. THERE ARE SOMETIMES WHEN A COUNCIL MEMBER JUST CANNOT SUPPORT A PROJECT THAT WE KNOW IS GOOD FOR THE CITY THAT WE HAVE INFORMATION ON, THAT WE VOTED ON THINGS LIKE THE RESOLUTION BEFORE. SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE TO DISAGREE AND WE HAVE TO VOTE WITH OUR VALUABLES. VALUES.I KNOW THERE ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS LEANING TO VOTE AND TO LEND THEIR VOTE TO COUNCILMAN WHYTE.
MY ASK IS THAT IT'S NOT A VOTE FOR OR AGAINST COUNCILMAN WHYTE.
THIS IS ABOUT ADDRESSING A MUCH-NEEDED ISSUE, A CRITICAL ISSUE IN OUR CITY.
[01:00:03]
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WILL BE DISAPPOINTED WITH NO VOTES BUT, AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING.I DO WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. I HEARD THAT SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED WAS A CONCRETE WALL AROUND THE STRUCTURE. SOME SORT OF BARRIER.
>> SO RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT CONDITIONS ON AN MXD ZONING CASE. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE COULD TACK ON HERE BUT THE APPLICANT MAY BE WILLING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE WILLINGNESS TO CONSTRUCT THAT AS A
FEATURE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT
YOU'RE WILLING TO DO. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. SO, YES, IN THE ONGOING COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAD VIA PHONE AND E-MAIL IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS SINCE THE CONTINUANCE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN WORKING MOST CLOSELY WITH US, THE REQUEST WAS MADE FOR A CONCRETE FENCE IN LIEU OF WHAT WAS PROPOSED AS THE WOOD FENCE, WHICH IS CONSISTENT MATERIAL THAT WE UTILIZE IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR RESPONSE WAS THAT CONCRETE FENCES IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE UTILIZE IN ANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE FEEL THAT IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE. WE FEEL THAT IT LOOKS A CERTAIN WAY AND IS RECEIVED A CERTAIN WAY. CERTAINLY BY THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE. THAT SAID, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT LIVES ARE LITERALLY HANGING IN THE BALANCE OF FOLKS WHO ARE HOUSING INSECURE AND DESPERATELY NEED THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND EVERY OTHER FEATURE OF OUR COMMUNITY IS READY TO GO, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO LOOK INTO ARE THERE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WITH CONCRETE MATERIALS THAT COULD LOOK LIKE A FENCE. IS THERE SOME WAY THAT WE COULD DO THIS THAT WOULD BE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE FEEL THERE ARE AT THIS POINT, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE
OPEN TO IF WE FELT THAT THAT WOULD MOVE THIS FORWARD. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOOD TO HEAR. MS. MOORE -- IS YOUR NAME JALEN? MY NAME IS JALEN TOO. WHAT I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO DO, WHEN WE CAST OUR VOTES, IF YOU COULD MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
[LAUGHTER] YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB SPEAKING AND I THINK EVEN, YOU KNOW, STILL TO THIS DAY I GET NERVOUS PUBLIC SPEAKING AND YOU DID SUCH A BEAUTIFUL JOB. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A COMPLIMENT THERE.
GREAT JOB AND KEEP IT UP. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE TIME TO SPEAK TODAY ON THIS ITEM, ESPECIALLY JALEN.
YOU DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. GREAT JOB TODAY. I ALSO DON'T ENVY THE POSITION COUNCILMAN WHYTE IS IN TODAY. MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ASK THAT TRUST BE PLACED IN THEM WHEN THEY ARE MAKING A DECISION FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. I'VE STOOD BY EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES EVERY SINGLE TIME THROUGH THIS UNDERSTANDING AND I WON'T BE CHANGING MY PHILOSOPHY TODAY.
THERE ARE NUANCES TO EACH OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD BY YEARS OF LIVED EXPERIENCES AND REPRESENTATION. I KNOW MY DISTRICT BETTER THAN ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I KNOW THIS LOGIC RINGS TRUE FOR EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER UP HERE. MY VOTE TODAY IS NOT IN OPPOSITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I VOTED TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING EVERY TIME SINCE MY TENURE HAS BEGUN. MY VOTE IS IN SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUE AND HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHER VIABLE SITES MAY EXIST IN HIS DISTRICT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I LIKE THE INTENT OF THIS PROJECT AND I MADE THAT CLEAR TO OLIVIA WHEN I SPOKE WITH HER. AS A CITY WE HAVE THE SHIP, CALLING FOR OVER 28,000 AFFORDABLE HOMES BY 2031. IT IS OUR DUTY TO FULFILL THIS PLAN AND KEEP ROOFS OVER OUR RESIDENTS' HEADS. IN MY DISTRICT, JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE RECENTLY BROKE GROUND ON A SIMILAR PROJECT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SAME DEVELOPER.
NOT EVERYBODY WAS EXCITED INITIALLY BUT WE TOOK THE TIME TO BRING THE COMMUNITY INTO THE PROCESS, NOT JUST INFORM THEM OF THE OUTCOME. AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS REALLY IS ABOUT BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER ON THE SAME PAGE.
FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DOING THE WORK AT THE BACK END THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING OUR COMMUNITIES IN FROM THE START. OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DID NOT ELECT US TO COME UP HERE AND BICKER AND POLITICIZE EVERY CHOICE. THEY ELECTED US TO DO THE WORK, TO ENSURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD. THE FACT THAT THIS PROJECT IS SO WE HAVE TO DEMAND BETTER ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS. IT'S BEEN PROBABLY A YEAR OR SO NOW BUT I HAD A CONTENTIOUS ZONING CASE IN DISTRICT 6, WHICH IS PRETTY
[01:05:07]
UNUSUAL. STONE GATE HILL. IT TOOK US TWO YEARS TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE THIS DEVELOPMENT COULD HAPPEN AND THEY WERE HAPPY .WHAT MY RESIDENTS STILL TALK ABOUT IS THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT VOTED AGAINST THEM. THEY DIDN'T VOTE AGAINST ME, THEY VOTED AGAINST THE NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORS ARE WATCHING US.
THE COMMUNITY MADE THEIR FEELINGS KNOWN RIGHT FROM THE START, I UNDERSTAND IN THIS PROJECT. THE CONCERNS HERE REALLY COME DOWN TO LAND USE, DENSITY, ACCESS, AND TRAFFIC. IT WAS UP TO THE DEVELOPERS TO SHOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOW THIS PROJECT WOULD ACTUALLY BE A POSITIVE.
I HEARD YOU SAY TODAY THAT YOU DID THE WORK BUT THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING.
LET ME BE CLEAR. I'M STANDING WITH COMMUNITY TODAY, NO QUESTION.
WE WILL NOT FILL THE HOUSING GAPS IF DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE TO BE POLITICALLY CHARGED. TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY SHOULD NOT BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT. I SUPPORT THE GOALS AND THE MERITS OF THE PROJECT AND PROJECTS LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH A CHILDCARE COMPONENT BUT WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR NEIGHBORS A SAY AND WE HAVE TO FULFILL OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS FOR THE SAKE OF THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. I THINK SOME FOLKS MIGHT BE ON ANOTHER ITEM SO IF YOU CAN HIT ACTIVE ITEM OR ITEM 16. IF YOU HAVEN'T TAPPED INTO ITEM 16, PLEASE DO THAT. WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS A TOUCHY SITUATION FOR MANY OF US. IT TOUCHES MY HEART WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WANTING TO HAVE A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE. I LIVED IN DISTRICT 10 FOR 11 YEARS.
MY KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL THERE. I SHOPPED THERE.
I WENT UP AND DOWN NACOGDOCHES ROAD, NACOGDOCHES AND O'CONNOR ROAD AND I STILL GO BY THERE SO I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY PRETTY WELL.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO LIVE RIGHT OFF THE PROPERTY LINE THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED TODAY. I HAVE GONE AND VISITED. SO I THINK I HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING BUT I KNOW THAT ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUE ON ISSUES THAT COME UP IN THEIR DISTRICT. BECAUSE WE SHOULD ALWAYS PRESUME THEY KNOW THEIR DISTRICT BETTER THAN WE DO. AND I THINK THAT I'VE ALWAYS SAID I'M A NEIGHBORHOOD KIND OF GUY AND I ALWAYS WANT TO LISTEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TRY AND FOLLOW WHERE THEY THINK IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO GO.
BUT I ALSO HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES THE NEIGHBORS DON'T UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING. THEY DON'T REALIZE THE COMPLEXITY OF, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT GOES INTO CHOOSING A SITE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I SERVED ON THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST FOR FOUR YEARS AND THERE'S FIVE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL RIGHT NOW WHO SERVE ON THAT BOARD. AND I WONDER IF ANY OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS HAVE GONE AND TALKED TO THEM AND ASKED THEM WHAT THEY THINK OF THIS PROJECT AND WHY. I KNOW THEY'VE TALKED TO THE COUNCILMAN ABOUT IT BUT HAVE THEY TALKED TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE AND I THINK THAT'S A SHORTCOMING OF MAKING A DECISION LIKE THIS BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE. YOU KNOW, TODAY I LIVE IN DISTRICT 9. I HAVE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I LIVE WITH SIX APARTMENT COMPLEXES WITHIN ONE QUARTER MILE OF MY HOUSE. THEY'VE BEEN THERE EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE. I'VE NEVER HAD A DAY OF PROBLEMS FROM THE ONES THAT ARE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOME. I LIVE ON THIS SIDE OF THE STREET. THE BROKEN OAK APARTMENTS IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
I LOOK INTO THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEX EVERY DAY. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM.
THE VALUES OF MY HOME HAVE NOT GONE DOWN. YOU KNOW, I SPENT $130,000 WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE AND NOW IT'S VALUED AT OVER $400,000.
THOSE APARTMENTS HAVE NEVER HURT ME.RT ALL OF THOSE SIX UNITS OUT THERE, FIVE OF THEM ARE ON THOUSAND OAKS. THOUSAND OAKS IS A LOT LIKE NACOGDOCHES ROAD. A LOT OF BUSINESSES, A LOT OF TRAFFIC, IMPORTANT ARTERY. THOSE SIX APARTMENTS DON'T HURT ANYTHING THAT GOES ON IN THAT COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, I MADE AN ERROR IN JUDGMENT ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND THAT'S WHEN OCI CAME TO THIS COUNCIL AND SAID WE WANT TO BUILD AN APARTMENT
[01:10:05]
COMPLEX ON 281 AT INNER PARK. AND I WENT AND TALKED TO MY COMMUNITY AND MY COMMUNITY WAS ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO IT.THE PEOPLE AROUND IT WERE OPPOSED TO IT. AND I MADE THE MISTAKE AND SAYING, OKAY, IF YOU OPPOSE IT, I'LL OPPOSE IT. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THE REST OF MY COUNCIL HAD A BROADER PERSPECTIVE AND THEY APPROVED IT OVER MY OBJECTION BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE WAS A VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S A REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL. AND I SAT ON THE HOUSING TRUST FOR FOUR YEARS SO I UNDERSTAND THE INSIGHT OF WHAT PETE AND HIS STAFF AND OCI AND OTHER AFFORDABLE HOME BUILDERS AND WHAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SAT ON THAT COMMITTEE UNDERSTAND.
YOU KNOW, WE SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT.
WE SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN WE DON'T HEAR TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS. I'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A SUICIDE PACT. ARE WE NIMBYS OURSELVES? WOULD WE SAY I DON'T WANT IT IN MY BACKYARD? YOU KNOW, THE SAME ARGUMENTS THAT I HEARD TODAY FROM THE COUNCILMAN ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAID. IT'S NOT THE RIGHT LOCATION.
IT'S NOT THIS, IT'S NOT THAT. I HEARD EXACTLY THOSE SAME THINGS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT VISTA ON INNER PARK. SAME ARGUMENTS.
SO I SAID, OKAY, THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY. AND I VOTED NOT TO APPROVE IT. I VOTED AGAINST IT. I REGRET THAT TODAY BECAUSE THAT PLACE IS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
THEY DESERVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. AND THERE'S NO PROBLEMS OVER THERE. AND IT HASN'T LOWERED ANYONE'S PROPERTY VALUES.
I THINK NO MATTER WHAT PROMISE WE MADE TO ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, WE NEED TO LOOK INTO OUR HEARTS AND VOTE ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO JUST START OFF BY ASKING ALSO -- COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN ASKED IF WE COULD SEE THE TDHCA'S
E-MAILS AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF WE COULD HAVE THOSE. >>
SEE WHAT THE RESPONSES ARE. >> GARCIA: GREAT. THANK YOU.
BECAUSE I KNOW FROM MY WORK WITH THE HOUSING TRUST I DON'T THINK THAT THEY EVER COMMIT TO BEING ABLE TO STAY IN AN AREA AND I JUST WANTED TO CHECK ON THAT.
BUT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SUSAN. AND SO TODAY'S REZONING CASE MEMBERS HAVE WORKED ON THIS FOR MONTHS WITH THE HOUSING TRUST AS WELL.
AND SO IN ADDITION TO THIS INCREASING THE 85 UNITS, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BUY A TRACT DOWN THE STREET.
ROLLING OAKS. I APPRECIATE THAT AND WE'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS WELL . BUT WE KNOW THERE'S A HOUSING SHORTAGE.
WE SIMPLY CAN'T LOOK AT ONLY SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CERTAIN AREAS OR IN SELECT AREAS. IN DISTRICTS 3 AND 4 WE APPROVED 5 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS IN THE LAST YEAR. THERE'S ONE IN DISTRICT 1 AND ONE IN DISTRICT 8. BUT ALL SAN ANTONIANS DESERVE ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE IN THE CITY.
OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND TEACHERS, AND EVEN OUR OWN CITY EMPLOYEES DESERVE ACCESS TO QUALITY HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE. VISTA PARK IS UNIQUE AND THE FIRST OF ITS KIND.
NOT ONLY WILL IT ADD 85 AFFORDABLE UNITS BUT IT WILL HAVE A PRE-K ON SITE THAT RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY CAN USE. THIS INCLUDES WRAPAROUND SERVICES INCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY AND WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING AND PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. LAST MONTH I MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A REZONING CASE TO ALLOW MORE THAN 600 NEW AFFORDABLE UNITS TO BE BUILT NEAR ZARZAMORA STREET. IT'S ALONG A BUSY CORRIDOR. ZARZAMORA IS USED BY HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS TO GET TO TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, TOYOTA, AND A GROWING COMMUNITY IN THE AREA. SOON IT'S GOING TO BE BUSIER WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOSPITAL AND JCB. ZARZAMORA HAS TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION AND A CENTER
[01:15:06]
LANE. TXDOT'S MAP HAS ZARZAMORA AND NACOGDOCHES CLASSIFIED AS THE SAME TYPE OF STREET, MINOR ARTERIAL. ONE CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE PROJECT IS THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC ALONG THIS BUSY CORRIDOR.AS WE DISCUSS COMPATIBILITY WITH THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD, WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT IN HOW WE APPLY THE POLICIES WE ADOPT AND THE FACTORS THAT WE CONSIDER. IN FACT, SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DISTRICT 4 HAVE HAD SUPPORT FROM CHAMPIONS IN DISTRICT 10 AS WELL.
I APPRECIATE THAT. SIMPLY PUT, SOME PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE THAT OUR VOTE TODAY IS SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE AGAINST FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE ON THE HOUSING TRUST. A MEMBER OF THE AFL-CIO, THE CEO OF THE FOOD BANK, A LEADER W WHO COORDINATES AND MANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVES. A VOTE TO DENY IS ALSO A VOTE SHOWING THAT WE -- ALTHOUGH WE NEED PRE-K DESPERATELY, THAT WE ARE WILLING TO PUT IT ON HOLD. AND A VOTE TO DENY SENDS A MESSAGE AGAINST A VERY STRONG LATINA-OWNED BUSINESS THAT HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK AND PREPARATION TO GET HERE TO THIS DATE. TOGETHER WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. THAT INCLUDES BUILDING AND FACILITATING CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT TODAY WE VOTE WITH OUR CONSCIOUS AND THAT'S WHY WE'LL BE VOTING TO APPROVE ITEMS 15 AND 16.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'LL BE BRIEF BUT AS I WAS LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION TODAY THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF IS DR. DRENNAN'S PRESENTATION AND HOW SHE TALKED ABOUT RED LINING. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE SEGREGATED. I WORK WITH EDGEWOOD AND THEY SERVE 97 FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF THAT. WHEN YOU ARE A TEACHER SERVING SO MANY NEEDS IN A CLASSROOM, IT MAKES THE WORK YOU ARE DOING SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. SO ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE OF PLACING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY IS IT OPENS UP NEW SCHOOLS, IT OPENS UP NEW SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CAPITAL WHICH WE KNOW MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE ON HOW KIDS CAN FLOURISH AND WHAT THEY CAN SEE THEY CAN BE SO THEY CAN BECOME THAT.
THE THING THAT'S SITTING MOST WITH ME -- AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND PRESENTING -- FROM THE SCHOOL STANDPOINT IS WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. I KNOW MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE SHARES THAT THIS IS NOT A DECISION FOR HIM BASED ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT FOR ME THIS ABSOLUTELY IS.
AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE NORM OF WHO CAN LIVE IN WHAT COMMUNITY AND NOT BE A SMIDGE OF A PART TO WHAT MODERN DAY RED LINING LOOKS LIKE.
WE ALL DEAL WITH CHALLENGES WITH OUR RESIDENTS THAT CURRENTLY LIVE.
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH A GREEN LINE AND A TOD PROGRAM RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOING TO RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART OF DISTRICT 1. WE ARE FACING A LOT OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND SO WE MUST ACTUALLY WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS A LEGACY THAT WE'RE BUILDING 20 YEARS FROM NOW AND WHAT ARE OUR KIDS GOING TO EXPERIENCE 20 YEARS FROM NOW AND DO WE WANT TO REPLICATE THE ERRORS OF THE PAST.
THAT'S WHY I'LL BE PROUDLY SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE MADE THEIR PRIORITIES CLEAR BY IDENTIFYING HOMELESSNESS AS ONE OF THE TOP BUDGET PRIORITIES ACROSS ALL TEN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
AND WHILE I DO BELIEVE TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME I BELIEVE THAT HERE WE HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE. TO LEAD AND MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY WITH URGENCY OR TO WILT TO NIMBYISM. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, MICHAEL, IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS. IF YOU CAN SHARE A BIT ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE FOLKS THAT YOU ALL SERVE -- MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT IS
THE OPPORTUNITY HOME WAIT LIST? >> THE WAIT LIST IS AT
114,000 AS OF TODAY. >> CASTILLO: AND THE MAJORITY OF THE CLIENTS THAT YOU ALL SERVE, ARE THEY MAJORITY SINGLE PARENTS, WOMEN, SENIORS?
>> HALF ARE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. THE OTHER HALF ARE SENIORS.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MICHAEL. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU. AGAIN, TODAY AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST BUDGET CONVERSATIONS AND BRIEFINGS WE HAVE HAD RICH AND ROBUST CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. WHILE I DO UNDERSTAND THE POSITION IN WHICH MY COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 10 IS, I'M NOT QUITE UNDERSTANDING THE POSITION OF MY ADDITIONAL COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH
[01:20:03]
UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS BUT ARE FAILING TO MEET THE NEED AND THE URGENCY OF OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND I'M REVIEWING SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT OCI HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IN NEGOTIATION WITH COMMUNITY FROM REDUCING THE BUILDING FROM THREE STORIES -- FROM FOUR TO THREE STORIES. AND GOING FROM THE PROPOSED WOOD PRIVACY FENCE AND LANDSCAPE BUFFER AS WELL AS REMOVING PATIOS.SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS WANTED PATIOS REMOVED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT RENTERS OVERLOOKING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. OLIVIA, CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT THE NEGOTIATION AND CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE THAT YOU ALL DID TO MEET
SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S REQUESTS? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
YES, I KNOW I HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT QUICKLY DURING THE PRESENTATION.
BUT WE DO OUTLINE HOW CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED OVER THE COURSE OF THE FOUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WERE HAD. THE FIRST STARTING AS FAR BACK AS JANUARY. SO DRAINAGE WAS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT WAS RAISED.
THERE WILL BE AN ON-SITE DETENTION POND. WE EXPLAINED TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THE DRAINAGE RUNS SOUTH SO WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO CAPTURE ANY OF THAT RUNOFF COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY IN THAT DETENTION POND RATHER THAN WHAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, WHICH WOULD BE EXACERBATING DRAINAGE.
IT JUST DOES NOT RUN THAT WAY AND WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF THE CITY'S CRITERIA AND MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN, THERE WERE ALSO THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC. A TRAFFIC REPORT, AS I MENTIONED, FOUND THAT MULTIFAMILY AND PRE-K WOULD ACTUALLY PRODUCE ONLY ONE-THIRD OF THE TRAFFIC OF WHAT THEIR CURRENT ZONING PERMITS, WHICH COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE RETAIL OR RESTAURANT. WE HAD TRAFFIC ENGINEERS DO A REPORT THAT NOTED THAT THE DRIVEWAY CAN ACCOMMODATE A QUEUING OF 26 CARS.
AND WE MADE SURE THAT THE INGRESS AND EGRESS WOULD BE ON NACOGDOCHES, NOT WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AGAIN, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT AFFECTED IN THAT WAY. THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BUILDING HEIGHT AND THE DISTANCE. YOU MENTIONED THE REDUCTION, WHICH ALSO MATCHES THE PERMITTED HEIGHTS IN THE SURROUNDING ZONING DISTRICT. THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA WHICH IS SOMETHING STAFF, PLANNING, AND THE ZONING COMMISSION TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BUILDING DISTANCE IS ALSO OVER 50 FEET FROM THE SPRING CREEK PROPERTY LINE. WHILE THAT MAY SOUND SMALL, WE SHARED WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT THE EXISTING C-2 ZONING WOULD ALLOW 35 FEET BUILDING HEIGHT AND WITHIN 35 FEET OF THE ACTUAL PROPERTY LINE. SO THIS INCREASES WHAT IS CURRENTLY PERMITTED WITHIN THAT ZONING. WE ALSO RECONFIGURED THE SITE PLAN. WE MADE SURE IT WOULD BE IN A U SHAPE SO THAT AS FEW UNITS AS POSSIBLE FACE THE COMMUNITY. WE MADE SURE THE WINDOWS AND THE BALCONY DID NOT FACE THE COMMUNITY. THEY FACE OUTWARD.
THEY FACE NACOGDOCHES. AS FEW UNITS AS POSSIBLE, HAVING ANY OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN FACE IT. AND THE U-SHAPE PERMITS AN EVEN FURTHER SETBACK FROM THE PROPERTY LINE. AGAIN, NOISE AND LIGHTING WERE AMONG THOSE OTHER
ISSUES. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH THOSE PIECES. WHAT I'M HEARING IS A PARTNER GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MEET THE NEEDS AND REQUEST OF THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS BUT THE GOALPOST MOVING. AND MY CONCERN IS THAT BY KILLING THIS PROJECT, THAT'S $20 MILLION THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S LOSING AT MEETING ONE OF THE TOP FIVE BUDGET PRIORITIES. AGAIN, I WOULD CHALLENGE THE IDEA THAT THIS IS POLITICAL POLITICIZING THE ISSUE AND THE WILLINGNESS TO LEAD AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITY
OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL FIRST TO COUNCILWOMAN MARINA. I HEAR --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN -- >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO MY COLLEAGUES WHILE ADDRESSING THE CHAIR BY STATING I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO REALLY VALUE PLACING THEIR VOTE BEHIND COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO, YOU KNOW, REPRESENT THAT DISTRICT. WHEN I WAS A TEACHER IN DISTRICT 10, I HAD MORE HOMELESS STUDENTS THAN I HAD TEACHING IN DISTRICT 2.
AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ABOUT DISTRICT 10, THAT IT'S NOT THIS UPPITY -- ALL OF DISTRICT 10 IS NOT THIS
[01:25:05]
UPPITY NORTH SIDE PLACE THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE IT TO BE. THERE ARE CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO HOMELESSNESS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES WE HAVE IN DISTRICT 2.
AND I REALLY WORRY THAT WE'RE SETTING UP A CYCLE WHERE PARTS OF DISTRICT 10 CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THESE SAME CHALLENGES AND THAT IT ONLY GETS WORSE AND WORSE.
AND SO I WANT TO DROP THAT THERE. I ALSO, AGAIN, FIVE OF US SERVE ON THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, THE FIVE OF US ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS.
AND I THINK THAT'S FOR A REASON. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, THAT IT'S NOT -- MAN, I'M TRYING SO HARD. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO MY COUNCILWOMAN MELISSA WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING THE CHAIR.
[LAUGHTER] WHAT I FEEL LIKE I HEARD WAS THAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS IN THAT IF INPUT AND ENGAGEMENT ISN'T DONE WITH QUALITY AND WITH GREAT INTENTIONALITY, THEN AT SOME POINT YOU DO HAVE TO SAY NO TO GREAT PROJECTS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT.
I THINK WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED THAT. WHAT I THINK WE SEE HERE IS FROM DAY ONE EFFORTS TO MAKE A PROJECT WORK, TO BRING A STELLAR PROJECT THAT HAS ON-SITE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS, LIKE FINANCIAL LITERACY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, LIKE PRE-K. PRE-K.
WE SEE A PHENOMENAL PROJECT HERE THAT WAS IMMEDIATELY MET WITH OPPOSITION AND, MUCH LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID, CONCESSIONS WERE MADE AND THE GOALPOST KEEPS MOVING AND IF THE PROBLEM IS TRAFFIC, WHAT IS A CONCRETE WALL GOING TO DO THAT A WOOD WALL WOULDN'T DO? IT'S NOT ABOUT TRAFFIC.
THERE IS SOMETHING GREATER THERE AND IT ALLUDES MORE TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT NIMBYISM, AFFORDABILITY, AND THOSE PEOPLE AND KEEPING THEM SEPARATE THAN MAKING THEM A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. IF YOU'RE MET WITH THAT SORT OF A BARRIER, APPLICANT HAVE DONE BETTER? IN THE TWO WEEKS THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REACH OUT AND TRY TO DO A MEETING, SHOULD HAVE DONE IT.
I AGREE. I WISH Y'ALL HAD DONE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT EFFORTS WERE MADE. I ONLY KNOW WHAT I'M BEING TOLD UP HERE.
BUT COME ON. HOW MUCH MORE WAS GOING TO CHANGE? HOW MUCH MORE WAS GOING TO CHANGE? SO I'M SEEING THE WRITING ON THE WALL OF WHERE THIS IS GOING AND I AM TRYING TO APPEAL TO, WHILE ADDRESSING THE CHAIR, MY TWO COLLEAGUES OVER HERE THAT I KNOW SHARE SUCH GREAT -- YOU SHARE THE VALUES. YOU KNOW THE NEED. LET'S GO.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. WE ARE ABOUT TO LOSE A QUORUM SO I'M GOING TO CALL THE QUESTION. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL GO AHEAD.
AGAIN, IF SOMEONE CALLS A QUESTION, WE CAN VOTE ON IT. IF I DON'T HAVE CONSENT ON
THAT, GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I'LL BE QUICK.
I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE THINGS THAT WERE ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIR.
JUST VERY QUICKLY. I MENTIONED THAT CASE IN MY DISTRICT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND IT TOOK TWO YEARS. BECAUSE THE GOALPOST KEPT MOVING AND I KEPT BACKING MY NEIGHBORHOODS UP. PERIOD. AND SO WHEN THE DEVELOPER MADE THOSE CONCESSIONS IN THAT CASE -- AND THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE.
IT JUST WAS THE EXCESSIVE ONE THAT TOOK SO LONG. THEY KEPT MAKING THE CONCESSIONS BECAUSE THEY REALLY BELIEVED IN THE PROJECT AND THEY KEPT MAKING THOSE CONCESSIONS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACQUIESCED. HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES, AS LONG AS EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE. THANK YOU.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET ME ASK REAL QUICK, BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONTENTIOUS POINT. IF I CAN HAVE A DEVELOPER REPRESENTATIVE COME UP. IT HAS BEEN SAID YOU WERE REQUESTED TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING IN THE TWO WEEKS THAT LED UP TO THIS MEETING.
DID YOU MAKE THAT ATTEMPT? >> WE HAD ONGOING COMMUNICATION VIA PHONE AND E-MAIL WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE COULD AGAIN REVIEW AND SEE IF THERE WOULD BE A PATH FORWARD.
IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT THERE WOULD BE. WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED CONFIRMATION DURING OUR LAST COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WE HAD ADDRESSED ALL OF THEIR LAND USE CONCERNS. THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAD RELATED TO ANYTHING PERTAINING TO THE ZONING. WE DID SPEND AMPLE TIME CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT CRIME AND THEIR CONCERN THAT WE WOULD BE BRINGING CRIMINALS TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT AS FAR AS THE ZONING ISSUES, THE COMMUNITY HAD ALREADY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO DISCUSS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY.
I'LL JUST -- LAST POINT FOR ME. THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE LAST
[01:30:02]
OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO HEAR A ZONING CASE RELATED TO HOUSING BECAUSE BOTH ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR LEGISLATURE THERE ARE MOVEMENTS TO REMOVE THE ABILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO USE ZONING AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. I WOULD JUST SAY AGAIN WITH RESPECT TO THE INTENSITY OF THE USE, A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON THIS PLOT OF LAND IS LESS INTENSE OF A USE WITH LESS -- WOULD GENERATE LESS TRAFFIC AND DISRUPTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAN THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE USES UNDER C-2.I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IF WE SAY NO TO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX THAT HAS $20 MILLION ALREADY ASSIGNED TO IT. THAT HAS, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ATTACHED TO IT.
THAT, AGAIN, IS ON A TRANSIT LINE. ALL THREE PILLARS OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY ADDRESSED WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
A DENIAL IN MY VIEW IS THE WRONG THING TO DO AND IF OUR STANDARD FOR MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION IS THAT THERE IS NO CONTROVERSY, THERE WILL BE PARALYSIS MOVING FORWARD ON EVERY BIG DECISION COMING TO THIS BODY.
SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. LET ME CLARIFY THE MOTION.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE. SO IF YOU ARE VOTING TO APPROVE THE ITEM, IT WOULD BE A YEA VOTE. IF YOU ARE VOTING TO DENY, IT WOULD BE A NAY VOTE.
WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 15 AND 16.
PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AYE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO THE MOTION IS 7 IN FAVOR, 4 OPPOSED.
REQUIRING A SUPERMAJORITY, THE MOTION DOES NOT SUSTAIN. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEMS -- ITEM NO. 4. EXCUSE ME. ITEM NO. 7.
>> CLERK: BOUNDED BY EAST HOUSTON STREET TO THE SOUTH, NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS AVENUE TO THE WEST AND THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACKS TO THE NORTH AND EAST.
STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH AN AMENDMENT TO REMOVE TWO PROPERTIES FROM THE PROJECT AREA. THOSE PROPERTIES ARE 415 ARTHUR STREET AND 1415 HAYS STREET. STAFF MAILED 2,053 NOTICES.
WE HAD ONE RETURNED IN FAVOR, TWO RETURNED IN OPPOSITION AND THE HARVARD PLACE EAST LAWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT . THANK YOU.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. ITEM NO. 7 COMES FROM COUNCILMAN JALEN
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: MOVE
TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. >> SECOND. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED AND SECONDED. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION? OKAY. THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE. PLEASE VOTE.
OKAY. THE MOTION PASSED. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NO. 12.
>> CLERK: ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. STAFF MAILED 37 NOTICES, FIVE RETURNED IN FAVOR, ONE IN OPPOSITION. AND THERE IS NO REGISTERED
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WITHIN 200 FEET. >> COURAGE: ITEM NO. 12
COMES FROM DISTRICT 5. COUNCILWOMAN. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANT TO THANK THE APPLICANTS FOR BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR TEAM AND BEING ACCESSIBLE. WITH THAT, I MOTION TO
APPROVE ITEM 12. >> COURAGE: WE DO HAVE ONE PERSON WHO WANTED TO SPEAK
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ON ITEM 12. JACK FINGER.>> MAYOR PRO TEM, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND MS. CASTILLO, THIS ITEM IN YOUR DISTRICT IS ABOUT PLACING A CHILDCARE FACILITY OVER UPON A STREET CALLED PRECIOUS DRIVE.
I LOOKED AT THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS ON THIS ONE. THE ZONING STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL. WHY? WELL, IT'S BECAUSE, IN THEIR WORDS, A CHILDCARE FACILITY IS MORE COMMERCIAL. MORE COMMERCIAL THAN IT IS RESIDENTIAL IN NATURE AND CONSTITUTES AN ENCROACHMENT UPON THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA. SO CONSEQUENTLY, JUST MAYBE YOU WOULD WANT TO STOP THE COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT THAT'S CREEPING INTO THE AREA WHERE THE CITIZENS HAVE TO LIVE AND SAY NO TO THIS BAD TREND. THANK YOU.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MR. FING. OKAY. WE HAVE ITEM 12.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THE ITEM? OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
MOTION PASSES. THAT CONCLUDES THE AGENDA FOR OUR ZONING MEETING TODAY. SO THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.