SAN ANTONIO — Property owners came together Tuesday night to demand the right to do what they want on their own land. A proposal from city staff would restrict residential growth around a Toyota plant on the south side.
The city's planning department is considering restricting residential expansion around the Toyota plant. To do that, their staff proposed an Industrial Compatibilty Overlay District (ICOD) that would create a two-mile buffer around the plant, and limit what property owners inside the radius can do. If the proposal goes through, it would be the first ICOD of its kind in the city.
Tuesday, a heated Zoning Commission meeting was held where several residents voiced their opposition to the proposal.
Residents say the area within one mile of the plant will have tougher restrictions than the area between one and two miles from the plant. Boundaries and specifics of the ICOD can be found here. Below is a map of the area under consideration.
City staff say there is a concern about residents being so close to an industrial plant, but landowners in that area say they were there first.
"I have three grandchildren and one great grandchild. And if I want to build a house for one of them, if this passes, I can't. My parents did not develop this land for someone to tell them they can't put their own family on the land," said one landowner.
The restrictions could also affect community projects, like the Land Heritage Institute;,a 1,200 park with a living museum. Kevin Clein is a volunteer for the park and says they may not be able to meet their goals.
"It could control us being able to build this educational pavilion," Clein said.
The director of the planning department said they can make certain exceptions. But, by the end of the meeting, the Zoning Commission decided they will not recommend the proposal to the City Council. Commissioners argued that these homeowners are being singled out and no other industrial plant is being considered for an overlay district.
The Zoning Commission only makes recommendations, so this proposal could still go before a City Council vote. KENS 5 will continue to follow this story and update with the latest developments.