San Antonio City Code § 2-141 Creation.
Sec. 2-141. - Creation.
There is hereby created the historic and design review commission for the City of San Antonio, effective November 1, 1992.
(Ord. No. 76514, § 1, 9-17-92)
HISTORIC AND DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION
San Antonio City Code ch. 2, art. V
in effectSan Antonio City Code § 2-142 Replacement of the three design review boards.
Sec. 2-142. - Replacement of the three design review boards.
The board of review for historic district and landmarks, the River Walk advisory commission, and the fine arts commission are hereby dissolved as of October 31, 1992 and shall be replaced by the historic and design review commission ("commission"), effective November 1, 1992.
(Ord. No. 76514, § 2, 9-17-92)
San Antonio City Code § 2-143 Duties, functions, and jurisdiction of said new commission.
Sec. 2-143. - Duties, functions, and jurisdiction of said new commission.
(a) The commission shall serve as an advisory body to the directors of planning, parks and recreation, building inspections, and other appropriate heads of municipal departments, consistent with section 49 of the city charter and the city manager. A person dissatisfied with commission action shall have the right to appeal said action to the city council within the time frame consistent with existing ordinances.
(b) The commission shall have no authority to bind the City of San Antonio by contract or otherwise.
(c) Said commission shall have the following duties and functions:
(1) To assume the historic and design duties and functions of the following three (3) entities:
a. The board of review for historic districts and landmarks as stated in division 10, Section 35-3406, part (b), of the unified development code.
b. The river walk advisory commission as stated in Ordinance No. 30238, passed and approved March 28, 1962, and as stated in the River Walk policy guidelines, adopted by Ordinance No. 69351. Management issues currently considered by the river walk advisory commission shall become a staff administrative review function.
c. The fine arts commission as stated in section 4, part I of Ordinance No. 33874, passed and approved November 18, 1965.
(2) To work with the city staff in the development of recommendations to the city council regarding consolidation of ordinances, bylaws, procedures, and policy and design manuals concerned with historic and design review responsibilities, specifically those concerned with the board of review for historic districts and landmarks, the River Walk advisory commission, and the fine arts commission. Recommendations shall be made to the city council through the city manager by November 1, 1993.
(d) Jurisdiction of the commission shall be in the same geographic areas as said three (3) entities and, specifically shall be over private properties with local, state, and national historic district or landmark designation, special districts such as the River Walk, and land belonging to the city, including, but not limited to, city structures, plazas, parks, appurtenances, public rights-of-way, and public art.
(Ord. No. 76514, § 3, 9-17-92)
San Antonio City Code § 2-144 Commission composition and qualifications.
Sec. 2-144. - Commission composition and qualifications.
The commission shall be composed of 15 members. To enable the City of San Antonio to achieve compliance as a "certified local government" under the rules incorporating the provisions of the U.S. Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and title 13, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Cultural Resources, part II, Texas Historical Commission, chapter 15, specifically 13 TAC § 15.6(f) (3) (C), all members shall have demonstrated "interest, competence, or knowledge in historic preservation." Composition shall be from three (3) categories of members from the following disciplines or backgrounds:
(1) One (1) representative shall be from each of the following seven (7) disciplines:
a. Architecture (licensed in the State of Texas); History; Architectural History; Archaeology; and Planning, in order to achieve compliance with the U.S. Historic Preservation Act, as well as, applicable Texas law.
b. Landscape Architecture (licensed in the State of Texas and Public Art, to provide design expertise related to the River Walk and public art.
(2) Four (4) individuals in a business/professional category which shall include disciplines and backgrounds in: Real Estate/Commercial Development; Economic Development; Law; Banking or Accounting.
(3) Four (4) individuals in a general category which shall include experience or background in: Urban Design; Graphic Arts or Neighborhood Representation; or who shall be a citizen-at-large.
The mayor and city council will each appoint one member of the fifteen (15) member commission, for a total of eleven (11). The remain four (4) members will be selected at-large by the mayor and city council to complete category representation.
Further, members of the commission shall represent the general ethnic and gender makeup of the community. The city council shall have the authority to remove any member for good cause.
(Ord. No. 76514, § 4, 9-17-92)
San Antonio City Code § 2-145 Terms, meetings and quorum; rules of procedures; conflicts of interest; no compensation.
Sec. 2-145. - Terms, meetings and quorum; rules of procedures; conflicts of interest; no compensation.
(a) Members of the commission shall serve two-year terms, which shall be staggered; however, of the initial appointments, eight (8) members shall hold a term of two (2) years and seven (7) members shall hold a term of one (1) year.
(b) The commission shall meet on a regular basis not less than once each month, and more frequently if necessary, at a regularly scheduled time with advance notice posted according to the Texas Open Meetings Act. Additional special meetings may be called by the chairman, or upon written request to the planning director signed by eight (8) members, or upon notice from the director of planning, or said director's representative, when a matter requires urgent consideration of the commission. All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
(c) A quorum of the commission shall require eight (8) members present eight (8) affirmative votes for action.
(d) The commission shall elect its own officers and adopt its own rules of procedure.
(e) No member of the commission shall vote on any matter that materially affects the property, income, or business interest of that member or gives the appearance of a conflict of interest under applicable Texas law.
(f) Members shall serve without compensation.
(Ord. No. 76514, § 5, 9-17-92)
Source: City of San Antonio, City Code, City Charter and Unified Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/san_antonio/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH2AD_ARTVHIDERECOFetched: 10/27/2026