City Council Zoning and Land Use Session - 2026-03-19
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
San Antonio City Council approved multiple zoning changes during the March 19, 2026 session, including rezoning 201 East Cortland Place from RM-4 to IDZ-2 for five dwelling units despite staff denial recommendation, and approving commercial parking expansions at 904 Pleasanton Road and 347 West Sayers Avenue. Several controversial items were continued to future meetings, including a residential-to-multifamily rezoning with significant floodplain concerns and an alcohol variance near Lackland Elementary School.
Key Decisions (8)
Continuance of Items 2 and 16 to April 2, 2026
Item 2 (alcohol variance near Lackland Elementary and Virginia Allred Stacey Junior High School) and Item 16 (residential to multifamily rezoning in District 5 with floodplain concerns covering over half the proposed area) were continued to the April 2, 2026 meeting.
Continuance of Items 8 and 9 to April 16, 2026
Zoning cases on Rigsby Avenue in District 3 involving residential to commercial change for a used car lot were continued. Staff recommended denial citing single family homes directly abutting the lot and concerns about commercial encroachment into existing neighborhood.
Rezoning at 201 East Cortland Place (Items 3 and 4)
Plan amendment changing Midtown Area regional center plan from neighborhood mixed use to urban mixed use, and rezoning from RM-4 to IDZ-2 with uses permitted for five dwelling units. Applicant Andrew Weaver stated the 1929 house has parking for six vehicles. Staff recommended denial but Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval. Located in District 1.
Commercial Parking Expansion at 904 Pleasanton Road and 347 West Sayers Avenue (Items 10 and 11)
Plan amendment changing South Central San Antonio community plan from low density residential to neighborhood commercial, rezoning from C-3, C-1, and R-4 to C-1S with specific use authorization for non-commercial parking lot requiring demolition of a dwelling unit. Staff recommended approval for 904 Pleasanton Road but denial for 347 West Sayers Avenue. Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of both. Located in District 3.
Medical Clinic Expansion at 206 West Hart Avenue (Items 14 and 15)
Plan amendment changing South Central San Antonio community plan from low density residential to neighborhood commercial, rezoning from R-6 to C-1S with specific use authorization for medical clinic (physician and/or dentist). Gonzaga family applicant committed to new free parking, dedicated neighborhood contact for issues, and trash pickup/maintenance of surrounding streets and sidewalks. Staff recommended denial but Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval. Located in District 5.
Manufactured Home/Oversized Vehicle Sales at 7439 West Military Drive (Items 17 and 18)
Plan amendment changing West Southwest sector plan from general urban tier to mixed use center, rezoning from C-3 to C-3CD with conditional use for manufactured homes/oversized vehicle sales, service, or storage. Staff recommended denial but Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval. Lackland Terrace Neighborhood Association in favor. Located in District 6.
Truck Repair Facility at 6464 Historic Old Highway 90 (Item 19)
Rezoning from C-3 and I-1 to C-2CD with conditional use for truck repair and maintenance. Staff and Zoning Commission both recommended approval. Located in District 6.
Non-Commercial Parking at 1403 Watkins Lane (Item 20)
Rezoning from R-5 to R-5CD with conditional use for noncommercial parking to serve adjacent food truck park in anticipation of future amenities. Staff recommended denial but Zoning Commission recommended approval. Culebra Park Neighborhood Association in favor. Located in District 7.
Zoning Changes (6)
201 East Cortland Place
Andrew Weaver
904 Pleasanton Road and 347 West Sayers Avenue
Not specified
206 West Hart Avenue
Gonzaga family
7439 West Military Drive
Not specified
6464 Historic Old Highway 90
Not specified
1403 Watkins Lane
Not specified
Development Activity (6)
201 East Cortland Place Residential
Five dwelling units in a 1929 house with parking for six vehicles. Rezoning from RM-4 to IDZ-2.
Pleasanton Road/West Sayers Avenue Parking Lot
Non-commercial parking lot requiring demolition of a back house/dwelling unit.
Gonzaga Medical Clinic Expansion
Medical clinic for physician and/or dentist with new free parking added as part of expansion.
West Military Drive Vehicle Sales Facility
Manufactured homes and oversized vehicle sales, service, or storage facility.
Historic Old Highway 90 Truck Repair
Truck repair and maintenance facility.
Watkins Lane Food Truck Park Parking
Non-commercial parking lot to serve adjacent food truck park in anticipation of future amenities.
Market Signals (4)
Housing Demand
Council approved increased residential density at 201 East Cortland Place (5 units where 4 was maximum) despite staff denial, indicating willingness to support infill housing in Tobin Hill neighborhood.
Commercial Demand
Multiple approvals for commercial parking expansions and vehicle-related uses suggest strong demand for automotive and service-oriented commercial development along major corridors.
Sentiment
Neighborhood associations showed support for several projects (Lackland Terrace, Culebra Park, Tobin Hill had no objections), indicating community acceptance of commercial development when properly engaged.
Housing Demand
A residential-to-multifamily rezoning in District 5 with over half the property in floodplain was continued rather than denied outright, suggesting ongoing pressure for multifamily development despite environmental constraints.