The San Antonio Board of Adjustment on an afternoon hearing granted a special exception to allow a short-term rental Type 2 at 1120 E. Commerce St., unit 202, and approved multiple zoning variances and exceptions across more than a dozen agenda items.

Staff presented the STR request and the property’s permitting history, saying the units at 1120 E. Commerce previously held approvals and that the applicant had been informed by city staff to reapply. Staff told the board the Unified Development Code limits Type 2 short-term rentals to no more than 12.5 percent of units on a block; approval of the exception would raise the block’s proportion higher than the code-prescribed maximum. The board heard public-voice messages and neighborhood supporters before deliberating.

The board approved the STR exception by a 9-2 vote after members weighed the applicant’s history of operation, lack of documented safety incidents described in staff records, on-site parking and the predominantly commercial character of nearby properties. The board’s motion found the applicant demonstrated circumstances specific to the property that made strict application of the code an unnecessary hardship and that the use would not endanger public health, safety or welfare. Commissioners who voted against the motion cited concerns about precedent and the Code’s density limits.

In other business, the board:
- Postponed a sign-size-and-height variance request for property at 2119 San Pedro Ave. to Dec. 1 at the applicant’s request after the Beacon Hill neighborhood association voiced opposition and asked for additional outreach.
- Approved a landscape-buffer reduction for the Parks Department project along Culebra Road, permitting a reduction from 15 feet to 3 feet where staff concluded the proposed design preserved mature trees and did not substantially harm adjacent residential uses.
- Approved a front-setback variance for a semicircular-lot cover at 4450 Forest Green St. after neighbors and the homeowner described the lot geometry and circulation constraints; the board placed conditions on reinspection and required the owner to secure the standard building permits.
- Granted a variance and material exception at 1310 Hunter Blvd. to allow additional accessory square footage and a corrugated-metal fence in part of the rear yard; the owner argued metal fencing improved security on a large lot and staff noted other similar fences nearby.
- Authorized an 8-foot privacy fence for a commercial parcel at 500 Tampico St., citing ongoing illegal dumping and repeated trespass; the historic neighborhood association provided a letter of support.
- Approved rear- and side-yard setback relief and related visibility variances on several residential properties after discussion of existing building footprints, preexisting conditions and compliance steps required by city building and fire code for final permits.
- Approved a retroactive front-yard setback variance for an open carport built without permits at 3926 Las Olas Blvd., with commissioners stressing the applicant must complete the building‑permit and inspection process and resolve any encroachment into public right-of-way.
- After initial division, approved a 421-square-foot area variance for a two-story addition at 266 Vista Rd. by a 9-2 reconsideration vote; commissioners emphasized the owner must complete the full permitting review and inspections.

The board concluded by approving minutes with amendments and adjourning. Commissioners repeatedly reminded applicants that approvals from the Board of Adjustment do not replace building permits or inspections: owners must still obtain required permits and clearances from city building, fire and development services prior to final occupancy or use changes.

Votes at a glance
- B0A-25-103-000217, 1120 E. Commerce St., Unit 202 (STR Type 2 exception): Approved, motion finding unnecessary hardship; vote 9–2.
- B0A-25-103-000185, 2119 San Pedro Ave. (sign variance): Postponed to Dec. 1 for additional neighborhood coordination.
- B0A-25-103-000202, 9744 Libber Rd. / Culebra Rd. buffer reduction: Approved (unanimous recorded support during roll call).
- B0A-25-103-000198, 4450 Forest Green St. (front setback/cover): Approved (unanimous recorded support during roll call); applicant to secure required building permits.
- B0A-25-103-00199, 1310 Hunter Blvd. (accessory square footage and fence material): Approved (unanimous recorded support during roll call); corrugated metal fence allowed in rear yard portion.
- BA-25-103-000200, 500 Tampico St. (8-ft front-yard privacy fence): Approved (unanimous recorded support during roll call).
- B0A-25-103-00203, 4711 Greenwood Ave. (setback/visibility relief): Approved (unanimous recorded support during roll call).
- B0A-25-103-00214, 3926 Las Olas Blvd. (front-yard variance for open carport built without permit): Approved (unanimous recorded support during roll call); applicant must complete building‑permit process and address any public-right-of-way encroachment.
- B0A-25-103-00216 (pre-existing accessory garage adjustment): Approved (unanimous recorded support during roll call).
- B0A-25-103-00213, 266 Vista Rd. (area variance for two-story addition): Approved after reconsideration, vote 9–2; owner must finalize permitting and inspections.

What the board said and why it mattered
Board members repeatedly emphasized that Board of Adjustment approval addresses only zoning relief (setbacks, heights, buffers, special exceptions) and does not waive building, fire, plumbing or electrical permitting requirements. Several motions included explicit findings that relief was justified by specific physical characteristics of the property (lot geometry, preexisting structures, proximity to commercial uses) and not by financial hardship.

Staff contacts and next steps
Owners granted variances were instructed to contact Development Services and Building Permits to complete plan review and inspections; cases involving potential public-right-of-way encroachment were flagged for additional review.

Ending
The board approved minutes with amendments and adjourned at approximately 4:26 p.m. The board also noted upcoming meeting dates and thanked outgoing members for their service.