By Scott Mahon
Staff Writer

The Alamo Heights City Council voted unanimously Monday to oppose the rezoning of a 29-acre tract that opponents say would create a traffic nightmare in Alamo Heights if redeveloped as a 1,450-unit multi-family project named Sunset Ridge.

Located just outside the city limits at 116 Vanderheck Street at Brees Boulevard and North New Braunfels, the property is currently the site of Sunset Apartments, a 324-unit complex that would be razed by Simmons Vedder & Co., an Austin developer. The majority of the property is currently zoned MF-33 (multi-family) that allows a maximum of 960 units.

The city of San Antonio Zoning Commission on April 17 approved the project which could change the zoning to MF-50, which would allow as many as 1,450 units. The San Antonio City Council is scheduled to consider the project and zoning change at its May 17 meeting, which council members said they planned to attend.

Monday night’s council meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd, who, for the most part, expressed their opposition to the high-density project, which according to a spokesman for the developer said would not begin construction for five years.

During two hours of discussion, most agreed that the proposed project presents a multitude of issues for Alamo Heights, including increased traffic congestion, potential drainage problems, the height of the project and the burden it would place on local schools.

The developer has offered various entities, including the Alamo Heights School District and the city, to be signatories of a restrictive covenant agreement so to have a voice in various issues such as sidewalks, fences and green space. If the city agreed to sign the agreement it would forfeit any right to oppose the project and the rezoning to the San Antonio City Council on May 17.

Councilmembers agreed, however, that by not signing the agreement and instead opposing the project at the May 17 San Antonio City Council meeting, would involve a risk, if the San Antonio City Council disregarded Alamo Height’s concerns and approved the rezoning for the project.

“It would be a gamble,” said Councilman Bill Kiel.

Initially, many expressed their concern over the potential height of the project, which could reach 75 feet, or seven stories high, at least on the western portion of the property because the property slopes from east to west toward North New Braunfels.

Councilwoman Jill Souter doubted the restrictive covenant agreement would adequately address the height issue. But she also worried that the impact of a 1,450-unit complex on the school district would burden already overcrowded schools in the area.

Ken Brown, a San Antonio attorney who represents the developer, tried to assure councilmembers that the restrictive covenant agreement would assure the city that it could participate in addressing issues related to the project. “We have a legitimate interest in everyone’s input,” Brown said.

Alamo Heights resident Susan Bettac said a traffic study conducted for the proposed project was flawed and failed to reveal the actual impact of increased traffic. “This project could add 5,000 cars,” she said.

Councilmembers eventually agreed to conduct its own traffic study. “We need our own data,” said Public Works Director Jim Gray.

Souter pointed out that traffic along North New Braunfels was already congested. “At Cloverleaf and North New Braunfels it’s already a disaster,” she said.

Madeline Highsmith said property values would decline if the project were approved.

Robert Bettac said the proposed project would not be in the best interest of Alamo Heights. “Residents of the project will even not be residents of Alamo Heights,” he said.

Councilwoman Susan Harwell said she would support what local residents wanted.

“This is about safety,” she said. “We have to support our citizens, so I can’t go with signing the restrictive covenants. Besides, I don’t think we should discount the city of San Antonio listening to our concerns.”

Souter made a motion to object to the proposed zoning change at the San Antonio City Council meeting on May 17, rather than sign the restrictive covenant agreement.

“We should also allocate money to hire a traffic consultant and analyze traffic data,” she added. “Also, we should write a letter to the San Antonio City Council outlining our concerns.”

Councilmembers approved the motion unanimously, saying they would attend the San Antonio City Council meeting on May 17, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.