[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6627216,"mediaKeyId","2729982-4e251d77aecb3ebdbc0425a8839794ff","parentId",2729982,"title","Committee reviews cemetery inventory and tracks state bill that could bar new cemeteries inside city limits","audioSeconds",390,"startMs",5325000,"endMs",5715000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2729982-4e251d77aecb3ebdbc0425a8839794ff&start=5325&end=5715","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2729982-4e251d77aecb3ebdbc0425a8839794ff/thumbnail_5325000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6627216/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Committee-reviews-cemetery-inventory-and-tracks-state-bill-that-could-bar-new-cemeteries-inside-city-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627216-43c653a6eafce3f2efb60f2d34f4028d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425480&Signature=TCqKRD5rHpfew5XaIRKSu4Cx8UaOXljtwUC~puXsPSiQ21xE9KXyfLGbcgNxqvVeAEhiL-1KVlyHBEDFpfjgUqIWChkpIepFnfIFKkxxWmcOCQCnbRoxFSkT~PdGQJdx484aahhBOsXUb9IhnF6VmZS4K9P~XQlKvymaIsqPkx8zsSe8LUV5hOv0pfg00svplLlv4VA4Tf~7d7NxJWOOcvDmEcCyap~MDfOqfNbX~oGcZ3U25gvVYFK1YZoe06oTHXGIQ4Ni4le8dUn9YN92gZIilzMLSYVtxG0lLL5EsbkGh9XdtFdFFQNwaAT9OBAZwgag40eeZe189zrSm8sH1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-03-21T00:00:00Z","article","Development Services reported to the committee on March 21 that staff has identified roughly 145 cemeteries within the city limits and is monitoring a state legislative proposal that would prohibit new cemeteries inside the city and within five miles of the city limits.

Melissa Ramírez, Assistant Director in Development Services, told the committee staff is not recommending changes to local regulations at this time but will continue to monitor developments at the state level. Ramírez described an ongoing zoning application (referenced as a pending case) whose applicant has deferred action pending the outcome of the state legislation. She said city staff will coordinate with the City Attorney’s Office if the state law passes to determine effects on active applications.

Staff stressed that existing city rules require zoning and site approvals for cemetery uses, that cemeteries may be permitted in some districts and prohibited in others, and that plan review and subdivision procedures apply before construction can begin. Ramírez said staff had shared findings by council district: District 2 had the largest count of identified sites (41), and other districts showed varying numbers.

Committee members asked for more detail about ownership, stewardship and maintenance of identified private and institutional cemetery sites and requested a clearer inventory showing which sites are on city-owned land, which are privately owned, and which are under active management by parks and recreation or nonprofit groups. Staff agreed to coordinate with parks and return with more information and to convene an interdepartmental meeting depending on the trajectory of state legislation.

There was no formal committee action to change city code. The committee agreed to monitor the state legislative proposal and to return to the committee with additional information if the bill advances during the legislative session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - Planning and Community Development Committee Spanish - Mar 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff reported an inventory of about 145 cemeteries within San Antonio and said committee members should monitor a state bill that could bar new cemeteries within city limits and within five miles of the city.","taxTitle","San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",2771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6627221,"San Antonio committee backs development of pilot digital media and arts signage program",5198,78000,5276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2729982-4e251d77aecb3ebdbc0425a8839794ff&start=78&end=5276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2729982-4e251d77aecb3ebdbc0425a8839794ff/thumbnail_78000.jpg","/articles/6627221/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/San-Antonio-committee-backs-development-of-pilot-digital-media-and-arts-signage-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627221-da348c28d095149e48ec60c796f9be70/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425480&Signature=R4Mer5SSiK3ajNIKHLOKXiEohizkdOhAab3tk1RjJBRuh9376lH0XLDvndm8T-N6N6ojbubS9mV-v6iICaGj5wRJ-hWbBikAnSrQbpWyGr4unbPjvPOO9X-kh3HsWjf5QrLqbJ9GyD~XlhPnWY9znhdxvgE3Ash2akF8g8u1IyIULuZ1bloAfaOHOX-TST-l-qr-Q89qLMGR5r8y6j6MEJfZn9sPSfmWA2WAVJc40dymHzsS3v~Gag7HDsw2VrcPQI883imKYQlzjRjNP5UufmRG03IqHpZms~1kkW7wwMxEuhv0pJ2zQIc8-w-mWeTcLjJeKA44KCZVB54BFqksdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning and Community Development Committee on March 21 agreed to move forward with developing a pilot digital media and arts signage program for designated areas of San Antonio and asked staff to return with two or three proposed implementation options and proposed revenue-sharing arrangements.

The committee’s vote followed more than two hours of public comment. Opponents, including multiple members of the Society for the Conservation of San Antonio, urged the committee to reject the program — saying large digital displays would harm the city’s historic character and could allow commercial advertising in sensitive areas. Elaine Better, identifying herself as a sixth-generation San Antonian, warned the displays would encroach on historic districts: “No lo dejen que entren a nuestra ciudad,” she said. Louis Better, president of the Society for the Conservation of San Antonio, said he feared a pilot would become permanent: “If it’s a failure… they’ll remain there.”

Supporters argued the pilot could fund public art, increase nighttime safety and highlight local cultural programming. Mary Hitscott, identified as executive director of Blue Star and an arts coalition, said the program could be limited to noncommercial arts content and return revenue to local arts organizations. A company representative described the program as voluntary for property owners, said each location would include a minimum community-art contribution of $100,000, and said roughly half of displayed time in other cities has been used for civic or arts content.

Staff from Development Services presented a proposed framework developed after community outreach and a city survey of 544 responses: 400 opposed and 134 supportive. The staff recommendation the committee considered included limiting the pilot to a maximum of 10 locations (with up to two displays in any one area), capping display size at no more than 25% of a building façade, requiring displays comply with existing sign code (UDC Chapter 28) and negotiating a revenue share in which a portion of income would be reserved for arts programs and city messaging. Staff said a 20% revenue-share to the city had been discussed; council members proposed different shares for arts organizations (one councilmember proposed 10% be directed to arts with an increase to 15–20% after review).

Committee members emphasized the need for safeguards. Several members said the council should approve specific locations or at least the geographic zones before corporate contracts proceed and asked staff to define time-of-day limits for public-service announcements and restrictions on content categories (for example, political advertising or certain commercial categories). Several council members also asked that contracts require removal and remediation at the company’s expense if the pilot is later discontinued.

After a motion to proceed and a staff-led clarification that the next step would be to return with concrete options and contract terms, the committee voted to advance development of the pilot and requested staff bring two to three proposals for committee review before sending a recommendation to the full council. The vote was recorded on the floor as in favor with several abstentions; individual roll-call votes were not provided in the committee record.

The committee’s direction does not itself change the Unified Development Code. Staff and the company representatives said the pilot would require policy direction and, if necessary, a code amendment to UDC Chapter 28 to address technical sign standards and locations. Staff indicated private property owners would be required to sign contracts to participate and that displays would be restricted from certain historic properties and other protected areas.

Next steps: staff will return to the committee with two or three buy/no-buy options that specify exact locations (or mapped zones), revenue-sharing plans, proposed content restrictions and draft contract terms for council review and committee consideration.","After hours of public comment divided between preservationists and arts advocates, the Planning and Community Development Committee agreed to advance development of a pilot digital media/arts signage program with staff returning with two to three implementation options and revenue-sharing proposals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6627210,"Committee hears housing strategy updates: projects, SHIP progress and outreach plans",656,5634000,6290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2729982-4e251d77aecb3ebdbc0425a8839794ff&start=5634&end=6290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2729982-4e251d77aecb3ebdbc0425a8839794ff/thumbnail_5634000.jpg","/articles/6627210/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Committee-hears-housing-strategy-updates-projects-SHIP-progress-and-outreach-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627210-4405d42535f3227dcc8b839f4af43d06/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425480&Signature=CwIAMb7z4g7x4wg3C0PGm5-9ifja32D2dXyC8f2wYoQpEHR9iKvHNBRYq~9Y2GNDqTuKLmgf0naWclCBmsChcYbKO4gghwM4ZuC1NYcFUm3RI0eXjssd8zi~r0ZNJhygw8auma0~8IwadEdBnYDz5SYB-aTTRvgbyK0XzWXukx9m-GSH2Ci9d0YhyVr74NXI-pMQHu4F0sIKdOMZWAx42mX50EMI~pjjALA5iDq3kXMfo3JPmOqQmoF7ooWWri970VOULMRKr5XtGtCujE0~VBwHzwSR~DYgl3hKVlatZCS34T6z5P9FEaZ0NGw~~KpeJY1S7CD-VeyL2d-LW8fU4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City housing staff and partner organizations updated the Planning and Community Development Committee on March 21 about implementation of the city’s Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP), recent project milestones, and public outreach to explain tenant and landlord rights and to encourage new affordable production.

Verónica García (department title identified in meeting materials as housing program staff) reviewed progress since the plan’s adoption in 2022, citing more than 5,300 “affordable actions” completed to date, a pipeline that the presenters said now includes roughly 2,900 units under construction and 400 units in new community developments, and multiple preservation and rehabilitation awards. Housing partners said the city and its nonprofit partners are on track with major closings and ribbon-cuttings, and staff outlined technical-assistance grants to help community organizations and churches pursue community land trusts and neighborhood-driven projects.

Marc Corona, housing official, and the executive director of the Housing Trust reported active acquisition efforts (including negotiations on roughly 37 acres in partnership with Frost Bank and the city) and a project called Catalmon Square, where initial community outreach and property transactions are underway. The Housing Trust summary noted 18 active communities in development (about 400 homes) and 12 planned communities (about 1,200 homes).

Presentation highlights included: ongoing efforts to match housing production with transit and services, an updated online tool and outreach materials to explain accessory dwelling units and streamline permitting, expanded landlord/tenant education workshops (including language options), and a public-information campaign intended to change perceptions about affordable housing.

Committee members praised coordination and asked about financing, including the potential to issue municipal debt to increase development capacity. One councilmember urged continued advocacy for voter-backed housing bonds and emphasized the need to move quickly while borrowing costs remain favorable. Housing partners requested continued support for programs to increase capacity among community providers and reiterated concerns about economic headwinds that could slow or raise the cost of development.

There were no committee votes on the housing presentations; staff said more recommendations and funding requests are expected in upcoming committee and council agendas.","Development and housing partners briefed the committee on progress under the city’s strategic housing plan (SHIP), project pipelines, ongoing acquisitions and public outreach campaigns to promote affordable housing, and asked the committee to support continued financing and capacity-building.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews cemetery inventory and tracks state bill that could bar new cemeteries inside city limits

San Antonio committee backs development of pilot digital media and arts signage program

Committee hears housing strategy updates: projects, SHIP progress and outreach plans