[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
TODAY IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, 2024 AT 6:03 PM I WILL START WITH A ROLL CALL CHAIR.
VICE CHAIR BETSY GREENBERG IS ABSENT.
HERE, PARLIAMENTARY ALEJANDRA FLORES.
WE DO NOT SEE COMMISSIONER BOONE.
COMMISSIONER FLOYD HERE IS REMOTE, BUT WE DON'T SEE HIM.
ANYBODY ON THE REMOTE? CAN WE GET WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM? UH, COMMISSIONER PKI HERE.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE NO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Consent Agenda]
THE CONSENT AGENDA.UM, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WANTS TO SPEAK ON GENERAL ITEMS BEFORE I DO THAT? SEEING NONE.
UM, ITEM ONE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION, REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2024.
ITEM TWO IS A CONSENT ITEM TO ZONING C 14 20 24 DASH 0 1 3 PFLUGERVILLE, ISD SUPPORT SERVICES.
THIS IS A ZONING CHANGE FROM INTERIM RR TO P PUBLIC.
UM, IT IS ON CONSENT AND RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
ITEM THREE IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
TOWER VENTURES ON JESTER BOULEVARD IS AT 78 0 5 AND FIVE JESTER BOULEVARD.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
IT IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND ON FOR A DISCUSSION ITEM.
UM, THAT IS ALL OF THE ITEMS I HAVE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, MR. FLORES MAKES A MOTION.
AND WE, I I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT THE TOWER VENTURES WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
OH, IT'S PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[3. Conditional Use Permit: SP-2024-0140CS - Tower Ventures-Jester Blvd.; District 10]
TO ITEM THREE, WHICH IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.S SP 2024 DASH OH ONE FOUR CS.
THIRD CHAVIN WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE CASE NUMBER IS SP 20 24 0 1 4 OH CS, AGAIN LOCATED AT 78 0 5 AND A CHESTER BOULEVARD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A 100 FOOT MONOPOLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER WITH ITS ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
STAFF IS SUPPORTING THE REQUEST.
IT WILL COMPLY WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
PRIOR TO SITE PLAN RELEASE, THE APPLICANT PROPOSES A 100 FOOT POLE AND CARRIER EQUIPMENT ON A 2.274 ACRE SITE.
THE MONOPOLE IS A REPLACEMENT FOR AN EXISTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY THAT'S ON AN AUSTIN ENERGY TRANSMISSION TOWER.
AT THAT LOCATION, THE TOWER IS ON SF SIX ZONE PROPERTY DEVELOPED WITH NEIGHBORHOOD SPORTS COURTS AND PARKING AREA AND THE RELATED TELECOM TELECOMMUNICATION STRUCTURES.
ACCORDING TO SECTION 25 2 8 39 F TWO B OF CITY CODE, A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THE TOWER IS LOCATED CLOSER THAN 250 FEET TO THE CLOSEST SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY.
AND THAT IS TO THE NORTH OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THAT IS 221 FEET FROM THE TELECOM FACILITY.
UM, WITH YOUR BACKUP, THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE THAT ARRIVED YESTERDAY AND, UH, WITH SOME, UH, ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM, UH, CONCERNED NEIGHBORS AND I ASKED IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
AND THEY SENT CORRESPONDENCE SAYING THAT THESE SITES ARE NOT IN FIRE CODE.
BUT, UM, AND THEY WERE ASKING THE QUESTIONS WERE ABOUT REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE BALCONES KENN, UH, PARKLAND OR NOT PARKLAND PRESERVE.
UM, THE INFORMATION FOR THE PROPOSED FACILITIES THE OWNER OPERATOR HAS SUBMITTED IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH FIRE CODE AND THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE AS RELATED TO SITE DEVELOPMENT, UH, TO CHANGE THINGS RELATED TO THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE OR FIRE CODE OR TELECOM CODE, UH, UH, TOM MLE SAID THAT HE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE CONCERNED NEIGHBORS START WITH THE BUILDING AND FIRE CODE BOARD OF APPEALS.
[00:05:01]
WE CAN ALSO NOTIFY CAROL WHEN THE BUILDING PLANS ARE SUBMITTED, WHICH WILL HAVE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED BATTERIES AND GENERATORS.AND I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT AND NEIGHBORS WILL HAVE MORE INFO.
OKAY, WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT WHO HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES OF DONATED TIME FROM DAVID STAFFORD.
DAVID, ARE YOU PRESENT? WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT FOR NINE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS, UH, VINCE INGER REPRESENTING THE, UH, LANDOWNER AND THE TOWER OWNER.
UH, GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY TONIGHT.
UM, I'VE GOT A REAL QUICK PRESENTATION.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE TECHNICAL BECAUSE OF THE FIRE ISSUES, BUT I WANNA SHOW YOU WHAT IS OUT THERE AND WHAT, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING HERE.
UH, AS HEATHER SAID, IT NEEDS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE 220 FEET, 221 FEET AWAY FROM THE NORTH PROPERTY.
AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THAT WOULD ALLOW ONE 20 FOOT TOWER IN THAT CUP LANGUAGE, BUT WE ARE A HUNDRED AND IF WE MOVED IT IN ANY OTHER DIRECTION, IT WOULD BOUNCE OFF, LIKE, I THINK IT'S 2 56 ACROSS THE STREET, 2 58 BACK THERE.
SO WE JUST COULDN'T REALLY GET THE EXACT NUMBER ON THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER.
UM, IT IS ON A MO UH, A TRANSMISSION LINE FOR AUSTIN ENERGY.
THEY, THEY'VE REQUESTED THEM, THEY'VE REQUESTED THEM TO, TO MOVE FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE SITE TO KEEP THE GOOD COVERAGE IN JESTER NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE ANTENNA ON THE TRANSMISSION POLE ON THE, ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE EQUIPMENT IS, IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE FOUR LEGGED TRANSMISSION TOWER.
WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE ONLY DOING IS JUST MOVING THE MONO HOLE TO THAT BOTTOM CIRCLE BEHIND THE BASKETBALL COURT AND TENNIS COURTS.
AND IT'S WHAT'S CALLED REMOTE LOCATIONS.
THE EQUIPMENT WILL STAY THERE AND THEN WE'LL CONDUIT EVERYTHING OVER TO THE, THE MONOPOLE WITH THE ANTENNAS.
UM, KEY REASONS AUSTIN ENERGY IS KICKING US OFF.
UM, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO STAY HAVE 9 1 1 COVERAGE FOR JESTER NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THIS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION WE CAN COME UP WITH.
UM, IT, IT ACTUALLY IMPROVES SERVICE BY GIVING A LITTLE BIT MORE HEIGHT.
I THINK THEY'RE AROUND 46 50 FEET NOW AND THEY'LL GET UP HIGHER THAN THAT TO 70, 80 FEET ON THIS SITE.
UM, AND IT WILL COMPLY WITH FCC REGULATIONS FOR RF EMISSIONS.
THE ADDED HEIGHT WILL, WILL BETTER SERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PROVIDE BETTER IN IN-HOUSE COVERAGE.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT.
ON THE LEFT, ON THE RIGHT IS WHAT'S PROPOSED.
THEY'RE GONNA PUT BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT OUT THERE, NEW CABINETS, NEW EVERYTHING.
UM, AND EXTEND THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT ON THE, THE BLACK PART.
UM, MY RENDITION OF A PHOTOS SIM PRETTY POOR, BUT, UM, THIS IS BASICALLY MOVE THE ANTENNA TO THAT SPOT BEHIND THE TENNIS COURTS AND THE BASKETBALL COURT.
THEY'RE GONNA PUT A LIGHT ON IT TOO FOR THE BASKETBALL, UH, KIDS.
UM, AND IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY FAR OFF THE GESTURE BOULEVARD, AS YOU SAW ON THE SITE PLAN.
UM, IT WILL COMPLY WITH 2021 FIRE CODE.
UM, THEY WILL HAVE HAZMAT APPLICATIONS.
THEY'LL HAVE TO FILE THAT FOR THE BATTERIES AND THEIR GENERATOR FUEL.
UM, SO THEY'LL GO THROUGH THAT REVIEW AND THAT'S BE GOING TO BE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION.
UM, WE HAVE LOTS OF INFORMATION ON THE NET, NET SURE CABINETS, THEY HAVE MANY BUILT IN FEATURES, MORE THAN MORE THAN NORMAL TO KEEP HEAT AND THERMAL RUNWAY FROM GOING ON THOSE BATTERIES.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BUT WHAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW IS THAT THAT SITE IS MONITORED 24 7 FROM THE NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER ON BEN WHITE.
SO THEY SEE IN HERE AND EVERYTHING, YOU OPEN A CABINET DOOR, THEY KNOW IT.
UM, AND THEN WITH THE FIRE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, WE'RE GONNA INSTALL TWO MORE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, ONE PUBLICLY ACCESSED IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS.
THE DETAILS, LIKE, LIKE I SAID, TECHNICAL DETAILS ON ON THE EQUIPMENTS THEMSELVES.
THEY'RE COOLED AND VENT AND THERM THERMAL PROBES WILL BE INSTALLED FOR THE, FOR THE BATTERIES IN ON THAT SECTION.
THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THE ALARM SYSTEM AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE, IN THE KNOCK WHEN SOMETHING STARTS OVERHEATING.
SO THEY WERE ABLE TO REMOTE SWITCH THAT OVER TO COOL AND VENT.
UM, AND THIS IS THE ACTUAL BATTERIES THAT THEY'RE USING.
THEY'RE ONLY GONNA USE 12 OF THOSE.
NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO REMIND YOU THAT THESE ARE NOT LITHIUM.
THESE, THESE ARE NOT LITHIUM COBALT BATTERIES.
[00:10:01]
THEY'RE BASICALLY TESTED IN THE FACTORY FACTORY.UH, THERE'S ONLY GONNA BE 12 AND IT IS ALSO, THEY ONLY USE WIND POWER GOES OUT.
SO IF YOU REMEMBER THE FEBRUARY ICE MAGEDDON, UM, THE FIRST THING THEY'LL, THEY'LL SWITCH OVER TO ON POWER, THEY'LL GO TO BATTERY POWER FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN IF IT'S STILL NOT ON, LIKE OURS WAS IN SIX DAYS OR SO, OR FOUR DAYS, I THINK THEY HAVE ABOUT EIGHT HOUR BATTERY BACKUP.
SO THE BATTERIES ARE NOT REALLY IN USE NORMALLY IN UNLESS POWER IS DOWN.
HERE'S THE GENERATOR SPECS THAT IT DOES HAVE A SPARK ARRESTER.
IT'S A, IT IS A GREAT LITTLE GENERATOR.
IT'S A DOUBLE STEEL LINE TANK.
UM, AND AGAIN, I'M, I'M NOTING THERE THAT WE'RE GONNA ADD SOME FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT RF EXPOSURE.
UM, THE INCREASE OF HEIGHT WILL HELP ANY EXPOSURE ANYWAY, BUT THERE ON, ON THE FAR END IS THE ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF THE FCC EXPOSURE AT 500 MITTS PER CENTIMETER SQUARED.
AND YOU CAN SEE WAY DOWN AT THE, THE VERY END, THE CELL TOWER TOWERS TO 1000TH OF THAT LEVEL.
UM, WE LOOKED AT FIRE STATION 31 DISTANCE, ABOUT THREE 3.1 SOMETHING MILES AWAY IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS.
IT'S RIGHT THERE BY, UM, OH, DRAWING A BLANK, THE BARBECUE PLACE COUNTY LINE RIGHT THERE BY COUNTY LINE.
SO THEY'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO JESTER BOULEVARD ITSELF.
UM, CLOSING, I LOVE USING THIS SLIDE BECAUSE IT REMINDS US THAT WE ALL HOLD THESE SUPERCOMPUTERS IN OUR HANDS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH EACH TOWER.
HOW MANY APPS YOU RUN, LIKE MY APPS OR 25 30 APPS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY'RE ALWAYS CONSTANTLY TALKING TO THE TOWER BACK AND FORTH.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THESE THINGS ACTIVE AND KEEP GREAT COVERAGE IN JUST YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE.
UM, IF AUSTIN ENERGY HADN'T REQUIRED THE, UM, REMOVAL, UH, WOULD THERE HAVE BEEN ANY UPGRADE PLAN IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS PARTICULAR SITE? PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND, AND I'VE JUST GOT 'EM OFF THE PHONE WITH SITTER POINT TODAY, IS THAT THE AIR CO AIR COTT IS REALLY HAMPERING PEOPLE FROM SHUTTING DOWN THE GRID.
SO MAINTENANCE ON THIS SIDE HASN'T REALLY OCCURRED SINCE 10 YEARS.
UM, THEY DON'T HAVE 5G UP THERE.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY HAVE FIRSTNET UP THERE.
SO THIS HELPS THEM ENHANCE THEIR NETWORK, BUT MAINTENANCE IS A BIG CONCERN ON TRANSMISSION POLES.
NOW, UM, YOU MENTIONED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.
ARE THESE JUST HANDHELD OR WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THESE LIKE WE HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT HOW WE'RE GONNA PUT ONE INSIDE THE, THE EQUIPMENT, BUT THAT'S LOCKED.
WE CAN'T LET ANYBODY IN INSIDE THE EQUIPMENT AREA.
IT'S MASONRY WALL AND, AND PRETTY TIGHT SECURITY.
BUT WE'RE GONNA FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT ONE ON THE OUTSIDE FOR PUBLIC USE.
AND THAT MAY BE WHAT YOU NORMALLY SEE, BREAK THE GLASS, GRAB THE EXTINGUISHER, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OR JUST LIKE IN THE OFFICE CONDOS THAT I HAVE, THEY JUST HAVE THEM SITTING OUT HOOKED UP TO THE, UH, THE STAIRS ON THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.
BUT, UM, WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT.
WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE IT SECURE AND, AND ACCESSIBLE IN THE SAME WAY.
THERE'S NO WAY TO INSTALL SOME KIND OF AUTOMATED SYSTEM THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD PUT OUT A FIRE AT THE, AT THE TOWER IF IT, IF IT WERE TO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
NO, THE, THE EQUIPMENT, UM, WE'VE, WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A DRY AGENT THAT KICKS ON IN, IN THE, IN THE CABINETS ITSELF.
NOW, WHEN WE USED TO USE SHELTERS, THERE WERE SOME CAPABILITY OF PUTTING SOME DRY AGENT THAT WOULD SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN OR, OR KILL A FIRE.
BUT THESE, THESE CABINETS ARE ABOUT THE SIZE OF THIS, SO THEY, THEY DON'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING EXCEPT THESE MONITORS THAT SHUTS IT DOWN.
SO DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE FOLKS AT THE BCP AND, UM, DISCUSS ANY, ANY OTHER SORT OF MITIGATION THAT MIGHT BE DONE TO PROTECT THOSE ADJACENT LANDS? WE DID TALK TO BCCP.
WE HAVE TO PAY THE NORMAL MITIGATION FEE AND IT'S, IT'S QUITE EXTENSIVE.
SO, UM, OR EXPENSIVE I SHOULD SAY.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ON US BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY NOT MOVING THE EQUIPMENT JUST EXTENDING THAT AREA A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE JUST MOVING THE MONOPOLE OVER.
MM-HMM,
YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING ON THERE WOULD BE THE LIGHT FOR THE BASKETBALL COURT.
AND THEN I, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'VE SORT OF EXPLORED OTHER OPTIONS AND THAT THIS IS REALLY ALL YOU COULD, THIS IS, THIS IS THE BEST ONLY, AND I'M JUST CURIOUS MEAN, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S THAT COMMERCIAL AREA AROUND 2222, IS THAT RIGHT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU LOOKED AT OR NO, THAT'S COVERED.
THE, THE OLD REASON FOR CELL TOWER IS BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE A CELL AMOEBA CELL.
[00:15:02]
EACH CARRIER HAS ITS OWN SYSTEM AND THEY PUT LIKE ON THE, ON THE ROOFTOP OF THE APARTMENTS RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE COMMERCIAL, THEY GOT THAT COVERED DOWN THERE.BUT THE TOPOGRAPHY ON JE IS SO HIGH, RIGHT.
THAT YOU HAVE TO BE SITE SPECIFIC UP THERE AND AT T'S THE ONLY ONE UP THERE NOW.
AND I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT BECAUSE THIS ALLOWS OTHERS LIKE T-MOBILE AND VERIZON TO GET UP THERE SO THE NEIGHBORS HAVE A CHOICE OF CARRIER.
BUT YEAH, IT'S JUST THAT AREA.
IT CAN'T MOVE MORE THAN 500 TO A THOUSAND FEET IN, IN THAT RADIUS BECAUSE OF THE TOPOGRAPHY SPECIFICALLY.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF TOPOGRAPHY.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ONLY DOING A HUNDRED FOOT MONO PULP BECAUSE HEIGHT IS REALLY GOOD AT THE BASE LEVEL.
HOW MANY CUSTOMERS IS THIS SERVING? OH, I, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M, I'M, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IF IF EVERYBODY IN JESTER IS USING AT AND T AND, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HOME SITES THERE ARE UP THERE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THOUSAND.
UM, CAN YOU CONFIRM, IS AUSTIN ENERGY ASKING YOU GUYS TO MOVE OR ARE THEY REQUIRING YOU GUYS TO MOVE? REQUIRING US TO MOVE.
THEY'RE PATIENT BECAUSE 10 YEARS IS A LONG TIME, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT AN OPTION THAT THEY'RE AT LEAST NICE ENOUGH TO LET US FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO THIS.
DOES THAT MOVE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH FIRE RISK, I GUESS IS, I'M SORRY? DOES THE REQUEST FOR, FOR YOU TO RE RELOCATE THE EQUIPMENT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH FIRE RISK FOR AUSTIN ENERGY? NO.
IT'S JUST THEIR, THEIR POLICY.
WE, WE, WE'VE GOTTEN OFF A LOT OF THE TRANSMISSION TOWERS BECAUSE THE ERCOT AND THE, THE MAINTENANCE PROBLEM.
SO IS THE FI IS THE FIRE RISK CHANGING NOW THAT YOU'RE MOVING THE, THE TOWER OR IS IT THE SAME? NO, IT'S NOT A FIRE RISK.
MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE, UH, I SENT HEATHER A LATE LETTER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT IT, BUT FROM TOWER VENTURES, HOW MANY? 39 YEARS OF, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF, OF AN ACTIVE TOWER CAUSING A FIRE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD OF IT WAS VANDALISM.
WE HAVE SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN FAVOR.
BUR CLARK, YOU WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES.
UM, I'M WITH AT AND T I'M A PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL CONSULTING ENGINEER, AND I WORK WITH THE RAN ENGINEERING TEAM THAT PLANS, DESIGNS AND OPERATES THE NETWORK.
SO REALLY HERE, I'M HERE THIS EVENING JUST TO KIND OF CORROBORATE WHAT VINCE WAS SAYING IS THAT DO THE TOPOGRAPHY OF JESTER WITHOUT THE SITE ON THE TOP OF THAT HILL, IT WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR US TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS UP THERE.
AND THEN BY AGAIN ALLOWING THIS NEW POLE A LITTLE TALLER, ALLOWING THE COMPETITORS TO COME IN AND PROVIDE THAT CHOICE OF, OF SERVICE THAT THEY REQUIRE.
SO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE FROM AN ENGINEERING OR STANDPOINT YOU MENTIONED, UH, OTHER CARRIERS, DOES THAT MEAN THIS TOWER IS GOING TO BE A USE A OTHER, OTHER CARRIERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE SAME TOWER? YEAH, SO, UM, IN TODAY'S, UH, INDUSTRY, WHEN CELL PHONES FIRST CAME ABOUT, WE BASICALLY, EVERYBODY HAD THEIR OWN TOWER, RIGHT? IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, WE CO-LOCATE FOR ONE, FOR COMPETITIVE STANDPOINT TO BE ON PARODY WITH OUR COMPETITORS, BUT ALSO TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TOWERS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
IF EVERYBODY HAD THEIR OWN POLE, YOU GOT TWICE, THREE TIMES AS MANY POLES.
SO AS VINCE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE ONLY PROVIDER ON AT JESTER RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THAT'S PROBABLY LIMITED, IF YOU REMEMBER THE PICTURE WHERE OUR ANTENNAS WERE IN THAT TRANSMISSION POLE.
THERE'S REALLY NO OTHER PLACE FOR ANYBODY TO MOUNT EQUIPMENT UP THERE.
SO THIS TOWER WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR, FOR THE OTHER CARRIERS TO COME IN.
UM, DO YOU GUYS CHARGE OTHER CARRIERS TO, TO BE ON YOUR, SO I I I APPRECIATE YOUR POINT THAT, HEY, LISTEN, IF WE PUT MULTIPLE CARRIERS ON THE SAME POLE, IT REDUCES THE POLES.
THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, BUT IT'S NOT VERY EFFECTIVE IF IT'S COST PROHIBITIVE TO INVITE SOMEONE ELSE TO BE ON THE POLE.
AND TODAY'S MOSTLY IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, WE DON'T OWN THE POLES.
THIRD PARTY COMPANIES OWN THE POLES.
WE BECOME A TENANT OF THOSE COMPANIES AND THOSE, THOSE POLES AND EVERY OTHER CARRIER WOULD BE THE SAME.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY.
CAN YOU TELL, THIS ISN'T MY AREA OF EXPERTISE.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT IF THE POLE WERE SHORTER, UH, YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE OPTIONS IN LOCATION.
LIKE THE, THE DISTANCE FROM OTHER,
[00:20:01]
FROM, UH, PROHIBITED, INCOMPATIBLE USE WOULD CHANGE.WELL, I THINK IN THIS CASE THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONAL LOCATIONS.
SO TH THIS IS WHAT, WHAT VINCENT AND HIS TEAM HAVE FOUND IS THIS IS, THIS IS THE SPOT.
RIGHT? I'M JUST ASKING 'CAUSE I KNOW, UH, YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO, TO A SINGLE FAMILY LOT.
IS THAT RIGHT? AND SO IF THE POLE WERE SHORTER, WOULD THAT DISTANCE CHANGE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE? UM, I'M, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT ASPECT MA'AM.
WOULD, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THIS TOWER OR OR VINYL POLE, WHATEVER WE'RE CALLING IT, IT, WOULD YOU SAY THE DESIGN IS PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH, WITH SIMILAR STRUCTURES? YES, VERY MUCH SO.
SO FROM, FROM A FIRE STANDPOINT, EROSION STANDPOINT, JUST GENERAL CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES AND DESIGN, IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT AND IT'S WHAT YOU WOULD BUILD ROUGHLY ANYWHERE ELSE.
IT'S WHAT YOU WOULD SEE ALL OVER TOWN ALREADY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MARGARET LIN, HIM.
MARGARET, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS MARGARET LIN JIM AND I'M THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE JESTER CLUB BOARD AND A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE CLUB.
WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD, THE CLUB WAS FACED WITH A SITUATION WHERE AT THE AT T CELL SITE ON THE CLUB PROPERTIES, AUSTIN ENERGY TOWER BECAME NO LONGER SERVICEABLE DUE TO CHANGES IN AUSTIN ENERGY'S REGULATIONS.
THAT CELL SITE HAD BEEN ERECTED IN 2001 AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY FIRE ISSUES.
OUR BOARD SPENT ONE AND A HALF YEARS RESEARCHING OPTIONS FOR MAINTAINING AND POTENTIALLY IMPROVING NEIGHBORHOOD CELL SERVICE AND WE ULTIMATELY ASKED OUR MEMBERS TO VOTE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF HAVING THIS NEW TOWER INSTALLED.
THEY VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS TOWER BY A LARGE MAJORITY.
WHEN I MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I HAD VERIZON SERVICE BUT HAD TO SWITCH TO AT AND T DUE TO LACK OF SERVICE IN MY HOUSE.
THAT TOWER IS THE ONLY REASON I CAN MAKE PHONE CALLS IN MY HOUSE.
I HAD TWO TEENAGE VOICE, WHICH CAN BE PLENTY OF REASONS TO NEED RELIABLE 9 1 1 COVERAGE.
THIS NEW TOWER WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO PROVIDE BETTER COVERAGE AND AS AN ADDED BONUS, PROVIDE OTHER CARRIERS WITH OPTION AS OPTIONS.
THE CLUB WILL RECEIVE A MODEST INCOME FOR THE USE OF THEIR LAND, WHICH IS A GREAT BENEFIT TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND HOMEOWNERS.
AS OUR HUMBLE CLUB IS NOW 35 YEARS OLD IN SHOWING ITS AGE, WE WILL BENEFIT FROM NEW TREES PLANTED.
AND TOWER VENTURES HAS BEEN QUICK TO AGREE TO REQUEST FOR ADDED TREATMENT OF LANDSCAPING AND EQUIPMENT LIKE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR FIRE MITIGATION.
UM, CAROL PHILLIPSON, WHO I THINK YOU'LL HEAR FROM IN A LITTLE BIT, HAS BEEN A HUGE ASSET TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FIREWISE COMMITTEE SHARING WEALTH OF INFORMATION AS AS TO HOW TO HARDEN OUR HOMES AGAINST WILDFIRE.
WHEN WE MOVED IN FIVE YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND AND I GREATLY APPRECIATED OUR VISIT, OUR VISIT FROM HER COMMITTEE AND THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS WHO IDENTIFIED STEPS WE COULD TAKE TO MITIGATE FIRE RISK.
WE HAVE SINCE UPDATED OUR LANDSCAPING AND CREATED FIRE BREAK ZONES.
NOW, IF ONLY OUR HOMES COULD HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF PROTECTION AND 24 7 MONITORING THAT THE CELL TOWER IS AND WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH, THEN WE WOULD HAVE LITTLE REASON TO WORRY.
RELIABLE CELL SERVICE IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAINING OUR PEACE OF MIND AND THIS TOWER IS THE ONLY WAY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? I I GUESS ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS, IS ABOUT THE, UM, THE WILD LANDS, RIGHT? AND, AND HAVING, UM, SOMETHING IN PLACE SO THAT IT DOESN'T BECOME A WILDFIRE.
I THINK THAT'S, FROM MY GATHERING, THAT'S THE CONCERN.
HAVE, HAVE YOU AS A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP THOUGHT ABOUT THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT RISK TO THE WILDLANDS? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT CAROL IS IN CHARGE OF FOR OUR ENTIRE NE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S CALLED THE FIREWISE UM, COMMITTEE.
AND THERE, I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEYOND TEXAS OR, BUT IT'S A COMMITTEE WHERE SHE UM, WORKS WITH THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND VISITS HOMEOWNERS AND YOU GO THROUGH A WHOLE SURVEY OF YOUR LAND AND SAY, HEY, THAT VEGETATION, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT REPLACING THAT OR MOVING THAT.
GOES THROUGH ALL THIS, THE TOWER ADJACENT TO THE, THE PRESERVE ITSELF, IF FIRE WERE TO SET OFF IN THAT DIRECTION RIGHT.
AND ALL OUR HOMES BACK UP TO THAT SAME PRESERVE, I MEAN WE'RE ALL KIND OF IN LINE WITH IT, WHETHER IT BE A CELL TOWER OR OUR HOMES.
AND I GUESS MY POINT IS THAT CELL TOWER IS CAREFULLY MONITORED, HAS ALL THESE THINGS IN PLACE.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? IT DOES.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL YETTER.
[00:25:04]
UM, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS THOMAS LANG.
THOMAS, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK I'LL NEED THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU CAN WALK UP THE DICE PLEASE.
I'VE BEEN A ADJUSTER RESIDENT FOR 32 YEARS AND THERE'S BEEN A CELL TIRE THERE THE WHOLE TIME.
NEVER ONCE DID I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT A FIRE.
AND WITH THIS NEW PROPOSAL, WE'RE JUST MOVING THE TOWER AND THE, FROM ONE SPACE TO ANOTHER, ALL THE EQUIPMENT STAYING WHERE IT IS AND IT IS GONNA BENEFIT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE ADJUSTER CLUB.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GEORGE MERKEL.
GEORGE, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
AUDI, UH, I'M NEW TO THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE MOVED HERE LAST YEAR AND, UH, I LIKE HAVING CELL SERVICE.
IT'S KIND OF MARGINAL BY OUR HOUSE.
SO THE FACT THIS MIGHT BE 2030 FIFTH TALLER, WE MIGHT HAVE BETTER COVERAGE.
AND WE HAVE EMS COME STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING.
AND, UH, I, I MEAN I CAN SEE ALL THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE FIRE PART OF IT 'CAUSE I DON'T SEE ANYTHING CHANGING THAT WOULD AFFECT THE, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE FIRE GOES, IT'S, IT'S JUST GONNA BE A SHORT DISTANCE CLOSER, UH, TO SOME TREES.
WHAT I WOULD WORRY ABOUT IS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PARKING CARS SOMEWHERE THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, CATCH ON FIRE AND, YOU KNOW, BURN, BURN THE PRESERVE.
BUT, UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
I, I THINK IT, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, GREAT IDEA.
ANY, DO ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS CHAIR.
WE WILL NOW BE HEARING FROM THOSE SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION.
PRIMARY SPEAKER AND OPPOSITION IS CAROL PHILLIPSON.
CAROL, YOU WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES, MINUTES.
HI, MY NAME IS CAROL PHILLIPSON.
I'M IN CHESTER STATE RESIDENT SINCE OH OH 30 YEARS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH ANY SERVICE, BUT ANYWAY, UM, THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA READ MY SPEECH 'CAUSE I PREPARED IT.
THE JESTER CLUB HAS CONTRACTED WITH TOWER VENTURES TO BUILD A HUNDRED FOOT CELL TOWER FOR AT AND T WITH 12 BATTERIES, 50 GALLON DE DIESEL FUEL AND STRINGING WIRES 150 FEET FROM THE STORAGE BUILDING TO THE TOWER.
ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE BALCONES CANYONLANDS PRESERVE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.
THEN PLANS TO ADD TWO MORE CARRIERS, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF BATTERIES AND DIESEL FUEL ACCORDINGLY, CREATING AN EVEN MORE SERIOUS FIRE RISK FOR THE PRESERVE.
THE SITE PLAN, AS YOU CAN SEE, DOES NOT SHOW THIS EXTREME FIRE RISK.
THAT'S WHY I GAVE YOU PICTURES, NOR THE DISTANCE TO THE B-C-V-B-C-P FENCE LINE, AS DO THE PICTURES OF THE ACTUAL SITE.
REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT JUST A NATURE PRESERVE.
THIS IS A FEDERALLY PROTECTED ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.
I INVITE YOU ALL TO PERSONALLY COME AND VISIT THE SITE.
ONCE YOU SEE THE HUGE AMOUNT OF FIRE FUEL SO CLOSE TO THIS PROPOSED CELL TOWER COMPLEX, IT WILL BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFE LOCATION.
PRESENTLY, THERE IS NO CODE WRITTEN IN AUSTIN MUNI CODE CITY OF AUSTIN CODE TO ZONING PRINCIPLES, SITE PLAN REQUIREMENTS, NOR TRAVIS COUNTY CODE REGULATING THE DISTANCE OF TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS FROM AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.
WHY? WELL, I FOUND OUT FROM SCOTT STOOKEY A AUSTIN FIRE MARSHAL ENGINEER, THAT THIS IS THE FIRST CURRENT MUNI CODE 25 DASH TWO DASH 8 39 ONLY STATES THAT A TOWER CANNOT BE WITHIN 50 FEET OF A DWELLING UNIT, 50 FEET OF A DAYCARE CENTER, OR 300 FEET OF PROPERTY ZONE HISTORIC.
WOULD YOU NOT AGREE THAT AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT WOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT OR AS IMPORTANT THAN A HISTORIC BUILDING? MONOPOLES COULD BE AS HIGH AS 200 FEET.
SO UPDATED CODE MUST ESTABLISH AND MANDATE A SAFE DISTANCE FROM AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.
SO SHOULD A BATTERY OR FUEL FIRE IGNITE AND OR THE A HUNDRED FOOT FOOT MONOPOLE FALL INTO THE RESERVE, A WILDFIRE WOULD QUICKLY SPREAD THREATENING THE ENDANGERED SPECIES PLOT IN, PLUS IN THIS CASE, A NEIGHBORHOOD OF 950 HOMES WITH LIMITED EXITS EVERY DAY, MOORE TOWERS DOT THE HORIZON.
BUT THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION IS HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND VULNERABLE AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS AN EXCEPTION.
MR. STOOKY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT DISH IS
[00:30:01]
THE ONLY COMPANY PRESENTLY USING HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE LITHIUM BATTERIES.SO MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN NOW TO UPDATE POLICY TO ADDRESS THIS SITE AND FUTURE SITES THAT MEET THIS SPEC SPECIFIC CRITERIA FALL FOR SHOW OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
BCP ALSO AGREED THAT CODE MUST BE UPDATED TO INCLUDE THIS NEW WILDFIRE THREAT.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE SUITABLE WITHOUT RISKING AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT AND 950 HOMES.
THEREFORE, I ASK THAT YOU REJECT THIS PERMIT REQUEST WITH YOUR DECISION TO UPDATE CELL TOWER POLICY REQUIREMENTS AND ZONING PRINCIPLES TO ESTABLISH A SAFE DISTANCE FROM A FEDERALLY PROTECTED ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT, WHICH COULD BE THE CATALYST TO CHANGE POLICY ACROSS THE US.
I'M ALSO IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE, THE ICC AND THE NFPA AS THIS IS NOT JUST A LOCAL ISSUE.
AND AS WE SEE THE TOWERS GOING EVERYWHERE, YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GONNA AFFECT.
BUT WE CAN STOP THIS ONE AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME OUT BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT'S THERE, IT'S SCARY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I YOU, OH, I, WHERE DO YOU THINK A TOWER OUGHT TO GO? NOT IN JESTER.
I'M NOT AN A TECHNICIAN, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 31 YEARS.
I'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY SAY THEY COULDN'T GET CELL SERVICE AND TO ENDANGER AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT FOR A FEW PEOPLE THAT CAN'T GET IT.
PLUS WHEN THEY, THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE VOTED ON AND I COULDN'T EVEN FIND ANYBODY THAT COULD SEE THE CONTRACT WHEN THEY WERE PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY COULD VOTE WITHOUT SEEING A CONTRACT.
SO I'M A LITTLE BIT, AND I ASKED A LOT OF PEOPLE, I'M ON A LOT OF SOCIAL COMMITTEES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, NOBODY SAW THE CONTRACT.
SO, UM, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT HOW THAT REALLY WORKED.
AND WHEN I ASKED TO SEE IT, THEY WOULDN'T SHOW IT TO ME EITHER.
NOW, LAST YEAR THEY HAD ATLAS, WHICH WAS PROPOSING, UH, UH, 22, 22, UH, TOWER.
EVERYTHING WAS VERY OPEN AND THIS TIME IT WAS NOT SO, BUT I REALLY WANNA CHANGE POLICY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I WILL DO THAT.
'CAUSE WHEN I, WHEN I GET SOMETHING IN MY MIND TO DO, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S A NO-BRAINER, I MEAN A DANGEROUS PIECE.
WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT THEM AND THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THIS.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE, THE PASS OUTS THAT I GAVE YOU, THERE'S PICTURES THAT SHOW THE DISTANCE.
BUT IF YOU REALLY WANNA SEE IT, CALL ME AND I'LL TAKE YOU FOR A TOUR.
WHEN YOU SAY, WHEN YOU SAY IT'S NOT THE RIGHT PLACE, DO YOU MEAN LIKE THAT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION OR THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION OR, OR WOULD IT BE SUFFICIENT TO MOVE THE TOWER SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE, WITHIN THAT SAME AREA? WOULD IT BE, WELL, AS YOU SAW BY THE PICTURES, IT'S 33 FEET ON ONE SIDE, IT'S 35 FEET ON ANOTHER SIDE AND 65 FEET.
AND IF THE, THE MONO POOL FALLS, IT'S A HUNDRED FEET AND YOU GOT 35 FEET, OR I'M SORRY, 46 FEET OR 65 FEET, IT'S GONNA BE IN THE PRESERVE.
YOU SAID YOU SPOKE WITH THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU SAID? YEAH, IT'S GOT STOOKY.
HE'S THE FIRE MARSHAL ENGINEER.
AND ALSO I TALKED WITH, UM, JUSTICE JONES, JUSTIN BATES, I'M ON THE FIREWISE COMMISSION, SO I KNOW EVERYBODY AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEY DID NOT, THEY, THEY SAID THIS IS NOT A SUITABLE LOCATION.
WELL, THEY CAN'T SAY ANYTHING 'CAUSE THERE'S NO CODE FOR IT.
IF THERE'S CODE, IT WOULD NEVER FLY.
THIS IS AN EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE TO HAVE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES RIGHT NEXT TO A CELL TOWER AND A HUNDRED FOOT CELL TIRE.
JUST NOT, NO, THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK,
IT'S JUST, IF IT FALLS, YOU GOTTA HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR IT TO FALL BEFORE IT HITS THE PRESERVE AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA PUT A LIGHT ON IT.
WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN, THERE WAS A, UH, INSTANCE IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE LIGHT STARTED, THE FIRE AND THE, THE POLE FELL INTO THE BLEACHERS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU NO, LIKE I SAID, NO ONE PLANS AN ACCIDENT.
AND THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO, TO PROTECT EVERYBODY, NOT JUST JUST OUR STATES.
THIS NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN IN CODE AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I'M JUST TALKING TO EVERYBODY I CAN JUST, SO I CAN DO THIS EFFICIENTLY AND QUITE RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE IT'S HARDER TO REMOVE A CELL TIRE RATHER THAN PRO PROHIBIT IT FROM GOING IN.
BUT THIS IS AN EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE TO HAVE IT SO CLOSE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
UM, I THINK THE FISH AND WILDLIFE, I'M WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM.
THEY'RE VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN THIS BECAUSE THEY SAID THIS HASN'T HAPPENED EITHER.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS CHAIR.
[00:35:01]
THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT FOR A THREE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
HI, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE CAROL'S CONCERN FOR FIRE, BUT UM, IN MY EXPERIENCE WE'VE NEVER HAD ONE ACT OF FIRE ON, ON A, ON A CELL SITE.
UM, JESTER WOULD LOSE COVERAGE IF WE DON'T GET SOMETHING IN THAT AREA.
WE CAN'T MOVE OFF THE JESTER CLUB SITE BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY SF SIX ZONING.
EVERYWHERE ELSE IS NOT PERMITTED, PERIOD.
UM, WE LOOKED AT MOVING IT ALL AROUND THE SITE.
THEY SPENT LIKE, LIKE MARGARET SAID, ABOUT A YEAR LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHERE WE CAN GO.
UM, AND ONE COMMENT ABOUT THE FIRE FUEL.
THERE'S NO FIRE FUEL ON CLUB LOT.
I THINK MOST OF THE FIRE FUEL IS ON THE BCCP LAND.
UM, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
WE CAN ONLY TRY TO MITIGATE WITH SOME OF THE MOST COMPLETE SAFETY MEASURES THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR EQUIPMENT AND, AND KEEP AND MAINTAIN EVERYTHING TO ITS BEST ABILITY.
UM, LAST THING ON THE FALL ZONE, THIS COMES UP A LOT, THE FALL ZONE AND I, AND I, I'VE ONLY SEEN ONE IN HURRICANE RITA IN ORANGE, TEXAS THAT ACTUALLY FELL.
UM, BECAUSE A SHELTER OR SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, METAL BUILDING WRAPPED AROUND IT, IT FALLS INTO ITSELF.
THE MONOPOLE IS DESIGNED FOR WITH WEAK PARTS IN IT IN SECTIONS.
THEY ACTUALLY STACK IT LIKE A STRAW GOING ON TOP OF A STRAW.
AND IF THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, WHICH WOULD BE AN ICE STORM LIKE WE HAD A COUPLE YEARS AGO, IT WOULD BREAK AND BREAK AND BREAK AND THREE OR FOUR PIECES.
SO THE FALL ZONE'S ONLY ABOUT 40 FEET ON THIS, ON THIS STRUCTURE.
UM, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I CALLED SABRE ONE OF THE LARGEST MANUFACTURERS IN IN THE COUNTRY.
SABRE TOWERS IN IOWA WANTED AMY TO SEND ME A PICTURE OF A FAILURE.
SHE SAID IN 40 YEARS OF BUILDING TOWERS AND TRANSMISSION POLES, WE NEVER HAD ONE.
UH, MR. CHAIR, JUST IF YOU DON'T MIND, VINCE.
UH, CITY CODE SAYS THESE TOWERS MUST BE BUILT TO THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD INSTITUTE FOR STRUCTURAL STANDARDS FOR THE ANTENNA, RIGHT? IS IT TRUE THAT THIS ANTENNA IS DESIGNED TO MEET THOSE STANDARDS, UH, OVER-DESIGNED? YES, SIR.
AND THEN, UH, ONE FINAL QUESTION.
SO I DID REVIEW THE SITE PLAN.
THERE APPEARS TO BE, UH, EXISTING EQUIPMENT ON SITE AND THEN, UH, EXCUSE ME.
THERE'S EXISTING EQUIPMENT AND THEN AT T WANTS TO BUILD ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT.
JUST, JUST REALLY QUICK, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UH, THE, THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT AND THEN THE NEW EQUIPMENT THAT'LL BE BUILT? YEAH, GOOD QUESTION.
UM, SINCE THEY'RE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN RUN THAT BACK UP FOR ME ON THAT SITE PLAN, UM, SINCE THEIR EXISTING EQUIPMENT IS RIGHT UNDERNEATH THAT PICTURE I SHOWED YOU, KEEP GOING RIGHT THERE, THE PICTURE WITH THE MASONRY ROD RIGHT UNDERNEATH ALL FOUR LEGS OF THAT TRANSMISSION TOWER, UM, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT OFF THE PLATFORM AND MOVE IT TO, AS IN THE BLACK DIAGRAM TO THE, TO THE RIGHT OF IT AND PUT THEIR NEW EQUIPMENT THERE SO THAT OTHER SPACE WHICH IS ADEQUATE FOR ANOTHER CARRIER CAN BE AVAILABLE.
SO THEY'RE ADDING LIKE NINE FEET ON THAT SIDE OF THE PICTURE THAT YOU SEE WHERE THAT WOODEN FENCE IS AND IT'S GONNA BE BETTER EQUIPMENT UPGRADED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I MEAN, THE ONE THING I WILL OFFER IS I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH CELL TOWER DESIGNS.
I, MY ENGINEERING FIRM USED TO PUT THESE UP.
UM, I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT AUSTIN ENERGY'S POWER LINE TOWERS.
IF THERE'S GONNA BE A FIRE, IT'S GONNA BE FROM ONE OF THOSE TOWERS.
AND IF THEY'RE ASKING THEM TO MOVE THIS SO THAT THEY CAN BETTER MANAGE THEIR TOWERS, I CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF MOVING THESE TO MAKE SURE THAT AUSTIN ENERGY AND ERCOT CAN MANAGE THEIR SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENTLY.
'CAUSE IF THERE'S GONNA BE A FAILURE CAUSING A FIRE, IT'S GONNA BE THE HIGH POWER LINES, NOT THE CELL TOWER.
UM, AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM MANAGE THEIR SYSTEM BETTER, I THINK WE'D BE REMISS NOT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
UM, I'LL KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THE CHAIRMAN.
SO I, I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO, TO FRAME OUR DISCUSSION AND, AND, AND SO, SO, SO BY, RIGHT, THESE GUYS WOULD'VE HAD PERMISSION TO, TO BUILD THIS TOWER IF IT WAS AT LEAST 250 FEET AWAY FROM THIS LOT.
THEY'RE APPROXIMATELY 29 FEET SHORT.
SO THEY HAVE TO COME BEFORE US.
AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SAY, HEY, YOU GUYS ARE A LITTLE BIT TOO CLOSE TO A PROPERTY LINE.
WE JUST WANT TO KIND OF TAKE A SECOND LOOK AND MAKE SURE THAT
[00:40:01]
NOTHING'S TOO CRAZY SINCE YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT TOO CLOSE TO A PROPERTY LINE.AND, AND JUST KIND OF BASED ON EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD HERE, UH, ABOUT FIRE EROSION CONTROL, ESSENTIALLY ALL THE THINGS LAID OUT IN STATUTE, UH, I, I THINK THEY'VE MET THE BURDEN OF REASONABLY SHOWING THEY'VE, THEY'RE TAKING THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO BUILD THIS AN EXTRA 29 FEET A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
UH, OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T EVEN BE IN FRONT OF US.
THEY'D BE BUILDING IT ALREADY.
UH, SO GIVEN THE FACTS, THE PRESENTATION, I THINK THEY'VE DONE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO, TO BUILD THIS SAFELY.
UM, AND THEN MY, MY LAST COMMENT, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YOU GUYS WERE VERY PASSIONATE.
I MEAN, FEEL FREE TO ENGAGE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR POLICY MAKERS TO, TO TRY TO PURSUE CHANGES TO, TO THESE REGULATIONS AND, AND, AND, AND POLICIES.
UH, BUT THE PEOPLE IN THIS DIOCESE, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION BEFORE IS, IS IS THERE ANYTHING UNREASONABLE OR, OR SUPER DANGEROUS? AND IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE ANSWER IS YES RIGHT NOW.
SO IS THAT A MOTION? YEAH, I WILL MOVE TO, UH, IS IT MOVE MOVED TO CONSIDER THE THE SECOND AGENDA ITEM? YES.
SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER FLORES, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? IT'S NOTHING NEW, BUT I JUST, I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I AGREE WITH YOU, THEY'VE DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND MORE.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE BACKGROUND AND THE INFORMATION.
I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CODE DOESN'T SPEAK TO THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION AND THIS RISK IS REAL, AS IS THE RISK FROM THE ADJACENT HOMES AND THE ADJACENT POWER LINES.
SO I THINK, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, TO HIGHLIGHT, THIS IS A VERY HIGH RISK AREA FOR WILDFIRE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR HOMEWORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
YES, AND I, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AND, AND PLEASE REACH OUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THAT.
AND WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE PERMIT TO GO OUT AND BUILD THIS.
WE'RE JUST APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
THEY STILL HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE FULL SITE PLAN REVIEW.
AND THAT WILL BE REVIEWED BY ALL THE CITY STAFF.
AND I HOPE THEY WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR COMMENTS AND YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN THAT WHOLE PROCESS TO HELP MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE, THE BEST SYSTEM BUILT WE CAN.
I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT FRAMING, THAT THIS IS APPROVING A 29 FOOT ADJUSTMENT.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE.
UM, MOVING ON TO THE DISCUSSION
[4. Discussion and action on a recommendation to Council related to restricting commercial uses on Imagine Austin corridors. Sponsors: Commissioner Puzycki and Commissioner Stern.]
ITEMS AND ACTIONS.ITEM FOUR, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL RELATED TO RESTRICTED, RESTRICTING COMMERCIAL USES ON IMAGINE NELSON CORRIDORS.
THIS WAS SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER PKI AND COMMISSIONER STERN.
DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM? DO WE WANT ANYBODY TO DISCUSS THE ITEM? US? YES.
OH, YOU HAD SOME INFORMATION I DID ASK.
I DID ASK STAFF TO PULL UP A GRAPHIC.
I DIDN'T KNOW, I DIDN'T WANNA PREEMPT THE AUTHORS THOUGH.
SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK, UM, AT THE, UH, CORRIDORS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, JUST TO PUT SOME CONTEXT TO THE CONVERSATION.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST SCROLLING TO THE MAP JUST TO SHOW FOLKS THE, THE BREADTH OF THE CORRIDORS OF THE MAP.
AND THEN, UM, THE TABLE UNDERNEATH WILL JUST LIST THE STREETS SO YOU COULD SEE THEM.
'CAUSE THE MAP DOESN'T IS IS LARGE.
AND, UM, I KIND OF WANTED TO CALL OUT THE EXPANSE OF WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED HERE, UM, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE USES ARE, UM, PRETTY ESSENTIAL TO CERTAIN, UH, ASPECTS, ASPECTS OF LIFE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT BANNING THESE USES ON, UH, YOU KNOW, VERY LARGE OBVIOUSLY CORRIDORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, SOME OF THESE AREAS OF AUSTIN ARE IN DIFFERENT PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE.
AND, UM, THEY ALSO SERVE VERY DIVERSE POPULATIONS WITH VERY DIVERSE NEEDS.
AND SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR FOLKS TO JUST VISUALLY SCROLL THROUGH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE PLACES WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT, UM, AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NO SERVICE, UH, NO AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES ON, YOU KNOW, THESE GIANT AREAS, LOYOLA LANE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT HIGHLY CONNECTED AT THIS TIME.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE VISION AND APPRECIATE THE VISION FOR THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION, BUT UM, I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S TOO SIMPLISTIC AND PRESCRIPTIVE FOR, YOU KNOW, A VERY DIVERSE AND AND LARGE AND SPRAWLING CITY.
UM, SO I WANTED TO KIND OF BRING THIS UP AS A HOPEFULLY HELPFUL TO, AS WE TALK ABOUT IT, AREN'T SOME OF THOSE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES, UM, FRAMED IN THIS DOCUMENT AS CONDITIONAL? SOME ARE.
[00:45:01]
ARE.UM, WELL I GUESS MAYBE I MISSED IT, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES AS PROHIBITED.
UM, I THINK, UM, AND I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD, I TOTALLY AGREE THAT, THAT THERE, UH, ALL OF THESE AREAS ARE IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.
UM, BUT I MEAN, AT LEAST AS I GLANCE THROUGH THESE, A LOT OF THESE ARE, OH YEAH, I WASN'T SURE WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT, BUT I THINK THE, I THINK THE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES ARE HERE AS, AS CONDITIONAL AND MAYBE RYAN AND LONNIE CAN KIND OF GIVE YEAH, THEY'VE CLARITY ON THAT.
I'M JUST SCROLLING THROUGH TOO.
THEY'VE GOT SERVICE STATION WOULD BE PROHIBITED FOR EXAMPLE.
SO, UM, AND I THINK THE OBJECTIVE IS MORE, WELL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK THERE ARE ESTABLISHMENT THAT ARE, THAT ALREADY HAVE THESE USES AND THEY'VE PROBABLY BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO PROTECT THOSE THAT MAY WANNA DO SOME MAINTENANCE AND THEY NEED A PERMIT.
I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO PROTECT THOSE EXISTING ESTABLISHMENTS.
UM, WE DON'T WANT 'EM TO HAVE TO COME IN FRONT OF US AND SUBMIT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET A SIDE PLAN EXEMPTION JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THEIR, ON THIS LIST.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THAT INTO THE CODE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK IT'S A GREAT LIST TO PREVENT FROM MORE OF THESE COMING UP OR POPPING UP ON SITES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY DEVELOPED OR NOT CURRENTLY BEING USED AS ANY OF THESE.
SO I THINK MAYBE IT'S, I MEAN I THINK IT'S SUPER EARLY YET, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED ON THE LANGUAGE AS WE CONTINUE.
ONE THING TO THINK ABOUT ON THE SERVICE STATION, BECAUSE I'M KIND OF WITH YOU, I THINK SERVICE STATIONS ARE GONNA START TO CHANGE.
WE'RE GONNA SEE THEM MOVING FROM GAS SERVICE STATIONS TO ELECTRICAL CHARGING STATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WANT TO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE NOT ALLOWING THEM TO MODIFY THEIR GAS STATION TO AN ELECTRICAL CHARGING STATION.
UM, IF THEY'RE CHANGING THE USE, DOES THAT KICK THEM OUT OR DOES IT THAT BECOME A CONDITIONAL USE? BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE GONNA SEE A LOT OF THINGS CHANGING IN REGARD TO SERVICE STATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
AND I THINK SOME OF THESE OTHER, THESE OTHER BUSINESSES, I, I, I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S AN APPROPRIATE USE OF THIS BODY TO SAY WHAT KINDS OF BUSINESSES CAN EXIST ON CORRIDORS.
UM, AND I CAN, I CAN UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE, BUT I THINK THE MARKET WILL ALSO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THESE.
LIKE A MARINA IS VERY UNLIKELY.
UM, IS THIS, YOU KNOW, REALLY AN ACTION THAT WE NEED TO TAKE.
AND, AND I I, I THINK IT'S VERY PRESUMPTIVE OF US TO SORT OF SAY EQUIPMENT CAN'T BE REPAIRED ON CORRIDORS IN AUSTIN.
I, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FIVE, 10 YEARS FROM NOW.
THAT'S NOT MY AREA OF EXPERTISE AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY BENEFIT TO THE CITY FROM COMPLICATING OUR, OUR ZONING ANY FURTHER THAN IT NECESSARY.
UM, THERE ARE CITIES, SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT I THINK THERE ARE PARTS WHERE LIKE THE EAST AUSTIN, LIKE THERE'S NO SIDEWALKS IN A BUNCH OF THESE AIRPORT.
IT'S LIKE NO SIDEWALKS, RIGHT? AND IT'S, PEOPLE NEED THAT TO GO FROM THESE CENTER.
AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EQUIPMENT REPAIR.
YOU KNOW, AND I, I I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS EQUIPMENT REPAIR BECAUSE EQUIPMENT REPAIR SOUNDS INNOCUOUS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ZONING GUIDE, UM, EQUIPMENT REPAIR SERVICES IS THE USE OF A SITE FOR THE REPAIR OF TRUCKS OR ONE OF ONE TON OR GREATER CAPACITY, RIGHT? TRACTORS, I WAS JUST TAKING SEPARATE OFF THE LIST.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS OR SIMILAR HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
THIS INCLUDES TRUCK REPAIR GARAGES, TRACTOR OR FARM IMPLEMENT REPAIR SERVICES.
THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS OTHER, UM, REPAIR STUFF.
SO I JUST WANNA POINT NO, I UNDERSTAND OUTAND, I JUST PICKING IT.
LOOK, THE ZONING GUIDE, THAT ONE WAS IN PARTICULAR, I WAS JUST PICKING A RANDOM THING OFF THE LIST THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHERS HERE THAT I THINK ARE PRETTY INNOCUOUS WHEN I READ THROUGH THEM AND I JUST WANTED TO OFFER ONE THING.
I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT POINT, THAT THERE ARE, THAT THE LIST ITSELF, UM, AFTER THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD, THERE ARE SEVERAL ON THE LIST THAT I, UM, WOULD ALSO PUT UP FOR CONSIDERATION OF REMOVAL.
UM, JUST BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE I'D RATHER, UM, PUT SOMETHING GOOD UP THEN SOMETHING PERFECT.
AND I THINK THE PROCESS WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS WE'RE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY TO GO THROUGH THE RULE MAKING PROCESS ON THIS, THIS ITEM.
SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA SUDDENLY IN, OH, I UNDERSTAND SIX WEEKS OR SIX MONTHS BECOME A REGULATION IS SIMPLY THIS BODY SAYING, HEY, WE'RE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
WE THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS CERTAIN USES ON THESE CORRIDORS AND IT'S GONNA GO TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND WHAT'S GONNA COME OUT.
LIKE ANY LEGISLATION IS A VERY DIFFERENT LIST FOR ALL OF THESE ITEMS. THIS IS JUST KIND OF A STARTING POINT SAYING WE WANT TO GET SOME DISCUSSION GOING BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK, I MEAN SOME
[00:50:01]
OF THESE ARE VERY OBVIOUS, IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD USE OF ONE OF THE PRIMARY CORRIDORS WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET DENSITY AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO HAVE A VEHICLE STORAGE YARD, A JUNK YARD.UM, AND SO I THINK SOME OF THESE ARE VERY OBVIOUS.
SOME OF 'EM ARE A LITTLE LESS OBVIOUS, BUT I THINK WHAT THEY'RE INTENDING TO DO, AND I I TEND TO AGREE WITH THIS.
LET'S GET THE PROCESS STARTED.
LET'S THROW SOMETHING OUT THERE.
LET'S GET THE RULE MAKING PROCESS UNDERWAY.
'CAUSE IT'S GONNA TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO GO THROUGH.
THERE'LL BE PUBLIC HEARINGS, THERE'LL BE INPUT FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT WHICH ITEMS SHOULD BE IN AND AND OUT.
AND THIS IS GONNA CHANGE QUITE A BIT, BUT I THINK IT IS OUR PURVIEW TO BE LOOKING AT MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO, TO START THAT PROCESS.
WELL, I WILL, I WOULD, UM, ACTUALLY, UM, TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON AND I DISCUSSED, UM, DURING A SEPARATE, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE-ON-ONE.
UM, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT SHE BROUGHT UP AND ONE OF THEM WAS SERVICE STATION.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF ON THE FENCE ABOUT WHETHER IT SHOULD BE CONDITIONAL OR JUST REMOVED BECAUSE, UM, BECAUSE OF THE BREADTH OF IMAGINE AUSTIN CORRIDORS.
UM, BUT THE ONES THAT SHE DISCUSSED THAT I THOUGHT WERE KIND OF, WERE COMPELLING, UM, WAS, UM, DROP OFF RECYCLING.
NOT THAT PEOPLE DO IT THIS WAY ANYMORE, BUT, UM, I SUPPOSE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE TRANSIT TO DROP OFF RECYCLING, UH, FUNERAL SERVICES, WHILE THEY DO HAVE LARGE PARKING LOTS, SOMEBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO A FUNERAL SERVICE WITHOUT DRIVING.
UM, AND THEN, UM, RESEARCH SERVICES, THERE'S A BUNCH OF RESEARCH HERE THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
UM, BUT THE RESEARCH SERVICES WE DID, WE DID, UM, KEEP BUT ELECTRONIC TESTING THAT THAT IS, THAT IS A NON-INDUSTRIAL USE THAT COULD BE, UM, YOU KNOW, A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE.
WE COULD PROBABLY REMOVE THAT ONE.
UM, AND THEN BUILDING MAINTENANCE SERVICES, I'D BE ON THE FENCE ABOUT IT.
UM, AND THE ONLY REASON WHY I MIGHT MAKE IT A CONDITIONAL USE IS BECAUSE BUILDING MAINTENANCE SERVICES ARE REALLY FOR LIKE MADE SERVICES.
AND IN GENERAL, THOSE PEOPLE DO DRIVE, YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU HAVE AN OFFICE THAT HAS CUSTODIAL SERVICES THAT COME TO IT, THEY USUALLY DO DRIVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
BUT IT IS POSSIBLE, I SUPPOSE, THAT THOSE PEOPLE COULD GET TO WORK WITHOUT A CAR.
AND SO YOU DON'T WANT TO PRECLUDE THEM FROM GETTING THAT JOB.
SO, UM, I COULD SEE MAKING THAT A CONDITIONAL USE AS WELL.
SO I, I MIGHT JUST, UM, PUT THOSE OUT THERE AS, UM, MAKING THOSE AMENDMENTS.
SO AGAIN, IT WOULD BE, UM, DROP OFF RECYCLING, FUNERAL SERVICES, ELECTRONIC TESTING SERVICE STATION, UM, AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND ELECTRONIC PROTOTYPE ASSEMBLY, UM, THAT WE COULD, UM, MAKE THOSE EITHER CONDITIONAL USES OR JUST REMOVE THEM ALL TOGETHER IF, DEPENDING ON HOW THE BODY FEELS ABOUT MAKING THESE AMENDMENTS.
BUT I JUST THOUGHT IF, IF I, RATHER THAN ARGUE THEM, I'D RATHER JUST REMOVE THEM AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO, UM, PASS IT THAN HOLD OUR NOSE.
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER ANOTHER KIND OF CONCEPT FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, JUST IN THINKING ABOUT THIS, I'VE, I'VE STRUGGLED WITH IT BECAUSE I, I SORT OF OF FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN, UM, PICKED, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN PICKED OUT RIGHT TO WORK ON AND IMAGINE AUSTIN HAS A LOT OF OTHER PRIORITIES, RIGHT? AND THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THEM AND THAT I FULLY SUPPORT.
UM, BUT LOOKING THROUGH THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS, I'M JUST TRYING TO WRESTLE WITH THIS.
WE HAVE THIS IMAGINE AUSTIN DECISION GUIDELINE CHECKLIST, RIGHT? THAT GOES INTO EVERY SINGLE BACKUP PACKET.
AND I'M JUST, I PULLED ONE UP FROM OUR LAST MEETING AND I THINK I COUNTED 17 ITEMS ON THE LIST.
EIGHT OF THEM ARE RELATED TO MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY.
SO THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE RELATED TO, UM, THAT TOPIC.
AND EVERY, EVERY ZONING CASE WE LOOK AT GOES THROUGH THIS LENS, RIGHT? AND, AND SO WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT? AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDELINE DECISION TOOL IS TO HELP US MAKE THOSE INCREMENTAL CHANGES THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE HAPPEN AS, AS DESCRIBED AND IMAGINE AUSTIN.
UM, I DID WANNA JUST HIGHLIGHT TO, UM, COMMISSIONER STERN, JUST FYI, ONE OF THOSE THINGS ON THE CHECKLIST IS INDUSTRIAL LAND.
I'M JUST POINTING IT OUT THAT THERE'S A CONFLICT A LITTLE BIT WITH SOME OF, SOME OF THESE ITEMS EVEN THAT CAN BE AT ODDS WITH ONE ANOTHER AS WE KNOW.
UM, BUT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND THE GUIDELINES TO CAPTURE THIS DESIRE AND THIS, UM, EMPHASIS IS THIS, IS THE, IS THE CHECKLIST THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THIS? YOU KNOW, ARE WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT SPOT ZONING FOR ALL OF
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THESE IMAGINE AUSTIN CONCEPTS, RIGHT? WE'RE, BUT WE ARE KIND OF DOING THAT FOR THIS ONE IS, IS JUST AN OBSERVATION.IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT, UH, LIKE A UNIQUE APPROACH FOR A SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE.
AND IS THAT RESONATING OR MAKING SENSE
IT'S THE SAME THING THAT YOU HAD WITH, UM, PROJECT CONNECT THAT WAS ALREADY A, UM, THAT WAS ALREADY MAPPED, THAT EVERYBODY ALREADY HAD NOTICE ABOUT WHERE THE LIGHT RAIL WAS GOING.
THAT'S WHY THEY WERE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE ETO OVERLAY.
UM, IT'S THE SAME THING WITH IMAGINE AUSTIN CORRIDORS.
IT'S IN OUR PACKET BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY A KNOWN MAP.
EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE THE IMAGINE AUSTIN CORRIDORS ARE OR HAS RECEIVED NOTICE ABOUT IT, RIGHT? UM, THAT WAS THE PURPOSE AND INTENTION OF CHOOSING THAT, RIGHT? BUT I THINK THAT ISN'T THE CHECKLIST MEANT TO JUST HELP US INCENTIVIZE AND, AND KEEP FOCUS ON THOSE CHANGES TO ZONING THAT WOULD SUPPORT THIS VISION.
AND I, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS SORT OF A, A, A DIFFERENT RUN AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE, BUT, UH, JUST