Mar 01, 2023 Environmental Commission

[00:00:03]

MARCH 1ST,

[CALL TO ORDER]

WE ARE UP HERE AT 63 10 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78 7 52.

UM, AND WE'VE GOT MOST OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE AND A COUPLE REMOTE.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN REMOTE COMMISSIONERS.

WE'LL START WITH YOU GUYS.

UH, UH, COMMISSIONER SHEERA HERE.

THANK YOU.

HEY, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON? HERE.

COMMISSIONER KREI.

HERE.

HERE.

THANKS.

COMMISSIONER SCOTT HERE.

GOT IT.

UM, COMMISSIONER NICHOLS HERE.

COMMISSIONER AGUIAR.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER BRIER.

HELLO? HELLO.

UH, SECRETARY HERE.

VICE CHAIR HERE.

THIS IS RANDBERG.

I AM HERE AS WELL.

UM, ALRIGHT.

UH, FIRST ITEM UP ON THE AGENDA

[1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on February 15, 2023 (5 minutes) (Part 1 of 2)]

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS THAT ELIZABETH SENT AROUND? YES, ELIZABETH, UH, ELIZABETH FUNK WATERSHED.

WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

OH, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? NOT QUITE YET DO WE? WE

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S, HERE WE'VE GOT ONE GENERAL COMMENTER, UM, UH, SCOTT JOHNSON.

THANK YOU.

AND SCOTT, YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SLIDES OR ANYTHING, WHICH YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THEM.

THANK YOU, SCOTT.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS SCOTT JOHNSON AND I CAME TO MY FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING IN 1994, AND I'M BACK AGAIN, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE.

AND I'M COMING TODAY TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT AN EVENT THAT I'M HOSTING, A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER AND FILM SCREENING OF THE MOVIE CHASING CORAL THAT CAME OUT IN 2017.

I HAVE FLYERS I CAN GIVE TO Y'ALL, AND THOSE FLYERS HAVE A QR CODE.

SO WE KNOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS CHANGING OUR WORLD AND OUR LIFE.

THIS MOVIE IS CONDENSING 500 HOURS OF VIDEO FOOTAGE UNDERWATER TO A SECOND AT 6:00 PM AND THERE'S GONNA BE SOME ENTERTAINMENT, AND THEN THERE'S GONNA BE, UH, ONE OF THE LEADING FOLKS.

AND SHE LIVES IN AUSTIN ON CORALS, IN CORAL REEFS.

SHE'S WRITTEN A BOOK AND SHE'S GONNA BE THERE TO LEAD THE SHORT PRESENTATION AND THEN THE QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION AFTERWARDS.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER AND ANOTHER WOMAN WHO'S A DOCTORAL STUDENT FROM THE UT GENETICS LAB FOR CORAL.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M DOING AFTER, UH, HAVE PAY SOME FIXED COSTS WITH THE ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE, I'M GONNA WORK TO FUND ON A ONE-TIME BASIS FOR CAUSES.

ONE OF THE CAUSES IS A GOFUNDME SITE FOR THE LATE JACK GOODMAN, HER, HIS HU HIS WIFE JACKIE GOODMAN IS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND THEY HAVE SOME COSTS RELATED TO HIS CARE OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AS, AS HE WAS THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER.

ANOTHER OF THE CAUSES IS CALLED THE HOMELESS STUDENT FUND, AND THAT FUND IS ON THE UTILITY BILL.

NOW, I UNFORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO TAKE THAT FROM START TO FINISH FROM 2020 UNTIL NOW.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IT LAST YEAR.

THE PARKS AND LIBRARIES FUND'S BEEN ON THE UTILITY BILL SINCE 2013, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO ME.

I TOOK THAT START TO FINISH.

THE PARKS PART OF THAT FUNDS HALF THE SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT FOR FAMILIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THOSE PARK PROGRAMS SUCH AS CAMPS OR LEAGUES.

AND THE FOURTH ONE IS ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNAGE FOR THE BULL CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH IS A VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA THAT WOULD BE ON RM 2222 THAT GOT KNOCKED DOWN.

THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS TO CARE ABOUT THESE, AND I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER COMING ON THIS SHEET AGAIN THAT I CAN HAND OUT THROUGH, THROUGH STAFF.

THERE'S A QR CODE THAT HAS THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY ON IT.

AND THE THE TICKETS ARE NOT SOLD THROUGH THE ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE.

SO AS THE HOST AND THE ORGANIZER, I DO THAT PART AND ALL THE PROMOTIONS.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE NOW.

IF I HAVE MORE TIME, I AM A RESOURCE FOR, FOR AIR QUALITY, WHICH IS HOW I CAME TO KNOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AT THAT TIME AND TALKED TO THEM MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS, ALMOST ONCE PER YEAR SINCE THAT TIME.

NOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CLIMATE, BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT AIR QUALITY AS WELL.

AND THIS BOARD OR COMMISSION NOW DOES HAVE PURVIEW IN RELATION TO AIR QUALITY.

IT'S JUST THAT IT HASN'T BEEN UTILIZED.

IT'S A LOT ABOUT CUT AND FILL AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I WOULD WELCOME YOU TO CONTACT THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.

ZACH BOMBER IS THE NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR REPLACING LUCIA ATHENS.

AND YOU COULD HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU, SCOTT.

YEAH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, PLEASE EMAIL AND GET ELECTRONIC COPIES TO ELIZABETH SO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS CAN GET IT, NOT NOT ONLY US THAT ARE HERE, UH, IN PERSON.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

YES, APPRECIATE IT.

ALL

[1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on February 15, 2023 (5 minutes) (Part 2 of 2)]

UM, WE'RE NOW MOVING, UH, BACK, BACK TO THE MINUTES FROM BEFORE.

UH, SO ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DRAFT MINUTES THAT WERE DISSEMINATED? MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

A SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL RIGHT.

CARESI GETS IT.

UM, I WAS GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU.

NO, YOU'RE GOOD.

UH, ALRIGHT.

GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE PREVIOUS MEETING'S MINUTES? RAISE YOUR HAND, THOMPSON.

YOU ABSTAINING? OKAY.

ALL ALL THOSE AGAINST ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

SO, UH, ALL VOTE FOR EXCEPT FOR THOMPSON WHO ABSTAINED.

UM, ALRIGHT, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

UM, WE'RE GONNA JUGGLE

[3. Request from the City of Manor to release approximately 48 acres of Austin Extraterritorial Jurisdiction located near 15416 Littig Rd, to be transferred to Manor Extraterritorial Jurisdiction and subsequently annexed into Manor’s Full Purpose Jurisdiction. – Andrei Lubomudrov, Senior Planner, Housing and Planning Department (30 minutes)]

UM, AND, UH, SO WE'RE GONNA PULL UP, UH, NUMBER THREE AND THEN COME BACK AND CIRCLE BACK TO NUMBER TWO.

SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A REQUEST FROM THE CITY OF MANOR TO RELEASE APPROXIMATELY 48 ACRES OF AUSTIN EXTRA TERRITORY, EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION LOCATED AT 15,416 LITIG ROAD, UM, TO BE TRANSFERRED TO MAYER E T J AND SUBSEQUENT ANNEXED INTO MAYER'S FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION FOR DISCUSSION TO START.

THANK YOU.

IS THIS MIC WORKING? YES.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ON THIS, UH, REQUEST FOR A RELEASE OF OUR EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION FROM THE CITY OF MAYNARD.

UH, THE REQUEST IS FOR 48 HOUR, UH, 48 ACRES, AND I WILL GO OVER THE DETAILS THROUGH THIS, UM, PRESENTATION.

AND I WOULD ALSO, I WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS FURTHER.

NEXT SLIDE.

SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SUBJECT TRACK.

THERE IS, THERE ARE A COUPLE, UM, UH, LOCATION SLIDES LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW, UH, THE PROPOSED RELEASE IS PART OF A LARGER DEVELOPMENT, THE MAYER SPRINGS DEVELOPMENT.

THAT WHOLE PROPERTY IS, UM, PLANNED TO BE ABOUT 388 ACRES, SO ABOUT, UH, 348 AC.

340 ACRES WILL BE, UM, ARE CURRENTLY IN MAIN OR E T J.

THE REQUEST IS FOR THE BALANCE OF THAT TRACK TRACKED.

IT'S ABOUT 12% OR SO OF THE TOTAL TRACK 48 ACRES.

THE ACCESS TO THE SITE, UH, IS THROUGH TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, ROAD, LITIG ROAD.

UM, IT'S, AND THE TRACK THAT'S PROPOSED FOR A RELEASE IS NORTH OF THAT ROAD.

YOU'LL SEE THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE LOCATIONS, UH, SLIDES.

AND ALSO OF NOTE, A PORTION OF THE SITE IS, UH, DOES INCLUDE FLOODPLAIN AND THAT, THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT AS WELL.

AND WE'VE BUILT SOME, UH, STIPULATIONS AROUND THAT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RELEASE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

JUST TO PROVIDE A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW.

THERE'S A, A CITY COUNCIL POLICY THAT GOVERNS PROPOSED, PROPOSED EJ RELEASES.

AND WE, WE REVIEW THOSE IN TERMS OF THE, THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT ON ANNEXATION.

SO OUR BIGGER JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES, WE LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF RELEASING THAT ETJ, THEN WE LOOK AT PLANNED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA.

UH, WE LOOK AT JUST SORT OF, UH, IF THERE'S BEEN A SERIES OF REQUESTS AND HOW THAT ACCUMULATES OVER TIME.

AND THEN WE LOOK AT THE PARTICULAR PROPERTY TO SEE IF THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT APPLY THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE RELEASE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, AS ALLUDED TO, WE LOOK AT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS THAT WOULD APPLY IF THE RELEASE WERE GRANTED.

AND GENERALLY THIS CITY COUNCIL POLICY CALLS FOR EQUIVALENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO BE PROVIDED ON LAND THAT'S RELEASED FROM THE JURIS, THE CITY'S JURISDICTION.

UM, AND, AND WE'VE WORKED

[00:10:01]

AND WE'VE BUILT SOME CONDITIONS AROUND THAT RELEASE THAT I WILL DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

OKAY.

SO A LITTLE LOCATION MAP OF A LA A LARGER SCALE LOCATION MAP OF THE SITE.

UM, THE, THE SITE YOU CAN SEE IS HIGHLIGHTED AND OUTLINED IN BLACK IN, IN THAT PICTURE, AND IT IS NORTH OF LITIG ROAD.

LITIG ROAD IS THE ROAD THAT RUNS KIND OF EAST, EAST WEST THAT GENERALLY DEMARCATES OUR E T J BOUNDARY WITH, UH, TO THE NORTH.

UM, AND THIS IS NORTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE CITY OF MAYER IS ACTUALLY TO THE, UH, WEST OF THIS PROPOSED RELEASE.

AND IT'S ABOUT, IT'S A LITTLE OVER FOUR MILES FROM OUR EXISTING FULL PURPOSE CITY LIMITS.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

HERE'S A LITTLE BIT, UM, CLOSER IN VIEW OF THE PROPOSED RELEASE AREA.

AND SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S, UH, THE CURRENT USE IS AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE TYPE USES.

UM, AND THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE SITE DOES HAVE, UM, FLOOD PLAIN ON IT.

UH, THAT IS ABOUT, I'D SAY, I DUNNO, THIRD OR SO TO OF THE TOTAL SITE AREA.

AND, UM, AND THAT FLOODPLAIN RUNS UP ALSO INTO THE MAINER EJ AREA THERE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, SO STAFF WORKED WITH THE APPLICANT TO, I END THE CITY OF MAYNARD TO IDENTIFY CONDITIONS FOR THE RELEASE OF THIS AREA.

AND WE'VE, UM, BUILT CONSENSUS AROUND RELEASING IT.

UH, GIVEN THAT CITY OF AUSTIN SUBURBAN WATERSHED, UH, IN PERUS COVER RESTRICTIONS ARE MAINTAINED FOR THAT AREA, THAT GREEN STORM WATER QUALITY CONTROLS ARE AVAILABLE TO TREAT THE WATER QUALITY VOLUME.

UH, THAT THERE'S A 300 FOOT CREEK SETBACK FOR THE COTTONWOOD CREEK THAT, UM, THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE, IN THE PHOTOS THAT ARE, IT'S ALSO FLOODPLAIN AND TO PROTECT THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES THAT ARE WITHIN, UM, 150 FEET OF THE SETBACK.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO JUST AN OVERVIEW.

UH, THIS IS A REQUEST OF FROM THE CITY OF MAYER, UH, FOUR, IT'S ABOUT FOUR MILES FROM OUR CITY LIMITS.

UM, AND SO THAT, THAT WE'VE FOUND TO NOT HAVE A POTENTIAL IMPACT ON ANNEXATION IN THE, AND PART OF THE, THE PUT AGREEMENT AND A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MAYER.

THE LAND THAT WOULD BE RELEASED WOULD BE EVENTUALLY ANNEXED BY THE CITY OF MAYER AND THEREFORE GOVERNED BY CITY OF MAYER FULL PURPOSE REGULATIONS INSTEAD OF JUST MAYER ET J REGULATIONS.

UH, THE RELEASE WOULD ACCOMMODATE, UH, STREAMLINED DEVELOPMENT.

AS I UH MENTIONED, THE, THE RELEASE TRACT IS PART OF A LARGER DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO WE LOOK AT THAT IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF ASSESSING A HARDSHIP OR EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMPLY WITH TWO JURISDICTIONAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS FOR ONE DEVELOPMENT, UH, ONE SITE THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.

SO, SO THIS WOULD ALLOW THE, THE APPLICANT TO HAVE THAT STREAMLINED REVIEW.

AND WE'VE LOOKED ALSO AT THE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS THAT THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE UNDER MAYER FULL PURPOSE.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE COULD BE, THAT THOSE ARE AMENABLE WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED, UM, AS PART OF THE RELEASE.

AND SO OUR, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS FOR SUPPORTING THIS, UM, EJ RELEASE FROM THE CITY OF MAYER, AND WE ASK YOU TO CONSIDER OUR RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

UM, IS ANYONE FROM THE CITY OF MAYER OR I GUESS THE, THE PUT UH, APPLICANT HERE TO, TO PRESENT OR YEAH, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, STATE YOUR NAME AND, UH, BEFORE YOU START.

THANK YOU.

SORRY, I'M A LITTLE BIT SHORT.

GOOD EVENING.

OKAY.

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

UM, AND STAFF.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

MY NAME IS CATHERINE NICELY, I'M WITH MEDCALF WOLF, STEWART AND WILLIAMS, AND WE ALSO HAVE SCOTT DUNLAP, THE CITY PLANNER FROM THE CITY OF MAYNARD ON THE PHONE LINE.

SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO, TO ANSWER.

I HAD A SMALL PRESENTATION.

[00:15:02]

YEAH, I THINK IT WAS UP A SECOND AGO.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

SO I'M HERE FOR ITEM THREE.

UM, THE 47.6 ACRES IN THE CITY OF MAYER, WE'RE REQUESTING FOR THE E T J RELEASE FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THIS IS THE PROPERTY THAT COVERS MAYER AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND THE TRACT, WHICH HAS SMALL LETTERS, I SHOULD HAVE MADE THAT BIGGER, IS ACTUALLY HALF IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND HALF IN THE CITY OF MAYER.

NEXT SLIDE.

YOU CAN SHOW IT THERE, THERE YOU GO.

THAT TRACT HAS, FOR SOME REASON, IT'S HALF AND HALF.

AND SO WE'RE ONLY REQUESTING FOR THE RELEASE ON THE BLUE SIDE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, UH, CREATE THE WHOLE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE OWNER, I REPRESENT THE OWNER URBANIST AND THEY WERE, THEY'RE GONNA DEVELOP A PUT, SO WE'RE GONNA GET ANNEXED AND DO A PUT WITH THE CITY OF MAINER.

WE'RE WORKING ON THEM, UH, WITH THEM ON SEVERAL ITEMS, BUT WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNLESS THIS GETS RELEASED.

LIKE, UM, ANDRE MENTIONED NEXT SLIDE.

AND THIS IS JUST, UH, WHAT ANDRE HADN'T MENTIONED.

I DID WANNA ADD THAT THERE'S SOME CRITICAL WATER QUALITY, UH, ZONE THAT IS ADDED THERE, SO WE WON'T BE DEVELOPING THERE EITHER.

AND THERE'S A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFI, SORRY, A WET, A WETLAND THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.

AND SO WE'LL CREATE THE BUFFERS THAT ARE NEEDED BASED ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN CODE.

NEXT SLIDE.

THAT'S JUST A SURVEY OF THE 47.6 ACRES.

NEXT SLIDE.

SO, UM, THEY ACTUALLY ACQUIRED MORE LAND AND SO WE'RE AT 549 ACRES OF LAND AT THIS POINT.

AND 167, MORE OR LESS OF THE WHOLE PROPERTY ARE IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

THE PLAN IS TO, UM, BECOME A PUT THAT HAS OVER 30 ACRES OF PARK AMENITIES.

IT HAS OVER 200 ACRES OF HEAVILY AMENITIZED PARKLAND AREAS, AND THE DETENTION AREAS WILL BE ALSO AMENITIZED.

THE IDEA THAT URBANIST HAS IS FOR THIS TO BECOME A HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER WHERE EVERYBODY CAN WALK TO A CENTRALIZED PARK, A CREEK, OR ANY TYPE OF ACCESS TO, UH, NATURE.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY EXCITING PROJECT.

NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS WHAT, I KNOW IT'S SMALL, BUT THIS IS OUR PRELIMINARY DRAFT AND THERE'S GONNA BE JOGGING PATHS, EDUCATION CENTER AREAS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, APHY THEATERS, BIKE PATHS, FOREST PLAYGROUND, THERE'S A LAGOON THERE, THERE'S A HUGE PARK AREA.

UM, AND THE IDEA IS TO CREATE THIS WHOLE AMENITY THAT, UH, PEOPLE CAN WALK HALF A MILE AND JUST GET THERE.

NEXT SLIDE.

AGAIN, I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE THE FEATURES BECAUSE I KNOW THE CITY OF MADE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

WE HAVE, UM, ITEMS FOR FAMILIES TO BE ENTERTAINED, BUT ALSO FOR TEENS THAT WAS HUGE FOR THE CITY OF MAYNOR.

SO WE HAVE TENNIS AREAS, PICKLEBALL, COMMUNITY GARDENS, PLAYGROUNDS, THE SWIMMING LAGOON THAT I MENTIONED, THE AMEN IN POND AREAS AND THE LAKES, UH, THAT WOULD BE FOR BOATING, FISHING IN ROWING.

NEXT SLIDE.

AND, UM, I JUST DID A, A SNAPSHOT OF THE AREA THAT IS BEING RELEASED, AND SO IT'S THAT BOTTOM SOUTHERN PORTION AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE MASTER PLAN, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU ALL THAT THOSE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES ARE GONNA BE GREEN AREAS WE'RE SETTING BACK FROM THE FLOODPLAINS, UM, SETTING BACK FROM THE WATER POND, ALL THE STUFF THAT, AND ANDREA SAID, WE'RE AGREEING ON THAT AND THAT WOULD BE ADDED IN THE PUT NEXT SLIDE.

AND JUST TO SUMMARIZE, WE'RE ASKING THE CITY MAINERS ASKING FOR THE RELEASE OF 47.6 ACRES OF LAND FROM THE AUSTIN E DK AND WE ARE AGREED ON THE PROVISIONS I JUST MENTIONED.

WE'RE ALSO, UH, IN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON THE, UM, THE TREE ORDINANCE BECAUSE CITY OF MAYNOR APPARENTLY HAS A, A MORE STRICT STREET OR TRUE ORDINANCE.

SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL.

THE NEXT STEPS AFTER YOU GUYS APPROVE THIS AND RECOMMEND THIS, WE'LL GO TO, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN COUNCIL, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF MANOR AND THEIR PUD.

UM, WE ARE, WE'LL ADD THE RECOMMENDATIONS, LIKE I SAID, THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS, UM, MOVED FORWARD WITH, AND THEN WE WOULD DO ANNEXATION AND BE PART OF THE CITY OF MAYER.

AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

AND LIKE I SAID, SCOTT IS IN THE PHONE IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS OR REASSURANCE OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

THANK YOU.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

UM, ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT OR THE CITY OF MAYNARD OR CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF? UH, WE'LL START REMOTE WITH YOU GUYS.

[00:20:02]

OKAY.

UM, SO IF WE ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT BEFORE THEY'RE ANNEXED, IS THE AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER OR WITH THE CITY OF MAYNOR AND IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD, DO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS STILL HOLD? IF THIS IS BROKEN UP INTO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WE ARE MAKING THE AGREEMENT WITH.

OH, I, I WOULD, BUT, UM, SORRY.

THANK YOU .

I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT AS A KIND OF A THREE-WAY AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, THE CITY OF MAYER AND THE APPLICANT.

AND, UH, THE REASON WHY IT HAS TO BE THAT WAY IS BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE CODIFIED IN THE MAYER PUD AND IT IS A BIT OF A CHICKEN AND EGG PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PU CAN'T BE ADOPTED UNTIL THIS AREA IS RELEASED.

IT CAN'T BE, IT CAN'T BE, WE CAN'T SORT OF HANG ONTO THE AREA AND THEN THEY GO FORWARD WITH THE PUT FOR AN AREA THAT'S NOT IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS.

TAKE A BIT OF A LEAP OF FAITH THERE IN THE, IN BEGINNINGS.

BUT, UM, MAYNARD HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE APPLICANT AND I THINK YOU KNOW THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM HOW THEY WILL STRUCTURE THOSE REQUIREMENTS INTO THE POD.

THEY HAVE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND A POD THAT ARE BOTH CURRENTLY, UM, IN THE, IN THE IN PROGRESS, UH, WAS SUBMITTED LAST JULY.

AND SO THAT WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THEIR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND COUNCIL PROCESS AND THEY, THEY MAY BE BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU.

YEAH, I WOULD SAY YES, I WOULD SAY, SCOTT, IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, YEAH, PLEASE, UM, KIND OF SPEAK TO THAT IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE.

UH, YES, UM, UM, Y'ALL CAN HEAR ME RIGHT? YES.

OKAY.

UM, ALRIGHT, UM, EVENING COMMISSIONER.

UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND I ALSO THANK YOU FOR REARRANGING YOUR, YOUR AGENDA.

UH, WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL HERE AT SEVEN, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, AND YEAH, CATHERINE AND ANDRE HAVE MENTIONED, UM, THIS IS A PUT FOR US IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND SO THE, THE CONSIDERATIONS YOU'RE LOOKING TO ADD WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PUT AND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, THERE MAY, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITY, I'M NOT SURE, I MIGHT HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR LEGAL ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AGREEMENTS BEFOREHAND TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE KEPT.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE VALUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA, UM, YOU KNOW, SAY WELL INCLUDE THESE AND THEN NOT, UM, WE, YOU'RE, YOUR, YOUR REQUEST FOR THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS AND REGULATIONS IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE TO US.

UM, AND WE WILL CARRY THOSE THROUGH.

OH, OKAY.

I HAVE, UM, I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HAS GOOD FAITH INTENTIONS, BUT SAY FINANCING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, UM, ARE, WOULD IT REVERT IF THE PEG DID NOT GO THROUGH TO LIKE TRAVIS COUNTY? I MEAN, WHAT WOULD THE RULES BE IF WE RELEASE IT AND IT'S NOT ANNEXED? WHERE WOULD IT BE? IF, IF THE LAND WERE RELEASED AND, AND NOT ANNEXED, THEN IT WOULD BE IN, IN MAIN OR E T J.

SO WE'LL BE RELEASING IT TO MAYER E T J AND THE CONDITIONS COME IN WITH FURTHER ANNEXATION AFTER THAT RELEASE, BUT IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE IN THEIR JURISDICTION.

SO WE WOULD BE LIMITED IN TERMS OF OUR PURVIEW OVER THAT LAND ONCE IT'S RELEASED.

OKAY.

SO MY, MY QUESTION IS THEN COULD WE ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MAYER ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ANNEXATION INSTEAD OF THE PUT? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE, UM, A LOT OF TIMES WE SEEM TO BE ABLE TO TRADE THINGS WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THERE ARE SWAPS THAT GO ON.

SO IN THIS INSTANCE THERE ISN'T.

I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THAT COULD, UM, BE PART OF THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS THAT ARE MENTIONED HERE.

UM, BEING ATTACHED TO THE LAND IS MY REASON FOR QUESTIONING THIS.

THANK YOU.

SORRY, IF I MAY FOR, FOR MAYER, UM, I MEAN I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH OUR LEGAL AND OUR COUNCIL LOOK DO IT AS WELL.

UM, BUT I, AT THE STAFF LEVEL, YOU KNOW, I'M AGREEABLE TO, UM, AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MANOR AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT WHILE THIS PROPERTY IS STILL IN EJ, UM, AND OBVIOUSLY AFTERWARDS, BUT IN THAT INTERIM, IN THAT INSTANCE, LIKE WHEN IT TRANSFERS FROM YOUR EJ TO MANOR'S

[00:25:01]

SO IF IN THE INSTANCE THIS, THIS PROJECT DOESN'T GO THROUGH AND THE ANNEXATION DOESN'T OCCUR, THAT AGREEMENT WOULD STILL STAND FOR ANY FUTURE PROJECT AND ANNEXATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

COMMISSIONER SHERA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY, THANK YOU KREI.

HEY Y'ALL, UH, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAD A QUESTION.

UM, AS FAR AS LIKE THE LAND USE FOR THIS, I KNOW Y'ALL MENTIONED LIKE, UH, A HEALTH AND AND WELLNESS SORT OF FOCUS AREA.

ARE WE TALKING LIKE PURELY RESIDENTIAL HERE? BECAUSE MY SORT OF QUESTION WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE PARKS LOOK COOL, THE TRAILS LOOK COOL, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU STILL GOTTA DRIVE 10 MINUTES TO THE MAINER WALMART OR YOU KNOW, 15 MINUTES TO THE HEB OR WHATEVER, UM, YOU KNOW, STILL PERHAPS NOT AS GREEN AS IT COULD BE IF LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME COMMERCIAL SPACE ON THAT AREA AS WELL THAT, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS COULD ACCESS, LIKE WHATEVER GROCERY STORE, YOU KNOW, LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD.

UH, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH MY ONLY QUESTION.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR THE QUESTION.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE BUD, BUT THERE IS A COMMERCIAL MIXED USE COMPONENT, UM, BUSINESS CENTER AND, UM, OTHER COMPONENTS ON IT, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, THE CITY OF MAINER AND THOSE ELEMENTS, UH, WE HAVE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THERE IS A LACK OF DESTINATIONS ALSO TO CREATE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT'S THE IDEA.

AND THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS WELLNESS IS REALLY GEARED TOWARDS THAT TO MAKE IT A WALKABLE COMMUNITY.

IT IS, UM, NOT TO GET INTO MUCH DETAIL BECAUSE WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PRESENTATIONS FOR THAT, BUT IT IS A, UH, URBANIST, UM, DESIGN AND SO THAT IS THE IDEA AS WELL TO HAVE DIVERSE, UM, HOUSING AND HAVE, UH, THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVE THAT BEAUTIFUL FLOOD PLANE BE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PROCESS.

YEAH, FOR SURE.

I GREW UP IN THE COUNTRY BURBS AROUND HERE, SO, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER GROWING UP IN CAT HOLLOW WHEN THEY PUT AN H E B THERE, IT WAS BASICALLY LIKE OUR LIVES CHANGED OVERNIGHT AND A BLOCKBUSTER, BUT BLOCKBUSTER IS IRRELEVANT NOWADAYS, SO APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

UH, YEAH, SCOTT, THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME LANGUAGE, UM, UH, IN OUR, UM, WHEN WE FINALIZE THIS, UH, IF WE, IF WE, UH, DO APPROVE IT TO, UH, THAT IT WOULD INCLUDE, UH, WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, THOMPSON WAS, UH, SUGGESTING THAT THAT, UH, AS A CONDITION OF THE, UH, UM, OF THE TRANSFER OF THE, OF THE, UH, PROPERTY THAT, UH, THE WOULD BE, UH, CONDITIONED ON, UM, THE, UM, SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP.

AND, UH, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, UM, SOUNDS LIKE A EXCITING, UH, PROJECT.

I, I GET THE FEELING WE DIDN'T GET THE FULL SCOPE OF IT.

I ASSUME THAT THIS IS A, UH, LARGELY RESIDENTIAL, UH, DEVELOPMENT, BUT YOU ARE YOUR YOUR'RE ADDING, UM, A PARK AREA AND YOU'RE ADDING SOME, UH, COMMERCIAL AREAS TO HELP MAKE IT MORE, UM, ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE LIVING IN THE AREA.

IS THAT CORRECT? I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY, OH, ANOTHER, YES, COMMISSIONER IN, IN ORDER TO CREATE A WALKABLE COMMUNITY, WE'RE ADDING DESTINATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL MIX USE AND, UH, THE PARK AREAS.

MM-HMM.

.

SO WHY AREN'T SHE DOING IT IN AUSTIN? ? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.

IT'S OKAY.

I'LL, I'LL LET MY CLIENT KNOW AND GET BACK TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS GUI? YES.

I JUST HAVE A REAL QUICK QUESTION.

IS ANY PART OF A FLOODPLAIN IN THE TRA ON IN THE AUSTIN ATJ OR IS IT ALL IN THE MAINER? I I CAN ANSWER THAT.

UH, YEAH, IF YOU, IF YOU COULD MAYBE FIND THE SLIDE WITH THE FLOODPLAIN MAP UP, BUT YEAH, PORTION OF THE FLOODPLAIN IS IN AUSTIN, E T J.

OKAY.

SO IS THAT FLOODPLAIN DEFINED BASED ON THE ATLAS 14 OR IS IT THE OLD FORMULA? IS IT USING ATLAS 14? YES.

YEAH, IT'S, IT'S ATLAS 14, THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

QUESTION, GO FOR IT.

[00:30:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT YOU'VE, YOU'RE PROTECTING A LOT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

THAT'S GREAT.

YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A, UM, AREA ON ONE SIDE THAT'S, UM, KIND OF OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN, I GUESS.

I, I CAN'T SEE ANY CREEK OVER HERE, BUT, UM, AND IT'S, IT'S PART OF YOUR OPEN SPACE THERE.

THIS IS BLACK LAMP PRAIRIE.

AND IS THERE ANY SPACE IN HERE THAT WILL FEATURE OR HIGHLIGHT THE BLACK LAMP PRAIRIE OR PROTECT IT? WE HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THAT, BUT I CAN, I CAN ASK THE, THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND MY CLIENT ABOUT THAT.

OKAY.

MM-HMM.

, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE AREAS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS REALLY, UM, BEING, UH, WELL LAID WAYS TO VERY QUICKLY.

UM, AND SO LOOKING AT THE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE, HOW A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PRESERVE A PIECE OF THAT.

AND THEN YOU MENTIONED THE LAKE.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHERE THE LAKE WILL BE AND HOW BIG THAT'LL BE? IT'S, UH, THEY'RE TWO AND, AND, AND YOU HAVE PROBABLY WHAT WE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY OF MAYER, WHICH THAT HAS CHANGED TOO OVER THE, WHICH STILL WORKING ON THE PUT AND THE DESIGN.

BUT IF YOU, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GET MY SLIDE UP.

THERE IS A LAKE ON THE EAST AND THEN THERE'S A LAGOON ON THE WEST SIDE OF THAT ROAD.

SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY DIFFERENT FEATURES.

UM, LET ME SEE HERE.

UM, THAT'S THE ONE BEFORE, SORRY, THE ONE BEFORE BEFORE ONE MORE ONE.

THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S KIND OF SMALL, BUT THERE IS A LAGOON, UM, THAT GOES WHERE THE PURPLE AREA IS.

ABOVE THAT, THERE'S GREEN AREA.

ALL THAT IS GREEN BECAUSE WE HAD TO SUBMIT IT AS PART OF THE OPEN SPACE.

AND THEN THERE'S LAKES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ROAD.

UM, THEY'RE NONE IN THE E T J THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE AUSTIN.

IT'S ALL IN THE CITY OF MAINOR ET J AND THEN THERE'S DIFFERENT, UM, DIFFERENT, UH, LAKES AND PONDS THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT.

OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT IS SWA AND THEY'RE GONNA PUT TOGETHER, UM, A WHOLE SET OF, OF, UH, RULES FOR THOSE THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED WITH THE POD.

OKAY.

AND ARE THOSE WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN OR ARE THEY OUTSIDE OF THE FLOOD PLAIN? THEY ARE OUTSIDE THE FLOODPLAIN.

UM, THE LAGON IS, AND THE LAKES ARE, AND THEN THEY ARE TRYING TO, I THINK THERE'S A PICTURE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT MADE IT IN THERE, THERE IS A PICTURE OF THE FLOODPLAIN AREA WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO MITIGATE AND CREATE MORE OF A, A NICER SLOPE AND MITIGATE A LOT OF THE BRUSH THAT'S THERE.

AND SO THEY ARE RESTORING SOME OF IT, SOME OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

AND, AND SO WILL THESE LAKES ALSO BE PART OF LIKE A, UH, WATER, UH, DETENTION SYSTEM OR RUNOFF SYSTEM, OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? YEAH, , WELL, WE ACTUALLY HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH SCOTT WHO'S IN THE PHONE.

SO , HE DOES NOT WANT THE TENSION PONDS TO BE COUNTED AS FLOODPLAIN AREAS, SO WE ACTUALLY ARE PULLING THOSE OUT AND GRADING FEATURES.

AND SO THE DETENTION PONDS WON'T BE SENT SUNK IN GRASS AREAS.

THEY EITHER HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM AND IT'S ONLY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.

AND SO WE'RE WRITING THAT INTO THE POD.

OKAY.

MM-HMM.

.

OKAY.

GREAT.

UM, AND THEN, UM, SO IN THE, IN THE MAINER CODE, IS THERE, UM, Y'ALL HAVE A WETLAND PROTECTION, UH, WITHIN THE MAINER CODE? IS THAT, I KNOW WE TURNED IN THE COMPARISON CODES, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER IF, UM, THAT WAS THE CASE.

UM, SO LESLIE LILLY WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, THERE'S NOT CURRENTLY, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE PROTECTIONS IN THE MAINER LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, BUT WE WILL BE APPLYING THE, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE PROTECTIONS ON THE TRACT THAT IS PROPOSED FOR RELEASE FOR THE CFS THAT ARE FOUND ON THAT SITE, SIMILAR TO, UH, THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IMPOSED, UM, AND PROVIDE PROTECTIONS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN JURISDICTION.

OKAY, SO JUST WITH THE, JUST WITH THE TRACK THAT'S BEING CONVEYED? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY.

MM-HMM.

.

OKAY, GREAT.

UM, MAKE SURE I DIDN'T WRITE DOWN ANYTHING ELSE ON THE OTHER LITTLE SHEET HERE.

I THINK THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU.

UM, I, EXCUSE ME, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.

I WAS KIND OF WONDERING, UM, IF YOU COULD TELL, TALK MORE ABOUT THE EDUCATION AREAS THAT YOU ARE PLANNING.

YEAH, YEAH.

WELL, THE CITY OF MAYARD, WE'VE WORKED ON SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH THE CITY OF MAYARD.

THAT'S HUGE FOR THEM IN ORDER TO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION AREAS FOR TEENS AND, AND FAMILIES.

SO WE'LL HAVE, UM, COMMUNITY GARDENS, BUT ALSO TRAILS THAT ARE EDUCATIONAL.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT AMPH THEATERS

[00:35:01]

THERE'S GONNA BE TENANTS AND PICKLEBALL, AND THOSE WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT'S A HUGE PLUS FOR THE CITY OF MAINER.

THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING TOGETHER A MENU OF ITEMS THAT COULD BE ADDED IN THE PUT, UH, I HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY A FOND OF THAT, AND SO WE'RE PUSHING FOR THAT.

MM-HMM.

, THANK YOU.

THANKS.

I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S FOR CITY STAFF, BUT THE STAFF CONDITION THAT WAS 300 FOOT SETBACK, I BELIEVE, ALONG THE CREEK.

IS THAT TOTAL 300 OR 300 ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTER LINE? IT'S THE 300 FEET ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTER LINE.

OKAY.

SO LIKE A, A MAJOR CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, UH, IN THE AUSTIN JURISDICTION.

OKAY.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

LAST CALL FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, STAFF MAYER, UH, CITY STAFF AND APPLICANT.

I THINK WE HAVE A DRAFT MOTION.

MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

YEAH.

SECOND SHOOT.

BOOM.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M GONNA AT YOUR, AT YOUR LEISURE.

LEISURE.

GOT A LOT TO READ HERE, SO HOLD ON.

ALL RIGHT.

MARCH 1ST, 2023.

SUBJECT, PROPOSED RELEASE OF APPROXIMATELY 48 ACRES, THE AUSTIN EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION ET J TO THE CITY OF MAYER, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE TRANSFER OF THE 48 ACRES IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED POLICY REGARDING EJ ADJUSTMENTS, AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE ANNEX ANNEXATION OF THIS TRACT BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS NOT FEASIBLE IN THE LONG TERM, GIVEN ITS LOCATION OF APPROXIMATELY 4.25 MILES FROM THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES RELEASING THIS AREA WOULD NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT ANY EXISTING OR PLANNED CITY INVESTMENT IN UTILITY OR ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF FROM WATERSHED PROTECTION HAVE REVIEWED THE PUR PROPOSED RELEASE AND FIND IT AGREEABLE WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

NUMBER ONE, MAINTAIN CITY OF AUSTIN SUBURBAN WATERSHED AND PERVIOUS COVER RESTRICTIONS.

TWO, PROVIDE GREEN STORM WATER QUALITY CONTROLS TO TREAT 100% OF THE WATER QUALITY VOLUME.

THREE, ESTABLISHED 300 FOOT CREEK SETBACKS FROM COTTONWOOD CREEK.

FOUR, PROTECT EXISTING CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES WITHIN A HUNDRED AND, UH, FOOT 150 FOOT SETBACK.

THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE APPROXIMATE 48 ACRES OF AUSTIN'S EXTRA EJ TO THE CITY OF MAYER WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS THAT THE CITY OF MAYNOR AND THOSE COMMISSIONS, THOSE CONDITIONS ARE THAT THE CITY OF MAYER INCORPORATE THE CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF CONDITIONS IN THE PARCEL AS IT IS CONVEYED TO THE CITY OF MAYER E T J, IN CASE THE ANNEXATION AND PUD DEVELOPMENT IS NOT FINALIZED BY THE LANDOWNER AND APPLICANT.

TWO, THE PUD DEVELOPMENT LOOK INTO A WAY TO INCORPORATE BLACK LINE PRAIRIE HABITAT INTO THE PUD DEVELOPMENT OPEN SPACE.

THIS IS RANDBERG.

ALL SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION? ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

I SEE YOU'RE UNANIMOUS.

UM, SO IT PASSES.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, STAFF.

STAFF AND APPLICANT.

UM, ALL RIGHT, AND THANK YOU FOR,

[2. Staff briefing regarding the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative – Laura Dierenfield, Division Manager, Austin Transportation Department, Jana McCann, McCann Adams Studio, Benedick Patrick, HDR Inc (30 minutes)]

UM, SO WE'RE JUMPED BACK UP TO A STAFF BRIEFING, UM, REGARDING THE CONGRESS AVENUE URBAN DESIGN INITIATIVE.

UM, AND, UM, YEAH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND PULL UP THE SLIDES AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.

UH, MY NAME'S LAURA DEERFIELD AND I'M A DIVISION MANAGER WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE VERY, UH, PLEASED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO OFFER YOU AN UPDATE AND INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON THE CONGRESS AVENUE URBAN DESIGN INITIATIVE.

AND,

[00:40:01]

SO, UM, THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TIME TO CHECK IN AND, UH, SHARE WITH YOU WHERE WE ARE.

UM, I'M PLEASED TO, UH, BE JOINED BY A REALLY ALL-STAR TEAM THAT YOU SEE HERE, UH, HEADLINED BY H HDR WITH, UH, MANY VERY, VERY TALENTED CONSULTANTS.

YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR WORK AROUND THE CITY.

UM, AND, UH, MYSELF AND JANET MCCANN WILL OFFER YOU A BRIEFING, AND THEN WE'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

UH, TONIGHT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE VISION PLAN.

THIS WAS, UH, INITIATED IN 2017.

I HOPE SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE, IN THE OUTREACH AND, UH, ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

IT WAS ON THE STREET AND IN VARIOUS OTHER FORMS, UM, TO HELP, UH, CREATE A VISION FOR CONGRESS AVENUE, UM, ONE THAT WAS, THAT IS ROOTED IN, IN MANY OF OUR CITY'S KEY VALUES, INCLUDING, UM, UNDERSTANDING AND CELEBRATING AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE DOWNTOWN .

UM, WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE KEY CONCEPTS OF THAT VISION PLAN, AND THEN WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SCOPED TO DO AND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.

UH, THE PROJECT TEAM, WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, AS I MENTIONED MYSELF, UH, FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE URBAN DESIGN DIVISION ARE, UH, SPONSORING THIS PROJECT.

AND THEN WE HAVE AN PARTNERSHIP, UH, AMALIA KIMONA HERE WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.

THEY WERE REALLY THE INITIATOR WITH THE CITY OF THIS PROJECT BACK IN 2017.

UH, ALSO TONIGHT WE HAVE BENEDICT PATRICK, WHO'S LEADING THE HDR TEAM ALONG WITH LEE, UH, FRIEDBERG.

AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE A VERY TALENTED TEAM, UH, ALONG WITH, UH, JENNIFER LUKE MYER, UM, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LEAD, AND JENNA MCCANN WITH KEN ADAMS STUDIO.

GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND IT LOOKS TO, UM, RE REIMAGINE CONGRESS AVENUE FROM 11TH STREET TO RIVERSIDE DRIVE, ABOUT THAT 1.2 MILE, UM, PART OF CONGRESS AVENUE, REALLY IN THE HEART OF THE DOWNTOWN.

UH, THE VISION PLAN IS REALLY THE GUIDING DOCUMENT.

SO TONIGHT WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR IS A LOT OF WHAT THE VISION PLAN, UH, IS OFFERING AS GUIDANCE.

AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN IS WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME FUNDING, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT.

IT'S ONE OF, UH, FOUR NAMED LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS OUT OF THE 2020 BOND.

AND, UH, SO THIS IS ENABLING US TO BRING ON A TEAM LIKE HTR TO START LOOKING AT HOW WOULD WE MAKE THAT VISION PLAN REAL, UM, WHAT WE ARE FUNDED TO DO AS AN INITIAL PHASE TO GET TO ABOUT A 30% DESIGN UNDERSTANDING, WHICH DOES ALLOW FOR DEEPER ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO PULL OFF THE PROJECT.

AND THEN, UH, FROM THERE WE WOULD HAVE ONE INITIAL INITIAL PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION DEPENDING ON, UM, WHAT THAT FUNDING AVAILABLE AND, AND, UM, WHAT THOSE COSTS WOULD BE.

SO WE'RE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS INTO THAT PROCESS.

WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO JANNA MCCANN TO TAKE YOU A LITTLE BIT THROUGH THE VISION PLAN AND KINDA REMIND YOU OF THE KEY ELEMENTS THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS, UM, THINKING ABOUT WRESTLING WITH AND ULTIMATELY, UM, ENVISION FOR, FOR THE AVENUE.

HI, MY NAME'S JANNA AND I'M WITH MCCANN ADAMS STUDIO AND AN ARCHITECT BY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND WORKING AS A SUB-CONSULTANT, UM, LEADING THE URBAN DESIGN ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT.

AND WE LIKE TO THINK THAT URBAN DESIGN IS THAT PLACE WHERE WE BRING ALL OF THESE VALUES THAT YOU SEE TOGETHER IN A KIND OF A HARMONIOUS WHOLE.

AND SO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS PROJECT ABOUT AS MUCH AS THIS PROJECT CAN DO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL EQUITY, UM, MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY IN LARGE.

PART OF THIS IS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND REBALANCING AND MAKING A MO MULTIMODAL AVENUE OUT OF WHAT TODAY IS NOT QUITE THERE YET.

UM, THERE'S ALSO A REALLY STRONG EMPHASIS ON CELEBRATING HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE AVENUE, MAYBE EX AS EXPRESSED THROUGH ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF IT.

AND OF COURSE, FOR YOU ALL YOUR FOCUS BEING ENVIRONMENT, THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA BRING INTO BALANCE WITH THIS PROJECT.

YOU GOT A NEXT SLIDE? SO BALANCE SEEMS TO BE KIND OF THE MANTRA, AND THIS IS A, A LOT OF WHAT YOU'LL SEE TONIGHT ARE IMAGES FROM THE VISION PLAN.

AND OUR JOB IS REALLY TO TEST THE, THAT VISION AFFIRM CONFIRM, AND MAYBE SOMETIMES DISAGREE WITH THAT.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE STAGE THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW ARE VERY EARLY INTO THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN OF THE, THE AVENUE.

AND THIS IS AN IMAGE JUST SHOWING THE NARROWING OF THE WIDTH OF THE

[00:45:01]

UM, A FIVE LANE CROSS SECTION.

WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

OKAY.

AND SO THIS IS JUST A KIND OF A REVIEW ON THE TOP RIGHT IS KIND OF WHAT THE EXISTING CROSS SECTION OF THE STREET WAS BEFORE, UM, WE STARTED INTERVENING ON IT, AND THAT'S SHOWING IT USED TO BE SIX LANES AND NOW WE'RE NARROWING IT TO FIVE, AS SHOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF FIVE VEHICLE LANES BELOW, UM, WITH FLEX LANES, THE POTENTIAL FOR FLEX LANES ON THE FAR OUTSIDE LANES, UM, NORTH OF SEVENTH STREET.

BUT AGAIN, THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO, CAN WE CREATE A SPACE WHERE BICYCLES ARE MUCH MORE PROTECTED, THEY'RE LIFTED UP TO THE SIDEWALK LEVEL WITH A, A VERY SUBSTANTIAL TWO FOOT WIDE BUFFER THAN THE BIKE LANE BIKE AND SCOOTER LANE, AND THEN WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE AMENITY ZONE, WHICH IS WHERE WE'D BE PLANTING, UH, A ROW ROWS OF STREET TREES IN THERE AND HAVE PROBABLY A PERVIOUS PAVER AT THAT ZONE TO ALLOW FOR WATER TO FILTER THROUGH TO THE ROOT ZONES OF THE TREES.

AND WE HAVE, WE'RE PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO HOW, HOW THE TREES WILL BE WORKED WORKING ON THAT.

SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO THIS IS AGAIN, FROM THE VISION PLAN, KIND OF GIVING YOU THE OVERALL CROSS SECTION THAT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED, AND WE HAVE AGREED ON THIS CROSS SECTION AND, AND SORT OF APPORTIONED THE RIGHT OF WAY TO REALLY CREATE THIS MULTIMODAL STREET.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT RIGHT NOW THE PEDESTRIAN ZONE, WHICH IS ON THE, THE GOLD UP NEAR UP AGAINST THE, THE BUILDINGS, IT'S ACTUALLY A STOREFRONT PLUS A PEDESTRIAN THROUGH ZONE IS REALLY THE LARGEST PART OF THAT.

THEN THE AMENITY ZONE, THEN, THEN THE BICYCLES, AND THEN THE ROADWAY.

SO IT'S REBALANCED PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

NOW THIS IS AN IMAGE THAT WE PRODUCED THAT STARTS TO SHOW SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD THIS REALLY LOOK LIKE BASED ON THE CROSS SECTIONS THAT, THAT WE'VE AFFIRMED SEEM TO WORK AND HAVE THROUGH OUR TRAFFIC ANALYSIS ON OUR TEAM HAVE, UM, CONFIRMED.

AND SO THIS IS SHOWING THE 100 BLOCK OF CONGRESS AVENUE.

AND IN THIS CASE, THIS, THIS IS KIND OF AN UNUSUAL BLOCK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ALSO ACCOMMODATE A RIGHT TURN LANE IN IT SO WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL WIDTH OF, OF THE SIDEWALK AREA.

SO THIS IS ONE EXCEPTION, BUT WE STILL HAVE A VERY WIDE SIDEWALK AREA AND YOU SEE A TWO FOOT BUFFER STRIP OF SORT OF TACTILE WHAT WE, WE THINK WE'LL DO SOME COTTON COBBLED PAVERS THERE.

AND THEN THE VERY SMOOTH BICYCLE LANE COM BICYCLE SCOOTER LANE COMING.

AND WHAT YOU SEE HERE, WHICH IS ALSO CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FIRST COUPLE OF BLOCKS NORTH OF CESAR CHAVEZ, AS WELL AS SOUTH OF THE RIVER, IS, UH, AN EXPRESSION OF A AREA THAT'S WE'RE CALLED THE GREEN GATEWAY, OR WHAT THE VISION PLANE CALLED THE GREEN GATEWAY, WHERE THERE'S A REAL EMPHASIS ON, UM, YOU KNOW, STORM WATER INFILTRATION AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THIS IS, SO HOW WE'RE PRODUCING THAT WOULD TAKE THE, THE, UM, THE FORM OF A, OF A RAIN GARDEN.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND SO THIS IS AGAIN, A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE VISION PLAN, PROBABLY KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF CONGRESS AVENUE, UH, THE PART OF CONGRESS AVENUE THAT IS, THERE'S ACTUALLY A NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT FROM CESAR CHAVEZ TO 11TH STREET.