SAN ANTONIO – Dozens of locals lined up to get into San Antonio’s City Council chambers Thursday evening to discuss a master plan for the Alamo.
However, once they were inside it only took a few minutes before some of them got kicked out. Opponents of the proposed Alamo master plan once again came to protest like they have at other public meetings.
Although this time it was the Alamo Citizen Advisory Committee that got the final word in, for now. The committee voted to push the plan forward to the next round, approving various elements.
Master plan includes:
- Continue tradition of laying a wreath at the site
- Allow Fiesta parades to pass near the Alamo
- Closing of streets near the Alamo
- Moving the Cenotaph
The vote comes after months of listening to public input.
"A year ago we had those things, glass walls, that were universally despised. They're not in the plans anymore," said Bryan Preston of the Alamo Master Plan Committee and General Land Office spokesman.
Committee members said they worked to keep the Cenotaph as close to its current location as possible, but agreed to move it 500 feet to the south. For many who protested the move, the decision resulted in anger.
"That ground is sacred ground. You cannot dig into it. You cannot move anything," said protester Ramon Garza.
Opponents of the $400 million plan said the vote will not keep them from continuing to voice their position.
"There's a good many protests that are planned should they vote to move it and that will continue until they start moving bricks,” said protester Paul Gescheidle.
The plan still has to go through several other committees before heading over to City Council for a vote, which is expected to happen in October.
View the Alamo master plan proposal here.