In the ongoing tussle over land use in the area surrounding the Toyota manufacturing plant, the city's Planning Commission has given a nod to a draft planning document, despite some contention over the language used involving an industrial overlay. The document, known as the Texas A&M-San Antonio Area Regional Center Plan, was met with criticism from Zoning Commissioner John Whitsett, who has loudly opposed the measure in the past, according to San Antonio Report.
Whitsett has argued that the proposed industrial overlay would limit potential growth and development, particularly affordable housing, and unfairly benefit Toyota, suggesting that the surrounding community would not see reciprocating advantages. “You don’t make 3,000 people suffer for a million-and-five in the city to pay for what you deem to be important, being Toyota,” Whitsett expressed. A public meeting is set for July 2 to garner further input on the issue.
The Texas A&M-San Antonio Area Regional Center Plan includes the first Industrial Compatibility Overlay District (ICOD) for San Antonio, intending to mitigate potential conflicts between heavy industrial and other uses. Rudy Niño, assistant director of the city planning department, cited the inclusion of ICOD in the plan as a move towards transparency with respect to future land use and zoning changes, as San Antonio Report detailed.
One landowner within the suggested overlay, Andrew Nicholas, voiced concerns about the reach of the overlay beyond the plan's boundaries, receiving no notice of the public meetings. Residents and stakeholders are poised to have an intense dialogue over the potential implications of the ICOD, with opponents like developer Fermin Rajunov, who has a pending lawsuit against the City and Toyota, urging for a delay in recommendation to allow more discourse on the subject.
Controversy over the professionalism and conduct of Commissioner Whitsett has surfaced, stemming from his seemingly partisan approach to the overlay debate. According to San Antonio Report, in May, the Deputy City Attorney advised Whitsett to remain impartial or recuse himself from the hearing. His outreach to Toyota President Susann Kazunas at her private residence has also raised ethical concerns, prompting a lawyer for Toyota to call for city support in maintaining the privacy of Toyota employees.
Despite the concerns raised about his role, Whitsett has not shied away from expressing his position, "I see no restrictions and will continue to speak up on their behalf,” he informed the San Antonio Report via email. The zoning case is set to be heard by the Zoning Commission on July 16, while the final decision on planning and zoning matters will ultimately rest with the City Council. Whitsett's history of activism, as revealed by the report, includes his persistent efforts in having a Google Fiber hut removed from his local park, suggesting a pattern of impassioned involvement in community issues.
