The City of San Antonio City Council on Oct. 2 approved a change of zoning to permit a funeral home and a cemetery, columbarium and mausoleum on roughly 72.09 acres at 13297 FM 1937 in District 3.

The zoning action rezoned 3.01 acres to accommodate a funeral home/undertaking parlor and 69.08 acres (reduced from an earlier 73.75‑acre request) to allow cemetery uses, and included a waiver of certain provisions of the City of San Antonio code related to cemeteries. Staff and the Zoning Commission recommended approval.

The vote follows more than two hours of public comment, with dozens of South Side residents urging the council to reject the rezoning because a cemetery would reduce the taxable land base and increase local burdens on schools and services. Opponents also raised environmental and traffic concerns. The applicant, Service Corporation International (SCI), and supporters said the development would include community benefits, and that cemetery uses are an accepted land use under state law.

Homeowner Mary Ann Smith, who said she organized signatures from more than 900 households, told the council, “we do not want a cemetery,” and argued the project would depress property values and remove tax revenue from local school and city budgets. Multiple speakers, including residents and neighborhood association representatives, told the council the South Side already has many cemeteries and that the Southside Independent School District has formally opposed the rezoning.

Several speakers cited tax figures and corporate settlement history. A resident said the current cemetery owner had not paid property taxes totaling $1,170,000 over the past four years; other speakers referenced multi‑million‑dollar settlements involving the applicant. The council’s staff said the land‑use review does not evaluate out‑of‑state litigation and settlements; city legal staff reminded the body that zoning decisions are governed by the Texas Local Government Code, chapter 211, and traditionally focus on land use impacts.

James McKnight, representing SCI, said the company is donating about 5 acres of the site to the city for possible civic use and has offered what he described as community investments, including $100,000 for scholarships. McKnight told the council, “we're here to talk about land use,” and said the company will comply with permitting and environmental regulations during the development process.

Council discussion referenced both the legal scope of zoning and broader community concerns. Councilwoman Villagran, who said she is familiar with the area and the property's context, moved to approve the rezoning. Councilmembers emphasized that the council's review must center on land‑use implications while acknowledging the public's fiscal and environmental concerns. The motion passed by voice vote.

The approved zoning does not by itself authorize construction. City staff said environmental safeguards, drainage and other technical requirements will be addressed through subsequent permitting and site‑plan review. Council members and staff noted those regulatory steps will be required before any ground‑disturbing work.

Votes on the item were taken by voice; the clerk announced that the motion carried.

The council record shows staff mailed 10 notices within the 200‑foot notification boundary (two returned in favor and one in opposition) and additional responses from outside that boundary opposed to the request. The property description in the approved motion lists the address as 13297 FM 1937 and the amended acreage as described above.