San Angelo City Council Finalizes Cultural District Overlay Zone

SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the final reading of an ordinance establishing a Cultural District Overlay Zone, officially rezoning two historic residential areas near downtown to support responsible housing growth while preserving neighborhood character.

The idea behind the Cultural District Zoning is to provide protection and preservation of an area of cultural or historical importance. The District includes Fort Concho, Santa Fe Depot, the Museum of Fine Arts, the River Stage and the Concho River corridor.

The changes apply to portions of the Fort Concho and Santa Rita neighborhoods in Districts 3 and 5. Two areas previously zoned RS-1 and RS-2 have been reclassified as RM-1 (Low Rise Multifamily), which allows single-family homes, two-family homes, townhomes, and multifamily housing — but prohibits new commercial uses. Home-based occupations such as tutoring, counseling, and child care will still be permitted under the city’s existing zoning code.

Planning and Development Services Director Aaron Vannoy explained that the changes are designed to accommodate more housing options without compromising the residential nature of the area.

“You could be a counselor, you could do tutoring… but something like a CPA firm would not be permitted,” Vannoy said.

He added that while short-term rentals are allowed under RM-1, the existing 500-foot buffer near Fort Concho Elementary remains in effect.

The ordinance also amends three sections of the city’s zoning code — Section 304 (Commercial District Intent Statements), Section 311 (Cultural District Overlay Zone), and Section 313 (Use Table). The measure passed 7-0 with no changes from the first reading.

Mayor Brenda Gunter proposed that the district be renamed in the future to better reflect its purpose.

“Calling it the Heritage, Art and Museum District could help with grant writing and more accurately reflect the vision for this area,” Gunter said.

Separately, the council approved updates to the city’s sign ordinance as part of the consent agenda. No discussion occurred during the meeting, but the changes formally lift a moratorium on enforcement of off-site signage regulations and impose new size, height, and brightness standards for billboards and electronic signs.

The overlay and sign ordinance updates mark the conclusion of multi-year planning efforts aimed at preserving San Angelo’s historic core while guiding future development.