[00:00:04]
HEY, UM, LET ME PULL UP THE AGENDA.
[CALL TO ORDER]
KAY.I AM GOING TO CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, AUGUST 4TH, 2021 AT 6:02 PM.
VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING TO ORDER, WE WILL START WITH OUR ROLL CALL AND, UM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF OUR NEW MEMBER, UM, COMMISSIONER SCOTT POPS ON.
I THINK SHE'S HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
COMMISSIONER COIN COMMISSIONER LAMBERG HERE.
COMMISSIONER GUERRERO, PRESENT COMMISSIONER BRYMER HERE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO START OFF APPROVAL
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION]
OF MINUTES FROM JULY 7TH, 2021.UH, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET A MOTION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
YOU HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND REIMER AND ANYONE HAVE ANY EDITS OR CHANGES? SPEAK NOW? FOREVER.
LET'S JUST DO A SHOW OF HANDS ALL IN FAVOR.
[2. WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT UPDATES]
ALRIGHT.SECOND ON OUR AGENDA WATERSHED DEPARTMENT UPDATES.
WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE RIGHT OF WAY PROTECTED TREE REMOVAL APPEAL BY PATRICK FULKER AT 13 2 1 3 VILLA PARK DRIVE.
WE HAVE STAFF TO PRESENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
THIS IS LIZ JOHNSTON, DEPUTY ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.
UM, UH, SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY, BUT FOR NEW FOLKS, I'M GOING TO JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND.
THIS WAS RELATED TO A DECISION NOT TO ALLOW THE REMOVAL OF ANY 20 INCH COTTONWOOD LOCATED IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, MR. FULKER, UM, HAD REQUESTED THAT THAT BE REMOVED, UM, AND THEIR REQUEST WENT TO THE URBAN FORESTER AT, IN PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE IT WAS A PRIVATE, OR IT WAS A PUBLIC TREE.
UM, THE FORESTER MADE THE DECISION NOT TO ALLOW REMOVAL OF THE TREE AND, UM, BECAUSE THIS WAS LOCATED IN THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND NOT ASSOCIATED WITH, UM, DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THE REQ CODE, UH, APPLICABLE CODE REGULATIONS WERE NOT TITLE 25, WHICH IS TYPICAL, BUT RATHER TITLE SIX.
UM, AND SO UNDER THOSE PROVISIONS, UM, MR. VOLCKER WAS ABLE TO REQUEST AN APPEAL OF THE DECISION, UM, TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
SO THAT WAS HEARD NOVEMBER, 2020.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION VOTED TO UPHOLD STAFFS, UH, UM, A DECISION NOT TO ALLOW REMOVAL.
UM, TITLE SIX ALSO DOES NOT PREVENT FUTURE REQUESTS.
UM, AND SO MR. VOLCKER CAME AGAIN, UM, TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ON MAY 5TH OF THIS YEAR PRESENTED NEW INFORMATION.
AND AT THAT POINT, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION UPHELD HIS APPEAL WITH, WITH SOME CONDITIONS.
UM, TITLE SIX ALSO ALLOWS OTHERS TO APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND SO NEIGHBORS, UM, DID FILE AN APPEAL.
SO THERE'S A DONALD HOFFMAN APPEALED, UM, AS ALLOWED BY THE TITLE BY TITLE SIX.
AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID HEAR THIS APPEAL LAST TUESDAY.
AND SO THE UPDATE TODAY IS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID BOAT, UM, UNANIMOUSLY TO UPHOLD, UH, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO NOT ALLOW REMOVAL OF THE TREES.
SO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS, UM, LAST, UM, ACT TO UPHOLD THE REMOVAL REQUEST WAS EFFECTIVELY OVERTURNED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION LAST WEEK.
AND DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? UM, IF NOT, I WILL RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE
[00:05:01]
INTERESTED WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE MEETING THAT'S ON AN ATX IN YES, I CAN'T.UM, IS THERE AN APPEAL PROCESS AFTER THIS, OR I KNOW THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE CODE KIND OF WAS APPEAL OPEN.
SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THE STEPS FORWARD OR IS THIS, IS THIS DONE OR IS THERE, WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE IF WE KNOW ANYTHING, I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING IF, IF, IF THE, IF THERE A SECOND APPEAL AS POSSIBLE, TITLE SIX DOES NOT SAY THAT IT CAN OR CANNOT BE DONE, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT NEW INFORMATION WOULD NEED TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A DIFFERENT RESULT AND, UM, WHAT WAS, UM, DECIDED LAW, UH, LAST WEEK.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE FACT THAT A PLANNING COMMISSION MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO US SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHY THE MITIGATION WAS SO LITTLE AND IT WAS SHOWN HOW PLANNING COMMISSION CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN A ZONING CASE THAN WE CAN, BUT HE MET, UH, THEY MADE SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS AND I'M GOING TO ASK KEITH MARS TO, UH, GO THROUGH THAT TAPE AND FOR US TO GET THAT IN BLACK AND WHITE, WHAT WE WERE ASKED TO LOOK AT TO CHANGE THE WAY WE MITIGATE IN A CASE LIKE THIS, UH, BECAUSE, UM, IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND YOU DEFINITELY GET MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK WITH MITIGATION, BUT, UM, I, I PLAN TO PURSUE THAT.
[3. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION]
FORWARD TO ITEM THREE.WE'RE HAVING AN UPDATE ON THE ANNUAL REPORT AND WE NEED TO GET THIS APPROVED.
ALL OF YOU, I HOPE HAVE REVIEWED THAT.
UM, I'M TERRY, THIS IS KAITLIN CHAMPLIN.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK NOTE THAT WE ACTUALLY DON'T NEED TO HAVE IT APPROVED.
UM, IT'S REALLY JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON, ON THE REPORT.
SO, UM, WE KEPT MOST OF WHAT WE HAD FROM LAST YEAR IN THIS REPORT.
UM, HOWEVER, I FELT THAT WE SHOULD ADD SOMETHING AND AT THE BOTTOM I PUT DOWN THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE SOME ANNUAL REPORTS REGARDING THE TOXIC ALGAE DRAW DOWNS, THE ZEBRA MUSSELS, BECAUSE THINGS ARE CHANGING.
AND SO WE NEED TO KEEP ON TOP OF THOSE, UH, TOPICS.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I ADDED WAS, UM, THE, THE LIGHTING DARK SKIES FOR US TO PROMOTE AN ADVOCATE, DARK SKIES, WHENEVER WE COULD.
AND THEN THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT A TESLA THEY'RE RIGHT UP AGAINST THE COLORADO RIVER, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME MAJOR, MAJOR DEVELOPMENT THERE.
AND I JUST FELT, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE IN OUR JURISDICTION, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD KEEP, KEEP UPDATED ON IF, IF, AND WHEN WE CAN.
AND I'VE ALSO HEARD THROUGH THE GREAT VINE THAT, UM, THAT THE SOCCER LEAGUE MSL MAY BE RIGHT NOW TRYING TO PURSUE MORE PROPERTY IN THAT AREA AND WITH, UM, THAT COMING FORWARD AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE, UM, VIOLATING.
I THINK WE HAD A, WE HAD A COUPLE OF VIOLATIONS THE LAST TIME THERE'S A CREEK NEARBY AND WATERSHED PROTECTION WAS INVOLVED WITH THOSE VIOLATIONS THAT WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND LEAVE THAT ON.
UH, IF IN FACT THEY EXPAND, UH, THEIR AREA FOOTPRINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
UM, THERE IS ALSO A DEVELOPMENT THAT I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE OUR EYES AND EARS ON, UM, WHICH IS CALLED EAST VILLAGE.
I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED IT'S OFF PARMER LANE RIGHT ACROSS FROM SAMSUNG.
AND, UM, IT'S ABOUT 300 AND SOMETHING ACRES IT'LL BE MIXED USE AND HOUSING.
IT HAS THE HEADWATERS OF HARRIS CREEK THAT GO THROUGH IT.
UM, AND SO THAT ONE, UM, IT DOES HAVE SOME PARKLANDS SET ASIDE, BUT ANYWAY, IT'S A, IT'S A HUGE DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THEY'RE SPENDING LIKE A BILLION DOLLARS ON IT.
SO, UM, BE GOOD TO PUT THAT ONE ON OUR RADAR.
I THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE ONE THAT WE APPROVED A PUD FOR.
[00:10:02]
I DON'T KNOW.I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT WAS A PUD THAT WE APPROVED WHILE I'VE BEEN BEEN HERE.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER SAMSUNG OR A PROPERTY THEY WERE EXPANDING MAYBE A YEAR AGO.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS A MULTI-USE FACILITY.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE WE LOOKED AT ONE A WHILE AGO AND MAYBE IT WAS BEFORE YOUR TIME, REMEMBER MAYBE I'M THINKING OF A DIFFERENT PROPERTY IN THAT SAME AREA, BUT IT WAS HUGE.
THERE WAS PARKLAND SET ASIDE, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS VERY FAMILIAR AND THEY DID HAVE SOME RIPARIAN ZONES THAT, THAT WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT.
SO, BUT YEAH, I THINK NONETHELESS, YES.
YOU KNOW, I THINK ADDING THAT TO THE LIST IS GREAT.
THIS IS LIZ JOHNSON, DEBBIE AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.
WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND SEE THE, I DO NOT KNOW OF A PUD AND FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT WE CAN, WE CAN CIRCLE BACK AND, AND GET THAT INFORMATION.
AND THE MAIN TIME I SUGGESTED AT OUR, UM, OUR RETREAT THAT WE BRING THIS FORWARD AND PUT IT ON AS A GOAL FOR THE COMING YEAR.
AND LET'S, LET'S PUT IT ON THAT, THAT RETREAT UNTIL WE CAN GET FURTHER INFORMATION.
WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THAT ANYONE ELSE.
DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE THE, UM, IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE CALLING OUT SPECIFIC KIND OF LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, I FEEL LIKE THE ONE THAT'S, UM, WHERE LIKE, HOW DO YOU LOBBY AND TOYSRUS AND ALL OF THAT, THAT'S ALL GETTING REDEVELOPED AND THAT WE'VE HEARD SOME ABOUT ALREADY, BUT AS THAT PROGRESSES, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
I BELIEVE WE'RE AT 71 IN SOUTH LAMAR.
UH, CHRIS HARRINGTON AND I HAD ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT AND WE ARE GOING TO BE SETTING UP WORKING GROUPS SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PROJECT SO THAT WE CAN DO A DEEPER DIVE AND, AND MEET AND, AND WILLIE, UH, I KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, UM, BARRETT SAID SHE'S DEFINITELY WANTING TO DO A DEEP DIVE ON THAT.
WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON THIS.
SO THERE IS OUR ANNUAL REPORT UPDATE AND WE
[4. PUBLIC HEARINGS]
ARE NOW GOING TO GO TO ITEM FOUR, A PUBLIC HEARINGS, KAREN NAM, SUBDIVISION, WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST NUMBER 5, 0 6 7.IT'S LOCATED AT 1 0 8 0 2 D K RANCH ROAD, AUSTIN, TEXAS 7 8 7 5 9, DISTRICT 10.
UM, WE HAVE AN APPLICANT, BUT FIRST WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE STAFF ON THIS.
THIS IS KAYLA CHAMPLIN WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, AND I'LL BE PRESENTING THE CURRENT AND SUBDIVISION WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.
SO TONIGHT STAFF ARE REQUESTING THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THIS SURFACE EXTENSION REQUEST.
IT IS SCHEDULED TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 1ST AND WILL SUBSEQUENTLY GO TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST FOR SCR IS AN APPLICATION FOR CITY WATER OR WASTEWATER SERVICE FROM A PROPERTY OWNER OR DEVELOPER.
AN SCR IS REQUIRED WHEN THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED MORE THAN 100 FEET FROM THE, FROM AN ACCESSIBLE WATER OR WASTEWATER SYSTEM, OR WHEN EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE ISN'T ADEQUATE FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT.
DEMANDS SERVICE MAY INVOLVE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW LINE OR AN ASSOCIATED FACILITY OR UPGRADES TO EXISTING LINES OR FACILITIES.
THE APPLICANT PAYS FOR ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE AS OUTLINED IN THE SCR PER THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SCRS REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL.
IF THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE AND OUTSIDE OF CITIES, FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REVIEWS AND MAKES A RECOMMENDATION ON THE SCRS THAT REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL.
SO UNLIKE VARIANT VARIANCE REQUESTS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRS CANNOT BE CONDITIONAL.
SO THE COMMISSION MUST EITHER VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THEM, BUT YOU CAN'T PUT ANY CONDITIONS ON YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
SO THE WASTEWATER STR BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS FOR AS 0.62 ACRE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 0 8 0 2 DK RANCH ROAD.
[00:15:01]
IN THE CITY'S LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION AND COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 IT'S WITHIN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE.THE BULL CREEK WATERSHED AND IS CLASSIFIED AS WATER SUPPLY SUBURBAN.
IT IS ALSO LOCATED IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO REDEVELOP A SINGLE FAMILY HOME INTO TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES ON TWO SEPARATE LOTS.
THIS IS A LOCATION OF THE SITE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CITY'S FULL JURISDICTION.
THIS IS THE SITE LOCATION IN THE CONTEXT OF IMAGINE AUSTIN'S GROWTH CONCEPT MAP, IT IS NOT LOCATED NEAR ONE OF THE CENTERS OR CORRIDORS WHERE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SEEKS TO DIRECT NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS A MAP SHOWING AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY ON DK RANCH ROAD.
UH, THE PROPOSED, UH, DEVELOPMENT IS IN THE PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTED IN RED.
HERE'S AN IMAGE OF THE PROPOSED WASTEWATER EXTENSION.
SO THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO DECOMMISSION AN EXISTING ONSITE SEWAGE FACILITY, OR IT'S ALSO CALLED AN OSF AND CONSTRUCT 400 FEET OF LOW PRESSURE FORCE MAIN FROM THE EXISTING EIGHT INCH GRAVITY WASTEWATER MAIN LOCATED AT NASH FARA COVE AND EXTEND IT WEST ALONG NASH, FAR COVE, AND THEN SOUTH ALONG DK RANCH ROAD TO THE SUBJECT TRACK SHOWED ON THIS MAP.
AND IT'S A, THE, THE SUBJECT TRAPPED IS HIGHLIGHTED PINK.
THIS IS JUST THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED EXTENSION I JUST, UH, WAS TALKING ABOUT.
SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE SITE DOES DRAIN TO JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU, SALAMANDER HABITAT, UH, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IS ABOUT A QUARTER A MILE FROM THE PROPOSED EXTENSION.
ALTHOUGH THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT AS A FACTOR IN OUR REVIEW.
WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON THE SITE.
SO FOR THIS SITE, IT'S IN THE LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION.
SO THE OVERALL IMPERVIOUS COVER WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
SO ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF UNITS ON THE SITE WILL INCREASE FROM ONE TO TWO IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER ENTITLEMENTS, AND WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE OR LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCES FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND THE D THE DEVELOPMENT WILL COMPLY WITH CODE.
SO THEREFORE WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR CONCERNS WITH EXTENDING SERVICE TO THIS SITE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, BASED ON THE CONSIDERATION, I JUST DISCUSSED STAFF DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.
NO GOOD, NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS TO EXTEND SERVICE TO THE SITES.
THEREFORE THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, UH, STAFF RECOMMEND SUPPORTIVE THIS WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE STAFF FROM AUSTIN WATER AND THE ENGINEER FOR THE APPLICANT.
WILLIAM GRAHAM IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AS WELL.
ARE WE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT OR ARE WE GOING TO TAKE QUESTIONS NOW? MADAM CHAIR, I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS JUST HERE FOR QUESTIONS, IF, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THEM.
DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS, FISHER PRIMER? I HAVE ONE QUESTION, UH, HAS TO DO WITH THE INCREASING THE DENSITY ON THE, UH, THE LOT A, IS THAT GOING TO HAVE ANY ADVERSE IMPACT THAT CAN BE SEEN IN THE FUTURE? UH, COMMISSIONER BIRD? OH, GO AHEAD, LIZ.
UM, SO, UM, LOOKING AT THE PREVIOUS SUBDIVISION, THE SUBDIVISION THAT THIS HOUSE SITS AT WAS, UM, FROM THE 1970S, IF THEY DO SUBDIVIDE, THEY WILL NEED TO MEET, UM, CORRECT CODE, INCLUDING A MEETING OR WATERSHED IN PREVIOUS COVER LIMITS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY 30% NET SITE AREA IN THIS, IN THIS AREA.
AND SO, UM, AND IN ADDITION, THEY WOULD HAVE TO MEET WATER QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL CONTROL REQUIREMENTS AND DETENTION, UM, SOME SORT AS WELL.
AND SO ULTIMATELY WE DID NOT FEEL THAT INCREASING DENSITY AND BRINGING, UM, CERTAIN LOTS THAT MAYBE, UM, ELIGIBLE FOR SUBDIVISION, UM, AND TO COMPLIANCE WOULD INCREASE OR OTHERWISE NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE
[00:20:01]
OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE SUBDIVISION.LIZ OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A COUPLE THAT I, UM, UH, RECEIVED OVER THE WEEKEND FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE AND, UM, AND ONE ALSO WAS A CONCERN HOW MANY OTHER HOUSES COULD POTENTIALLY HOOK UP INTO THE SAME SYSTEM OR SAY THAT THEY NO LONGER WANT TO, TO, UM, HAVE THEY WANT NOW TO HAVE WATER A WAY PUMPED IN AND NOT A SEPTIC SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY'LL RE WE, UH, THEY'RE SUBDIVIDING.
IT'S WHY THIS HAS ALL COME UP.
MADAM CHAIR, THIS IS KAYLA CHAMPLIN WATERSHED PROTECTION.
SO, UM, FOR THIS PROPERTY, BECAUSE IT'S A RESIDENTIAL UNIT FOR UNDER A TRAVIS COUNTY CODE, UM, EACH RESIDENTIAL UNIT SERVED BY AN OSF IS CONSIDERED A SEPARATE STRUCTURE AND MULTIPLE STRUCTURES CAN BE ON A SINGLE LOT OR SITE, BUT ONLY IF THE SITE IS AT LEAST ONE ACRE IN SIZE FOR EACH RESIDENTIAL UNIT.
AND THIS SITE IS ONLY 0.6, TWO ACRES.
SO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO SUBDIVIDE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET CITY SERVICE FOR THE SITE.
AND I'M LOOKING AT THE OTHER AREA, THE OTHER HOMES IN THE AREA.
SO IF YOU, UM, AND THE MAP THAT WE PUT UP EARLIER THAT SHOWS THE AREA IN GREEN, THAT'S THE LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION.
AND THEN THE SURROUNDING AREA IN YELLOW IS THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION.
SO THE AREA IN THE LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION, THE HOUSES IN THOSE AREAS ARE STILL ON OSF SYSTEMS OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS THERE.
AND ARE OUR STAFF AT AUSTIN WATER ACTUALLY QUERIED THIS YESTERDAY AND, AND SAID THAT THERE WERE ABOUT SO 250 OSS EFS WITHIN A HALF MILE RADIUS OF THIS SITE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT, IF, UM, THE RESIDENTS WANTED TO CONVERT FROM OSS F OR D COMMISSION OSF AND CONNECT TO CITY WATER, THEY COULD DO THAT, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME IN AND APPLY FOR A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
AND WE WOULD LOOK AT THAT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AND LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND CONSIDERATIONS ON THE SITE.
UM, AND IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD OTHER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS WHERE THERE WERE OLD ARE FIELDING SEPTIC SYSTEMS. AND, UM, SOMETIMES NEIGHBORS WILL COME IN IN A, IN A GROUP AND REQUEST A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.
BUT, UM, AT THIS TIME WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT WILL HAPPEN.
UM, I'LL ALSO LET AUSTIN WATER FOLLOWUP, IF THEY WISH TO, IF THEY HAVE ANY OTHER CONTEXT THEY COULD PROVIDE ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS BRETT BREADWINNER WITH AUSSIE WATER.
UM, YEAH, I HAVE NOTHING, NOTHING.
THIS IS BRETT WHO I KNOW WITH AUSTIN WATER.
AND I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT, UM, YEAH, NOTHING ELSE.
NOTHING ELSE TO ADD AND WELL, THERE BEING A NEED FOR, UH, EXTENSIVE DIGGING OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD, UH, IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM.
COULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT? AND I WAS GOING TO SEE IF THE ENGINEER CAN RESPOND TO THAT.
OH, MR. GRAHAM, COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO THAT? IT'S BASICALLY A NAME IN THE WAY
I THINK THEY WENT FOUR FEET DEEP AND THEN COME DOWN TO PAVEMENT.
MR. GRAHAM, WE ARE UNABLE TO HEAR YOU.
UM, COULD YOU TRY SPEAKING AGAIN AND SEE IF WE CAN HEAR YOU? YEP.
WELL, NO, I WAS HEARING FINE UNTIL, UH, TIL I HIT THE MUTE BUTTON, THE UNMUTE BUTTON, AND NOW I'M NOT HEARING THAT WELL, MYSELF SOUNDS BETTER TO ME,
[00:25:01]
UH, UH, COMMISSIONERS.DOES THAT SOUND BETTER TO EVERYONE ELSE BETTER? YEAH.
NOW, JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE SPEAKING INTO THE RECEIVER, MR. GRAHAM, COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THAT FOR US? WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HEAR YOU EARLIER.
SO LET ME, LET ME, LET ME TRY TO SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER.
SO, SO THERE, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY, ANY THING, EXTRAORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY DIGGING, BASICALLY LOW PRESSURE FORCE MAINE, WE'LL GO DOWN RASH ROAD.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO KEEP IT IN THE GREEN AREAS.
AND IT'LL BE APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET DEEP, BUT PRESSURE FORCE NAMES.
SO IT WOULD BE GOING AGAINST DRE, BUT IT'S NO PRESSURE IT'S GOING TO BE FORCED NAME.
SO, SO NO, NO, NO DEEP DIGGING HERE.
AND ONCE IT GETS TO A SPIRAL CODE, WE'LL CUT ACROSS AND WE'LL GO DOWN THE PAVEMENT TO AN ASSISTING, UH, WASTEWATER MANHOLE.
AND I THINK, I THINK THAT WASTEWATER MAN HOLE IS I REMEMBER RIGHT.
OR SOMETHING LIKE SIX FOOT DEEP.
SO THERE'S NO, UH, NO DEEP DIGGING HERE.
UM, COMMOTIONAL RANDBURG, WE'RE GOING TO NEED SIX VOTES, RIGHT.
AND WE ONLY HAVE SIX MEMBERS, CORRECT? YES.
UH, YOU KNOW, MY HESITATION IS SETTING A PRECEDENT IN THIS AREA, BUT, UM, I'M FEELING MORE CONFIDENT HAVING FROM THE, SO, UM, LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR.
ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH.
I HAVE A UP QUESTION TO WHAT YOU ASKED KAYLA.
UM, I THINK THE QUESTION THAT, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER GUERRERO WAS ASKING, HAD TO DO WITH, UH, PERHAPS NOT SO MUCH INDIVIDUAL HOMES BEING ADDED TO THE, UH, WATER WASTEWATER SYSTEM, PERHAPS, UH, SOME OF THOSE HOMES BEING THE LOTS BEING SUBDIVIDED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, INCREASED DENSITY, UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, A SINGLE LOT WITH ONE HOME NOW BEING SUBDIVIDED TO TWO LOTS.
UM, AND AS YOU INDICATED, UH, OR SOMEONE INDICATED, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BUT, UH, THERE IS CONCERN BY, UH, SOME FOLKS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, WE MAY BE UNDERESTIMATING THE LONG-TERM IMPACT IF WE HAVE MULTIPLE, UH, PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, CHOOSE TO SUBDIVIDE THEIR LOTS, UH, AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF, UH, IMPACT ON THE AREA BECAUSE THEY SO DIVIDED THEIR LOCKS, UH, AND ARE, ARE, YOU KNOW, ERECTING MULTIPLE, UH, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE HOMES ON THOSE LOTS.
SO I THINK THAT WAS, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PART OF THE QUESTION THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER GROWER WAS ASKED.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIMER.
UM, SO I WILL ATTEMPT TO RESPOND TO THIS AND MAYBE GET SOME SUPPORT FROM LIZ JOHNSON ON IT.
UM, SO AT THIS TIME, DENSITY IS NOT AN ISSUE OR NOT A CONSIDERATION THAT WE MAKE WHEN WE ARE REVIEWING THESE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS.
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON THE SITE AND, UM, THE IMPACTS ENVIRONMENTALLY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THESE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS ARE ONLY HAPPENING IN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE, WHERE THEY'RE ONLY HAPPENING ON THIS WEST WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
AND IT CERTAINLY IS A CONSIDERATION THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS EQUITABLY.
AND SO REALLY RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT HOW, HOW THEY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE SIDE AND, UM, HOW IT'S GONNA IMPACT, UM, OR JUST THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THAT AREA.
AND SO DENSITY IS JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, UM, WITH THESE WAS, DO YOU WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT AT ALL? RIGHT.
I THINK THAT DENSITY PER SE IS NOT A CONSIDERATION.
UM, HOWEVER, OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, INCLUDING IMPERVIOUS COVER, WOULDN'T BE.
UM, AND SO THIS IS A SUBDIVISION, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I WAS, UM, UH, APPROVED IN THE 1970S PRIOR TO OUR WATERSHED, UM, RULES.
UM, IT DOES NOT MEET CURRENT WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND IT DOES NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE OVERALL SUBDIVISION OF PREVIOUS COVER INFORMATION, BUT, UM, CURRENT REGULATIONS WOULD REQUIRE NEW SUBDIVISIONS
[00:30:01]
TO COMPLY WITH CURRENT CODE.UM, SO THE SUBDIVISION AS A WHOLE WOULD HAVE TO MEET OUR WATERSHED AND PREVIOUS COVER A LIMIT OF 30% AND THEN EACH LOT, UM, WOULD HAVE TO MEET ZONING INDIVIDUALLY.
UM, AND SO OVERALL THE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER WOULD EITHER BE REDUCED OR STAY THE SAME, BUT, BUT THEY, BUT WE WOULD GET SOME ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS FROM THE NEW, UM, WATER QUALITY AND DETENTION REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED WHEN A NEW SUBDIVISION IS SUBMITTED.
SO WHILE IT MAY BECOME DENSER OVERALL, IT'S ALREADY A SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND, AND WOULD THAT OVERALL IMPERVIOUS COVER, UM, UM, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE IT INCREASING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXPLAINING THAT.
UH, HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL PLUSES WITH THIS AND ANYONE ELSE, JUST, JUST A COMMENT.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A FEW TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD THESE, UH, EXTENSION REQUESTS, AND I THINK LIKE I JUST FUNDAMENTALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH POTENTIALLY DENYING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN, AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT'S WHERE THIS IS HEADED, BUT POTENTIALLY DENYING SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR THE SAKE OF DENSITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST NOT A FAIR METHOD FOR TRYING TO REGULATE DENSITY, ESPECIALLY IN A CITY WHERE WE NEED MORE DENSITY AND WE NEED MORE HOUSING.
UM, AND I THINK JUST SO I'M CLEAR TOO, BASICALLY WHAT LIZ IS SAYING IS IF THEY DO FURTHER SUBDIVIDE, THEY'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS THAN THEY CURRENTLY HAVE.
AND KAYLA, LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR.
YOU SAID THAT THIS LOT ISN'T EVEN LARGE ENOUGH TO SUBDIVIDE THE SINGLE LOT BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ACRE, SO THERE'S NOT EVEN A RISK OF THEM NEEDING TO SET THE BED.
IS THAT CORRECT? NO, ACTUALLY THEY ARE NEEDING TO SUBDIVIDE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE TWO, TWO HOUSES ON THE LOT, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, UM, THEY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONNECT TO CITY WATER.
THEY COULDN'T DO THAT WITH AN OSF.
AND MY COMMENT WAS NOT ABOUT DENSITY.
IT WAS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE CONNECTING INTO THIS LINE AND IF THE SEWER OR THE OTHER TRIGGER DOWNSTREAM GETS IMPACTED, AS OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO, OF COURSE BE ON THAT LINE.
I WAS NOTHING ABOUT THE INCIDENT, BUT ANYWAY, UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? WE NEED THE OUT, UH, I HAVE A MOTION.
UM, UH, ON ITEM AGENDA, ITEM FOUR, A KAREN, UM, SUBDIVISION OF WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST 5 0 6 7.
WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST IS LOCATED IN THE BULL CREEK WATER SUPPLIES, SUBURBAN NORTHERN EDWARDS, AQUIFER RECHARGE, DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE, AND THE LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION.
WHEREAS THE VIRAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT STAFF HAVE COMPLETED THE REVIEW FOR THE SUBDIVISION WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST AND RECOMMEND, SORRY, RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST.
THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE NOTED WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS.
HOW MUCH NO LAMBERT DID I MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? NO, BUT I, OKAY.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND ON THE MOTION IN FRONT OF US? SECOND? ALL RIGHT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL COMMISSIONER BRISTOL.
WHAT'D YOU START WITH, START WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND, UH, WE'LL SEE IF WE GET ANY MORE CASES THAT POP UP IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING OUT AND EXPLAINING ABOUT THE DIGGING AND THE FOOTAGE
[00:35:07]
THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.[30 COMMITTEE REPORTS]
OKAY.WE JUST HAVE COMMITTEE REPORTS.
ANYTHING? UH, NO, NOT SINCE WE MET, I, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE SOMETHING? I HAVE AN UPDATE, BUT THAT IS THAT, UM, THE BALCONY KENYA CONSERVATION PLAN CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS MEETINGS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR.
SO NOT MUCH OF AN UPDATE, BUT THEY'LL MEET ANYONE ELSE.
JUST RELATED TO THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN REAL QUICK.
UM, WERE THE, CITY'S REALLY SEEING ANOTHER DRAFT FINAL DRAFT VERSION OF THE EQUITY PLAN, CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN ON THE 18TH FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE TO REVIEW BEFORE IT, UM, GOES TO COUNCIL WORK GROUP.
UM, LIKE WE ENDED THIS MONTH EARLY NEXT MONTH.
AND THEN, UM, THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE ALSO FORMED AN IMPLEMENTATION FOCUS GROUP, UH, THAT IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON WORKING WITH COUNCIL AND, AND REALLY WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SETTING THINGS UP TO BE IMPLEMENTED EFFECTIVELY.
UM, AND ALSO JSC IS PLANNING ON, UH, HAVING A FINAL, UM, UH, LET'S SEE, FINAL RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION AT OUR NEXT MEETING END OF THIS MONTH.
DO YOU HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE COIN DINGY? YOU DO.
AND, UH, IT'S IT'S UM, COMMISSIONER BARRETT DIXLER AND I NEED TO COORDINATE WITH HER AND GET HER UP TO SPEED.
I'M A LITTLE BEHIND ON COORDINATING WITH HER.
UH, IF NO ONE HAS ANY OBJECTIONS, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE DOWN THIS MEETING AND ADJOURN AT 6 39.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL AT THE WE TRAIT, PLEASE, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME REAL, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER EVERYONE.