[00:00:01]
[Determination of Quorum / Meeting Called to Order]
EVENING EVERYONE.WE'RE GOING TO CALL OUR MEETING TONIGHT TO ORDER AT 6:08 PM ALL RIGHT.
FIRST, UH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ROLL.
UM, SO CAN I GET MY COMMISSIONERS VIRTUALLY TO TURN THEIR CAMERAS ON? OKAY.
I'LL JUST GO BY, UM, THE ORDER AS POSTED IN THE AGENDA.
SO, COMMISSIONER ANDERSON HERE.
UH, COMMISSIONER SHAW IS ABSENT.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER WOODS HERE.
AND I DON'T SEE ANY OF OUR EX OFFICIOS IN THE CHAMBERS OR VIRTUALLY.
UM, WE'LL RECOGNIZE THEM IF THEY ARE ABLE TO COME ON.
UM, SO TONIGHT WE ARE HYBRID AS WE HAVE BEEN FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.
UM, IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, YOU'LL RECEIVE AN EMAIL ABOUT 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE COMMISSION TAKING UP YOUR ITEM.
AND MR. RIVERA IS GOING TO HELP US TONIGHT IN ANNOUNCING THE SPEAKERS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO AS A REMINDER FOR THOSE VIRTUALLY HAVE YOUR GREEN, RED, AND YELLOW ITEMS FOR VOTING.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL MAKE SURE WE CALL OUT THE VOTES FOR CLARITY FOR THE MINUTES.
UM, AFTER THAT HAPPENS, UM, ONLINE, REMAIN MUTED WHEN YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING.
AND, UM, IF I MISS CALLING ON YOU, JUST COME OFF MUTE AND, AND, UM, CALL MY NAME.
SO, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION TONIGHT, MR. RIVERA? OKAY.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
WE HAVE THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023 ON OUR AGENDA.DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY EDITS OR CHANGES TO THOSE MINUTES? SEEING NONE, WE CAN ADD THOSE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[ Consent Agenda]
COMMISSIONER ZA IS GOING TO HELP ME BY DOING THE FIRST READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING.SO GOING THROUGH OUR, UH, PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS, THIS IS ITEM NUMBER TWO, PLAN AMENDMENT NPA 20 23 0 0 2 0.2, 0.0 3, 300 440 INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD, NPA, DISTRICT THREE.
UM, THIS IS STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 14TH.
UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE IS THE REZONING, C 14 20 23 0 0 4 4, UM, 300 TO, UH, 440 INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD DISTRICT THREE.
THIS AGAIN IS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER, UH, 14TH.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A PLAN AMENDMENT NPA 20 23 0 0 2, 0 0.014, UH, 2 0 1 SOUTH CONGRESS DISTRICT THREE.
THIS IS A, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
ASSOCIATED ZONING CASES NUMBER FIVE, UH, C 14 2 23 0 0 4 3 4 2 1 SOUTH CONGRESS DISTRICT THREE.
UM, THIS IS ALSO POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 28TH ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S REQUEST.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK THE APPLICANT FOR THIS, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A SECOND POSTPONEMENT REQUEST AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE THEM GOING ALONG WITH IT, I HAVE NUMBER SIX IS A PLAN AMENDMENT NPA 20 23 0 0 1 8 0.0 3 5 5 1 4 GROVER AND 5 5 1 5 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, DISTRICT SEVEN.
I NUMBER SEVEN IS A REZONING ASSOCIATED REZONING C 14 20 23 0 6 5 5 5 0 6 AND 5 5 1 4 GROVER AVENUE AND 5 5 1 5 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, DISTRICT SEVEN.
THIS ITEM IS ALSO UP FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS A PLAN AMENDMENT NPA 2 2 2 0 0 1 7 0.01 CRESTVIEW VILLAGE DISTRICT SEVEN.
THIS ITEM IS UP FOR DISCUSSION ASSOCIATED, UM, ZONING CASE, UH, NUMBER NINE C 14 20 22 DASH 0 0 3 5, CRESTVIEW VILLAGE DISTRICT SEVEN.
ITEM NUMBER 10 IS A PLAN AMENDMENT NBA 20 23 0 0 1, 3 0.02 700 DAWSON, DISTRICT NINE.
THIS ITEM IS UP FOR DISCUSSION ASSOCIATED, UM, REZONING C 14 2 2 3 0 0 6 4 700 DAWSON, DISTRICT NINE.
THIS IS UP FOR DISCUSSION AS WELL.
I NUMBER 12 IS A REZONING REQUEST, C 14 2 23 0 0 72 HYDE PARK, HIGH STREET, DISTRICT NINE.
UM, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 28TH AND THE APPLICANT IS IN AGREEMENT NUMBER 13 IS, UM, A REZONING C 14 2 23 0 8 4 AT BLUESTEIN MULTIFAMILY DISTRICT ONE.
UM, I'M NUMBER 14, C 14, 2 22 0 0 62 1 0 6 0 1 NORTH LAMAR BOULEVARD,
[00:05:01]
DISTRICT FOUR.THIS IS A STAFF AND APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT NUMBER 15 ZERO RESTRICTIVE COVENANT TERMINATION C 1477 DASH 1 3 8 RCT ON 1 0 6 0 1 NORTH LAMAR BOULEVARD, RCT DISTRICT FOUR.
THIS ITEM IS UP FOR CONSENT NUMBER 16 C 14 20 23 0 0 4 7 1 9 1 1 WILLOW CREEK DRIVE, DISTRICT THREE.
THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT TO, UM, I'M SORRY, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE ON TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
UM, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
THIS IS C 14 20 23 0 0 9 9 7800 NORTH INTEREST RATE 35 REZONING DISTRICT FOUR.
THE SIGN IS UP FOR CONSENT I NUMBER 18 C EIGHT 14 2014 ZERO TWO SH COLONY PARK SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE, BUD DISTRICT ONE.
NUMBER 19 IS A REZONING C 14 20 23 DASH 0 0 8 8 9 0 3 WEST AVENUE AND 704 WEST NINTH STREET, DISTRICT NINE.
NUMBER 20 IS HISTORIC ZONING, C 14 H DASH 2023 DASH 0 9 2.
THE DEPU JERICHO FRAZIER HOUSE DISTRICT ONE.
NUMBER 21 IS A CONDITIONAL USE SITE PLAN S PC DASH 2022 DASH 0 1 62 C.
THE ART CENTER REPLACEMENT DISTRICT NINE.
THIS IS STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
NUMBER 2022 IS ACOP AND COMPATIBILITY WAIVER, SBC DASH 2022 DASH 0 4 4 4 A EAST CHAVEZ HOTEL.
I NUMBER 23 IS A SITE PLAN EXTENSION S SP 27 DASH 2017 DASH 0 4 84 C XT TWO SUNRIDGE CONDOMINIUM SITE PLAN EXTENSION DISTRICT THREE.
NUMBER 24 IS A FINAL PLAT OUT OF AN APPROVED PRELIMINARY PLAN.
CJ DASH 2008 DASH FOUR EIGHT DASH ZERO FOUR 1A EASTWOOD, SECTION ONE SUBDIVISION.
THIS IS APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS PER STAFF REPORT I NUMBER 25 IS A FINAL PLATT OUT OF AN APPROVED PRELIMINARY PLAN C EIGHT J DASH 2008 DASH 0 0 4 8 DASH ZERO 4.28 EASTWOOD, SECTION TWO SUBDIVISION.
THIS IS APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS PER STAFF REPORT NUMBER 26.
THIS IS SHORT FORM FINAL PLATT CHA DASH 2023 DASH 0 7 4 0.0 A CLEAR ELROY SUBDIVISION.
THIS IS APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS PER STAFF REPORT.
ITEM NUMBER 27 IS A SUBDIVISION APPLICATION CH A DASH 2022 DASH 3 3 5 1 1A WHISPER VALLEY MULTIFAMILY SUBDIVISION PARCEL THREE AND FOUR DISTRICT ONE.
THIS ITEM IS ALSO FOR CONSENT WITH CONDITIONS AS SHOWN IN EXHIBIT C.
NUMBER 28 IS AN LDC AMENDMENT C 20 DASH 2023 DASH 0 2 7 PARKLAND, DEDICATION, REPEAL, AND REPLACE.
THIS IS POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 14TH BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION NUMBER, UH, ON CONSENT NUMBER 29 IS A RIGHT OF WAIVE VACATION 20 22 20 23 DASH 0 3 3 8 7 7 LMM CLAY AVENUE RIGHT OF WAY VACATION.
THIS ITEM IS UP FOR CONSENT AND CHAIR.
THAT IS THE END OF ALL OF OUR, UH, PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. THANK YOU, COMMISSION CZAR.
UM, QUICK REMINDER FOR OUR, UM, LISTENERS AND FOR OUR PLANNING COMMISSIONER MEETINGS OR MEMBERS THAT OUR NOVEMBER 14TH MEETING.
SO OUR NEXT, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING WILL ALSO BE THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE HOME ZONING AMENDMENTS.
UM, AND THEREFORE, IF WE ARE PUSHING ANY ITEMS TO THE NOVEMBER 14TH MEETING THAT ARE NOT OFFERED FOR CONSENT, THEY WILL HAVE TO GO ONTO THE NOVEMBER 28TH MEETING.
UM, SO JUST A REMINDER ABOUT THAT.
UM, SO GOING BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, DO ANY COMMISSIONERS NEED TO RECUSE OR ABSTAIN THEMSELVES FROM ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA? UM, I'M MAKING A NOTE THAT ON ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE, I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM VOTING BECAUSE I AM, UH, ON THE BOARD FOR THE REDLINE PARKWAY INITIATIVE, WHICH IS, UH, ADJACENT TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UM, BUT I'LL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE DISCUSSION.
UM, ANY OTHER ABSTENTIONS, RECUSALS OR COMMENTS ON THE AGENDA? UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ITEM 16, WILLOW CREEK AND, UH, JUST THANK THE APPLICANT, UM, FOR THEIR GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO WORK WITH THE TENANTS AND PROVIDE, UM, CLEAR COMMUNICATION TO THE TENANTS AND, UM, A STRONG PACKAGE OF BENEFITS THAT WILL HELP PREVENT DISPLACEMENT IN THAT AREA.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S A VERY SENSITIVE, DELICATE CASE WITH A LONG, UM, COMPLICATED HISTORY WHERE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY HAVE NOT, UM, BEEN VERY ATTENTIVE TO THE TENANTS AND HAVE NOT COMMUNICATED WELL.
SO THERE'S A, A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY THERE AND, UM, THERE'S A, AN EFFORT, UM,
[00:10:01]
RIGHT NOW TO REALLY KIND OF BRING THE TENANTS TOGETHER AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND HELP THEM ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS PROPERTY.SO FOR THAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE APPLICANT FOR THEIR GOOD FAITH EFFORTS AND THANK THEM ESPECIALLY FOR AGREEING ONCE AGAIN, UH, TO, UH, POSTPONEMENT TO HELP US GET THIS DONE.
THANK YOU FOR COMMUNICATING THAT.
UM, UM, MR. VERA, I UNDERSTAND WE MIGHT HAVE SOME SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WANTING TO SPEAK TO, UM, THE COLONY PARK ITEM CHAIR COMMISSIONER LAYS ON ANDREW RIVERA.
YES, WE DO HAVE, UM, A SPEAKER REGISTERED ON THAT ITEM.
AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER ZA WANTED TO, UM, MAKE A FEW COMMENTS WITH THE SPEAKERS.
WE'LL TAKE THE SPEAKERS FIRST.
MS. SCOTT, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GOOD EVENING.
UM, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, PUTTING OUR COLONY PARK ITEM ON THE CONSENT OF AGENDA.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PLAN.
I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE 2007, AND SO IT, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
UH, I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, I'M A PERSON OF FAITH AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT A, THAT A PEOPLE WITHOUT A VISION PERISH.
THIS IS OUR VISION AND IT HAS BEEN OUR VISION AND IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, UH, FOR A PROJECT TO BE PUT ON HOLD FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
APPROXIMATELY 15 YEARS IS A LONG TIME, BUT WE HAVE WAITED AND WE ARE NOW READY FOR THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR MOVING IT FORWARD TONIGHT.
COMMISSIONER ZA THANK YOU CHAIR, UH, FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.
I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND JUST THANK MS. SCOTT FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE ON THIS ITEM.
NEARLY A DECADE AGO, UM, WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS YOUNGER AND 50 POUNDS LIGHTER
I WANNA SAY I'VE SEEN THE HARD WORK THE COMMUNITY HAS PUT INTO THIS ITEM AND THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE, AND I WANNA THANK OF COURSE THE ELLAS TEAM AND OUR CITY STAFF FOR WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM, TO COMING TO A PROJECT THAT WILL TRULY BE SOMETHING THAT WILL ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE FOLKS THERE TODAY.
EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW FOLKS AND REALLY CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH DISTRICT ONE.
SO JUST A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE FOR THOSE 15 AND HONEST 15 AND HONESTLY 20 YEARS.
IT'S A LONG TIME COMING, BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT TO JENNA AS READ COMM? I KNOW THAT WE'RE POSTPONING THE PARK LANE DEDICATION ITEM TO A CONSENT AGENDA, BUT THAT IS ONE ITEM THAT WE MIGHT WANNA DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT WHEN THAT ITEM COMES BACK.
AND THEN, UH, JUST GOTTA CHIME IN FOR COLONY PARK.
I RECALL STAFF AND MS. SCOTT AND OTHERS TOURING MAYOR PER TIM, CHERYL COLE AND, AND HER STAFF AROUND THE SITE OVER 10 YEARS AGO.
AND IT'S JUST SO EPIC TO SEE IT FINALLY HAPPENING.
SO EXCITED TO GET THOSE HOMES ON THE GROUND AND THEN EXCITED TO SEE MORE FORM OF HOUSING THAT'S MORE SUSTAINABLE AND MORE AFFORDABLE AND EXCITED TO BUILD HOMES LIKE THAT ACROSS THE CITY.
SO THIS NEXT MEETING'S GONNA BE GREAT TOO.
WE, SO IS THERE A MOTION TO, UH, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I SEE COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR ON THE DSS.
UM, THIS CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Items 8 & 9]
INTO OUR, UH, FIRST HEARING WOWAND THAT IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AND NINE CRESTVIEW VILLAGE.
LET'S SEE, MS. MEREDITH AND MR. TOMKO, MARINE MEREDITH PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS PLAN AMENDMENT NPA 2 2 2 0 0 1 7 0.01.
CRESTVIEW VILLAGE PROPERTY IS LOCATED 69 16 69 26 69 28 NORTH LAMAR BOULEVARD AND EIGHT OH EIGHT EIGHT TEN EIGHT TWELVE, AND 9 0 6 JUSTIN LANE.
[00:15:01]
IS WITHIN THE, UH, CRESTVIEW WOOTEN COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREA AND THE NORTH AND THE LAMAR JUSTIN LANE STATION AREA PLAN.THE REQUEST IS TO AMEND THE NORTH LAMAR JUSTIN STATION AREA PLAN TOD TO ALLOW A MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT OF 160 FEET WITH DENSITY BONUS.
THE EXISTING LAND USE ON THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IS SPECIFIC REGULATING DISTRICT, AND THERE IS NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
IT IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF, AND WE DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CRESTVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
CONTACT TEAM, UH, JONATHAN TOMKO, UH, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UH, PRESENTING CASE C 14 DASH 2022 DASH 0 0 3 5 CRESTVIEW VILLAGE.
THIS PARCEL IS APPROXIMATELY 2.9 ACRES, AND THE REQUEST IS TO GO TO FROM T-O-D-N-N-P TO T-O-D-N-P WITH AN INCREASED HEIGHT OF 160 FEET WITH DENSITY BONUS STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS REQUEST.
UM, THE ADDRESS AS READ EARLIER, UH, IS THE SAME.
THE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THE CAPITAL METRO CRESTVIEW STATION.
UH, THESE, UH, CURRENTLY THIS PROPERTY IS, IS VACANT AND HAS NO RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS OR ANY USE TO SUPPORT THE SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN HIGH DENSITY PUBLIC TRANSIT ADJACENT TO THE PARCEL.
UM, THIS INCREASED HEIGHT WOULD BRING THE, UH, PROPERTY IN RANGE IN TERMS OF THE DENSITY OF DWELLING UNITS TO SUPPORT HIGH FREQUENCY TRANSIT.
AND KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS SITE, UH, AS PART OF PROJECT CONNECT, UH, WOULD BE HOME TO TWO, UH, TRANSIT LINES.
I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT, MR. MICHAEL WHALEN.
MR. WHALEN, YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
I NEED MY GLASSES FOR THIS ONE.
UH, MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, I AM HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT ON TWO CASES FOR A SITE AT THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH LAMAR AND AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST TRANSIT RICH LOCATIONS IN THE ENTIRE CITY OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
IT IS CURRENTLY ZONED FOR THE LAMARR, JUSTIN, TOD, NOW CALLED THE CRESTVIEW STATION, TOD.
BUT THIS TOD, AS WE WILL SEE IS OUTDATED AND OUT OF STEP WITH CURRENT CITY POLICIES.
WE ARE REQUESTING THE CITY TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BY INCREASING HEIGHT TO 160 FEET AT THE HEART OF THE TOD IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE CRESTVIEW RAIL STATION.
NOW, LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK FOR A MOMENT.
THE PROPERTY IS ROUGHLY 2.9 ACRES, LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF TWO MAJOR CORRIDORS AND ADJACENT TO THE CRESTVIEW RAIL STATION.
IT SITS AT THE MOST TRANSIT RICH LOCATION OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN, AS I MENTIONED, WITH ACCESS TO TE TWO DESIGNATED RAIL STATIONS.
AS CASE MANAGER JUST NOTED, THE CURRENT RED LINE AND THE FORTHCOMING AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL, WHICH IS FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE ORANGE AND BLUE LINES.
IT ALSO HAS ACCESS TO SIX BUS ROUTES, INCLUDING FOUR OF THE TOP MOST USED BUS ROUTES IN THE CITY.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS SITE IS CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING ROBUST TRANSIT USAGE GOING FORWARD AND TO MAKING AUSTIN COMPETITIVE FOR TRANSIT GRANTS SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRIORITIZES TRANSIT PROJECTS THAT FEATURE DENSITY NEAR STATIONS SUCH AS THIS.
HOWEVER, TODAY THE SITE CURRENTLY FEATURES OUTDATED SUBURBAN STYLE, AUTO ORIENTED SINGLE STORY COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES WITH FRONT SETBACKS FOR FRONT FACING PARKING.
ON THE ONE HAND, THE SITE, AS IT EXISTS TODAY, WILL NOT SUPPORT WALKABILITY AND TRANSIT USE OVER THE LONG TERM.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IT PRESENTS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE A TRULY TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE PROJECT AT THIS CRITICAL SITE.
AS SOON AS THE MARKET BEGINS TO STABILIZE, WE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY REALIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY, OPPORTUNITY IF OUR POLICIES ALLOW US.
SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CRESTVIEW STATION TWO OD POLICIES CURRENTLY ALLOWED, AND WHAT'S ALLOWED MAYOR WILL WIN.
AND THE AT LARGE COUNCIL ADOPTED CRESTVIEW STATION TOD REGULATIONS AT THE END OF 2008, WHICH JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE WOULD'VE BEEN THE FIRST SEASON OF BREAKING BAD AND THE LAST YEAR OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
SINCE THEN, THE POLICY HAS OVERHAULED MANY OF ITS, THIS CITY HAS OVERHAULED MANY OF ITS LAND USE AND TRANSIT POLICIES CALLING FOR GREATER HOUSING GROWTH, AND A MIX OF USES ALONG OUR CORRIDORS, AND PARTICULARLY ALONG OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE RAIL STATIONS.
HOWEVER, THE CITY HAS NEVER GONE BACK TO UPDATE THE CRESTVIEW EIGHT STATION TOD, EVEN AS IT HAS AMENDED OTHER REGULATING PLANS LIKE PLAZA SALTILLO, EAST RIVERSIDE, AND NORTH BURNETT GATEWAY.
CRESTVIEW STATION REMAINS LOCKED IN 2008.
AS A RESULT, THE CRESTVIEW STATION, TOD IS NOW ATOD IN NAME ONLY.
ITS POLICIES ARE OUTDATED AND OUT OF STEP WITH AUSTIN'S CURRENT POLICIES AND ITS CURRENT NEEDS.
TO PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE, THE CRESTVIEW STATION TOD PROVIDES LOWER DENSITY AND HEIGHT THAN OTHER REGULATING
[00:20:01]
PLAN AREAS, WHICH PROVIDE FOR A RANGE OF HEIGHTS, INCLUDING, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, 85 TO 90 FEET IN PLAZA, 120 TO 160 FEET IN EAST RIVERSIDE, AND 120 TO 491 FEET IN NORTH BERNA GATEWAY.YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE THAT EVEN TRADITIONAL ZONING CATEGORIES HAVE OUTPACED CRESTVIEW STATION AT THIS POINT.
THE CRESTVIEW STATION, TOD WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO BE BETTER THAN TRADITIONAL ZONING CATEGORIES IN ORDER TO DO BETTER OR TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR TRANSIT AND HOUSING GOALS.
BUT TODAY, YOU'RE ACTUALLY BETTER OFF WITH SOMETHING LIKE GRV OR CSV THAN YOU ARE WITH THE CRESTVIEW TOD, BECAUSE VERTICAL MIS MIXED USE WILL GIVE YOU HIGHER BY RIGHT DENSITY AND HIGHER BONUS HEIGHT THAN THE TOD HERE.
THE CASES BEFORE YOU TODAY WOULD MAKE ONE SINGLE MEANINGFUL CHANGE, ALLOWING UP TO 160 FEET FOR THIS CRITICAL SITE IN THE CRESTVIEW TOD, WHICH, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, HAS A STRONG PRECEDENT IN OTHER REGULATING PLANS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THE CRESTVIEW T STATION TOD WILL HAVE BETTER TRANSIT ACCESS THAN ANY OF THESE OTHER PLANS.
THIS WILL HAVE BETTER ACCESS TRANSIT ACCESS THAN ANY OF THE OTHER PLANS BECAUSE OF TWO RAILS, UH, TWO, UH, RAIL LINES.
AS A RESULT, THE CITY'S OWN EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, THE E TODD POLICY PLAN DIRECTLY STATES THAT QUOTE, CRESTVIEW STATION TOD HAS THE LOWEST DENSITY OF ALL TO D ZONES.
SO TO RECAP, CRESTVIEW STATION IS ONE OF THE MOST TRANSIT RICH AREAS IN THE CITY OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN, BUT IT IS TRAPPED BY OUTDATED REGULATIONS.
THIS CASE WOULD TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN UPDATING OUR REGULATIONS AND MAKE CRESTVIEW STATION A WORKING TOD RATHER THAN ATOD IN NAME ONLY.
AND, UH, I'LL RESERVE THE REST FOR ANY REBUTTAL.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM MR. BENJAMIN BARLIN ON THE TELECONFERENCE.
MR. BARLIN SSAR SIX, PROCEED WITH THE REMARKS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UH, AS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND DEVELOPER, WE HAVE A REAL PLAN TO PUT A MIXED USE BUILDING IN HERE THAT BRINGS THAT DENSITY THAT WAS JUST TALKED ABOUT AND BRINGS TO YOU A LOT OF OTHER FEATURES AND THINGS TO THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, NONPROFIT SPACE, AND LOTS OF OTHER FEATURES THAT WE REALLY, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO DELIVERING TO THE CITY.
UH, THIS IS GOING TO BE A, UH, A RE A REPLAN AND, AND A RE UH, REVITALIZATION OF THIS AREA.
AS YOU SAW FROM THE PICTURES, IT'S, IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD TODAY, AND WE REALLY WANT TO GET ON WITH THIS AND, AND PUT THIS WONDERFUL PROJECT UP.
WE NOW HEAR FROM MR. TOM WALD.
MR. WALD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I'M REPRESENTING THE REDLINE PARKWAY INITIATIVE.
WE SUPPORT, AND I, HOW, HOW MANY MINUTES? TWO OR THREE? I DIDN'T CATCH THAT.
UM, YEAH, REPRESENT REDLINE PARKWAY INITIATIVE SUPPORTING THE 32 MILE TRAIL ALONG THE CAPITAL METRO REDLINE.
AND I DID NOT COORDINATE THIS POINT WITH MIKE WHALEN, BUT IT'S REALLY FASCINATING BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE QUITE A CENTER FOR TRANSIT HAS TWO, IT HAS THE CROSSING OF TWO HIGH CAPACITY DEDICATED TRANSIT WAYS.
UM, AND IT'S GONNA BE VERY EASY TO GET TO AND GET FROM, UH, WHEN YOU TAKE TRANSIT.
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT TAKING ONE BUS OR ONE TRAIN MAKES YOUR TRIP A LOT EASIER THAN HAVING TO TRANSFER AGAIN.
UM, AND PART OF THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO SPEAK ON IT IS BECAUSE YES, IT'S RIGHT ALONG THE RED LINE.
UM, THE WALKING AND BIKING AND PUBLIC SPACE COMPONENTS ARE CRITICAL TO OUR MISSION.
UH, THIS INTERSECTION, JUSTIN LAMAR AND AIRPORT BOULEVARD ARE VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MAXIMIZE OUR PUBLIC SPACE AS PEOPLE ARE COMING TO TRANSIT AND WAITING FOR TRANSIT.
AND I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I, I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR.
I THINK THIS IS A TERRIFIC PLACE FOR DENSITY.
UM, SO I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE, THE HEIGHT INCREASE HERE.
AS, AS MIKE WILLAN HAD MENTIONED.
UM, THIS WAS LAST REEVALUATED OVER A DECADE AGO.
AND, UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED FOR, UH, MAXIMIZING YOUR TRANSIT, UM, INVESTMENTS.
UM, BUT WHAT I'VE NOTICED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUBLIC SPACE SURROUNDING THIS AREA IS THAT THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN LED NOT BY PUBLIC SPACE OR PUBLIC DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, BUT BY PROFESSIONALS WHERE THEIR EXPERTISE LIES IN SOMETHING ELSE.
AND THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE DEVELOPER, UH, AT, AT ALL.
UM, BUT THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS BEING DESIGNED BY, UH, OTHER ENGINEERS WHO DON'T PUB, WHO DON'T SPECIALIZE IN PUBLIC SPACE.
AND THE, THE MULTIPLE, THERE'S FOUR
[00:25:01]
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE, UM, SORT OF PREVIEW OVER THIS AREA, AND THEY'RE NOT COMMUNICATING ON THAT PUBLIC SPACE, UM, UH, AND BIKE WALK, UM, ACCESS NEEDS, UH, LEVEL.AND I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THAT'S MISSING.
UM, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO, TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THEN ALSO OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE AREA AND TRY TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ARE MAXIMIZED ALONG WITH THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE BEING, UM, THAT ARE BEING CREATED IN THE AREA.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT FOR NOW.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM THE OPPOSITION.
UH, MR. MIKE LEVINE, YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES CHAIR.
I DON'T HAVE A OPPOSITION PRESENT.
UM, WE WILL, UH, I'M NOT SURE IF THE APPLICANT WANTS A THREE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
MICHAEL WHALE, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, I'M JUST GONNA EMPHASIZE I'VE WORKED WITH TOM WALL ON OTHER PROPERTIES THAT ARE NEXT TO THE REDLINE PARKWAY.
AND CERTAINLY, UH, DESPITE THIS HAVING, UH, AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S REQUIRED, IT'S 10% OF THE ENTIRE GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGE, WHEREAS A LOT OF, LIKE EAST RIVERSIDE IS ONLY THE BONUS AREA, SO IT'S A LOT MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
UM, WE CERTAINLY ARE OPEN TO FIGURING OUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF OUR PART IN THE, IN, UH, WITH THE PARKWAY AS WELL.
AND WE, AND WE'LL HAVE TIME BETWEEN NOW.
I MEAN, WHO KNOWS WHEN WE'RE GONNA GET TO, TO COUNCIL AT THE, YOU KNOW, SO ANYWAY, CHAIR, I APOLOGIZE TO GO OUT ORDER.
I DO HAVE MR. LEVINE ON THE TELECONFERENCE NOW.
UM, MR. LEVINE, IF YOU'LL SELECT STAR SIX, PROCEED WITH YOUR REMARKS.
UM, I DID REGISTER IN OPPOSITION AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOME CONTEXT TO THIS, AND THAT THE TOWER THAT'S BEING PROPOSED WAS PART OF A LARGER PROPOSAL THAT WAS GONNA PROVIDE A, A, A VAST AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT AREA IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS.
I'VE WORKED A VERY LONG TIME WITH THE, UH, BARLINS, WHO WE'VE VERY MUCH ENJOYED WORKING WITH, AND, UH, WERE REALLY DISAPPOINTED WHEN THE, UH, THE FINAL PROJECT WASN'T GIVEN A GO AHEAD.
AND SO THIS IS THE REMNANTS OF THAT, AND WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN, WE CAN PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN THAT AREA IN TERMS OF PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, AND SERVING THE, UH, UH, AS MR. WAYLAND SAID, THE, THE, UH, TRANSIT AVAILABILITY IN THAT INTERSECTION.
UM, WE ARE, AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT AREA.
AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE, UM, SOMETHING MORE, UM, SPECIFIC PROPOSED IN THE FUTURE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
UM, CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? COMMISSIONER MAXWELL, SECOND COMMISSIONER CZAR, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY.
UM, LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA GET UNANIMOUS ON THAT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND START OUR, UH, ROUND ROBIN OUR DEBATE.
UM, SO ORIGINALLY WE WERE GOING TO DO FIVE MEMBERS AT THREE MINUTES EACH, BUT, UM, SOME LAST MINUTE CHANGES TO OUR AGENDA.
UM, I THINK WE'LL GO WITH OUR REGULAR RULES OF, UM, EIGHT COMMISSIONERS AT FIVE MINUTES EACH.
WE MIGHT NOT NEED ALL THAT TIME, BUT WHO HAS THE FIRST QUESTION? COMMISSIONER Z.
MR. LAN, CAN YOU PLEASE WALK US THROUGH THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE JUSTIN BEAN, DOD MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT? SO SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, TODS AND REGULATING PLANS, IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO EXCEED FAR OR HEIGHT.
UM, THERE'S ALS OR IN THIS CASE, IF YOU EXCEED 45 UNITS PER ACRE.
SO THERE, THAT'S A DIFFERENT TRIGGER THAT EXISTS IN A COUPLE OF OTHER, UH, PLANS.
AND IN THIS CASE, UH, THE FAR CLEARLY IS GONNA GET BUSTED PRETTY QUICKLY.
UM, IF YOU GO EVEN A SMIDGE ONE SQUARE FOOT OVER THE FAR LIMITATION, THAT'S AT 10% OF YOUR GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGE.
AND I WANNA ALSO EMPHASIZE HERE, AND IT MIGHT'VE BEEN A, UH, IT MIGHT'VE BEEN INTENTIONAL, BUT IT'S 10% OF THE GROSS SQUARE FOOT AREA.
BUT THE AREA THAT YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE IS NET RENTABLE.
SO IF YOUR GROSS SQUARE AREA, UM, OF YOUR BUILDING, LET'S SAY IT'S 135,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING AND 10% IS 13,500 SQUARE FEET,
[00:30:01]
IT ISN'T THAT YOU GET TO PROVIDE 13,500 SQUARE FEET OF GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGE, WHICH WOULD BE YOUR HALLWAYS AMENITY CENTER.YOU KNOW, EACH UNIT PICKS UP ABOUT 10% ADDITIONAL FOR THE COMMON AREAS.
NO, IN THIS CASE, IN THIS REGULATING PLAN AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE 13,500 SQUARE FEET OF ACTUAL, UH, UNITS.
SO IT'S A, UH, IT'S A PRETTY BIG LIFT.
UH, IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT IT TRANSLATES TO, BUT IT TRANSLATES TO MORE THAN 10% OF THE UNITS ULTIMATELY.
AND DO YOU HAVE A IDEA AT THE MOMENT IF THIS WOULD BE AN OWNERSHIP PROJECT OR RENTAL? OH, I DON'T KNOW YET.
I, I THINK AS, AS YOU WELL KNOW, TEXAS PROPERTY CODE, UH, HAS A 10 YEAR TAIL ON CONDOMINIUMS. SO THE LIABILITY IS A LOT GREATER, AND THEREFORE THE COST IS A LOT GREATER BECAUSE, UH, CONTRACTORS DON'T LIKE TO WORK, UH, ON CONDOS BECAUSE OF THE LIABILITY.
UH, THEY HAVE A LOT, UH, STIFFER REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF INSURANCE THAT GETS PASSED ON TO THE ASSOCIATION.
AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IF IT'S RENTAL UNITS, THE REQUIREMENT IN THE TOD IS 60% MFI FOR 40 YEARS.
THAT'S, AND IF YOU WERE TO DO OWNERSHIP, IT WOULD BE 80% MFI FOR NINE, NINE YEARS.
SAYING THE STANDARD YES, THAT IS THE STANDARD.
THANK YOU, MR. WILL, UH, COMMISSIONER COX, APOLOGIES FOR SOUNDING WEIRD.
I'M VERY SICK RIGHT NOW, SO THANK GOD FOR TECHNOLOGY.
UM, QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT'S.
UM, IS THERE ANY SCENARIO IN WHICH YOU CAN TAKE A, YOU, YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ADDITIONAL HEIGHT OVER 60 FEET AND NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, MICHAEL WAY ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE APPLICANT? I THINK IF YOU CREATED LIKE AN OBSERVATION TOWER, MAYBE, UH, THAT HAD, UM, MAYBE A UNIT AT THE TOP.
I MEAN, IT'D BE REALLY HARD TO, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD DO IT ACTUALLY, UH, AND ECONOMICALLY MAKE IT FEASIBLE.
UM, I, I JUST, I, I, I CAN'T, I CAN'T THINK OF A WAY.
THE OTHER PIECE THAT, UH, ALSO GETS TRIGGERED, COMMISSIONER, IS THAT 45 UNITS PER ACRE.
SO AS SOON AS THAT GETS, UH, HIT YOU, YOU GET, UH, TAGGED.
AND SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE AN ECONOMICALLY VIABLE, UH, PROJECT HERE.
I DON'T THINK AT, UH, YOU KNOW WHAT, 135 UNITS I DON'T THINK IS GONNA MAKE IT BECAUSE 60 TO 160 IS A PRETTY BIG JUMP.
AND IT'S A PRETTY BIG JUMP WITHOUT INCREASING THE BASE DENSITY.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHAT ULTIMATELY GETS BUILT ISN'T SOME 90 FOOT APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT SOMEHOW JUST SKIRTS RIGHT UNDER THE LIMITS AND ALLOWS YOU TO, ALLOWS YOUR CLIENT TO BUILD THIS PROJECT WITHOUT ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS PART OF THE BONUS PROGRAM.
I'M JUST TRYING TO, I THINK IT'S 2.9 ACRES, IS THAT RIGHT COMMISSIONER? I JUST, UH, I JUST, I THINK IT'S THE, THE BIGGER, THE BIGGER PIECE HERE IS THE, UH, 45 UNITS PER ACRE.
I JUST DON'T, UH, UH, THEY WOULD BE LIMITING THEMSELVES TO, I'M NOT GREAT WITH MATH.
UH, SOMEBODY UP THERE IS PROBABLY A LOT BETTER THAN I AM.
UM, BECAUSE, 'CAUSE ONE THING I WASN'T SURE ABOUT WAS THIS, IS, THIS INCLUDES RESIDENTIAL OFFICE AND COMMERCIAL, RIGHT? WELL, RIGHT NOW OFFICES, UH, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THERE'S OVER 5.7 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE AVAILABLE IN AUSTIN.
SO I DON'T THINK, IN MY OPINION, THERE'S GONNA BE ANY OFFICE BUILT PROBABLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME, IF NOT, WELL, UH, THAT'S TRUE.
BUT HOW MUCH OFFICE FACES IN THIS EXACT LOCATION? NOT, NOT A WHOLE LOT.
UM, SO I, I'M JUST TRYING TO, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE POSSIBILITIES HERE.
AND, AND I'M ASSUMING ONE POSSIBILITY IS THAT YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ADDITIONAL HEIGHT WITH COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE, BUT DON'T WITH RESIDENTIAL.
AND SO THE DEVELOPER OR THE APPLICANT GETS A DENSER PROJECT WITH MORE LEASEABLE FLOOR SPACE WITHOUT ACTUALLY ADDING ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS AREA.
AM I IMAGINING A SCENARIO THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, OR, OR IS THAT POSSIBLE? IF YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE TO, YOU'D HAVE THE TWO LIMITATIONS.
WE DISCUSSED THE TWO TO ONE FAR AND THE 130 UNITS PLUS OR MINUS, RIGHT? SO, UH, IF YOU, EITHER ONE OF THOSE GETS TRIGGERED, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, PIECE COMES INTO PLAY.
SO I GUESS YOU'RE ASKING, IS THERE A WAY TO DO SOMETHING AT 1.9 TO ONE FAR, WILL THAT BE ECONOMICALLY, UH, FEASIBLE AND THEREFORE YOU GET TO BYPASS THE AFFORDABLE
[00:35:01]
HOUSING? UM, UH, SURE.IF YOU WANT ME TO SAY YES TO, BECAUSE YOU LIKE SOMEBODY TO SAY YES TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
YES, THAT IS, THAT IS PO NO, NO, THAT IS NOT, THAT IS NOT ECONOMICALLY POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW,
WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I'M ASKING IS, IS YOU, YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN ME IF, IF THAT SCENARIO IS, IS SOMETHING THAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN.
AND SO I, I WANT, I WOULD SAY FROM YOU THAT THAT'S, THAT THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR.
WELL, TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS, IS IT LIKELY TO HAPPEN? ABSOLUTELY NOT, IN MY OPINION.
UH, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS DAIS WHO, UH, ARE A LOT SMARTER THAN ME ABOUT THE MARKET, UM, AND HOUSING RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND THE NEED FOR HOUSING AND THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING, WHICH IS MOVING PEOPLE TO BUILD MULTIFAMILY, PEOPLE ARE CONVERTING OFFICE SITE PLANS THAT WITHOUT THE BUILDING PERMITS TO MULTIFAMILY, UH, IN THIS MARKETPLACE RIGHT NOW.
AND EVEN THOSE CAN'T, AND EVEN THOSE CAN'T GET BUILT AS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF INTEREST RATES RIGHT NOW.
OUR NEXT COMMISSIONER WITH A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER CONNOLLY? YEAH, I HAVE, UM, SORRY, ONE, JUST A FEW MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.
SORRY TO MAKE YOU GET BACK UP.
YOU'LL GET SOME EXTRA STEPS IN TODAY.
UM, OH, NO, I JUST, I, I REALLY APPRECIATED THE, THE, THE COMMENTS THAT WE, WE HEARD FROM THE REDLINE PARKWAY FOLKS AND ALSO YOUR REPLY, UM, AROUND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THEM.
UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF, IF YOU COULD SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SORT OF WHAT THAT RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN LIKE AND, AND, AND IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF COMMITMENT TO AND IMPROVING THAT RELATIONSHIP OR, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A WORKABLE RELATIONSHIP THERE.
UH, MICHAEL WAY ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, SO ON ANOTHER CASE, UH, THAT WAS HEARD HERE ON KIG, I FORGOT THE ADDRESS, BUT I FORGOT THE ADDRESS.
IT WAS THE OLD TEXAS GAS SITE, PRETTY BIG SITE.
UM, WE WORKED, UH, WE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WORKING AND, UH, ULTIMATELY MADE A COMMITMENT, A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.
I THINK IT WAS FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO HELP, UH, REDLINE PARKWAY REALLY KICK OFF, ESPECIALLY SINCE THAT PROPERTY WAS ADJACENT TO THE REDLINE AS WELL.
HUGE ADVANTAGES TO GET THE PLANNING GOING AND, UM, UH, UNDERWAY.
'CAUSE ULTIMATELY ALL THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ALONG THE REDLINE PARKWAY ARE GOING TO BE, ARE GONNA BENEFIT FROM HAVING THIS TYPE OF CONNECTIVITY, UM, INCLUDING THIS SITE.
SO, UH, IT'S BEEN A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY LISTENING OR ANYBODY, UH, WHO'S GOT PROPERTY CLOSE TO OR ADJACENT TO THE, UH, UH, RED LINE WORK WITH MR. WALD ON WAYS TO GET THIS PROJECT MOVING EVEN FASTER.
'CAUSE IT'S HUGE ADVANTAGE FOR THE CITY.
WE SEE IT EVERYWHERE WHEN WE GO TO OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE INVESTED, UH, IN THIS TYPE OF, UH, PLAN.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PERSON WHO SPOKE, UM, IN OPPOSITION SORT OF REFERENCED A LONGER HISTORY IN THE AREA AND SOME OF THE PREVIOUS PLANS FOR A, A BROADER DEVELOPMENT.
COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TO THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THIS CURRENT PROJECT HAS TO THAT, TO THOSE PAST PLANS? YEAH, SO, UM, THERE WAS, UH, I'LL JUST HOLD IT UP.
THERE WAS, UH, THERE'S THREE TRACKS.
AND SO, UH, ONE OF THE, THIS, THE TRACK THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED TONIGHT IS THE ONE RIGHT AT THE CORNER.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT TO ISSUE ANOTHER RFP FOR THAT TRACK.
AND, UM, THE, THE SAME OWNERS OF THE ONE THAT'S BEING REZONED OWN THE ONE RIGHT UP HERE.
AND SO ONE TIME THERE WAS A COHESIVE PLAN.
UM, THE CITY DIDN'T WANT US TO PRESENT IT AS A COHESIVE PLAN, BUT, UH, MR. LEVINE, THE PERSON WHO SPOKE IS CORRECT.
WE, IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A COHESIVE PLAN WITH PARKLAND.
THAT FELL OUT, UH, IN PART DUE TO THE ECONOMY NOT MAKING THE, UM, UH, ABILITY, NOT MAKING THE ABILITY TO BUILD ON THE CITY'S SITE, UH, FEASIBLE ANYMORE.
UM, BUT WE NEED TO PICK UP, YOU KNOW, AND HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. LEVINE.
UM, WE WILL HAVE TO DO PARKLAND DEDICATION ANYWAY, AS EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN.
UM, THAT'S A SITE PLAN, UH, DISCUSSION, ALTHOUGH IT'S ONE THAT WE SHOULD AND CAN ENGAGE IN BETWEEN NOW AND COUNCIL AS WELL WITH MR. LEVINE.
AND WE WILL ENGAGE AGAIN WITH HIM ON THAT.
AND WHAT DID THE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY LOOK LIKE AROUND THE OTHER PLANS? UM, IS THAT, WELL, THE PLANS THAT, UH, WE HAD ARE GONE.
I MEAN, THAT, UH, THE, THE EX THE EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT WAS TERMINATED.
UM, SO, UH, THEY'RE JUST GONNA REISSUE THE RFP.
UM, FOR THAT SITE, FOR THE AUSTIN ENERGY.
I CALL IT THE AUSTIN ENERGY SITE.
'CAUSE IT USED TO BE A LAY DOWN PLACE.
UM, I THINK IT MIGHT NOW BE OWNED BY
[00:40:01]
THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AT SOME POINT.I DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS IT RIGHT NOW.
UM, COMMISSIONER MO DAHLER, DID I SEE YOUR HAND UP? OKAY.
OH, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL, IT WAS AN M NAME
UM, SORRY, I HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.
UM, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THE COMMISSIONER CONLEY'S, UH, QUESTIONS.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE FRONTAGE AREA AND SPECIFICALLY RELATIONSHIP TO SORT OF THE NEW PROPOSED LIGHT RAIL THAT'S GONNA GO THERE AS WELL AS THE EXISTING, UM, TRANSIT.
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU, WE ALL ARE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PUT IN THERE, AND I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW THE CONVERSATION HAS GONE REGARDING RIGHT OF WAY AND ALSO MORE GENERALLY SPEAKING WHAT THE, UM, IS PLANNED IN TERMS OF MAYBE ELIMINATING PARKING, INCREASING BIKE ACCESS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS SINCE THIS IS SUCH A TRANSIT RICH AREA.
YEAH, SO, UM, HAVE NOT GIVEN, HAVE NOT DONE A DEEP DIVE ON ANY OF THAT.
UH, I WILL SAY WHEN THE PLANS WERE BEING, WHEN, WHEN ALL THE, WHEN THE ENTIRE TRACK, WHEN ALL, WHEN, WHEN ALL OF IT WAS BEING REVIEWED AND EXAMINED, THE, A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT LITERALLY HAVE, AND IT LITERALLY WILL BE THERE.
THE ORANGE LINE WILL HAVE IT STOP RIGHT THERE, BASICALLY ON THE PROPERTY.
SO THE, UH, NEED FOR PARKING, FOR EXAMPLE, OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO PLUMMET, HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME THIS GETS BUILT.
UM, IT'LL BE ALMOST, YOU KNOW, FOR NAUGH, BUT I THINK THERE'LL PROBABLY BE A NEED FOR SOME, THIS ISN'T, WE'RE NOT QUITE YET AT NEW YORK CITY, UM, PARKING LEVELS FOR DOWNTOWN.
UM, SO THAT, THAT'S ONE THING.
UH, I HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT ANY RIGHT OF WAY TAKING OR REQUESTS YET.
UM, I, I CAN INVESTIGATE, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY YET FROM, UH, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERS.
UH, SO I JUST, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, TO THAT, TO THE TAKING QUESTION.
BUT I AGREE THAT PARKING WON'T BE NEARLY AS, UH, IMPORTANT HERE.
AND I GUESS RELATED TO COMMISSIONER CONLEY, THERE WOULD BE, UM, GOOD BIKE ACCESS LANES AND ALL THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE PLANNING, OBVIOUSLY FOR THE DESIGNS THAT I'VE SEEN POSTED, UM, UH, FOR THE, UH, WHAT IS IT CALLED NOW? THE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL LINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I, I CALL IT THE ORANGE LINE 'CAUSE I'M, I FORGET, BUT THE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL HAS, UH, ALL THAT CONNECTIVITY, THE, THE, UH, WALKING, BIKING AND CONNECTION TO, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, HERE, THEY STILL WOULD HAVE TO GO TO JUSTIN LANE AND THEN RYAN DRIVE TO GET BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE WAS, UM, AND WE WILL, I MEAN, IT'S JUST NATURAL BECAUSE YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO THE STATION TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS, UH, THE STATION THERE AS WELL.
AND ONE FINAL QUESTION, UM, REGARDING THE SORT OF JUSTIN LANE AND THEN NORTHWELL MARBLE BOULEVARD, IF WE END UP WITH SOME HIGHER BUILDINGS ON THAT FRONTAGE ROAD, WOULD WE HOPE TO SEE SOME ACTIVATED STOREFRONTS AND SORT OF, YOU KNOW, THE MORE INVITING ATMOSPHERE GIVEN AGAIN THAT IT'S ATOD DISTRICT? YEAH, I MEAN THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.
UM, I FORGET AS I'M STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW, WHETHER IT'S REQUIRED ON THE GROUND FLOOR, LIKE VERTICAL EXCUSE, I JUST FORGOT.
AS I'M STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW, I SHOULD KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT AND I DON'T KNOW.
IT IS, IT IS, SO IT IS, SO IT IS REQUIRED.
JONATHAN TOMKO, OUR CASE MANAGER.
SO YES, I, SO APPARENTLY I HAVE TO HAVE, UH, ACTIVATED GROUND FLOOR, SPACE
THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS, CHAIR.
I'M NOW WALKING AWAY FOR REAL.
I'M NOT EVEN GONNA LOOK AT THE STEPS I'VE TAKEN
ALRIGHT, OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT AS WELL.
UM, BUT, AND I'M A NEW COMMISSIONER AND SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AS I FRAME THIS QUESTION.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WOULD BE, COULD YOU TELL US AGAIN HOW MUCH TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE AND HOW MUCH OF THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING? UM, YES, MICHAEL WHALE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
UH, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CONFUSE AND APOLOGIES, I WAS JUST THROWING A NUMBER, LIKE ASSUME 130,000 SQUARE FEET, UH, IF THAT TRIGGERED THE TWO TO ONE, UH, RATIO, UM, WHICH IT WOULD IN THIS CASE, UH, THAT WOULD, UM, WELL, LET ME JUST CONFIRM, MAKE SURE BEFORE I GIVE THROWOUT NUMBERS THAT ARE INACCURATE, THAT ALWAYS GETS ME IN TROUBLE.
YEAH, SO I CAN DO IT A HUNDRED.
SO 130, IF IT WAS 130,000 SQUARE FEET, UH, THAT, THAT WOULD TRIGGER THE TWO TO ONE.
UH, THAT WOULD ONLY BE ABOUT, BASED ON THE MATH, THAT A BUNCH, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF HOUSING PEOPLE HERE, PROBABLY,
[00:45:01]
UH, 140 UNITS, MAYBE 150 UNITS.SO THAT TWO WOULD PROBABLY TRIGGER THE, UH, THE, THE 45 UNIT, UH, UH, LIMITATION.
IT'S ALSO NOT A MARKETABLE PRODUCT AT ONLY A HUNDRED AND, UH, UH, 40 UNITS.
SO LET'S, FOR YOU, FOR THIS PURPOSE, COMMISSIONER, LET'S ASSUME 130,000 SQUARE FEET, ANY THAT'S GONNA TRIGGER THE DENSITY BONUS.
SO 10%, IF THAT'S YOUR GROSS SITE, YOUR GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGE, 10% OF THAT WOULD BE 13,000 SQUARE FEET AND THAT 13,000 SQUARE FEET WOULD HAVE TO BE IN APARTMENTS.
IT, IT ISN'T APARTMENTS IN HALLWAYS, IT HAS TO BE IN APARTMENTS IN A, IN A TYPICAL NUMBER.
UH, AND AGAIN, I'M LOOKING AT COMMISSIONERS FOR SOME GUIDANCE.
I DUNNO WHETHER YOU USE SIX 50 OR 700 ANY GUIDANCE ANYBODY, HUH? FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR AN APARTMENT.
SO YOU WOULD DIVIDE, YOU WOULD DIVIDE THE 13,000 SQUARE FEET BY WHATEVER YOUR APARTMENT SIZE WOULD BE, SO, SO, YEAH.
UM, AND I'M TRYING TO GET AN IDEA BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE REALLY, A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS GOING OVER MY HEAD JUST QUITE FRANKLY IN TERMS OF, I'D LIKE TO GET AN IDEA OF THE UNITS, HOW MANY UNITS, AND THEN TO JUST TO BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, WHAT WE'VE SEEN HAPPEN IN THE PAST IN THE CITY, AND I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE PLACE TO ADDRESS THAT, AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE, I'M A NEW COMMISSIONER, IS WE'VE SEEN AFFORDABILITY TRANSLATE TO LIKE ONE BEDROOM OR, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST, UM, UNITS THAT CAN ONLY ACCOMMODATE, UM, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS OR, UM, THAT SORT OF THING OR STUDIOS, UH, AND NOT UNITS THAT ACCOM ACCOMMODATE FAMILIES.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN KIND OF THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET WITH AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY THAT THEY'RE BUILT FOR, UH, JUST INDIVIDUALS IF THAT.
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT AFFORDABILITY AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP AT 60% OF THE MFI OR THEREABOUTS, I MEAN, YOU COULD BE TALKING ABOUT JUST STUDENTS, UM, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL UNITS OR, BUT YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT FAMILIES AND, AND, AND WORKING PEOPLE.
SO, SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT AT ALL? YEAH, SO, UH, MICHAEL WA ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, THE, UM, A LOT OF THE OTHER, UH, ORDINANCES LIKE VERTICAL MIXED USE DO REQUIRE THAT THE MARKET UNITS AND THE AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE IN THE SAME PRO RATA MIX.
SO IF 70% OF YOUR UNITS ARE ONE BEDROOM AND 30% ARE TWO BEDROOM, YOUR AFFORDABLE UNITS HAVE TO BE IN THE SAME MIX.
I HAD STEPPED AWAY FOR A MOMENT TO CHECK.
I DON'T THINK THIS REGULATING PLAN, UH, HAS YET BEEN UPDATED TO THAT STANDARD.
UM, BUT I WOULD EXPECT, GIVEN HOW OLD IT IS, UH, REMEMBER BREAKING BAD AND GEORGE BUSH, THAT THIS WILL, UH, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE UPDATED TO REFLECT THAT AS WELL BY THE TIME WE GET AROUND A BUILDING, WHICH IS AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AWAY FROM NOW.
SO YOU REALLY, WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WE YOU'RE SAYING THAT POTENTIALLY IT COULD BE ONE AND TWO BEDROOM PLACES? YEAH, MO MOST, UH, COMPLEXES HAVE A MIX OF ONE AND TWO BEDROOMS AND MAYBE, UH, A FEW THREE BEDROOMS. UM, SO I, BUT I DON'T, I, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY DESIGN DONE FOR THIS ONE YET.
UH, WE HAVE THREE MORE SPOTS LEFT.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS OR IS THERE A MOTION, MR. CONNOLLY? UM, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, GO WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND, IS THAT FOR BOTH EIGHT AND NINE? YES.
COMMISSIONER MOTION, SCHELLER SECONDING, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? UM, I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO SAY THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN COVERED.
I THINK THAT, UH, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, DENSITY, UM, VERY IN A TRANSIT RICH AREA, RIGHT ALONG A NEW, UM, ALONG A LOT OF OUR NEW TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, AND TRAIN LINES.
AND, UH, THIS AREA HAS LONG BEEN CALLING, UM, FOR MORE TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE, UM, HOUSING AND LAND USE.
AND I DO HOPE THAT THERE CAN BE, AS THE, UM, DEVELOPMENT PROGRESSES A A, A MORE ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE UNIT MIX, UM, AROUND THE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND ALSO I THINK I, I REALLY HOPE THERE IS A, A, A, A STRONG CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY AS THE CITY MOVES FORWARD, PUTTING OUT ITS RFP, UM, AND, AND DECIDING WHAT IT WILL DO WITH THE ADJACENT LOTS AROUND HOW THOSE, UM, WILL BE INTEGRATED AND CONNECTED AND FLOW TOGETHER.
BUT, UH, I THINK THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T BE SUPPORTING THIS NOW AS THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER.
[00:50:02]
THANK YOU.ANY COMMISSIONER SPEAKING AGAINST ANYONE ELSE WANNA SPEAK? I DO.
UH, COMMISSIONER MOOW, COMMISSIONER HOWARD, AND THEN COMMISSIONER ANDERSON.
UM, UM, APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER, UM, CONNOLLY'S COMMENTS ON, UH, THE PROJECT VIABILITY AND YES, I WANT TO AGAIN EMPHASIZE THAT WE WANNA SEE THE HOUSING REFLECT, UM, THE VARIATIONS THAT WE NEED.
IN ADDITION TO THIS BEING THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR THIS PROJECT.
IT'S ALSO IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AREA WHICH WOULD PROVIDE SOME TERRIFIC, UH, SCHOOLING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES, UM, THAT COULD BE POTENTIAL FUTURE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA.
I ALSO WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK 'CAUSE I'M, UM, I'M A BIG FAN OF THE REDLINE PROJECT.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF MAKING OUR, UM, INTER MOBILITY PROJECT WORK, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO TO CONTINUE TO ENDORSE SUPPORTING THAT AS THIS DEVELOPS OUT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER HOWARD.
SO, UH, MY FIRST UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 2015 WAS THE MIDTOWN AT CRESTVIEW.
AND, UH, TO BE HONEST, I HAVEN'T MOVED VERY FAR.
MY OFFICE IS ONLY A MILE AWAY NEAR THE HIGHLAND LIGHT RAIL STATION AND I'VE SEEN QUITE A BIT OF REVITALIZATION AND A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT GOING ON OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE HIGHLAND STATION.
SO TO SEE LIGHT RAIL, TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION IS, IS REALLY, UH, HEARTWARMING IN ME.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO MAXIMIZE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, IN THESE AREAS WHERE THERE WE, IT'S TRANSIT RICH, UM, AND THERE'S GOOD ACCESS AS WELL.
SO, UH, KUDOS TO THE DEVELOPMENT, UM, TEAM HERE AND I HOPE THAT, WE'LL, THE PRODUCT THAT WE SEE WILL, WILL SET A, SET THE STAGE FOR OTHERS.
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND COMMISSIONER MAXWELL, I'LL BE QUICK.
YEAH, THIS IS TRANSIT HEAVEN SURROUNDED BY ZONING THE LBJ ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE SAD ABOUT.
AND YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS WHEN YOU BARELY TRIGGER, WHEN YOU GO OVER ONE SQUARE FOOT, YOU HAVE TO GO WAY OVER AND THAT'S JUST A, A A FACT OF LIFE.
AND SO, UM, THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING TO DO, BUILD A LOT MORE HERE THAN WHAT CURRENT ENTITLEMENTS ALLOW FOR.
AND I, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT, WHAT KIND OF HOUSING WOULD BE BUILT UNDER THE NEW ENTITLEMENTS, BUT THE FACT IS, CURRENT ENTITLEMENTS, WE'D STILL GET, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY THE SAME TYPE OF UNITS.
WE WOULD JUST GET MANY, MANY FEWER.
AND SO I LOVE GETTING AS MANY HOMES AS POSSIBLE RIGHT HERE NEXT TO TRANSIT.
SO IT'S JOBS, IT'S UH, HOMES, ALL RIGHT NEXT TO THE TRANSIT CENTER OF AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ORANGE LINE AND THE RED LINE, UH, PARKWAY.
LIKE, IT'S JUST FANTASTIC AND I HOPE Y'ALL CAN BUILD FASTER AND I HOPE WE CAN GET MORE GOOD ZONING IN THIS AREA SOON.
AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN REALLY NICE TO HAVE TOWN ZONING IN THE TOOLBOX FOR THIS CASE, BUT HERE WE ARE.
UM, PIGGY BACK OFF OF, UM, COMMISSIONER ANDERSON'S COMMENTS.
I JUST WANNA SAY I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THIS HIGH ENTITLEMENT REQUESTED AND IT SEEMS LIKE ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENDORSED BY MANY OF THESE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
AND TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER TO Z ZONES THAT NEED THIS TYPE OF REFORM AND THAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING PROACTIVELY AS A PLANNING COMMISSION AND AS A COUNCIL ABOUT ALL OF THESE NEW PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE AND HOW WE CAN BEST MANAGE THE GROWTH AROUND THESE AMAZING ASSETS AS WE MAKE SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE PROJECT CONNECT, WE NEED TO HAVE ZONING THAT MATCHES IT.
SO I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THIS CASE TONIGHT AND I HOPE IN THE FUTURE WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE THESE CASES BECAUSE THE ENTITLEMENT'S ALREADY THERE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
SO THE MOTION ON THE TABLE IS BY COMMISSIONER CONNOLLY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MOALA, AND IT IS FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON BOTH ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 6, UH, ONLINE.
THAT IS, AND I AM VOTING TO ABSTAIN.
WE'RE 12 UP HERE, SO 11 0 1 11 0 1.
[Items 10 & 11]
AND 11.UM, SO THAT IS, UH, MS. MEREDITH AND MS. MS. REES MARIE MEREDITH, PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 10 IS PLAN AMENDMENT
[00:55:01]
NPA 20 23 0 0 1 3 0.02 700 DAWSON IS WITHIN THE BOLDING CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREA.THE REQUEST IS A CHANGE TO FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO MIXED USE LAND USE.
IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
THERE IS A LETTER FROM THE BOLDING CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, CONTACT TEAM AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN THE STAFF CASE REPORT.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER SHERRY CERTIS WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 11, WHICH IS CASE C 14 20 23 0 0 0 5, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 700 DAWSON ROAD.
THE ACCOMPANYING REZONING CASE.
IN THIS REQUEST, THE APPLICANT IS ASKING FOR REZONING FROM SSF THREE MP TO CSMU MP ZONING.
THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS A 3.76 ACRE PLATTED LOT THAT IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPED WITH A VACANT CLUB AND LODGE USE TO THE NORTH.
THERE'S A MULTI-FAMILY USE, ZONED MF THREE MP AND A SMALL PARK ZONED PNP.
THE LOTS TO THE SOUTH AND EAST ARE DEVELOPED WITH SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES ZONED SSF THREE MP.
THE LAND TO THE WEST CONTAINS AN UNDEVELOPED GREEN BELT AREA ZONED PNP AND A RAIL LINE.
THE APPLICANT RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY WITH THE INTENT TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE A CLUB OR LODGE USE AS A NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING PLACE AT THIS LOCATION.
THE PREVIOUS HIGH ROAD AT DAWSON ELKS LODGE USE WAS CONDUCTED UTILIZING A SECTION OF THE CODE THAT PERMITS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO OPERATE A CLUB OR LODGE USE IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
THIS SECTION WOULD NO LONGER APPLY TO THIS PROPERTY AS THE NEW CLUB OR LODGE USE WOULD BE FOR A PROFIT BUSINESS OWNED BY THE BLACK FAMILY.
THEREFORE, THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A COMMERCIAL MIXED USE ZONING THAT WILL PERMIT THIS USE BY RIGHT.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST FOR CSMU MP ZONING FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
THE SITE UNDER CONSIDERATION IS LOCATED WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL ZONING, MF THREE MPN SF, THREE MP ZONING ON THREE SIDES AND PMP ZONING TO THE WEST.
THEREFORE, THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST FOR CSMU MP ZONING AN INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL MIXED USE CATEGORY IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT ALONG DAWSON ROAD, WHICH IS A LEVEL ONE RESIDENTIAL STREET.
THE PROPOSED C-S-M-P-M-U MP ZONING WOULD BE CONSIDERED SPOT ZONING IN THIS AREA THAT IS SURROUNDED BY RESIDENTIAL AND CIVIC ZONING PATTERNS.
THE REQUESTED CHANGE IS TO PERMIT A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ON A SITE THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL ZONING AND USES WHERE ACCESS IS LIMITED AND PARKING MAY OVERFLOW ONTO THE RESIDENTIAL STREET IN CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 25 2 8 36.
A CLUB OR LODGE USE THAT IS LOCATED WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT MUST HAVE VEHICULAR ACCESS FROM A DEDICATED STREET WITH A RIGHT OF WAY OF AT LEAST 60 FEET WIDE.
DAWSON ROAD IS CURRENTLY HAS AN EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY OF 50 FEET ACCORDING TO THE ASMP.
THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION DOES NOT MEET THE INTENT OF THE CSS SPACE DISTRICT PER THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT.
CSS ZONING IS TYPICALLY LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF MAJOR ROADWAYS, IE TWO ARTERIAL ROADWAYS TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OR CITYWIDE.
AND SO I'M HERE TO AND AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I'M AT 9,600 STEPS JUST FYI JP, UH,
THESE TWO CASES INVOLVE A SITE THAT MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW OR MAY KNOW OF OR EVEN HAVE BEEN TO OVER THE YEARS, THE FORMER ELKS LODGE AND THE HIGH ROAD ON DAWSON AT 700 DAWSON ROAD.
IT'S A LONG STANDING AND BELOVED CLUB THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE AUSTIN EMBOLDEN COMMUNITY SINCE IT OPENED 65 YEARS AGO IN 1958.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE TERRY BLACK FAMILY, A LOCAL FAMILY WHO RUNS LOCAL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING A BARBECUE RESTAURANT, A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE SITE, BOUGHT 700 DAWSON WITH THE INTENTION OF REVITALIZING THE SITE IN TWO STEPS.
FIRST, THEY PLAN TO REOPEN THE CLUB, WHICH THEY WILL OPERATE UNDER THE THEIR FAMILY BUSINESS.
SECOND, THEY PLAN TO PROVIDE A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITALITY SPACE, A HOTEL USE WITH RESTAURANT SERVICE THAT CAN SERVE AS AN ECONOMIC ANCHOR FOR THE ENTIRE SITE AND SUPPORT THE CONTINUED CLUB USE IN URBAN PLANNING.
THESE TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING SPACES ARE CALLED THIRD PLACES.
THOSE COMMUNITY SPOTS OTHER THAN YOUR WORK OR HOME, THAT IN THE WORDS OF URBAN SOCIOLOGISTS, RAY OLDENBERG QUOTE, HOST THE EASY AND INFORMAL YET SOCIALLY BINDING ASSOCIATION THAT IS THE BEDROCK OF COMMUNITY LIFE.
HOWEVER, WHILE THIRD PLACES ARE CRITICAL TO PROVIDING COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, THEY ARE ALSO OFTEN UNDER THREAT.
OLDENBERG NOTES THAT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS IS BECAUSE AMERICAN CITIES HAVE OFTEN ADOPTED NEGATIVE ZONING CODES, WHICH PROHIBIT ALL SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS OF THE TYPE CAPABLE OF HOSTING THE INFORMAL GATHERING
[01:00:01]
OF LOCAL POPULATIONS.THAT IS THE CORE POLICY PROBLEM.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS IN OUR CASE, WE HAVE A LONGSTANDING 65 YEAR OLD THIRD PLACE MARKED ON THE SCREEN <