San Antonio residents are expressing concerns over a proposed zoning district that would impose land-use restrictions around the Toyota manufacturing plant. The "Industrial Compatibility Overlay District" (ICOD), aims to create a buffer between industrial and residential areas, but not all locals are on board. KSAT reports that the zoning commission has delayed a decision on the ICOD until their July 16 meeting following a heated public comment session where residents voiced their concerns.
The ICOD would span nearly 31 square miles and affect 2,843 properties, transitioning the area within a mile of the Toyota plant to industrial use, and dedicating the outer mile to commercial or industrial development. During a community meeting, Assistant Planning Director Rudy Niño told concerned residents, “Folks who live on the South Side have been telling us about various letters that they’ve received that have stated that ‘you’re going to lose the right to use your property. You’re going to, you know, the city’s eminent domaining you and those sorts of things. Those are just simply not true,” Niño reassured homeowners that they can continue to reside and even expand their homes within the proposed district.
However, not everyone is convinced of the plan's fairness. According to FOX San Antonio, concerns about future potential health hazards in the area due to industrial activity have been raised. "We are working on a lot of affordable housing and workforce development housing, and it would be unfair to think of the future potential health hazards that might come within certain areas because we know this is an industrial area," said Dist. 4 San Antonio city councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia during the third public meeting held at the Texas A&M on the southside.
Additionally, the economic impact on individual property rights has come into question. Dist. 10 Zoning Commissioner John Whitsett believes the ICOD is unfair to about 4,000 landowners it could affect, suggesting alternatives such as conservation easements. In a statement obtained by FOX San Antonio, Whitsett said, "How much land might they need to buy outright or they buy conservation easements a lot like SAWS does in places and people get to stay there and they get some money." Councilwoman Rocha Garcia noted that purchasing land outright is not feasible for the city, leading to case-by-case negotiations with landowners as a more viable option.
Despite opposition, city officials are continuing their outreach efforts to alleviate fears and correct misinformation. The ICOD is described by Bridgett White, Director of the City of San Antonio Planning Department, as an essential measure for appropriately transitioning from industrial to residential uses. San Antonio residents will have another chance to engage with city officials during a public hearing at a Zoning meeting on July 16, where further feedback will be considered before moving forward.
