>> MAYOR JONES: GOOD AFTERNOON. THE TIME IS NOW 2:03 P.M. ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ZONING AND LAND USE SESSION IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL. >> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD, ITEMS 7, 13, 22, AND 23 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED TODAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO CONTINUE CASES TO SEPTEMBER 3, 2026. THE CASE TO CONTINUE IS ITEM 25. IS THERE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE ITEM? . >> HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. MR. JACK FINGER. >> MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. I WISH TO PRESENT AN ITEM OR TWO. ITEM 25. ITEM 25 IS -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT THIS STRAIGHT. ITEM NO. 25? THIS IS IN DISTRICT 5, MS. CASTILLO. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS. YOU'VE GOT -- QUITE FRANKLY, MA'AM, YOU'VE GOT A BAD ACTOR HERE. HE, WELL, BASICALLY HIS CASE WAS CONTINUED NOT ONCE BUT SEVERAL TIMES OVER TO ZONING COMMISSION. HE HAS ALREADY CONTINUED IT ONCE OVER HERE. HE, ACCORDING TO THE ZONING STAFF, HE HAS ENGAGED IN CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT, WITHOUT THE REQUIRED PERMITS OR THE MANDATORY TECHNICAL REVIEW ESSENTIAL FOR THE WEST SIDE CREEKS AND THE WATER QUALITY PROTECTION AREA THERE. THE DEVELOPMENT POSES A DIRECT THREAT -- A DIRECT THREAT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE THERE. AND THE WATER QUALITY OF THE WEST SIDE CREEKS. THIS IS IN YOUR AREA, YOUR PEOPLE. ALSO, IT UNDERMINES -- I'M JUST GOING BY WHAT THE STAFF SAID. IT UNDERMINES THE AREA REZONING YOUR RESIDENTS HAVE NOT -- THE AREA YOUR RESIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY BUFFERED. MAYBE THAT'S WHY THE PROSPECT HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OPPOSES THIS THING . MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD FINALLY SIMPLY SAY NO TO THIS PERSON. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM TO BE CONTINUED? OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO CONTINUE CASES TO THE SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 MEETING. THE CASE TO CONTINUE IS ITEM 24. IS THERE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE ITEM? >> TWO INDIVIDUALS FROM THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. YVETTE RANDON. YVETTE RANDON FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MA'AM. >> COULD I GIVE THESE PETITIONS? >> MAYOR JONES: FOR THE RECORD, FOR THE CLERK. THANK YOU. THIS IS A BUSINESS WANTING TO SET UP ON FRIO CITY ROAD AND I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE FINAL SITE PLAN. LIKE I PUT ON THERE, IT'S LIKE 30 SIGNATURES ON THERE THAT ARE AGAINST THIS
BUSINESS SETTING UP THERE. THAT'S ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, MA'AM. JACK FINGER. >> MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I AM JACK FINGER AND ITEM NO. 24. ONCE AGAIN, MS. CASTILLO, YOU'RE PLANNING ON CONTINUING THIS. I WISH YOU WOULDN'T BECAUSE -- WELL, IT'S ABOUT A PERSON WHO WANTS TO ESTABLISH A PARKING LOT AND A -- WELL, A STORAGE AREA FOR LONG-TERM STORAGE AND A FENCE HEIGHT UP TO 8 FEET. 8 FEET. NOT 6, LIKE WE HAVE IN THE REST OF THE CITY BUT 8 FEET. THE VIA ESPERANZA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE KELLY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OPPOSE THIS THING . I'M GOING BY YOUR OWN BACK-UP DOCUMENTS FROM THE CITY'S ZONING STAFF. THEY OPPOSE IT. AND OUTSIDE OF THE 200-FOOT BARRIER, AS MUCH AS 22 PEOPLE OPPOSE IT. MAYBE THE REASON THEY OPPOSE IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT -- THE NATURE OF THE PARKING AND THE STORAGE. THE FENCE HEIGHT. BUT ALSO -- AND I'M JUST QUOTING HERE. INTRODUCES INDUSTRIAL USE -- INDUSTRIAL USE INTO A MERE MEDIUM-INTENSITY COMMERCIAL AND LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AREA. MAKING IT INCONSISTENT, INCONSISTENT WITH THE CHARACTER AND DEVELOPMENT PATTERN OF THE SURROUNDING AREA. YEAH. IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE THERE, AT LEAST TO THE PEOPLE OPPOSING IT. YOU MAY WANT TO, INSTEAD OF CONTINUING IT SAY THIS IS ENOUGH. I'M NOT TAKING ANYMORE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CONTINUE TO SEPTEMBER 24, 2026. PLEASE VOTE . OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ITEMS 12, 17, 18, 30, AND 31. THE REMAINING ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WISH TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY? HEARING NONE, MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT HERE. JACK FINGER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR. FOLLOWED BY EDDIE ROHR. IF YOU COULD LINE UP BEHIND JACK FINGER. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, WHICH ITEM? >> MAYOR JONES: YOU'RE SPEAKING ON NO. 2. >> THANK YOU. WHAT I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ABOUT ITEM 2 IS THE FACT THAT THE APPLICANT WANTS TO CHANGE HIS ZONING DESIGNATION FROM NONALCOHOL TO ALCOHOL SALES. LIKE WE NEED ANOTHER ALCOHOL SALES AREA NEAR THE DOWNTOWN AREA. YOU KNOW, THE TOBIN HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, MS. KAUR, I BELIEVE THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT HERE. TOBIN HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION DOES NOT WANT THOSE ALCOHOL SALES. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO LOOKS AT IT THIS WAY. SO MAYBE YOU WOULD WANT TO PULL THIS ONE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION AND SAY MAYBE THE TOBIN HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS A POINT HERE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD PULL IT AND SAY NO TO THIS ONE. EDDIE ROHR. >> I BELIEVE THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS MEANT TO SIGN UP FOR ITEM 12. >> MAYOR JONES: ITEM 12. YOLANDA GARCIA. >>
DENISE MARTIN, WHO IS ALSO SPEAKING ON NO. 12. OKAY. SO SHE'S SPEAKING ON 12. KEN BROWN. OKAY. LORRAINE BASSE? NO. EDWARD ALONZO. ARE YOU SPEAKING, SIR? YOU'RE NOT. AND THEN JOSEPH GONZALES. YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING EITHER, SIR? OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MA'AM, WE WERE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE SIGN-UP SYSTEM. DID SOMEBODY SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 11 OR ANY OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO? OKAY. IS THAT YOU? YES, MA'AM. YOU RAISED YOUR HAND? >> >> MAYOR JONES: WE'RE NOT ON 12 YET. WE'LL GET THERE. OKAY. HEARING NO DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEMS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, AND 34. PLEASE VOTE. DID SHE WANT TO VOTE? >> AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. STAFF, PLEASE START WITH ITEM 12. >> AGENDA ITEM 12. LOCATED AT 1210 KAYTON AVENUE. STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL. 29 NOTICES WERE MAILED, 10 WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR, 10 IN OPPOSITION. HIGHLAND PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED. AND OUTSIDE OF THE 200-FOOT NOTIFICATION BOUNDARY, NINE NOTICES WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR AND 10 IN OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. LEROY GARCIA, PLEASE. SIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? >> PLEASE? >> GIVING IT TO EDDIE ROHR. I'LL ASK YOU TO COME ON UP, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE GIVING YOU THEIR TIME, SIR? RACHEL ROHR? YOU HAVE YOUR OWN TIME. SIR, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. >> MADAME MAYOR, COUNCILORS, I APPRECIATE THE TIME. REAL QUICKLY, WHEN THIS WENT TO ZONING COMMISSION, THEY TRIED TO MAKE AN ISSUE ABOUT RENTERS AND NON-RENTERS. THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS SAFETY. CAN YOU PROJECT THAT? IS IT UP THERE? THEY CAN SEE IT. IF YOU'LL SEE ON THE STREET THERE, IT'S A NARROW STREET. IT WAS BUILT IN THE '20S. IT'S OVER 100 YEARS OLD. IT'S 27-FEET WIDE. CITY ENGINEERS SAY IT'S 25-FEET WIDE BUT IT'S 27-FEET WIDE. BY THE TIME YOU PARK CARS ON BOTH SIDE, YOU'RE RESTRICTED DOWN TO 13, 14, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE CAR. IF THERE ARE TRUCKS, IT'S DOWN TO LESS THAN 14 FEET. CITY FIRE MARSHAL SAID THEY WON'T TRAVEL DOWN A ROADWAY UNLESS THEY HAVE A 20-FOOT CLEARANCE. IF THERE'S ONE CAR PARKED ON ONE SIDE, YOU CAN GET AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE DOWN THERE. WE HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. ONE LADY LIVED THERE IN THE 1200 BLOCK OF KAYTON, SUFFERED A GUNSHOT WOUND. EMS WAS CALLED BUT THE FIRE RESPONDED FIRST. BY THE TIME EMS GOT THERE, THEY COULD NOT GET INTO THE STREET. THEY HAD TO GO ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE HOUSES DOWN TO TRANSPORT NOT ONLY EQUIPMENT TO THIS LADY BUT TO EXTRACT HER FROM THE SCENE. SHE DID NOT SURVIVE THE INJURIES. NOT LONG AFTER THAT, ON THE CORNER OF ADELE AND KAYTON,
WE HAD AN 85-YEAR-OLD MAN SUFFER A STROKE. HE CALLS HIS SON FIRST. HIS SON IS A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER. HE CALLS MY WIFE AND I AND ASKS US IF WE WILL GO ACROSS THE STREET AND BE WITH HIM UNTIL EMS CAN ARRIVE. WE DID SO. BUT WHEN THE EMS RESPONDED -- BEFORE EMS COULD RESPOND, A FIRE UNIT RESPONDED. THEY STARTED DOWN THE STREET, GOT ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE STREET AND STOPPED. I'M THINKING THEY'RE GOING TO THE WRONG ADDRESS BUT THEY HAVE TO BACK ALL THE WAY UP KAYTON STREET TO CLARK AND GO DOWN HIGHLANDS TO GO DOWN TO ADELE. IT TOOK ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MINUTES. THE PROBLEM HERE IS ANY SITUATION, IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY, FOUR OR FIVE MINUTES IS CRITICAL. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT IN MAKING A DECISION. IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUT HIGH-DENSITY PEOPLE COMES WITH VEHICLES. EVERY HOUSE OUT THERE WAS DESIGNED WITH A SINGLE-CAR DRIVEWAY. AND IF YOU PUT MULTIPLE CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY, THEN YOU'RE JOCKEYING CARS AROUND AND PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO DO THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO PARK ON THE STREET. AS THEY DO, THE STREET BECOMES SO CONGESTED THAT YOU CANNOT TRAVERSE IT. WE HAVE HAD STANDOFFS OUT THERE BEFORE UP TO 20 MINUTES WHERE PEOPLE, ONE COMING ONE WAY, THE OTHER GOING THE OTHER WAY. NEITHER ONE WILL GIVE THE RIGHT OF WAY TO THE OTHER. IT BLOCKS EVERYTHING. THE MORE HIGH-DENSITY WE PUT IN THERE THE GREATER THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE TWO OTHER TRIPLEXES. ONE OF THEM THEY GUARANTEED US THERE WOULD ONLY BE THREE CARS. IT'S THREE UNITS. THERE'S EIGHT OR MORE CARS THERE. BOYFRIEND, GIRLFRIEND, HUSBAND, WIFE. VERY FEW PEOPLE, FAMILY UNITS HAVE A SINGLE VEHICLE NNOWADAYS. VERY FEW. MULTIPLE CARS OUT THERE. THE DIAGRAM INDICATES THAT JUST WITH A COUPLE OF CARS ON THE ROADWAY IT GETS RESTRICTED TERRIBLY. WE HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE. WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE A HAZARD FOR THE EXISTING PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE OR WE CAN AT SOME POINT TRY TO STOP THE INCREASE OF DENSITY TO ALLOW MAYBE SOME RELIEF FOR US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: BETH CARR. BETH CARR. ERIN REID. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M ERIN REID. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF HIGHLAND PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY SPEAKING ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NEIGHBORS. I'M STANDING HERE TO REPRESENT OUR BOARD AND NEIGHBORHOOD'S OPPOSITION TO THE ZONING REQUEST AT 1210 KAYTON. WE HAVE SEVERAL REASONS, TWO BASED ON FACTS AND TWO OF THEM ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PROCESS. MONTHS' LONG REVIEW AND NEGOTIATION WITH THE APPLICANT, MR. RODRIGUEZ. THE FIRST TWO -- AS I SAID, WE HAVE MET WITH MR. RODRIGUEZ, THE COMMISSIONER, AS WELL AS NEIGHBORS IN THE 250-FOOD RADIUS. HE PRESENTED TO US, THE APPLICANT, A LIST OF NEIGHBORS WHO SUPPORTED HIS REQUEST. WHEN WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THE NEIGHBORS WENT OUT TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE, WE FOUND THEY WERE OPPOSED. SO HE DID MISREPRESENT HIS LIST TO US. ANOTHER CONCERN THAT NEIGHBORS HAD IS THAT HE BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROPERTY WITHOUT THE PROPER ZONING PERMITS. THIS WAS -- LEFT A BAD TASTE IN OUR MOUTH DURING THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS BUT WE DID SPEAK WITH STAFF MEMBERS OF COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S TO STATE OUR CONCERNS. THE NEIGHBOR WHO SPOKE ME, THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS EMERGENCY ACCESS. WE HAD A NEIGHBOR WHO HAD A STROKE ON THE CORNER OF KAYTON AND ADELE A FEW MONTHS BACK. AND THE EMS, AS HE STATED, COULD NOT GET TO HIM IN TIME. IT HAD TO GO DOWN A FULL CITY BL BLOCK AND BACK AROUND THE ALLEY. THIS IS AN ELDERLY RESIDENT. SEVERAL ARE SENIOR CITIZENS. I ASK WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY, PLEASE DO SO WITH AN EMPATHETIC MIND. PUT YOURSELF IN OUR POSITIONS OR CONSIDER THAT ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONES COULD BE IN THIS SITUATION. NO ONE HAS ADDITIONAL SECONDS WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. TIME IS CRITICAL. OUR FINAL CONCERN IS INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS PRIMARILY BUILT FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. WE DO HAVE TWO DUPLEXES ALREADY ON THAT BLOCK. THERE ARE ALSO A FEW OTHER MULTI-DENSITY PROPERTIES ON
THAT BLOCK SO OUR ROADS ARE TAXED, OUR SEWAGE, PIPES, OUR POWER GRID. WE ALREADY HAVE AGING STRUCTURE SO WE ASK YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT TO THIS ZONING REQUEST. SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS ARE FIRMLY OPPOSED TO ADDITIONAL MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES. THE STRONG COMMUNITY CONSENSUS IS THAT THE PROPERTY SHOULD REMAIN A DUPLEX, ALIGNED WITH ORIGINAL ZONING AND UTILITY CAPACITY. WHILE WE DID REACH A MINOR COMPROMISE REGARDING STREET PARKING WITH THE APPLICANT, WE DID FIND THAT THE ONGOING ISSUES, TRANSPARENCY, CODE COMPLIANCE, EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE LEAVE US UNABLE TO TRUST THAT REZONING -- THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: DENISE MARTIN. DENISE MARTIN. >> THEN DIEGO RODRIGUEZ. >> I'M GOING TO READ THIS FROM MY PHONE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A PRINTER. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? OKAY. THANKS FOR SEEING ME. I'M DENISE MARTIN. I LIVE IN BEACON -- I USED TO LIVE IN BEACON HILL. I LIVE IN HIGHLAND PARK AND I LIVE AT 1211 KAYTON ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PROPERTY THAT WANTS TO BE REZONED. I WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW I RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE THE PROPOSED REZONING OF 1211 KAYTON AVENUE. ASK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO CONSIDER THE CONCERNS OF LONG-TERM RESIDENTS. I PURCHASED MY HOME IN 2007 THROUGH THE CITY'S DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH REQUIRED A COMMITMENT TO HOME OWNERSHIP IN AN INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD. I'VE HONORED THAT COMMITMENT AND REMAIN PROUD TO BE PART OF THE HIGHLAND PARK COMMUNITY. MY CONCERN IS NOT WITH RENTERS BUT WITH THE LACK OF CONSISTENT LANDLORD ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT THAT COME WITH INCREASED RENTAL DENSITY AND FREQUENT RENTAL TURNOVER. HE'S ALREADY HAD A TENANT LEAVE AND ANOTHER TENANT MOVE IN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT SIX MONTHS. THE 1200 BLOCK OF KAYTON AVENUE IS EXPERIENCING ONGOING PARKING AND ACCESS ISSUES. I'M PRETTY MUCH REITERATING WHAT EVERYONE SAID. ONGOING PARKING AND ACCESS ISSUES, INCLUDING VEHICLES BLOCKING DRIVEWAYS, OBSTRUCTING RECYCLING AND TRASH. THAT HAPPENED TO ME. AND PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL YARDS. THAT'S THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET. THEY CONSISTENTLY PARK IN THE YARD. THESE CONDITIONS DISRUPT DAILY LIFE AND REDUCE THE LIVABILITY OF THE STREET. THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS ABOUT EXCESSIVE VEHICLE ACCUMULATION FROM SOME OF THE RENTAL PROPERTIES. IN ONE CASE A NEARBY PROPERTY HAD APPROXIMATELY 13 VEHICLES PARKED ALONG THE STREET CREATING CONGESTION AND REDUCING VISIBILITY AT INTERSECTIONS. THESE ISSUES ARE ESPECIALLY SERIOUS, GIVEN THAT KAYTON IS A NARROW HISTORIC STREET BUILT AROUND 1928 FOR FAR FEW VEHICLES AND LOWER RESIDENTIAL DENSITY. THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE WAS NOT DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE PARKING DEMAND ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED INTENSITY. WITHOUT ENFORCEABLE PARKING STANDARDS AND CLEAR EXPECTATIONS TIED TO ZONING DECISIONS, ADDITIONAL DENSITY WILL FURTHER STRAIN ALREADY LIMITED STREET CAPACITY. WHEN VEHICLES ARE PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY RESTRICTED. LAST YEAR DURING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY NEAR KAYTON AND ADELE, FIRE AND AMBULANCE ACCESS WAS DELAYED AND REQUIRED REROUTING DUE TO BLOCKED STREETS. THESE CONDITIONS PRESENT A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. DELAYS IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAN HAVE LIFE-THREATENING CONSEQUENCES. AS HAPPENED TO THE WOMAN WHO GOT SHOT. AT A MINIMUM, RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT TENANTS ARE INFORMED OF AND COMPLY WITH BASIC NEIGHBORHOOD EXPECTATIONS. I'M AGAINST THIS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: KAREN GEORGE FOLLOWED BY DIEGO RODRIGUEZ. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF COVERED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THE IMPACT OF ANOTHER MULTIFAMILY DWELLING ON OUR STREET. WITHIN 100 SQUARE FEET OF THIS PROPOSED NEW MULTIFAMILY DWELLING, TWO MULTIFAMILY DWELLINGS ALREADY EXIST.
IT'S SO CLOSE TO ADELE, THIS CROSS-STREET, WHICH IS ALSO ON THE 26 FEET WIDE, WITH ACCESS TO RIGSBY OR HIGHLAND IS CUT OFF VIA ADELE WHEN OVERFLOW OCCURS. 70% OF THE HOMEOWNERS WITHIN THAT 2200-FEET NOTIFICATION AREA ARE OVER 65. WE'VE LIVED THERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. THE AREA COMES WITH ITS CONCERNS BUT IT ALSO COMES WITH WHERE WE'VE GROWN UP AND WHERE WE WANT TO SPEND AND AGE OUT SUCCESSFULLY. WITHOUT THE PROPER KIND OF EMS EMERGENCY SUPPORT THAT WE EXPECT BEING ABLE TO COME TO US, WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE AT RISK. AND THE RISK DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO US. BUT WHEN THERE ARE THESE OTHER DUPLEXES AND MULTIFAMILY HOMES THAT ARE OCCUPIED, IT AFFECTS EVERYONE AND IT AFFECTS THE PEOPLE ON THE SIDE STREETS. WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST -- AND HAVE TRIED TO REQUEST -- A FIRE MARSHAL REVIEW OF THE SAFETY OF THAT STREET AND THE ACCESS TO THAT STREET. THE CITY ALREADY PAYS FOR ALLEY TRASH PICKUP BECAUSE IT'S NOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR A CONVENTIONAL GARBAGE TRUCK. AND WE JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT WE'LL BE SAFE. EMS IS GOING TO COME IN A TIMELY MANNER TO HELP US IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: DIEGO RODRIGUEZ FOLLOWED BY PEGGY PENA. >> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MADAME MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DIEGO RODRIGUEZ. I'M THE APPLICANT AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS CASE. >> MAYOR JONES: SIR, THIS IS JUST YOUR TIME TO SPEAK TO US. >> >> MAYOR JONES: LATER ON. SURE. LATER ON. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY. PEGGY PENA. >> YOU'RE NEXT. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES, MA'AM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RACHEL ROHR AND I'M A BOARD MEMBER ON THE HIGHLAND PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AUDIO]. I'M HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY ASK Y'ALL TO OPPOSE ADDITIONAL MULTIFAMILY REZONING ON THE 1200 BLOCK OF KAYTON UNTIL SERIOUS SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS ARE FULLY ADDRESSED. THE MOST URGENT ISSUE IS EMERGENCY ACCESS, AS WE'VE HEARD. KAYTON IS A NARROW RESIDENTIAL STREET -- AND THEY MENTIONED IT WAS CONSTRUCTED BACK IN 1928. LONG BEFORE TODAY'S PARKING, TRAFFIC, AND DENSITY DEMANDS WERE AROUND. AS MULTIFAMILY HOUSING HAS INCREASED ON THE STREET, PARKING HAS FILLED BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET LEAVING LITTLE OR NO CLEAR PASSAGE FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. WE HAVE ALREADY, AS I MENTIONED, ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, HE HAD A STROKE. IT WAS PROBABLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT HE WAS OKAY BUT IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY TO WATCH NEIGHBORS HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND DIRECT -- WITH THE FIREMEN, DIRECT THE FIRE ENGINE BACK TO THE MAIN STREET, CLARK. THAT DELAY IS NOT JUST INCONVENIENT, IT IS DANGEROUS AND IT IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF SITUATION THAT CAN COST US LIVES. THE RISK IS ESPECIALLY SERIOUS, AS THEY MENTIONED, BECAUSE MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE SENIORS. IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, HOUSE FIRE, BLOCKED ACCESS IS NOT A MINOR ISSUE, IT IS A LIFE-THREATENING DELAY. WE ARE ASKING THE CITY TO CONFIRM WHETHER KAYTON MEETS THAT STANDARD TODAY BEFORE ANY ADDITIONAL DENSITY IS APPROVED. THE CONCERN IS NOT ISOLATED, IT'S CUMULATED. CURRENTLY KAYTON INCLUDES ONE TRI PLEX, THREE DUPLEXES, AND TWO VACANT RENTALS. EACH ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER UNIT INCREASES PARKING DEMAND ON A STREET ALREADY CONSTRAINED, FURTHER REDUCING EMERGENCY ACCESS. OUR REQUEST IS STRAIGHTFORWARD. WE ARE NOT ASKING THE CITY TO STOP DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT COMPROMISE PUBLIC SAFETY ON OUR STREET -- ON A STREET THAT WAS NEVER DESIGNED FOR
THIS LEVEL OF INTENSITY. WE ASK THE CITY TO EVALUATE EMERGENCY ACCESS, PARKING IMPACTS, SIDEWALKS, AND AGING UTILITY CAPACITY BEFORE APPROVING ANY ADDITIONAL MULTIFAMILY REZONING ON THIS BLOCK. ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO DENY THE REZONING REQUEST UNTIL THE SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN FULLY STUDIED AND ADDRESSED. PLEASE ENSURE THAT WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS NEED EMERGENCY ACCESS, FIRST RESPONDERS CAN REACH THEM IN TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. FINAL SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM, YOLANDA GARCIA. >> TIME? DENISE SPOKE BUT SHE'S TRYING TO GIVE HER HER TIME. SHE DIDN'T SPEAK FOR SIX MINUTES. DID SHE OR DID SHE NOT? OKAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> >> MAYOR JONES: NO, MA'AM. ITEM 12 IS IN DISTRICT 3. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS RECOGNIZED. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK HIGHLAND PARK RESIDENTS FOR CONTACTING ME IN MY OFFICE AND FOR VOICING THEIR CONCERNS HERE TODAY. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND I WELCOME THEIR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT MOVING FORWARD. WE CONTINUED THIS SPECIFIC CASE AT COUNCIL TWICE TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER REVIEW OF THE MERITS OF THIS REQUEST AND TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION FROM CITY STAFF. I DID WANT TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR CITY STAFF. SINCE ADEQUATE PARKING HAS BEEN RAISED. LOGAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED TO READ WHAT WE HAVE, THE MOTION -- OR JUST WAIT UNTIL I DO IT. I GUESS THE FIRST ONE IS: WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF REQUIRED ON-SITE PARKING SPACES FOR RS-6 CD. >> IT WOULD BE REQUIRED A MINIMUM OF FIVE PARKING SPACES. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF ON-SITE PARKING SPACES PROVIDED ON THE APPLICANT'S SITE PLAN TODAY? >> THERE ARE SIX PARKING SPACES PROVIDED. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. SO WE'VE GOT SIX PARKING SPACES TODAY. FOR ANY CONDITIONS BEING INCLUDED, WHICH CITY DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THEM AFTER TODAY? >> DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND CODE ENFORCEMENT. >> VIAGRAN: AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WILL MAKE IF WE PUT ANY CONDITIONS ON HIM AND THEN CODE ENFORCEMENT IS THE OTHER? >> CORRECT. ANY CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO BE SATISFIED FOR THE USE TO BE ALLOWED. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. THANK YOU. HIGHLAND PARK IS ONE OF THE CITY'S OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE ARE WITNESSING A TRANSITION TO INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF HOUSING. AND THIS INCLUDES A LOT OF OPTIONS. SINGLE-FAMILY, RENTAL, RENTAL OWNED BY CORPORATIONS, RENTAL OWNED BY INDIVIDUALS -- AND MR. RODRIGUEZ IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. INCREASED DENSITY IS HAPPENING DUE TO ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN, TO BROOKS AREA. AND SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FACING AS WE GROW. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK, THOUGH, WE LOOK AT HOUSING PRESERVATION IN AND AROUND OUR LEGACY INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS HIGHLAND PARK. AS IT IS TODAY, A DUPLEX CAN HAPPEN IN MOST AREAS. TODAY, MR. RODRIGUEZ IS ASKING FOR A THIRD UNIT. ADDITIONALLY, WE ASKED NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING STAFF TO LOOK AT THE PROPOSED RENTAL RATES AND SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THIS SPECIFIC PROPERTY. THEIR ASSESSMENT INCLUDED SOME KEY POINTS THAT MOTIVATES MY DECISION TODAY. IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S ADOPTED STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN GOALS WHICH CALLS FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THESE PROPOSED RENTS ARE BETWEEN THAT . THEY ARE $100 TO $300 LESS THAN HUD LIMITS FOR SINGLE HOUSEHOLDS AT 60% AMI. THESE UNITS ARE ALSO ALL BILLS PAID. THE CITY'S RECENT WORK ON THE SPECIAL HOUSING SUPPLY TASK FORCE HIGHLIGHTED ALL BILLS PAID AS A HELPFUL MODEL FOR MANY RENTERS, INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE JUST STARTING OUT RENTING OR RETURNING TO RENTING FROM HOMELESSNESS. MY OFFICE AND I ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH KAYTON, AND
THIS IS WHAT THE MISSING MIDDLE IS TALKING ABOUT. A LOT OF THIS IS RENTALS. LOGAN HAS -- LOGAN, IT'S ABOUT SPLIT 50/50 ON OPPOSITION TO THIS? >> YEAH. WE MAILED 29 NOTICES. 10 IN FAVOR, 10 OPPOSED. OUTSIDE OF 200 FEET, ■9 IN&-ÚFA, AND I MET WITH HIGHLAND PARK. I MET WITH THE APPLICANT. AND I'VE HEARD BOTH SIDES. MY STAFF HAS ALSO MET WITH THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT STAFF, WHO HAVE VISITED THE BLOCK. AND THE FIRST THING THEY POINTED OUT IS THAT THERE IS NO SIGNAGE FOR PARKING RESTRICTION THAT THEY CAN ENFORCE. SO MY COMMITMENT TODAY IS AFTER TODAY WORKING WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GET PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON THAT BLOCK SO THAT WE CAN START ENFORCING THAT AND TICKETING THAT. SO THAT AS MR. ROHR'S SKETCH INDICATED, WE CAN START TICKETING AND HAVE IT ON ONE SIDE OF THE BLOCK. WE ALSO -- I HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF COLLEAGUES THAT ARE ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO STUDY TO POSSIBLY MAKE THIS A ONE-WAY STREET. THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I DO ALSO COMMIT TODAY THAT AFTER THIS VOTE WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE RENTALS, ESPECIALLY THE TWO EMPTY, AND COMMUNICATING CLEARLY WITH STAFF AND THE ZONING COMMISSION THAT KAYTON IS NOT -- NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED BEFORE WE BRING IN ANY MORE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDING TO THE DUPLEX OPTION THAT WE HAVE. THIS CASE WAS VETTED BY THE CITY STAFF AND THE ZONING COMMISSION, WHICH HAVE BOTH RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS AMENDED THEIR SITE PLAN AND AGREED TO SOME SPECIFIC CONDITIONS THAT I WILL READ INTO THE RECORD AS PART OF MY MOTION. I MOTION TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, WHICH SHOULD BE REFLECTED ON THE PROPERTY SITE PLAN THAT NO SIGNAGE IS ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY. THAT THE APPLICANT INSTALL AND MAINTAIN A SIX-FOOT SOLID SCREENED FENCE ON THE SIDES AND REAR OF THE PROPERTY, AND THAT TENANT PARKING IS DESIGNATED ON SITE AND THE PARKING SPACES ARE DESIGNATED INDIVIDUALLY ON THE SITE PLAN. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON ITEM 12? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS AS READ ON ITEM 12. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. STAFF, PLEASE READ 17 AND 18 TOGETHER. >> ITEMS 17 AND 18. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED GENERALLY IN THE 3100 BLOCK OF SOUTH GEVERS STREET. STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL. ZONING COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING THREE CONDITIONS: DOWNWARD FACING LIGHTING, AND SUNDAY FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. 42 NOTICES WERE MAILED, 12 WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED. THE HIGHLAND PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT. AND OUTSIDE OF 200 FEET, ONE ADDITIONAL NOTICE WAS RETURNED IN FAVOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. JACK FINGER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR. >> MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JACK FINGER AND ITEM NO. 17 AND 18, THEY DEAL WITH THE APPLICANT WANTING TO OFFER A CONDITIONAL USE FOR CONSTRUCTION TRADES CONTRACTORS OVER ON SOUTH GEVERS. MS. VIAGRAN, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT. THE RED FLAG HERE IS THAT THE STAFF THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD IDEA. THE REASON THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD IDEA IS THAT THE -- WELL, ESSENTIALLY IT'S COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT.
THEY'RE PLANNING ON EXPANDING, EXTENDING DEVELOPMENT INTO, YES, A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE CITIZENS, YOUR CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA. SO, INSTEAD OF SAYING YES TO IT, I THINK YOU SHOULD SAY NO TO IT BECAUSE OF THAT VERY REASON. COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT IS A --S THAT CREEPS IN SLOWLY AND YOU DON'T REALIZE IT UNTIL IT'S ABOUT TO OVERPOWER YOUR RESIDENTS, YOUR HOME, AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IF THE ZONING STAFF IS WARNING US ABOUT THESE THINGS, AND OF COURSE THEY ARE THE ONES WE PAY TO TELL US WHAT'S WHAT ON THIS STUFF, WELL MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST HEED THEIR ADVICE. DO YOU THINK? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ITEMS 17 AND 18 ARE IN DISTRICT 3. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS RECOGNIZED. >> VIAGRAN: I MOTION TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS AS READ. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON ITEMS 17 AND 18? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE WITH THE CONDITIONS AS READ, ITEM 17 AND 18. PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. OUR FINAL ITEMS ARE ITEMS 30 AND 31. >> ITEMS 30 AND 31. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 12139 JONES MALTSBERGER ROAD. STAFF, ZONING COMMISSION, AND PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND DENIAL. 19 NOTICES WERE MAILED, 7 WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR, 2 IN OPPOSITION. THERE IS NO REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WITHIN 200 FEET. AND OUTSIDE OF 200 FEET, 7 NOTICES WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR AND 1 OPPOSED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WE HAVE ONE MEMBER FROM THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. JACK FINGER. >> WELL, MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M JACK FINGER, ONCE AGAIN. ITEM NO. 30 AND 31 DEALS WITH A PERSON WHO WANTS TO ESTABLISH, AS IS NOTED HERE ON THE AGENDA, A SPECIFIC-USE AUTHORIZATION FOR AUTO PAINT AND BODY REPAIR WITH OUTSIDE STORAGE OF VEHICLES AND PARTS PERMITTED BUT TOTALLY SCREENED FROM VIEW OF ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS. YES. WELL, THIS IS IN DISTRICT 9. MS. SPEARS, THIS IS YOUR BABY HERE. THE REASON THE STAFF THOUGHT THIS WAS A BAD IDEA IS BECAUSE BASICALLY IT IS TOO INTENSE. BUT, YEAH. WELL, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BUFFERS TO SHIELD -- YES, TO SHIELD FROM THE HAZARDS, THE HAZARDS THAT COME FROM AN AUTO BODY AND PAINT SHOP. THEY'RE TOO CLOSE TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE AREA THERE. AND SO THE HAZARDS AND EMISSIONS TOWARDS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I NOTICED THERE WERE 19 NOTICES MAILED OUT. AT LEAST 15 TO 30% CAME BACK OPPOSING IT THERE. THAT'S NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT THERE. SO, YEAH. I THINK JUST MAYBE -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOTHING AGAINST AUTO BODY AND PAINT SHOPS BUT WHEN THEY'RE TOO CLOSE TO THE RESIDENTS, WHEN THE SMELL AND POTENTIALLY THE CHEMICALS OF THE AUTO BODY AND PAINT SHOP, THEY CAN START AFFECTING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO LIVE THERE. SO I'D SAY WHY NOT JUST SAY NO TO THIS APPLICANT. TELL HIM THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
MAKING MONEY FROM AN AUTO BODY AND PAINT REPAIR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ITEMS 30 AND 31 ARE IN DISTRICT 9. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS IS RECOGNIZED. >> SPEARS: I MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE ITEMS 30 AND 31. >> WHYTE: SECOND. >> MAYOR, A DATE WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> MAYOR JONES: DO YOU HAVE A DATE, COUNCILWOMAN, YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IT TO? >> TWO WEEKS WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 3. FOUR WEEKS WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 17. >> SPEARS: WE'LL DO SEPTEMBER 17. >> WHYTE: SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: 17TH, YEAH. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CONTINUE THE ITEMS 30 AND 31 TO SEPTEMBER 17TH. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS? OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CONTINUE ITEMS 30 AND 31. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S ZONING MEETING. THE TIME IS 2:49. THIS