WRITTEN TESTIMONY

STATEMENT

To: The Hon. Julián Castro and Members,
San Antonio City Council

Re: Item No. 39 – An Ordinance amending Chapter 35 of the Municipal Code (Unified Development Code) of the City of San Antonio, Texas to implement the City’s Strategic Historic Preservation Plan.

The San Antonio Conservation Society is fully in support of City Council action to implement the Strategic Historic Preservation Plan.

The Conservation Society was pleased to play an active role in the process of creating the plan and we commend the Office of Historic Preservation for their efforts to create the city’s very first preservation plan. The comprehensiveness of its recommendations and the very public process utilized in its creation resulted in a plan that will take historic preservation in San Antonio to the next level.

We also endorse the proposed changes to the City’s Unified Development Code. We followed the progression of the amendments through the public hearing process. Yesterday we were pleased to endorse the UDC amendments at the Infrastructure and Growth City Council Committee meeting.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments

Rollette Schreckenghost
President

June 24, 2010

WRITTEN TESTIMONY

STATEMENT

To: The Hon. Julián Castro and Members,
San Antonio City Council

Re: Item No. 41 – An Ordinance amending Chapter 28 of the City Code of San Antonio, Texas, by establishing provisions for on-premises digital signs, clarifying provisions for signs qualifying as nonconforming due to height alone, and providing for penalties and publication.

The San Antonio Conservation Society is pleased to have participated as a stakeholder in the discussions which led to the On-Premises Sign Ordinance under consideration today.

The ordinance will fill a huge gap in signage regulation. It is an important step in making San Antonio a more esthetically pleasing environment in which to live, to do business and to recreate. The new technology which allows digital signage to exist will be harnessed and San Antonio will be a more attractive place.

We are grateful to city staff for stepping up to the plate and initiating a well orchestrated process for shaping an ordinance. Regulating the brightness of digital signs will keep them from being in-your-face bright and minimum spacing requirements will keep them from proliferating out of control on our streets and highways.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Rollette Schreckenghost
President

June 17, 2010

STATEMENT

To: The Hon. Julián Castro and Members,
San Antonio City Council
Re: Agenda Item No. 32 C - Bike Share/Rental and Bike Tours Program

As you may have read in the San Antonio Express News this morning, the San Antonio Conservation Society has some concerns about the San Antonio Bike Share/Rental and Bike Tours Program. First, let me say that this is not a red light, it is a caution light. We are pleased that a giant step is being taken toward making bicycles a vital part of our transportation network. Some of the locations are at our most important historic landmarks; City Hall, San Fernando Cathedral, the Old Ursuline Academy (Southwest School of Art & Craft), Sunset Station. Many of the sites are in our most important public spaces including Main and Military Plaza, La Villita, Market Square, Milam Square and HemisFair Park. Most of these public spaces are designated historic districts. In addition, two locations are within the King William Historic District.

We question why so many of these locations are located in historic areas, the very areas the Historic and Design Review Commission is charged with protecting against visual clutter and commercial exploitation. We suggest areas outside of or immediately adjacent to historic places, historic districts and historic landmarks would be possibly acceptable. One only needs to recall the heated discussions in past years about placement of street furniture, signage, light pole banner/bicycle racks and even newspaper boxes. Does anybody remember Tri-Party? Perhaps it might be better to locate these facilities out of the pedestrian right-of-way, such as at transit facilities, like bus stops and parking garages?

Please note that City support of the bicycle program is a noble cause. Our concern is that we need to direct the location of the bicycle rental stations to non-historic areas. Please also note that no location should be considered without detailed information about the height, length and width of the structure proposed, including its dimension filled with bicycles. Also, proposed signage should be part of the visual consideration in renderings of the facilities.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments. We offer to meet with you and proponents of these facilities to explore alternative locations.

Rollette Schreckenghost
President