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[CALL TO ORDER ]
GO AHEAD AND GET ROLLING HERE.WE'RE CONVENING THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AT, UH, 63 10 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE.
WE'RE GONNA GO AROUND THE HORN HERE ON ATTENDANCE, AND I'LL START REMOTELY.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT FRONT LIT, BUT, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING GREAT.
UH, AND COMMISSIONER SHERRA PRESENT.
I WAS JUST GIVING YOU A HARD TIME.
UH, COMMISSIONER BREMER, I'M GONNA TAKE THAT AS A PRESENT, UH, COMMISSION.
UH, COMMISSIONER GE PRESENT BARRETT BIGLER PRESENT? UH, UH, SECRETARY PRESENT.
CRYSTAL PRESENT VICE CHAIR BEDFORD HERE.
I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO OUTSHINE THAT ONE.
THIS IS BERG AND I'M HERE TOO.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY GENERAL, UH, CITIZEN COMMUNICATION OR JUST ONES FOR AGENDA ITEMS? UH, JUST FOR GENERAL? NO, GENERAL.
[1. Approval the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on October 5, 2022 and October 19, 2022 (5 minutes) ]
UM, THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHERE WE'RE GONNA REVIEW, UM, THE MEETING MINUTES FROM BOTH OCTOBER 5TH AND OCTOBER 19TH.DO ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES THAT WERE SENT AROUND TO US EARLIER THIS WEEK? MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
WE GOT A SECOND FROM, UH, VICE CHAIR.
AND THAT'S A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH MINUTES, IS THAT CORRECT? MM-HMM.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 5TH AND THE 19TH.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
I SEE EVERYBODY, BUT SHERRA SHERRA, ARE YOU VOTING FOR OR, OR ALL THOSE? OH, ABSTAINED.
UH, WE'VE GOT ALL BUT SHERRA'S ABSTAINING.
[Items 2 & 3 ]
ALRIGHT, SO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT BOTH, BOTH NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE KIND OF TOGETHER.BUT IT IS THE BRODY OAKS REDEVELOPMENT POD C 814 DASH 2021 DASH 0 0 99.
UM, IT IS ITEM TWO IS THE PUD, AND ITEM THREE IS THE SITE SPECIFIC SOS AMENDMENT FOR THE SAME CASE NUMBER.
AND I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT A STAFF PRESENTATION TO START.
AND THIS IS A BIT OF A COMPLICATED ONE, SO I'M GOING TO BE GIVING A PRESENTATION ON TWO PARTS OF THIS PROJECT.
SO MY NAME IS LESLIE LILLY AND I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION.
AND I AM GONNA BE TALKING TONIGHT ABOUT THE BRODY OAKS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
SO THE FIRST PART OF MY PRESENTATION IS RELATED TO THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, THE OVERALL PROJECT.
AND THE SECOND PART OF MY PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT A SPECIFIC PROCESS THAT'S KIND OF UNIQUE, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE P U D UH, PROCESS.
AND, AND THAT'S A SITE SPECIFIC SOS AMENDMENT BECAUSE OF THE VERY UNIQUE LOCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY OF THE AREA THAT THIS PROJECT IS BEING PROPOSED IN.
SO THE SITE IS AT AN AREA THAT YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH.
IT'S THE BRODY OAKS SHOPPING CENTER.
IT'S WHERE THE FORMER TOYS R US IS.
IT'S AT THE CORNER OF SOUTH LAMAR AND 360.
UM, IT'S IN THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION AND IT'S PARTIALLY WITHIN THE RECHARGE AND THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON WHAT THIS PROJECT CONSISTS OF THIS PROJECT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE OUTLINE OF IN PINK IS A NEW, UH, POD THAT IS BEING PROPOSED, A NEW PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S A PART OF ORIGINALLY 128 ACRE BARTON CREEK PLAZA DEVELOPMENT, OR THE BRODY OAK SHOPPING CENTER DEVELOPMENT.
THE CURRENT AREA THAT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR THIS POD IS 37.6 ACRES, UM, AND IT IS IN COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE.
AND IMPORTANTLY, IT IS AN ACTIVITY CENTER FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE IMAGINE AUSTIN VISION PLAN.
SO THIS IS A HISTORIC MAP FROM THE EIGHTIES WHEN THE PROJECT THAT AS IT EXISTS TODAY WAS DEVELOPED.
SO THE BAR CREEK PLAZA, YOU CAN SEE THIS 128 ACRES THAT WAS A PART OF
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THAT ORIGINAL DESIGN AND WHAT IS NOW THE BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT THAT YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH, WAS DEDICATED AS PARKLAND, AS OPEN SPACE AS A PRESERVE BUFFER THAT WAS NOT, UM, DEVELOPED.AND THE AREA THAT YOU CAN SEE THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THIS PROPERTY IS WHAT IS NOW THE BRODY OAK SHOPPING CENTER THAT HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER AND IS THE 37.6 ACRES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
SO I, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ACTIVITY CENTER IS AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN HOW IT'S BEING DESIGNATED.
IN THE IMAGINE AUSTIN VISION PLAN, THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ARE, UM, IDENTIFIED AND IN THIS GROWTH CONCEPT MAP, IT SHOWS THEM THESE GREEN CIRCLES AND WHAT THE ACTIVITY CENTERS ARE, ARE THERE THESE AREAS THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER QUALITY IN THEIR REDEVELOPMENT? SO THERE ARE AREAS THAT ARE IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE SPACES THAT CURRENTLY DO NOT PROVIDE THE KIND OF WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS, WATER QUALITY TREATMENT THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED OF A DEVELOPMENT IN SUCH A ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS APPROVED BY COUNCIL AS AN AREA FOR, UM, AN ACTIVITY CENTER FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.
UH, SO THE CIRCLE THAT I HAVE UP THERE IN THE LITTLE ARROW IS POINTING TO PART OF THE, THE BRO, WHAT IS THE BRODY OAK SHOPPING CENTER, BRODY OAKS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY INTERESTING ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES THAT ARE A PART OF THIS PROJECT.
ONE IS THE GREEN BELT IS ADJACENT TO IT.
UM, TWO IS THAT IT'S IN THE BARTON SPRINGS WATERSHED AND THEREFORE IN THE BARTON SPRINGS ZONE, UM, MAKING IT SUBJECT TO THE SOS ORDINANCE.
UM, UM, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S ALSO PARTIALLY IN THE RECHARGE AND PARTIALLY IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER FURTHER, UH, LIMITS SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT ALLOWANCES FOR IT PER THE SOS ORDINANCE.
CURRENTLY THE SITE, THE 37.6 ACRES FOR THE PROJECT, IT HAS 84% IN PREVIOUS COVER.
UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ENVIRONMENT CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES THAT ARE ADJACENT AND, AND NEAR AND, AND IMPACTED PROPOSED TO BE IMPACTED BY THE PROJECT.
ONE IS A SEEP THAT YOU CAN SEE IS KIND OF LIKE A GREEN OUTLINED AREA THAT IS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PROJECT.
IT APPEARS AS IF THE BUFFER DOES NOT OVERLAP WITH A PROJECT, BUT IT ACTUALLY DOES.
A SMALL SLIVER OF THAT BUFFER IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE IMPACTED BY THE PROJECT.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, YOU CAN SEE A YELLOW LINE RUNNING THROUGH THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
AND THAT IS AIRMAN'S CAVE, A CAVE THAT EXISTS 140 FEET UNDER THE PROPERTY GRADE.
UM, AND C BUFFERS, THE, THE PROTECTIVE SETBACK THAT IS ASSIGNED TO, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OCCUR THEIR 3D, UM, SPACES.
SO THE, THE, THE IN THE Z PLANE, THE, THE GRADING AND ANY OF THE PROPOSED, UH, WORK THAT WOULD, UH, IMPACT THE A HUNDRED AND THE 150 FOOT SETBACK WOULD OCCUR DIRECTLY ABOVE THE AIRMAN'S CAVE AS SHOWN HERE.
UM, ONE REALLY IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THIS SITE IS IT IS NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED BY THE SOS ORDINANCE.
SO THAT'S A BIG, THAT'S A BIG PART OF THIS PROJECT AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHY IT WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN ACTIVITY CENTER IN THE IMAGINE AUSTIN VISION PLAN.
UM, I'VE MENTIONED THIS A COUPLE TIMES, BUT THE PROJECT IS PARTIALLY WITHIN THE RECHARGE ZONE, THE DARKER RED AREA THAT HAS THE, UM, DIAGONAL LINES AND THEN THE LIGHTER RED AREA IS THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE, JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW, HOW THAT, UH, HOW THAT IS IMPACTING THE SITE ITSELF.
SO WITH THE POD, THE, THIS IS THE LAND USE PLAN THAT GENERALLY DEFINES THE WAY THAT THE, UH, THE PROPOSED BRODY OAKS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED.
THERE'S TWO LAND USE AREAS, LAND USE AREA ONE IS COM IS MAINLY OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS BEING PROPOSED, THE MIXED USE BUILDINGS AND THE MAJORITY OF THE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
AND THAT IS REPRESENTED WITH THE LITTLE SQUARES AND IS MOSTLY LOCATED ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF SOUTH LAMAR AND 360.
THE OTHER AREA INDICATED AS LAND USE.
AREA TWO IS THE AREA THAT IS THE OPEN SPACE AND THE DEDICATED PARK LAND WHERE THE RECREATIONAL AMENITIES, WHERE THE TRAIL HEAD TO A NEUTRAL HEALTH OF THE GREEN BELT IS BEING PROPOSED.
AND THE, UH, VEGETATIVE LIKE RESTORATION OF THE NATIVE VEGETATION IS GONNA OCCUR, OCCUR IN THIS AREA.
SO THAT'S THE AREA THAT IS, UM,
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ADJACENT TO THE BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT.SO AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT, THERE ARE FOUR MAJOR, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL CODE MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.
UM, TWO OF THEM DEAL WITH THE CUT FILL REQUIREMENTS, UH, 25 8 3 41 AND 25 8 3 42.
AND SO THE CUT AND FILL REQUIREMENTS, UH, OR THE MODIFIED CUT AND FILL THAT'S BEING PROPOSED WITH THE PROJECT GO UP TO 14 FEET.
NOW I'M GONNA SHOW YOU IN JUST A SECOND, UM, THE CONTOURS OF THE EXISTING PROJECT AND THERE WAS QUITE A LOT OF LAND USE, CHANGE AND FILL THAT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE PROJECT TO MODIFY THE CONTOUR OF THE PROPERTY TO MAKE IT EASIER TO ACCESS ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS.
SO THE COTTON FILL THAT'S BEING PROPOSED WITH THIS PROJECT AS SHOWN IN EXHIBIT G, IS, UM, ATTEMPTING TO KIND OF RESTORE SOME OF THE NATURAL GRADE OF THE LAND, WHICH IS QUITE STEEP.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A CODE MODIFICATION BEING REQUESTED FOR 25 8 2 81 AS IT RELATES TO PROTECTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES FOR BOTH THE CAVE AND THE SEEP THAT IS IN THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY.
AND WE'LL LOOK AT THAT IN EXHIBIT F.
AND THEN LAST, WE'RE NOT GONNA JUST TALK ABOUT THIS AT THIS PART OF THE PRESENTATION CUZ IT'S GOT ITS OWN PRESENTATION, IS THE SOS ORDINANCE SITE SPECIFIC CODE AMENDMENT.
SO WE'RE GONNA SAVE THAT TILL THE VERY END IN ITS OWN PRESENTATION.
UM, SO THIS IS, UH, A MAP OF THE CONTOURS OF THE PROJECT, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SEE HOW THE CONTOUR LINES HAVE NOT BEEN ERASED FROM THE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES.
THEY HAVE JUST BEEN MODIFIED SO MUCH SO THAT THE PROPERTY WHICH IS INDICATED IN PINK ON THIS MAP IS REALLY QUITE FLAT.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU LOOK NORTH OF THE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT STEEP SLOPE.
AND WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE NATURAL GRADE OF THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN MODIFIED QUITE A LOT.
SO THE CUT AND FILL ASSOCIATED WITH THE NORTHERN BO UH, THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE PROPERTY IS, UM, MODIFYING THE, THE EDGE, THAT ADJACENT EDGE THAT, UH, TOUCHES THE GREEN BELT SUCH THAT IT WILL, UH, RESTORE SOME OF THE NATURAL GRADE.
THERE'S CURRENTLY A VERY, VERY LARGE RETAINING WALL ALONG THAT NORTHERN BORDER, WHICH WILL BE REMOVED AS A PART OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT.
UM, THIS IS THE EXHIBIT G THAT I WAS MENTIONING AND THE GRADING PLAN THAT YOU CAN SEE WHERE THERE IS, UM, THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE, THE CUT FILL, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO, TO THAT, UM, NORTHERN EDGE.
SO THIS IS THE, UM, EXHIBIT THAT KIND OF DEMONSTRATES HOW THE 25 8 2 81, THE MODIFICATION TO THE CF SETBACK IS BEING PROPOSED ON THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE PROJECT.
THE SEEP THAT'S MARKED AS S ONE IS HAVING ITS BOUNDARY MODIFIED SUCH THAT IT IS EXPANDING AND KIND OF, UH, CREATING MORE PROTECTED BUFFER SPACE, CONNECTING S ONE, THE SEEP WITH THE SPRING S TWO AND THE WETLAND, UH, THAT AREA THAT IS IDENTIFIED IN RED IS ALSO A PART OF THE TO BE RESTORED VEGETATED SECTION OF PARKLAND, DEDICATED PARKLAND AND OPEN SPACE.
SO THAT SETBACK IS BEING MODIFIED AS PROPOSED IN THE, IN THE PROJECT.
ADDITIONALLY, THE AIRMAN'S CAVE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THIS, IN THIS, UH, PLAN VIEW, IS THAT, THAT THE CAVE IS VERY FAR UNDERGROUND AND THE PROPOSED IMPACT AND ENCROACHMENT ON THAT SETBACK IS UP TO 80 FEET, BUT WITH CONDITIONS.
AND ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S PROTECTIVE FENCES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TO PROTECT THE, THE EXISTING CFS.
SO THE NEXT EXHIBIT IS ACTUALLY A PROFILE VIEW.
THAT SHOWS WHAT THE GEOLOGICAL PROFILE LOOKS LIKE FOR THE CAVE UNDER THE, UNDER THE PROPERTY.
AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE EACH ONE OF THESE LAYERS REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT KIND OF PROTECTIVE CAPACITY FOR THE CAVE FEATURE ITSELF.
AND SPECIFICALLY THE DEL RIO CLAY LAYER IS A VERY THICK AND PROTECTIVE LAYER THAT BASED ON THE INPUT FROM NICO HOWARD, A GEOLOGIST WITH AUSTIN WATER AND, UH, ERIC BROWN GEOLOGIST WITH A WATERSHED PROTECTION, A UH, 20 FOOT LAYER OF DEL RIO CLAY WILL REMAIN INTACT EVEN TO ANY POINT WHERE THE, LIKE IT CANNOT EXCEED THAT 20 FOOT BUFFER.
THAT WOULD BE THE DEL RIO CLAY PROTECTING THE CAVE FEATURE UNDERNEATH IT.
AND IN THE EXCAVATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, ANY TRENCHING OR EXCAVATION OF THE, OF THE LAND OF UP TO FIVE FEET IS WILL REQUIRE THE, UH, THE REVIEW OF A, A PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST.
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SO LOTS OF THE GEOLOGISTS ARE GETTING INVOLVED WITH THIS ONE.SO A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS AREA, AND I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH, IS THE WATER QUALITY ASPECT OF IT.
YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS PROJECT IS IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE AND IS CURRENTLY NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE REDUCTION AND POLLUTANT LOADING THE NON DEGRADATION REQUIREMENT WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS, UH, ORDINANCE.
AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PROJECT IS A, AS A SYSTEM THAT IS A TWO-PART SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES BOTH THE COLLECTION OF SURFACE WATER, UM, STORM WATER ON SITE, TH THAT COMES FROM IMPERVIOUS COVER AND THEN IS COLLECTED IN UNDERGROUND PONDS AND IS RETAINED THERE AND THEN IS USED IN RE IRRIGATION OF AREAS WITHIN THE OPEN SPACE AREA.
SO IN THAT RE IRRIGATION, THE WATER THAT HAS BEEN RETAINED AND COLLECTED FROM IMPERVIOUS COVER, IT THEN INFILTRATES THROUGH THE SOIL AND IS TREATED AND THE POLLUTANT LOAD IS REDUCED THROUGH THAT SYSTEM SUCH THAT IT PULLS THAT WATER OUT AND IT DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE, UM, TO THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AND THE BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT.
ADDITIONALLY, ALL OF THE, THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE PROPOSED ON THE PROPERTY WILL HAVE SYSTEMS THAT WILL ALLOW ALL OF THE RAINWATER TO BE COLLECTED IN A VERY LARGE, UM, RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM.
AND THAT WATER WILL THEN BE REUSED IN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND REUSED AS THE COOLING WATER, UM, AS THE COOLING TOWER MAKEUP WATER TO OFFSET POTABLE WATER DEMANDS.
UM, SO BOTH OF THESE SYSTEMS WILL BE WORKING IN TANDEM DURING ANY RAIN EVENT, ALLOWING FOR THIS PROJECT TO BE PROPOSED AS IT IS AND TO STILL MEET THE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOS ORDINANCE.
ADDITIONALLY, AS A PART OF THIS WATER QUALITY, UH, TREATMENT, THERE IS, UM, INFILTRATION TESTING AND SOIL TESTING THAT WILL ALLOW FOR ANY OF THE, THE CONDITIONS OF THE SOIL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE WATER QUALITY TREATMENT THAT, THAT THEY PROVIDE IN THE RE IRRIGATION PART OF THE, UH, THE WATER QUALITY FEATURES THAT ARE IN THE OPEN SPACE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIORITY OF THE PROJECT.
SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH THE PROJECT IS EXCEEDING, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND PROVIDING A SUPERIOR DEVELOPMENT THAN OTHERWISE WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED BY CODE.
AND ONE OF THOSE IS, IS CLUSTERING IMPERVIOUS COVER 75 TO 250 FEET AWAY FROM THE BARTON CREEK GREEN BELTS.
THE APPLICANT WILL BE GIVING A, A PRESENTATION LATER, WHICH WILL GO A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO SOME OF THE DESIGN IDEAS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPEN SPACE AND THE PARKLAND.
UM, BUT THAT BUFFER IS, UH, MEANT TO BE CLUSTERED AND, AND PROVIDE, UM, A PROTECTIVE BUFFER BETWEEN THE GREEN BELT AND WHAT IS NOW IN PERVIOUS COVER AND PROVIDE A, UH, A TRANSITION AREA FROM THE, THE MORE HEAVILY DEVELOPED AREA ALONG THE ROAD FRONTAGES INTO THE NATURAL AREA.
ADDITIONALLY PRO THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE RESTORING TWO OF THE ACRES TO, UH, NATIVE VEGETATION WITH NATIVE PLANTS.
UH, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE WATER QUALITY CONTROLS WILL BE GREEN STORM WATER INF UH, GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE RAIN WATER HARVESTING FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION, IF NOT LESS THAN 50% OF THE LANDSCAPE AREA.
THE PROJECT PROVIDES SUPERIOR TREE PROTECTIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF HERITAGE TREES, PROTECTED TREES AND NATIVE TREES.
THE PROJECT EXCEEDS LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDES SUPERIOR OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND DEDICATION, AND WILL COMPLY WITH AT A MINIMUM THE AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING THREE STAR RATING.
SO I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE, THE PROJECT DID RECEIVE A UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE PARKS BOARD, UM, WHEN SHOWN WHEN, UH, PRESENTED AT THE MOST RECENT PARKS BOARD MEETING.
SO SOME ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF DISCUSSED, BUT IS THE REDUCTION OF IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM 84% TO 56%, WHICH IS A 36% DECREASE IN IMPERVIOUS COVER IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE.
UM, THE RAIN WATER WILL BE USED TO OFFSET POTABLE WATER DEMANDS FOR IRRIGATION, UM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, THE REMOVAL OF THE LARGE RETAINING WALLS FROM THE GREEN BELT EDGE WILL RESTORE THE NATURAL GRADE IN AREAS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE SENSITIVE AREAS OF THEIR GREEN BELTS.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT IS COMMITTING TO COMPLY AND GET CERTIFICATION FOR LEAD NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL SITE CERTIFICATION.
SO I WANNA GO INTO JUST REALLY QUICKLY WHAT THE OPEN SPACE EXHIBIT LOOKS LIKE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE AREA THAT IS, IS HIGHLIGHTED THE AREA IN YELLOW AND THE AREA
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THAT'S HATCHED WITH THE DIAGONAL LINES, THAT IS THE AREA THAT IS GOING TO HAVE THE TRAILS AND THE, THE SPACES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TO BE RESTORED TO NATIVE VEGETATION WILL PROVIDE A, A PASSIVE RECREATIONAL, UH, IMPROVEMENT TO THE PEOPLE THAT GET TO USE THAT.AND THERE'S ALSO A TRAILHEAD, UM, THAT IS BEING PROPOSED THAT WILL, UH, ALLOW FOLKS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE GREEN BELTS.
AND THEN I WANTED TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME TALKING ABOUT THE THREE STAR RATING.
SO IN 2022, UH, IN SEPTEMBER, THE UH, AUSTIN, UH, UH, GREEN BUILDING, UH, COMMERCIAL GUIDELINES CHANGED.
SO IN SEPTEMBER, THOSE REQUIREMENTS WERE, UM, MADE MORE STRICT, INCLUDING MORE BICYCLE PARKING AND SUPPORTING FACILITIES, SHOWERS AND WHATNOT.
UH, ELECTRIC CHARGING VE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS, IMPROVEMENTS IN ENERGY PERFORMANCE AND ADDITIONALLY DUAL PLUMBING TO REDUCE POTABLE DEMAND.
SO A LOT OF NEW RESTRICTIONS WERE, UM, ADOPTED AS MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR GREEN BUILDING RATING.
AND YOU CAN SEE ALONG THE RIGHT HAND SIDE SOME OF THE KIND OF CATEGORIES THAT GET USED FOR RATING, INCLUDING ENERGY, WATER, INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MATERIALS OR RESOURCES, ET CETERA.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE, UM, CATEGORIES OF MEASUREMENT.
AND FOR A THREE STAR RATING, IT REQUIRES 45 TO 54 POINTS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT TRAJECTORIES THAT A DEVELOPMENT CAN TAKE TO GET THAT RATING.
UM, SO THIS PROJECT WILL BE SUBJECT TO WHATEVER THE RATINGS ARE AT THE TIME IT SUBMITS AT SITE PLAN.
SO IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, MAYBE MORE STRICT, MAYBE MORE BIKE PARKING, I DON'T KNOW.
OKAY, SO FOR THIS SECTION THERE'S TWO, I HAVE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY ACTUALLY LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME, BUT FOR THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS IT RELATES TO THE APPROVAL OF THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, THESE ARE THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
REDUCTION, REDUCING A PERVIOUS COVER FROM 84 TO 56%.
CLUSTERING IMPERVIOUS COVERS 75 TO 250 FEET AWAY FROM THE BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT, RESTORING TWO ACRES OF THE TRACT TO NATIVE VEGETATION, PROVIDING A HUNDRED PERCENT GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WATER QUALITY CONTROLS.
THAT MEAN THAT MEAT SOS NONDEGRADATION POLLUTANT REMOVAL PROVIDE RAINWATER HARVESTING FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION OF NOT LESS THAN 50% OF THE LANDSCAPED AREA, PROVIDE SUPERIOR TREE PROTECTIONS, EXCEED LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS, COMPLY WITH AUSTIN GREEN, BUILDING THREE STAR RATING, PROVIDE SUPERIOR OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND DEDICATION, LEAD NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION, AND US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL SITE CERTIFICATION.
OKAY, SO THERE'S THIS WHOLE OTHER PART OF THE PROJECT, AND IT'S THE SOS SITE SPECIFIC AMENDMENT.
WHEN I WAS MENTIONING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CODE MODIFICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT, I MENTIONED THIS ONE SPECIFIC PROCESS THAT IS UNIQUE TO THE BARTON SPRING ZONE, AND IT IS THE SOS SITE SPECIFIC AMENDMENT THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS POD.
SO WHAT A SITE SPECIFIC AMENDMENT IS AS IT RELATES TO SOS IS FIRST OF ALL IT'S SITE SPECIFIC.
IT HAS ONLY TO DO WITH THIS PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS ONLY AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
AND IT IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY A CITIZEN INITIATIVE IN 1992 TO PREVENT THE POLLUTION OF THE, UH, BARTON SPRINGS, UH, BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT AND THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AND VARIANCES TO SOS.
UNLIKE A LOT OF THE OTHER LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT WE TALK ABOUT ARE NOT ALLOWED, AND THE MODIFICATIONS THAT, UM, ARE DEVELOPED IN PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE PROVIDED ARE NOT, UH, ABLE TO AMEND SOS THE SOS ORDINANCE IN THIS FASHION.
SO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT REQUIRES A SEPARATE, UH, SITE SPECIFIC AMENDMENT.
UM, THERE IS ANOTHER, UM, WAY IN WHICH TO REDEVELOP IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE.
AND THE BARTON SPRINGS EXCEPTION IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE WAS DEEMED NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
AND THE SOS SITE SPECIFIC AMENDMENT, IT REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY OF COUNSEL.
SO THE BAR FOR APPROVAL AND THE BAR FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS VERY, VERY HIGH BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY APPLIES TO THIS, BUT IT APPLIES TO THE PUT.
SINCE BOTH OF THEM ARE TIED TOGETHER, YOU CAN'T REALLY HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
SO I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THAT IT ONLY APPLIES, ONLY APPLIES TO THE BRODY OAKS REDEVELOPMENT POD PROJECT.
AND THIS SPECIFIC SITE, SPECIFIC AMENDMENT WAS INITIATED ON OCTOBER 13TH
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IN A COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 76.AND IT DEALS WITH VARYING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS AS DESCRIBED IN THIS POD.
NOW, IN THE LAST DECADE OR SO, THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN A VERY SMALL HANDFUL OF SOS SITE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS, BUT THEY HAVE DEALT WITH THE IMPER COVER LIMITS.
ONE WAS IN BARTON SPRING, I MEAN IN ZILKER PARK, ANOTHER ONE, DOBIN DRIVE.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE ALSO IN BRODY, I MEAN, UM, OFF OF LAMAR.
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE IN GARZA RANCH.
ALL VERY SIMILAR KIND OF SITE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS.
AND HOW THE, THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT IS, UH, BEING PROPOSED IN THIS PROJECT DEALS WITH THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS AS THEY RELATE TO THE RECHARGE ZONE AND THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
SO FOR THIS PROJECT AND FOR ANY PROPERTIES THAT ARE WITHIN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE AND IN THE RECHARGE ZONE, THEY ARE LIMITED TO 15% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE, THEY'RE LIMITED TO 20%, AND IF THEY'RE NOT IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER ZONE, THEY ARE LIMITED TO 25%, BUT THAT IS, THAT CONDITION IS NOT HERE.
SO THE OTHER PART OF THE SOS POLLUTION PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS IS THE WATER QUALITY CONTROLS REQUIRED TO TREAT THE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THE RUNOFF TO MEET UNDEVELOPED CONDITIONS.
UM, AND SPECIFICALLY THE, THE, THE AMENDMENT BEING PROPOSED WITH THIS PUD ONLY RELATES TO THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS.
SO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SHALL BE MODIFIED TO ALLOW A MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR THE SITE OF 56% NET SITE AREA.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MODIFICATIONS BEING PROPOSED WITH A PROJECT.
BUT THE OTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY RELATED, UH, CODE MODIFICATIONS ARE MODIFICATIONS TO 25,000 8, 341 AND 3 42, THE CUT AND FILL REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN THE MODIFICATION TO 25 8 2 81, THE PROJECTION FOR CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.
SO THIS IS, UH, JUST A REITERATION OF THE LAND USE PLAN, THE LAND, UH, LAND USE TYPE ONE AND LAND USE TYPE TWO.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS ON IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR THESE TWO TYPES.
SO AS I MENTIONED, THE IMPERVIOUS COVER IS BEING, UH, CLUSTERED AWAY FROM THE BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT AND AWAY FROM THE, UH, PARKLAND THAT IS BEING DEDICATED IN THE OPEN SPACE THAT'S BEING RE-VEGETATED AND BEING CLUSTERED MAINLY IN THE, UM, LAND USE AREA TOO THAT EXISTS AS A FRONTAGE, THE FRONTAGE AREA ALONG LAMAR AND 360.
AND THEN AGAIN, TO REITERATE THAT THE PROJECT IS BRINGING THE WATER QUALITY, UH, TREATMENT OF THE PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE WITH, UM, THE SOS ORDINANCE THROUGH THESE TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF SUBGRADE PONDS THAT COLLECT, UH, SITE WATER THAT DRAINS FROM IMPERVIOUS COVER AND THEN ALSO COLLECTING ALL OF THE RAIN WATER OFF OF ALL OF THE ROOFTOPS OF THE BUILDINGS ON THE PROJECT.
AND WE COME TO THE EXACT SAME SLIDE BECAUSE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE POD ARE THESE SAME AS THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SITE SPECIFIC SOS AMENDMENT, WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, REDUCING IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM 84 TO 56% NET SITE AREA CLUSTERING IMPERVIOUS COVER 75 TO 250 FEET AWAY FROM THE BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT, RESTORING TWO ACRES OF, UH, TO OF THE TRACT TO NATIVE VEGETATION, PROVIDING A HUNDRED PERCENT GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WATER QUALITY CONTROLS, PROVIDING RAINWATER HARVESTING FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION OF NOT LESS THAN 50% OF THE LANDSCAPE AREA, PROVIDING SUPERIOR TREE PROTECTIONS, EXCEEDING LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS, COMPLYING WITH AUSTIN WATER, AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING THREE STAR RATING, PROVIDE SUPERIOR OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND DEDICATION AND LEAD NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION AND US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL SITE CERTIFICATION.
OKAY, SO I'M GONNA JUST SAY YES QUESTIONS.
OF COURSE, THE APPLICANT ALSO HAS A QUICK PRESENTATION, PROBABLY DEFINITELY QUICKER THAN MINE, MUCH PRETTIER PICTURES.
UM, SO THEY CAN GIVE A PRESENTATION.
AND I AM AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
UM, YEAH, APPLICANT, IF YOU GUYS ARE READY, UM, IF YOU COULD TEE UP THEIR PRESENTATION, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UH, I'M WITH THE BAR SHOP IN OS COMPANY.
UH, WE ARE THE OWNERS OF BRO OAK SHOPPING CENTER AND
[00:30:01]
THE APPLICANT THIS EVENING, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE GOT HERE.UH, AND THEN WE'LL GIVE YOU A, A ANOTHER PRESENTATION ABOUT BRODY OAKS.
UH, BARHOP AND OS UH, IS AUSTIN BASED LOCAL COMPANY THAT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
UH, WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE DONE A LOT OF BUSINESS WITH OUR FRIENDS AT HEB.
SO YOU MAY KNOW SOME OF OUR WORK FROM THE ORIGINAL CENTRAL MARKET THAT WE DID ON NORTH LAMAR MANY YEARS AGO.
UH, IT TOO IS A MIXED USE PROJECT THAT INCLUDES THE HEART HOSPITAL, THE RESIDENTIAL, AND ALL THE PARKS AND PONDS THAT ARE PART OF THAT, UH, BAR SHOP.
AND OS HAS OWNED BRODY OAKS SINCE 2008.
UH, AND FROM, FROM THE TIME WE'VE OWNED IT, WE'VE KNOWN THAT A REDEVELOPMENT, UM, SHOULD HAPPEN.
IF YOU VISITED BRODY OAKS, I THINK YOU CAN REALIZE THAT YOURSELF.
UH, WE DIDN'T ACQUIRE ALL OF THE PROPERTY IN 2008 UNTIL 2018 WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE OLD TOYS US BUILDING AND PARKING LOT.
UH, AND AT THAT TIME IS WHEN WE DECIDED TO REALLY LOOK STRONGLY AT A REDEVELOPMENT, UH, AND PUT TOGETHER THE TEAM TO DO IT.
UH, SO WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR, YOU KNOW, WELL OVER THREE YEARS.
MANY OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS ARE HERE TONIGHT.
UH, DAVID ARMREST WITH ARMREST AND BROWN, OUR LEGAL ADVISOR, UH, REBECCA LEONARD, AND A ABBY GLIN WITH LIONHEART PLACES, OUR LEAD PLANNER, UH, JOEL ONGARO, OUR CIVIL ENGINEER, BOB ARAN, OUR TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER, MICHAEL AND BISI, WHO'S BEEN OUR ARBORIST.
UH, AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO REBECCA LEONARD, UH, TO DO THE PRESENTATION.
OH, AS MILO SAID, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR THREE YEARS.
IT'S BEEN IN, UH, THE PUD PROCESS HERE FOR A COUPLE YEARS, UH, GOING ON A COUPLE YEARS, AND SO WE'RE REALLY GLAD TO BE HERE.
THIS IS A BIG PROJECT, REALLY BIG PROJECT IT'S GONNA TAKE, UM, MOST OF THE TIME THE VERY FIRST QUESTION WE GET IS WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME FOR THIS? UH, EVEN, UH, WE'VE BEEN TO THE PARKS BOARD AND WE'VE BEEN TO CODES AND ORDINANCES COMMITTEE.
UH, WE GOT UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FROM BOTH OF THOSE RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL FROM BOTH OF THEM.
UH, WE HOPE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE REST OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND COUNCIL, UH, LATE THIS YEAR, MAYBE DIPPING INTO NEXT YEAR A LITTLE BIT.
BUT EVEN THEN, WE, WE SIMPLY JUST MOVE INTO A DESIGN PHASE OF PHASE ONE.
UH, WE DON'T, UH, AN ANTICIPATE, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY BEING ABLE TO LIVE ON THE SITE TILL PROBABLY ABOUT 20, 27.
SO IT'S A VERY LONG PROJECT, AND IT'LL TAKE TIME TO UNFOLD.
SO, THE TEAM THAT, THAT MYLO MENTIONED, UH, IS A BIG ONE.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE CAME TOGETHER TO DO, UH, WAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GONNA WORK ON THIS PROJECT.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE SAID WAS TRANSPARENCY.
THAT'S GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS, THAT WE ENGAGE THE, UM, NEIGHBORS, WE ENGAGE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF THE GREEN BELT FOR YEARS.
UH, AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE HAD OVER A HUNDRED HOURS WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, 20, UH, PLUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE MET WITH.
UH, WE'VE MET WITH SEVERAL OF YOU OUT ON SITE AS WELL.
UH, WE, IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A WEBSITE THAT HAS A LOT OF DETAILED INFORMATION, HOPING TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.
AND WE ALSO, UH, YOU MAY RECALL IN APRIL, I THINK IT WAS THIS YEAR, PUT A COUPLE CRANES UP ON SITE SO THAT EVERYBODY COULD KIND OF SEE THE SCALE OF THE PROJECT THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
SO, JUST A COUPLE IMAGES OF WHAT THE SITE LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
UH, I THINK Y'ALL, UH, KNOW THAT THIS SITE WAS DEVELOPED, YOU KNOW, WAY BEFORE THE SOS ORDINANCE, BEFORE THE REDEVELOPMENT EXCEPTION, BEFORE THE HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY ORDINANCE BEFORE IMAGINE AUSTIN.
UM, AND BEFORE ALL THE INVESTMENTS THE VOTERS HAVE, UH, APPROVED FOR MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA OF THE CITY.
SO IT, IT'S NOT AN ALIGNMENT WITH THE VISION OF THE FUTURE, UH, THAT THE CITY HAS TODAY.
AND SO, UH, WE, WE'VE KNOWN THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, AND THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
BUT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID, IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, IS REALLY THINK ABOUT, WELL, WHAT ARE THE ASSETS OF THE SITE? AND THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT THIS SITE, UH, PARTICULARLY SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL TREES.
THIS ONE ON THE LEFT HERE IS ONE THAT WAS MOST LIKELY THERE WAY BEFORE, UH, THE SHOPPING CENTER WAS, BUT THERE ARE EVEN SOME REALLY HARDY LITTLE TREES THAT WERE PLANTED IN 1982, UH, THAT ARE NOW, UH, UH, PROTECTED TREES AS WELL.
AND THEY'RE LOVELY GROVES OF TREES, BUT THE MOST SPECTACULAR ASSET OF THIS ENTIRE SITE IS THE VIEW.
AND RIGHT NOW, THE PEOPLE THAT GET TO VIEW THAT ARE THE ONES ON THE LOADING DOCKS OF TOYS R US AND, UM, A HOBBY LOBBY.
SO WE REALLY THINK THESE ASSETS ARE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD WANT TO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO AND, AND HAVE A MORE ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE WITH.
I THINK WE'RE ALSO AWARE THAT THERE'S A FEW LIABILITIES, A FEW NEGATIVES ABOUT THE SITE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY IS THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER THERE.
BEFORE, UM, MILO IS ABLE TO OBTAIN
[00:35:01]
A LITTLE CHUNK OF RIGHT AWAY, IT WAS CLOSER TO 90% IMPERVIOUS COVER.I MEAN, THIS THING WAS REALLY COVERED, CAPPED, LIKE FROM WALL TO WALL PRETTY MUCH, UH, BACK IN THE 1980S.
SO ONE OF THE HOPES, UH, WE'VE HAD SINCE THE BEGINNING IS TO, TO BREAK DOWN SOME OF THAT, THAT IMPERVIOUS COVER, PEEL IT AWAY, GET RID OF THE WALL THAT SEPARATES THE GREEN BELT FROM, UH, THE COMMUNITY, AND REALLY MAKE THIS, UH, A MORE SEAMLESS CONNECTION TO THE GREEN BELT.
UH, LESLIE COVERED THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN, WHICH IS, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR TEAM'S CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
BUT ONE OF THE, THE THINGS THAT, THAT, THE OTHER THING THAT WASN'T MENTIONED IN THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN IS THAT THIS IS ALSO ON A HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT CORRIDOR.
IT'S ON OUR CITY'S SECOND BEST TRANSIT LINE.
AND SO WE, UH, THE, THE PLAN REALLY TALKS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE MAKE GOOD ON THOSE INVESTMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION.
SO THAT'S BEEN KIND OF A DRIVING FORCE FOR US AS WELL.
WE WAS THE, UM, THE COMMITMENT TO, UH, REALLY THE HIGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS FOR THE SITE.
WE KNEW WE WOULD BE DEAD IN THE WATER IF WE DIDN'T.
AND BECAUSE SO MANY OF US ON THE TEAM WERE LOCALS, WE REALLY CARED, UH, THAT WE ACHIEVED THAT.
UH, AND BALANCING THAT WITH CREATING A GREAT PLACE, THIS PLACE WAS, YOU KNOW, THE COMMERCIAL HUB OF THIS CORNER OF THE CITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND, UH, IT'S KIND OF DEGRADED A LITTLE FROM THAT, AND WE REALLY HOPE TO MAKE THIS A BIG PART OF THE GATHERING SPACE OF SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
SO SOME OF THE KEY STRATEGIES, YOU KNOW, ARE RELATING TO, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL.
LESLIE'S GONE OVER MOST OF THESE VERY, VERY WELL, YOU KNOW, REDUCING IMPERVIOUS COVER, MEETING THE SOS ORDINANCE, INCREASING THE OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND, PRESERVING AND TRANSPLANTING, UH, TREES ON THE SITE, UM, AND CAPTURING AND REUSING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF, UH, THE, THE ROOFTOP, UH, WATER THAT FALLS ON THE SITE, AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS LIKE, UH, REDUCING RELIANCE ON THE SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLE, BUT ALSO, UH, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INTEGRATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SITE AS OPPOSED TO FUNDING IT INTO A BANK THAT MAY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO AS A RESULT, UM, THE, UH, IT RESULTED IN A MIX OF USE.
APPROXIMATELY HALF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS RESIDENTIAL, HALF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS COMMERCIAL.
THERE'S, WE'VE, UH, FOCUSED THE RETAIL AROUND A CENTRAL GREEN SPACE SO THAT IT'LL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL, UM, IN TODAY'S DESIRES, UH, FOR RETAIL.
UH, WE'VE ALSO FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY, 200, APPROXIMATE 200 UNITS OF 30 TO 60% AMI UH, AFFORDABILITY.
WE ALSO ARE COMMITTING TO 25% OF SPACE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES ON SITE, AND 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF ARTIST SPACE AT A REDUCED RENT.
SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON MAKING THIS A PLACE THAT IS OF SOUTH AUSTIN.
SO I'LL JUST END ON A COUPLE, UH, RENDERINGS.
UH, THIS IS A IMAGE OF WHAT THE CENTRAL GREEN SPACE IS ENVISIONED TO LOOK LIKE.
IT WILL BE THE GATHERING PLACE FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE HOPE FOR THE ENTIRE SOUTHWEST AUSTIN, UH, A QUADRANT OF OUR CITY.
IT'S SIZED ROUGHLY AROUND THE SAME SIZE AS REPUBLIC SQUARE AND BRUSHY SQUARE AND, AND OUR BELOVED PLAZAS DOWNTOWN.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT IT WORKS FROM AN URBAN STANDPOINT TO REALLY BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
UH, THIS IS A VIEW FROM OVER THE GREEN BELT, UH, INTO THE SITE.
AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS THAT WE'VE TRIED TO C UH, CLUSTER THE DENSITY FARTHEST AWAY FROM THE GREEN BELT AND WORK OUR WAY DOWN AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE GREEN BELT.
AND AS LESLIE MENTIONED, WE HAVE BUFFERED THE GREEN BELT, 75 TO 250 FEET, UH, IN, IN AREA IN THE WHOLE WAY AROUND IT.
UH, YOU CAN ALSO SEE FROM THIS IMAGE THAT THE WALL AT THE BACK OF THE SITE HAS COME DOWN AND WE'RE RESTORING THE GRADES, WE'RE RESTORING THE, THE VEGETATION, UH, AND REALLY BLENDING IT MORE INTO THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS AN IMAGE OF THE INTERNAL, UH, STREET.
WE'VE GOT SPACE, ADEQUATE SPACE.
WE'VE REALLY WORKED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ATD TO KEEP THE ROADS, UH, NARROW SO THAT, UH, WE'RE DEDICATING MORE SPACE TO BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS, UH, MAKING A REALLY FANTASTIC, UH, RETAIL ENVIRONMENT, ACTIVE AND VIBRANT.
ALSO, UH, MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE BY MULTIPLE MODES.
THIS IS A VIEW FROM SOUTH LAMAR AND OUR OTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TRANSIT.
UH, WE ARE, UH, COMMITTING TO, UH, A CAT METRO, UH, STOP RIGHT ON, UH, THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY AND DIRECT CONNECTIVITY INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AT ALL OF THE EDGES OF THE BLOCKS, BUT ALSO THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF A BLOCK, UH, AS WELL.
[00:40:01]
THE CORRIDOR PROGRAM, UM, IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR SOUTH LAMAR, BUT THEY STOP NORTH OF OUR SITE.WE'RE TAKING THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE CORNER.
AND WE'LL GO INTO ANY DETAILS THAT YOU HAVE FOR QUESTIONS LATER.
UM, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THESE AND, UH, SINCE WE HAVE TWO AGENDA ITEMS, UH, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU GUYS SIX MINUTES, OR THREE PLUS THREE IS SIX.
UM, BUT IF YOU'VE BEEN PRACTICING FOR, FOR THREE MINUTES, WE WOULD APPRECIATE, UH, YOU KNOW, DON'T USE ALL SIX JUST CUZ YOU HAVE 'EM, UH, KIND OF THING.
BUT, UM, WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE AND THEN, UH, OPEN IT UP FOR, FOR Q AND A FROM THE COMMISSION.
GENE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND, UH, YOU GO, GO FROM THERE.
UM, MY NAME IS GENE WILKINS AND I LIVE IN BARTON VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WILL BE SOUTHWEST OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I ATTENDED VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH THE DEVELOPER AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR BARTON VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I OPPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT AS PROPOSED.
THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT.
I THINK IT COULD GO FARTHER, EVEN AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, GIVING IMPERVIOUS CO OR, YOU KNOW, PERVIOUS COVER.
THE HEIGHT AND DENSITY WILL LEAD TO A DOWNTOWN LIKE HALO EFFECT OF LIGHT POLLUTION, WHICH I BROUGHT UP EVERY MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH THE DEVELOPER.
UM, AS A CITY, I THINK WE SHOULD PUSH FORWARD WITH INITIATIVES FOR LIGHTING STANDARDS TO DECREASE THE IMPACT OF LIGHT POLLUTION.
UH, THE TALLEST BUILDING AT 2 75 IS PROPOSED AS A HOTEL AND WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INTERNAL LIGHT SOURCE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE DOING THINGS THAT WILL HAVE THE LIGHTS POINTING DOWN ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTERNAL LIGHT SOURCE.
IT IS TOO TALL AND HAS TOO MUCH DENSITY FOR SOUTH AUSTIN BY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.
UH, THE HEIGHT AND LIGHT POSES A THREAT TO OUR BIRD POPULATION, WHICH IS SOMETHING IS NEAR AND DEAR TO ME AND MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS.
THIS DEVELOPMENT IN ALL CASES SHOULD BE A BIRD FRIENDLY BUILD.
UM, MY NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE A BIG CONCERN AS TO WHAT IS ALLOWED ON THIS SITE AND OTHER SHOPPING CENTERS THAT SURROUND IT BECAUSE I MEAN, THEY'RE ALL OLD EIGHTIES SHOPPING CENTERS, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO GO, THEY NEED TO BE REDEVELOPED.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD STAND UP AND ARGUE THAT THAT'S BETTER.
UM, BUT AS FAR AS THE DENSITY AND THE HEIGHT AND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CANYON EFFECT THAT'S GONNA OCCUR WHEN YOU HAVE ONE TO THE LEFT AND ONE TO THE RIGHT AND THEN CENTRAL MARKET AND YOU KNOW IT, IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER DOWNTOWN.
UM, THIS PROPERTY SITE, HOWEVER, IS VERY UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS BEING BUILT OVER AIRMAN'S CAVE.
I'M STILL HAVING TROUBLE WRAPPING MY MIND AROUND THAT ONE WITH THE, THE DENSITY AND THE EXCAVATION AND, AND WHAT'S GONNA HAVE TO OCCUR TO PULL THAT BUILD OFF.
UM, CAN IT WITHSTAND THE EXCAVATION AND THE WEIGHT AND THE DENSITY OF THE PROJECT? UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THAT, THAT CRACK THAT RUNS DOWN AIRMAN'S CA.
I'M NOT A GEOLOGIST, UH, BUT I MEAN, TO ME IT JUST SEEMS TOO, TOO SENSITIVE.
YOU COMING? ALL RIGHT, MRS. MARTIN, ARE YOU READY? GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.
MY NAME'S INGRID MORTON AND I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE BARTON VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT IS AIRMAN'S CAVE.
UM, I HAVE SPENT SOME TIME WITH BILL RUSSELL BACK WAY BACK WHEN, AND HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY VENTURED INTO THE CAVE.
AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF AREAS OF THE CAVE HAVE BEEN UNEXPLORED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ACCESSIBLE.
SO I, AND I KNOW THAT IN CERTAIN AREAS THE CEILING OF THE CAVE IS ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET, A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED TO, TO 140 FEET, BUT IT STARTS AT A HUNDRED.
[00:45:01]
AND WITH THE HEIGHT OF A 275 FOOT BUILDING, LIKE HOW DEEP ARE THEY GONNA HAVE TO EXCAVATE THE GROUND? AND SINCE THERE IS ALREADY A MAJOR CRACK THAT GOES THROUGH THE WHOLE CAVE SYSTEM, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL IMPACT OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM.AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE ALL IT GO LEADS TO AND HOW CLOSE IT IS TO THE SURFACE.
SO, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, HABITAT, THE ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT ARE IN THE CAVE, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT COULD BE DESTROYED AND THAT, THAT IS MY BIG CONCERN.
I WOULD LIKE MORE, UM, RESEARCH DONE ON THE ACTUAL DEPTH THAT WILL HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, HOW HOW FAR DO THEY HAVE TO DIG TO SUSTAIN THE WEIGHT OF A BUILDING, THE HEIGHT OF 275 FEET.
SO I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE MORE RESEARCH DONE ON THAT.
HOW DO Y'ALL, MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY.
I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
AND I AM HAPPY AND SIERRA CLUB IS HAPPY THAT THERE IS A MAJOR REDUCTION IN THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THIS SITE TO 56%, BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T MEET SOS REQUIREMENT.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THE DEVELOPER WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO BUY MITIGATION LAND TO HELP BRING IT DOWN TO A TOTAL OF 15% NET FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND WE DID SUPPORT THE, UH, THE WATER QUALITY, UH, AT THE PARKS, UH, MEETING.
AND, AND APPRECIATE THAT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE APP UH, WE APPROVE OF EVERYTHING AT THIS, UH, PROJECT.
UM, FOR ONE THING, IF AT ANY TIME DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OR DECONSTRUCTION THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL UNKNOWN VOID DISCOVERED THAT THE PROJECT SHUT DOWN, THAT WE STOP AND DO A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ENDANGERING ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THE ACTUAL PROJECT ITSELF.
UM, ALSO THE BUILDING HEIGHTS, WE DIDN'T DISCUSS THAT AT PARKS, BUT THAT IS, UH, THAT HAS A LOT OF NEGATIVE ENVIRON EMBEDDED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON THE MATERIALS THAT GO IN.
UH, BEING AN OLD CONSTRUCTION MANAGER MYSELF, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO TURN A PRO A PROFIT FOR YOUR PROJECT, BUT I THINK THAT CAN BE DONE ALSO AS AN OLD, UH, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER DURING THE DECONSTRUCTION AND REMOVAL OF THIS, UH, OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AND SILT FENCES, A VERY STRONG BOND AND A VERY STRONG OVERSIGHT OF THAT BOND.
AND IF THEY ARE IN VIOLATION, AGAIN, THE PROJECT SHUTS DOWN.
UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT MR. AMBU IS HERE.
I KNOW THAT HE'LL DO HIS BEST TO PROTECT THE TREES, BUT WE WOULD HOPE THAT ANY TIME THAT THAT IS HAPPENING, THAT THERE WILL BE AN ARBORIST ON SITE AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TREES ARE PROTECTED, UH, WHILE, WHILE THEY'RE BEING RELOCATED.
AND I'M ASSUMING THERE WILL BE ALSO ON THE THREE STAR, UH, ENERGY RATING.
UM, UH, I'M CURIOUS ON HOW THE DUAL PLUMBING WILL WORK AND ALSO HAS BEEN, UH, SAID BEFORE ABOUT THE, UH, THE BIRDS IN THE AREA.
UH, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF, OF, UH, CONSTRUCTION, UH, GOING UP IN THESE MIGRATORY PATHS.
AND SO WHAT KIND OF NON-REFLECTIVE BIRD AVA AVIARY PROTECTION OF GLASS WILL BE DONE ON THESE BUILDINGS.
ALSO, THE LIGHTING HAS A TERRIBLE IMPACT ON MIGRATORY BIRDS, AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT REDUCED TO THE MINIMUM.
UM, AND ALL AGAIN, ON, ON THE, UH, THE, THE REMOVAL OF THE, THE RETAINING WALLS,
[00:50:01]
I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT HAVING SOME RUNOFF INTO THE GREEN BELT AND POSSIBLY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE CREEK.UM, ALSO IT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE FROM OLD SMITHVILLE OR THRALL TO WORK IN AUSTIN, THEN THAT'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.
UM, WHAT RE WHAT MFI WILL THIS BE IF IT'S 80% MFI? OKAY, GREAT.
SLIGHTLY LESS AFFLUENT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE THERE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE IT REAL AFFORDABILITY AND AT A MINIMUM 60%.
ALSO, HOW LONG WILL THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, BE, UH, PROTECTION BE MAINTAINED? UM, LET'S SEE.
THERE'S A LOT OF OF OTHER THINGS TO BE SAID, BUT MR. BILL BUNCH WITH SOS IS GOING TO SAY IT MUCH BETTER THAN I WOULD.
I WOULD ALSO, UH, SAY THAT LORRAINE ATHERTON HAD WANTED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SHE WASN'T.
AND, UH, MELISSA HAWTHORNE, UH, SPARED YOU BY NOT COMING DOWN HERE BECAUSE SHE HAS PNEUMONIA.
AND UH, HOPEFULLY SHE DID COMMUNICATE WITH YOU THOUGH, AND HOPEFULLY YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE LETTER, UH, THAT SOS SENT IN THIS AFTERNOON.
AND IF NOT, UH, I KNOW THAT LETTER WILL BE PASSED OUT AND PLEASE LOOK THAT OVER.
LOOKING AT SOME OF THE, UM, THE SUPERIORITY, UH, QUESTIONS FROM THE, FROM THE PAST, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, DAVID AND COMPANY LOOKED AT THOSE, BUT I'M NOT ENTIRELY CERTAIN.
UM, THERE WAS, UH, A REDEVELOPMENT EXCEPTION, UH, THAT THE COUNCIL LOOKED AT, BUT FROM WHAT I READ, IT WAS VERY VAGUE.
ALSO, UM, THE OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENT IS NOW SUBTERRANEAN AND THE, UH, THE CITY GOES THROUGH A LOT OF WORK AND, AND HAS A LOT OF CITIZEN INPUT.
AND THE WATER FORWARD PEOPLE ARE A PART OF THAT.
AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ALL OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY GO FORWARD.
UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, I'M BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, IT HAS BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE THE SS ORDINANCE PASSED AND 30 YEARS SINCE WE INCORPORATED AS A NON-PROFIT A FEW MONTHS LATER.
WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT OCCASION, UH, IN A FEW WEEKS.
AND, UM, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS TO PROTECT THE SPRINGS.
AND, UM, THIS IS IN SOME WAYS THE VERY FIRST ONE OF ITS KIND.
AND SO WE DO FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TRY TO GET IT RIGHT.
UM, WE'VE BEEN VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE DEVELOPERS APPLICANT, THE TEAM.
THEY'VE BEEN MEETING WITH US, PROVIDING US INFORMATION, VERY TRANSPARENT.
UH, WE WANT TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THIS.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE IT BE A MODEL FOR OTHER DEVELOPMENT REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE, UH, ACTIVITY CENTERS AS THIS ONE IS.
UM, AND THERE'S SOME GOOD POINTS HERE, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME REAL MAJOR STICKING POINTS.
AND THE BIGGEST ONE IS THE DENSITY, UH, OF THE SITE THAT IS ATTACHED WITH THE VERY TALL BUILDINGS, UH, RIGHT AT THE, AT THE INTERSECTION.
INITIALLY THE, THOSE TALL BUILDINGS WERE CONCERN OF, OF VISIBILITY FROM THE NEIGHBORS.
UM, AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY, WE WERE HAD THAT CONCERN A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT THAT MUCH.
UH, I SWIM IN BARTON SPRINGS, I SEE THE, THE TOWERS DOWNTOWN.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY RATHER BEAUTIFUL FROM THE POOL.
[00:55:01]
EVER THOUGHT UNTIL THIS PROJECT CAME ALONG CUZ WE DO WATER PRIMARILY TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT DO THE SKYSCRAPERS MEAN FOR OUR CLIMATE.AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COMMISSION HAS LOOKED AT THAT ISSUE.
UM, BUT THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH OUT NOW THAT SHOWS THAT GOING UP VERY TALL, UH, IS NOT WHAT CITIES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE, UH, CLIMATE ARE DOING TODAY.
UM, THERE'S TOO MUCH EMBEDDED, UH, ENERGY THAT GOES INTO MANUFACTURING THE CONCRETE AND THE STEEL, UH, TO SUPPORT THOSE ENORMOUS STRUCTURES.
AND THAT EMBEDDED ENERGY CONSUMPTION, UH, OFFSETS WHAT YOU MIGHT GAIN FROM MORE DENSE GROWTH AND REDUCING.
UM, AND THAT A MORE MID-LEVEL RANGE OF DEVELOPMENT, UM, IS WHAT'S THE CLIMATE FRIENDLY APPROACH.
THEY HAVE SAID THEY WANT TO APPROACH CLIMATE, UH, NET ZERO CARBON AND NET ZERO WATER.
UH, WE SIMPLY CAN'T DO THAT WITH SKYSCRAPERS.
AND I'VE CITED ONE OF THE MOST SORT OF STRAIGHT UP SHORT, UH, EXPLANATIONS OF THAT.
SO THAT'S AN ISSUE ON THIS SITE AND EVERY SITE IN THE CITY, IN THE CITY.
BUT IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT HERE BECAUSE I THINK, UM, THE, WE DI WHERE WE DISAGREE WITH THE STAFF QUITE A BIT HERE IS ON THEM FINDING THAT THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IF YOU READ CAREFULLY AND LOOK AT THE PLAN, IT IS NOT, AND WE'VE DOCUMENTED THAT IN THE LETTER AND THE ATTACHMENT WITH REFERENCES TO VERY SPECIFIC PROVISIONS IN THE AUSTIN, UH, IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN THAT CALL THAT DESCRIBE WHAT AN, AN ACTIVITY CENTER IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA MEANS IN THE PLAN.
UH, AND AT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS DESIGNATED AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE SHOWN WITH THE CIRCLE.
UM, AND WHAT IT DOES CALL FOR IS MID-RISE DEVELOPMENT AND THE KIND OF MID-RISE THAT NOW THE RESEARCH TELLS US IS WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CLIMATE.
UM, AND OUR CITY HAS DECLARED A CLIMATE EMERGENCY, OUR COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY PLANET WIDE.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN KICK DOWN THE ROAD.
THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE WATER ISSUES.
UH, BUT THE WATER ISSUES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
IN MY LETTER THAT I PASSED OUT AND I EMAILED TO Y'ALL EARLIER TODAY, UM, IDENTIFY SOME REALLY KEY ISSUES WHERE WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU RECOMMEND SOME CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED POD AND WE ALSO KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN AGREEMENT.
I HOPE YOU'LL FOCUS ON THE BOLD NUMBERED POINTS AS BEING THOSE WHERE YOU'LL CONSIDER, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS HERE.
UH, WE SHARED A CONCERN ABOUT THE, THE, UH, AIRMAN'S CAVE.
IT'S AN AMAZING, UH, FEATURE IN OUR WHOLE PART OF OUR REGION.
WE TRUST COMPLETELY NICO HOWARD AT THE CITY TO HIS OPINION THAT IF THEY ARE CAREFUL ALONG THE WAY, UM, THE CABLE WILL BE PROTECTED.
UM, SO I HOPE THAT YOU WON'T GET TOO FAR AFIELD ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
UM, ON THE, UH, THE UH, SOS SITE SPECIFIC AMENDMENT, WE SUPPORT IT AS FAR AS IT REDUCES THE IMPERVIOUS COVER TO ROUGHLY THAT 56% IN THAT SITE AREA.
UH, WE'VE SAID THAT SORT OF AT THE OUTSET, OUR EXPERT, DR.
LAUREN ROSS PHD, UH, CIVIL ENGINEER, LONGTIME WATER EXPERT, LOOKED AT THEIR DETAILED ANALYSIS OF HOW THEY'RE GONNA MEET THE TREATMENT STANDARDS.
SO WHAT COMES OFF OF THAT REDUCED IMPERVIOUS COVER.
UM, AND SHE'S FAIRLY, UH, COMFORTABLE THAT IT, IT'S GONNA MEET THOSE, UH, POLLUTION PREVENTION STANDARDS AND CONTROL AND TREAT THE RUNOFF THE WAY IT NEEDS TO.
UM, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A, IN A GOOD WAY TO GUARANTEE A, UH, IS THAT MY TIME UP? OH, OKAY.
YOU COULD JUST, IF I, I'LL TRY TO WRAP UP PLEASE.
UM, WE DO ASK THAT THERE, THAT YOU RECOMMEND OFFSITE MITIGATION SO THAT ANOTHER TRACT IS PROTECTED FURTHER OUT IN THE WATERSHED SO THAT THE NET SITE COMES DOWN TO 15%.
WE ASK THAT THE BUILDINGS BE REDUCED IN HEIGHT FOR CLIMATE, BUT ALSO FOR WATER PROTECTION.
CUZ THAT ADDED DENSITY IS DRIVING SECONDARY GROWTH, CREATING A JOB CENTER OUT OVER THE AQUIFER THAT WAS NOT INTENDED AND IN FACT IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE AUSTIN TOMORROW, EXCUSE ME, THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLANT.
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YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.I THINK THAT IS ALL OF THE COMMENTERS.
UM, LET US, UH, YEAH, DON'T FORGET THAT.
THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THIS CREATES A JUMPING OFF POINT FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HILL COUNTRY AND HAYES COUNTY, AND WE GOT TOO MUCH ALREADY, BUT I JUST CAME UP HERE TO GET MY PHONE.
UM, LET'S GO TO, UH, QUESTIONS FOR STAFF FOR THE APPLICANT.
UM, UH, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IF YOU WANT.
MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, RAISE YOUR HAND.
COMMISSIONER GARY, YOU FORE CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
RIGHT, WE GOT UNANIMOUS CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TRY TO KIND OF KEEP THIS ORGANIZED AND, AND MAYBE WE GO AROUND ONE ROUND AND IF THAT SPURS SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS, WE HAVE A COUPLE FOLLOW UPS, BUT, UM, I THINK THIS
ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, YOU'RE UP.
UM, I HAVE, I HAVE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS.
UM, IF YOU WANTED TO TRY AND KEEP UP WITH MY LOGIC ON THIS, I JUST WENT THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, SO I'LL SAY LIKE PAGE 10, YOU MIGHT WANNA LOOK AT THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY, IF YOU WANNA REFERENCE WHAT I'M ASKING.
UM, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE ADDED, UM, ON SITE BECAUSE IT'S, I DIDN'T SEE THAT ANYWHERE THERE.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GOING TO BE IN A SEPARATE DWELLING, AND YET THE HEIGHT IS GOING TO BE IN, UM, DIFFERENT BUILDINGS.
AND SO, UM, OR AT LEAST I BELIEVE THAT IS THE PROPOSAL AT THIS POINT.
AND SO, UM, WHEN I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FIRST IN ORDER TO, UH, DESERVE THE PIPE THAT THEY'RE GOING AFTER.
BUT I THINK, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS WITH THAT.
AND THE FA COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, LET'S SEE IF THE APPLICANT MAYBE HAS A RESPONSE TO THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, QUESTION FIRST AND THEN YOU CAN GET PRIME FOR YOUR NEXT ONE.
UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, IS GOING TO BE, THERE'S RESIDENTIAL GENERATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SO IT'S BONUS SQUARE FOOTAGE BECAUSE OF RESIDENTIAL USE.
AND THERE'S, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING GENERATED FROM COMMERCIAL OR NON-RESIDENTIAL USE IN THE BONUS AREA.
THE RESIDENTIAL GENERATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL BE HANDLED ON SITE WHERE THERE'S RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING.
SO IT'LL BE MIXED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS GENERATED FROM THE COMMERCIAL OR NON-RESIDENTIAL BONUS AREA WILL, UH, BE GOING TOWARDS, UH, THE, UH, PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES.
AND IT'S GONNA GO ON THE BLOCK THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE TRANSIT STOP OR JUST ADJACENT TO THE TRANSIT STOP.
AND, UM, THIS IS A SITE THAT FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES HAS LOOKED AT AND, UH, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING THROUGH, UH, MEMORANDUM AMONG UNDERSTANDING WITH THEM AND COORDINATING ON THAT PROJECT.
AND, UH, THE, AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH WITH THE REVIEWERS TO GUARANTEE THAT THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BUILT ON SITE, WHICH BY THE WAY, IS A SUPERIORITY ITEM FOR US BECAUSE NON-RESIDENTIAL, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS ARE TYPICALLY PAID IN LIEU.
IN FACT, THE CODE DOESN'T EVEN REALLY ADDRESS THEM ON SITE.
SO WE'VE OFFERED TO BUILD THEM ON SITE AND, BUT THE CITY WAS ALSO WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GOT BUILT SOMEDAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES HAS A PROCESS AND THEY HAVE NO GUARANTEES THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET THE, THE, UH,
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FUNDING THAT THEY NEED.SO WE HAVE AGREED TO PUT A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT ON THAT BLOCK OF DEVELOPMENT THAT IT CAN BE USED ONLY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, YOU'RE, YOU'RE MUTED.
UM, BUT CONTINUE AT YOUR THANKS AS YOU'RE READY.
UM, I WAS CURIOUS, UM, THIS IS GONNA GO THROUGH A REVIEW PROCESS AND THE MODIFIED CONTROLS ARE GONNA BE REVIEWED BY STAFF AS, UM, THE CONSTRUCTION GOES ALONG.
AND I WONDERED IF THOSE THINGS COULD BE PRESENTED TO THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AS, UM, THESE INNOVATIVE THINGS WERE DONE.
SO I'M ASKING FOR, UM, US TO GET PRESENTATIONS WHEN STAFF GOES TO INSPECT THE PROPERTY.
UM, I'D LIKE FOR US TO BE UPDATED AS PART OF THAT PROCESS AND, UM, IN VARIOUS, UM, THINGS THROUGHOUT THIS IT SAID THE LANDOWNER MAY ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE.
THOSE THINGS MAKE ME VERY NERVOUS IN DOCUMENTS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE WORD, UH, SHELL INSTEAD OF MAY.
AND, UM, THAT HAPPENS A GREAT DEAL.
AND I MEAN, WE ALL HOPE FOR THE BEST, BUT IN ORDER TO SAY THAT THIS IS SUPERIOR, WE HAVE TO REALLY BASE IT ON SORT OF FIRM COMPLIANCE WITH THE GOALS THAT ARE STATED.
UM, I ALSO, THE, I WONDERED ON PAGE 18, YOU WERE REFERRING TO, UM, SHOWERS AND WATER STATIONS AT THE BIKE SHARE STATIONS.
UM, IS THERE PUBLIC USE OF THAT OR IS THAT FOR EMPLOYEES ONLY? AND I ALSO WONDERED IF THE BIKE SHARE STATIONS ARE LIKE THE METRO STOPS THAT WE HAVE NOW, UM, IS THAT GOING TO BE, IS IT A PLACE WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN, UM, PICK UP A BIKE AND GO BIKING AND THEN RETURN IT? SO I'M NOT SURE IF STAFF WOULD WANT TO ANSWER THAT OR IF, OR WHO WOULD.
LESLIE LILLY WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION.
THAT PARTICULAR REQUIREMENT IS A AUSTIN GREEN ENERGY BUILDING MINIMUM REQUIREMENT.
IT HAS TO DO WITH, UM, UH, BIKE PARKING AND ASSOCIATED SHOWER FACILITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE PROPERTY.
NOT, UM, NOT NECESSARILY PUBLIC, UH, PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SHOWER FACILITIES, BUT, UH, THE BIKE PARKING IS, UH, THE MORE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS AS THEY ARE, UH, LAID OUT OR IN THE, THE NEWEST VERSION OF THE GREEN AUSTIN OR GREEN BUILDING COMMERCIAL RATING GUIDEBOOK THAT CAME OUT IN SEPTEMBER.
AND THEY WOULD BE HELD TO THAT STANDARD.
YEAH, THAT, THAT'S A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT.
ARE THERE WATER STATIONS THERE? UH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A PART OF THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR THE BICYCLE FACILITIES.
I, IT WAS MENTIONED IN THIS PUBLIC USE HERE.
SO, UM, THEN THE NEXT THING WAS ON PAGE 19 AND GURU PARK WAS MENTIONED.
IT'S GOING TO BE ENLARGED, AND I WONDERED IF IT'S GOING TO BE KEPT NATURAL, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE I WOULD LIKE, UM, A LOT OF THINGS PUT THERE.
UM, THE PARK LAND THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE NEW PARK LAND THAT IS DEVELOPED AS A PART OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PROJECT.
SO CURRENTLY ANY OF THE PARKLAND THAT'S PROPOSES A PART OF THE PROJECT IS, IS IMPERVIOUS COVER RIGHT NOW, AND THE IMPERVIOUS COVER WILL BE REMOVED AND RE-VEGETATED.
AND THIS IS IN PARTICULARLY WHERE GURU WOULD BE CONCERNED.
IT, IT'S NOT REPLACING GURU, IT'S EXPANDING THE VEGETATED, UM, AREA AND MAKING A, A NEW PARK AREA THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE GREEN BELT.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION GENERALLY, UM, REVIEWS LIKE TRAILS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IF WE AGREE TO THIS PET AND THEY PUT A TRAIL THERE, WILL WE REVIEW THAT OR IS IT GOING TO BE A NATURAL SURFACE TRAIL, OR WHAT WILL THE PLANS BE? HOW WILL WE REVIEW THAT CURRENT? CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO MODIFICATIONS BEING PROPOSED FOR ANY TRAILS.
SO ANY TRAIL THAT WOULD BE BUILT AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH CURRENT CODE OR CODE AT THE TIME THAT THE TRAILS BUILT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
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DEPUTY ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER, THERE WOULD NOT BE A, UM, AN AVENUE FOR THE TRAIL TO COME TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION UNLESS THERE WAS A VARIANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THAT I'M AWARE OF.ON PAGE 62, IT MENTIONS, UH, THE PRI THE ROADS ARE GONNA BE PRIVATE AND NOT MAINTAINED BY THE CITY.
SO IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS, UM, IF IT'S NOT UP TO CODE, WHO, HOW WILL THAT BE HANDLED? BECAUSE THAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE IF THE ROADS ARE NOT MAINTAINED PROPERLY.
SO, UM, THE, THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE ROADS WAS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE, UM, A STREET THAT EXISTS AND IT'S IN CONJUNCTION WITH BARTON CREEK PLAZA, AND IT'S GONNA BE CALLED A SHARED USE PATH.
AND IT'S GONNA BE, THEY SAY 40 FOOT EASEMENT AND THE MULTI-USE TRAIL WILL BE ON THE PARK SIDE OF THE EASEMENT.
SO IS THAT PART, WILL THAT TRAIL, UH, I I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE SURFACE FOR THAT TRAIL.
IS THERE A STANDARD SURFACE THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH? SINCE WE DON'T REVIEW THEM HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE, UM, COMMENTED, WE'VE TRIED TO SET STANDARDS FOR THE WIDTH OF THE TRAIL AND SO FORTH.
SO I'M, I'M WONDERING ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS IN ADVANCE AND IF YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE ANY INPUT ON THAT.
SO, UM, WE HAVE TWO TRAILS THAT WE ARE CONCEIVING OF TODAY, UM, THAT WOULD CONNECT OUTSIDE THE SITE.
THERE ARE TRAILS PLANNED INSIDE THE PARKLAND, UH, AS WELL, LIKE INTERNAL TO THE PARKLAND THAT IS ON THIS SITE.
UM, AND THOSE WILL HAVE TO, SO LET'S TOUCH ON THOSE FIRST.
THOSE WILL HAVE TO GO, UH, THROUGH A PROCESS WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND WE WILL HAVE A, AN APPROVED PARK MASTER PLAN, AND THEY WILL IDENTIFY WHERE THE TRAILS GO AND, AND, UH, AND THE DESIGN OF THOSE ON SITE, ON THEIR PARK LAND THAT WE ARE DEDICATING.
UH, THERE ARE TWO TRAILS THAT GO OFF OF OUR SITE.
ONE IS A SHARED USE PATH THAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR, UH, DOWN THE, THE ROAD THAT EXISTS TODAY TO THE OFFICE BUILDING, UH, BELOW.
AND, UH, AT ONE POINT WE WERE PUTTING, WE WERE SHOWING THAT SHARED USE PATH ON THE PARK SIDE.
IT MADE SENSE FOR MORE CONNECTIVITY TO THE PARK, BUT, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S IN THE BCP AREA, THAT WAS NOT GONNA BE FEASIBLE.
THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW ANYMORE IN PER COVER.
THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A, UM, YOU KNOW, SHARED USE PATH, SO A PAVED SURFACE.
UH, SO WE HAVE NOW WORKED WITH TEXT.TO PUT THAT TRAIL IN THEIR RIGHT OF WAY.
SO THAT'S ONE TRAIL AND THAT WILL BE A SHARED USE PATH.
UM, AND THEN, UH, THE, THE SECOND FUTURE TRAIL, UH, WE'VE CONCEIVED OF, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HILL COUNTRY, UM, CONSERVANCY AND GEORGE COFER SPECIFICALLY AND SAY BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS ON WHAT IS THE RIGHT ALIGNMENT AND WAY TO PUT A TRAIL DOWN INTO THE GREEN BELT.
UH, BUT THAT ALSO GOES THROUGH THE BCP AND THAT IS AN ENTIRELY SEPARATE PROCESS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
UH, SO THERE'S A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTAND OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ANY TRAIL SPONSOR AND THE FUTURE FOR THIS BCP PROCESS.
AND AT THAT TIME, THE MO, THE MOA WILL NEED TO BE APPROVED BY THE B C P COORDINATING COMMITTEE, THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT ALSO CITY COUNCIL, WHICH CAN TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS LIKE YOURSELF AND PARKS BOARD AND OTHERS.
UH, SO THAT TRAIL WILL BE SCRUTINIZED AS A SEPARATE PROCESS, UH, AND THE DESIGN OF IT WOULD BE, UH, CONTINGENT ON THE OUTCOME OF THAT.
UM, I'M ALSO WONDERING ABOUT, UM, LET'S SEE, THE WATER AND WASTE WATER IS REVIEWED BY THE CITY.
SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD PRESENT, IF THIS IS APPROVED, UM, THE, TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, THE IMPACTS TO AIRMAN'S CAVE AND THE BELOW, THE BELOW GROUND STORAGE TANKS FOR WATER QUALITY.
SO I KNOW THAT THE CITY WILL GO OUT AND, UH, REVIEW THE, THE PROCESS DURING THE BUILDING OR CONSTRUCTION OF THE SITE.
SO IF YOU ARE DOING THAT, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO, UH, BRING THE INFORMATION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
THE PLANNING ZONE THAT IS REDUCED FROM SEVEN, FROM EIGHT FEET TO SEVEN FEET,
[01:15:01]
UH, FROM THE CURB, UH, KIND OF CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE, YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A LOT ON THE INTERIOR, BUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW.A LOT OF GREAT MINDS WENT TO SAYING THAT EIGHT FEET WAS THE MINIMUM.
SO I GUESS I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM CITY STAFF WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
AND THAT'S RELATED TO THE EIGHT FOOT PLANTINGS ALONG THE CURB ON LAMAR, IS THAT CORRECT? COMMISSIONER THOMPSON? YES.
SO LESLIE LILLY WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION IS THE, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY THE QUESTION, UM, IS THE QUESTION JUST WHY HAS IT BEEN MODIFIED FROM EIGHT FEET DOWN TO SEVEN FEET? YES.
WHY ARE YOU THE APPLICANT'S GONNA ANSWER THAT ONE? SO, ON ONE SIDE OF OUR STREET, JUST LIKE SECOND STREET DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE A DOUBLE LA OF TREES TO CREATE A REALLY NICE DEEP SHADE POCKET TO MAKE OUTDOOR DINING AND, YOU KNOW, VITALITY MORE, UM, SUCCESSFUL.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE TWO, UM, TREE PLANTING ZONES ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET.
SO WE HAVE 14 FEET OF TREE PLANTING ZONE ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET INSTEAD OF EIGHT.
UH, THE ONLY THING THAT'S IN BETWEEN THE TWO, UH, PLANTING ZONES IS THE CYCLE TRACK, WHICH HAS A MUCH, YOU KNOW, NARROWER PROFILE THAN A ROAD BASE WOULD, YOU KNOW.
SO, UM, SO WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ROOT GROWTH UNDER, YOU KNOW, CYCLE TRACK AND THINGS, UH, ALONG THOSE LINES AS WELL.
SO, SO THE OVERHEAD OF THE TREES IS SOMETIMES A PROBLEM FOR CYCLE OR PEOPLE ON BIKES WHEN THEY'RE PASSING.
ON PAGE 60 ALSO, THE TREE MITIGATION, UM, IS 60%.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW THIS PERCENTAGE WAS ARRIVED AT? SO, UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY OVERLAY MITIGATION AS IT RELATES TO THE SMALL CPER TREES AND THE PROTECTED SIZE TREES? YES.
YEAH, DO, SO I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE, UH, IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY ORDINANCE, UH, TREE PRESERVATION.
UH, SO THE HERITAGE TREES, THERE ARE 25 OF THEM TOTAL, UH, SIX OF THEM WE ARE PLANNING TO RELOCATE, WHICH IN, AND WE WILL BE PRESERVING ALL OF THEM.
UH, THEN THE PROTECTED TREES, THERE'S 42 TOTAL, WE'RE GONNA RELOCATE 10 OF THOSE, AND THAT'S 79%.
UM, I DON'T SEE 60 ANYWHERE ON THIS TABLE OF THE REGULATED TREES.
WE'RE PRESERVING 77% OF THEM, UH, FOR A TOTAL OF 80% OF ALL THE TREES WERE PRESERVING.
AND THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, NOT THE PROTECTED AND, AND, AND, UH, HERITAGE TREES, JUST THE REGULATED TREES.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY.
UM, THERE, IT'S ON PAGE 60 OF YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT NATIVE TREES, AND IT SAYS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MODIFY IT.
SO, UM, I'M NOT SURE YOUR JUSTIFICATION WAS THAT 80% IS WHAT IT IS.
SO I, I WAS CONS, I WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHAT THE MODIFICATION MEANT VERSUS, UM, YOUR COMMENTS IN THE JUSTIFICATION COLUMN.
AND IT DOES SAY A RATE OF 60%, SO I'D JUST LIKE THAT CLARIFIED FOR SURE.
AND THAT'S ON PAGE 60 OF 83 OF THE STAFF BACKUP REPORT, ONE OF TWO, CORRECT.
SO MAYBE WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA MAYBE TABLE THAT SO THEY CAN TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND, AND COME AND CIRCLE BACK TO THAT, UH, UM, SO THEY CAN RESPOND.
THEN THE NEXT THING, OH, I'M SORRY.
DID SOMEBODY WANNA COMMENT? LIZ IS COMING UP, SO I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S OH, OH NO, SHE'S, NO, KEEP GOING, PLEASE.
UM, THEN I WAS CONCERNED DURING CONSTRUCTION,
[01:20:01]
IF THIS IS APPROVED, UM, THERE ARE GOING TO BE TEMPORARY PARKING LOTS THAT WILL NOT MEET STANDARDS.AND, UM, I'M PRETTY CERTAIN I DON'T WANT TREES PUT SOMEWHERE TEMPORARILY WHILE THERE'S A PARKING AREA THERE, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.
BUT, UM, WHERE THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND WHERE THE HEAVY BUILDINGS ARE ARE PROBABLY, UM, GOING TO COMPACT THE SOILS.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF IN ADVANCE WE COULD JUST WORRY ABOUT THAT AND THEN NOT.
I MEAN, UM, I'D, I MEAN, IT COULD HAPPEN THAT IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE THE PROJECT IS FINISHED.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NOISE POLLUTION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AIR POLLUTION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NO TREES TO MITIGATE IT, WHICH IS THE REASON FOR IT.
AND SO THESE TEMPORARY PARKING LOTS COULD LAST LITERALLY FOR YEARS.
SO I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF MITIGATION OR SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REQUIRE FOR THAT, BECAUSE, UM, I'M, I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG THE CONSTRUCTION WILL LAST.
OH, I, I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE ADDED DENSITY EVEN REDUCING THE POLLUTANT LOAD FROM EXISTING DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IT, IT'S, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SAYS IT'S SUPERIOR.
I KNOW THAT IT'S 56% IS PROPOSED, SOS ALLOWS FOR 15, SO THAT'S 41%.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD REQUIRE OFFSITE MITIGATION OR JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, STICK TO SOS IN THAT PARTICULAR SITE BECAUSE IT IS, UM, IT IS RIGHT WHERE WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR WATER QUALITY.
IT IS RIGHT WHERE WE WANT EVERYTHING TO BE SUPERIOR AND THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS, I MEAN, WE HAVE BC WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, LAND THAT'S SET ASIDE AND PROTECTED RIGHT THERE.
AND THE HEIGHT OF THIS THING IS GOING TO AFFECT, UH, MIGRATORY PATTERNS.
AND I'M JUST, I DON'T KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT DEVELOPMENT ON SOME LEVELS, AND I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE AND INTO IT.
AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT PEOPLE CARE THAT MUCH TO WORK SO HARD IN THIS WAY.
BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT, UH, THE HEIGHT IS THE THING THAT'S REALLY CONCERNING ME.
AND I, I JUST THINK THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT.
AND THE FAR THEY DIDN'T EVEN, UM, THE FAR WAS NEVER EVEN, I MEAN, THAT'S A WAY WE HAVE OF JUDGING THINGS, AND IT IS JUST NOT EVEN, THERE'S NO RATIO BECAUSE IT'S BEING DONE IN A SEPARATE WAY.
SO I HAVE CONCERNS AND I THINK THAT, UM, THE DENSITY THAT'S PROPOSED WITH THE EXISTING DIS DENSITY IS WHAT MY MAIN CONCERN IS BECAUSE AS I SAID, UM, IT'S A 41% INCREASE OVER WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS.
AND I THINK IF WE AGREE TO THIS, WE'D CERTAINLY BETTER GET SOME PROTECTIONS TO OFFSET THAT.
I, I, I JUST DUNNO IF I CAN GO FOR THIS, ALTHOUGH I'M CERTAINLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE EFFORT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.
COMMISSIONER SHERRA, YOU'RE UP NEXT.
I AM WONDERING IF THE APP CAN CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HEARD DURING, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT LIGHTING CONCERNS, UM, THE GLASS REFLECTION.
UM, AND SO FIRST, I GUESS FIRST THOSE TWO, AND THEN I WANTED A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS ON THE POLLUTION PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS.
SO I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION YOU
[01:25:01]
ASKED WAS ABOUT, UH, LIGHTING.AND, UM, AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? LIGHT POLLUTION AND THE GLASS REFLECTION.
GLASS REFLECTION FOR BIRD FRIENDLY DESIGN.
SO WE ARE COMMITTING TO AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING, UH, THREE.
AND THOSE ARE BOTH CREDITS FOR THAT PROGRAM.
UH, BIRD FRIENDLY DESIGN AND ALSO LIGHT PRODU POLLUTION, SORRY, POLLUTION REDUCTION, UH, OUR, OUR, UH, CREDITS, UH, THROUGH THAT PROGRAM AS WELL.
UM, SO WE ARE LOOKING CLOSELY AT THOSE AND, AND, UM, AND, UH, AND AGAIN, WE'VE COMMITTED TO AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING, UH, LEVEL THREE.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE ALSO, UH, COMMITTING TO, UM, SITES FOR PARK SPACES AND ALSO LEAD ND WHICH COME, BOTH OF THOSE COME WITH ADDITIONAL CREDITS AND ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
UH, AND SO THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN BE COVERED THERE.
FOR EXAMPLE, UM, BETWEEN AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING AND SITES, THERE'S THERE, BOTH OF THEM HAVE CREDITS FOR, UH, RECYCLING OF ONSITE MATERIALS.
SO WE'LL BE LOOKING CLOSELY AT THAT, UM, UH, TO MAKE USE OF THOSE CREDITS, UH, IF POSSIBLE.
AND I WASN'T, I DON'T RECALL YOUR SECOND QUESTION.
I ACTUALLY WANTED A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE POLLUTION PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS, POLLUTION PREVENTION.
SO THE SOS WATER QUALITY, UM, GOT IT.
SO WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH WATERSHED, UM, TO, UH, TO COME TOGETHER ON A MODEL, UH, FOR THAT WHAT WAS, UH, THERE, THERE'S A TRADITIONAL WAY THAT WE HAVE DONE IT HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, WITH WATER QUALITY PONDS AND THEN RE IRRIGATION ON SITE.
BUT ONE OF THE STRUGGLES THERE WAS THAT RE IRRIGATION TOOK ALMOST NINE ACRES, UH, AND THAT, THAT, UH, AND, AND THESE ARE DEDICATED LANDS FOR PARKLAND.
UH, AND PAR REALLY WANTED US TO ACTIVATE SOME OF THAT SPACE, AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT TOO MUCH IRRIGATION.
UM, AND SO WE WENT TO WORK TRYING TO FIND WAYS OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES, NEW WAYS OF, OF HAVING THE, THE, THE, UM, DOUBLE TREATMENT PROCESS THAT'S REQUIRED THROUGH SOS.
UH, IN ADDITION, WE WERE ALSO, UH, LOOKING AT WATER FORWARD AND SOME OF THE, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, IDEAS COMING FORWARD FROM THAT PLAN EARLY IN THIS PROCESS.
NOW SOME OF THEM ARE, UH, GETTING CODIFIED AS YOU KNOW, AS WE SPEAK.
AND SO, UH, WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD, AGAIN WITH WATERSHED TO IDENTIFY, UH, WAYS OF CAPTURING THE ONSITE RUNOFF.
UH, WE ARE CAPTURING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF RAINWATER THAT FALLS ON THE SITE.
ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF IT WILL BE USED FOR, UM, UH, COOLING TOWERS AND ALSO FOR ONSITE IRRIGATION.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THIRD WILL BE CAPTURED IN, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, AS RUNOFF, UH, IN THE MORE TRADITIONAL SOS WAY, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING ABOVE GROUND PONDS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE BELOW GRADE PONDS.
UM, I THINK LESLIE MENTIONED THAT THIS SITE, THERE'S NOT REALLY NATURAL GRADES ON THIS SITE ANYMORE.
IT'S ALL BEEN MANUFACTURED WHEN IN 1980 THEY KIND OF SQUISHED IT OUT TO THE EDGES, AND WE'RE REGRADING MUCH OF IT TO, UH, TO NATURAL GRADES ANYWAY.
SO PUTTING THESE UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES IN IS QUITE FEASIBLE FOR US, WHERE IT MIGHT NOT BE ON ANOTHER PROJECT.
AND BY DOING THAT, BY THE, BY REUSING THE WATER ON SITE, UM, WE ARE ABLE TO, UH, REALLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF STORAGE AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF RE IRRIGATION ACREAGE.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN A HUGE WIN.
WE'RE DOWN TO, I THINK, ABOUT THREE ACRES OF, UH, RE IRRIGATION ON SITE.
AND SO WE CAN WORK WITH PAR TO PROGRAM SOME OF THOSE OTHER SPACES FOR RECREATIONAL NEEDS IN THIS CORNER OF THE THE CITY.
CAN YOU ALSO JUST LASTLY, UM, ADDRESS THE HEIGHT CONCERNS MM-HMM.
UH, I, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, TWO THINGS I WANNA SAY ABOUT HEIGHT IS THAT PART OF IT IS WE, WE TOOK, WE TOOK SERIOUSLY THE TRANSIT ORIENTED NATURE OF THE SITE.
AND THE POSSIBILITY HERE, UH, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS ON OUR CITY'S SECOND BEST TRANSIT LINE.
UM, AND, UH, AND WE CONTINUE AS VOTERS TO VOTE FOR MORE TRANSIT.
AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS SITE, UH, WAS FULFILLING, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, POSSIBILITY OF REALLY BEING READY FOR TRANSIT AND REALLY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND RIDE TRANSIT.
UM, IN ADDITION, WE'VE MADE A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, UH, UH, WE'VE TIED A
[01:30:01]
LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATIONS IN ON OUR PROJECT.AND, UH, AND REALLY, UH, WE KNEW THAT THAT WAS GONNA BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO.
UH, WE DRINK OFF THAT AQUIFER AS WELL.
AND, UH, AND SO THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, RESULTED IN A PROJECT OF THIS HEIGHT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT MIX OF USES.
IT'S ALL WITHIN KIND OF THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED, UM, UH, SWEET SPOT, UH, FOR, UH, GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS AND ONTO TRANSIT.
UH, AND IT'S ALSO, UH, A DENSITY THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS TO BE A REALLY VIBRANT PLACE AND SUPPORT THE COMMERCIAL, UH, AND THE RETAIL AT THE GROUND FLOOR.
UH, AND BY MIXING THE USES WITH RESIDENTIAL IN OFFICE, THIS GIVES US A, YOU KNOW, A REALLY GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE RETAIL DOWN THERE.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS SITE IS, UH, ONE THAT I DEFINITELY GREW UP GOING TO A LOT.
YOU KNOW, MY FOLKS MOVED TO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CEDAR VALLEY, OAK HILL AREA WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SO DID NOT GO TO THE TOYS I RUSS THAT MUCH.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, MY MOM ALWAYS SHOPPED AT SPROUTS.
UH, I REMEMBER THAT SPROUTS WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST PLACE, UH, YOU KNOW, CAUSE I DIDN'T GO TO A CENTRAL MARKET OR WHOLE FOODS A LOT WHERE I SAW LIKE A BUNCH OF NUTS ALL IN LIKE SEPARATE CONTAINERS.
AND I WAS LIKE, THESE PEOPLE TAKE THIS STUFF SUPER SERIOUS.
UH, BUT I DO REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, GOING TO LIKE THE FLOOD RUTGERS AND STUFF THERE TOO.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF LIKE A, A DEAD STRIP MALL, RIGHT? WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT SOUTH LAMAR, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM THE NORTH SIDE, FOR ME, LIKE THE BREAKER RUNDBERG AREA WAS SUPER DIVERSE.
SOUTH, YOU KNOW, LAMAR, WHERE 360 WAS BASICALLY JUST LIKE A, A HELL HOLE STRIP MALLS.
UH, SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THIS PLACE, YOU KNOW, BEING DEVELOPED.
UH, IT'S GOT A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, BENEFITS, BUT ALSO CHALLENGES, RIGHT? UH, WHICH I THINK THE DEVELOPERS, UH, DEFINITELY NEED TO TRY A HASH OUT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
CUZ IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S STILL SORT OF, UH, A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF, UH, PUSHBACK THERE, WHICH I MEAN, I CAN AGREE WITH AND ALSO UNDERSTAND FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES, RIGHT? UM, I THINK THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS, RIGHT? UM, I FORGET WHO IT WAS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE GUY FROM THE SOS RIGHT? HE WAS SAYING, UH, SKYSCRAPERS ARE BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
I HIGHLY ADVISE THAT HE DO NOT TYPE RAINY STREET INTO GOOGLE CAUSE HE IS JUST GONNA GET REALLY DEPRESSED.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BUILDING TALLER BUILDINGS IN HOUSTON, DALLAS, SO I DON'T THINK THAT TREND IS GONNA STOP AT ANY TIME SOON.
UM, BUT IT'S INTERESTING ABOUT HERE, RIGHT WHEN HE SAID MID-SIZE BUILDINGS, I WAS LIKE, WELL, WHAT, LIKE MUELLER, YOU KNOW, LIKE, OR THE MUELLER DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? UM, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE BUILDINGS THERE NECESSARILY AS TALL AS THE, WAS IT 2 75 HEIGHT, UH, SUGGESTED HERE FOR SOME OF THE, UH, BUILDINGS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME KIND OF LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY DONE ON LIKE, THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS HERE, SO CLOSE TO, YOU KNOW, UH, THE BARTON SPRINGS EDWARDS AQUIFER AREA.
UM, I THINK THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS BEING ABLE TO, UH, SQUA, IF YOU WILL, THE CONCERNS OF SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AS FAR AS LIKE, YOU KNOW, BIRDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
UH, YOU KNOW, USING BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS AND, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK THIS, YOU KNOW, SOUTHWEST COMING FROM THE DRIPPING SPRINGS AREA, DARK SKIES IS SOMETHING THAT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS SELL HERE.
I THINK THAT'S SOMEWHAT TOUGH TO DO, BUT I THINK SORT OF HAVING THAT MINDSET OF HOW WE CAN KIND OF LIKE ENCOURAGE THAT KIND OF STUFF WOULD BE COOL.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM, ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS LIKE, ARE WE ABLE TO INCREASE THE SETBACKS FROM, YOU KNOW, THESE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES TO LIKE EVEN MORE, I THINK THE GUY, I FORGET WHO IT WAS, I THINK THE SOS GUY HE MENTIONED SORT OF LIKE BREAKING DOWN THE FENCES ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, RIGHT? LIKE, UH, YEAH, I CAN SEE WHY A DEVELOPER WANTS TO DO THAT, RIGHT? LIKE HAVING SOME KIND OF ACCESS FOR, YOU KNOW, PEDESTRIANS OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE WOULD BE NICE.
UH, BUT WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL? RIGHT? WHAT WOULD THAT PROCESS SORT OF BE LIKE? UH, I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK.
UM, AND ALSO THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE CAVE, RIGHT? WE HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
UM, I WAS CURIOUS, IS THERE ANY WAY TO NOT DEVELOP NEAR THE CAVE? RIGHT? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, CAUSE AGAIN, MY PARENTS MOVED FROM BRUSHY CREEK TO THE SOUTH SIDE AND BRUSHY CREEK, THERE WAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH LIKE, YOU KNOW, SINKHOLES NEAR CAVES OR ON TOP OF CAVES OR WHATEVER.
WOULD THERE BE A CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING HERE? I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, HAVE ANY STUDIES BEEN DONE ON THAT? UH, I'M JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS KIND OF A LOT OF QUESTIONS AT ONCE.
[01:35:01]
GO FROM THERE.SO, UM, IN 2021, NICO HOWARD, THE GEOLOGIST THAT I MENTIONED, UH, PROVIDED A A PRETTY THOROUGH REPORT ON AIRMAN'S CAVE AND IT DOCUMENTS QUITE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE, THE SHAPE OF THE CAVE AND THEN ALSO THE GEOLOGICAL PROFILE THAT I SHOWED THE FIGURE FROM.
AND A PART OF THAT, UH, DOCUMENTATION IS RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE STABILITY OF THE CAVE.
SO THE CONTRIBUTION OF NOT ONLY NICO HOWARD, BUT OTHER GEOLOGISTS ON STAFF CERTAINLY WANTS TO PROTECT THE CAVE.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY KNOW THAT THE PROTECTION IS OCCURRING IS TO HAVE REGULAR ASSESSMENTS OF THE SITE AS EXCAVATION IS OCCURRING, WHICH IS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE, UM, OF THE PROPERTY BEING BUILT.
UH, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT EASY TO KNOW WHERE EVERY SINGLE VOID MIGHT BE, BUT THE PROPERTY IS, OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO VOID MITIGATION.
IF WE WERE TO FIND, UH, DURING THE EXCAVATION FOR ANY PART OF THE PROPERTY, AVOID, IT WOULD BE EXAMINED AND DETERMINED BY AN A PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST CERTIFIED, WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP? SO THE, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT WE'RE SAYING TODAY DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, FIND A PART OF THE CAVE THAT WAS OTHERWISE UNKNOWN AND THAT, UH, THIS PROJECT WOULD ALLOW, UM, WOULD ALLOW THE, THE DEVELOPMENT TO PROCEED WITHOUT PROTECTIONS OF THE CAVE.
SO, JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE NOT TAKING PROTECTIONS AWAY OF, OF THE THINGS THAT ARE UNKNOWN ABOUT THE STABILITY OF THE CAVE.
THE, THE, UM, THE DEL RIO CLAY LAYER THAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW ABOVE THE CAVE HAS SHOWN SINCE IT WAS DISCOVERED IN, UH, 1971 TO BE PROTECTING THE SURFACE SUCH THAT WATER'S NOT ABLE TO INFANT INFILTRATE FROM THE SURFACE INTO THE CAVE.
AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE OR SHIFT IN THAT CLAY LAYER RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT LIKE WHAT THE, THE ADDITIONAL, UH, IMPACT TO ABOVE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE 2021 REPORT SHOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE, UM, DESPITE THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS OCCURRED SO FAR IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE, THE DEL RIO CLAY LAYER THAT'S PROTECTING THE, THE CAVE UNDERNEATH IT.
THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW.
SO, AND YOU WANT, YOU WANT MORE.
AND THIS LETTER, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND ADJUSTING THOSE OTHER COMMENTS FROM, FROM, YEAH, I THINK THE OTHER QUESTION WAS ABOUT, UM, IS THERE ANY WAY TO, YOU KNOW, NOT ENCROACH ON THE CESS OR TO EVEN STAY AWAY FROM THEM EVEN MORE? AND, UH, A COUPLE THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION ABOUT THE, THE, UH, THE TWO, WELL, THE CFS THAT, UM, THAT WE HAVE, UH, ASKED FOR CODE MODIFICATIONS FOR THAT SPRING, THAT'S JUST OFF OUR PROPERTY, OFF THE, UM, THE DOWNHILL SIDE TO BARTON CREEK.
I MEAN, THERE IS A CONCRETE WALL THERE, THERE IS A CONCRETE SURFACE, UH, A, UM, SO IT'S THE MOST OF WHAT IS ON OUR PROPERTY IN THAT C F BOUNDARY IS ALREADY IMPERVIOUS COVER AND, AND IMPACTED.
AND WE WERE PROPOSING TO TAKE ALL THAT OUT AND, UM, AND RESTORE THAT.
SO THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON WHY WE'RE ENCROACHING INTO THAT C WAS JUST TO TRY TO REPAIR AND RESTORE THAT.
UM, THE, THE CAVE, UH, IN NICO HOWARD'S REPORT, UH, WHAT HE FOUND WAS THE CAVE IS APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND.
AND, UM, AND SO THAT MEANS EVERYTHING WE DO ON THE SURFACE IS NOT IMPACTING THE C F, BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO UNDERGROUND.
AND, UM, WHAT I FOUND REALLY INTERESTING WAS THAT THERE'S 60 TO 80 FEET OF CLAY ON MOST OF THE SITE BETWEEN THE SURFACE AND THE CAVE BELOW.
AND, UM, AND WE'RE COMMITTING TO, YOU KNOW, ONLY GOES DEEP AS WE NEED TO, BUT ALWAYS PROTECTING AT LEAST 20 FEET OF THAT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A TYPICAL POND IS USUALLY A FEW FEET OF CLAY.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO, UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE.
IT'S ONLY FOR STRUCTURAL REASONS AND FOR, YOU KNOW, PARKING STRUCTURE AND WATER, UH, TANKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IS HUN OVER A HUNDRED FEET AWAY FROM THE CAVE ITSELF WITH A LOT OF CLAY
[01:40:01]
IN BETWEEN.WELL, UH, YOU KNOW, I SUPPOSE, UH, AS LONG AS Y'ALL ARE DOING, YOU KNOW, REGULAR ASSESSMENTS OF IT, UH, WE JUST CROSS OUR FINGERS AND NOTHING BREAKS, RIGHT? UH, YEAH, I GUESS, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAD SOME MORE QUESTIONS TOO, YOU KNOW, UM, LIKE I SAID, HAVEN'T GONE IN THIS INTERSECTION A LOT.
UH, THERE'S LIKE THIS LITTLE INTERSECTION LIKE RIGHT WHEN YOU GET OFF OF 71 SLASH TWO 90, SORT OF, YOU KNOW, GOING NORTH OR AS YOU'RE GOING SOUTH ONTO THERE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A, A CLUSTER OF, YOU KNOW WHAT, RIGHT NOW.
UM, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY PLANS TO LIKE IMPROVE THAT INTERSECTION ALONG WITH THE TRANSIT, MASS TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING? WHICH BY THE WAY, ARE DEFINITELY NEEDED CUZ NOBODY RIDES THEIR BIKE AROUND THERE.
YOU KNOW, SPEAKING FOR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND INTRODUCE YOURSELF PLEASE.
I'M THE TRAFFIC CONSULTANT FOR THE PROJECT TEAM.
UH, SO WE HAVE DONE A ROBUST TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS AS PART OF THE PROCESS THROUGH THE ON TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AND WE HAVE RECEIVED, UH, THEIR APPROVAL MEMO, UH, FOR THAT TIA.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE MAJOR ITEMS, UH, WITHIN THAT TIA IS THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON IMPROVING THE INTERSECTION THAT IS THE BRODY OAKS SIGNALIZE INTERSECTION AND SOUTH LAMAR.
UM, IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN WHAT ALL WE'RE DOING.
THAT STRETCH OF SOUTH LAMAR IS OWNED BY TEXT DOT WITH CITY OF AUSTIN OVERSIGHT BECAUSE IT'S SIGNALIZE.
UH, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SOME PRETTY MAJOR MODIFICATIONS THERE TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE MOVING WAY MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
I WILL NOTE THAT AS OF DECEMBER OF 2020, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED A STREET IMPACT ORDINANCE, STREET IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE.
AND SO THAT THE STREET IMPACT FEE FOR THIS PROJECT IS SOMEWHERE AROUND $9 MILLION.
WE DO GET A CREDIT FOR THE TRIPS THAT ARE EXISTING BECAUSE IT'S AN EXISTING CENTER.
SO THAT NETS OUT TO BE A TOTAL OF AROUND SEVEN, SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, BECAUSE OUR LAND USE AND DENSITIES AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PUT ARE AT A MAXIMUM AND WHAT WE ULTIMATELY DEVELOP, THAT'S WHAT OUR STREET IMPACT FEE IS GOING TO BE.
AND SO PART OF THAT STREET IMPACT FEET WILL GO TOWARDS IMPROVING THAT INTERSECTION.
THAT'S NOT ALL WE'RE DOING THOUGH.
UM, THERE'S BEEN SOME COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, UH, THE BARTON VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD.
ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO FILL IN ANY MISSING GAPS OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS SIDEWALKS OR BIKE LANESS OR WHAT, HOW YOU, BETWEEN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS ANY GAPS OF PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE BETWEEN THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE WESTGATE TRANSIT CENTER THAT'S BEEN BUILT TO PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY FOR MULTIMODAL USES, UH, OUTSIDE OF VEHICLES TO THOSE AREAS.
UH, SO THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE TIA APPROVAL MEMO.
UH, BUT IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER.
YEAH, THAT WAS BASICALLY MY ONLY QUESTION.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THERE, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL HAVE FUN WITH THAT, BUT THANKFUL THAT'S SOMEBODY WHO'S DOING IT RIGHT.
UM, YEAH, I HAD A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, UH, HEIGHT IS SORT OF A BIG ISSUE HERE.
YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN THIS THING WITH, I POSTED THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHILE BACK AND ALL MY FRIENDS FROM THE SOUTH SIDE WERE FRANKLY SOMEWHAT DUMBFOUNDED THAT SOMEONE WOULD EVEN WANT TO PUT A SKYSCRAPER ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
UH, BUT HEY, IT'S STILL PART OF THE OH FOUR, I BELIEVE, SO IT CAN'T BE TOO SURPRISING.
UH, FRANKLY, I THINK WE'D HAVE A LOT LESS ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, BONES TO PICK HERE IF Y'ALL JUST, YOU KNOW, RAISED, BROKEN, SPOKE AND BUILT THE SCRAPERS THERE, BUT HEY, YOU KNOW, NOT IN CHARGE OF THAT.
UM, ONE QUESTION I DID HAVE THOUGH WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS SORT OF LIKE A BIG, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL SLASH COMMERCIAL HUB WITH, YOU KNOW, REALLY TALL BUILDINGS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE, CAN WE UP THE LOCAL RETAIL TO MORE THAN 25%, RIGHT? CAN WE NOT HAVE THIS BE JUST LIKE ANOTHER DOMAIN MUSIC LANE TYPE THING, RIGHT? I KNOW IT'S WHERE THE FUTURE IS HEADING, UH, BUT LET'S TRY TO SHOW LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, LOCAL BRANDS AND LOCAL RETAILERS HERE.
25% IS NICE, FRANKLY, I THINK WE CAN DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
UM, AND THEN SORT OF, THIS WAS JUST LIKE A PERSONAL THING, BUT MAYBE Y'ALL CAN HAVE SOME KIND OF LIKE LIVE MUSIC VENUE OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE INTEGRATE INTO THE HOTEL OR WHATEVER.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE SOUTH SIDE IS DEFINITELY GROWING A LOT ENTERTAINMENT WISE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, HISTORIC STUFF LIKE, YOU KNOW, BROKEN SPOKE, WHATEVER, RIGHT? SAXON PUB, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, CONTINENTAL SEA BOYS, UH, NOWADAYS YOU'VE EVEN GOT SOLO HOUSE AND THE NEW, YOU KNOW, MANSHACK BAR DISTRICT.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THAT I THINK WOULD BE REALLY COOL AND NOT NECESSARILY FORCE PEOPLE TO HAVE TO GO FURTHER UP, UH, NORTH LAMAR OR CONGRESS OR WHATEVER.
UH, SO SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
AND THAT'S, UH, PRETTY MUCH ALL MY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
UM, ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION ABOUT THE TIA, IF THAT'S, DO WE HAVE A COPY OF THAT, KAYLA, OR CAN THAT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSION? IF NOT, CAN WE, CAN WE GET A COPY?
[01:45:03]
YEAH, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE CURIOUS TO SEE THAT AS WELL.IF POSSIBLE, IT'D BE NICE FOR THE TIA TO BE PROVIDED TO CAL SO SHE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT TO THE COMMISSION.
UH, GOOD EVENING, WENDY RHODES WITH THE, UH, HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
YES, WE CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE.
UH, I'LL, I'LL COORDINATE WITH THE APPLICANT.
UH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, YOU'RE UP.
TOM, ARE YOU READY? AS I'M READY? THANK YOU.
I, UH, HAVE A RENTAL CAR, UM, THAT WAS, UH, GIVING ME TROUBLE.
AND, UM, I'M, UH, UH, I'M KIND OF, UH, DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED WITHOUT KNOWING WHICH WAY I WAS GOING.
SO, UM, UH, ONCE I GOT HERE, I, I'M, UH, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE, UM, PROJECT, UM, THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
IT'S, IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK, UH, AND TIME AND MONEY HAS ALREADY GONE INTO THIS.
UH, THERE'S NO, UH, DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
AND IT'S CLEAR FROM THE COMMENTS OF, OF THOSE WHO, UH, UH, CITIZENS WHO CAME TO COMMENT THAT THEY, THEY, UH, CAN SEE GENERALLY THEY CAN SEE BENEFITS, UH, BUT THEY'RE CONCERNED AND THEY WANT TO SEE THIS AS A DEVELOPMENT, WHICH, UM, IMPROVES, ENHANCES, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN GOING FORWARD.
AND I THINK, UM, I THINK THAT I, I THINK WE'RE, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S PROBABLY EVERYONE'S GOAL.
UM, THERE MIGHT BE A FEW LEADITES IN THE CROWD, BUT I DON'T,
SO, UM, UH,
I, I, I THINK THAT WE ARE WELL ADVISED TO BE AWARE THAT THE FUTURE IS, IS SOMETHING THAT'S CHANGING.
THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE BUILDING SOMETHING THAT WILL FIT INTO A LANDSCAPE THAT LOOKS LIKE TODAY'S LANDSCAPE NECESSARILY, IF IT'S, IF IT'S FINISHED FIVE OR SIX YEARS FROM NOW, I'VE EVEN SEEN, UH, ONE ALARMIST REPORT THAT SUGGESTED THAT AUSTIN COULD BE PART OF THE NEW SONORA DESERT.
UH, AND I, AND I, UM, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE, BUT, UM, CERTAINLY WITH, WITH, UM, UH, CHANGES THAT WERE SEEN IN THE ENVIRONMENT, UM, WE ARE SEEING MORE DROUGHT.
WE ARE SEEING, UH, MORE SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE IN, UH, AN AREA THAT IS WELL ESTABLISHED AS IN A 200 MILE PER HOUR, UH, WIND ZONE.
AND THAT'S NOT JUST A LITTLE TINY LOCAL BIT THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT NORTH OF IT.
NO, IT'S A WHOLE BIG AREA THAT WE'RE A PART OF.
OUR BUILDING CODES ARE NOT EVEN MEETING THAT STANDARD TODAY.
UM, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY, AND I'M NOT ON THE BUILDING CODES COMMISSION, I'M ON ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, BUT IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A CONCERN THAT I HAVE THAT TORNADOES AND STRAIGHT LINE WINDS ARE PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND STATISTICALLY, WE KNOW BECAUSE IT'S BEEN RECORDED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 145 TORNADOES IN TRAVIS COUNTY SINCE 1950.
IF YOU ARE LIVING IN A HIGH RISE, IS IT GONNA HELP YOU TO GO TO INTERIOR ROOM? IS THAT REALLY WHERE YOU WANNA BE? I MEAN, ARE ARE WE THINKING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SURVIVE, UH, AND, UH, SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS? ARE WE THINKING THESE THINGS THROUGH?
[01:50:01]
I'M JUST, THESE ARE THINGS THAT I, I I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THEIR, YOU KNOW, GLOBAL VIEWPOINT IN MIND AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS.AS, AS, AS YOU PUT IN NEW TREES, ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT NOT ONLY ARE THEY NATIVE, BUT WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO NEXT YEAR OR THE, YOU'RE, I MEAN, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, SIX YEARS FROM NOW, SEVEN YEARS FROM NOW, I LEFT FOR THREE MONTHS AND CAME BACK AND HALF THE TREES IN MY BACKYARD WERE DEAD BECAUSE WE WERE IN A DROUGHT.
AND SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, HAD BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
SO, UM, THESE ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES.
AND, AND SO, SO THAT'S, THAT'S JUST A CONCERN.
AND, AND I HOPE THAT AS WE WORK ON THIS PROJECT, THAT WE ALL ARE AT LEAST ON THE PAGE OF, OF ALL WANTING A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT AND NOT A DISASTER OF SOME KIND.
UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CAVE ASPECT.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO THAT, THAT THAT'D BE SOMETHING THAT IS, UM, A DEFINITE CONDITION OF, OF THE, OF THE, UH, POD THAT IT, THAT IT BE AN ONGOING CONSIDERATION, UH, AS CONSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING, THAT WE, THAT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT SUDDENLY GOING TO, UH, SHOOT RIGHT THROUGH THAT CAVE.
I, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I LEARNED WAS THAT GEOTHERMAL IS NOT JUST A REALLY GREAT IDEA HERE BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE UNDERGROUND AND THEY CAN CAUSE, UH, UH, KAYLA TOLD ME A STORY ABOUT THAT WAS, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ONLY FUNNY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WEREN'T THERE, YOU KNOW, GREAT IDEA, PUTTING IN GEOTHERMAL AND JUST THINK OF THE SAVINGS, EXCEPT THE WHOLE THING JUST BLEW UP IN THEIR FACES BECAUSE OF, UH, BECAUSE OF UNDERGROUND CAVERNS THAT NOBODY KNEW WERE THERE.
SO IT MAKES YOU THINK TWICE WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT, THAT THESE, THIS CAVE IS NOT COMPLETELY, UH, LOOKED AT.
AND I, AND I KNOW THERE, I KNOW THERE ARE, ARE PEOPLE IN, IN, UH, UH, GEOLOGY WHO HAVE EQUIPMENT WHERE THEY CAN SOUND THE GROUND AND THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN TELL YOU HOW, YOU KNOW, HOW DEEP THERE ARE HOLES AND THINGS.
AND, AND SO I, I, I THINK THAT, THAT YOUR ENGINEERS NEED TO BE VERY, VERY WARY.
AND, AND, AND WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING IN OUR LANGUAGE THAT, UM, THAT WE ARE, THAT WE ARE VERY COGNIZANT AND VERY CONCERNED AND VERY, VERY PROTECTIVE OF, UM, THE CAVE STRUCTURE, UM, FROM A POINT OF VIEW OF WE DON'T WANT A HUGE CALAMITY, UH, WHERE EVERYTHING JUST COLLAPSES AND, AND, AND PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND SO FORTH.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT PROTECTION OF, UH, UH, MIGRATORY SPECIES.
UM, AGAIN, BIGGER PICTURE, UH, IN NORTH AMERICA, 3 BILLION BIRDS HAVE DIED SINCE 1970 AND ALL HABITATS NORTH AMERICA.
SO EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE ON ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT WE, THAT WE DO IN THE, IN, IN OUR OWN HOUSES, BUT IN A BIG DEVELOPMENT FOR SURE, THESE ARE AFFECTING, THESE ARE AFFECTING BIRD SPECIES.
THEY'RE AFFECTING POLLINATORS, THEY'RE AFFECTING THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM THAT WE'RE ALL A PART OF.
AND, AND THAT'S THE BIG PICTURE THING THAT I THINK IF WE, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON, THAT, THAT, UH, AND, AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT, THAT WHILE SOME OF US ARE IN THIS TO MAKE MONEY, AND SOME OF US ARE IN IT TO LOSE MONEY, APPARENTLY, UH, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, WE'RE, WE ALL WANT TO SEE AUSTIN PROSPER.
WE WANT TO SEE THIS BE A GOOD DEVELOPMENT.
SO I, I JUST HOPE THAT, THAT, THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU'RE KEEPING IN MIND ON THE PERVIOUS AND IMPERVIOUS COVER QUESTION.
CAN WE USE THIS HYBRID COVER THAT'S SORT OF A PERVIOUS COVER TO GET AROUND PART OF THAT IMPERVIOUS COVER? UH, 53%? WAS IT 57%? CAN, CAN THAT HELP WITH SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE TRAILS? UH, IF WE PUT IN THIS NEW PRODUCT THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE NAME OF, UM, UH, THAT, THAT WOULD BE ONE, ONE SUGGESTION.
DOES ANY, WOULD, WOULD ANYONE BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT? OR, OR WHAT, WHAT, UM, OR WHAT, WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED AT THE MOMENT FOR THE TRAILS? DO YOU HAVE JUST, DO YOU HAVE DIRT OR DO YOU HAVE
[01:55:01]
GRAVEL OR, UM, UH, WELL, UM, THE TRAILS, SOME OF THEM WILL BE DIRT AND, AND, OR GRAVEL, YOU KNOW, GRA CRUSHED GRANITE OR SOMETHING.UM, BUT THEN, UH, THERE WILL BE THE ONE SHARED USE PATH AND THE CYCLE TRACKS THAT ARE ON THE INTERNAL ROAD, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE CAN'T REALLY USE POROUS PAVEMENT AND POROUS PAVERS IN THE, UH, SOS AND EDWARDS AQUIFER AREA.
SO WE, UH, WE STEERED CLEAR TO CLEAR OF THAT.
UM, UH, I THINK THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MY, MY, UH, MAJOR POINTS.
I, I WOULD KINDA LIKE US TO SEE US, UM, COME TO SOME DECISION TODAY, BUT I, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR US TO FIND SOME WAY TO, UM, BECAUSE THERE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PARTS TO THIS THAT WE COULD BE HERE ALL NIGHT NEGOTIATING VARIOUS, VARIOUS PARTS THAT, THAT WE HAVE A, UH, UH, A WORKING, UH, GROUP TO, UH, IN OTHER WORDS, COME UP WITH A, A GENERAL, UH, STATEMENT IN SUPPORT.
AND, AND THERE COULD BE AREAS WHERE WE CAN GIVE, UM, GIVE SOMETHING THAT WILL GIVE CITY COUNCIL WHAT THEY NEED, UH, TONIGHT, BUT, BUT ALSO TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE DETAILS BEFORE, BEFORE EVERYTHING IS, UH, UH, SET IN, UM, UH, KRYPTONITE OR WHATEVER.
SO WE COULD, UM, JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT HATE RUSHING AND, AND, AND HASTE, UH, MAKING DECISIONS WHERE, WHERE, WHERE QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN, UM, UNANSWERED.
AND, AND I, I'M SAYING THIS IN, IN, IN A SENSE OF, OF WANTING TO SEE THIS SUCCEED AND WANTING TO SEE IT SUCCEED, NOT ONLY FOR THE DEVELOPERS, UH, WHO I, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE FOR THE DEVELOPERS.
I'M HERE FOR REPRESENTING ALL THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY DISTRICT TWO.
BUT, UH, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE VARIOUS QUESTIONS THAT, UM, UH, CONCERNED CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO, TO COME ALL THE WAY HERE TO, AND SPENT THEIR TIME, UH, AND TAKING THE TIME TO, TO LOOK INTO THESE MATTERS.
AND, AND, AND THESE ARE ALL, EVERY ONE OF THEM IMPORTANT AND, AND NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AND NOT IN A RUSH TO JUDGMENT SORT OF FASHION.
AND THAT'S, I REALLY WANT TO STOP HERE BECAUSE I TEND TO GO ON TOO LONG.
UM, REAL QUICK BEFORE WE GO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ON, YOU'RE ON DECK PRIMER, UM, I KNOW, SORRY.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THE, THE APPLICANT'S PRESENTATION, UH, OF KIND OF THE SCHEDULE OF THINGS.
SO BA BASED ON THIS ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TONIGHT PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE EIGHTH, UH, COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 1ST, AND THEN IT SAYS, CITY COUNCIL SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, IF YOU WOULDN'T, OR MAYBE REMIND THE COMMISSION KIND OF THE, THE PROCESS OF PUT, AND, AND MAYBE WHEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO INTERJECT ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AS THE PUT CONTINUES.
SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE FORWARDED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THAT PLANNING COMMISSION, PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, MUCH AS WITH THE ORDINANCES, MAKES THE RECOMMENDATION THAT GOES TO CITY COUNCIL ALONG WITH ENVIRONMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, BACKUP, UM, SO PLANNING COMMISSION IS NOVEMBER 8TH, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.
AND SO IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THAT WILL ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND, UM, ANYTHING YOU WANT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET IN THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BREMER.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION.
UH, SEE STAFF AS WELL AS, UH, THE APPLICANT.
UH, I KIND OF JOTTED DOWN THOUGHTS IN A RANDOM ORDER, SO, UH, THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE COLLECTED IN ORDER.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED WAS, UH, A COMMITMENT TO HAVE A, I BELIEVE IT WAS 25% OF THE, UH, RETAIL BUSINESSES
[02:00:01]
LOCAL.AND THIS IS ADDRESSED TO WHOEVER WANTS TO FEEL THE, YOU KNOW, FEEL THE QUESTION THAT SEEMS TO BE, UH, KIND OF A DIFFICULT THING TO MANAGE AND ENFORCE ON AN ON ONGOING BASIS, UH, ALSO WITH THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD LOCAL.
SO COULD SOMEONE TELL ME HOW THAT'S GONNA WORK, RICK? NO.
NOBODY FROM THE CITY HAS SAID HOW IT WOULD BE ENFORCED OVER TIME.
I, I'M SORRY, SIR, BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST, YOU CAN GO TO A MIC STRAIGHT AHEAD OF YOU OR TO THE PODIUM, JUST SO THE REMOTE COMMISSIONERS CAN ALSO HEAR.
NONE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY SO FAR HAVE TALKED ABOUT ENFORCEMENT.
UM, A AS I THINK I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE ONE GOOD THING IS THAT WE ARE LOCAL AND WE DEAL WITH LOCAL TENANTS, PREFERABLY, UH, I, I THINK ESPECIALLY FROM THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE SIDE, ALMOST ALL THE TENANTS AT BRODY WILL PROBABLY BE LOCAL.
UH, BUT NOBODY ON STAFF HAS INDICATED HOW THAT'S GONNA BE MONITORED OR ENFORCED.
UH, WE JUST, WE'LL TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THE CASE.
BUT ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU'D HAVE, WE'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
WELL, I DON'T HAVE A SUGGESTION.
MY QUESTION IS THAT, UH, THIS IS KIND OF A CONTRACT BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, YOU AS A COMPANY AND THE CITY AND YOU KNOW, YOU OWN IT NOW, AND THEN X NUMBER OF YEARS FROM NOW YOU SELL IT TO, YOU KNOW, SOME NEW YORK CITY COMPANY, AND THEN THEIR, THEIR DEFINITION A LOCAL IS, UH, BROOKLYN.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU ENFORCE LOCAL WHEN THE COMPANY IS IN BROOKLYN? SO, YOU KNOW, I, I LIKE TO HAVE THINGS DEFINED BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS BEST.
WHEN IT'S CLEAR IN EVERYONE'S MIND IS WHAT, WHEN SOMEONE SAYS LOCAL, WE ALL KNOW WHAT LOCAL MEANS.
I THINK THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME RECENTLY PEOPLE WERE ARGUING ABOUT A BARBECUE SAUCE OR SOMETHING THAT WAS LOCAL, BUT IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN MONTANA.
I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER IN THE HELL IT WAS, WE'D BE HAPPY.
ANY SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MAINTAINED, WE'RE HAPPY WITH THAT.
I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT UP TO STAFF TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
I DON'T HAVE A SUGGESTION, BUT I, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DEFINED LOCAL, AND THEN IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED.
UH, NEXT THING HAS TO DO WITH THOSE, UH, WATER CATCHMENT THINK THAT YOU'RE USING TO CATCH RUNOFF, UH, FROM, FROM THE IMPERVIOUS COVER AS WELL AS THE ROOF THING.
UH, SO NOW I SUPPOSE WHEN YOU COLLECT RUNOFF FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE SURFACE AREA, THERE'S GONNA BE VARIOUS POLLUTANTS IN THERE.
ANYONE CAN CLEAN THAT STUFF UP FROM THOSE, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE WE JUST GONNA LET THAT BUILD UP IN THE UNDERGROUND? HI, I'M JOE AND GARRA, THE CIVIL ON THE PROJECT.
UM, THE UN THE, UH, WATER, WE HAVE TWO TREATMENT LEVELS.
WE HAVE THE STORM WATER RUNOFF, WHICH IS GONNA BE ALL ON THE GROUND, AND I HAVE ALL THE POLLUTANTS THAT'S GONNA BE CAPTURED BY A CISTERN OR A SUBSURFACE POND.
AND THEN RE IRRIGATED CONVENTIONALLY FROM, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF, UH, UH, OF SOS IN REGARD TO THE RAINWATER, WHICH COMES OFF THE ROOFS, WHICH IS MUCH CLEANER.
IT'S GOING TO BE, AGAIN, CAPTURED SEPARATELY.
AND I THINK REBECCA SAID IT WAS TWO THIRDS OF THE PROJECT, IT'S BEING CAPTURED, AND THEN THAT WATER IS ACTUALLY TREATED, SO IT CAN BE IN THE COOLING TOWERS AND USED FOR IRRIGATION.
SO, SO IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, THE, THE RUNOFF FROM, FROM THE PARKING LOT OR FROM THE SURFACE, WHICH CONTAINS WHATEVER POLLUTANTS ARE ON THE SURFACE, GOES DOWN TO THE UNDERGROUND SYSTEM, AND THEN IS USED TO IRRIGATE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE GRASS OR THE TREES CORRECT.
AND IT'S NOT TREATED OTHER OTHERWISE THAT IS TREATMENT.
I MEAN, THAT'S CONSIDERED TREATMENT FROM AN SOS STANDPOINT.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT WATER, WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ONTO THE, UH, ONTO THE IRRIGATION AR UH, IRRIGATION AREAS, AND THE WATER DOESN'T RUN OFF AND IT INFILTRATES AND IT DOESN'T GET ANYTHING.
IT SEEPS INTO THE GROUND, THE, AND IT'S FILTERED BY NATURAL PROCESSES SO THAT ANY POLLUTANTS THEN COLLECT IN THE PLAY.
BUT THE ALSO TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THE WATER GOES INTO THE TANKS ON THOSE, UH, STORM WATERS GO IN THERE, RIGHT? THERE'S A 12 HOUR WAIT, SO THE WATER CAN SETTLE AND ALL THE POLLUTANTS CAN GET DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, AND THEN THAT'S WHAT'S IRRIGATED.
SO THEN EVERY, EVERY YEAR WE GOTTA CLEAN THAT OUT.
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS ASKING IS WHAT'S THE PROCESS BY WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE SEDIMENT,
[02:05:01]
THE, THE OIL AND THE, THE D D T OR YOU KNOW, WHATEVER ELSE, KINDA THAT IT, THE STUFF THAT'S NOT WATER SETTLES DOWN, THAT'S CLEANED OUT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THEN? YES.CUZ I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU HAVE A FLOOD EVENT OR A HEAVY RAIN WATER EVENT, I, I READ THE PART WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BUILDING IT TO TAKE HEAVY RAIN WATER EVENTS, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
UH, AND WHAT IS, WHAT DOES HAPPEN IF IT IS OVERFILLED? I MEAN, WHEN IT, WELL, IT JUST FLOWS OUT.
NO
SO BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS IT'S AN OFFLINE POND.
SO THE WATER GETS INTO THE SYSTEM, AND THEN WHEN IT FILLS UP, IT GOES INTO A SEPARATE OVERFLOW AND IT GOES DOWN INTO A, INTO A SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM, WHICH GOES TO THE, UH, NORTH OF US, UH, TO AN EXISTING LAKE THAT'S IN THE, UM, IN THE ADJACENT APARTMENT COMPLEX AND GETS, AND THAT'S, THAT'S FOR THE OVERFLOW.
OKAY, SO IT GOES TO A SURFACE COR NO, IT'S ON, IT'S ALL UNDERGROUND.
UH, NOW I ASSUME THEN, WITH ALL THESE, UH, WATER CAPTURE THINGS THAT YOU'RE USING, UH, YOU DON'T PLAN ON USING ANY CITY WATER FOR IRRIGATION? WELL, THE, UM, WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR THE RE FOR THE COOLING TOWERS AND FOR THE, THE IRRIGATION, THE CONVENTIONAL IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IS TO, UH, USE THIS RAINWATER TO SUPPLEMENT FOR THE COOLING TOWERS AND TO USE IT AS CONVENTIONAL IRRIGATION, WHILE THAT WHILE WE'RE IN A DRYER PERIOD, THE CONDENSATE IS BEING COLLECTED.
AND THAT'S BEING USED FOR IRRIGATION AS WELL.
IF ALL THINGS GO, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE OF JULY AND 110 DEGREES FOR TWO WEEKS, WE'RE GONNA BE OUTTA WATER.
WE'RE USING, WE'RE USING CITY WATER AT THAT POINT.
SO HOW MUCH, THEORETICALLY, IF IT'S FILLED, HOW MANY WEEKS OR MONTHS OR DAYS OF WATER DO YOU HAVE STORED? WELL, THAT, THAT, THAT ALL DEPENDS ON THE, UM, YOU MEAN AS FAR AS IF IT WAS FULL, HOW, YEAH, I MEAN, YEAH, IF IT WAS FULL, UH, ONLY HOW MUCH WATER DO YOU HAVE TO DO ALL YOUR IRRIGATION STUFF.
I MEAN, WHEN IT'S FULL, UM, AND IT STOPS RAINING, THEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE HAVE LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE UP TO A WEEK AND THEN AFTER THAT IT GOES, IT GOES.
BUT I'M JUST GUESSING BECAUSE NO, THAT THAT'S AND
AND NOW ALSO, YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
SO I MEANT TO SAY, YEAH, MEANT TO SAY THAT THE, WELL, WE'RE SAVING 20 MILLION GALLONS OVER 20 MILLION GALLONS A YEAR BY DOING THIS, BY COOLING THE TOWERS WITH RAINWATER AND USING IT FOR CONVENTIONAL IRRIGATION AND USING THE CONDENSATE DURING THE DRYER PERIODS, WE'RE SAVING OVER 20 MILLION GALLONS PER YEAR.
I, I, I THINK THAT'S THE END OF THE WATER QUESTIONS.
BUT IF I GET BACK TO IT, OH, NO PROBLEM.
UH, YOU, Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE AND EVERYTHING THAT, THAT'S TERRIFIC.
I GUESS, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE A DISAGREEMENT WITH IS THE, UH, THAT CENTRAL GREEN THAT YOU HAVE, UH, I REALLY DON'T, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY OPINION AND WHETHER OR NOT I MAKE A SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION TO IT, I DON'T KNOW, UH, THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR DEVELOPMENT.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT'S YOUR PROPERTY TO MAINTAIN, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE PART OF THE CITY'S PARK.
UH, I UNDERSTAND YOU CUT A DEAL WITH THE CITY PARKS PEOPLE, AND I THINK THEY MADE 'EM ERROR BY DOING THAT.
UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN INTEGRAL PART TO THE AMENITIES OF YOUR COMMUNITY RIGHT THERE.
IT'S SURROUNDED BY YOUR BUILDINGS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S REALLY BELONGS TO YOU AND NOT THE CITY.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WE, WE'VE BEEN, UH, PROPOSING A PARKLAND MAINTENANCE OPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.
I THINK WE SENT OUR INITIAL DRAFT IN IN FEBRUARY, DAVID.
UH, AND CITY LEGAL HASN'T GOT TO IT YET, BUT IN THAT AGREEMENT, WE WANT TO MAINTAIN ALL OF IT, INCLUDING THAT PART TOO.
WE WANT TO, WE WANNA MAINTAIN ALL THE NEW PARK SPACE BEING CREATED BRODY, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
WE, WE HAVE A, IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE A GREATER SKIN IN THE GAME TO MAKE SURE IT REALLY WORKS.
AND IT WORKS NOT JUST FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND AND OFFICE, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC THAT VISITS.
[02:10:01]
WANT THAT TO BE A GREAT PARK.AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S PRIORITIES MAY NOT BE THAT.
SO WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT, UH, TO THE PROPER LEVEL.
UH, NOW YOU MENTIONED THE AE GB THREE STAR RATING, AND I PULL THAT UP JUST BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO.
UH, THERE'S LIKE 600 WAYS YOU CAN MEET THAT.
UH, AND I'VE GOT TOO MANY WINDOWS OPEN HERE.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, UH, THERE ARE LIKE ABOUT 15 DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT.
AND I THINK TO GET TO A THREE, YOU HAVE TO BE BETWEEN 22 AND 33 POINTS AND EVERYTHING, BUT YOU DON'T DESCRIBE HOW YOU GET TO THOSE POINTS.
UH, DO YOU HAVE A DETAIL OF HOW YOU'RE GETTING THERE? EXCUSE ME.
THE REMOTE PEOPLE CANNOT SEE THE SPEAKER.
WE CAN SEE YOU, MR. BREER, WHICH IS PLEASANT, BUT WE, HOW, HOW CHEERFUL OF YOU,
I BELIEVE THE CAMERA WILL ROTATE AROUND TO, UH, TO THE, TO THE SPEAKER, UM, UH, HERE SHORTLY.
I, I'M LOOKING AT THE ROBOT RIGHT NOW, SO, YEAH.
SO, UM, AND YOU WONDER WHY I'M A LUDITE? HERE SHE COMES, RON, I'VE LOST THE QUESTION ACTUALLY.
OH, IT WAS ABOUT AUSTIN GREEN, UH, BUILDING.
SO THOSE KINDS OF THIRD PARTY, UH, VALIDATIONS AND THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATIONS, THEY'RE FLEXIBLE FOR A REASON BECAUSE, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH PROJECTS, A DIFFERENT SUITE OF STRATEGIES MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT, THAT ISN'T FOR THE NE BLOCK NEXT DOOR, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND, UM, SO THIS GETS APPLIED AT THE BUILDING PHASE, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, AND SO WE'RE COMMITTING TO MEETING THE AUSTIN, UH, ENERGY GREEN BUILDING, WHICH I THINK ABBY SAID WAS IN THE FIFTIES, 50 POINTS, NOT 20 SOMETHING.
SO IT'S, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT, UM, TO DO THAT.
AND, UM, AND THE FLEXIBILITY OF WHICH STRATEGIES TO USE REALLY ALLOW US AS A TEAM, ALL OF US, UM, TO, TO REALLY THINK ABOUT LIKE, WHAT'S GONNA HAVE THE BEST BENEFIT FOR THAT BLOCK, YOU KNOW? UM, SO YEAH.
UH, I GUESS THE, THE REASON I ASK THE QUESTION IS, UH, SOME OF THEM MAY BE MM-HMM.
AND SO IF YOU'RE FRONT END LOADING IT WITH THINGS THE COMMISSION PERCEIVES TO BE OF LOW VALUE MM-HMM.
SO WHAT I MIGHT ENCOURAGE IS, UH, A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT WHERE YOUR, WHAT YOUR GOAL IS MM-HMM.
NOW, IF YOU SAY, WELL, IT'S A BUILDING THING, OKAY, WE'LL ADDRESS THAT MOMENTARILY, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE A, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE KIND OF PRIORITIZING YOUR STUFF.
SO IF WITHIN THAT LIST IN THE AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING, THERE ARE CERTAIN PRIORITIES THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE US TO COMMIT TO, WE'D BE HAPPY TO KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE.
OKAY, WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK IN THAT DIRECTION WHEN WE GET A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
UM, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, THERE'S SOMEWHERE IN HERE WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING CALLED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SOMETHING FROM, UH, THE COUNCIL.
UH, SO FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISCUSSION, WHAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING? MM-HMM.
AND THAT IS THE STANDARD FOR, FOR RENTAL? YES.
AND THESE ARE ALL GONNA BE RENTAL UNITS THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ANY FOR, UH, PURCHASE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? YES.
IF IT'S OWNED, IT'S A LONGER COMMITMENT.
WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY ANTICIPATING ANY OWNERSHIP.
IT'LL BE NO, I JUST, MOSTLY RENTAL.
I, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD MM-HMM.
[02:15:04]
NOW THIS IS A QUESTION FOR STAFF.THE SITE PLAN WON'T NECESSARILY COME BACK HERE IF THERE'S NO VARIANCES.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, DO Y'ALL PLAN TO USE ANY SOLAR PANELS? OKAY.
CUZ I DIDN'T SEE THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED.
IT, IT REALLY FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE STRATEGY WE USE PER BUILDING, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT CREATING ENERGY ON SITE WIND TURBINES.
UH, NOW IF I, SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKEN TO THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS, UH, I SKIMMING THROUGH HERE AND RECOLLECTION THAT YOU HAVE 165 TO TURN 75 FEET.
THAT THE 160, WELL, 28 FEET IS THE HEIGHT LIMIT IN THE PARK SPACE, SO, RIGHT.
UM, AND THEN 160 FEET AS IT'S CLOSEST TO THE GREEN BELT.
AND THEN ON, ON THE PINNACLE SITE, WHICH IS THE CORNER, UM, THAT'S THE 2 75 BLOCK.
IT'S ONE BLOCK AND THEN IT'S 2 25 ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT.
NOW, DOES THAT INCLUDE ANYTHING THAT GOES ON TOP OF THE BUILDINGS OR IS THAT JUST THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING? IT'S AS DEFINED BY THE CITY.
WHAT'S DEFINED THE HEIGHT OF A BUILDING? UM, THE, THE BUILDING INSPECTOR AND THE, IN A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT MAYBE? I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE BEST ANSWERED BY HOUSING AND PLANNING STAFF.
UH, THE QUESTION IS REGARDING THE HEIGHT OF A BUILDING AND THE DEFINITION THAT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE MEASURED FROM THE GROUND LEVEL.
BUT WE'RE THE TOP, SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF I PUT A CELL TOWER ON TOP OF A BUILDING, IS THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING AT THE TOP OF THE CELL TOWER OR IS IT AT THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING? IT, IT WOULD BE THE ROOF.
I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES LIKE TOWERS OR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, BUT YEAH, IT IS, IT IS GENERALLY THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING.
SO WHEN YOU SAY THE BUILDING COULD BE 275 FEET TALL, IN ACTUALITY IT COULD BE TALLER, THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE, UNLESS YOU ALSO LIMIT THE HEIGHT OF A STRUCTURE.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE, THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING VERSUS THE HEIGHT OF THE STRUCTURE MM-HMM.
YEAH, I'M JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND THAT THE TERMINOLOGY.
AND THAT, THAT'S KIND OF WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION.
SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A 275 FOOT BUILDING, YOU COULD ALSO PUT SOME SORT OF ADDITIONAL THING ON THE TOP.
SO THERE ARE, WHICH COULD EXTEND THE HEIGHT, ANOTHER 50 FEET, FOR EXAMPLE.
UH, THERE ARE, THERE ARE LIMITS WITHIN THAT, BUT, AND I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT THE OTHER WAY TO DO IT WOULD BE TO LIMIT THE HEIGHT OF A BUILDING OR A STRUCTURE.
UM, HOW MANY PARKING SPOTS DO YOU PLAN TO HAVE? THAT'S OKAY.
YOU ALL HAVE
I'M GONNA PULL OPEN THOSE DE DETAILS.
YOU MAY WANNA ASK ANOTHER QUESTION.
UH, I WAS LOOKING AT, UM, LET'S SEE HERE.
LET ME GO TO THE TOP OF THIS SO I CAN GO BACK.
UM, COMMISSIONER, UH, BREMER, I'M GONNA JUMP IN HERE REALLY QUICK.
I'M GONNA BE THE TIME REFEREE.
UM, AS PART OF MY PURVIEW AS SECRETARY, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT IT IS 8 23.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO ON THIS ONE AND WE STILL HAVE TO GET TO THE CODE AMENDMENTS AS WELL.
MY NEXT QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH, UH, HAS TO DO WITH, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO WITH THE, UH, LIGHT DARK SKIES.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE, YOU'RE FROM THE, UH, GREEN ENERGY THING YOU HAVE HERE IS LIGHT POLLUTION, AND THAT'S ON PAGE 41 OF THE, UH, COMMERCIAL RATING DRAFT GUIDEBOOK FOR MARCH, 2022.
AND, UH, IT GIVES YOU LOTS OF OPTIONS FOR LIGHT POLLUTION.
BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO, OR WHAT I'M
[02:20:01]
ACTUALLY GOING TO KIND OF INSIST ON IS THAT YOU GO BY THE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKIES, UH, REQUIREMENT FOR THAT, UH, RATHER THAN THE MULTI OPTION THINGS THERE, THERE'S A LINK THAT I CAN PROVIDE YOU THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GO TO VARIOUS SUPPLIERS AND GET LIGHT FIXTURES THAT MEET THAT STANDARD.BUT BASICALLY I WOULD GOING TO KIND OF ASK YOU TO GO WITH THE DARK SKIES RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT 'EM BEFORE I GIVE YOU A COMMITMENT.
THEN WITH PARKING, IT'S REALLY KIND OF GETS DOWN TO THIS.
WHEN I WAS OUT THERE TAKING THE VIEW, UH, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHO THIS WAS, THEY SAID, UH, UH, THAT HALF THE PARKING SPOTS WERE GONNA BE WIRED, PRE-WIRED FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, EV CHARGING STATIONS.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR DOCUMENT, THAT TELLS WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO HERE.
IT SAYS, UH, EV UH, CHARGERS AND IT RECO IT GOES TO, UH, B R FIVE AND B R FIVE IS A VERY LOOSELY WORDED DOCUMENT THAT DOESN'T REALLY SAY HOW MUCH OF ANYTHING.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, I'D LIKE TO SAY, LET'S GO WITH WHAT I WAS TOLD WHEN I WAS OUT THERE ON THE TOUR WITH 50% OF THE PARKING SPOTS PRE-WIRED, UH, FOR EV CHARGING STATIONS.
WE, WE MAY, BECAUSE I WAS WITH YOU ON THAT TOUR, WE MAY DISAGREE ON WHAT YOU HEARD THAT DAY, BUT I THINK THAT GETS BACK TO THE THINGS UNDER THE AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING, ONE OF WHICH IS EV CHARGING STATIONS.
AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE US TO COMMIT TO THAT, THAT THAT CAN BE ON THE LIST.
SO NOT THAT BUILD THE, THE, THE PUTTING THE CHARGING STATIONS THEMSELVES.
YEAH, BECAUSE THAT'S, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WIRING, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THE ELECTRICAL CONDUIT UNDER THE GROUND SO THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, STEP ONE IN, WE THINK THE FUTURE IS GONNA BE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL VEHICLES.
I MEAN, MOST OF OUR TEAM DRIVES ONE.
UH, SO WE, WE THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT OUR PROJECT IS GONNA WANT.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS YOU'D LIKE US TO MAKE FOLLOWING THE AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
UM, I HAVE THE NUMBERS COMMISSIONER, IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO SPEAK TO THAT.
JUST HOW MANY ARE THERE? YEAH, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M, I'M BEING VERY CLEAR ON THIS CURRENT CODE FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD REQUIRE 8,323 SPACES.
WE ARE NOT BUILDING THAT MANY SPACES.
WE HAVE DONE A ROBUST TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH A SHARED PARKING ANALYSIS.
AND SO WITH THAT SHARED PARKING MODEL THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING, THAT WILL COME DOWN TO 5,177 SPACES OF WHICH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS REQUIRED 50 DEDICATED SPACES FOR THEMSELVES, WELL NOT THEM, BUT PARK, PARK SPECIFIC USE.
SO TOTAL SPACES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE 5,177, WHICH IS A 37.8 REDUCTION FROM CODE.
THE CODE MODIFICATION THAT YOU'LL SEE IF YOU LOOK IT UP, SHOWS THAT WE'RE GONNA PARK 60% OF WHAT CODE REQUIREMENT IS.
WELL, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CAN MANAGE 50 SPOTS, BUT, OKAY.
UH, AND ALSO I WOULD AGREE WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, I THINK, UH, WE NEED SOME MITIGATION ON THAT LAND TO GET DOWN TO 15% OR A LOT CLOSER TO 15% SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.
AND I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE ENJOY THEMSELVES.
SO I'M, SO JUST REAL QUICK QUESTION, HOW MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE PARKS BOARD HAS, UM, ASKED FOR, HAVE BEEN WORKED ON? OR, OR WHAT'S THE STATUS ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS? OKAY, SO YOU'RE ALREADY ACTIVELY WORKING ON ALL OF THEM.
UM, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER ITEM THAT WE'RE GETTING BRIEFED ON, YOU KNOW, UM, RESIDENTIAL IN COMMERCIAL, UM, ZONED AREAS, WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT'S GOING, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IF THE PUT DOES HAPPEN? UM, HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
SO THE FIELDING, BECAUSE WHAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING IS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF VEHICLE, YOU KNOW, FUMES IF YOU WILL, UM, BECAUSE IT'S IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO, YOU KNOW, 70, WELL, WHAT IS IT? TWO NINE? NO, 360.
[02:25:01]
IT'S ALL OF THEM.SO HOW, I GUESS THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE IS, HAS WHAT IS THE THOUGHT ABOUT THE AIR QUALITY OF ALL OF THIS RESIDENTIAL UNITS, AND ESPECIALLY THE RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, BEING SO, SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SUCH EXHAUST VMS AND SO FORTH? THE LAND USE PLAN THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING UNDER, UH, THAT THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE PLANNED CURRENTLY, WERE REALLY FOCUSING OFFICE AROUND THE EDGES AND THE RESIDENTIAL INTERNALLY, UH, BECAUSE WE DID THINK IT WOULD MAKE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT JUST VISUALLY AND JUST, YOU KNOW, QUIET AND, AND THINGS TO BE MORE INTERNALLY FOCUSED FOR THE RESIDENTIAL.
AND, AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT WHY THOSE BUILDINGS ON THE OUTER EDGE OR THE TALLER BUILDINGS TOO, IS BECAUSE THE OFFICE SITS ON TOP OF PARKING STRUCTURES.
SO THEY'RE NOT REALLY THAT TALL OF BUILDINGS, THEY JUST SIT ON TOP OF THEIR PARKING, WHEREAS A RESIDENTIAL USUALLY WRAPS AROUND IT.
THEY'RE, DO THEY GET, ARE THEY PROVIDED THE MONEY AND THEN THEY BUILD THEIR OWN BUILDING? OR DO Y'ALL CREATE THOSE STRUCTURES? HOW DOES THAT WORK? MM-HMM.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY MISSING.
UH, AND WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO A PROJECT LIKE THAT? AND SO THAT'S WHAT CAUSED US TO GET TO THE POINT AND PICK THE SITE THAT'S NEAR THE MASS TRANSIT, NEAR A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, CLOSE TO A GROCERY STORE.
UH, AND IT WILL BE A FAMILY ORIENTED PROJECT, NOT JUST STUDIOS.
UH, AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE'LL LITERALLY CONVEY THE LAND TO THEM, UH, AND THEN THEY WILL OWN THE LAND AND PUT TOGETHER, LIKE THEY DO ON THEIR OTHER 30 PROJECTS.
THEY'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN, THE FINANCING NEEDED FOR THAT.
SO IT'LL BE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS, IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, THE CITY MIGHT BE A SOURCE.
IT'S PRIVATE INVESTORS, JUST ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY FUND THAT PROJECT.
AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT STRUCTURE OR THAT PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE ADJACENT TO LAMAR? YES.
SO THEN THAT'S GONNA BE THE OTHER THING THAT I'M GONNA BE ASKING ABOUT IS THE AIR QUALITY FOR THOSE RESIDENTS.
SINCE FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES BUILDS THEIR OWN STRUCTURES, WHAT DO THEY DO? I MEAN, WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF THEIR STRUCTURES? I HAVE NO IDEA.
AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND EXPLORE BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE OBVIOUSLY SO CLOSE TO LAMAR COMPARED TO THE OTHER PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL UNITS THAT ARE PART OF THIS OTHER PROJECT.
UM, YEAH, I WOULD JUST, I'M CALLING, I GUESS CALLING THE QUESTION THE QUALITY OF MAYBE AIR FILTERS FOR THEIR YEAH, THAT'S ALL GOOD QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THAT WE'LL WANT DO STATE OF THE ART, AIR FILTRATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN OFFICE, UH, FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES HAS TWO PROJECTS ON SOUTH LAMAR ALREADY, SO THEY'RE PROBABLY PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTRUCTION, THAT AREA.
ALTHOUGH I CAN'T ANSWER WHAT THEY WILL DO.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT.
AND THAT MAY, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD INQUIRE ON, IS WHAT IS THE AIR, WELL, I GUESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF LIFE.
DO THOSE RESIDENTS HAVE THE SAME EQUAL PROTECTION AS OTHER RESIDENTIAL UNITS THAT ARE PRIVATELY OWNED OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, SO AIR, YOU KNOW, AIR FILTERS, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
BECAUSE I THINK ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE ADJACENT TOO AND SO CLOSE TO LAMAR.
WONDERFUL QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONER BIGLER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I DO.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO STAFF AND THE APPLICANT FOR WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON THIS PROJECT.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, UM, GONE BACK AND FORTH AND ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, BEEN MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
UM, I DO HAVE A LIST OF OF QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, SO I WILL TRY TO GO QUICKLY THROUGH THIS.
IS THERE AN ECHO OR A LITTLE BIT? OKAY.
[02:30:01]
UM, AND AGAIN, THEY'RE, I WISH THEY WERE IN BETTER ORDER, BUT THEY'RE KIND OF AS I WAS, THEY'RE NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER, BUT, UM, I'LL JUST GET STARTED.SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS ACTUALLY, UH, RELATED TO HISTORY OF THE, OF THIS SITE.
UM, I HAD BEEN INFORMED, UM, THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS IF THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN, UM, SOME WASTE DISPOSAL UNDERNEATH, UM, A PART OF THE SITE, MAYBE CLOSER TO THE TOYS OR US AREA.
AND I WAS JUST WANTED TO ASK THE APPLICANT ABOUT THAT AND IF, UM, AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, IF THE APPLICANT WOULD COMMIT TO SOME REMEDIATION, UM, IF NECESSARY.
UH, I THINK I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT WE PURCHASED THE SITE IN 2008.
UH, AND AT THAT TIME WE DID ALL OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A, UH, UH, INFORMAL LANDFILL THAT HAD HAPPENED.
NOT ON OUR PROPERTY, BUT JUST BEYOND IT ON THE GURU SIDE OF THE TOYS ROSS BUILDING.
NOW, THE CITY DID A REMEDIATION ON THAT IN, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YEAR? IT WAS LIKE 2018, I THINK.
SO THE CITY HAS REMEDIATED THAT LANDFILL.
THAT WAS THE ONE THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD ABOUT.
UH, BUT AGAIN, NOT ON OUR SITE, BUT IS PART OF THE G**O PARK SITE JUST BELOW US.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, SO IT, IT, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, AGREEING TO, UM, THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING LEVEL THREE.
UM, BUT IT DOES SEEM HOWEVER, UM, THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO COMMIT TO SPECIFIC, UM, ITEMS, UM, CURRENTLY TODAY ON HOW YOU'RE GONNA ACHIEVE LEVEL THREE, BUT YOU HAVE, UM, ASKED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE YOU FEEDBACK ON WHAT SEEMS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMISSION.
I'M JUST KIND OF ECHOING WHAT I'VE HEARD THAT IT, IT REALLY DOES, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF AGREEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DARK SKY OR ORDINANCE AND, YOU KNOW, LIGHT POLLUTION REDUCTION.
SO I'M JUST, UM, PUTTING BACK THAT BACK OUT THERE AS A, AS A, A REQUEST TO, TO COMMIT TO THAT.
I KNOW THAT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, AS WELL AS THE, UH, BIRD FRIENDLY, UM, LOW STRIKE REFLECTIVITY, UM, FOR IN, FOR THE BUILDINGS.
UM, SO THOSE WERE TWO THAT SEEMED TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A CONSENSUS, I THINK.
UM, AND SO I GUESS THE, THE, I GUESS IT'S A, A REQUEST FOR YOU ALL TO, TO PLEASE PRIORITIZE THAT, UM, AMONG THE, THE MANY ITEMS TO, TO, THAT YOU'LL, UM, COMMIT TO, TO ACHIEVE LEVEL THREE.
YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE CAN ADD EB CHARGERS TO THAT LIST TOO.
UM, OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM THREE.
UM, GREENBELT, UH, TRAILHEAD ACCESS.
UM, I RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DESIGN OF, OF THAT IS, IS STILL HASN'T HAPPENED, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE AN, UM, A PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS AND AND DEPARTMENTS.
UM, BUT I GUESS I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, IT DOES SEEM, I MEAN, FROM
SO JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, PROPER INVESTMENT IN, YOU KNOW, DESIGN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SAFE, YOU KNOW, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WOULD LIKELY BE LOTS OF SWITCHBACKS AND, YOU KNOW, SO JUST, YOU KNOW, COMMITMENT TO, UM, I GUESS SAFE AND ACCESS AND, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBLE DESIGN.
UM, AND ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, COMMITMENT TO TRAILHEAD, UM, MAINTENANCE SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, TRASH PICKUP AND, YOU KNOW, NATIVE AND ADAPTIVE, UM, LANDSCAPING AND ALSO, UM, UH, DOG WASTE, UM, CONTROL OR KIND OF MITIGATION EFFORTS.
AND I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, IS I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHO MAKES THE COMMITMENT TO, TO THE MAINTENANCE, UM, UM, IN THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE I, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE, THERE ARE, UM, SEVERAL TRAILS, UM, BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THERE IS A COMMITMENT FOR, FOR THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE AMONG APPLICANT.
AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A QUESTION IS, IS THIS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE APPLICANT OR, UH, YES, I THINK IT IS.
UH, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF HISTORY, UM, WE STARTED WORKING WITH HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY AND SAFE BARDEN CREEK PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
UH, AND EVEN HAD A PRELIMINARY TRAIL DESIGN THAT MET A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF COOKS IN THAT KITCHEN.
[02:35:01]
BARTON CREEK, SOS HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.
AND REALLY THE NONPROFITS WEREN'T SURE WHO SHOULD BE DOING WHAT.
AND WHAT'S KIND OF RESOLVED ITSELF RECENTLY IS THAT, UH, HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY AND AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION ARE GONNA TAKE THAT LEAD, AND WE'VE COMMITTED TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AS SOON AS WE KNOW WE HAVE A PROJECT, UH, AND WORK ON THE TRAIL PLAN.
WE'VE COMMITTED TO MAINTENANCE, EVEN COMMITTING TO MAINTENANCE DOWN IN THE PARK, NOT JUST AT THE TRAIL HEAD ONCE WE CAN GET A SCOPE OF WHAT THAT IS.
UH, BUT WE JUST HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A SCOPE OKAY.
UH, TO MAKE A COMMITMENT YET, BUT WE'RE READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, SO, AND THEN SWITCHING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
UM, SO FOR ME, THIS IS MY ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR THERE TO BE, UM, SOME PARKING SPACES IS DESIGNATED, UH, FOR THE, THE ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, UM, AND AS WELL AS A, A PUBLIC RESTROOM FOR THE PARK.
I KNOW, I MEAN, I WASN'T SURE IF YOU WERE DONE.
THAT WAS A PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, EXCUSE ME, RECOMMENDATION AS WELL.
AND WERE, WERE OKAY COMMITTED TO THAT.
CAUSE I KNOW THAT, UM, THERE, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE ACCESSED BY THE, BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT WILL JUST MAKE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PARENTS' LIVES EASIER,
SO
I'M NOT SURE WHERE Y'ALL ARE IN THE DESIGN PROCESS OF THAT, BUT I WANTED TO RAISE THAT QUESTION ABOUT USING NON POTABLE WATER FOR TOILET FLUSHING.
SO RIGHT NOW, THE RAIN WATER THAT WE CATCH ON SITE, WE CAN CONSUME COMPLETELY BETWEEN THE COOLING TOWERS AND THE, UM, IRRIGATION THAT WE HAVE PLANNED.
SO IT, THE IT'S ALREADY BEING CONSUMED.
UM, THIS, I, I'M, I, I BELIEVE THIS CAME UP, UM, AT THE PARK BOARD MEETING AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION FOR, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFIT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
UM, BUT I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION OF HOW MUCH OF THE DEDICATED PARKLAND WOULD INCLUDE THE STORM WATER CONTROLS, AND I THINK AT THE TIME THERE WAS STILL SOME MODELING GOING ON OF, UM, HOW MUCH OF THE, THE UNDERGROUND STORM WATER CONTROLS, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE EFFECTIVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY JUST WHERE, WHERE THE STORM WATER CONTROLS WOULD BE AND, YOU KNOW, WOULD THAT DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF DEDICATED PARKLAND? AND IS THERE AN UPDATE ON THAT? SO, UH, AFTER WORKING THROUGH WITH WATERSHED, UH, ALL THE MODELING, DETAILING AND EVERYTHING, WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT WE WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY THREE ACRES FOR RE IRRIGATION SPACE ON THE PARK LAND, WHICH WE'LL ONLY GET PARTIAL CREDIT FOR.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE, UH, SOME, UH, UNDERGROUND PONDS, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLED, THE, THE TANKS UNDER UNDERGROUND.
BUT, AND THOSE WILL ALSO BE REDUCED, UH, CREDIT FROM PARKLAND.
UM, BUT WE THINK WE CAN ACTIVATE ON TOP OF THEM AND PLANT AND ALL OF THAT AS WELL.
SO WE'RE, UH, WE'RE, UH, EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT AND BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE THAT SPACE.
AND NOW THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, YOU'VE DEFINITELY MENTIONED THAT THIS EVENING AS WELL.
UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING IT WITHIN THAT CONTEXT.
SO ONE OF MY ITEMS WAS A REQUEST TO, UM, TO, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY CHECKED OFF.
UM, I JUST KNOW THAT'S A, THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, A VERY, UH, CONSISTENT CONCERN I THINK FOR, FOR PEOPLE IN DISTRICT FIVE IS, UM, WELL, CUZ THEY KNOW Y'ALL, Y'ALL KNOW THAT TRAFFIC, THAT INTERSECTION'S KIND OF A MESS.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
UM, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT, UH, UH, BILL BUNCH WAS SAYING, UM, AS AN SOS, UM, ITEM, UH, AND
[02:40:01]
I IN, IN OTHER, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UM, I JUST WANNA BRING THIS UP AGAIN.UM, AND I KNOW IT MIGHT BE HARD TO COMMIT TODAY, BUT, UH, I REALLY WOULD LIKE A, A COMMITMENT FOR THE APPLICANT TO BUY, UM, ADDITIONAL MITIGATION LAND TO BRING THE I IMPERVIOUS COVER DOWN.
UM, TWO 15% ARE, YOU KNOW, CLOSER TO 15%.
AND SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL ARE OPEN TO? IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING WE NEED TO DISCUSS.
UH, UM, AGAIN, JUST SOME BACKGROUND.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING THESE MEETINGS NOW FOR YEAR AND A HALF AND TONIGHT'S THE FIRST NIGHT THAT THIS HAS COME UP.
SO IF, IF WE SEEMED A LITTLE SURPRISED AND CAN'T GIVE YOU A DEFINITE ANSWER, THAT WOULD BE THE REASON.
AND, UM, GOT THREE ITEMS LEFT.
GOING QUICKLY AND THEN TO THE, UM, ANOTHER TO, TO REQUEST SIX FROM THE SAVE OUR STRINGS, UM, DOCUMENT.
WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE, I GUESS IN TERMS OF, UM, I GUESS THIS QUESTION IS FOR STAFF, BUT FOR, UM, AN ACTUAL DRAFT OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO, TO BE REVIEWED BY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS LIKE, I'M SORRY, IS THAT WOULD ONLY BE LIKE IF THERE'S A, A REQUESTED AMENDMENT OR, I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT PROCESS.
UH, WENDY RHODES, AGAIN WITH HOUSING AND PLANNING.
SO THE, UH, DRAFT ZONING ORDINANCE IS TYPICALLY PREPARED AFTER FIRST READING AT CITY COUNCIL AND THEN AND SO PRIOR AND MADE AVAILABLE, UH, PRIOR TO SECOND AND THIRD READING.
SO I, I IT'S NOT YET BEEN CREATED.
AND DOES IT, WOULD IT RETURN TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AFTER IT'S CREATED? I, I WORK WITH, I WOULD WORK WITH LESLIE AND LIZ AND THEN JIM DEBOWSKI WITH THE CITY ARBORIST GROUP TO MAKE, BE SURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE, ARE CAPTURED APPROPRIATELY AND, AND OTHERS, YOU KNOW, OTHER DRAINAGE RELATED STAFF AND, AND WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF.
UM, WENDY, WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I THINK THAT YOU COULD, UM, THIS MIGHT BE IN YOUR PURVIEW.
UM, I HAD HEARD, LIKE, OR PROBABLY A YEAR AGO WHEN WE HAD, WERE FIRST, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECT IN HERE ABOUT A REQUEST, UM, AND I DON'T, SORRY IF I'M SAYING THIS WRONG, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE, THE LANGUAGE, BUT BASICALLY ABOUT, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY CONSIDERING OUR REQUESTING AN ELECTRIC SUBSTATION NEARBY OR WITHIN IN THE PROJECT OR ACROSS THE STREET MM-HMM.
AND, AND I THINK THIS IS WITHIN, YOU KNOW, THE PURVIEW OF OF THE COMMISSION.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT, WHAT CAME OF THAT? UM, THAT'S STILL AN, AN OUTSTANDING ISSUE.
UH, THE AUSTIN REQUEST FOR A SUBSTATION, UH, HAS NOT BEEN AGREEABLE TO THE APPLICANT.
AND, AND THIS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AS OF VERY RECENTLY TODAY, THAT DISCUSSIONS ARE OR WILL BE RESTARTING.
WE HAD SOMETHING, UM, WE, WE'D LOVE IF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAD AN OPINION ON WHETHER AN AUSTIN ENERGY SUBSTATION IS PROPERLY LOCATED ON BRODY, WE WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT OPINION.
UH, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, TO MAKE IT ALL WORK.
ALTHOUGH, UH, THUS FAR ALL THE OPTIONS IN AUSTIN ENERGY LAID OUT, WHICH SOME OF Y'ALL MAY HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A REGULAR BIG OLE OPEN SUBSTATION WITH HIGH POWER LINES AND TOWERS, UH, THAT WE FEEL REALLY DOESN'T WORK FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA KEEP TALKING, BUT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CITY VOICE THEIR OPINIONS OR THEIR CONCERNS, WHICH WE HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT OF SO FAR.
I, AND I MEAN, I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN ENOUGH INFORMATION ON IT TO HAVE AN OPINION RIGHT, RIGHT NOW.
BUT IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAD HEARD THAT WAS BEING DISCUSSED.
SO I WANTED TO ASK, ASK, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE STATUS WAS.
SO WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
MY LAST ITEM, I'M GONNA END IN THIS, THIS IS THE ONE, I'M LIKE THE PERSON WHO ALWAYS BRINGS THIS UP, BUT, UM, JUST BECAUSE OF SOME OF MY PREVIOUS WORK, BUT I'M, I'M A REALLY, UM, A BIG PROPONENT OF, UM, UH, COMBINED HEAT AND POWER, COMBINED HEAT AND POWER SYSTEMS, LIKE ALSO KNOWN AS CO-GENERATION.
AND, UM, BASICALLY IT'S, YOU CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, SIMULTANEOUS, SIMULTANEOUS ONSITE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY AND, UM, AND HEAT FROM A SINGLE FUEL SOURCE.
AND THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD, UM, AREA TO DO THAT.
UM, CUZ IT'S, YOU KIND OF HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A CAMPUS, UM, APPROACH HERE WITH ALL THESE BUILDINGS AND IT JUST, IT HAS BENEFITS OF, YOU KNOW, INCREASING RESILIENCY TO THE AREA, UM, WHERE YOU WOULDN'T BE A HUNDRED PERCENT, YOU KNOW, RELIABLE ON THE GRID.
AND YOU COULD ALSO INTEGRATE THE POTENTIAL, UM, YOU KNOW, SOLAR PV AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, RENEWABLE
[02:45:01]
ENERGY, UM, SOURCES, YOU KNOW, INTO THE SYSTEMS. SO IT ALSO INCREASES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS CUZ LESS, UM, YOU KNOW, LESS, LESS ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION FROM THE GRID, WHICH IS LESS EFFICIENT.SO THERE'S MANY BENEFITS TO IT.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED, BUT THAT YOU ALL WOULD CONSIDER, UM, COMBINING HEAT AND POWER AS ONE OF THE, UM, FUEL SOURCES? YES, IT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT IN AS MUCH DETAIL AS WE CAN.
AND, AND ONCE AGAIN, TRYING TO GET AUSTIN ENERGY TO KIND OF BE COLLABORATIVE IN THAT, THAT EFFORT.
UM, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL, EVERYTHING, THAT'S EVERYTHING I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
GOT ANYTHING? I JUST HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, I WAS WONDERING IF THE CAVE HAD BEEN SO, WELL, LET ME JUST START WITH A DIFFERENT ONE.
UM, ONE THING THAT POPPED IN MY HEAD ABOUT THE CAVE WAS, AND, AND MADE ME THINK OF HOW LIKE INTERSPACE CAVERNS AND, UM, UH, UM, LIKE IN JANET ROCK, HOW'D THEY HAVE THE OPTION FOR THE PUBLIC TO GO AND ACTUALLY EXPLORE THE CAVES? AND SO I WAS, I'M WONDERING IF THAT WAS GOING TO BE, UM, FACTORED INTO THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT.
LIKE WOULD THAT, WOULD THE CAVE BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OR IS IT GONNA BE SHUT OFF FROM THE PUBLIC? UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CITY, UH, IS PROHIBITING ACCESS NOW AND THAT THE, THE OPENING INTO AIRMAN'S, UH, UH, AIRMAN'S CAVE IS ABOUT A MILE FURTHER NORTH.
UH, AND YOU HAVE TO CRAWL, UH, ON YOUR STOMACH FOR SOME LONG DISTANCE, UH, JUST TO GET INTO IT.
AND I THINK THE CITY'S HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE GETTING STUCK OR LOST.
UH, AND SO ACCESS TO IT TO THE PUBLIC IS NOT SOMETHING I THINK THE CITY WANTS.
NOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING TO NICO HOWARD ABOUT, UH, AND I I JUST MIGHT ADD, WHEN ALL THIS STARTED, THE AIRMAN'S, UH, CAVE CAME UP, UH, SOS TOLD US AT THE TIME, THE PERSON YOU NEED TO TALK TO IS NICO HOWARD.
AND HIS OPINION WOULD HOLD THE MOST WAY OF ANYBODY WE COULD VISIT WITH.
SO THAT'S WHO WE'VE RELIED UPON IN THIS PROCESS.
UH, BUT NICO WOULD LIKE US TO GRANT HIM AN EASEMENT FOR ACCESS, AT LEAST ON THE PROPERTY THAT WE CONTROL, SO THAT IF THEY WANT TO GET IN AND MONITOR IT OR FURTHER EXPLORE IT, UH, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DRAWING UP AN EASEMENT FOR THE CITY RIGHT NOW FOR THAT PURPOSE.
UM, OH, UM, ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD, UM, REGARDING THE PARKING SPACES, UM, WOULD THE SPACES THAT ARE OPEN TO PUBLIC, UH, WOULD THOSE BE PAID SPACES OR WOULD THEY BE LIKE, UM, FREE SPACES SAYS, SO FOR THE CITY, FOR AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, FREE SPACES IS BIG? NO, NO, BECAUSE THAT JUST SAYS DRIVE YOUR CAR.
SO THE PER ATDS DIRECTIVE NO SPACES SHOULD BE FREE, NOT EVEN THE ONES FOR OWN TENANTS.
NOW THAT'S STILL A DISCUSSION BEING HAD INTERNALLY, BUT ULTIMATELY, HOWEVER THE PARKING STRUCTURE GETS LAID OUT FROM A FINANCING PERSPECTIVE, THE PROBABILITY OF HAVING JUST FREE SPACES ASIDE FROM THE 50 DEDICATED PARK SPACES, THAT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT WILL BE SHOW THAT WE BE FIGURED OUT IN THE FUTURE.
BUT ATDS REQUIREMENT THROUGH OUR TDM PLAN IS THAT THERE ARE NO FREE SPACES.
NOW THOUGH, THE, THE FEE STRUCTURE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GONNA BE UNTIL WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH.
THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE THOSE 50 SPACES ARE FREE PART HAS REQUESTED HIM AND WE'RE GIVING IT TO.
UH, ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS REGARDING LIKE THE OPEN SPACE THAT WAS AVAIL, THAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE ON THE PROPERTY.
UM, COMMISSIONER KARAHI HAD LIKE THROWN OUT THE PO POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING LIKE A CONCERT OR, UM, LIVE MUSIC VENUE KIND OF SPACE BEING LOCATED ON A PROPERTY.
SO I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS IF THAT WAS ONE THING BEING LOOKED AT AND OH, BECAUSE I, I KIND OF THINK ABOUT THAT AND LIKE THE, THE NATURE THAT'S KIND OF IN THAT AREA.
AND SO I WAS JUST KIND OF WONDERING ABOUT MORE INFORMATION WITH HOW THAT SPACE WOULD BE USED.
SO THE ONLY OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE SPACE THAT'S SHOWN ON ANY OF THESE RENDERINGS AND THINGS YET IS, UH, IDENTIFIED IN THE CENTRAL GREEN KIND OF, BECAUSE IT'S ALL SORT OF, IT'S A COLUM KIND OF.
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN A REQUIRED USE IN THERE.
SO WHILE WE'RE DOING THE PARK PLANNING, THERE WILL BE MORE FEEDBACK LOOPS WITH PAR
[02:50:01]
AND, AND OTHERS AND, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET JUST EXACTLY THE RIGHT PARK PROGRAM FIGURED OUT FOR IN THERE TO ACTIVATE THE SPACE.UM, BUT, UH, UH, BUT NOT MAKE, YOU KNOW, NOISE, UH, AND INTENTIONALLY SO.
AND THEN I WILL POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE, UH, 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF, UH, COMMERCIAL SPACE RESERVED FOR ARTISTS FOR MM-HMM.
AND, AND SO THAT, THAT COULD BE PERFORMANCE SPACE.
IT MAY ALSO BE, YOU KNOW, GALLERY SPACE OR STUDIOS OR SOMETHING ELSE TOO.
BUT, UM, THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR, FOR MUSIC.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, RECOMMEND LOOKING INTO POLLINATION GARDENS.
UM, I KNOW LIKE EARLIER THIS YEAR, UH, THE MONARCH BAR, UH, MONA, UH, SORRY, GETTING TONGUE TIED.
ANYWAY,
AND SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO MAYBE CONSIDER HAVING POLLINATION, UM, GARDENS ON THE PROPERTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR THREE YEARS AND, AND WE'VE HAD ABOUT THREE DAYS TO DIGEST THIS AND ASK OUR QUESTIONS.
UM, UH, I'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
AND, AND FIRST OFF, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A KID, THIS USED TO BE A SHEEP FARM, SO I WANNA KNOW IF THE SHEEP ARE GONNA BE BROUGHT BACK.
UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE DEL RIO CLAY ACTUALLY
UM, SO YOU MENTIONED THAT THE DEL RIO CLAY, YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE ALL THAT ON TOP OF THE CAVE, AND THAT'S WONDERFUL.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU'RE MITIGATING IT OR YOU'RE, OR YOU'RE REMOVING IT IN A LOT OF THE OTHER AREA, OR, AND I KNOW JUST BECAUSE OF WHEN YOU BUILD ON TOP OF THAT, IT, IT ROCKS AND ROLLS, UH, AS THAT PARKING LOT, IT CAN ATTEST TO.
I, I DON'T THINK IT'S COST EFFECTIVE OR INTENDED FOR US TO MINE ANY OF THE CLAY OUT AND REMOVE IT.
UM, WE'RE JUST SIMPLY SAYING THAT WHAT EXISTS THERE.
WE, WE COMMIT TO IMPACTING NO MORE THAN DOWN TO THE LAST 20 FEET.
I DON'T EXPECT WE'RE EVEN GONNA NEED TO GO DOWN THAT FAR, YOU KNOW? OKAY.
UH, TO GET THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO GET IN TERMS OF STRUCTURE.
THAT JUST WHEN YOU SAID THAT, IT MADE IT SOUND LIKE YOU WERE LEAVING IT THERE, BUT YOU MIGHT BE REMOVING IT IN OTHER PLACES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UM, ON THAT.
UM, I WANNA ECHO, UH, MY DEEPEST CONCERN, UM, WHICH IS NOT THE CAVE, WHICH IS DEEP, UM, IS THE HEIGHT.
UM, THAT IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT THIS, THIS WHOLE PROJECT.
UH, AND I AGREE WITH, UH, BILL BUNCH IN, UH, IN, IN MANY WAYS, UM, ON THE HEIGHT ISSUE, UM, FOR, UM, CREATING THE CANYON EFFECTS.
UM, AND, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT'S IMPACT ON, ON BIRDS.
UM, AND SO SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR THE HEIGHT, UM, IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOW SOME OF THESE OTHER PROPERTIES ARE DEVELOPED ALONG THE BARTON CREEK, UM, ZONE, UH, IN PARTICULAR LOOKING FORWARD, UM, TO BARTON CREEK SQUARE MALL, THE TWO, THE TWO PROPERTIES THAT TRIGGERED IT ALL.
UM, SO I, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO EXPRESS MY, MY CONCERN, UM, ON THAT AND, AND, AND EVEN ASK FOR, UM, FIGURING OUT HOW TO REDUCE IT.
I MEAN, IT'S, UM, I KNOW THAT'S BIG AND I KNOW THAT'S A HUGE, UH, ASK, BUT, UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY AS, UH, IT PERTAINS TO NOT JUST THE ENDANGERED SPECIES OF THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER, BUT HALF OF THE BIRDS IN NORTH AMERICA RIGHT NOW ARE IN PERIL.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE RE RELISTING THE BLACK CAT VERIO.
WE COULD BE RE-LISTING OR, OR LISTING OTHER SPECIES THAT USE THAT, UM, BARTON CREEK WATERSHED AS, UH, AS A CORRIDOR AND FOR NESTING AREAS.
UM, SO THERE, THAT'S MY, MY, UH, CONCERN ON THE HEIGHT.
UM, I THINK ONE THING THAT WE TOUCHED ON EARLIER, BUT MAYBE DIDN'T FULLY TOUCH ON IT, IS, UM, IS MAKING SURE THAT WASTE, UM, UM, IS NOT, UM, BECOMING LOOSE AND GETTING DOWN INTO THE, UM, BARTON CREEK ZONE.
UM, THAT WAS ONE, ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, WE HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW MUCH WASTE AND TRASH IS BEING, UH, RELEASED FROM, UM, SHOPPING CENTERS AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND, YOU KNOW, UH, FOOD RESTAURANTS
[02:55:01]
AND THINGS, UH, GETTING INTO OUR CREEK AND WATERWAYS.SO, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS ABSOLUTE BEST PRACTICES, UM, FOR HOW WE, HOW WE HANDLE, UH, OUR TRASH IN THAT AREA.
UM, AND CERTAINLY BECAUSE IT'S UP ON TOP OF THE HILL, IT'S ALL GONNA GO DOWNHILL, UM, IF IT DOES BECOME LOOSE IN THERE.
UM, IN, YOU MENTIONED, UM, UH, REALLY BUILDING THIS SO THAT IT'S ATTRACTIVE TO FAMILIES, UM, AND I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR, YOUR DESIGN AND THAT, AND, UM, AND YOU SAID YOU WANNA KEEP THOSE ROADS NARROW AS I JUST, I WANNA, UM, THIS KIND OF GOES OUTSIDE OF ENVIRONMENTAL, BUT, UM, I'M THINKING ABOUT SCHOOL BUSES.
UH, HOW DO THEY GET IN THERE? UM, WHERE ARE THEY GONNA STOP? HOW ARE THEY GONNA GET THOSE KIDS TO AND FROM, UM, THAT LOCATION AND OUT OF THERE? UM, THAT SEEMS LIKE SOME, LIKE A, A SMALL THING, BUT, UM, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THOSE, THOSE SWEET BUS DRIVERS, UH, THAT WE ALL DEPEND ON, UM, TO GET IN AND OUT OF THERE.
UM, SO THINKING ABOUT THAT, UM, WE'VE HEARD SOME CONCERNS TOO FROM OTHER COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THE, UM, THE IMPACT, THE HUMAN IMPACT INTO BARTON CREEK, UH, WILDERNESS, UM, WITH THE UTILIZATION OF THOSE TRAILS AND OUT, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN THAT STEEP HILL, NO, YOU KNOW,
BUT IF WE, IF, IF, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY LOOKING INTO THIS CAPACITY, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS AT LEAST A ONE MILE LOOPING TRAIL THAT HELPS GET PEOPLE UP ON TOP OF THE HILL, GIVES THEM, YOU KNOW, A CONNECTION WITH NATURE, CREATES SOME OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPACES, BUT NOT NECESSARILY MAKING THEM DEPENDENT ON GOING DOWN INTO, UM, THE GREEN BELT FOR THEIR EXERCISE AND, AND THEIR ACTIVITY.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
UM, THERE WAS ONE MORE IN HERE.
UH, I ECHO, UH, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ON THE DARK SKIES, UM, UH, ON THAT AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE.
UM, AGAIN, JUST REALLY, REALLY, REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE HEIGHT ON THAT.
UM, SO THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN AND REALLY NO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU STAFF, UH, FOR HURTING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.
THE PRESENT FOR US TO COME OUT ON SITE OR, UH, TO MEET ON THE PHONE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE.
UM, JUST THE, HAVING REVIEWED THE WEBSITE AGAIN TODAY, IT'S, YOU'RE DEFINITELY PUSHING INFORMATION OUT AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO US.
YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU SOMEHOW KNOW HOW TO FIND US, SO YOU CAN, BUT, BUT VIA KAYLA, AS, AS PLANS CHANGE, PLANS CHANGE OR AS, UM, YOU'RE YOU'RE PROUD ABOUT A NEW LEVEL OF COMMITMENT YOU'VE MADE, PLEASE PUSH IT TO US SO WE CAN STAY ABREAST.
CAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A, A STEP IN THE PROCESS THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE, UM, TO KIND OF SPEAK TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING.
UH, A COUPLE FINAL THOUGHTS AND ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE HIT A LOT OF MY NOTES ALREADY.
UM, THERE WAS ANOTHER, UH, PROJECT THAT CAME BEFORE US, AND I'M LOOKING AT MY SCREEN HERE, BUT THERE WAS A LEAD PILOT, BIRD COLLISION, DETERRENTS CREDIT, UM, UH, THAT I WOULD MAYBE ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO LOOK INTO, UM, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF BIRD COLLISION, UM, AND REFLECTIVITY AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
BUT I KNOW LEADS LOOKING AT THAT AT THE SAME TIME AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN, UH, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ABOUT STORM WATER DURING CONSTRUCTION, I'D BE, I'D BE INTERESTED IN AND EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT, UM, SOME LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THAT Y'ALL CAN MAKE FOR, FOR MAYBE HOW THAT WALL IS DECONSTRUCTED, YOU KNOW, THE RETAINING WALL TO WHERE YOU'RE, YOU'RE HOLDING ALL THAT STORM WATER IN, UM, AND, AND A MONITORING PLAN AND A COMPLIANCE PLAN OR SOMETHING TO, TO HELP US UNDERSTAND, UH, THE BELT AND SUSPENDERS COMPONENTS OF, OF WHEN YOU'RE, UH, MORE OR LESS DECONSTRUCTING THE SITE.
UM, AND THERE'S, THERE'S LOOSE, LOOSE SOIL.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE DARK SKIES THINGS THERE, THERE IS A, I'M SURE YOU GUYS KNOW IT AS PROBABLY BETTER THAN US, BUT, UH, INTER INTERNATIONAL DARK SKIES.
UM, IF THERE'S A BAR OR SOME KIND OF A COMMITMENT LEVEL THAT YOU, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN MAKE, UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ALL THE PARTS OF YOUR PROJECT YET.
UM, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER KIND OF THIRD PARTY THAT MAY BE ABLE TO, YOU COULD, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PUT A, UH, TO, TO LEAN ONTO.
UM, BUT WITH, WITH THOSE FEW COMMENTS, UM, I DO THINK IT'S A VERY, UH, EXCITING PROJECT, A VERY INTERESTING PROJECT.
[03:00:01]
IT WILL BE, UH, A BETTER SITE THAN WHAT IS OUT THERE NOW FROM A STORM WATER, UH, PROTECTION AND COLLECTION STANDPOINT.UM, AND, AND, AND PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP GOING.
UM, UH, WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO DISCUSS? I, I THINK WE MAYBE IF, IF ANYONE HAS ONE FINAL QUESTION OR COMMENT, BUT IT'S 9 0 4 IF WE CAN'T HAVE ANOTHER MEETING.
I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON, UM, COMMISSION SECRETARY BRISTOL'S, UM, CONCERN ABOUT HEIGHT.
CAN THE APPLICANT JUST GIVE US A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT OF ON WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING? AND I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT, UM, CONCERN AND, AND QUESTION THAT HAS COME UP THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
SO, UM, IS THERE, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE YOU STILL CONSIDERING OPTIONS AND, AND, AND REDUCING HEIGHT OR WHERE, JUST LIKE WHERE ARE YOU WITH THE, THE, I DUNNO, I, IS THAT ON? OKAY, YOU'RE GOOD.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE A DIRECT ANSWER TO THAT, BUT YES, WE'VE BEEN, UH, HAVING THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT HEIGHT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU WOULD GUESS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, UH, AND IN ALL OF OUR WORKSHOPS FOR THE NEIGHBORS, WE'VE HEARD THOSE THAT HAD CONCERNS.
WE HEARD A WHOLE LOT THAT DIDN'T HAVE CONCERNS TOO.
SO I'M SORRY, THOSE AREN'T REPRESENTED HERE THIS EVENING.
UH, HAVE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN STAFF AND HEIGHT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT, UH, WAS A CONCERN.
UH, WE, WE REALLY FEEL LIKE WHAT WE'VE GOT IS A, A, A PROJECT THAT HAS THE DENSITY IT NEEDS TO DO ALL THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO AND THAT THE CITY WANTS US TO DO.
UH, AND IT, IT KIND OF GETS DOWN TO THE, AT SOME POINT, WHAT STRAW BREAKS THE CAMPBELL'S BACK, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO IT AND JUST LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS NOW.
UH, WHICH WE DON'T REALLY WANT, WE DON'T THINK THE THE CITY WANTS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY OPEN TO THE DISCUSSION.
UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD ANY, LIKE, IF YOU'LL DO THIS, WE'RE OKAY.
UH, IT'S BEEN JUST REAL GENERAL, LIKE WE'VE HEARD FROM YOU ALL TONIGHT.
YOU NEED TO REDUCE THE HEIGHT.
WELL, UH, IF IT WAS A LITTLE MORE TANGIBLE, IT'D PROBABLY BE EASIER TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION.
UH, AND AS I'VE HEARD EVERYBODY, I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING IS THE TALLEST BUILDING, WHICH THERE'S ONE ON A CORNER, IS THE HEIGHT THAT EVERYBODY'S REFERRED TO, THAT'S THE 275 FEET.
UM, FOUR OF THE BUILDINGS AREN'T 150 FEET.
UH, AND SO IT'S JUST THE ONES THAT ARE ALONG THE, THE ROADWAY THAT I'M HEARING FEEDBACK TONIGHT.
UH, AND I'VE JUST URGE Y'ALL TO GO LOOK AT THE, THE OVERPASSES AND THE 150 FOOT HIGH LIGHT TOWERS AND HIGH POWER TRANSMISSION LINES THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I MEAN, IN OUR VIEW, THIS IS REALLY AN URBAN DEVELOPMENT MEETING, A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THE URBAN PART WHERE THE URBAN ALREADY IS AND THE NATURAL PART WHERE A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ALREADY IS.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE PROJECT WE BROUGHT FOR, AND IN THE OVERALL SENSE OF ALL THE THINGS WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT BY GETTING A CERTAIN DENSITY.
UH, AND WE'VE HEARD CONSISTENTLY THAT IT, IT'S VIEW THAT VIEWED DIDN'T TEND TO BE THE PRO THE, THE PROBLEM THAT MOST THOUGHT IT WAS TRAFFIC OBVIOUSLY COMES WITH DENSITY, BUT WE THINK WE'RE DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS WITH TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT TO DECREASE THE TRAFFIC.
SO I THINK OF WHAT IT GETS DOWN TO IS PRECEDENT.
THAT THAT SEEMS TO BE THE THING THAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU ALL THE MOST, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO IT.
AND WHAT WE WOULD SAY IS IF YOU CAN GET ANOTHER PROJECT TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, I THINK YOU'RE SETTING A REALLY GOOD PRECEDENT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE IMPERVIOUS COVER BEING TAKEN AWAY FOR MEETING ALL SOS REQUIREMENTS, IF NOT BEYOND THAT MEETING WATER FORWARD.
I MEAN, ALL OF THE LONG LIST OF THINGS THAT, AS YOU SAID, YOU'VE ONLY HAD THREE DAYS TO LOOK AT AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR THREE YEARS, UH, I THINK IN THE OVERALL CONTEXT, UH, THAT WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT WE THINK IS A REALLY GOOD PROJECT, UH, AND ITS DENSITY IS PROPER FOR WHERE IT'S LOCATED, UH, IN THAT CONTEXT.
SO I HOPE THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, BASIS ON, ON WHERE WE STAND.
UH, YES, QUICKLY, I, I HAVE ONLY ONE MORE COMMENT AND IT'S KIND OF ROUND THIS, UH, THIS IS A VERY GOOD PROJECT.
IT SHOWS A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT AND CONSIDERATION ABOUT A LOT OF FACTORS, AND IT IS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT OVER WHAT'S THERE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S A VERY LOW BAR.
UH, BUT YOU HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
MY CONCERN IS THIS, WE GET ONE CHANCE AT IT RIGHT HERE, OKAY? AND IF YOU SUBMIT A SITE PLAN AND EVERYTHING, THEN IT, THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE VARIANCES.
[03:05:01]
I'M GOING TO SUGGEST IS THAT WE REQUIRE YOU TO COME BACK WITH A SITE PLAN WHETHER THERE'S A VARIANCE OR NOT, JUST SO WE CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.BECAUSE AS YOU INDICATED EARLIER, THE PICTURES YOU PUT UP ARE AN ARTIST'S RENDITION OF WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE.
AND THEY'RE GREAT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT MAY BE EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND WE ALL MAY LOVE IT BECAUSE OF WHATEVER IT IS, BUT IT IS AN ARTIST'S RENDITION AND YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED BY STATUTE, LAW, MORALS, OR ANYTHING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THAT.
MY CONCERN IS THAT YOUR SITE PLAN, THAT YOU WILL TURN IN MAY VERY GREATLY FROM THAT, AND WE WILL NOT GET TO, AS A COMMISSION, SEE THAT OUR COMMENTS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, AT, AT, YOU KNOW, IN THE PROCESS.
AND, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT.
AND THIS IS NOT TO QUESTION ANYTHING, IT'S JUST TO, WE WANT TO HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON ONGOING BASIS.
I'LL, I'LL DEFER TO STAFF ON THE MECHANISM FOR DOING THAT, BUT WE DON'T MIND AT ALL COMING BACK AND SHOWING YOU THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE COMMITTED TO DO.
SO THAT'S, FROM OUR STANDPOINT, THAT'S NOT A CONCERN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MECHANICALLY IT WORKS.
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A, A ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
SO ONCE, ONCE CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDS THE PUD OR PASSES AN ORDINANCE, THEN CITY STAFF REVIEW THE, THE PROJECT FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THAT ORDINANCE.
IT'S SOMETHING THEY DO EVERY TI ALL THE TIME.
IF THEY CAME BACK FOR A BRIEFING, THEY COULD DO THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A MECHANISM FOR THIS BODY TO, UM, WEIGH IN OR, OR REQUIRE ANYTHING.
AND SO I'M LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR HERE AGAIN, AND THERE'S THE FIRST READING, UH, PRESUMABLY EARLY, EARLY DECEMBER, WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BRIEFING AFTER THAT, BUT BEFORE SECOND OR THIRD READINGS, I THINK I, MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD.
COMMISSIONER BRA WAS NO, NO, I JUMPED, I JUMPED.
SO YEAH, TO PULL IT UPSTREAM OF THE SITE PLAN PROCESS, UM,
THERE'S ONLY ONE MEETING IN DECEMBER, WHICH IS DECEMBER.
WELL, I'M JUST SAYING LIKE AFTER, IF COUNSEL DOES TAKE IT UP FOR FIRST READING ON DECEMBER 1ST, WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO COME BACK AND BRIEF US AFTER THAT READING, UM, BEFORE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, ASSUMING IT GOES DECEMBER 8TH, YOU, WE, THEY COULD COME BACK ON DECEMBER 6TH, UM, BUT IT WOULD NOT, IT WOULD'VE ALREADY GONE TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
NOW I, I I, I'M, I'M KIND OF THINKING IN ADDITION TO ANY ACTION WE TAKE TONIGHT, BASED ON WHAT YOU HAD SAID EARLIER, BUT TO ALLOW COMMISSIONERS TO, TO CONTINUE TO DIGEST THIS AND FOR THE, THE APPLICANT TO KIND OF KEEP BRIEFING US IN, IN REALITY, BY THE TIME IT GETS TO SECOND READING, TWO DAYS BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING, IT WOULD BE PRETTY UNLIKELY THAT MUCH WOULD BE ABLE TO GET CONVEYED TO CITY COUNCIL IN TIME FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING IN TWO DAYS.
THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS, I MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON TIMING.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S FILTERED ALL THE WAY THROUGH, BUT, UH, BILL AND SOS ASKED US NOT TO GO TO DECEMBER 1ST BECAUSE THAT'S THE 30TH CELEBRATION OF SOS.
SO WE'VE AGREED TO GO DECEMBER 8TH.
UM, BUT EVEN WITH THE, THE FIRST READING BEING IN DECEMBER, THE SECOND AND THIRD READING WOULDN'T BE UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY OR EARLY FEBRUARY.
SO IF WE, IF YOU WANTED US TO COME BACK SOMETIME IN JANUARY OR SOMETHING, I MEAN, WE COULD DO THAT IF THAT'S WHAT THE QUESTION IS.
I, I, I THINK, I THINK THAT MAY ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMISSION'S CONCERNS.
UM, I, THIS IS KIND OF IN, IN, IN MY SPOT.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF AN ACTION IF WE CAN GET TO IT TONIGHT, TO SPEAK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO GIVE THEM SOME INPUT FOR, FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR MEETING ON THE EIGHTH AND THEN FOR PRESUMABLY COUNCIL'S FIRST READING, NOT NOT THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY, BUT UH, A WEEK, A WEEK AFTER THE RECOVERY.
UM, UH, BUT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UM, IF, IF THE APPLICANTS OPEN IN OUR SCHEDULE ALLOWS TO BE HONEST, UM, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO KIND OF CONTINUE TO, IF, IF THINGS HAVE CHANGED
[03:10:01]
OR IF YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SOME COMMITMENTS ON SOME OF THE KIND OF MORE GENERAL COMMENTS WE'VE MADE HERE, I THINK THE COMMISSION WOULD FEEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH KIND OF THE TRAJECTORY OF IT.UM, WAS IF, IF YOU THINK OUR SCHEDULE WOULD ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT NEXT YEAR, I GUESS.
YES, I'M SURE THERE'S ROOM ON SCHEDULE.
UM, AND THEN I GUESS MAYBE IF YOU COULD GIVE US AN UPDATE, NOT JUST AN EMAIL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ABOUT COMMISSIONER BREMER'S CONCEPT OF, OF SITE PLAN REVIEW, WHAT THE MECHANISMS OF THAT WOULD BE, OR EVEN IF IT'S JUST A BRIEFING OR, OR SOMETHING TO WHERE WE GET SOME FEEDBACK LOOP, THAT WOULD BE, THAT'D BE APPRECIATED.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, UM, I HAVE A BRIEF COMMENT.
I WOULD JUST LIKE FOR EVERYBODY TO THINK OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE SITE WITH THE PROPOSED DENSITY AND THAT TRANSIT WILL PROVIDE FOR THIS NUMBER AT THE BUILDOUT.
JUST TRY AND GET THAT IN YOUR MIND.
AND THEN I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF PARKLAND THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED BY THE DENSITY OF PROJECT.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE GETTING A LOT BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING CONCRETE OFF THE GROUND, BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS TO THE, UH, PERCENTAGE OF PARKLAND THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED BY THE DENSITY OF THIS PROJECT.
AND, UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW TO GET THAT ANSWER, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A GO FOR IT.
DON'T QUOTE ME EXACTLY, BUT IT'S IN THE MID TO HIGH TWENTIES, I BELIEVE ACRES WOULD BE OUR PARKLAND DEDICATION GENERATION.
UM, BUT UH, WE ARE PROVIDING A 29, THERE WE GO.
UM, AND WE'RE GIVING 11 ACRES, UH, DEDICATING 11 ACRES TO THE CITY, UH, FOR PARKLAND.
AND WE'RE GETTING, UH, AND THAT'S CREDITED ACRES.
SO WE'RE NOT GETTING FULL CREDIT FOR ALL OF IT CUZ SOME OF IT'S GOT SOME, YOU KNOW, IRRIGATION AND THINGS ON IT.
AND THEN WE'LL, AND THE REMAINDER GETS PAID AS A PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE, WHICH IS TYPICAL.
YOU KNOW, AND COMMISSIONER, I CAN SPEAK TO THE, THE TRANSIT AVAILABILITY.
UH, WE HAVE PRESENTED THIS PROJECT TO CAPITAL METRO, UH, WITH THEIR FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT AND ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS TO SOUTH LAMAR WITH THE WESTGATE TRANSIT CENTER AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH REGARDS TO MASS TRANSIT IN OUR CITY.
THERE WILL ABSOLUTELY BE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO, TO TAKE THIS PROJECT ON.
AND IN FACT, CAPITAL METRO CREATED A TOOLKIT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND THIS SPECIFIC PROPERTY WAS IDENTIFIED FOR A HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT AREA TO SUPPORT THEIR TRANSIT VISION.
YOU KNOW, IT'S DANGEROUS TO SAY THAT, UM, WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS OVERALL I, UM, I'D, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE AUSTIN, AUSTIN IS 301 SQUARE MILES AND IT TOOK ME A HECK OF A LONG TIME TO GET FROM WHERE I LIVE TO HERE TONIGHT.
UM, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE AUSTIN MOVING TOWARD BECOMING AS THE SMALL AREA OF NEW YORK CITY IS AS A CLUSTER OF VILLAGES SO THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS LOCAL SPACE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DEDICATING BEING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHOP RIGHT THERE WHERE THEY LIVE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE A BUS OR TAKE OR TAKE A CAR TO GET TO THE GROCERY OR TO, TO JUST GO TO A BIZARRE AND SHOP AND LOOK AROUND.
UH, WHEN, WHEN I VISITED MY SISTER WHEN SHE LIVED IN BROOKLYN, THERE WAS NO NEED TO GO INTO MANHATTAN.
EVERYTHING THEY COULD POSSIBLY WANT WAS RIGHT THERE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.
THAT'S THE KIND OF CITY THAT WE NEED TO BE MOVING TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S A LIVABLE CITY.
THAT'S THE KIND OF CITY WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE YOU OWN.
YOU HAVE TO OWN A $40,000 VEHICLE, WHICH USED TO BE WHAT IT COSTS TO BUY A HOUSE IN ORDER TO GET SOMEWHERE.
AND, UM, SO WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS LOCAL, THESE LOCAL SPACES THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN, I'D LIKE YOU TO BE THINKING, UM, ABOUT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND MAYBE I, I'D PERSONALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU EXPANDING THE PERCENTAGE OF LOCAL, UM, BUSINESSES OR OPERATIONS THAT I LOVE THE IDEA OF SOME ARTIST
[03:15:01]
SPACE.UM, DULUTH HAS A MINNESOTA, I'VE LIVED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
DULUTH HAS A, A CERAMIC STUDIO AND WHAT A WONDERFUL THING.
UH, THERE'S, UH, I VISITED PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA WHO HAVE A COMMISSIONER, GOT SHOP.
I'M, I'M GONNA HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF IN THE, OKAY.
THAT'S, THAT'S SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
I'M JUST SAYING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WHERE PEOPLE CAN DO SOMETHING LOCALLY.
UH, SECONDLY, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE TREES, UM, BE THINKING ABOUT TREES THAT WILL ALSO HELP SUPPORT THE MIGRATING SPECIES THAT WILL HAVE BERRIES AND THINGS THAT THEY CAN EAT AND, AND SUSTENANCE ALONG THE WAY.
CUZ I'VE SEEN BIRDS COMING THROUGH AND THEY'RE LOOKING, THAT'S THE TREES THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ARE THE, THE TREES WHERE THEY CAN GET SOMETHING TO EAT.
SO IT'S BEFORE THEY TAKE OFF AGAIN THE NEXT, NEXT DAY.
UH, SO, AND JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, BE, JUST NEED TO BE THINKING REALLY INGENIOUSLY ABOUT WAYS THAT YOU CAN, UH, MAKE THIS WORK BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY LOST SO MUCH.
WE NEED TO TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO STOP THE HEMORRHAGING, UH, OF LOSS OF LOSING SPECIES.
I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT WHEN I WAS A KID IN SCHOOL, I ALWAYS HATED TO READ OUT LOUD, AND I FIND IT HILARIOUS THAT I KNOW I HAVE TWO PAGES WORTH OF THINGS TO READ OUT LOUD TO YOU.
UM, SO THESE ARE, UM, THE MOTIONS.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST SUMMARIZE THAT.
SUBJECT, BRODY OAKS, UH, REDEVELOPMENT PUD C 8 1 4 DASH 2 0 2 1 0 0 9 9.
WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUEST REQUESTING PUD ZONING FOR THE PROPERTY.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE BARTON CREEK WATERSHED, BARTON SPRINGS ZONE, AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS VARIANCE WITH CONDITIONS HAVING DETERMINED THAT THE REQUIRED FACT FINDINGS HAVE BEEN MET.
AND THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE REQUEST WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
AND THESE ARE THE STAFF CONDITIONS.
A DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH C A ONE FOUR DASH DASH 2 0 21 DASH 0 99 LOCATED AT ONE, I'M SORRY, WELL, LOCATED AT 41 0 7 SOUTH CAPITAL TEXAS HIGHWAY SHALL COMPLY WITH 25 DASH EIGHT SUB CHAPTER A, ARTICLE 13, THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS INITIATIVE AT THE TIME, A PERMIT, UH, APPLICANT EXPECT AS, UH, MODIFIED BELOW, EXCEPT AS MODIFIED BELOW, SECTION A OF 25 DASH EIGHT DASH 514.
POLLUTION PREVENTION REQUIRED SHALL BE MODIFIED TO ALLOW A MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS COVER OF THE SITE, A 56% NET SITE AREA B DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH C EIGHT 14 DASH 2 0 2 199.
LOCATED AT THE PLACE THAT I JUST SAID SHALL COMPLY WITH 25 8 SECTION.
A WATER QUALITY AT THE TIME PERMITTED, UH, APPLICANT EXCEPT AS MODIFIED BY THE PUD ORDINANCE.
AND THOSE ARE NUMBER ONE, ECM 1.6 0.7 0.5 D SHALL BE MODIFIED TO ALLOW CAPTURED RUNOFF FOR BENEFICIAL REUSE.
2 25 DASH EIGHT DASH 3 41 SHALL BE MODIFIED TO ALLOW CUT NOT TO EXCEED A MAXIMUM OF 14 FEET.
3 25 8 DASH 3 42 SHALL BE MODIFIED TO ALLOW PHIL NOT TO EXCEED A MAXIMUM OF 14 FEET.
4 25 DASH EIGHT DASH 2 81 SHALL BE MODIFIED TO ALLOW ENCROACHMENT INTO THE CS AS, UM, INDICATED ON EXHIBIT F.
NUMBER ONE, REDUCTION IN PERVIOUS COVER FROM 84% TO 52 50 6%.
TWO, BRING THE SITE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH SOS WATER QUALITY TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS.
CLUSTERING IMPERVIOUS COVER AND DISTURBANCE.
100 TO 300 FEET AWAY FROM BARTON CREEK.
[03:20:01]
FOUR.RESTORING TWO ACRES OF THE TRACK TO NATIVE VEGETATION.
PROVIDE 100% GSI FOR WA WATER QUALITY CONTROLS.
PROVIDE RAINWATER HARVESTING FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION OF NOT LESS THAN 50% OF THE LANDSCAPE AREA.
PROVIDE SUPERIOR TREE PROTECTIONS.
COMPLY WITH AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING THREE STAR RATING.
EXCEED LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS.
PROVIDE SUPERIOR OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND DEDICATION AND THEN FILE THE FOLLOWING ARE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITIONS.
NUMBER ONE, WORK WITH STAFF TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF BUILDING TO REDUCE THE CANYON EFFECTS AND REDUCE BIRD STRIKES WITHIN THE B CCP ZONE TO UTILIZE DARK SKY'S BEST PRACTICES FOR ALL OUTDOOR LIGHTING.
THREE, REQUIRE ALL BUILDINGS TO UTILIZE BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS AND, AND BUILDING AND BUILDING BREAST PRACTICES REQUIRE.
FOUR, REQUIRE ONSITE ENERGY CREATION INCLUDING SOLAR AND COMBINED HEAT AND COOLING SYSTEMS. FIVE, INCREASE EV PARKING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING SPACES FOR THE FREE PARKING, UH, AT THE PARK.
SIX, INCLUDE POLLINATOR GARDENS AND PLANTS THAT SUPPORT ENDANGERED MONARCH BUTTERFLY AND OTHER POLLINATORS.
UTILIZE BEST PRACTICES TO CONTAIN TRASH TO ENSURE IT DOES NOT SPILL OVER INTO BARTON CREEK.
WORK WITH STAFF TO CONSIDER MITIGATION WITHIN THE BARTON CREEK WATERSHED TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE SOS AND PERVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENTS.
INCLUDE RESTROOM AND DOG WASH STATION AT THE TRAILHEAD AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
INCLUDE NATURAL PLAYER AREA, NATURAL PLAY AREA BEST PRACTICES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
THE CLUSTERING IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THE THIRD ONE UNDER C IS, UH, 75 TO 250 THAT WAS UPDATED SINCE, UM, UH, SINCE THE COVER SHEET WAS SENT IN THE BACKUP.
AND THE, UM, CONDITIONS ARE FOR THE PUT ORDINANCE INSTEAD OF THE VARIANCE.
WHICH IS A PART OF THE EMOTION LANGUAGE.
AND THAT CLUSTER IMPERVIOUS COVERS 75 TO 250 FEET AWAY FROM BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT.
SO THE, THE TWO MINOR CHANGES THAT, UH, STAFF'S BROUGHT TO AS YOU, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, AND THEN THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE PUD WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, WHICH WERE SO ELOQUENTLY READ BETTER THAN I CAN.
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE MINOR, UH, THERE'S A STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO CLUSTER IMPERVIOUS COVER 75 TO 250 FEET AWAY FROM THE BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT, UM, AS OPPOSED TO BARTON CREEK.
AND ARE THERE OTHER, AND WITH THAT I WILL SECOND THE MOTION.
SO ANY DISCUSSION COMMENTS? ESHA? YES.
YEAH, FOR 0.1 WAS THAT, DID YOU SAY BUILDING OR BUILDINGS? RIGHT.
CAUSE I GUESS THERE ARE THREE TALL BUILDINGS.
UM, AND SO I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, THE FAIR POINT WAS, IS IT REALLY JUST THE ONE TALL BUILDING THAT'S CONCERNED OR IS IT THE TALL BUILDINGS THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN? YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A BUILDING HEIGHT WISE MAN, SO I WILL LEAVE THIS UP TO SMART PEOPLE.
THAT WAS THE ONE ON WORK WITH STAFF TO WORK WITH STAFF TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE BUILD DINGS IS, IS AS IT'S WRITTEN NOW TO REDUCE THE KENYAN EFFECT, TO REDUCE THE BIRD STRIKES.
I JUST COULDN'T TELL THROUGH THE FEED IF IT WAS BUILDING OR BUILDINGS.
UM, WHEN WE ARE ASKING FOR THE, THE PIPE, I, I WONDERED IF YOU COULD JUST SAY, BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO HAVE SOME, UM, PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, WHEREAS WE'RE GETTING, UH, THE PARKLAND DEDICATION WOULD BE 29 8.
WE ARE GETTING 11, AND WE THEREFORE THINK THAT THE MITIGATION IS A REASONABLE ASK.
AND I, I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT JUST ALLOWS SOME PERSPECTIVE.
[03:25:01]
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, UH, THE, THE FIRST POINT, THE PERSPECTIVE WHOSE PERSPECTIVE ON THAT OR RE SAY THAT AGAIN? I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.ARE WE ASKING FOR A HEIGHT CONSIDERATION IN THIS? WE'RE ASKING FOR WORK.
WE'RE ASKING FOR THE APPLICANT TO WORK WITH STAFF TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS TO REDUCE THE CANYON EFFECTS AND REDUCE BIRD STRIKES IN THE B CCP ZONE.
SO WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR, UH, I MEAN, I GUESS THE MITIGATION ASPECT OF THAT WOULD BE THE REQUIRE OUR BUILDINGS TO USE BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS AND BUILDING PRACTICES.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO ASKING DOWN HERE AND WORK WITH STAFF TO, TO CONSIDER MIGRATION WITHIN THE BARTON CREEK WATERSHED TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE SOS AND PERVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENTS.
UM, I'M JUST SAYING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD ADD THAT STATISTIC THERE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT SO THAT WHEN WE ASK FOR THEM TO REASSESS THE CONSIDERATION, WE SHOULD SAY THAT 11 ACRES OUT OF 29 BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY THAT THEY HAVE, IS QUITE A CONCESSION FOR US TO MAKE.
SO THAT THEREFORE WE WOULD APPRECIATE SOME CONSIDERATION ON THEIR PARK.
AND THAT'S THE 11 ACRES OF PARKLAND DEDICATION AS OPPOSED TO THE 29 ACRES OF PARKLAND DEDICATION THAT THE DENSITY WOULD REQUIRE IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
AND IT, AND I DON'T, I'M PROBABLY GOING OFF SCRIPT HERE, BUT, UM, THOSE ADDITIONAL 18 ACRES THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO PAY IN LIE PAY FEE IN LIE.
BUT THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE SITE, SO I JUST WONDERED IF WE COULD ADD THAT STATISTIC THERE BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.
SO IN, IN THAT, ARE, ARE YOU ENVISIONING THAT BEING LIKE A, A AWARE AS STATEMENT AT THE BEGINNING, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS DEDICATING 11 ACRES TO GET THAT LOCKED IN OR JUST A CONDITION IN THE BOTTOM? I THINK IT, IT, WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST THINK THAT WE SHOULD ADD THE FACT BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING THEM TO GIVE UP BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, GONNA BE AN EFFORT FOR THEM THAT OKAY.
THEN I, THEN I WOULD PROPOSE, WELL, AND WE CAN, I'LL TRY TO READ THIS IN AND SEE IF WE GET IT IN, UH, AS WE GO, BUT THAT WE ADD, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT PROPOSES 11 ACRES OF PARKLAND, ALTHOUGH THE DENSITY, UM, DICTATES 29 ACRES AND THE REMAINDER THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO, UH, ADDRESS WITH A PAY IN LOU FEE THAT AS, AS, AS PER POST, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND YOU MIGHT MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTALLY, UH, FRAGILE SITE THAT THEY ARE DEVELOPING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE DIAS TO WALK THROUGH WHILE I'M TYPING? I'VE WON, BUT I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT THE CREATIVE PROCESS.
I MAY HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT, WHEN YOU WERE READING, SO YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I WRONG.
WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE EV STUFF, WAS THERE A PARTICULAR NUMBER OF, UH, WE DID NOT ADD A NUMBER TO THAT.
I DIDN'T SEE A NUMBER ON YOUR, ON YOUR NOTE.
UH, HOW ABOUT 50%? OR YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE A DIFFERENT NUMBER IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
WE, UM, I THINK IN ORDER TO MAKE, UH, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WE WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE IN AGREEMENT TO THAT.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY GREEN BUILDING, THAT'S STANDARD, RIGHT? YEAH, I THINK WE'D, WE, THAT'S WHAT WE SAID WE, WE HAPPY TO COMMIT WITH.
WHICH I DON'T THINK IS PERCENT DIDN'T SAY NO,
[03:30:01]
IT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.IT WAS, IT'S LIKE A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THIS, IT'S, IT'S SUITABLY VAGUE THAT YOU CAN PUT ANYTHING IN THERE.
SO I'M ASKING, I THINK IT HAS A, IT HAS A PERCENTAGE.
I MEAN IT HAS, IT WAS A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS A STRETCH IN THERE, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE 50%, WHICH IS WHAT YOU TOLD ME WHEN OR WHEN I SAY YOU, I DON'T MEAN YOU, I MEAN THE ROYAL YOU.
UH, SO I'D LIKE A HARD NUMBER IN THERE THAT'S MORE THAN WHATEVER'S IN HERE.
I HEARD 50% WHEN I WAS OUT THERE.
IF YOU WANNA PUT 75%, I'M, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
AND AGAIN, YOU'RE JUST TALKING HAVE IT WIRED FOR THAT WIRED NOT, YEAH.
WHICH WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT ANYWAY.
AND THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD.
IF YOU WANNA PUT, SO THAT SHOULD BE NOT CHARGING STATIONS WIRED.
I DON'T, I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CLEAR IN MY NOTE, BUT YES.
SO THIS WILL BE THE 11TH ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITION.
SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, HOLD ON, LET ME UPDATE THIS ONE.
SO THIS IS AN UPDATE TO, AND LET ME, LET ME START UP HERE WITH THIS ONE.
CAUSE I, WE GOTTA READ THAT ONE IN.
SO NOW THAT WE OFFICIALLY HAVE IT, WELL, IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY NOT PERFECT.
CUZ IT'S NOT GOT RIGHT SPELLING AND STUFF.
WHEREAS COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT PROPOSES 11 ACRES OF PARKLAND DEVELOPMENT, ALTHOUGH 29 ACRES WOULD BE NECESSITATED BY THE DENSITY THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO ADDRESS THE ADDITIONAL ACREAGE WITH A PAY AND LIE FEE.
AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY OF THE, OF THE LANDSCAPE.
BUT THAT'S THE, WHEREAS AT THE TOP, WE'RE GONNA GET TO THE EV PREWIRING HERE.
SO THIS IS AN UPDATE TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITION NUMBER FIVE, UM, WHICH NOW READS IN CHRIST, INCREASE EV STATION PREPARATION TO WHICH, UH, INCREASE EV STATION PREWIRING PREPARATION TO 50% OF ALL PARKING SPOTS THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING SPACES IN THE FREE PARKING LOT SPA IN INCLUDING FREE PARKING LOT SPACES AT THE PARK.
UM, I ACTUALLY WANT TO MENTION A RECOMMENDATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT I HEARD, I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE, THAT WE ARE BRIEFED ON ANY, LIKE, FINDINGS OF FACT OF ANY CONCERN FROM THE GEOLOGIST DURING THE PROCESS.
UM, AND I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN ADD THAT IN THERE THAT YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.
SO WE'LL ADD A ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITION AT THE END THAT IS, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WILL RECEIVE, UH, ANNUAL UPDATES DURING CONSTRUCTION ON ANY VOIDS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE RODEO OAKS PUD CONSTRUCTION.
AND WE'LL JUST, I CAN, I CAN GET THAT IN LATER IF YOU DON'T GET IT ON.
AND ADVANCED STAFF FOR THOSE ANNUAL UPDATES,
UM, ARE YOU ALREADY VOTING FOR IT, PAM? OR SORRY, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON OR DO YOU HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION? NO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, I DON'T THINK THE WORD ANNUAL IS A GOOD IDEA.
I THINK THE INTENT OF THAT ASK WAS THAT WE BROUGHT UP TO DATE WHEN THEY MAKE STAFF AWARE OF ANY ANOMALIES.
SO IF WE WAIT A YEAR FOR THOSE, IT IS SORT OF OUT OF THE LOOP.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE ASKED
[03:35:01]
WHAT I ASKED INITIALLY FOR, UM, AND I WAS VERY RELIEVED THAT SHE MENTIONED IT AGAIN CUZ I HAD FORGOTTEN WAS AN UPDATE ON THE MODELING OF THE POLLUTANT LOAD AND ALSO THE UPDATE ON ANY ANOMALIES WITH THE SUBSTRUCTURE.WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS, BEFORE WE PUT A A NUMBER ON HERE THAT'S GONNA OVERBURDEN STAFF AND A REPORTING, I I, I, I HEAR YOUR INTENT.
I'D LIKE TO CONFER WITH STAFF ON WHAT THEY THINK THE HIGHEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO COMMUNICATE THAT INFORMATION IS.
AND, AND MAYBE WE CIRCLE BACK ON THAT AT THE NEXT BITE.
UM, WHEN THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO COME BACK AND TALK TO US AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK FOR ANYTHING AT THAT.
WE CAN ONLY BE APPRISED OF THE SITUATION.
WE HAVE TO DO ALL OF OUR ASK NOW.
SO MY ASK IS THAT, UM, WE JUST BECOME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IF IT IS A PROBLEM DURING THE CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.
AND IF WE STAFF DOESN'T HAVE TO PRESENT IT TO US, STAFF CAN SEND US THE REPORT AND WE CAN READ IT OURSELVES.
AND THEN IF SOMEONE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WANTS A REPORT, THEN WE COULD DO THAT.
I MEAN, I'M NOT, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE'S A PROBLEM AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION.
IT'S A GREAT, GREAT, UH, GREAT IDEA.
SO I WOULD SAY, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS COMMISSION, THOMPSON, BUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WILL, WILL BE KEPT, UH, APPRISED OF VOID DISCOVERY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND NOTIFIED TIMELY, UH, BY EMAIL OR REPORT, UM, VIA, YOU KNOW, THE BOARDS OF COMMISSION'S EMAIL, UH, AND, AND, UH, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO ANY, UM, STRUCTURAL OR CATASTROPHIC VOIDS ENCOUNTERED AND THE MODELING THAT THEY'RE DOING OF THE POLLUTANT MODE REDUCTION.
CAN WE ADD THAT? IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK
WELL, UM, THEN IT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE, THAN THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE AGREED TO HISTORICALLY.
SO FOR US TO KNOW WHAT IT IS AND WHAT THEY AGREED TO IS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.
AND I'D SAY WE PUT THAT BACK INTO OUR ANNUAL, YOUR FAVORITE WORD.
UH, UH, ANNUAL UPDATES ON THE CONSTRUCTION.
RECEIVE ANNUAL EVENTS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF RODEO CODE AND HAVE STAFF.
INCLUDING VOID DISCOVERY AND THE STATUS, THE, THE EFFICACY OF THE WATER QUARTERLY MODELING AND ATTENUATION OF THE FE OF THE WATER QUALITY FEATURES ON SITE.
LET'S, LET'S GO AROUND THE HORN HERE AND, AND I'M GONNA DO ROLL CALL.
SO IT MAKES IT EASY ON KAYLA IN THE END.
UM, SO WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON, THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO VOTES.
UM, AS, UH, LESLIE ARTICULATED A FEW HOURS AGO, UM, THESE ARE INTERDEPENDENT AND THEY, THEY, THEY SURVIVE, UH, TOGETHER.
SO THE WAY THAT WE'VE GOT THIS WRITTEN, THEY WILL BE IDENTICAL MOTIONS.
SO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
SO THIS FIRST ONE THAT WE HAVE READ IN IS FOR I FOR AGENDA ITEM TWO, UM, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY READ A COUPLE TIMES.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL VOTE ON THIS, AND THEN WE WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND VOTE ON THE SAME MOTION.
BUT FOR AGENDA ITEM THREE, WHICH IS THE SAY SOS SPECI SITE, SPECIFIC SOS AMENDMENT GUEST COMMISSIONER, I MEAN, YES.
KAYLA, KAYLA CHI WATERSHIP PROTECTION.
UH, SINCE THE MOTIONS ARE IDENTICAL, I THINK WE CAN SAFELY VOTE ONCE IF EVERYONE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, AS LONG AS THERE IS NO OPPOSITION
[03:40:01]
HAVING SEEN NO OPPOSITION.I WILL SAVE PAPERWORK FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, WE GOT ONE MOTION FOR BOTH ITEMS TWO AND THREE.
THE BRO OAK REDEVELOPMENT PUD AND SITE SPECIFIC SOS AMENDMENT.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, HOW DO YOU VOTE? NO.
COMMISSIONER BARRETT BESSNER? YES.
THANK YOU FOR CITIZENS THAT CAME AND COMMENTED.
WE'LL, WE'LL, LET'S, LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL COME UP WITH A GAME PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THIS MOVING FORWARD FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT.
KAYLA, GENTLE WATERSHED PROTECTION.
LET'S JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT IN 15 MINUTES WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE MEETING.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TIMELY WITH GETTING BACK BEFORE 10.
WELL, LET'S JUST GET BACK HERE IN A FIVE MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN GET DONE.
[4. Briefing and potential action regarding code amendments to Title 25 of the City Code to create an affordable housing bonus program to allow residential development on commercially-zoned properties—Erica Leak, Development Officer, Housing and Planning Department (1 hour) ]
IT IS 9 52.WE'RE RECONVENING THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 2ND.
UM, WE, I HAVE BEEN TOLD COMMISSIONER THOMPSON THAT WE, UH, IF THERE IS NO TIME TO POSTPONE THIS AGENDA ITEM, IF WE WANT, UM, OUR COMMENTS TO BE HEARD IN THE PROCESS OF THE CODE, UH, MODIFICATION.
SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE, UH, I I GUESS IF YOU WERE TO PROPOSE A MOTION AND IT GOT A SECOND AND PASSED, THEN WE COULD ATTEMPT TO DO THAT.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE, UM, HEARD IF WE SAID ANYTHING AFTER THIS MEETING.
I'M, I GUESS I'M KIND OF UNHAPPY WITH THE SCHEDULING OF THE MEETING TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HEARD THE PUT AT THE LAST MINUTE AND NOW WE'RE HEARING THIS AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND IT REALLY DESERVES A LOT OF CONSIDERATION.
UM, I BELIEVE WE ARE HEARING THIS AT OUR COMMISSION AT A SPECIAL REQUEST OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY WANTED OUR FEEDBACK AND THEY WANTED OUR INPUT.
AND, UM, IF WE DO NOT SPEAK TO OUR FEEDBACK AND INPUT TONIGHT, THEN UM, THEN THEY, THEN THEY MOVE ON.
SO, UM, I, I HEAR YOU, UM, NOT TO BE SARCASTIC AT ALL ABOUT IT, BUT LIKE THEY WANTED OUR FEEDBACK ON THE CHANGES TO TITLE 25.
NO, THIS WAS A SPECIFIC REQUEST FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT NEVERTHELESS.
SO, UM, UH, THIS IS KAYLA CHIP ON WATERSHIP PROTECTION.
UH, WE HAVE ERICA LEAK ON A WEBEX.
UH, ERICA, WOULD YOU MIND SPEAKING TO, UH, THE SCHEDULE PLEASE? AND IF YOU WOULD MIND TURNING ON YOUR CAMERA SO THE COMMISSIONER CAN SEE YOU.
UH, ERICA LIK WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UM, WE ARE ON A SCHEDULE THAT COUNSEL REQUESTED TO HAVE THESE ITEMS BACK BEFORE, UM, THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE, UM, SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AT, UH, AT PLANNING COMMISSION NEXT WEEK.
UM, I, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER PLANNING COMMISSION MIGHT BE WILLING TO POSTPONE THEM OR NOT.
I I DON'T FEEL LIKE I CAN SPEAK FOR THEM.
UM, IF THEY WERE TO POSTPONE THEM, WHEN WOULD THEIR NEXT MEETING BE? UH, I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THEIR PLAN, THEIR MEETING SCHEDULE.
THEY ARE PLANNING TO HAVE A MEETING ON NOVEMBER, A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON NOVEMBER 29TH,
[03:45:01]
WHERE THEY POTENTIALLY, UM, TAKE UP THIS ITEM IF THEY POSTPONED IT FROM THE EIGHTH.AND THEN IT'S, UH, SCHEDULED FOR A COUNCIL, UH, HEARING ON DECEMBER ONE.
UM, THEN, UH, I'D LIKE TO GET KIND OF A PULSE OF THE DIAS ON THE OPPORTUNITY.
IF WE WERE TO POSTPONE OUR, WE, WE MAY NOT BE HEARD, BUT, UM, IF PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, UM, DOES POSTPONE THEIR THIS ITEM ON THEIR AGENDA AND BRINGS IT UP ON THEIR SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON THE 29TH, THEN IT MAY BE ABLE TO BE HEARD.
BUT I GUESS THERE'S A OPPORTUNITY THAT, THAT WE WON'T BE HEARD.
DO YOU GUYS WANT TO CONTINUE ON OR DO WE WANT TO DO OTHERWISE? I'D PREFER TO GO AHEAD.
THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT WE EXTEND THE CURRENT MEETING TO 10 15.
AND PER OUR RULES, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT A SECOND AND, UH, SECOND.
WELL, DID YOU MAKE THE MOTION? YEAH.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR EXTENDING TO 10 15.
IT LOOKS TO BE UNANIMOUS, BUT BEAR, BIGLER AND SCOTT ARE OFF THE DYES.
SO THAT'S 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
UM, WE'RE GONNA GO, UH, ERICA, THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND WITH US.
UM, AND PLEASE, UH, TRY TO SPEAK BRIEFLY AS YOU CAN, BUT CLEARLY INTO WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR.
SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL PULL UP A PRESENTATION, BUT IN GENERAL, THE CODE AMENDMENT AS DIRECTED BY COUNCIL, WOULD BE TO ALLOW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN LAND THAT IS CURRENTLY ZONED COMMERCIAL.
SO I'M, I'M GONNA DO THE VERY, VERY ABBREVIATED VERSION OF THIS.
UM, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS ACTUALLY THAT RESIDENTIAL NOT BE ALLOWED WITHIN 500 FEET OF HIGHWAYS, UM, DUE TO NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HIGHWAYS, AND ALSO NOT TO ALLOW, UH, ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL USES, UM, NEAR NOXIOUS USES.
WELL, WE, WE'LL JUST DO A, A SUPER QUICK ROUND.
LET'S GO TO SLIDE EIGHT REAL QUICK.
UM, SO THAT'S THE VERY QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT IT WOULD DO.
THERE IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENT.
THESE ARE THE PROPERTIES, UM, THAT ARE CURRENTLY ZONED COMMERCIAL THAT COULD HAVE THESE ADDITIONAL, UM, RESIDENTIAL, UH, ENTITLEMENTS IF THEY PARTICIPATE IN A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
UH, SO SLIDE 12, UM, SHOWS THE LOCATIONS OF COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES WITHIN 500 FEET OF, UH, HIGHWAYS IN RED, AND THEN THE REST OF THEM ARE IN GRAY.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, UM, WE WOULD LOVE YOUR SUPPORT OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION NOT TO ALLOW, UM, ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN THAT 500 FOOT OFFER OR NEAR NOXIOUS USES.
UM, AND THEN LET'S, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE TIMELINE, SO, SO THAT'S THE OVERALL SUMMARY.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WAS THAT, THAT WAS, THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
I, I, I WOULD HAVE ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION THEN WE'LL, WE'LL GO AROUND AND EVERYBODY GETS, GETS TWO QUESTIONS.
UH, AND THEN IF IT'S REALLY NOT ENOUGH, THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
UM, UH, MY ONE QUESTION, UH, ERICA, IS, IS THERE A DEFINITION OF NOXIOUS USES, UM, IN, IN YOUR PRESENTATION OR IN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS? WE HAVE A POTENTIAL LIST.
UM, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A, A LONG LIST OF THINGS, BUT THEY'RE LISTED ON SLIDE 14.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, YOU SEEM THE MOST EXCITED TO, TO ASK QUESTIONS, SO YOU GET TO GO FIRST.
UM, IS, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE MAP AND CLOSELY ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT IT'S THE EAST SIDE THAT, UM, IS MORE AFFECTED.
AND I'M ASKING HERE ON THE CLARIFICATION ON APP IS WHAT IS THE PINK VERSUS
[03:50:01]
THE KIND OF PEACH COLOR THAT WOULD BE, SORRY, GO AHEAD.UH, SO THE SORT OF MORE PINKISH PURPLE COLOR THAT IS, UH, A DISPLACEMENT.
THOSE ARE DISPLACEMENT RISK AREAS WHERE, UM, BASED ON KIND OF RESEARCH FROM UT AUSTIN UPROOTED, WHERE THERE ARE POPULATIONS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT, AND THEN THE PEACH ISH, UH, COLOR IS WHAT THEY DEFINED AS HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS, UM, EASIER ACCESS TO, TO JOBS, AMENITIES, ET CETERA.
SO, UM, AND THEN ON SLIDE 13, UM, WE DO SHOW THAT BREAKDOWN OF PROPERTIES BETWEEN THE DISPLACEMENT RISK AREAS AND HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS.
UM, AND YOU, YOU ARE CORRECT THAT THERE ARE MORE COMMERCIAL, UM, PROPERTIES IN THE DISPLACEMENT RISK AREAS.
UM, IF YOU REMOVE THE PROPERTIES WITHIN PLAN, UH, SHE IS FROZEN.
AM I FROZEN? NO, I CAN HEAR YOU.
UM, SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT ONCE AGAIN, UM, THE EAST SIDE WILL DEFINITELY, UM, I MEAN, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY GO WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE THE 2074 PROPERTIES THAT WOULD BE TAKEN, UM, OFF THIS LIST, BECAUSE THEY'RE NEAR THE HIGHWAY, WOULD AT LEAST DO SOME GOOD.
BUT, UM, THE MAJORITY, I DON'T KNOW, WE JUST APPROVED A GIANT PU RIGHT NEAR A FREEWAY.
MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS ONE FIRST.
I, I SUPPORT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE DIAS? YES, KAYLA, JUST REAL QUICK, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T LOSE ERICA.
ERICA, ARE YOU STILL THERE? MAYBE SHE HAD A HARD STOP AT 10.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S KEEP GOING.
UM, I, I GUESS, CAN I ASK, UM, IS IT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SLIDE 12? CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME NOW? YES, WE CAN.
UH, COMMISSIONER SHERO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SLIDE 12.
SO THE ONE I'M JUST, I'M BEING SLOW.
I'M, IT'S CLEAR NOW THAT I READ THE LEGEND.
UM, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE THIS 500 FOOT HIGHWAY BUFFER WHERE YOU WON'T DEVELOP, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES OR I GUESS 500 FEET FROM A HIGHWAY.
I GUESS SIMILAR TO COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.
I WAS KIND OF CONFUSED CAUSE I WAS LIKE, WELL, WHAT ABOUT 35? LIKE, AREN'T WE DEVELOPING, YOU KNOW, GIANT TOWERS UP AND DOWN 35? LIKE, SO THAT WAS COOL, BUT NOW IT'S NOT TO REDEVELOP COMMERCIAL SITES.
LIKE IS THE 500 FEET BECAUSE IT'S THE ACCESS ROAD AND I'M NOT SUPER SURE AND I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
SO WE AS A CITY DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE A STANDARD, UM, A STANDARD POLICY ON THAT FRONT YET.
UM, BUT RECOGNIZING THE NEGATIVE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF HOUSING NEAR HIGHWAYS, WE WOULD ACTUALLY RECOMMEND, UM, A CLOSER LOOK.
NOT ONLY AT WHETHER WE ALLOW MORE HOUSING THROUGH THIS, UM, THIS, THIS AMENDMENT, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE SHOULD PERHAPS HAVE, UH, A MORE CONSISTENT POLICY CITYWIDE.
I MEAN, PERSONALLY, I'M ALL FOR IT.
IF YOU WANNA PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO LIVE NEAR A FREEWAY, RIGHT, WEAR A MASK, HEY, KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.
CAN I, YEAH, COMMISSIONER? SURE.
CAN I ASK WHAT THE STUDY IS BASED ON TO RELY ON THAT 500 FEET RECOMMENDATION? YES.
SO, UH, ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[03:55:01]
RESEARCH FINDINGS, IT'S, IT'S BASICALLY AN EPA STUDY.UM, DO YOU WANT MORE MORE INPUT IN THAT? I, I MEAN THAT, THAT IS HELPFUL, JUST, BUT JUST TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE STUDY.
OH, OR FOR ERICA, NOT, NOT TONIGHT, CUZ IT'S LATE.
BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST SENDING THAT TO, TO KAYLA, UM, LATER THIS WEEK, SHE CAN PROMULGATE IT TO THE COMMISSION SO WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE IT AND REVIEW IT.
YEAH, THERE ARE ACT THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT RESOURCES.
UH, THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION ALSO RECOMMENDS, ALSO TALKS ABOUT PREMATURE DEATH, UM, IMPAIRED LUNG FUNCTIONING, CHILDHOOD ASTHMA, ET CETERA.
THE CITATIONS ARE LISTED IN THE BACKUP AT THE VERY END, UM, AS WELL.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT KIND OF STANDS OUT WHEN I, I WAS READING THIS IN THE, UH, IS THE WAREHOUSE THING THAT THE COUNCIL THING, UH, THEY, THEY TALK ABOUT, UH, HAVING THIS WHERE THEY SELL LIQUOR.
NOW, I, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, SO WE CAN HAVE, UH, HOUSING DIRECTLY ABOVE A LIQUOR STORE.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE ADVOCATING HERE? I BELIEVE IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF THAT, YEAH.
AND, AND SO WHAT'S THE CURRENT REGULATION ABOUT BUILDING A LIQUOR STORE NEAR HOUSING? SO ARE YOU LOOKING AT SLIDE 14? OH, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M LOOKING AT THE, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.
UH, UM, IT SAYS, UH, IT SAYS THE COUNCIL INITIATES AMENDMENTS TO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ALLOW RESIDENTIAL USES IN COMMERCIAL SERVICES, LIQUOR SALES, COMMUNITY, COMMERCIAL, GR, THAT SORT OF THING.
SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS.
SO THE WAY, UH, THE WAY THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION WAS WRITTEN, UM, IT COULD ALLOW, UM, IT COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW RESIDENTIAL NEAR LIQUOR USES.
UM, BUT WE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO FURTHER LIMIT WHAT, WHERE THE ADDITIONAL HOUSING COULD BE LOCATED.
SO WHAT'S THE CURRENT, WHAT'S THE CURRENT CODE SAY FOR LIQUOR STORES AND HOUSING? UH, I THINK THERE'S A DISTANCE LIMITATION, BUT I, I WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME SEARCHING THROUGH THE FOLK, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THERE'S A SEPARATION REQUIREMENT.
I GUESS I, MY CONCERN IS THAT PARTICULAR ITEM, THE REST OF IT I, I'M INDIFFERENT TOWARDS.
IT'S JUST THAT, UH, I, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT SEEMS TO BE LIKE A TERRIBLY BAD IDEA, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
UM, SO MY, MY QUESTION IS, UM, SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING 'EM, UH, 500 FEET FROM HIGHWAYS.
UM, DOES THAT INCLUDE LAMAR, WHICH IS TECHNICALLY A HIGHWAY OR WHAT'S THE DEFINITION OF, WHAT'S THE DEFINITION? THE DEFINITION OF A HIGHWAY IS ACTUALLY A LEVEL FIVE HIGHWAY.
SO YOU CAN, SO LAMAR IS NOT CONSIDERED A LEVEL FIVE HIGHWAY, UM, PER THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.
SO YOU CAN SEE WHICH ONES ARE HIGHWAYS ON THE MAP ON SLIDE 12.
IS MOPAC CONSIDERED A, UM, LEVEL FIVE HIGHWAY? IT IS.
I WAS JUST KIND OF RANDOMLY THINKING ABOUT, CUZ THERE'S OFF OF 45TH STREET AND, UM, 35TH STREET OR 38TH STREET, I FORGET, BUT THERE'S LIKE HOUSES REALLY CLOSE TO MOPAC, SO I WAS KIND OF WONDERING IF THOSE WERE WITHIN THAT RANGE.
YEAH, I MEAN THERE ABSOLUTELY IS HOUSING WITHIN 500 FOOT OF
[04:00:01]
HIGHWAYS RIGHT NOW.UM, WE JUST DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE ADDING TO IT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SCOTT? YES.
SOME HAVE, IS THERE ANY THOUGHT TO PUTTING UP, UH, SOME KIND OF BUFFERS IN THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE IS HOUSING WITHIN 500 FEET, UH, ALREADY EXISTING, UH, UM, SOME KIND OF BUFFERS, UH, SUCH AS I'VE SEEN IN, UH, OTHER CITIES, UH, SUCH AS, UH, WASHINGTON, DC AND MINNEAPOLIS? THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA.
UH, IT'S PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE THROUGH THIS CODE AMENDMENT.
UM, WELL, NOT, NOT, NOT PROBABLY THIS CODE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE SOMETHING, SOMETHING ELSE.
I JUST WANTED TO, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THE IDEA.
BEFORE YOU GO COMMISSIONER GARY, IT'S, IT'S 10 11.
UH, I MOVE THAT WE EXTEND THE MEETING TO 10 25 SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
THANKS, COMMISSIONER GARY, PLEASE.
UM, SO ON THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS SECTION OF THE REPORT, GOING TO THE SECOND PAGE WHERE IT STARTS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, IT MAKES REFERENCE TO THE US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROLLED AND PREVENTION RECOMMEND LIMITING DEVELOPMENT ALONGSIDE, ALONGSIDE HIGHWAYS AND HEAVILY TRAFFIC ROADS.
WHY ARE WE ONLY RECOMMENDING OR ADDRESSING LIMITING DEVELOPMENT ALONG HIGHWAYS AND NOT HEAVILY TRAFFICKED ROADS? SO WE ARE STILL LOOKING, UH, AT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE, THE HEAVILY TRAFFICKED ROADS AND KIND OF WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD FOR THAT.
UM, SO IT MAY BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, UM, WHAT WE FOUND MOST RESEARCH ABOUT IS, UH, IS THE HIGHWAYS, BUT, UM, THE HAD LIKE TRAFFIC AND, AND THAT'S LARGELY BECAUSE OF FREIGHT TRAFFIC, WHICH IS MORE HEAVILY CONCENTRATED ON HIGHWAYS, BUT, BUT CORRIDOR COULD ALSO BE AN ISSUE.
YEAH, I CAN PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC WHERE YOU'VE GOT A TRUCKS, UM, UH, AND THAT'S ON BURLESON ROAD IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER ROADS THAT HAVE TRUCK TRAFFIC AND I KNOW RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY COMPLAINING ABOUT INCREASED DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA WHERE CLOSE, SO CLOSE TO HOMES.
AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS, HAVE Y'ALL GONE TO, UM, PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THEIR OPINION ON THE IMPACT THAT THIS HAS ON RESIDENTS? I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
WE, WE HAVE NOT GONE TO THAT COMMISSION.
THE, THE TIMELINE FOR COUNCIL DIRECTION WAS REALLY QUICK.
YEAH, I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT IS FOR RESIDENTS IN EAST AUSTIN OR IN OR IN INDUSTRIALIZED, UH, ZONED AREAS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HEALTH, WHICH HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY AND ALSO HAS ANY IMPACT ON JUST PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, I AM WONDERING IF NEAR, UM, IN THE LANGUAGE, THE RECOMMENDATION LANGUAGE SAYS MODIFIED TO EXCLUDE RESIDENTIAL USES NEAR MORE INTENSE MANUFACTURING AND OR NOXIOUS USES, UH, NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.
UM, EXAMPLE IS AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SERVICES.
I KNOW THOSE ARE, UM, UP, YOU KNOW, AND QUITE A FEW OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SERVICES ALONG NORTH LAMAR WHERE ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL, UM, IN MIXED USE.
HONESTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THAT.
UM, SO I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT, UM, NOT PROMOTING RESIDENTIAL USE BECAUSE OF THAT.
KIND OF A FOLLOW UP TO THAT, ERICA WOULD BE, UH, SO WE HAVE THIS LIST ON, ON PAGE 14 OF 15.
UM, AND WE DON'T NEED TO DEFINE ALL THOSE NOW, BUT WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE MECHANISM BY WHICH A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, SOMETHING THAT ZONE COMMERCIAL DOES THIS PROCESS? OR HOW DO YOU
[04:05:01]
ENVISION THAT WORKING AND AND WHO'S THE, THE ARBITER OF THAT? SO WE ALREADY HAVE SOME STANDARDS LIKE THAT FOR ADULTS BUSINESSES, UM, AND THERE'S BASICALLY A, UM, A DISTANCE LIMITATION BETWEEN SOME USES.AND SO, UM, IT, IT WOULD WORK IN A SIMILAR WAY.
UM, THE ORDINANCE IS NOT DRAFTED THAT WAY AT PRESENT.
UM, AND REALLY WE RECOMMEND TAKING MORE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS, UH, THESE ISSUES WITH STAKEHOLDERS, UM, TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT LIST OF NOXIOUS USES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT DISTANCE WOULD BE TO BETTER DEFINE THAT.
AND THEN THE, THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE DRAFTED IN A DIFFERENT WAY TO BE ABLE TO REFLECT, UM, HAVING, HAVING THAT DISTANCE REQUIREMENT.
SO, SO IN THAT, IS THERE A, THERE'S A, AN APPLICATION PROCESS OR A VARIANCE PROCESS OR SOME KIND OF A, UH, SOME STAFF MEASURES THE DISTANCE FROM THE, UH, ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESS IN THIS CASE TO THE, THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL, UH, I GUESS RESIDENCE AND THEN MAKES A DETERMINATION? YES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HAS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BEEN CONSULTED ON THE LOCATION? I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOXIOUS, I GUESS GASES OR WHATEVER, BUT WHAT ABOUT CHEMICALS, HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS THAT ARE TOXIC AND CAUSTIC STICK? AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME MOVEMENT TO CHANGE SOME OF THE INDUSTRIAL ZONED AREAS TO COMMERCIAL OR MIXED USE.
UM, SO HAS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I KNOW THEY HAVE A LIST OF LOCA, YOU KNOW, WHERE CHEMICALS THAT THEY, THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THEM, WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.
HOW TO WHAT DEGREE HAS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BEEN CONSULTED? THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CONSULTED YET, BUT CERTAINLY THE CONCEPT WOULD BE TO ADDRESS, UM, TO TRY AND MAINTAIN THEIR REQUESTED DISTANCE AS WELL.
I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND, IF I MAY, UM, ON THE, UH, POSSIBLE LAND USES TO EXCLUDE, I WOULD RECOMMEND ADDING FUNERAL SERVICES TO THAT LIST AND I CAN EXPLAIN WHY.
UH, UH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER RAM.
I, I MOVE THAT WE EXTEND THE MEETING TO 10 25 SECOND.
I THAT WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SUGGESTED WHAT? I THOUGHT WE WERE 10 20.
YOU SAID 25? NO, WE HAVE TO GO 10 30.
NO, WE'RE WE'RE STAYING AT 10 25.
ANYTHING ELSE? COMMISSIONER GUY.
WHAT ABOUT LIQUOR STORES ON THERE? ORIENTED BUSINESS? COULD THAT BE CONSIDERED POINT OF CLARIFICATION, ERICA? ON PAGE, UH, 14, THE, THE, THE MANUFACTURING AND OR NOXIOUS USES DOES NOT INCLUDE LIQUOR STORES.
CORRECT? UM, I WAS ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT BARS.
WELL, I, I THINK AT THIS, I WAS WONDERING IF IT, IT'S NOT, SORRY, APPEAR THAT LIQUOR STORES ARE LISTED AND YOU KNOW, BARS ARE SOMETIMES LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDINGS WITH, WITH RESIDENCES.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S NOT A, THERE MAY BE OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST.
WELL, IF I MAY REFER TO THE, UH, UM, REAL QUICK, I JUST WANNA WRANGLE US BACK IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
AT FIRST OFF, I WANNA JUST SAY THE LIQUOR STORES, THERE'S NOT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND, AND ANOTHER RETAIL STORE.
THERE'S NOT A NOXIOUS PORTION OF THAT, RIGHT? IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA, BUT IT'S NOT A NOXIOUS PORTION, UM, CONSIDERING OTHER RETAIL AND STUFF, BUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LANE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? LIQUOR STORES? IT'S NOT GOOD TO HAVE IT IN YOUR SCHOOLS.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS HOW ADULT, ADULT IS, RIGHT? IT'S ACTUALLY YOU HAVE TO BE ADULT TO GO INTO A LIQUOR STORE.
[04:10:01]
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY.
THE, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS, OF OUR MOTION, WE WILL INTERPRET ADULT ORIENT BUSINESSES TO INCLUDE ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE TO GO INTO AT 21 OR UP
UM, TO BE CLEAR, ARE WE, UH, ARE WE LIMITING LIQUOR STORES EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN THEIR SUGGESTION? YES, MA'AM.
WE ARE LIMIT, WE ARE NOT ADDING THAT TO HOURS.
THERE'S A STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, RECOMMENDS THE CHANGES TO MODIFY, TO EXCLUDE PROPERTIES WITHIN 500 FEET OF A LEVEL FIVE HIGHWAY AND MODIFY TO EXCLUDE RESIDENTIAL USES NEAR MORE INTENSE MANUFACTURING AND OR NOXIOUS USES.
AND THERE'S A LIST ON PAGE 14, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESSES.
AND FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION THAT MIGHT HAPPEN TONIGHT, WE ARE INTERPRETING ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESSES TO INCLUDE ANYTHING.
YOU HAVE TO BE 21 YEARS OLDER TO GO INTO.
DIVISION IN THE, I MEAN, IS THE PURPOSE THOUGH OF ANY COMMERCIAL BUSINESS THAT IS CURRENTLY SELLING ALCOHOL? IT'S TO REPURPOSE THAT BUSINESS INTO A RESIDENTIAL USE.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GETTING A LITTLE TWO IN THE WEEDS.
THE PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING, CORRECT? I MEAN, YES.
THE PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IN AREAS THAT ARE ZONED COMMERCIAL.
AND JUST SO IF WE'RE, IF WE START PUTTING IN SAYING IT'S TOO CLOSE, I I JUST NEED TO KNOW THE PROXIMITY BECAUSE, UM, THESE COMMERCIAL AREAS ARE VERY, THEY'RE HIGH DENSITY ALREADY AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LIQUOR STORE, UM, ON THE, ON THE CORNER OF NORTH LAMAR, FOR EXAMPLE,
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT, NOT PROMOTING RESIDENTIAL USE ON THAT IN THAT SHOPPING CENTER.
AND I DON'T THINK THE CODE CURRENTLY DEFINES ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESSES AS, AS BARS, JUST TO BE CLEAR.
I WASN'T ADVOCATING, UH, BANNING, TURNING STRIP MALLS WITH BARS NOT INTO HOUSING OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW.
UM, SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UM, WE'RE GONNA, I MOVE THAT WE EXTEND TO 10 35 SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR 10 35 SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO WITH THAT, UM, JUST WANT READ, WE'RE GONNA, I'M GONNA, I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO NO PUBLIC HEARING, SO I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT PLEASANT.
UM, WE HAVE A MOTION READY AND I WILL, UM, I, I WILL CLEARLY SAY THAT KEVIN AND I, UM, BOUNCE THIS AROUND EARLIER TODAY.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, NOVEMBER 2ND, 2022 AMENDMENT, UM, C TWO ZERO DASH 2021 DASH 0 1 2 RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS CONSIDERED THE AMENDMENT TO TITLE 25 OF THE CITY CODE TO CREATE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONUS PROGRAM AND ALLOW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES.
AND WHEREAS ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE AMENDMENT WAS INITIATED BY CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2 0 2 11 2 9 DASH FIVE SIX, AND THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE AMENDMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
AND THESE ARE THE STAFF CONDITIONS MODIFY TO EXCLUDE PROPERTIES WITHIN 500 FEET OF A LEVEL FIVE HIGHWAY MODIFY, EX EXCLUDE RESIDENTIAL USE, NEAR MORE INTENSE MANUFACTURING OR NOXIOUS USES, THAT'S HARD TO SAY.
UH, CONDITIONS COUNCIL SHOULD DIRECT STAFF, UM, STAFF DRAFT GUIDANCE FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN COMMERCIAL ZONE PROPERTIES TO AVOID AND MINIMIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE OF THE CITIZENS RESIDING ON COM.
COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTY THESE MAY INCLUDE,
[04:15:01]
BUT, UM, BUT BE LIMITED TO AIR QUALITY CONCERNS ADJACENT TO COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, NOISE EXPOSURE ADJACENT TO COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS AIRPORT AND OTHER LOUD ACTIVITIES.NUMBER TWO, LIMIT HEIGHT, UM, TO TWO, LIMIT HEIGHT TO THREE STORIES WHERE UNLOCKED HOUSING SPACE IS LOCATED NEAR CREEKS, PARKS, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
NUMBER THREE, ELIMINATE SPACES FOR CONSIDERATION NEAR AIRPORTS WHERE AIR QUALITY AND NOISE POLLUTION ARE THE HIGHEST.
NUMBER FOUR, CREATE ADEQUATE SETBACKS FROM FAST FOOD OR RESTAURANT FACILITIES TO REDUCE THE INTERFACE OF LIVING SPACES WITH WASTE AND AIR POLLUTION CREATED FROM FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
NUMBER FIVE, SOIL MUST BE TESTED FOR CONTAMINANTS WHEN INSTALLING NATURAL SPACES OR PLAY AREAS FOR CHILDREN.
NUMBER SIX, ENSURE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL ZONE STILL HAVE WALKING ACCESS TO PARKS PER THE CITY'S GOAL OF ALL RESIDENTS BEING WITHIN ONE FOURTH MILE IN THE URBAN CORE AND A HALF MILE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
NUMBER SEVEN, REQUIRE BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS AND BIRD FRIENDLY BUILDING, UH, PR BEST PRACTICES ON ALL, ON ALL PROJECTS IN ALL ZONES REQUIRE DARK SKIES.
LIGHTING REQUIRE NATURAL BUFFERS SUCH AS BIOS, SWES, OR TREES AND SHRUB FEATURES TO SEPARATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARKING FROM COMMERCIAL USE.
NUMBER 10, INCREASED NATURAL SPACES THAT USE NATIVE PLANTS AND TREES THAT CAN ASSIST IN THE SLOWING AND FILTERING OF RUNOFF.
REDUCE HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS AND REDUCE NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION.
RECOMMEND TAKING THIS CODE AMENDMENT BEFORE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION.
NUMBER 12, ADD FUNERAL SERVICES TO THE LIST.
UH, NUMBER 13, ADULT, ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESSES SHOULD INCLUDE ANY BUSINESSES THAT YOU HAVE TO BE AN ADULT TO ENTER OR MAKE A PURCHASE WITHIN.
I'VE GOT ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON NUMBER ONE UP THERE.
I THINK WE, I THINK YOU SAID INCLUDE BUT LIMITED TO INCLUDE, BUT BE LIMITED TO.
BE LIMITED TO, BUT NOT LIMITED.
BUT, BUT THESE IN, THESE MAY INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO AIR QUALITY CONCERNS ADJACENT TO COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, NOISE EXPOSURE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MAY I? YES, PLEASE.
MAY I SUGGEST THAT WE ADD THAT STAFF DO A STUDY, UH, YOU KNOW, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION THAT RECOMMENDS LIMITING DEVELOPMENT ALONGSIDE HIGHWAYS AND HEAVY TRAFFIC ROADS.
I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME HEAVILY TRAFFIC ROADS THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY CONSIDER.
NOT, NOT SAYING ALL OF 'EM, BUT I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME THAT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE COMMERCIAL TRUCKS THAT ARE.
SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD BE FOR THEM TO STUDY, MAKE, DO THAT STUDY.
STAFF CONDUCT A STUDY OF NON LEVEL FIVE HIGHWAYS THAT MAY WARRANT BUFFERING OR ROADWAYS LOWER, LOWER THAN LEVEL FIVE THAT MAY WARRANT BUFFERING BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC.
AND, AND EXHAUST THE IMPACT ON EXHAUST.
ON IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY AND AIR QUALITY.
AND I READ THAT, I KIND OF READ THAT IN TOO, SO KAYLA CAN MAKE IT BETTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, EXCEPT FOR BRIER, VOTED FOR, UM, WHICH IS GREAT.
ERICA, THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND.
THANKS FOR THE THOROUGH PRESENTATION AND RUNNING THROUGH IT SO QUICKLY.
UM, ANY BRIEF, VERY BRIEF UPDATES.
HAVING SEEN NONE, WE, UH, IT'S TEN TWENTY NINE.
UH, WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN A COUPLE WEEKS.
[04:20:20]
MY DIFFERENT THINGS APPEAR.