The San Antonio Board of Adjustment on Thursday approved a slate of variances for commercial signs, residential setbacks, accessory dwellings and a small solar installation, denied a request to add a short‑term rental on Dakota Street and continued one contested residential case to its June 2 meeting.

Board members voted on nine contested items and continued one. The decisions affect properties across council districts, including approvals for a rear‑setback variance at 714 Chihuahua Street, sign size and height increases for a proposed Refuel station on Fisher Road, a pair of side‑setback variances for houses on Whittier and Couples roads, an accessory‑dwelling variance in Beacon Hill and a solar array proposal on Callahan Road. A Denver Heights request to add a Type‑2 short‑term rental at 623 Dakota Street was denied after several commissioners said the neighborhood concerns and ordinance standards weighed against the exception.

Why it matters: Board of Adjustment variances change how properties may be built or used under the Unified Development Code, often resolving conflicts between existing site constraints and the strict letter of setback, signage or historic/conservation standards. These decisions can affect neighborhood character, parking and safety, and they set precedents for nearby properties and future applications.

The most contested items

- 714 Chihuahua Street (BOA‑25‑10300042): The board granted a 2‑foot rear‑setback variance to allow an 18‑foot rear setback for a second‑floor addition at a single‑family property in Council District 5. Applicant Stella Villareal explained the addition is to improve security and living conditions following family changes. The motion passed unanimously (11‑0).

- 623 Dakota Street (BOA‑25‑10300045): The board denied a special exception to allow one additional Type‑2 short‑term rental (STR) on the block face in Denver Heights. Staff had recommended denial; the Denver Heights Neighborhood Association ultimately expressed support but the board voted to deny the exception (4‑7). Commissioners who opposed cited neighborhood impact and packet evidence; supporters argued the applicant had engaged the association and brought tax receipts into compliance.

- 11235 Fisher Road (BOA‑25‑10300040): Image Solutions Sign Company sought increased sign height and square footage for a Refuel gas/restaurant site. After testimony from the applicant about interstate visibility and comparisons with nearby Love's and 7‑Eleven signage, the board approved a reduced compromise matching nearby scale: a variance to allow a sign up to about 696 square feet and 65 feet tall. Motion passed (10‑1).

Other approvals and actions

- 507 East Whittier Street (BOA‑25‑10300056): The board approved side‑setback variances (reduced to allow a 2‑foot side setback for a carport and front addition) with a staff amendment limiting the carport size; vote was unanimous (11‑0). The applicant agreed to required fire‑rating and permitting steps during building review.

- 322 Couples Road (BOA‑25‑10300058): After initial debate, the board amended and approved side‑setback variances for existing carports and accessory structures, with the applicant agreeing to add gutters to address neighbor runoff concerns. The amended motion passed (9‑2).

- 1101 West Mulberry Avenue (BOA‑25‑10300060): The board approved variances from Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD‑5) standards to allow an enlarged accessory dwelling unit, a different roof material now with plan to match the principal house later, and a window ratio exception; Beacon Hill Area Neighborhood Association had submitted a letter of support. The motion passed unanimously (11‑0).

- 602 Hood Street (BOA‑25‑10300061): A replacement detached garage that would encroach on garage and reverse‑corner lot setbacks was approved after the applicant said the new garage is needed for off‑street parking and to protect vehicles; motion passed unanimously (11‑0).

- 1402 North Main Avenue (BOA‑25‑10300062): A 12‑foot front‑setback variance for a covered outdoor bar area in an urban‑corridor commercial zone was approved; staff noted similar approvals nearby. The board limited the approval to the site plan area submitted. Motion passed unanimously (11‑0).

- 4950 Callahan Road (BOA‑25‑10300063): A 15‑foot setback variance (allowing solar arrays to be placed 15 feet from the property edge rather than the 30‑foot standard) for a roughly 1 MW fixed‑tilt photovoltaic array that will serve an adjacent automotive testing facility was approved. Tim Haller, representing the project, told the board: “Our goal here is to do absolutely as much solar generation as we can.” The motion passed unanimously (11‑0).

Continued and procedural items

- 2314 Palo Alto (item 4): The applicant was not present and the board continued the case to the June 2 meeting.

- Several items were discussed among board members and staff for technical corrections; one approval was reopened at the meeting for reconsideration when a speaker reported measurement errors on an approved setback. The board voted to reconsider and continued that specific item to June 2 to allow staff to review corrected measurements and re‑advertise notice.

What the approvals require next

Most approvals are conditioned on the applicant completing building permits, meeting any fire‑rating or drainage requirements during permitting, and complying with development and occupancy rules. For example, a carport or addition approved within a setback still must meet fire‑resistance and drainage requirements at permit review. Where applicants agreed to mitigation (for example, to add gutters), the board noted those commitments during motions.

Quotes from the meeting

“My husband passed away,” Stella Villareal said in describing the household reasons for her Chihuahua Street addition. Tim Haller, the renewable‑energy applicant, summarized the project goals: “Our goal here is to do absolutely as much solar generation as we can.”

What to expect next

Most applicants will return to Development Services for the building‑permit process and must meet the conditions spelled out during the board’s deliberations. Continued cases will appear on the board’s June 2 agenda; staff will reissue public notices for any item continued for new evidence or corrected plans.

Sources: San Antonio Board of Adjustment hearing transcript and staff presentations.