San Antonio Considering Major Development Code Overhaul

San Antonio has spent the year considering 193 amendments to its unified development code, with a City Council committee hearing on the changes held last week and a full council vote expected in October.

“On Thursday, the committee learned that of all proposed changes, city staff only recommended two be denied: one from the San Antonio Archdiocese that would allow transitional housing in residential areas; the other from the Government Hill Community Association, seeking to change the city’s neighborhood registration process,” reports Iris Dimmick for the San Antonio Report.

Much of the controversy surrounding the entire package of amendments focuses on the neighborhood registration process, according to the article. Rose Hill, president of the Government Hill Alliance, is paraphrased in the article saying that the amendment is an attempt to undermine the alliance.

“Other proposed amendments would affect accessory dwelling units, flood prevention, urban farms, light pollution, short-term rentals, historic preservation administration, the location of gas stations, tree preservation and building height limits,” according to Dimmick.

Councilmember John Courage is quoted in the article saying that the new ADU rules are likely to attract public attention in the final rounds of hearings, too. According to Dimmick, the amendment will eliminate a rule that an ADU’s utilities must be connected to the primary structure, remove occupancy and bedroom limitations, and loosen design requirements and allow for larger units. “[ADUs] would be limited to backyards, and be capped at two stories. Only ADUs with floor areas larger than 800 square feet would be required to provide parking.”