Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting - 2026-03-23
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Board of Adjustment approved multiple short-term rental permit appeals, including 8201 Meadow Post (9-2 vote), 2110 Chittum Trail (10-1), 515 Belmont Street (9-2), and 308 Keller Street (10-1), all involving HOT tax reporting issues. The board also granted variances for a single-family residence at 510 Booker Alley (11-0), a front porch at 702 West Hollywood Avenue (11-0), a carport at 5818 Gillis Drive (11-0), and a landscape buffer reduction at 10515 Jones Malzberger Road for Velocity Auto Care (11-0). Two cases were continued: 221 Ira Avenue STR special exception to April 20 and 619 Barb Street carport variance to April 20.
Key Decisions (13)
STR Appeal at 8201 Meadow Post
Board granted appeal to reinstate short-term rental permit for JK and France Guidant LLC. Property owner had tenant operating Airbnb without properly reporting HOT taxes. Owner paid penalties and is now current. Vote 9-2.
STR Appeal at 2110 Chittum Trail
Board granted appeal to reinstate short-term rental permit for Jeff Bryson. Applicant cited identity theft, mailbox break-ins, and erroneous information from city staff regarding tax requirements. Now current on HOT taxes. Vote 10-1.
STR Appeal at 515 Belmont Street
Board granted appeal to reinstate short-term rental permit for Damien Norris. Applicant confused by Airbnb communications about tax collection, believed platform was handling all taxes. Now current on payments. Vote 9-2.
STR Special Exception at 221 Ira Avenue
Request for additional type two short-term rental permit on block face continued to April 20. Applicant Tim Hendricks owns duplex, seeking permit for second unit. Block face currently at 11% density, would exceed 12.5% limit if approved.
STR Appeal at 308 Keller Street
Board granted appeal to reinstate short-term rental permit for Jacob Garcia. Applicant Alejandra Plata manages property, cited communication breakdown between owner and operator, personal difficulties causing missed filings. Now current on taxes. Vote 10-1.
STR Appeal at 1828 Sacramento
Case BOA-26-10300035 continued to April 6 at staff request to review additional information received.
Variance for 510 Booker Alley
Board granted variance for lot layout standards to allow primary access and frontage of single-family residential lot along Booker Alley for Ziga Architecture. Property is only lot facing alley, approved with fire sprinkler requirement. Vote 11-0.
Setback Variance at 154 Babcock Road
Board granted 15-foot rear setback variance for accessory structure (storage shed) for Bill Gilbert Vargas. Original request included barbed wire variance which was removed from motion. Vote 11-0.
Front Setback Variance at 702 West Hollywood Avenue
Board granted 8-foot 6-inch variance from NCD-5 minimum 20-foot front setback to allow 11-foot 6-inch setback for front porch construction. Applicant Joe Yamas, property owned by Guevara family for 20+ years. Beacon Hill Neighborhood Association supported. Vote 11-0.
Side Setback Variance at 619 Barb Street
Request for 4-foot 11-inch variance from 5-foot side setback to allow carport with gutters one inch from property line continued to April 20. Applicant Deborah Rain. King William Neighbors Association opposed via voicemail.
Front Setback Variance at 5818 Gillis Drive
Board granted 4-foot variance from 10-foot front setback to allow carport at 6 feet from front property line for Robert Gonzalez. Carport built without permits two years ago after hail damage. Seven neighbors submitted support letters. Vote 11-0.
Landscape Buffer Variance at 10515 Jones Malzberger Road
Board granted 11-foot variance from 15-foot landscape buffer requirement to allow 4-foot buffer on northeast side for Velocity Auto Care oil change facility. Replacing vacant Pizza Hut, preserving large heritage oak tree. Oak Hollow Park NA had no objection. Vote 11-0.
Rear Setback Variance at 1204 Delaware Street
Board granted 5-foot variance from 10-foot rear setback for Ricardo Sanchez to renovate existing structure. Structure has existed in same location for over decade. Adjacent rear property is vacant. One-hour fire rated wall to be added. Vote 11-0.
Development Activity (6)
Single-Family Residence at 510 Booker Alley
2.5 story single-family residential structure with detached two story accessory structure. Approved by Historic and Design Review Commission on 05/07/2025. Requires wet pipe fire sprinkler system.
Front Porch Addition at 702 West Hollywood Avenue
Front porch construction on existing single-family home owned for 20+ years. Property has converted closet with no window on front wall.
Velocity Auto Care Oil Change Facility
New oil change and tune-up location replacing vacant Pizza Hut. Preserving large heritage oak tree. Hours 7AM-7PM. Company has seven properties in San Antonio area.
Storage Shed at 154 Babcock Road
Storage shed to house materials and tools for real estate services business. 15-foot rear setback approved. Fire-damaged accessory structure demolished.
Residential Renovation at 1204 Delaware Street
Remodel and expansion of existing structure for single-family home sale. Single story with one-hour fire rated wall on rear.
Carport at 5818 Gillis Drive
Carport built two years ago without permits after hail damage. 6-foot front setback approved.
Market Signals (5)
Housing Demand
Multiple short-term rental operators seeking to maintain permits despite HOT tax compliance issues, indicating continued investor interest in STR market.
Commercial Demand
Velocity Auto Care expanding with seven properties in San Antonio, replacing vacant commercial buildings including former Pizza Hut locations.
Infrastructure
City staff noted platforms Airbnb and Vrbo now directly remit city HOT taxes as of March 2025, but operators still responsible for county HOT through Avenue portal.
Sentiment
Beacon Hill Neighborhood Association actively supports appropriate residential improvements that align with NCD-5 design standards and front porch requirements.
Housing Demand
Infill development continuing in historic districts with variance requests for alley-access lots in Dignowity Hills Historic District.