Oct 06, 2021 Environmental Commission

[00:00:04]

WE HAVE ENOUGH FOLKS, ALTHOUGH I KNOW WE'RE WAITING ON OTHER COMMISSIONERS, BUT I'D LIKE TO

[CALL TO ORDER]

UH, LET'S DO A QUICK ROLL CALL.

UM, COMMISSIONER QURESHI, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, UH, COMMISSIONER CORN HERE.

COMMISSIONER ROMBERG, COMMISSIONER BRISTOL HERE.

UH, COMMISSIONER BARRETT, NOT HERE TONIGHT.

UM, COMMISSIONER GUERRERO, COMMISSIONER BRIMMER HERE.

COMMISSIONER BEDFORD HERE.

OKAY.

AND KAYLA, IF WE NEED TO DO ANOTHER ROLL CALL ONCE I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHER FOLKS JOINING, WE CAN, WE CAN ADD THOSE FOLKS ON.

RIGHT.

GREAT.

UH,

[CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

UH, I BELIEVE WE HAVE, UH, LET'S SEE, PAUL, IS IT PAUL? OKAY.

HI, PAUL.

UH, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME UP AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND GO AHEAD AND, UH, INTRODUCE YOURSELF, UH, WHEN YOU GET TO THE PODIUM, I HAVE TO WEAR IT.

OKAY.

UM, MY NAME IS PAUL BARNES.

I SPENT THE BETTER PART OF 40 YEARS MANAGING FORTUNE 100 COMPANIES AND FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES AS EITHER A VICE PRESIDENT OR DIRECTOR.

AND 15 YEARS AGO, I GOT INTO K EDC, KITCHEN EXHAUST, DUCT CLEANING EVERY COMMERCIAL KITCHEN EVERYWHERE IT'S REQUIRED BY FIRE CODE AND HAVE THEIR KITCHEN EXHAUST SYSTEMS. CLEAN PROBLEM IS IN AUSTIN HAS GOT IT.

IS THOSE VENDORS THAT DO THAT FOR THE RESTAURANTS USE COST OF CHEMICALS.

SO ON AVERAGE, 4,000 COMMERCIAL KITCHENS IN CENTRAL TEXAS THAT COMES TO 25,000 GALLONS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE BEING ILLEGALLY DUMPED EVERY MONTH RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN IS HILLY CARCINOGEN.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THAT INFORMATION THAT I SENT OUT BEFORE, UH, ACCORDING TO CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, 17% OF CHILDREN BORN BIRTH DEFECTS ARE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THIS TYPE OF ILLEGAL HAZARDOUS WASTE DUMPING.

WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH AUSTIN'S GREASE BLOB IS IT'S NOT JUST A GREASE TRAP IN A RESTAURANT.

UM, THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE GIVEN YOU FROM, UH, A ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMIST STATES THAT ONCE THESE HOODS ARE CLEAN, THE WASTE IS NOT DISPOSED OF PROPERLY TO AVOID THE COST.

IT BYPASSES THE GREASE TRAP, AND IT GOES STRAIGHT INTO THE MUNICIPAL DRAIN.

YOU PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.

AND, UM, PART OF THAT REASON IS BECAUSE RESTAURANTS DON'T WANT THAT TO GET OUT AND THEY WON'T CHANGE.

SO THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS, UH, SUSTAINABILITY, WHICH DOES NOT USE CHEMICALS SO THAT THE WASTE CAN BE RECYCLED.

WHAT GOES DOWN THE DRAIN? UM, SAFE KITCHEN ALLIANCE.ORG IS THE GATEKEEPER.

SO TO SPEAK, THEY LIST ALL THE EPA COMPLIANT, COMMERCIAL KITCHENS AND ANY RESTAURANT OR WHATEVER CAN GO THERE.

I'M PICKING ON RESTAURANTS BECAUSE, UH, CENTRAL TEXAS, 95% OF THE HOSPITALS ARE ALREADY USING THE SUSTAINABILITY TECHNOLOGY.

THEY'VE GOT AWAY FROM THE TOXIC CHEMICALS, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, APPLE, DELL.

SO ALL THE REPUTABLE, UH, COMMERCIAL KITCHENS HAVE SWITCHED.

CAN'T MOVE THE RESTAURANT AND WE HAVE A SUGGESTION, NOT JUST BRINGING THE PROBLEM SINCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN ALREADY REQUIRES US TO ENTER IN, UH, WHAT WE DO WITH OUR WASTE.

WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT SPECIFICALLY FOR COMMERCIAL KITCHEN EXHAUST US WASTE EXHAUST DECK WASTE.

UH, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO BREAK THIS THING DOWN THREE MINUTES.

SORRY.

THAT'S A LITTLE STARTLING IF YOU'VE NEVER SPOKEN BEFORE.

THANKS MR. BARNES, AND YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

YOU HAVE MY INFORMATION.

IT'S NOT PRETTY WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOU KNOW, UH, SOMEBODY IS GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

THANK YOU, MR. BARNES.

AND, UH, JUST A REMINDER TO FOLKS, UH, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DISCUSS, UH, JUST SINCE WE'RE NOT POSTED FOR IT, BUT, UH, WE'LL CERTAINLY FOLLOW

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU.

[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION]

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2021 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.

SO EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THOSE.

I MOVED TO APPROVE ALL SECOND.

I HAVE A FIRST BY COMMISSIONER HAMBURG AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRISTOL.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AYE.

AND WE HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER BARRETT AND COMMISSIONER THOMPSON ON A VIRTUAL WITH US.

OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE ON

[2.a. Introduction with Councilwoman Fuentes and flood resilience priorities (25 minutes)]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HI EVERYONE.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, GOOD EVENING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS.

REALLY THRILLED TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DEUS RIGHT NOW.

UH, MY NAME IS VANESSA AND I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT TWO, REPRESENTING SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.

UM, I WANTED, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, UH, TO THE COMMISSION I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE NOW FOR NINE MONTHS.

IT'S BEEN QUITE THE NINE MONTHS WHEN YOU THROW IN A WINTER STORM IN THE MIDST OF IT.

UM, AND WHAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME AS ONE WHO HAS TAKEN OFFICE THIS YEAR AMID A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND W YOU KNOW, AND HAD TO NAVIGATE THE WINTER STORM WAS REALLY WORKING ON AND PRIORITIZING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY, UH, TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THAT MY OFFICE IS DOING, AND SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE FOR DISTRICT TWO, UM, DURING, UH, SOMETHING TO KNOW ABOUT MY DISTRICT IS THAT WE ARE A RESILIENT COMMUNITY DURING THE, UH, CATASTROPHIC AND DEADLY HALLOWEEN FLOODS OF 2013 AND THE FLOODS OF 2015.

UH, WE SAW, UH, SEVERAL HUNDRED FAMILIES DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF THESE DANGEROUS FLOODS.

AND, UH, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY COMMUNITY IS THAT RESILIENCY THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED, UM, AND THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.

AND SO AS WE CONTINUE TO TAKE A STRONG STANCE ON COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS, UH, FOR ME, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE REMAIN ENGAGED HERE LOCALLY ON FLOOD MITIGATION OPPORTUNITIES.

SO RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED TO ME THE NEED FOR INCREASED COMMUNITY SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING IMPROVED DRAINAGE STANDARDS FOR BOTH NEW DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT, INCREASING THE PACE AT WHICH CITY DOES DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT IS CONSTANTLY BROUGHT UP AS AN AREA OF CONCERN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRULY EXPEDITING OUR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE.

I'M ALSO LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR A LOT TO LOT IMPROVEMENTS AND THE ADOPTION OF IMPROVED, IMPROVED A FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS FOR UPSTREAM NEIGHBORS.

IN 2020 BEFORE I WAS ELECTED CITY COUNCIL PASSED A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PLAN TO CREATE A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR RESILIENT STRATEGY, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY AN ACTION PLAN THAT CENTERS EQUITY AND HOLISTICALLY ADDRESSES ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AND RACIAL DISPARITIES FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SINCE THEN, UM, IN FACT, THE VERY FIRST COUNCIL MEETING THAT I HAD, UH, AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, I BROUGHT FORWARD POLICY ON BLOOD RESILIENCE, KNOWING JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MY COMMUNITY.

AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE A UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND THAT POLICY DIRECTED CITY STAFF TO DEVELOP A SCOPE OF WORK SCOPE OF WORK AROUND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY PLAN, UH, AROUND FLOOD MITIGATION, AND TO LOOK AT HOW CAN WE BEST ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RECOVERY OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING THE DEVASTATING FROM FLOODING EVENTS IN THE ONION CREEK WALNUT CREEK, SHOAL CREEK, WILLIAMSON CREEK BULL CREEK, AND ALL OF OUR CITY WATERSHEDS, UM, THROUGH THAT WORK, UM, THAT WAS THE FIRST RESOLUTION I PASSED.

AND WE GOT A MEMO BACK FROM CITY STAFF AND IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL, UH, POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO LOOK AT AS A POLICY FOLLOW-UP.

AND ON NEXT WEEK'S COUNCIL AGENDA, I'M BRINGING FORTH A PART TWO TO THAT FLOOD RESILIENCE PLAN, UH, TAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CITY STAFF AND THAT POLICY AS A FOLLOWUP WE'LL LOOK FOR, HOW CAN WE PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE AND FINANCIAL TOOLS FOR FLOOD-PROOFING, UH, LOOKING AT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING, AND, UM, ALSO LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS MAY OUR NEIGHBORS IN ALL THROUGHOUT AUSTIN? WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS MAY THEY QUALIFY FOR THROUGH FEMA'S BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY.

SO UNDERSTANDING THE LANDSCAPE OF ALL THE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.

UM, AS WE KNOW, D TWO IS HOME TO MANY LOW INCOME FAMILIES, MANY OF WHICH HAVE

[00:10:01]

AND UNFORTUNATELY WE KNOW THAT THESE TYPES OF COMMUNITIES TEND TO HAVE LESS OF A CAPACITY TO COPE WHEN SUCH DISASTERS STRIKE DUE TO LACK OF ACCESS TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, LOOKING AT SYSTEMIC EXCLUSION, INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS, AND LIMITED MOBILITY.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT THAT RACE IS STRONGLY CORRELATED WITH THESE DISPARITIES, UM, AND THAT INCLUDES DISPARITIES IN HEALTH AND VULNERABILITY TO NATURAL HAZARDS.

AND SO, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE IN TIMES OF DISASTER.

AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES EXTREME HEAT EVENTS, UM, DUE TO MANY, UH, PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL BARRIERS.

AND, UH, AND SO JUST KNOW THAT WORK IS COMING FORWARD NEXT WEEK.

AND I HOPE, UM, YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

UH, IN ADDITION, UH, BIG NEWS JUST LAST WEEK, A CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

YES.

THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK ON THAT AND BRINGING IT FORWARD.

IT REALLY SET A NATIONAL STANDARD OF HOW TO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND, UM, THROUGH THAT, THROUGH THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, THAT WE HAVE SET A, AN AMBITIOUS AND BOLD GOAL TO REDUCE OUR CARBON EMISSIONS BY THE YEAR 2040 TO GET TO NET NEUTRAL NET ZERO BY THEN.

AND SO, AND IT'S CRITICAL NOW MORE THAN EVER THAT WE HAVE POLICY LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TAKE ACTION.

AND SO I WANTED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TO SAY, I AM AN ALLY IN THIS SPACE.

I'M A CHAMPION IN THIS SPACE.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY COMMUNITY.

UH, AND SO I, UM, WHAT JUST WANTED TO OPEN IT UP AND SAY MY OFFICERS AS A RESOURCE TO YOU AND YOUR COMMISSION.

UM, AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN COUNT ON US, SHOULD ANY IDEAS OR RECOMMENDATIONS COME FORWARD AS AN OFFICE THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, WE'LL GO AROUND AND SEE IF FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE FOR THAT.

SURE.

YEAH.

UH, COMMISSIONER BEDFORD COMMITTED COMMISSIONER QURESHI.

OKAY.

UH, WE'LL GO TO THE VIRTUAL FOLKS.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU, DR.

BARRETT.

I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO SAY, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GUERRERO.

JUST WANTED TO ECHO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN.

THIS IS SO WONDERFUL.

I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU.

DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS? OKAY.

I SHOULD'VE JUST DONE THAT FROM THE BEGINNING.

I ADD THIS IS, THIS IS THE STUFF I LOVE TO DIG IN SO MUCH, SO I MISJUDGED TINY BIT, BUT, UH, I I'D LOVE TO TOUCH BASE AT SOME POINT.

I KNOW THAT I DON'T REPRESENT YOUR DISTRICT, BUT, UM, OBVIOUSLY I, I AM WORKING TOWARD RESILIENCE FOR THE WHOLE CITY AND, UH, OF COURSE OUR VALUES ALIGN IF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN IS ANYTHING THAT SPEAKS TO THAT.

SO, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I DON'T KNOW THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN A COMMISSIONER, WE'VE HAD A COUNCIL MEMBER ACTUALLY COME TO SPEAK TO US, SO IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

UH, AND, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

SO, UH, WE WILL BE IN TOUCH AND, AND DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO ANY OF US.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT AND PUSH THIS WORK FORWARD.

SOUNDS GREAT.

THANK Y'ALL.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

WE

[2.b. Briefing on the Village of Webberville’s request to release approximately 31 acres of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to be included in Webberville's ETJ—Andrei Lubomudrov, Senior Planner, Housing and Planning Department (30 minutes)]

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UH, APPROXIMATELY 31 ACRES OF AUSTIN'S EXTRA, EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION TO BE INCLUDED IN WEBER BILLS ETJ.

SO WE, I BELIEVE HAVE, UH, MR. LOU BOUDREAU.

CORRECT.

GREAT, THANKS.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS ANDREA.

LOU DROVE AND I AM HERE WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT A REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF 31 ACRES FROM AUSTIN ETJ.

THAT WOULD GO TO THE VILLAGE OF WEBER VILLE.

I HAVE A POWERPOINT FOR YOU TONIGHT, SO, BUT I'LL TRY TO MOVE IT THROUGH IT KIND OF QUICKLY.

AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO ASK AT THE END.

SO JUST KIND OF TO GO THROUGH, TO GO TO AN OVERVIEW OF THE SITE, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, THANK YOU.

TALK ABOUT THIS SUBJECT TRACK REAL QUICK.

UH, THE TRACK IS IN EAST TRAVIS COUNTY, NOT FAR FROM THE BASTROP COUNTY LINE.

UH, THE WHOLE TRACK IS ABOUT 111 ACRES.

31 ACRES IS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETJ.

THE BALANCE IS IN THE WEBER VILLE ETJ.

MOST OF THE TRACK IS COVERED BY THE COLORADO RIVER FLOODPLAIN.

UM, THE ENTIRETY OF THE RELEASE AREA, THE 31 ACRES IS ALSO IS IN THAT FLOODPLAIN, AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE AND ACCESS TO THE TRACK TO THE PROPERTY IS THROUGH THE WEBER BILL.

UM, THE CITY OF WEAVERVILLE, THE VILLAGE OF WESTERVILLE

[00:15:01]

YEAH, NO DEVELOPMENT IS PLANNED FOR THE PORTION OF THIS SITE.

THAT'S IN THE AUSTIN ETJ.

SO IT CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THIS JUST SHOWS THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE TRACK.

YOU CAN SEE A IT'S PRETTY FAR FROM THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION.

IT'S ABOUT 4.5 MILES FROM OUR FULL PURPOSE CITY LIMITS, WHICH MEANS THAT THE THERE'S REALLY NO FEASIBLE WAY FOR US TO ANNEX THE PROPERTY IN THE LONGTERM.

MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER, UM, MAPS THAT SHOW YOU IN A LITTLE GREATER DETAIL.

THE MAP TO THE LEFT SHOWS YOU THE PROPOSED RELEASE AREA.

IT'S THAT BLUE, UM, IN THE KIND OF, UH, SOUTHEASTERN CORNER OF THE, OF THE TRACT.

IT'S ABOUT 31 ACRES.

THE FLOOD POINT IS HARD TO SEE IN THIS MAP, BUT IT'S KIND OF THE HATCH TO BLUE.

AND IT SORT OF GOES UP TO ALMOST TO THE, JUST TO THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE SITE.

THE WHOLE SITE IS COVERED IN, UM, THE WHOLE PROPERTY IS COVERED IN FLOODPLAIN, EXCEPT JUST THE, JUST THE NORTHERN PORTION THAT BORDERS ON WESTERVILLE.

AND JUST TO THE RIGHT HERE IS ANOTHER, UM, PICTURE THAT SHOWS YOU JUST KIND OF THE ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY PRIMARILY REALLY IS THROUGH WEBER BILL.

THERE'S NO ACCESS THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH THE VILLAGE OF LIBREVILLE AND USE WHATEVER VAIL ROADS, UM, UH, TO, TO GET TO THE SITE.

AND I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, IT'S RELEVANT TO HOW WE, UH, DO AN ANALYSIS FOR ETJ RELEASES, THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2007, ADOPT A POLICY THAT GENERALLY GOVERNS HOW ETJ RELEASES ARE EVALUATED.

PROPOSED ETJ RELEASES ARE EVALUATED.

AND SO, UM, UH, ENTITY, UH, CAN REQUEST A RELEASE OF A PORTION OF OUR ETJ.

AND WHEN WE RECEIVED THAT REQUEST, WE KIND OF GO THROUGH A FIVE-POINT ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE IMPACT OF THAT RELEASE WOULD BE.

SO WE START WITH KIND OF LOOKING AT THE ANNEXATION.

WE LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.

WE LOOK, IF WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA THAT WOULD, WOULD BE IMPACTED, AND THEN WE LOOK KIND OF JUST A BIGGER PICTURE, HOW MUCH ETJ HAVE WE RELEASED? AND, UM, WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THAT.

AND THEN IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST THAT IS, WOULD BE LIKE A, A HUB, A HARDSHIP OR SOMETHING UNIQUE THAT WOULD MERIT THE RELEASE.

AND SO TO GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE, UH, THE, OF CHIEF IMPORTANCE TO THIS BODY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STAFF REVIEWED THIS REQUESTED RELEASE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE, UM, AN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, LARGELY OWING TO THE FACT THAT THIS WHOLE, THE WHOLE AREA IS IN THE FLOOD, PLAIN, THE COLORADO RIVER FLOODPLAIN.

AND, UH, ALSO THAT THERE ARE WEB ORVILLE ORDINANCES THAT WOULD PROVIDE KIND OF A COMPARABLE SIMILAR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR THIS PARTICULAR AREA FOR THIS SITE.

AND SO THE, UM, THE STAFF REVIEW DETERMINED THAT THERE, THERE WAS NO, THERE WOULD BE NO IMPACT FROM THIS RELEASE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO MOVING ON JUST TO GO THROUGH A FEW, OTHER OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, UM, THAT I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, SO I WON'T BE LATE FOR THEM, BUT THERE'S NOT REALLY A PR UH, PROPO.

THERE'S NOT REALLY A PERCEIVED ANNEXATION IMPACT DUE, DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE TRACK.

UM, THERE'S NOT, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA, THE CLOSEST AUSTIN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS OVER A MILE AWAY, UM, THE, THE AUSTIN WATER SERVICE AREA.

AND, UM, AND, AND, UH, THE REASON FOR THE TRACK, WHICH I GUESS I COULD HAVE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE REASON FOR THE RELEASE IS THAT IT WOULD JUST HELP STREAMLINE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS FOR THIS PROPERTY DOWN THE ROAD, BEING IN ONE JURISDICTION, AS OPPOSED TO BEING IN TWO JURISDICTIONS SINCE THE PROPERTY IS, UH, SPLIT AMONG AUSTIN AND WEBER VALLEY, TJ, IT WOULD JUST PROVIDE A MORE STREAMLINED DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PATHWAY, BUT THERE'S NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PROPOSED AT THIS TIME FOR THIS PROPERTY.

AND SO THE LAST SLIDE, I THINK IT'S THE LAST SLIDE IS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THIS RELEASE TO THE VILLAGE OF WEBER VILLE, UM, GIVEN THAT THERE'S NOT A EXPECTED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND THAT IT WOULD GENERALLY STREAMLINE THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS FOR THE PROPERTY.

AND SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS ASKED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT THIS RELEASE.

AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANKS SO MUCH.

UH, DO WE WANT, WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN COMMUNICATION ON THIS ITEM? DO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM BEFORE WE ASK QUESTIONS? OKAY, WE'LL DO THAT THEN.

UH, AND THEN WE MAY CALL YOU BACK UP IF THAT'S OKAY.

SURE.

THANKS.

[00:20:01]

UH, WE HAVE MR. MATHIAS, PLEASE JUST GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES IN COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS RICHARD MATTHIAS AND I'M ACTUALLY HERE AS THE REPRESENTING THE PROPERTY OWNER.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE OF ME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UH, HOW ABOUT A QUICK SHOW OF HANDS? IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL, UH, YOU FOLKS UP.

OKAY.

WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER BRISTOL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND, UM, SO I AM FAIRLY NEW, UM, TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION.

CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT OF WHY THIS WAS SET ASIDE IN EACH DAY SO FAR AWAY FROM THE FULL PURPOSE? SURE.

WHY IT WAS INCLUDED IN ETJ? YEAH.

YEAH.

SO THE, THE RULES FOR ANNEXATIONS GOING BACK, UM, MANY, MANY YEARS, I THINK SO PROBABLY SINCE THE SIXTIES OR SO HAS BEEN THAT, UM, FOR LARGER CITIES, METRO AREAS LIKE AUSTIN, WHEN WE DO A FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION THAT EXTENDS THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION FOR FIVE MILES.

AND SO THAT KIND OF PUSHES THIS SORT OF, UM, I CALL IT A HALO AROUND OUR FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION ABOUT FIVE MILES OR SO.

AND SO THIS PARTICULAR TRACT IS 4.5 MILES.

AND I THINK PROBABLY THE REASON IT'S NOT QUITE FIVE IS BECAUSE IT, WHEN WE RUN INTO OTHER , THEN THAT SORT OF CUTS SHORT, OUR ETJ HALO.

AND SO WEBER, VILLE BEING A SMALLER, UM, UH, TOWN.

IT HAS, UH, AN ETJ, BUT IT'S MUCH SMALLER THAN THE AUSTIN ETJ.

OKAY.

DID THAT HELP ANSWER THE QUESTION? YEAH.

OKAY.

OTHER QUESTIONS ANY FROM A VIRTUAL LAND? UH, ALRIGHT.

COMMISSIONER BRISTOL.

I MEAN, I'M SORRY.

COMMISSIONER BARRETT.

HI.

THANK YOU.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE.

SO I JUST WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, SO, SO CURRENTLY THERE'S, IS THERE A DEVELOPMENT PLAN ON THE SITE OR THERE IS NOT, OR A PORTION I SAW A PORTION OF IT.

AND, UM, WHAT, SO I GUESS YOU CAN'T ANSWER THAT FIRST.

SURE.

UM, I GUESS I WOULD INVITE, UM, MR. MATHIAS UP TO SPEAK TO THAT DIRECTLY, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S NOT DEVELOPMENT PLANNED ON THIS SITE, RICHARD MATTHIAS REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT.

NO, AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOT ANY DEVELOPMENT PLANS PROPERTY'S BEING USED AS A YOUTH OUTDOOR ACTIVITY FACILITY, CANOEING, WATER, SPORTS, AND ACTIVITIES.

SO IT'S NOT SEEN TO BE DEVELOPED.

IT'S REALLY NOT VERY DEVELOPABLE IF WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NORTHERN PORTION, AS ANDREA HAD INDICATED THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE FLOOD PLAIN, BUT THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT.

WE JUST THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE CLEANED IT UP, GET IT IN ONE JURISDICTION, IF, AND WHEN SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN, THEN THAT WOULD BE A SIMPLER PROCESS.

OH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT.

AND IF, AND WHEN DEVELOPMENT WERE TO HAPPEN, THEN THE, I GUESS THE VILLAGE OF WHAT WEBER BILL IS THERE REGULATIONS IN THERE, THEIR PROCESSES, WHAT VERY SIMILAR, VERY SIMILAR TO AUSTIN'S.

AND I CAN LET ANDREA THE STAFF ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I DID A DETAILED ANALYSIS AND A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BOTH JURISDICTIONS.

AND IN SOME CASES, WHEREVER VEIL IS MORE STRINGENT, UH, BUT BOTH JURISDICTIONS, AUSTIN AND WEB ORVILLE, NEITHER ALLOWED DEVELOPMENT IN THE FLOOD.

PLAIN, THEY BOTH HAVE SETBACK, UH, FEATURES, UH, THEY'RE ALMOST IDENTICAL.

UM, AND I BELIEVE, UH, UH, WEBER VEIL EVEN MODELED SOME OF THEIR REGULATIONS OVER, UM, W UM, WITH THE SOS ORDINANCE.

SO IT'S PRETTY STRINGENT.

UM, AND AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS CITY STAFF FELT COMFORTABLE THAT, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE IF ANY DEVELOPMENT OCCURS ON THIS PROPERTY.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME.

THANKS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER BREMMER.

UM, I JUST APPRECIATE THE IRONY FS HAVING, UM, THE SOUTH CONGRESS PAD AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE, UM, THIS PRISTINE PIECE OF LAND ON THE SAME RIVER.

I JUST WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

OKAY.

UH, WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER BRIMMER NEXT.

UH,

[00:25:02]

IT'S A GENERAL LAW CITY AND IT'S A GENERAL, A GENERAL LAW CONSTITUTED MUNICIPALITY.

I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO ALL THE DETAILS, BUT THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY KNOWLEDGE.

OKAY.

THAT DISTINGUISHES IT FROM THE HOME RULE MUNICIPALITY, UH, THAT AUSTIN FALLS UNDER, UNDER STATE LAW.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

UH, CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST BY ROMBERG.

SECOND, SECOND BY BEDFORD.

ALL RIGHT.

DO WE HAVE A, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I DO.

IF YOU'RE READY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UM, OKAY, GREAT.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, ON THE SUBJECT OF THE VILLAGE OF WEBER BILL REQUEST TO RELEASE PROPERTY FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETJ, UH, WHEREAS THE VILLAGE OF WATERVILLE AT THE REQUEST OF THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS REQUESTED THE RELEASE OF APPROXIMATELY 31 ACRES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ETJ TO BE INCLUDED IN WEBER GRILLS ETJ.

WHEREAS THE PROPOSED RELEASE AREA IS FULLY IN THE COLORADO RIVER FLOOD PLAIN, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS FOR THE AREA WOULD BE COMPARABLE TO THAT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

WHEREAS THE RELEASE WILL PLACE THE WHOLE PROPERTY UNDER WEB WEB ORVILLE REGULATIONS AND IN, SO DOING WITH STREAMLINE AND SIMPLIFY THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS.

AND FINALLY, THE RELEASE AREA IS NOT FEASIBLE FOR LONG-TERM ANNEXATION BEING 4.5 MILES FROM THE CITY'S FULL PURPOSE ETJ.

THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RELEASE OF APPROXIMATELY 31 ACRES FROM THE AUSTIN NEW TJ TO THE VILLAGE OF WHAT REBEL.

SECOND, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER.

BEDFORD IS SECOND BY, I MEAN, SORRY, COMMISSIONER ROMBERG, AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BEDFORD.

UH, WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL.

COMMISSIONER QURESHI, UH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, UH, ABSTENTION, UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

YOU HAVE AN EYE, UH, COMMISSIONER COIN.

YES.

UH, COMMISSIONER BARRETT.

YES.

COMMISSIONER BRISTOL.

YES.

COMMISSIONER RANDBURG.

YES.

COMMISSIONER GUERRERO.

YES.

COMMISSIONER BREMMER.

NO COMMISSIONER BEDFORD.

YES.

OKAY.

I BELIEVE MOTION CARRIES.

LET'S SEE, WE HAVE SEVEN HERE.

THREE THERE.

10 MINUS ONE UPSTAIRS.

SORRY, I'M DOING THAT ON THE SPOT EIGHT.

WE HAVE EIGHT TO CARRY.

UH, OKAY.

RAY, RAY, KAYLA.

GREAT.

ALRIGHT.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANKS FOR COMING TO SPEAK TODAY.

UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE IN JUST A MINUTE.

UH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.

UH, SHEAR GUERRERO IS GOING TO COME TO SHARE THE LETTER HALF OF THE MEETING AND I'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT TIME.

SO WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK IF YOU NEED TO RUN TO THE RESTROOM OR RUN OUTSIDE.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN ITEM

[3. PUBLIC HEARINGS]

SEE 8 1 4 DASH EIGHT NINE DASH OH OH 3.02.

THE APPLICANT IS RICHARD SUTTLES, AMBERSON BROWN, P L L C, LOCATION 3 0 5 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 77 0 4.

THIS IS IN DISTRICT NINE.

WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF HERE, ZONING, UH, AND WE ALSO HAVE PARKS BOARD HERE THIS EVENING.

SCOTT GRANT.

THEM'S HERE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND FIELD THEM AND WE CAN BEGIN.

HELLO, GOOD EVENING.

UH, ALSO WE HAVE AUSTIN WATER ON THE LINE AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

I'M SO GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

UM, THANKS FOR BEING HERE TO DISCUSS 3 0 5 SOUTH CONGRESS PUD.

UM, MY NAME IS PHILLIPS AND I'M IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER'S OFFICE.

MAYBE IT'S NOT WORKING.

ARE YOU ADVANCING? OKAY, THERE IT GOES.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, UM, SINCE SOME OF YOU ARE RECENT APPOINTEES, WE WANTED TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT A PUD IS.

AND SO, UM, A PUD IS A PLAN UNIT

[00:30:01]

IT'S A TYPE OF ZONING THAT ALTERS CODE REQUIREMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR OTHER SUPERIORITIES AND PETS ARE REQUIRED TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDE INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND ENSURE ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES.

AND TO PRODUCE A PROJECT THAT IS SUPERIOR TO DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED UNDER CONVENTIONAL REGULATIONS.

AND SO, UM, THERE ARE TWO TIERS TIER ONE IS, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT ALL PUDS MUST MEET.

AND SO SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, TIER ONE REQUIREMENTS ARE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPEN SPACE.

UH, AND YOU CAN NOT INCLUDE DETENTION AREAS UNLESS THEY'RE DESIGNED AS AN AMENITY, PROVIDE A TWO STAR AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING RATING, AND THEN ALSO PRESERVE, UM, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE NATURAL AND TRADITIONAL CHARACTER OF THE LAND.

AND THEN ALSO TO MEET THE MINIMUM LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS OF CITY CODE.

SO ADDITIONALLY, SO THOSE ARE ALL THE BASIC THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO FOR A PUD, BUT TO BE SUPERIOR, YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY, YOU HAVE TO TACK ON ADDITIONAL SUPERIORITIES.

AND SO THERE'S A LIST IN THE TIER TWO REQUIREMENTS AND IT'S KIND OF A MENU OF ITEMS, AND THEN EACH PET IS UNIQUE.

AND SO SOMETIMES WE CRAFT A SUPERIORITY DEPENDING ON EACH PUDS UNIQUENESS.

UM, THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY, AND TO BE VERY CLEAR IS WHAT THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMISSION, UM, WHAT YOU OVERSEE FOR A PUD.

SO I'M GOING TO, UM, PRESENT ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THIS PUD AND, UM, TELL YOU WHY THEY'RE SUPERIOR OR NOT SUPERIOR AND HOW THIS PUD SORT OF LIKE THE PACKAGE WE PUT TOGETHER FOR THIS POD.

NOW, THIS POT IS UNUSUAL.

WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT SUPPORTING IT BECAUSE WE COULDN'T GET THEM TO SUPERIORITY, BUT WE DID PROVIDE A LIST OF CONDITIONS THAT IF YOU ACCEPT WOULD BE SUPERIOR.

AND SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, AS WE KIND OF, UH, GO INTO THIS PUD, WHAT YOUR PURVIEW IS, AND I'M GOING TO END WITH THE CONDITIONS AND EXPLAIN EACH ONE OF THOSE.

YEAH.

SO ONE THING THAT IS NOT IN OUR PURVIEW IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RIGHT? WHAT IS NOT IN OUR PURVIEW IS THE ZONING, THE HEIGHT THAT IS NOT IN OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PARKS AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CREEK SETBACKS AND, AND ALSO, UH, RECLAIM WATER.

AND SO EVERYTHING WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE UPON TONIGHT IS ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED.

AND SO, UH, THE NEXT COMMISSION, IT GOES TO PLANNING COMMISSION.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER ASPECTS.

THEY'LL TALK ABOUT HEIGHT.

THEY'LL TALK ABOUT, UH, LOW-INCOME HOUSING AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PUD THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO LIKE I SAID, EVERY PET IS DIFFERENT AND IT COMES WITH ITS OWN OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.

THIS PROJECT INCLUDES 8.86 ACRES AND IS THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING PUD FROM 1989.

THIS PUD PROJECT IS UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT IT SETS ON A PROMINENT CORNER OF SOUTH CONGRESS AND LADY BIRD LAKE.

THE LOCATION IS POPULAR FOR BAT VIEWING AND ACCESSING AND ENJOYING THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL ALONG LADY BIRD LAKE.

THE TRAIL IS WITHIN AN EASEMENT THAT RUNS THE LENGTH OF THIS PROPERTY.

HERE IS A MAP THAT SHOWS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S LIMITS.

IN CONTEXT, WITH THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE RED BOX.

IT IS IN THE POLE PURPOSE JURISDICTION, AND NOT OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.

AS WE ZOOM INTO THE SITE, YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE THE SITE IDENTIFIED IN BRED.

SO SOME OF US ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED AT CITY HALL DENOTED BY THE ORANGE STAR.

MOVING IN CLOSER.

THIS SITE IS BOUNDED BY LADY BIRD LAKE ON THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST AND SOUTH CONGRESS

[00:35:01]

AS WE SWITCHED TO THE PROPOSED PLAN, YOU CAN SEE THE SITE AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PUD AND BREAD ON THE SLIDE.

THE PROPOSED BUILDINGS ARE SHOWN IN GRAY, BUT WILL BE BUILT ON A MONOLITHIC UNDERGROUND PLATFORM THAT PROVIDES CONNECTED PARKING FOR THE ENTIRE SITE.

DUE TO THE SITES, PROXIMITY TO LADY BIRD LAKE, THERE ARE SETBACKS AND BUFFERS.

THE BLUE LINE INDICATES THE WATER QUALITIES ZONE.

THE OTHER TWO LINES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY.

THE DARK ORANGE LINE IS THE PRIMARY SETBACK AND THE GREEN LINE IS THE SECONDARY SETBACK.

ONLY CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT IS ALLOWED WITH THEM, THESE BUFFERS AND SETBACKS, AND THEY ARE INTENDED TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF THE SPACE ALONG THE LAKE.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE PROPOSED WATER QUALITY IN BLUE.

THE LAST UPDATE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A BIOFILTRATION POND NEAR CONGRESS AVENUE.

THAT WILL BE FOUR TO FIVE FEET DEEP AND WOULD REQUIRE A FENCE.

THE OTHER AREAS SHOWN ARE PROPOSED RAIN GARDENS.

THAT WOULD BE ABOUT A FOOT DEEP AND VEGETATED WITH PLANTS.

SINCE THE WATER QUALITY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, THEY MUST UTILIZE GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE PER CODE.

THE APPLICANT HAS INFORMALLY.

THEY HAVE NOT SUBMITTED ANY DOCUMENTS, BUT, UM, HAS INFORMALLY DISCUSSED MOVING THIS POND MARKED WITH AN X UNDERGROUND, WHICH IS ALLOWED BY CODE AS LONG AS IT IS NOT WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, THE GREEN COLOR DENOTES AREAS OF PROPOSED TURF.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THESE SLIDES, UH, FROM THE SLIDE, THESE TURF AREAS CROSS INTO THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY.

SO, WHICH IS MEANT TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY FOR THE LAKE FOR PREFERRED PLANTINGS WOULD WITH THEM, THE BUFFER WOULD INCLUDE NATIVE SEATING AND RESTORATION.

THE GRAY COLOR REPRESENTS THE TRAILS.

MOST OF WHICH ARE CONCRETE.

UH, THE EXISTING TRAIL WOULD RE WILL REMAIN GRAVEL FOR NOW.

UH, BUT FUTURE PLANS INCLUDE CREATING MULTIMODAL PATHS, WHICH WILL INCLUDE CONCRETE.

THE APPLICANT IS ALSO PROPOSING A BOARDWALK ALONG THE LAKE AND APPEAR SHOWN HERE IN ORANGE, THAT WOULD EXTEND 70 FEET INTO THE LAKE.

THE PROPOSED PIER AND BOARDWALK WOULD RE WOULD REQUIRE TREE REMOVAL HERE.

YOU CAN SEE THE LIST OF TREES THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED.

AND SO ON THIS, UH, SLIDE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT THE TREES.

AND SO THE BOARDWALKS GOING TO REMOVE THE FIRST FOUR TREES, THE STEPS WILL REMOVE THE FIFTH TREE AND THEN THE OTHER TWO TREES WILL BE REMOVED BY THE PIER.

SO THERE, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE THE TREES WITH MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, TO THE PLAN.

AND HERE YOU CAN SEE THE RED ARROW, UH, MOVING THE PIER PROBABLY ABOUT 50 FEET TO THE WEST.

SO HERE IS THE OPTION, UH, THE PEER OPTION AND THE PEER.

IF THE PEER WERE NARROWED, IT COULD BE MOVED TO AN AREA TO AVOID THE REMOVAL OF A 19 INCH PECAN AND 14 INCH AMERICAN ELM.

THE REMOVAL OF THESE TREES COULD DE STABILIZE THE SHORELINE, REQUIRING A BULKHEAD IN THIS AREA.

THE TREES SIT ON A SLOPE OF OVER 60% AND BETWEEN THE TREES AND THE EXISTING PLANTS, THEY ARE HOLDING THE SHORELINE IN PLACE, MOVING THE PROPOSED STEPS TO AN AREA THAT DOES NOT HAVE TREES WITH FURTHER HELP TO PROTECT AGAINST SHORELINE EROSION.

HERE IS AN IMAGE THAT SHOWS THE STEPS, THE PROPOSED TREE TO BE REMOVED AND WHERE THE STEPS COULD BE MOVED TO SAVE THE TREE.

ONE OF THE SUPERIORITIES THE APPLICANT HAS OFFERED IS RESTORATION OF

[00:40:01]

THESE SPACES MAY BECOME ADDITIONAL LAWN AREAS.

AND THIS SLIDE DEPICTS HOW THAT WOULD LOOK.

THE PROPOSED RESTORATION OFFERED BY THE APPLICANT, SEEMS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.

AND USUALLY WE WOULD BE A HUNDRED PERCENT ON BOARD WITH THAT.

UH, BUT THE BLACK DASH LINE SHOWS WHERE THE LAND DROPS OFF, UM, AT A SLOPE OF 61% TO 200% SLOPE REMOVING OR ADDING VEGETATION ON THIS SLOPE COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL EROSION WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF WOULD LIKE THE TRAIL TO BE MOVED A MINIMUM OF 25 FEET FROM THE CREST OF THE SLOPE, AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE, AND TO HAVE THE AREAS BETWEEN THE TRAIL AND THE CREST RE VEGETATED AND PROTECTED WITH THE SPLIT RAIL FENCE.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE SHORELINE EROSION AND THE SLOPE AS IT DROPS ABOUT EIGHT FEET TO THE LAKE AS THE PROPERTY HEADS, NORTH AND NORTHEAST, THE TRAIL IS LOCATED ON THE EDGE OF THE SHORELINE AND THE PROPOSED RESTORATION WOULD MAKE, UH, THIS EROSION WORSE.

SO, UM, WITH THE LAYERS OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND DISTURBANCE WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, ALONG WITH EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS HAS LED STAFF TO DETERMINE THERE ARE NO WATER QUALITY RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL.

SUPERIORITIES SOME OF SWITCHED GEARS TO PARKLAND NOW.

UM, SO AS WE CHANGE TO THE TOPIC OF PARKLAND, THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO DEDICATE 6.5, THREE ACRES ALONG THE LAKE.

AND 1.59 ACRES OF PARK EAST MET THE RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED ON THE DEDICATED PARKLAND BY THE APPLICANT WILL NOT ALLOW THE DESIGN NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS THAT THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT SEEKS.

SO STAFF WATERSHED STAFF DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL SUPERIOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, ALTHOUGH EXCITED ABOUT THE DEDICATION OF SUCH A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LAND.

I MEAN, THIS IS A HOST, IT WOULD BE A HISTORICAL PARK.

I MEAN, HOW AWESOME IS THAT? UM, BUT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE'S STILL SEVERAL OUTSTANDING ISSUES.

AND THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE EXISTING ACCESS FROM SOUTH CONGRESS, FROM THE SOUTH CONGRESS RIGHT AWAY TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, GOOGLE MAPS ACTUALLY LABELS THIS ACCESS AS PART OF THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE SCREENSHOT, THE PUD PROPOSAL ELIMINATES ACCESS THIS ACCESS, THE PRO PROPOSED PUD ACCESS SINCE THE PUBLIC, THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT TO ACCESS THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING A TRAIL CONNECTION THAT IS EQUITABLE AND PROVIDES A SPACE THAT ALL, ALL AUSTINITES FEEL COMFORTABLE ACCESSING AND GOING TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.

SO WE'RE NEARING THE END OF THE, UH, WHEN WE GET TO THE COMPARISON, WE GO THROUGH THE COMPARISON AND THEN WE DO CODE MODIFICATIONS AND KIND OF WRAP UP THE PUD PRESENTATION.

SO I'LL DO THAT NOW, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GONNA LAST FOREVER.

UM, SO WHEN WE'RE EVALUATING A PUD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIORITY, WE LOOK AT ELEMENTS OF THE PUD THAT MEET CODE SHOWN HERE IN GRAY, THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE NOT SUPERIOR AND THEY'RE SHOWN IN RED AND THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE SUPERIOR, AND THEY'RE SHOWN IN GREEN BY THIS STAGE OF THE PUD, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR GREEN ELEMENTS TO OUTNUMBER THE RED AND THE GRAY.

SO, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS NOT THE CASE WITH THIS PUD.

[00:45:02]

SO WATER QUALITY AND DRAINAGE MEET CURRENT CODE IMPERVIOUS COVER.

THE APPLICANT IS ASKING, AND THIS IS PER THE LAST SUBMITTAL.

SO I CAN ONLY GO OFF THAT BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO DATE.

UH, THE APPLICANT IS ASKING FOR 24.5% IMPERVIOUS COVER WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITIES THOUGH, THE DEVELOPMENT, UH, THEY HAVE ASKED FOR INCLUDE, AND THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF USES AND ACTIVITY THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE, UH, BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITIES ON, AND I'M JUST GOING TO NAME A COUPLE OF THEM.

SO THEY WANT CONCESSIONS, INCLUDING FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENDORS, BICYCLE RENTALS, SPORT, EQUIPMENT RENTALS, BOAT, REYNOLDS, DINING FACILITIES.

UM, IT WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS INTERESTING, UM, RESTROOMS, EXERCISE EQUIPMENT.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES OF NOTE.

AND SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR 24.5% AND PERVIOUS COVER, UM, NORMAL R WHAT CODE ALLOWS IS 5%.

SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT.

SO THE NEXT ONE IS THE AMOUNT OF ACREAGE OF OPEN SPACE IS CONSIDERED SUPERIOR, BUT THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE PARKLAND DEDICATE PARKLAND DEDICATION, MAKE IT LESS THOUGH.

SO PARKS CAN FIND IT SUPERIOR AND WATERSHED COULD SAY, WE DON'T THINK IT'S SUPERIOR BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT I STILL THINK, I MEAN, THAT PARK SPACE, I MEAN, IT'S UNDENIABLE, RIGHT? UM, SO CRITICAL WATER QUALITIES.

THEN THE PROJECT PROPOSES A LARGE AMOUNT OF DISTURBANCE OF THE BUFFER THAT INCLUDES SHORELINE MODIFICATION, TREE REMOVAL, REDUNDANT PATHS, AND VERY LITTLE RESTORATION CFS.

UM, APPLICANT SHOWS THE WETLAND FRINGE, BUT DOES NOT ADD A BUFFER TO PROTECT THE FEATURES, UM, WETLANDS, UH, DO NOT HAVE TO BE PROTECTED, UH, IN THIS AREA, BUT BY ADDING A BUFFER AND NOT DEVELOPING WITHIN THAT BUFFER, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER SUPERIORITY THAT COULD HAVE OFFERED, HAVE OFFERED.

UM, BUT THEY'RE JUST MEETING CODE ON THAT ONE.

UM, LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION, AUSTIN WATER HAS ASKED THE APPLICANT TO BRING, RECLAIM WATER TO THE SITE AND USE IT FOR ALL NON-POTABLE USES.

THIS IS IN THE WATERFORD PLAN.

AND SO THAT PLAN, I THINK, TAKES PLAY BECOMES EFFECTIVE IN TWO YEARS, BUT, UM, I THINK WHAT AUSTIN WATER IS LIKE, WELL, PUDS ARE BIG IDEAS AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IT.

AND SO, BUT THE APPLICANT HAS DECLINED AND THEY WANT TO DRAW WATER FROM LADY BIRD LAKE.

NOPE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO MOVING ON TREES, THIS IS ACTUALLY A SUPERIOR ITEM.

UM, THE, THE POD WILL PRESERVE OR TRANSPLANT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL HERITAGE TREES AND SAVE 77% OF TREES OVERALL.

THAT'S TERRIFIC.

I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG WIN FOR TREES FOR SURE.

THE NEXT ONE, UM, EXTENSION OF THE BOAT DOCK OR PEER INTO THE LAKE, UM, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING 70 FEET, BUT CURRENT CODE IS 30 FEET.

ANY DEVIATION FROM CODE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE READ, UM, 20% OF THE SHORELINE DISTURBANCE.

THE PROJECT IS PROPOSING TO WAIVE THIS SECTION ENTIRELY, UM, BECAUSE BETWEEN THE PIER AND THE STEPS AND THE BOARDWALK, THEY ARE OVER 20% OF THE ALLOWABLE, SHORELINE, UM, RELOCATION OF THE SHORELINE.

UM, THE APPLICANT WANTS TO WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT TO GO BEFORE, TO ASK COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL AND THEY'RE MEETING CODE FOR DARK SKY INITIATIVE AND ALSO GREEN BUILDING.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE TWO STARS CERTIFIED.

SO HERE'S A LIST OF CODE MODIFICATIONS.

THE APPLICANT IS ASKING FOR PUDS TYPICALLY HAVE A LIST OF CODE MODIFICATIONS THAT THE APPLICANT AND THE STAFF AGREE UPON, BUT EACH NEGOTIATION IS BASED ON SUPERIORITY OF THE PUD.

SINCE THIS POD IS

[00:50:01]

THESE CODE MODIFICATIONS ARE RELATED TO PARK DESIGN, AND WE THINK THE PROJECT PROJECT SHOULD SEEK VARIANCES AT THE TIME OF THE SITE PLAN.

IF OUR PROPOSED CONDITIONS FOR SUPERIORITY ARE NOT ADOPTED ALL RIGHT.

SO IT'S RARE THAT A PUD WOULD COME WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF.

I MEAN THIS, THE FIRST ONE I'VE EVER BROUGHT, UM, AND WE DO NOT FIND THEIR CURRENT PROPOSAL SUPERIOR DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS SITUATION.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY TREES AND AUSTIN WATER TO COMPILE A LIST OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS OR CONDITIONS THAT WOULD MAKE THIS PUD SUPERIOR.

AND SO I'M GOING TO READ THROUGH THEM.

AND IF YOU NEED ME TO EXPLAIN ANY OF THEM, I CAN, UH, OR YOU CAN READ THEM YOURSELF A MONTH.

I'LL JUST GO AHEAD.

ALRIGHT.

SO EXCEPT FOR ITEMS LISTED IN THE AMENDED ORDINANCE, THE PUD WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE CODE AT THE TIME OF THE SITE PLAN.

UH, THIS IS ABOUT GRANDFATHERING.

SO PEOPLE TRY AND GET OLD REGS ON THEIR PUDS.

AND SO WE, WE DON'T WANT ANY OF THAT IN THIS POD, UM, DEDICATE BY DEED THE AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 6.53 ACRES.

AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS NUMBER IS MOVING A LITTLE.

SO, UM, THAT WAS PUBLIC PARKLAND LOCATED ALONG LADY BIRD, LAKE FRONTAGE, AND 1.59 ACRES OF PARKLAND EASEMENTS.

AND THAT INCLUDES THE PLAZA IS LOCATED WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT.

UM, THE PARKLAND AND EASEMENT SHALL NOT BE RESTRICTED.

PUBLIC PROVIDE PUBLIC EQUITABLE ACCESS FROM SOUTH CONGRESS RIGHT AWAY TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL THAT DOES NOT FORCE VISITORS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDE A HUNDRED DOLLARS OVER WHAT IS REQUIRED BY CURRENT CODE TO BUILD PARK AMENITIES, COMPLETE, COMPLETE A PARKLAND IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT THAT INCLUDES MAINTENANCE FOR WATER QUALITY PONDS LOCATED WITHIN THE PARK MOVE AND NARROW THE PROPOSED PIER TO A LOCATION THAT DOES NOT IMPACT EXISTING TREES RELOCATE THE TRAIL.

A MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FIVE FEET FROM THE CREST OF THE S OF THE SLOPE ALONG THE SHORELINE, EXCEPT EXCEPT AT APPROVED SHORELINE ACCESS POINTS AND RESTORE THE AREA BETWEEN THE SHORELINE AND THE TRAIL WITH RIPARIAN OR WETLAND VEGETATION, PROTECT THE SHORELINE AND VEGETATION WITH THE SPLIT RAIL FENCE, ELIMINATE REDUNDANT PATHS OR TRAILS WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE AND REDUCE PROPOSED IMPERVIOUS COVER WITH THEM.

THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONED TO 5%, 5%.

THIS NUMBER WILL INCLUDE PROPOSE CONCRETE SIDEWALKS, PRESERVE, OR TRANSPLANT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL HERITAGE TREES AND PERVERT PRESERVED.

77% OF ALL OF ALL TREES OVERALL ON SITE.

I THINK I MESSED THE LANGUAGE UP ON THAT ONE ALONE PROVIDE A THOUSAND CUBIC FEET OF SOIL FOR STREET.

TREES CAN BE SHARED BY A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF TWO TREES.

PROPOSED TREES AND SHRUBS SHALL BE NATIVE OR ADOPTIVE TO CENTRAL TEXAS, PROVIDE WATER QUALITY FOR ALL PHASES OF THE PET PROJECT.

SO WHAT WE WANT IS TO MAKE THE PONDS AND THE PARKLAND AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO CAPTURE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND THEY CAN DO THAT THROUGH CISTERNS OR RAIN GARDENS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN ANY WATER THEY CAN'T TREAT WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT.