[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:10]
PLEASE LET US KNOW YOU'RE HERE WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME.
I THINK WILL BE JOINING US IN A MOMENT.
AND COMMISSIONER HILLER? HERE.
AS USUAL, TONIGHT'S MEETING WILL BE HYBRID, ALLOWING FOR A VIRTUAL QUORUM AS LONG AS THE COMMISSIONER SERVING AS CHAIR IS PRESENT IN CHAMBERS.
THEREFORE, WE HAVE COMMISSIONERS HERE AT CITY HALL AND MAY HAVE SOME JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
SIMILARLY, SPEAKERS CAN PRESENT HERE FROM COUNCIL CHAMBERS OR PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY.
WE WILL HAVE ASSISTANCE FROM MS. GARCIA IN ANNOUNCING THE SPEAKERS DURING OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
MS. GARCIA, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? NO CHAIR.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM OUR OCTOBER 13TH MEETING.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY EDITS TO THOSE MINUTES? OKAY, SEEING NONE, THOSE MINUTES WILL BE ADDED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
TONIGHT IS TO VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE CONSENT APPROVAL, DISAPPROVAL, POSTPONEMENTS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS, OR NON-DISCUSSION ITEMS. VICE CHAIR HANEY WILL READ THE PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA AND SPECIFY THOSE THAT ARE CONSENT POSTPONEMENT AND NON-DISCUSSION.AFTER THIS, COMMISSIONERS, YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST ANY CONSENT ITEMS BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
VICE CHAIR, WOULD YOU MIND READING THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR US? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT, NPA - 2026-009.
01 WESLEY RELOCATION PROJECT IN DISTRICT ONE.
THAT ITEM IS UP FOR A DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER THE 8TH.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS A REZONING C14-2026-0028, THE WESLEY PROPERTY DONATION IN DISTRICT ONE.
AND I BELIEVE, UH, MR. TOMKO HAS SOMETHING TO READ IN THE RECORD ON THAT ONE.
YES, THERE IS A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
UH, THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY WOULD PROHIBIT THE FOLLOWING FIVE USES, BED AND BREAKFAST GROUP ONE, BED AND BREAKFAST GROUP TWO, MEDICAL OFFICES EXCEEDING 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF GROSS FLOOR AREA, MEDICAL OFFICES NOT EXCEEDING 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF GLOSS, GROSS FLOOR AREA, AND CLUB OR LO- LOUNGE.
THIS CONDITIONAL OVERLAY IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S IN THE STAFF REPORT AND BACKUP.
UM, THAT ITEM IS ALSO UP FOR DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER THE 8TH.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT NPA - 2026-0021.
03, 1221 SOUTH IH35 REZONING IN DISTRICT NINE.
THAT ITEM IS UP FOR NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT UNTIL DECEMBER THE 8TH.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A REZONING C14-2026, UH, 00401221 SOUTH IH35 REZONING IN DISTRICT NINE.
THAT ITEM IS ALSO UP FOR NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER THE 8TH.
ITEM NUMBER SIX IS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT, NPA - 2026-0031.
01, 3405 AND 3405 AND A HALF STECK AVENUE REZONING.
IN DISTRICT SEVEN, THAT ITEM IS UP FOR NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER THE 8TH.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS A REZONING, C14-2026-0047, 3405 AND 3405 AND A HALF STECK AVENUE REZONING IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
ITEM IS ALSO UP FOR NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER THE 8TH.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT NPA - 2018-0021.
02 SKYLINE ULTORF MIXED USE IN DISTRICT THREE.
THAT ITEM IS UP FOR APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM NUMBER NINE IS A REZONING C14-2026-00502020 WEST ANDERSON LANE IN DISTRICT FOUR, THAT ITEM IS UP FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 10 IS A REZONING C14-03-0116.
C14-03-0116 PDA AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.
IN DISTRICT TWO, THAT ITEM IS UP FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 11 IS A REZONING C14-2026-0055 MCCALL LANE UTILITY REZONING IN DISTRICT TWO.
THAT ITEM IS ALSO UP FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 12 IS A REZONING C14-2026-0015.
SOLAR FLATS IN DISTRICT FIVE, THAT ITEM IS ALSO UP FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 13 IS, UH, HISTORIC ZONING C14H - 2026-0072 ELMER AND CORA YOUNG HOUSE IN DISTRICT NINE.
THAT ITEM IS UP FOR A DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER THE 8TH.
[00:05:01]
IS A CODE AMENDMENT C20-2026 - PARDON ME, 0085811 SOUTHWEST PARKWAY SOS AMENDMENT.DO ANY COMMISSIONERS NEED TO RECUSE OR ABSTAIN FROM ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY.
MS. GARCIA, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS? YES, CHAIR.
BEGINNING WITH ITEMS SIX AND SEVEN, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO OUR DECEMBER 8TH MEETING.
WE'LL FIRST BE HEARING FROM THE APPLICANT, DAVID HARTMAN.
DAVID, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MR. HARTMAN'S WAIVING HIS TIME.
MOVING FORWARD TO ITEM NINE, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE APPLICANT, ALICE GLASGOW.
ALICE, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSION MEMBERS.
I'M ALICE GLASGOW REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT AND, UM, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.
UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE WOODEN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM AND, UH, THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF OUR REZONING REQUEST.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY ON THIS SITE TO HAVE, UH, PARKLAND.
THIS SITE I - THE AREA IS PARKLAND DEFICIENT.
SO THIS OPPORTUNITY ALSO, UH, LENDS ITSELF TO, UM, HAVING, UH, A DIALOGUE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CONNECTIVITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THE PROPERTY IS ON WEST ANDERSON LANE AND, UM, THE, UH, JUST BEHIND THE PROPERTY, IT'S A SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE WOODEN NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH, UH, SPANS FROM BURNETT ROAD ALL THE WAY TO AIRPORT AND SOUTH OF 183.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM CHAIR, RYAN, WILL BE SPEAKING BRIEFLY AFTER ME AND HE CAN ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S DESIRE TO EXPAND OR EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTIVITY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH OUR SITE AS WE CONTINUE WITH THIS PROCESS.
SO OUR NEXT STEP FOLLOWING PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION TONIGHT, BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FURTHER DIALOGUE WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WATERSHED PROTECTION AND UP AND TRAILS FOLKS TO EXPLORE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT CONNECTIVITY.
MOVING FORWARD, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RYAN NILL.
RYAN, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE WOOTEN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM DISCUSSING THE 2020 ANDERSON LANE CASE.
UM, SO THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE RED OUTLINE FOR SOME CONTEXT.
THE PURPLE OVERLAY IS THE PARK DEFICIENT AREA, SO THIS IS QUITE A PARK DEFICIENT NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE IT, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE YELLOW SQUARE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT THAT INDICATES THE SITE, BUT WE'LL ZOOM IN.
SO THIS IS THE SITE ZOOMED IN, THE YELLOW SQUARE, THE RED LINE IN THIS ONE REPRESENTS THE UNINTERRUPTED FRONTAGE OF ANDERSON LANE.
IT'S ALMOST EXACTLY 1,400 SQUARE FEET LONG, SO IT'S JUST OVER A QUARTER MILE.
UH, THE GREEN DOT IS A PEDESTRIAN BEACON AND THE BLUE LINES ARE DRAINAGE EASEMENTS.
SO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS TO BREAK UP THIS SUPER BLOCK BY HAVING AN URBAN TRAIL GO THROUGH THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT FROM BELFORD TO ANDERSON LANE WITH THE POTENTIAL THROUGH GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY TO THE LEFT ON THIS IMAGE TO SALES AND NORTH PLAINS AVENUE.
UM, SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EXPLORING WITH ALICE.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS DOES REQUIRE PARKLAND DEDICATION AND IT JUST WOULDN'T REALLY SERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE IT IN THE CENTER OF THIS ENORMOUS BLOCK.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, AND THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
MOVING FORWARD TO ITEM 10, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE APPLICANT, RON THROWER.
RON, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MR. THROWER IS WAVING HIS TIME.
MOVING FORWARD TO ITEM 11, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE APPLICANT, VICTORIA HASSE.
VICTORIA, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MS. HAASE IS WAIVING HER TIME.
MOVING FORWARD TO ITEM 12, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE APPLICANT, RICHARD MATHIAS.
RICHARD, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MR. MATHIAS IS WAIVING HIS TIME.
AND FINALLY, MOVING FORWARD TO ITEM 14, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE APPLICANT, SARAH FAUST.
SARAH, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MS. FAUST IS WAIVING HER TIME.
[00:10:01]
SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ALSO HAVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR OCTOBER 27TH MEETING UP FOR APPROVAL AS WELL.I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT COMMISSIONER AHMED HAS JOINED US AS WELL.
DO ANY COMMISSIONERS WANT TO PULL ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION OR OTHERWISE HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES, COMMISSIONER PADROSIAN.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THE, UH, THE ANDERSON LANE CASE.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT'S BEEN GOING ON BETWEEN THE APPLICANT, ALICE GLASGOW, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE WOOTEN NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, AS WE HEARD FROM RYAN NILL TODAY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S, UH, EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS PROJECT, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMETHING THAT CAN IMPROVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE LETTING THIS MOVE FORWARD AND ARE CONTINUING TO, TO WORK THROUGH THIS WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UM, AT THE CITY LEVEL IN THE HOPES OF, UH, HAVING THIS RESOLVED BEFORE IT GETS TO COUNCIL.
THANKS, COMMISSIONER PADROSIAN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OR DESIRE TO PULL ITEMS? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER POWELL, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HILLER, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT ITEM PASSES, AND THIS CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE'LL MOVE INTO OUR DISCUSSION
[Items 2 & 3]
POSTPONEMENT CASES.SO THIS IS CASES TWO AND THREE, WHICH WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING UP TOGETHER.
AS A REMINDER, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO DECEMBER 8TH, AND THE APPLICANT IS OPPOSED.
JUST A REMINDER, THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING AND WE ARE NOT GONNA DELVE INTO THE MERITS OF THE CASE.
SO IF YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE, YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT OR AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT.
AND THEN IF WE DO DECIDE TO TAKE UP THIS CASE THIS EVENING, YOU'LL HAVE A SECOND OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE ITSELF.
SO FIRST WE'RE JUST GONNA TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL ACTUALLY HEAR THE CASE TONIGHT.
WE WON'T HAVE A STAFF INTRODUCTION ON THIS.
WE'LL FIRST JUST HEAR FROM THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT AND ALL SPEAKERS IN FAVOR OF OR OPPOSED TO THE POSTPONEMENT WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK BEFORE, AGAIN, IF WE DECIDE TO HEAR THIS CASE TONIGHT, THE SPEAKER TIMES WILL CHANGE.
SO FIRST WE'LL HEAR FROM THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
BEGINNING WITH THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT, WE'LL BE HEARING FROM STANTON STRICKLAND.
STANTON, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I, UH, I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF ROBERTSON HILL, AND I'M HERE, UH, TO SEEK A POSTPONEMENT.
I THINK WHAT'S DEVELOPED SO FAR IN THIS CASE, UH, OFFERS SOME, UH, UH, POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS.
SO FAR, WE, WE AS A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS, UH, ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS AND OTHERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE ATTEMPTED TO, TO SPEAK WITH THE CHURCH TRUSTEES.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THOSE IN CHARGE.
WE'VE TALKED WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD CONSTRUCTIVE, UH, DISCUSSIONS OR AS, AS CONSTRUCTIVE AS WE COULD HAVE.
I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S STILL ROOM AS FAR AS THE TEMPERATURE I'M TAKING FROM ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS FOR NEGOTIATIONS, POSITIVE NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, SO THAT WOULD BE THE, THE MAIN BASIS FOR THE, UH, FOR THE POSTPONEMENT AT THIS TIME.
AND THE OTHER BASIS FOR THE POSTPONEMENT IS THERE, THERE MAY BE OTHER EVIDENCE THAT COULD COME TO LIGHT THAT WOULD PRESENT ITSELF IN THIS CASE TO ALLOW YOU TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AT THIS TIME.
YOU HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO EVEN CARRY OUT YOUR DUTIES, SO TO GO FORWARD AT THIS POINT WOULD, WOULD NOT BE, UM, WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE.
AND, AND THAT WOULD BE THE OTHER BASIS FOR THE, THE, UH, POSTPONEMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LEAH LOVICE.
LEAH, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UH, I'M ALSO FOR THE POSTPONEMENT.
UM, HI, MY NAME'S LEAH LAVICE AND, UH, I LIVE AT 1108 OLIVE STREET DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM 1187 NAVASOTA.
SHOULD I, UH, SHOULD I WAIT FOR THE POSTPONEMENT TO, TO, UM, OR, OR DO I, UH, GO AHEAD AND, AND, UH, ADDRESS MY CONCERNS? IF YOU HAVE QUE - IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT WHY THE CASE SHOULD BE POSTPONED, WE'LL HEAR THOSE NOW, BUT IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CASE SPECIFICALLY, WE'LL HEAR THOSE WHEN WE TAKE UP THE CASE, WHETHER THAT'S TONIGHT OR IN THE FUTURE.
I'LL, I'LL, UH, I'M FOR THE POSTPONEMENT, SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID KOTCHAT.
[00:15:01]
DAVID, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.I'M A PROPERTY OWNER AT 1200 COTTON STREET DIRECTLY ACROSS, UH, COTTON STREET FROM 1187 NAVASOTA.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT AND, UM, IN, IN THE HOPE THAT WE WOULD GET MORE, UH, DETAILS FROM THE CHURCH, UH, CONCERNING WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO WITH THE REZONING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELEANOR BACON.
I AM A PROPERTY OWNER AT 1203 COTTON.
UM, I AM IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR THE REASONS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
UM, THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH DIALOGUE OR INFORMATION SHARED BY THE CHURCH WITH, UM, HOMEOWNERS AND, UH, WE WOULD JUST LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE DISCUSSION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIC STANDRIDGE.
ERIC, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MR. STANDRIDGE SEEMS TO BE WAIVING HIS TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK FOWLER.
HELLO, I'M MARK FOWLER, 1204 COTTON STREET.
I'M DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE, UH, PROPERTY AND I WOULD ALSO, UH, LIKE TO SEE A POSTPONEMENT SINCE WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY INFORMATION, UM, OR DETAILS FROM THE CHURCH ON WHAT THEIR INTENT IS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL STABLES.
PAUL, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I RESIDE AT 1206 COTTON STREET DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
UH, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, POSTPONE THE, UH, UH, MEETING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE'RE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CHURCH'S PLANS ARE.
UM, AT THIS STAGE, WE'VE, WE'VE REALLY HAD NO DIALOGUE, UM, EVEN ON THE POSSIBILITY OF A, A REDUCED ZONING RATHER THAN THE ONE THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAVERICK SHAW.
MAVERICK, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
WE'LL NOW BE HEARING FROM THOSE IN OPPOSITION OF THE POSTPONEMENT, BEGINNING WITH JUANITA STEVENS.
JUANITA, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
SO I'M A MEMBER OF WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
I GREW UP IN EAST AUSTIN IN THE AREA, AND WE HAVE HAD...
INITIALLY, WE HAD A MEETING...
WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE RECEIVED A LETTER OF APPROVAL.
THEY, THEY BELIEVED IN WHAT WE WERE DOING, AND THEN LATER THEY RESCINDED THAT, AND WE MET WITH THEM AGAIN.
SO WE, WE ALSO, UH, HAD ANOTHER MEETING WHERE THEY SAID, "WELL, OUR OPPOSITION IS ABOUT MIXED USE." SO WE TOOK MIXED USE OFF THE TABLE, AND WE ALSO DID THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, BUT EVERY TIME THEY CAME BACK, EVERY TIME WE MET, THE BALL KEPT MOVING.
AND IN FACT, ONE OF THE BALLS WAS INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING THIS GIFT, SO THE LAND THAT WE HAVE WAS A GIFT TO US FROM A MEMBER WHO PASSED AWAY.
THE BUILDING WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE IS LESS THAN 600 FEET DOWN THE STREET.
IT'S ALREADY A COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
AND THEN THEY SAID, "INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING THE GIFT, WHY DON'T Y'ALL GO TO THE CITY AND GET A, A LOAN AND, UM, YOU CAN DO EIGHT SENIOR HOUSING UNITS THERE, BUT THAT, THAT DOESN'T FIT WITH OUR BUDGET." UM, AND THEN THE LAST TIME WAS THEY CHANGED IT AGAIN AND SAID, "WELL, INSTEAD OF LONP, WHAT ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE?" AND AT THAT POINT, IT JUST, IT CONSTANTLY WAS CHANGING.
AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE WERE MEETING WITH THEM, THEY WERE SENDING LETTERS TO THE CITY SAYING, "WE DON'T WANT THIS TO CHANGE FROM RESIDENTIAL." SO WE DID NOT SEE ANOTHER NEED TO, TO MEET AGAIN AT ALL.
WE, WE OPPOSE THE POSTPONEMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STACY ROHN.
[00:20:01]
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.MY NAME IS STACY ROHN, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF WESLEY, UH, CHURCH.
I WANNA START OUT BY SAYING I AM AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT MUCH IS GONNA CHANGE, UM, AFTER THIS PROCESS.
THIS IS A PROCESS OF LET'S MAKE THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS SITTING BEHIND ME, WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT.
WE WERE MOVED THERE IN 1928 BECAUSE OF CITY COUNCIL, BECAUSE OF THE PUSH OF RACISM OVER INTO EAST AUSTIN.
AND THESE HISTORICAL PROPERTIES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY, BY MAKING SOME BASIC EFFORTS TO MOVE A BUILDING WHICH WAS GIFTED TO THE CHURCH, THE PROPERTY WAS GIFTED BY DR.
YERWOOD, WHO WAS A LONGTIME DOCTOR IN THE COMMUNITY, HAS BEEN TOLD TO, "YOU CAN'T MOVE THIS BECAUSE WE MOVED IN AND WE DECIDED THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT." MR. STRICKLAND COMES IN HERE AND HE REPRESENTS HIMSELF AS JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEMBER, BUT HE IS A DEVELOPER WHO HAS DONE WHAT HE'S WANTED TO DO, AND THEN HE HAS CREATED A PROCESS TO INVOLVE PEOPLE AND TO BRING IN PROCESSES THAT ARE UNFAIR TO THE CHURCH.
AND YES, HE HAS MET WITH THE CHURCH.
I HAVE BEEN IN THOSE MEETINGS.
WE'VE HAD VERY CLEAR CONVERSATION.
AND EVERY ISSUE THAT HE HAS DRAFTED THROUGH USING HIS BACKGROUND AND USING PROFESSIONALS, HE HAS DRAFTED AND THEY ARE INCORRECT.
AND WE HAVE INFORMATION AND PROOF BASED ON WHAT HE HAS PROVIDED TO YOU THAT THESE ARE FALSEHOODS AND THE, THEY ARE INACCURATE.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT A POSTPONEMENT IS NOTHING BUT DRAGGING THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS CHURCH THROUGH THE MUD FOR ANOTHER WEEK, TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WEAR OUR COMMUNITY DOWN, IT'S A CONSISTENT PATTERN.
SO WE ASK THAT THIS COMMITTEE REALLY LOOK AT THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING HERE, GIVE US TIME TO DISCUSS THEM ONE BY ONE WHERE THERE ARE INACCURACIES AND THAT THE INFORMATION CAN BE CORRECTED ON THE BOOKS SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HASSAN LEWIS.
HASSAN, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ADARIUS ROSS.
ADARIUS, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIE EVERETT.
WILLIE, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE POSTPONEMENT, UH, FOR THE REASONS, UH, FOREMENTIONED.
UH, WE HAVE MET WITH THE, UH, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
WE HAVE HAD, UH, CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR PLANS ARE FOR THE, UH, UH, THE PROPERTY.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE GAINED BY GOING OVER THE SAME THING AGAIN.
AND AGAIN, UH, THIS WOULD SIMPLY BE A DELAY IN OUR ABILITY TO DO WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED TO DO WITH THE LAND.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHUCK MCGARRITY.
CHUCK, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I'M THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD CHAIR OF WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, AND I STAND IN OPPOSITION OF POSTPONEMENT.
WE HAVE MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE COMMUNITY, UH, NUMEROUS TIMES, UH, ABOUT THE PROJECT.
WE'RE, WE WERE GIFTED LAND, WE WERE GIFTED A BUILDING, AND WE'RE JUST, WE WANNA MOVE THAT BUILDING, UM, LESS THAN A THOUSAND FEET ONTO OUR PROPERTY.
UM, THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD, WHICH THEY HAVE MET WITH, MAKES THE DECISIONS FOR WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, AND IN MOST, UH, UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES, THAT'S, UM, THE RULES.
AGAIN, UM, WE OPPOSE, POSTPONEMENT FOR, FOR THE REASONS MENTIONED ABOVE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLA HOCKSEY.
CARLA, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHERYL QUEEN.
[00:25:01]
HAVE TWO MINUTES.AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM IS PAUL STEVENS.
PAUL, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS WHO ARE HERE ON THIS ITEM.
WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR REGULAR ROUND ROBIN, SO WE HAVE SLOTS FOR EIGHT COMMISSIONERS TO ASK QUESTIONS AT FIVE MINUTES EACH.
AGAIN, THESE ARE QUESTIONS AIMED AT DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT WE WANNA POSTPONE THIS CASE THIS EVENING.
WE WILL HAVE, IF WE HEAR THIS CASE TONIGHT WHEN WE HEAR THIS CASE IN THE FUTURE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE ITSELF.
WHICH COMMISSIONER WOULD LIKE TO START US OFF ON QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER GANNON.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE TONIGHT.
UM, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT EASY TO GET A GROUP THIS LARGE HERE, SO I, I, I COMMEND EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR, UM, MR. STRICKLAND.
UM, SO MR. STRICKLAND, IN YOUR, UH, UH, YOUR TESTIMONY JUST NOW, YOU SAID THAT THERE MAY BE NEW EVIDENCE THAT IS COMING UP.
UH, DO YOU WANNA EXPLAIN WHAT THE NEW EVIDENCE IS? HI THERE.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M NOT A DEVELOPER.
I OWN A RENT HOUSE TWO MILES AWAY.
UH, YEAH, I JUST THINK IN LOOKING AT WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, I AM A LAWYER, BUT I'M NOT A DEVELOPER OR A LAND DEVELOPER LAWYER, I'M AN INSURANCE LAWYER.
UM, I LOOKED AT IT FROM A, A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE AND, YOU KNOW, THIS CASE FOR YOU ALL TO MAKE A DECISION, YOU GOTTA LOOK AT THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND THE CRITERIA THAT IS SET OUT THERE AND WHAT HAS TO BE MET TO, TO OBTAIN A, UM, A ZONING CHANGE AND A, AN AMENDMENT, UH, TO A, A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
AND THEN YOU'VE ALSO GOTTA LOOK AT WELL-ESTABLISHED CASE LAW AND SPOT ZONING.
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED IN THIS CASE OTHER THAN A STATEMENT OF INTENT TO MOVE A BUILDING AS EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE ZONING CHANGE.
NOW, THE CITY HAS PULLED TOGETHER SOME CASE, UH, SOME, UM, SOME FACTORS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY MIGHT LEND SUPPORT THAT DIDN'T COME FROM THE, FROM THE APPLICANT.
IT CAME FROM THE CITY, AND YOU'VE GOTTA DIG A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE THREE OR FOUR ITEMS THAT THE CITY STAFF MENTIONS, AND YOU SEE THAT THEY'RE NOT APPLICABLE TO, TO, TO THIS CASE.
SO I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK IF WE, WE LOOK FURTHER OR MEET WITH THE, THE APPLICANT THAT THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME EVIDENCE SOMEWHERE THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO MEET FOR THE CITY TO EVEN MAKE THIS RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL TO YOU.
I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO, UM, MRS. STEVENS.
MR. STRICKLAND, IF YOU WANNA STAY UP, I IMAGINE THERE MAY BE SOME O- OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
GLADLY, I'LL SHARE THE TABLE WITH JUANITA.
THANK YOU, JUANITA, FOR COMING BACK UP.
UM, CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT HOW THE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE GONE? UM, SO ORIGINALLY THE, WHEN WE, I WENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING, THEY HAD NOT HAD A MEETING IN, UH, I, I KNOW FOR SURE OVER A YEAR, AND THEY WERE JUST RE- REORGANIZING.
UM, I PRESENTED WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.
EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE THE BUILDING IS.
AND I SAID, OUR INTENTION IS TO MOVE IT DOWN THE STREET TO OUR BUILD, TO OUR, YOU KNOW, AND WE GOT A LETTER OF SUPPORT AND THEN CAME SOME, I GUESS, MR. STRICKLAND AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT SAID, "UH, NO, WELL, WE DON'T WANNA DO THAT." BUT THEY WERE NOT A PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
SO WHEN, I'M ASSUMING Y'ALL JOINED, AND THEN THEY TOOK IT AWAY, AND THEN WHEN WE MET, UM, EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE MET, IT WAS, IT WAS JUST SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
UM, TO TELL US NOT TO ACCEPT A GIFT AND GO TO THE CITY AND TAKE OUT A LOAN, IT JUST, IT, IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, RIGHT? NOT TO US.
AND SO THEN WE, UH, WE'RE SEEING ALL THESE EMAILS FLYING EVERYWHERE, RIGHT? WE'RE A PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 1929.
SO IT'S, IT'S SOMEWHAT OFFENSIVE FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, "WELL, WE WANT Y'ALL TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS." WELL, WE'VE BEEN GOOD NEIGHBORS SINCE 1929.
THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS AREA.
AND, AND THEN THEIR CONTENTION WAS, "IF Y'ALL GET THIS, IF Y'ALL GET THIS APPROVAL, THEN EVERY DEVELOPER
[00:30:01]
THAT COMES, EVERY PIECE OF LAND THAT GOES UP FOR SALE, A DEVELOPER'S GONNA BUY IT AND TURN IT COMMERCIAL.BUT THERE'S ALREADY FIVE LIMITED OFFICE IN THIS AREA, WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF WHERE WE ARE.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
AND THAT CONTENTION HAS NEVER COME TO PASS.
SO IT, IT'S NOT A VALID STATEMENT, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN WHEN WE DECIDED WE WERE, IT, IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO MEET ANYMORE, WE SENT AN EMAIL AND ONE OF THE HOMEOWNERS FROM, ONE OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION CALLED OUR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, UH, VERY ANGRY TO COMPEL US TO COME BACK AND MEET WITH THEM AND BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS.
UH, I HAVE SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. UH, STEVENS.
UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT ENGAGING WITH THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
HAVE YOU ENGAGED WITH SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT SPOKE TODAY? IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S MANY RIGHT ON THAT STREET OR WITHIN A FEW PROPERTIES DOWN WHO HAVE SAID THEY HAVE ENGAGED WITH - YES.
THEY CAME TO OUR CHURCH TO, FOR A MEETING THAT I SET UP.
UM, SO YOU HAVE TALKED TO THEM.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER CASES WHERE THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO YOU, UH, AND YOU HAVEN'T RESPONDED OR - NO.
SCOTT MENZIES WAS THE ONE I'VE BEEN TALKING TO.
I DON'T KNOW THAT HE STILL IS, BUT HE WAS.
SO HE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING CONSISTENTLY.
UM, HE'S NEVER SAID SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, HE'S NEVER ASKED FOR SOMETHING WE DIDN'T GIVE.
WE SIMPLY CANCELED THE LAST MEETING.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE KEPT HEARING WITH THE TESTIMONIES IS YOU HAVEN'T SHARED ANY PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.
HAVE YOU GIVEN? UH, WHAT HAVE YOU SHARED WITH THEM IN TERMS OF PLANS? WHAT THEY ASK US FOR.
THEY WANTED TO SEE OUR DRAWING PLANS, OUR LAYOUT.
AND I SAID TO THEM, UM, "THE HOUSE IS DOWN THE STREET, Y'ALL.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO, FOR US TO SHOW.
WE DO NOT HAVE ALL OF OUR DRAWINGS YET BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO THAT UNTIL WE GET THE ZONING PASS, RIGHT?" SO WE SAID THAT TO THEM.
THERE IS, YOU KNOW, I CAN, I CAN SHOW YOU A MOCK-UP OF WHAT THE BUILDING LOOKS LIKE, BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, WHAT WERE, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPLICATIONS TO YOU AND THE CHURCH IF THIS WAS DELAYED, SAY A COUPLE WEEKS OR WHATNOT? UH, WOULD IT HAVE, UH, IMPLICATIONS ON, YOU KNOW, THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS PROJECT HAPPENING? OR CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT? WELL - IF IT WAS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF DELAY.
IF, IF WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THEY WANNA HAVE MORE TIME TO TALK TO US, THAT MAKES NO SENSE.
WE'RE NOT, WE LITERALLY AT A STALEMATE.
THERE, THERE WOULD BE NOTHING GAINED BY US POSTPONING TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS, A MONTH.
W- WHAT, WHAT WOULD COME FROM THAT? OKAY.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER BENNETT.
UH, IT APPEARS THAT, UH, THAT ORIGINALLY, THIS IS FOR, FOR MR. STRICKLAND, THAT, THAT, UH, Y'ALL HAD SUPPORTED THE REZONING REQUEST AND THEN IT WAS, THAT SUPPORT WAS WITHDRAWN.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHY? I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
I THINK THE, THE QUESTION WAS TO, TO HELP THE, THE COMMISSION UNDERSTAND THE, THE CHANGE IN POSITION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND, AND I HAVE TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT TO, TO GIVE YOU AN ACCURATE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE, WE'RE NOT A, IT'S NOT A HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION.
IT'S JUST M- MERELY A, A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM - WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? I THINK THAT'S, UH, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE SCOPE.
I'LL TRY TO STAY ON POINT HERE.
UM, BUT, UM, FOR PURPOSES OF THIS, IT'S - WE'LL TALK - YEAH, WE'LL TALK OFFLINE.
UM, SO GOING BACK, THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I, I ONCE WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT YEARS AGO, UH, FOR MANY YEARS.
I TERMED OUT, I KIND OF, LIFE GOT IN THE WAY AND GOT UNENGAGED.
BUT WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS, I GOT BACK ENGAGED.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAD JUST BARELY REFORMED AGAIN.
SO AT THE TIME THAT JUANITA HAD MET WITH A GROUP OF NEIGHBORS, THEY HAD LOOSELY COME TOGETHER TRYING TO REFORM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND THEY DID ISSUE AN EMAIL FROM WHAT, UH, BASED ON THE REPRESENTATIONS THAT JUANITA HAD MADE, "WE'RE GONNA MOVE A LITTLE BUILDING.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE." AND EVERYBODY LOOKED AT THAT AS WE'RE DOING TODAY, JUST THE MOVEMENT OF THAT LITTLE BUILDING.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT AN OBJECTION TO THAT.
[00:35:01]
FOCUSED ON IT, WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT IT ENTAILED REALLY.THIS WASN'T JUST THE MOVING OF A BUILDING.
THIS WAS THE UPZONING OF A LOT THAT'S IN THE HEART OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S, IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES ALL AROUND IT.
SO THAT, THAT PIQUED EVERYONE'S INTEREST AND THEY STARTED DISCUSSING IT.
AND SO AS THE MORE PEOPLE BEGAN DISCUSSING IT, WE STARTED THINKING, WELL, IS THERE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE TALK ABOUT DEED COVENANTS OR ANY KIND OF RESTRICTIONS THAT MIGHT NOT BE PREEMPTED BY, UH, SENATE BILL 840? BECAUSE IT'S GOT THE PREEMPTIVE EFFECT OF, OF, YOU KNOW, KIND OF UNDERCUTTING A LOT OF WHAT CITY CAN, WAS ABLE TO DO IN, IN THE WAY OF PUTTING RESTRICTIONS AND GUARDRAILS ON IT.
THAT, THAT WAS NOT THERE ACTUALLY WHEN WE STARTED.
WELL, SB40 CAME IN AND - I HAVE TO ASK YOU TO JUST, UH, WAIT UNTIL A COMMISSIONER ADDRESSES A QUESTION.
SO JUST GIVING A LITTLE HISTORY AND A BACKGROUND HOW THIS, THE DISCUSSION'S EVOLVED.
WHEN MORE FOLKS CAME INTO THE DISCUSSION AND WE, WE ZEROED IN ON, HEY, THIS IS WHAT LO OR NU REALLY MEANS FOR THIS LOT, THE POTENTIAL FOR MUCH BIGGER DEVELOPMENT IN A, A, A RESIDENTIAL AREA, WE BECAME CONCERNED AND WE WANTED TO EXPLORE THE OTHER OPTIONS.
WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE TO NO? WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE TO DEED RESTRICTIONS? AND ULTIMATELY THE, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION CONGELLED, IT FORMED.
SCOTT MENZIE BECAME PRESIDENT.
HE SENT, SENT SOME COMMUNICATIONS TO THE CHURCH.
WE DID MEET WITH JUANITA AND SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIVES.
I THINK AT THAT POINT I COULD CHARACTERIZE THE MEETING AS, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A BIT OF A STALEMATE, BUT WE LEFT WITH HOMEWORK TO DO TO COME UP WITH SOME, SOME, UH, NEGOTIATING POINTS IF POSSIBLE.
UM, I THINK FROM THERE, WE, WE KEPT TRYING TO, TO LOOK INTO WHAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE, BUT WE STILL, WE HAVE NEVER TO THIS DAY REALLY GOTTEN ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT THIS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.
THE BUILDING CAN MOVE, BUT WHERE'S THE TRASH TRUCK GONNA GO? HOW MANY PARKING SPACES CAN WE WORK INTO THIS? UM, YOU KNOW, THE LIGHTING, WHAT'S THE USES? UH, THERE, THERE'S JUST A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH JUST MOVING THE BUILDING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT LIVE JUST IMMEDIATELY ACROSS THE STREET.
AND TOTALLY SURROUNDING THIS LOT IS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES ALL THE WAY AROUND.
AND, AND IN EAST AUSTIN, IF YOU KNOW, IT'S THERE, WE'VE GOT SOME SUBSTANDARD LOTS.
THINGS ARE JUST PRETTY CLOSE TOGETHER.
SO YOU COULD ALMOST REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE BACK OF YOUR NEIGHBOR IF YOU'RE BACK TO BACK WITH A FIVE-FOOT SETBACK.
SO, SO THAT'S HOW THAT ALL CAME ABOUT.
AND I THINK WE NEVER DID GET TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE COULD TRUTHFULLY EXPLORE NO AND, AND RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD SURVIVE SENATE BILL 840 OR, OR POSSIBLY COVENANTS THAT COULD RUN WITH THE LAND TO ASSURE THAT THIS WAS THE, THE BUILDING WAS GONNA BE HERE FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, THE INDEFINITE FUTURE AS FAR AS THE SCALE AND SIZE OF WHAT WOULD GO ON THAT, THAT PROPERTY.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS.
UH, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR STAFF, UM, EITHER MR. TONKO.
UH, JUST IN LOOKING THE, THE CASE FILES THAT GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, UM, SORT OF NOTIFICATION ON THIS, THAT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A, A COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, REGARDING THIS, UM, REQUEST IN MAY.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT MEETING HOSTED BY MY COLLEAGUE, MAUREEN, WHO COULD SPEAK MORE ABOUT THAT.
WELL, AND I THINK I JUST WAS GENERALLY WONDERING, SO THE CONVERSATION REGARDING THIS STARTED IN THE SUMMER.
THERE WERE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS THAT WERE HOSTED BY, UH, FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THERE WAS.
UM, SO THE DIALOGUE HAS BEEN BOTH FACILITATED BY YOUR WORK, YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES, UH, SINCE THE SUMMER.
THE CASE WAS SUBMITTED IN APRIL AND IT'S BEEN POSTPONED TWICE SINCE THEN.
AND I WAS JUST GONNA, THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.
SO WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS IN AUGUST AND I SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN POSTPONED MULTIPLE TIMES ON DIFFERENT, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDAS.
IT WAS, UH, POSTPONED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM AUGUST TO OCTOBER AND POSTPONED BY STAFF FROM OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER.
AND DOES STAFF FEEL THAT WE ARE NOW READY TO DISCU - THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE THIS NOT BE POSTPONED TONIGHT AND READY FOR DISCUSSION.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS OF STAFF AND STAFF SUBMITTED A MEMO, WHICH IS IN THE BACKUP, ANSWERING ALL THOSE QUESTIONS.
UH, SO WE DON'T FEEL THAT THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OUTSTANDING AT THIS TIME, UH, THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T HAVE ANSWERS TO, SO STAFF IS NOT REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT ON THIS ITEM.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS? OKAY, SEEING NONE, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION THAT WE HEAR THIS CASE TONIGHT.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GANNON.
WE CAN HAVE THREE SPEAKERS FOR AND AGAINST THIS MOTION.
I'LL JUST SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY TO IT.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS CASE UP TO THIS POINT.
[00:40:01]
TO ME THAT A FURTHER POSTPONEMENT WOULD GET THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE INFORMATION THAT IT'S NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR HERE.AND IT SEEMS THAT WE'VE ALREADY, WELL, WE, WE KNOW THAT WE'VE ALREADY POSTPONED THIS CASE FOR THAT REASON AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT PROGRESS WAS MADE IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATIONS DURING THAT TIME.
UM, SO I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HEAR THIS CASE TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE ONLY HAVE ONE MORE REGULAR MEETING THIS YEAR.
ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE MOTION? ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK FOR COMMISSIONER GANNON? UH, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS MOTION.
I S - I SUPPORT IT AND, UM, I'M, UH, ENTHUSED THAT THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD HERE AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
UH, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS ALL TO, UM, SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.
UM, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A ZERO-SUM GAME OR, UH, IT'S, IT'S ALL OR NOTHING.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INSTANCES WHERE WE SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOODS WHO JUST OUTRIGHT OBJECT TO THINGS.
AND THEN WE SEE SOME CASES, UM, I WANNA GIVE RYAN NEAL A SHOUT OUT IF HE'S STILL HERE.
UM, I'VE SEEN HIM BRING CASE OR, OR BRING HIS NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG WITH, UH, DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTS WHERE IT'S A YES AND STRATEGY AND THEY GET THINGS.
THEY'RE ABLE TO GET URBAN PARKS AND THEY, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO GET, UH, CONNECTIONS TO PARK LAND AND DIFFERENT KIND OF THINGS LIKE THIS.
SO, UM, SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THIS, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BLACK AND WHITE THING.
IT CAN BE VERY MUCH A, UM, COLLABORATIVE KIND OF EFFORT.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS SPEAKING FOR OR AGAINST THE MOTION? COMMISSIONER POWELL.
YEAH, SPEAKING FOR THIS MOTION, UM, MAINLY I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVEN WE'VE POSTPONED IT A COUPLE TIMES, BUT ALSO SEEING THE TURNOUT FROM FOLKS REPRESENTING THE CHURCH, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY CASES FROM LARGER DEVELOPERS OR LARGER ENTITIES WHERE MAYBE THEY HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO COME HERE AND TESTIFY TO US.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR THE COMMUNITY WHILE WE GOT THEM AND SINCE WE POSTPONED IT A COUPLE TIMES.
ANYONE SPEAKING AGAINST? OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
THIS IS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WOODS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GANNON TO HEAR THIS CASE THIS EVENING AND DENY THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
SO WE WILL RETURN TO THIS CASE MOMENTARILY.
WE'RE GONNA HEAR ONE OTHER DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT REQUEST, SO EVERYONE CAN TAKE A BREAK, BUT IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THIS CASE, PLEASE STICK AROUND BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE NEXT.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 13, WHICH IS ANOTHER DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST UNTIL DECEMBER 8TH, AND THE APPLICANT IS OPPOSED.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM AND WE SHOULD NOT DELVE INTO THE MERITS OF THE CASE ITSELF, BUT MERELY DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT THIS SHOULD BE POSTPONED OR THAT WE SHOULD HEAR IT TONIGHT.
UM, WE'LL FIRST HEAR FROM THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
CHAIR, WE ONLY HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP ON THIS ITEM.
IT'S BARBARA SILLY, AND BARBARA IS IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
BARBARA, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS POSTPONEMENT.
UH, WE, UH, I AM, UH, THE CO-CHAIR ALONG WITH CLIFF TAD OF OUR HISTORIC, UM, PRESERVATION COMMITTEE.
UH, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR US.
UH, I, I ACTUALLY LIVE ON TRAVIS HEIGHTS, AND THIS PROJECT IS ON TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
UH, IT IS A VERY PROMINENT STREET IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO DEVELOP, UH, THIS HISTORIC CASE.
WE HAD ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WHO IS UNFORTUNATELY VERY ILL WRITE A 49-PAGE REPORT ON THE ARCHITECT.
SO WE NEED A BIT MORE TIME TO ESTABLISH ALL THE CRITERIA THAT I THINK THIS BODY WOULD NEED IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A HISTORIC ZONING CASE OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF, UM, THE ARCHITECT AND DEVELOPER.
SO I HOPE YOU WILL GRANT US THIS ADDITIONAL TIME TO DEVELOP JUST A BIT MORE COHERENT, UH, CASE, UH, FOR THIS ZONING.
AND CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM.
WE CAN MOVE INTO OUR PC ROUND ROBIN.
ANY COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? COMMISSIONER BARRERA-RAMIREZ? I'M, I'M SWITCHING FRANTICALLY.
IS THIS THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN SECOND? THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S FIRST POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS?
[00:45:01]
IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.COMMISSIONER BARRERA - I'LL MOVE TO GRANT THE POSTPONEMENT TILL DECEMBER 8TH.
UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BARRERA RAMIREZ TO GRANT THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO DECEMBER 8TH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER POWELL.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? UM, I JUST, UH, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT? OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR A POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER 8TH, MADE BY COMMISSIONER BARRERA RAMIREZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER POWELL.
SO WE WILL HEAR THAT CASE ON DECEMBER 8TH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR SPEAKER.
WE WILL MOVE BACK TO ITEMS TWO AND THREE AND TAKE THIS UP AS A FULL PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL FIRST HEAR FROM STAFF ON THIS ITEM.
MAUREEN MEREDITH, AUSTIN PLANNING.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS PLAN AMENDMENT NPA 20260009.
01, WESLEY RELOCATION PROJECT DISTRICT ONE.
THE PROPERTY IS 1187 NAVASOTA STREET.
IT IS WITHIN THE CENTRAL AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREA IN DISTRICT ONE.
THE REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE LAND USE, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, JONATHAN TOMKO, AUSTIN PLANNING.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS CASE NUMBER C14 - 2026 - 0028, WESLEY PROPERTY DONATION.
THE REQUEST IS A REZONING OF 1187 NAVASOTA STREET FROM SF3NP TO LONP.
STAFF RECOMMENDS LOCONP WITH THE FIVE PROHIBITED USES THAT I READ INTO THE RED - RECORD EARLIER.
UM, THE SUBJECT TRACT IS AN UNDEVELOPED LOT OF APPROXIMATELY 9300 SQUARE FEET LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF NAVASOTA STREET AND COTTON STREET.
IT IS APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET SOUTH OF THE EAST 12TH STREET IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CORRIDOR AND APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET NORTH OF THE EAST 11TH STREET IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CORRIDOR.
TO THE NORTH ACROSS COTTON STREET IS ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME CONSTRUCTED IN APPROXIMATELY 2014.
TO THE SOUTH IS ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME COND - CONSTRUCTED RE- RECENTLY.
TO THE EAST IS ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME CONSTRUCTED IN APPROXIMATELY 1950, AND TO THE WEST ACROSS NAVASOTA ARE TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES CONSTRUCTED IN APPROXIMATELY 1909 AND 2024.
ZONING IS RECOMMENDING THIS ZONING BASED ON THE CONTEXT, UH, A SMALL SCALE NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE REASONABLY SUPPORTS IMAGINE AUSTIN AND GOALS FOR A MORE WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE DAILY NEEDS CAN BE MET WITHOUT TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES.
LIMITED OFFICE AS A DISTRICT, THE, THE ZONING PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE DISTRICT IS A DESIGNATED FOR AN OFFICE USE THAT SERVES A NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY NEEDS, UM, AND ONE THAT IS LOCATED IN OR ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
AN OFFICE IN AN LO DISTRICT MAY CONTAIN ONE OR MORE USES AND STAFF HAD A HARD TIME, UH, THINKING OF A USE THAT SERVES THE COMMUNITY GREATER THAN A CHURCH, UM, THAT IS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF THE SUBJECT TRACK, THERE ARE SEVERAL PROPERTIES ZONED LO BASED DISTRICT AND MF3 ZONING BASED DISTRICT.
UH, WHILE THESE PROPERTIES ARE WITHIN THE SUBJECT TRACT, UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF THESE BASE DISTRICTS THAT ALLOW A HEIGHT UP TO 40 FEET AND STAFF CONSIDERS THE ZONING OF THOSE PROPERTIES NOT THE CURRENT USE OF THE PROPERTIES TODAY.
I ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT A VALID PETITION ON THIS CASE WAS SUBMITTED ON AUGUST 21ST.
I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THOSE IN FAVOR.
WE'LL FIRST BE HEARING FROM OUR PRIMARY SPEAKER IN FAVOR, JUANITA STE- STEVENS.
JUANITA WILL BE RECEIVING FOUR MINUTES OF TIME FROM CHUCK GARRITY, CHUCK MCGARRITY AND CARLA HOXEY.
ARE YOU BOTH PRESENT? CARLA HOXIE.
JUANITA, YOU WILL HAVE NINE MINUTES.
SO WESLEY WAS STARTED IN 1865.
I'M GONNA TALK FAST, Y'ALL, BECAUSE I GOT SOME CHARTS TO GO THROUGH HERE.
UH, OUR FIRST SANCTUARY WAS BUILT IN 1867, AND AS Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT THE 1928 PLAN, WE WERE MOVED FROM DOWNTOWN TO WHERE WE ARE NOW IN 1929.
SO WE HAVE BEEN NEIGHBORS THERE SINCE THAT TIME.
85, WE WERE CONSIDERED A, UH, NATIONAL REGISTER LISTING.
UH, HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY IS THE OLDEST HBCU IN THE, IN TEXAS, AND WESLEY WAS ONE OF THE CHURCHES THAT HELPED US
[00:50:01]
START THAT.WE ALSO HELPED TO START THE ELSIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE, KEELAN JUNIOR HIGH, AND THE WESLEY CENTER.
WE HAVE BEEN A CONSISTENT FIVE-STAR CHURCH IN OUR DISTRICT FOR NUMEROUS YEARS.
NOW, WE GOT TWO DE, TWO GIFTS, NOT A DEVELOPMENT.
CONNIE YEARWOOD DONATED THIS LAND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT 1187 NAVASOTA WHEN SHE PASSED.
SHE WAS A STALLWORTH IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE OWNED THIS LAND FOR 30 YEARS.
WE HAD A PRIOR MEMBER DONATE THIS BUILDING THAT'S ALREADY A COMMERCIAL BUILDING ON NAVASOTA STREET RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
WE'RE ASKING TO MOVE THAT RIGHT DOWN, LITERALLY LESS THAN 600 FEET DOWN THE STREET.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NO DEMOLITION, NOTHING, JUST MOVING THIS DOWN THE STREET.
THIS IS WHAT THE HOUSE LOOKS LIKE.
THAT IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN WE MOVE IT DOWN THE STREET.
UM, IT'S O - LAND THAT WE ALREADY OWN.
THIS, THIS BUILDING, IT'S A ONE-STORY BUILDING.
IT IS LEASED TO A TENANT RIGHT NOW.
SO WHEN WE MET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WE ORIGINALLY HAD MIXED USE IN THERE.
UM, WE HAVE SPOKEN DIRECTLY WITH THE RESIDENTS, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE LISTENED TO WHAT THEY WANTED AND CHANGED.
UM, WHAT, WHERE, WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS LONP, LO, WHAT IS IT? C-O-N-P, I THINK.
UH, BUT WE CHANGED THAT SO THAT WE COULD BETTER ACCOMMODATE WHAT THEY WERE ASKING US TO DO.
UM, THERE WILL BE NO MEDICAL OFFICES THERE, NO PRIVATE CLUB, NO BED AND BREAKFAST, NO ALCOHOL, BUT WHY WOULD A CHURCH BE DOING THAT ANYWAY, RIGHT?
UM, AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE WERE MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THEY WERE STILL SENDING LETTERS TO THE CITY SAYING, "WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL." THE TALKS ENDED ON OCTOBER 8TH, AND THAT IS WHEN I SAID, UM, OUR PASTOR RECEIVED A VERY ANGRY CALL, AND THEN SO DID OUR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT TO COMPEL US TO COME BACK.
AND WE WERE TOLD, "WE JUST WANT Y'ALL TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS." WELL, WE THINK WE'VE BEEN THERE SINCE 1929.
TWO, TWO LOTS DOWN IS A BUILDING THAT IS OWNED BY UT.
THE REQUEST KEPT CHANGING, WHICH IS WHY WE CANCELED OUR LAST MEETING.
UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE HERE THAT'S NEW.
I SAID I WAS BORN IN THIS AREA.
UM, THERE'S LITERALLY THE HOUSES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT ALL THIS STUFF.
STACY GREW UP ON THAT STREET, STACY ROHN, WHO WAS SPEAKING EARLIER AND WHO WILL SPEAK AGAIN TONIGHT.
SO WHEN YOU SAY THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE JUST WANT Y'ALL TO WORK WITH US.
WE ARE NEIGHBORS, AND SO IS THE CHURCH, RIGHT? AND THIS IS VERY SIMPLE.
WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS, THIS BUILDING JUST LITERALLY TO MOVE IT DOWN THE STREET.
WE'RE TRYING TO BE D - GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LAND THAT WAS DONATED AND THE GIFT THAT IS NOW BEING GI - BEING GIVEN TO US.
WESLEY STAYS WHERE IT IS, AS IT HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1929.
AND I'M SURE THAT Y'ALL ARE AWARE THAT CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD ARE HAVING A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME SINCE COVID.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR BISHOP SAID LAST YEAR IS THAT ALL OF OUR CHURCHES HAVE TO START BEING VERY CREATIVE.
Y'ALL HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE SOURCE OF INCOME.
AND THEN THIS GIFT CAME, AND THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO US, ANOTHER SOURCE OF INCOME.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IN FAVOR IS STACY ROHN.
STACY WILL BE RECEIVING FOUR MINUTES OF DONATED TIME FROM HASSAN LEWIS AND ADARIUS
[00:55:01]
ROSS.ARE YOU BOTH PRESENT? I ONLY SAW ONE HAND GO UP.
IS HASSAN LEWIS AND ADARIUS ROSS BOTH PRESENT? OKAY, PERFECT.
STACY, YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES.
UM, I WANTED TO, UH, BASICALLY JUST RESPOND TO SOME OF THE, UM, CONCERNS THAT WE DID HEAR IN THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAD AND IN THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE HAVE SEEN AND RECEIVED.
UM, YES, I DID GROW UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY GRANDMOTHER LIVED ON THE CORNER OF OLIVE STREET.
UM, MY UNCLE LIVED ON OLIVE STREET.
MY GRANDMOTHER ACTUALLY WAS THE HOME TO MOST HOUSTON TILLISON STUDENTS, UH, AS THEY, UM, STARTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND AS WELL AS HEMAN SWEAT, WHO WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, WHO WAS MY COUSIN AS WELL.
AND AS WE GO THROUGH THESE, UM, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE ALSO THAT I SPEARHEADED THE REDEVELOPMENT OF EAST 11TH STREET, AND SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE COMMUNITY IS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE A GOOD STEWARD IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT I WANTED TO GO OVER SOME SPECIFIC ISSUES.
SO I'M GONNA READ INSTEAD OF TALK, UH, AT THIS POINT.
SO THE OPPOSITION HAS SAID THIS SPOT, UH, ZONING UNDER CITY OF FARR VERSUS TIPPETT IS ONE OF THEIR ISSUES.
THAT CASE THEY CITED WENT THE OTHER WAY FOR THE FACTS.
THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD THE REZONING IN FARR, HELD THAT ZONING IS A LEGISLATIVE JUDGMENT THAT IS PRESUMED VALID AND PLACED A HEAVY BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE ATTACKING IT.
THE SAME OPINION COUNTS THE PUBLIC WELFARE AS A REASON TO REZONE.
MR. STRICKLAND'S OWN LETTER CONCEDES AN, AN ISOLATED CHANGE IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY UNLAWFUL.
PROOF OF THAT IS IN 616 SW2D173, TEXAS 1981 COURT OF APPEALS REVERSED.
ORDINANCE UPHELD STRICKLAND LETTER, SECTION SEVEN INDICATES THAT.
SINGLED OUT FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT, SEVEN HOUSES, NO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOR.
AT LEAST FIVE LO PROPERTIES SIT WITHIN 1,000 FEET, TWO OF THEM ON NAVISOTO ITSELF AND ROBERTS HILL, LO IS THE ZONING OF BLACK CIVIC AND CHURCH INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE ALWAYS LIVED INSIDE THE RESIDENCE BLOCKS, RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS, THE TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION BUILDING, A SORORITY HOUSE, AND AME CHURCH.
WESLEY IS ONE MORE OF THE SAME KIND, NOT AN EXCEPTION.
THAT'S IN THE ZONING STAFF REPORT, BASIS OF RECOMMENDATION NUMBER THREE, THE OPPOSITION'S OWN DESCRIPTION OF 1191 LAVASOTA, 1171 ST.
THEY SAY THOSE FIVE LO PROPERTIES ARE OLD, HISTORIC, OR LEGACY USES, SO THEY DON'T COUNT.
THEY SAY THE PLAN WAS WRITTEN AROUND LEGACY INSTITUTIONS.
WESLEY HAS BEEN ON THIS CAMPUS SINCE 1929 AND IT IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER.
AND ONE OF THEIR EXAMPLES IS NOT OLD AT ALL.
BY THEIR OWN ACCOUNT, A CHURCH RECEIVED LO AT 1309 HACKBERRY IN 2012, 11 YEARS AFTER THE PLAN WAS ADOPTED.
DIAGNOSTIC, AND I GUESS THAT'S HOW YOU SAY HIS NAME, LETTER? UH,
PAGE FIVE TO SEVEN, WESLEY, TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKER, 1982, NATIONAL REGISTER, 1985.
IT SETS A PRECEDENT, THIS IS WHAT THE, UH, OPPOSITION SAYS.
IT SETS A PRECEDENT COMMERCIAL WILL CREEP DOWN NAVISOTA.
THEIR OWN EVIDENCE SHOWS IT DOES NOT.
1159 NAVASOTA HAS CARRIED OFFICE ZONING SINCE 1979 AND IS STILL USED AS HOUSING.
1309 HACKBERRY GOT LO IN 2012, AND A HOUSE WAS BUILT ON IT.
47 YEARS OF LOI ON THIS STREET AND NO DOM - UH, DOMINO HAS FALLEN.
SAME THING IN HIS LETTER, DISCUSSION OF 1159 NAVASOTA AND 113 - UH, AND 1309 AND 1311 HACKBERRY.
THE OTHER, UH, ONE OF THEIR OTHER ISSUES IS NO CHANGE CONDITIONS SINCE THE TWO - 2001 PLAN.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED MORE THAN ALMOST ANY IN AUSTIN, AND THEIR LETTERS DOCUMENTED VACANT LOTS SELLING FOR OVER $1 MILLION AND NEW HOUSES LISTED AT ABOUT 1.5 MILLION EACH.
THE FAMILIES WHO BUILT WESLEY HAVE BEEN PRICED OUT.
A LEGACY CONGREGATION THAT NEEDS STEADY INCOME TO REMAIN WHERE IT HAS BEEN SINCE 1929 IS EXACTLY THE CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES AND HARDSHIP THE CODE DESCRIBES.
THAT'S REFERENCED IN STRICKLAND LETTER...
STRICKLAND'S LETTER, SECTION, UH, 2B, 1185 NAVISOTA LISTINGS, 1173 SAM BERNARD SELLS AT $1,080,000.
NEXT, THE OTHER ISSUE THEY HAVE IS THE APPLICANT F- FAILS LCD,
[01:00:01]
UH, FAILS LCD 25-1810.STAFF COULD NOT LAWFULLY RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
THE PLANNING DIRECTOR DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL, WHICH UNDER THE CODE MEANS STAFF FOUND THE CRITERIA MET.
ONLY ONE OF THE SIX GROUNDS IN SECTION B IS NEEDED.
STAFF FOUND THE REQUEST CONSISTENT WITH THE PLAN'S GOALS AND THE CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCES GROUND IS A SUPPORT, IS SUPPORTED BY THE OPPOSITION'S OWN NUMBERS.
LOOK AT MPA STAFF RECOMMENDATION REPORT LCD25810A, B-3 AND B5.
THE NEXT THING THEY SAID, THIS IS INCONS- INCONSISTENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, NAVISOTA, NOT A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
STAFF NEVER CALLED IT A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
STAFF SAID NAVISOTA LINKS THREE OF THEM, AND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE IS THE CATEGORY WRITTEN FOR COLLECTORS AND FOR THE TRANSITION NEXT TO SINGLE FAMILY.
THE PLAN GOAL, THEY QUOTE CALLS FOR A SIX OF USES, A MIX OF USES, UH, RESPECTS AND ENHANCES RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
A ONE-STORY PORCH, UH, FRONT PORCH BUILDING DOES THAT.
PROOF TO THIS POINT, MPA STAFF REPORT DEFINITION AND APPLICATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE GOAL THREE AS QUOTED IN THE STRICTION LETTER.
SO I CAN GO FOR HOURS, BUT, UM, AND I COULD PROBABLY REBUFF EVERY SITUATION, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE RECEIVING, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIE EL - EVERETT, WHO WILL BE RECEIVING FOUR MINUTES OF DONATED TIME FROM CHERYL QUEEN AND PAUL STEVENS.
ARE YOU BOTH PRESENT? WILLIE, YOU WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES.
AND, UH, LIKE STACY DID, I'LL BE READING MY COMMENTS BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GET EVERYONE IN.
I HAVE THREE, UH, BASIC POINTS THAT I WANT TO MAKE IN SUPPORT OF OUR PROJECT.
AND TRUTH BE TOLD, I'D RATHER, MUCH RATHER BE A CHOIR REHEARSAL TONIGHT SINGING PRAISES AND PREPARING FOR OUR SERVICE ON SUNDAY, BUT, UH, I WAS ASKED SPECIFICALLY IN MY ROLE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AT WESLEY TO COME AND SHARE MY PERSPECTIVES.
FIRST OF ALL, POINT ONE, WE'RE NOT ASKING THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO APPROVE SOMETHING FOR OUR PROPERTY THAT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN APPROVED ELSEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WITHIN 600 FEET AS, AS IT HAS BEEN STATED NUMEROUS TIMES TONIGHT, THE EXACT SAME ZONING WE ARE SEEKING ALREADY EXISTS.
WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR THE SAME CONSIDERATION AND TREATMENT THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.
POINT NUMBER TWO, WE ARE NOT ASKING THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO INTRODUCE SOMETHING INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ISN'T ALREADY THERE.
THE HOUSE WE INTEND TO MOVE ONTO THE PROPERTY THAT WE ALREADY OWN IS ALREADY LOCATED WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, LITERALLY LESS THAN 600 FEET AWAY.
NOW LET ME PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE.
I CAN WALK THAT 600 FEET IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES.
I CAN DRIVE THAT 600 FEET IN LESS THAN 30 SECONDS.
SO WE'RE NOT BRINGING ANYTHING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ISN'T ALREADY THERE.
THIRD AND FINAL POINT, WESLEY HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, WE HAVE WORKED TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND TO BRING VALUE TO THIS COMMUNITY, NOT DISRUPTION.
WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF CHANGING THAT COMMITMENT.
WE HAVE NEVER, NOR WILL WE NOW, NOR WILL WE EVER USE THIS PROPERTY IN A MANNER THAT IS OBNOXIOUS OR DISRUPTIVE TO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE NOT PROPOSING A LIQUOR STORE.
WE'RE NOT PROPOSING PUTTING A NIGHTCLUB THERE OR ANY ESTABLISHMENT WITH LOUD MUSIC OR ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE ARE A CHURCH AND OUR INTENTION IS TO CONTINUE SERVING BOTH OUR CONGREGATION AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
FINALLY, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY LISTENED TO AND HEARD THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I RESPECT THE FACT THAT THE NEIGHBORS WANT TO PROTECT THE CHARACTER AND QUALITY OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE HEARD THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED HAVE NOT MATERIALIZED OVER THE YEARS WITH OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALREADY HAVE THE EXACT SAME ZONING THAT WE ARE SEEKING.
WE THEREFORE SEE NO COMPELLING REASON WHY WESLEY SHOULD BE RESTRICTED FROM RECEIVING THE SAME ZONING CONSIDERATION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN EXTENDED TO OTHERS.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT.
WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR FAIR AND CONSISTENT, CONSISTENT TREATMENT.
[01:05:01]
FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.I YIELD BACK THE REST OF MY TIME.
WE'LL NOW BE HEARING FROM THOSE IN OPPOSITION, BEGINNING WITH OUR PRIMARY SPEAKER, STANTON STRICKLAND.
STANTON WILL BE RECEIVING FOUR MINUTES OF DONATED TIME FROM PAUL STABLES AND ANNE MARIE TORRES.
ARE YOU BOTH PRESENT? STANTON, YOU WILL HAVE NINE MINUTES.
WELL, I THINK WE'RE BOTH AT THE SAME PLACE.
WE AGREE, CONSISTENT TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ALL WANT TO BE AT THE END OF THE DAY.
AND AGAIN, I'LL REPEAT, UM, THE BUILDING AT ISSUE, YOU SAW IT'S A VERY ATTRACTIVE LITTLE BUILDING.
IT'S BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR QUITE SOME TIME, FOR YEARS AND YEARS WITH, YOU KNOW, A VERY LIGHT TOUCH BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A QUIET OFFICE, UH, UH, BEING RUN OUT OF IT.
UM, IT SEEMS VERY INNOCUOUS AND VERY EASY TO SAY WE'RE JUST GONNA MOVE IT 600 FEET OR 300 FEET JUST OVER TO THE NEXT BLOCK AND A HALF ON THIS VACANT LOT WE OWN.
AND AGAIN, IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THAT, IT SEEMS VERY INNOCUOUS.
WHAT'S CHANGED SINCE THOSE MANY YEARS AGO IS WE'VE GOT SENATE BILL 840.
AND GUESS WHAT LO OR NO DOES THERE? THAT CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR ALL OF THESE LOS THAT THEY, THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT, INCLUDING THIS, IF IT, IF IT IS TRANSITIONED TO AN LO, FOR SOMETHING REALLY BIG WITHOUT ANY PARKING, YOU KNOW, NO FAR.
I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY RESTRICTIONS THAT YOU WOULD ORDINARILY WANNA PUT ON, ON A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ON THIS LOT THAT, THAT WOULD NEED TO BE PLACED ON IT TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL OF THE MANY SINGLE FAMILY, SMALL HOUSES AROUND IT THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE INABILITY OR THE ABILITY TO MOVE THIS BUILDING.
I WOULD LOVE FOR THE CHURCH TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THIS DONATED GIFT.
IN FACT, IF THEY MOVED IT 50 FEET BEHIND, THEY'VE GOT A COMMERCIALLY OWNED VACANT LOT ALREADY THERE AND READY TO ACCEPT THE BUILDING, BUT THAT'S NOT THE LOT THEY CHOSE.
THEY CHOSE THE ONE THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S SF3.
AND THE PLAN SAYS IT NEEDS TO STAY FF - SF3.
YOU, IT, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, UM, AN OBJECTIVE AND A GOAL OF THE PLAN TO PRESERVE THE RESIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TO PROMOTE RESIDENCES AND TO, TO GUIDE THE BUSINESSES, THE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES TO THE, TO THE FLANKING BUSINESS CORRIDORS THAT WERE VERY WELL PLANNED OUT.
UM, AND I'M SURE, YOU KNOW, THE CHURCH'S CONSULTANT WAS PART OF THAT PLANNING.
THAT WAS A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.
I'VE ONLY BEEN THERE FOR GOING ON 20 YEARS, BUT DURING THAT ENTIRE 20 YEARS, THE PLANNING WAS, WAS HAPPENING.
SO, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY WHEN WE, WHEN WE START TRYING TO THINK ABOUT MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN THE VERY HEART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO RUN THROUGH THE, THE PROPERTIES.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS THE, AS THE STAFF PUT TOGETHER A CASE FOR THE APPLICANT AND CAME UP WITH THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE THAT THEY CALL THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE GOT THESE SIX CASES THAT, THESE SIX, UH, PROPERTIES THAT KEEP COMING UP AS POTENTIAL LO.
AND, AND ON ITS FACE, YOU'D SAY, "WOW, WELL, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU TROUBLED ABOUT?" WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THEM, IT'S, IT'S PROPERTIES THAT HAVE SINCE BEEN SOLD AND THERE'S A HOMESTEAD, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, A RESIDENT HOMESTEAD ON ONE.
UH, THE OTHER IS A RESIDENTIAL RENTAL.
THE OTHER IS A LOT THAT ACTUALLY FACES THE BUSINESS CORRIDOR AND IS PROPERLY AND APPROPRIATELY ZONED LO.
UM, ANOTHER IS A, A HOUSE THAT SITS ON A CORNER THAT SERVES AS A SORORITY HOUSE, UH, UH, AFRICAN AMERICAN SORORITY HOUSE.
IT'S A, IT'S JUST BEEN RENOVATED.
IT NEVER, IT NEVER HAS CHANGED.
AND THE OTHER, THE OTHER LANDMARK THAT THEY, THEY KEEP POINTING TO AS A POTENTIAL PRESIDENT SETTING ON NAVASOTA IS THE HISTORIC CHASE BUILDING.
BACK IN THE '50S, IT WAS, IT WAS BUILT BY ARCHITECT, UH, MR. CHASE.
[01:10:01]
THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN THERE FOR DECADES.FOR A SHORT TIME, IT WAS USED AS A BEAUTY SHOP.
BEAUTY SHOP FELL ON HARD TIMES, SOLD THE BUILDING TO THE STATE, GOT REFURBISHED, AND IT'S A ONE STORY HISTORIC LANDMARK THAT IS USED FOR ASSEMBLAGES NOW.
AND IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE EITHER.
AND, AND TALKING ABOUT IT IN, IN THE CONTEXT OF, OF ZONING IS, IS SOMEWHAT MISPLACED BECAUSE IT'S OWNED BY THE STATE.
SO IT'S NOT EVEN WITHIN THE, THE CITY'S JURISDICTION.
SO TAKING THE, THE LO EXAMPLES ON FACE VALUE IS SOMEWHAT MISLEADING.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE IS, IS A FAIR APPLICATION OF THE LAW.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS THAT HAVE PRESENTED AGAINST THE CATEGORIES THAT ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, THEY'RE NOT SATISFIED HERE.
THE EVIDENCE JUST DOESN'T MAKE THE CASE.
AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ELEMENTS OF THE, THE SPOT ZONING GUIDELINES THAT WERE SET OUT IN THE TIPPET CASE AND, AND COUNCIL HAD IT RIGHT, THAT CASE WENT IN FAVOR OF THE ZONING JURISDICTION.
HOWEVER, IT SET THE GUIDELINES, THE PARAMETERS, THE FRAMEWORK THAT EVERY OTHER ZONING JURISDICTION NEEDS TO LOOK AT AS IT'S CONSIDERING A, A CASE JUST SUCH AS THIS, AN ISOLATED LOT THAT'S SF3 AMONG A WELL-ESTABLISHED AREA THAT'S SF3 AND BEING ASKED TO BE CHANGED TO AN LO.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
THERE'S NO, THE, THERE'S NO CHANGE SINCE THE, SINCE THE, THE PLAN WAS PUT IN PLACE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
AND IN FACT, THE TREND IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AS, AS IT WAS WELL STATED, IT'S NOT LO AND COMMERCIAL.
IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO INVEST THEIR LIFE SAVING INTO, IN BUILDING MORE RESIDENTIAL HOUSES.
AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE TREND OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO TO, TO CUT IT IN HALF BY TRYING TO CREATE A COMMERCIAL OR QUASI-COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR AS THE, AS THE, UH, STAFF SEEMS TO INDICATE ON NAVASOTA IS, IS BASICALLY CUTTING THE HEART OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THESE LITTLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN CENTRAL AUSTIN ARE SMALL.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS HOW SMALL IT IS.
THIS STREET WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, GUYS, IF Y'ALL GET ON, UH, UH, GOOGLE MAPS AND LOOK, IT'S ONLY FOUR BLOCKS LONG.
YOU TAKE THIS, THIS SEGMENT OF THAT STREET AND YOU'RE TALK - TAKING A BIG CHUNK OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, SO THE INCOMPATIBILITY THERE IS JUST, UM, JUST THE POTENTIAL FOR INCOMPATIBILITY IS JUST GREAT.
WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING SOUGHT HERE AND YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THE POTENTIAL INCOMPATIBILITY THAT WOULD COME AROUND WITH, UH, A QUALIFYING PROJECT UNDER SENATE BILL 840, THAT HAS WHAT, THAT IS WHAT CHANGED.
THAT BILL WAS PASSED IN THE 2025 LEGISLATURE AND IT'S IN EFFECT NOW.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS REALLY RAISED CONCERNS AND FEARS WITHIN THE, THE NEIGHBORS AND THE STAKEHOLDERS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AND LIVING AROUND THIS.
AND I THINK WITH THAT, I'LL, I'LL SEED MY TIME AND OPEN FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU'D LIKE.
IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS, WE'LL CALL YOU BACK UP AFTER SPEAKERS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LEAH LUIS.
LEAH, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
SO I LIVE AT 1108 OLIVE STREET AND, UH, THIS IS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST HOME, SO IT'S FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.
AND, UH, THIS IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM 1187 NAVISOTA.
THEY'RE AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE TO ASK YOU TO DENY THE REZONING AND KEEP THIS BLOCK AT SF3.
OUR SEGMENT OF NAVISOTA IS EXCEPTIONALLY TIGHT.
THE PAVED CURB TO CURB WIDTH IS ONLY ABOUT 30 FEET WIDE.
WHEN NEIGHBORS PARK ALONG THE CURB, UH, THE REMAINING DRIVABLE SPACE DROPS DOWN TO A SINGLE LANE WHERE TWO CARS CANNOT EVEN PASS EACH OTHER SAFELY.
THE HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL BLOCK WAS NOT DESIGNED TO HANDLE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC.
SHIFTING TO LIMITED OFFICE WILL CHOKE THE NARROW BLOCK WITH HURRIED COMMUTERS, UNFAMILIAR DRIVERS, AND HEAVY DELIVERY TRUCKS.
THE HIGH TURNAROUND DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING SPILLOVER WILL CREATE SEVERE BLIND SPOTS FOR
[01:15:01]
OUR NEIGHBORS AND MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD TWINS.AS A FAMILY OF CYCLISTS, WE KNOW THAT SF3 RESIDENTIAL STREETS ARE INHERENTLY SAFER DUE TO LOW PREDICTABLE TRAFFIC.
UH, THIS ZONING DIRECTLY THREATENS CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS' SAFETY ON A KEY NEIGHBORHOOD CORRIDOR WHILE DISRUPTING OUR HOME, OUR COM - OUR C - UH, AND, UH, WITH IT, WITH COMMERCIAL LIGHTING AND HVAC NOISE.
UM, ALSO, UH, OKAY, PLEASE PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR, AND OUR SAFETY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DIDN'T DENY THIS REQUEST.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID KOTCHAT.
DAVID, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS DAVID KOTCHAT AGAIN.
UH, MY HOUSE IS DIRECTLY ACROSS COTTON STREET FROM THE 1187 NAVASOTA PROPERTY.
I'M OPPOSED TO CHANGING THE CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION FOR 1187 NAVISOTA FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE.
I'M ALSO OPPOSED TO THE ZONING CHANGE OF 1187 NAVASOTA FROM SF3NP FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT TO LONP LIMITED OFFICE DISTRICT.
THE COMMISSION KNOWS THIS, BUT I WILL, AGAIN, COMMUNICATE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT A MAJORITY OF THE NEIGHBORS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE 1187 NAVASOTA HAVE SIGNED A PETITION OPPOSING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND ZONING CHANGES.
THE REASON WHY I'M IN OPPOSITION ARE THE FOLLOWING.
REFERENCING THE CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, OBJECTIVE, OBJECTIVE 1.1 UNDER GOAL ONE ON PAGE SEVEN IS TO QUOTE, "PRESERVE RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER AS, AS SHOWN ON THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP." CHANGING FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL ZONING AT 1187 NAVASOTA WILL NOT PRESERVE RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
OBJECTIVE 2.2 UNDER GOAL TWO ON PAGE 12 OF THE CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS TO QUOTE, "INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING UNITS AVAILABLE." CHANGING FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL ZONING AT 1187 NAVASOTA WILL NOT ALLOW AN INCREASE IN HOUSING UNITS.
GOAL THREE ON PAGE 13 DOES STATE, "PROMOTE NEW DEVELOPMENT FOR A MIX OF USES THAT RESPECTS AND ENHANCES THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS OF CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN." ACTION 15 UNDER OBJECTIVE 3.1 STATES PARTIAL QUOTE, "PERMIT MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT ALONG COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS." HOWEVER, NAVISOTA STREET IS NOT A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
EVERY SINGLE PROPERTY THAT BORDERS 1187 NAVASOTA IS ZONED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
CHANGING THE ZONING HERE WOULD NOT RESPECT AND ENHANCE THIS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
COMMERCIAL AND MIXED USE O - DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THE 11TH AND 12TH STREET CORRIDORS ONLY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELEANOR BACON.
ELEANOR, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MY NAME IS ELEANOR BACON AND I OWN THE HOME DIRECTLY EAST OF 1187 NAVASOTA.
I'VE ONE OF, I'M ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO SIGNED THE VALID PETITION AGAINST THIS REZONING REPRESENTING 58% OF THE LAND WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE LOT IN QUESTION.
I'M ASKING YOU TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF BOTH THE PLAN AMENDMENT AND THE REZONING FOR THREE REASONS.
FIRSTLY, THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL BLOCK.
THE STAFF REPORT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NAVASOTA IS NOT A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
ADDITIONALLY, THE STAFF REPORT UNDERCOUNTS HOMES HERE.
IT LISTS ONE HOUSE TO THE SOUTH.
THERE ARE THREE THAT MAKES SEVEN HOMES ON FOUR SIDES OF THIS LOT.
PEOPLE ARE BUILDING NEW HOMES ON THIS BLOCK UNDER THE RESIDENTIAL ZONING THAT'S ALREADY THERE.
SECONDLY, THIS ZONING ALLOWS FOR FAR MORE DEVELOPMENT THAN THE CHURCH'S PROPOSED PLAN REQUIRES.
THEIR PLAN IS A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING OF ABOUT 1300 SQUARE FEET, BUT UNDER STATE LAW, LO ZONING WOULD ALLOW A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING UP TO 45 FEET TALL WITH ROUGHLY 11 UNITS ON THIS LOT.
THIS ZONING WILL STAY WITH THE LAND, AND IF THE CHURCH SELLS THIS LOT AT ANY POINT, THE NEXT OWNER GETS EVERY ONE OF THOSE RIGHTS TO DEVELOP THE LOT TO ITS FULL ZONING LIMITS.
THIS MATTERS ESPECIALLY ON NAVASOTA, AN ALREADY CONG- CONGESTED, NARROW STREET WHERE OFTEN CARS ARE PARKED ON BOTH SIDES AND TWO CARS CANNOT PASS SIDE BY SIDE.
NOTHING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED.
WHAT CHANGED IS THAT SOMEONE DONATED AN OFFICE BUILDING TO THE CHURCH.
THAT'S A PRIVATE CIRCUMSTANCE, NOT A PLANNING REASON.
IF THIS NEW REQUEST IS APPROVED, THIS LOT WILL BECOME THE NEXT EXAMPLE CITED FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL REZONING.
[01:20:01]
THIS IS HOW A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD LOSES THE CHARACTER ITS PLAN WAS WRITTEN TO PROTECT.THE CHURCH'S GOALS MAY BE GOOD ONES, BUT ANY ZONING CHANGES WILL OUTLAST THEM AND PERMANENTLY ALTER THE IDENTITY AND FUTURE OF THIS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
I RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL, BUT WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DIALOGUE TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE COMPROMISE FOR EVERYONE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIC STANDRIDGE.
ERIC, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UM, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
I HAVE LIVED ON JUNIPER STREET FOR ABOUT TWO DECADES, AND I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS MEETINGS ABOUT NCCDS, URBS, UH, LARGE SCALE INFIELD DEVELOPMENT IN AND AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS ALL BEEN PRETTY MUCH...
I MEAN, IT'S BEEN CONTENTIOUS BUT SUPPORTED AS LONG AS IT'S ON THE CORRIDORS.
ONCE WE STARTED MOVING INTO THE MIDDLE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I THINK RIGHTFULLY SO, A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORS HAD REAL CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY SINCE WESLEY ACTUALLY OWNS MULTIPLE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN THE 11TH STREET NCCD, THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THEM TO REALIZE THEIR PROJECT, WHICH THEIR PROJECT IS NOT A CHURCH.
IT IS A COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUILDING AT MARKET RATE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING, AND I DON'T ACTUALLY THINK WE ARE OPPOSED TO THAT, BUT IT OPENS THE DOOR TO NUMEROUS OTHER DEVELOPMENT
SO IF THE GOAL IS TO COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE AND A REASONABLE SOLUTION, IT SEEMS LIKE FURTHER DIALOGUE IS NECESSARY.
NOBODY UNDERSTANDS ALCOHOL TO BE USED IN AN OFFICE USE.
IT, IT'S REP - CITED REPEATEDLY, BUT WHEN THERE ARE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND ENTITLEMENTS IN THE 11TH STREET NCCD THAT WOULD ALLOW THAT, AND THE CHURCH COULD DO THAT IF THEY WANTED TO.
SO THEY'RE ASKING THIS COMMUNITY TO CREATE COMMERCIAL ZONING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD RATHER THAN WORK WITHIN THE OVERALL FLUME AMENDMENTS OR THE LONG-TERM PLANNING GOALS TO CREATE MIXED USE CORRIDORS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTED BUSINESSES.
A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING WILL NOT CREATE A WALKABLE COMMUNITY.
EVERYBODY THAT WORKS AT THAT OFFICE DRIVES TO GET THERE.
SO NO RESIDENTS WILL EVER VISIT THAT PROPERTY FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD ORIENTED BUSINESS.
I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT TO COMING UP WITH A COMPROMISE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK FOWLER.
MARK, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UM, I'M AT 12 WORK COTTON STREET, AND I'M GONNA JUST KINDA ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS SAYING WITHOUT SAYING IT AGAIN.
UM, I, I DO WANNA SAY THAT THERE'S, THERE'S MORE LIKE 12 TO 14 HOUSES DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THIS PROPERTY.
UM, IT'S, IT'S COMPLETELY WRAPPED BY HOUSES AND I'M, I'M 40 FEET AWAY FROM MY, FROM MY PROPERTY LINE TO, TO THIS, UM, TO THIS PROPERTY.
AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT...
AND, AND THE OTHER THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS KINDA REORGANIZING, THE FOLKS THAT WERE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS PROPERTY WERE REALLY NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE CHURCH.
UM, I KNOW THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAD GREAT INTENTIONS, BUT I DO WISH THAT WE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO SPEAK TO THEM DIRECTLY.
I THINK FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, WHAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR IS TO MOVE THIS LITTLE OFFICE BUILDING A THOUSAND FEET AND OPERATE IT AS A LOW DENSITY, LOW IMPACT OFFICE BUILDING, THAT WE WOULD ALL BE HAPPY FOR THAT TO CONTINUE AND BE HAPPY NEIGHBORS.
UM, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, FURTHER DISCUSSION WHERE WE COULD HAVE SOME RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROPERTY AND NOT JUST ALLOW AND GRANT A GIANT, YOU KNOW, UPZONING.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT, LIKE, YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT.
SO I WOULD HOPE YOU'D RECONSIDER AND ALLOW US TO, YOU KNOW, NEGOTIATE FURTHER.
OUR FINAL SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM IS MAVERICK SHAW.
MAVERICK, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
DO WE HAVE AN APPLICANT REBUTTAL OPPORTUNITY? YES.
JUANITA, YOU WILL HAVE AN EXTRA TWO MINUTES
[01:25:01]
FOR YOUR REBUTTAL.I HEARD SEVERAL OF THE NEIGHBORS SAY THEY NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE CHURCH.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAD A SEPARATE, UH, COMMITTEE THAT WAS ONLY DEALING WITH REZONING.
THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO CAME TO THE MEETING.
WE DID NOT PRECLUDE ANY OTHER NEIGHBORS FROM COMING TO THE MEETING THAT WE...
THEY HAD THEIR OWN SEPARATE COMMITTEE FOR THAT, SO THAT WAS NOT ON OUR PART.
I ALSO ATTENDED, AND SO WE'VE HAD TWO OTHER MEMBERS ATTEND THEIR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING.
AND IN FACT, THE, THE LAST ONE THAT WE TRIED TO ATTEND, WE WERE TOLD NOT TO ATTEND BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS GONNA BE CONTENTIOUS.
SO THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, AND WHEN, WHEN THE COMMITTEE MET WITH US, IT WOULD'VE BEEN INCUMBENT ON THEM TO GO BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND, UH, PASS ON THE INFORMATION THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THAT MEETING.
I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION, A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEDROZIAN, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT ITEM PASSES.
WE'LL MOVE INTO OUR COMMISSIONER ROUND ROBIN.
SO WE HAVE SPOTS FOR EIGHT COMMISSIONERS TO ASK QUESTIONS AT FIVE MINUTES EACH.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO START US OFF? COMMISSIONER POWELL.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR JUANITA STEVENS.
YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO STAY UP THERE.
DOES THE CHURCH HAVE ANY OTHER LONG-TERM PLANS OR IS IT MORE SO GET THE BUILDING ONTO THIS PROPERTY AND GO FROM THERE? GET THE BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER PLANS.
SO THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER LONG-TERM PLANS TO CONVERT IT TO A DIFFERENT USE OR UTILIZE THE LAND IN ANY WAY DIFFERENT THAN RELOCATING THE BUILDING - NO.
AND, AND WE HAVE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR SEVERAL TIMES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT TECHNICALLY THE ZONING COULD ALLOW OTHER TYPES OF USES, UH, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, "HERE IN PUBLIC, OUR ONLY PLAN IS TO RELOCATE THAT BUILDING"? OUR PLAN IS TO RELOCATE THAT BUILDING.
THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HILLER.
UH, THIS MAY BE FOR MS. STEVENS, OR THIS MAY BE FOR CITY STAFF, BUT I, I MAY HAVE MISSED IT IF...
I'M TRYING TO MULTITASK UP HERE.
BUT THE, UM, THE BUILDING IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON A PLOT OF LAND THAT'S OWNED BY WHO? I KNOW WE'RE MOVING IT, BUT WHO OWNS, WHO OWNS THE DIRT? I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT BOUGHT IT.
THE, THE WAY THAT WE GOT THIS, THE OWNER WAS SELLING TWO COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS ON NAVASOTA.
ONE IS A BRICK BUILDING, AND THEN THIS ONE THAT IS PIERRE AND BEAN, AND THEY WERE GONNA TEAR THE PIER AND BEAM DOWN.
SHE CALLED AND SAID, "HEY, THEY'RE JUST GONNA TEAR THIS DOWN.
I WANNA DONATE IT TO THE CHURCH." GOT IT.
SO THEY OWN THE LAND, WE OWN THE BUILDING.
AND THE, UM, THE BUILDING INTENDED USE AS OFFICE SPACE - YES.
TO SUPPLEMENT THE OFFICE SPACE YOU CURRENTLY HAVE FOR WESLEY UNITED? SO, NO, IT'S NOT TO SUPPLEMENT OTHER...
I, I, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION.
SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S OFFICE SPACE ON BEHALF OF THE CHURCH, IS THAT THE INTENDED USAGE OR IS IT USED - YES.
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A TENANT IN THE BUILDING.
THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT WHEN WE MOVE IT, THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN STAYING.
SO THIS IS AN INVESTMENT FOR THE CHURCH IN A PARCEL OF LAND THAT YOU OWN, SO IT'S A...
IT'D BE INCOME PRODUCING ON BEHALF OF THE CHURCH? YES.
AND, UM, I MAY COME BACK TO YOU, SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STAYING THERE.
I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. STRICKLAND, AND IT'LL BE REALLY QUICK.
I HATE TO MAKE YOU WALK ALL THE WAY UP.
AND I, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO CLARIFY, AND I, YOU MAY HAVE DONE SO ALREADY TO YOUR SATISFACTION, BUT JUST SO THAT WE GO BACK ON THE RECORD, DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE USAGE THAT THE CHURCH HAS REQUESTED, NOT NECESSARILY THE ZONING USAGE THAT MIGHT BE ALLOWED, BUT THEIR INTENDED USAGE? D - A- AS WE SAID BEFORE, THE, THE, THE BUILDING AND THE PROPOSED USE, THE LIGHT OFFICE, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS, IS REALLY WORRIED WITH THAT.
[01:30:01]
SAID IN WRITING IN A COVENANT OR SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL AND ENFORCEABLE TO, TO, TO ASSURE THAT INTO THE INDEFINITE FUTURE, WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE THAT LITTLE BUILDING JUST AS IT'S BEING OPERATED NOW, ONE BLOCK OVER, OPERATED THERE.I THINK EVERYBODY COULD WARM UP TO THAT.
THAT'S THE TALKING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
AND, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THAT FAR TO TALK ABOUT MEANINGFUL ENFORCEABLE RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD ASSURE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WHAT JUANITA JUST SAID IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND IS ENFORCEABLE FROM NOW INTO THE INDEFINITE FUTURE.
WELL, ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU, MS. STEVENS.
DO YOU HAVE A RECORD, AND I APOLOGIZE, IT'S BEEN COMING COLD, BUT DO YOU HAVE A RECORD OF ANY OTHER PARCELS OF REAL ESTATE THAT THE CHURCH MAY HAVE CONVEYED TO THIRD PARTIES? IN OTHER WORDS - NO.
YOU DON'T HAVE A RECORD OR YOU, YOU HAVE NOT SOLD IT TODAY? SO WE HAVE TWO OTHER BUILDINGS THAT ARE, SOMEBODY IS LEASING THEM.
SO I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY EARLIER, THEY ALREADY HAVE SOME BUILDINGS, THEY COULD JUST MOVE THIS BUILDING THERE.
WELL, THAT WILL REQUIRE US TEARING DOWN A BUILDING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT SOMEBODY IS LEASE, LEASING TO PUT THIS ONE THERE.
WELL, I'M KIND OF LEADING THE WITNESS A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT I, WHAT I'M GETTING TO IS IF THE CHURCH DOESN'T CONVEY THE PROPERTIES THAT YOU HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST TO OTHER PEOPLE, AND IF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGREES THAT THIS USE IS ACCEPTABLE, THEY DON'T, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
BUT IF THEY TRUST THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCH DOESN'T SELL IT, AFTER ALL, YOU GUYS ARE METHODISTS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT LET'S KEEP GOING.
IF WE, IF WE CAN'T TRUST YOU -
WHO CAN WE TRUST? WELL, I, I SAID - THEN MAYBE THE OBJECTION COULD BE RECONCILED.
I LITERALLY SAID THOSE SAME WORDS.
I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE - WE'VE BEEN ASKED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES, WHAT ARE Y'ALL PLANNING ON DOING IN THE FUTURE? WE HAVE NO PLANS.
WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE A, A BUILDING DOWN THE STREET.
WE HAVE NO PLANS IN THE FUTURE.
THE OTHER TWO BUILDINGS THAT WE OWN, GUESS WHAT? THEY WERE DONATED TO US.
LET ME JUST MAKE ONE THING CLEAR, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'VE MADE THIS CLEAR.
CONNIE YERWOOD THAT DONATED THIS, THIS LAND TO US, SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK DOCTOR TO WORK FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
OKAY? WE OWN THAT LAND FOR 34 YEARS.
THIS LAND THAT'S BEING GIVEN TO US IS ANOTHER MEMBER.
WHAT WOULD WE LOOK LIKE SELLING A GIFT? WE'RE A CHURCH.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT A BIG COMMERCIAL CONGLOMERATE.
I, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GANNON.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE VALID PETITION.
UM, I'M CURIOUS, I KNOW WE'RE IN A POST, UH, HB24, IS THAT RIGHT? A POST HB24 WORLD.
UM, DOES THE VALID PETITION PLAY ANY PART IN ZONING ANYMORE? UH, IT DOES.
UM, THE VALID SUBMITTED, UH, PETITION THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON THIS CASE STATES THAT THE SIGNATORIES ARE PROTESTING AGAINST ANY CHANGE OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WHICH WOULD ZONE THE PROPERTY TO ANY CLASSIFICATION OTHER THAN A SINGLE FAMILY USE.
AND I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WAS RECEIVED ON AUGUST 21ST.
IT, BUT DOES A VALID PETITION MEAN THAT, THAT THERE HAS TO BE A SUPER MAJORITY THAT'S REACHED OR ANY - OH, ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE THRESHOLD IS 20%.
AND IF THE 20% WAS REACHED, UH, THEN IT WOULD REQUIRE A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF COUNSEL TO OVERRIDE THAT PETITION.
THE THRESHOLD IS 20%, NOT 60%? IT'S...
SO ON THIS CASE, IT DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE STANDARDS FOR A 60% THRESHOLD.
I'M HAPPY TO GO OVER THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THOSE IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO.
WOULD YOU MIND? NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
THIS IS THE FIRST VALID POSITION I'VE HEARD SINCE, SINCE HB 24.
OR, OR YOU CAN FOLLOW UP IN AN EMAIL TOO.
I DON'T NEED - NO, I HAVE IT HANDY.
SO IN ORDER FOR A CASE TO, UH, REQUIRE 60% OF PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET AND REQUIRE, UH...
SO RIGHT NOW, THIS CASE AS IT STANDS IS 20% AND THEN IT WOULD REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY OF COUNCIL TO OVERCOME IT, NINE OUT OF 11.
IT DOES REQUIRE THE SUPER MAJORITY.
I, I'M CORRECTING WHAT I JUST SAID EARLIER, NOW THAT I HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, FOR THE 60% OF PROPERTY OWNERS, WHAT IS REQUIRED BY THAT UNDER HB24,
[01:35:01]
IF A PROPOSED CHANGE ALLOWS MORE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAN THE EXISTING ZONING AND DOES NOT ALLOW ADDITIONAL COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL USES, WHICH THIS DOES, IT WOULD FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.THERE ARE SOME OTHER CAVEATS, BUT CLEARLY UP UNTIL THAT POINT THAT I'VE READ - OKAY.
IT DOES NOT MEET THOSE STANDARDS.
THAT, THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I HAD.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CORRECT MYSELF.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER BODROJAN AND THEN COMMISSIONER BARRERA RAMIREZ.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, IS SCOTT MENZIES IN THE ROOM TONIGHT OR ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE BOARD OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT HAS BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE CHURCH? I CAN SPEAK FOR, TO THAT QUESTION.
SCOTT IS NOT HERE, UH, TONIGHT.
I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
ARE YOU YOURSELF A MEMBER? I AM MYSELF A MEMBER OF, OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
SO, UM, JUST A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS.
WE'VE JUST HEARD THAT A M - A LARGE NUMBER OF THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORS HAVE SIGNED A PETITION SAYING THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING BUT A MAINTAINING OF THE SF3 ZONING.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
IS YOUR NAME ON THAT PETITION, SIR? MY NAME IS ON THAT PETITION.
AND SO IF THAT IS THE CASE, WHY ARE YOU NOW STATING THAT YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S ROOM FOR SOME NEGOTIATION ON SIGNING POTENTIAL RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, ET CETERA, WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY SIGNED YOUR NAME TO A DOCUMENT THAT STATES THE OPPOSITE OF THAT? VERY SIMPLY, WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION, OR WE DIDN'T HAVE INFORMATION AT THE BEGINNING OR AT THE TIME THAT WE SIGNED THE PETITION TO, TO SAY THAT WE WOULD RESOUNDINGLY AGREE TO ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE NOTHING'S BEEN PRESENTED OTHER THAN A BLANKET LOCONP.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE DOCUMENT YOU SIGNED.
YOU SIGNED A DOCUMENT THAT SAID YOU WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING, CORRECT? I, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WE WERE, WE WERE - YOU'RE A LAWYER IN VERY PRECISE WORDS.
IS THAT CORRECT, SIR? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S BEEN MANY MEETINGS WITH, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO REMOVE THE ORIGINAL MU AND TO CHANGE THE ZONING CASE FROM LO TO NO, UM, AND ALSO TO ADD SOME CONDITIONAL USES TO THE CASE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CONGREGATION HAS AGREED TO THESE.
UH, MS. STEVENS, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
DID YOU SAY NO? IT'S L-O-C-O-N-P, RIGHT? COR- CORRECT.
SO THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A REQUEST TO REMOVE THE MU.
AND YOU AGREED TO BOTH OF THOSE? YES.
AND I BELIEVE THE LAST THING THAT WAS ON THE TABLE WAS TO CONSIDER NO IN- INSTEAD OF LO AS THE ZONING CATEGORY.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WAS THE LAST THING THAT CAME, YES.
AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UH, MR. STRICKLAND, YOU CAN ANSWER THIS.
THIS WAS BEFORE YOUR GROUP, UH, SEVERAL DAYS AGO OR, UM, IN OCTOBER? IS THAT WHEN THE MEETING WAS? OCTOBER 6TH.
THERE, THERE'S ONLY BEEN TWO MEETINGS.
ONE WAS A, A, A, A, A MEETING WITH THE CHURCH WHERE A GROUP FROM THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MET WITH THEM.
I THINK THAT OCCURRED IN AUGUST.
UH, FORGIVE ME, I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MORE MINUTES.
THAT, AT THAT MEETING, THERE WAS, THERE WAS A POINT OF ORDER TO CONSIDER THE NO, AND AT THE TIME, THAT WAS NOT CONSIDERED AND IT WAS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY WITH ONE ABSTENTION TO JUST DENY THE REQUEST, CORRECT? YES.
NOW, IF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS INTERESTED IN MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF WHAT COULD BE DEVELOPED THERE IN THE FUTURE, WOULD CONSIDERING NO NOT HAVE BEEN A GREAT WAY OF DOING THAT? IT, IT, IT WAS DISCUSSED AND THERE'S A QUALIFICATION TO THAT, THAT VOTE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD...
ALL ALONG THE WAY, AND THIS IS GETTING A LITTLE CONVOLUTED BY THE, THE WAY THAT YOU'RE ASKING THE QUESTIONS, ALL ALONG THE WAY, WE HAVE ALWAYS PUT THE QUALIFICATION ON IT THAT IF WE CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION AND HAVE MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHURCH, WE'VE BEEN AMENABLE.
EVEN WHEN WE WERE FORCED TO SIGN THE PETITION AND, AND, AND WE FELT LIKE WE WERE BACKED INTO A CORNER AND WE NEED MORE INFORMATION AND MORE CERTAINTY AROUND THIS.
AN OPEN-ENDED LO FOR AN UPZONING LIKE THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOES NOT GIVE US, IT, IT DOES NOT GIVE US THAT CERTAINTY.
WE ARE MOST CERTAINLY, AT THIS TIME, WE ARE MOST CERTAINLY WILLING TO TALK AND NEGOTIATE THE MEANINGFUL RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD LAND US IN THE PLACE WE ALL WANT TO BE.
I, I APPRECIATE YOU'VE SAID THAT ALREADY.
THIS IS FOR MR. TOMKO, AND IT'S A QUESTION ABOUT PROCESS.
SO THE ZONING IS JUST THE FIRST STEP, CORRECT? THEY'LL HAVE TO, TO MOVE A BUILDING, IT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO GET A PERMIT, AND WOULD THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH SITE PLAN PROCESS AS WELL? YES.
THERE WOULD BE A SITE PLAN PROCESS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT BECAUSE IT IS CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW STRUCTURE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEING RELOCATED.
AND THEN I READ IN THE ASMP THAT THE REQUIRED RIGHT OF WAY IS 84
[01:40:01]
FEET, AND TODAY THERE'S ONLY 40 FEET, SO THEY'D HAVE TO D- DEDICATE 20 FEET.UH, I SPOKE WITH TPW ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT SEEMED VERY LARGE.
UH, THEY WOULD REVIEW THOSE THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY AT TIME OF SITE PLAN.
THEY WERE JUST PROVIDING THE INFORMATION AS IS IN THE ASMP.
UM, I FIND IT A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO, TO BELIEVE THAT THAT MUCH RIGHT OF WAY WOULD BE NEEDED IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
UH, I ALSO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MR. TOMKO.
UM, SO IT SEEMED LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION BACK AND FORTH IN THE COMMENTS TONIGHT ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES COMMERCIAL AND, YOU KNOW, UM, OBV - UH, THE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME VERSUS CURRENTLY.
I JUST WONDERED IF YOU COULD WALK THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS THAT YOU ALL DO AS ZONING, AS THE ZONING OFFICE TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU COME TO SOME OF YOUR DECISION MAKING.
I THINK WE READ THESE STAFF BACKUPS SO MAYBE MORE FAMILIAR, BUT JUST UNDERSTANDING YOU ALL LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT THE CONTEXT OF WHAT IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, I MAKE IT A POINT TO DO A SITE VISIT AT EVERY SITE THAT I COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT I BRING FORWARD OF, WITH STAFF.
UM, WE REVIEW EXISTING PLANS AND DOCUMENTS, UM, ZONING CASE HISTORY.
THERE'S OTHER REVIEWERS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
UM, TOGETHER WE COME UP WITH ONE, UH, COHESIVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, WHICH IS CARRIED FORWARD IN THE REPORT.
IF THERE'S ANY DEPARTMENTS THAT DEVIATE FROM THAT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE WELCOME TO COME TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND, AND GO INTO DETAIL ON THAT.
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE IN THIS CASE.
UM, WE DID HIGHLIGHT IN THE REPORT SOME OTHER INSTANCES OF ZONING THAT ALLOWED, UH, UP TO 40 FEET WITHIN THE VICINITY.
UM, AND WHILE THERE WAS CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT SB 840, THAT GRANTS 45 FEET.
SO IT'S A DIFFERENCE OF FIVE FEET.
UM, THERE WAS DOCUMENTATION IN THIS PARTICULAR REPORT FROM TPW THAT NAVASOTA WAS A LEVEL TWO STREET CONNECTING TO IMAGINE AUSTIN CORRIDORS.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN WAS DONE MANY YEARS AGO.
HOWEVER, IN THIS, UH, DAY AND AGE, UH, COUNCIL HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR AND PLANNING COMMISSION HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR OF THE INTEREST IN GETTING MORE HOUSING AND MORE MIX OF USES TO IMPLEMENT IMAGINE AUSTIN.
AND WITH THIS BEING A LEVEL TWO STREET ON A CORNER, STAFF, UH, SAW THAT, UH, AN LO, UH, DESIGNATION WAS A REASONABLE REQUEST AND RECOMMENDED THAT.
UM, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME THOUGHT ABOUT NO.
UM, STAFF DOES NOT, UH, REVIEW ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS IF THE RE- RECOMMEND - OR THE REQUEST BEING ASKED FOR IS REASONABLE.
WE DON'T KIND OF DIVE INTO, "HEY, LET'S RECOMMEND THIS INSTEAD." UM, THE CHURCH DID NOTE IN THEIR BACKUP THAT THEY WANTED TO DO OFFSET SITE ACCESSORY PARKING POTENTIALLY AS WELL, AND NO WOULD NOT ALLOW THAT.
AND WITH THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY THAT STAFF RECOMMENDED ON THIS CASE, WE TRIED TO MAKE THIS SITE AS NO AS POSSIBLE, AGAIN, KIND OF TO PEAS CONCERNS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, BUT THERE'S STILL JUST A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT SD 840, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE TWO MORE QUESTION SLOTS FROM THE COMMISSION.
UH, ACTUALLY, MR. TOMKO, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.
SO 840 WOULD ALLOW 45 FEET? HOLD ON A SECOND.
LO IS 40 FEET AND EIGHT, AND 840 IS 45, IS THAT- THAT'S CORRECT.
DID I HEAR YOU CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND SO, UM, THIS IS BACK OF THE AGENDA MATH THAT I'M DOING HERE, BUT, UH, SO THE SITE IS 0.215 ACRES AND SB 840 WOULD ALLOW 54 UNITS AN ACRE.
UM, AND SO THAT MEANS THAT THIS SITE MIGHT SUPPORT 11 UNITS OF, OF HOUSING.
I'M, I, I, AND IF YOU CAN'T SAY, I DON'T WANNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
SO IN THE MEMO THAT'S IN, UPLOADED IN THE BACKUP, STAFF CANNOT SPECULATE ABOUT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS, UH, THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED UNDER SB 840 ON THIS SITE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES, UM, SUCH AS, UH, APART FROM ZONING ENTITLEMENTS, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS DRAINAGE OR OTHER SETBACKS OR OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS REALLY ON THE TABLE.
BASED ON THE REQUEST THAT WE'RE RECEIVING HERE TODAY.
AND I APOLOGIZE, I FORGOT MY LAPTOP, SO I DON'T HAVE ALL MY BACKUP WITH ME.
I, I'VE GOT THIS MUCH, BUT I DON'T HAVE
WELL, I, I MEAN, I, I WONDER IF IT MIGHT BE REASONABLE TO SAY THAT 54 UNITS PER ACRE IS SORT OF...
WELL, ANY, UH, YOU'VE ALREADY ANSWERED THE QUESTION.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER LAWTON.
[01:45:01]
CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR MR. TONKO.WHAT IS THE ORDER OF OPERATION SINCE THE DEED RESTRICTION AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ARE A SEPARATE PROCESS FROM THE ZONING? WHAT IS THE ORDER OF PRESIDENTS, WHAT GOES FIRST, AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE DEED RESTRICTION? SO THE CITY DOES NOT, UH, ENFORCE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
I THINK THOSE ARE PRIVATE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, AND THAT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY TAKE IN CONSIDERATION PRIVATE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, THE REQUEST IS ON THE TABLE FOR THIS ENTITLEMENT, AND IF THEY WERE TO FIND THAT THERE WERE OTHER BARRIERS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO DEVELOP THE SITE, THEY, THEY MAY BE LIMITED TO THOSE LEGALLY, BUT WE'RE NOT ATTORNEYS ADVISING THIRD PARTIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
SO THE DEED RESTRICTION CAN COME AFTER THE ZONING, NOT BEFORE.
I MEAN, SO IF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE PROPERTY OWNERS DID DEVELOP A PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, THAT WOULD BE SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE CITY, UM, AND THAT WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD ENFORCE.
SO IT WOULD NOT BE A PUBLIC, UH, PROPERTY RESTRICTION, IT WOULD BE A PRIVATE RESTRICTION.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR ROUND ROBIN.
I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION FROM THE COMMISSION.
I MOVE TO ACCEPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL.
COMMISSIONER POWELL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH.
I THINK THIS IS, UH, A RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD CASE TO SUPPORT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CHURCH IS TRYING TO DO HERE, BUT I RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE NEW TO THIS PROCESS AND HOPEFULLY ARE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO I WANNA TAKE A STEP BACK AND EXPLAIN WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, UM, WE RUN INTO THIS ALL THE TIME, A SITUATION WHEREIN THERE IS A RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD KIND OF POINT A, POINT B PROPOSAL, WHETHER THAT'S FROM A DEVELOPER, A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, A CHURCH IN THIS CASE.
AND THERE IS CONCERN FROM NEIGHBORS, UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERN OF LIKE, "HEY, WHAT CAN OF WORMS DOES THIS OPEN LONG TERM?" UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS CASE, THE CHURCH IS, UH, JUMPING INTO A PRETTY FRAUGHT CONVERSATION ABOUT SB 840, SOMETHING THAT PASSED STATEWIDE, THAT PREEMPTS CITY ZONING, AND I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY INTENDED TO DO NOR HAD MUCH OF A CHOICE IN.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE IT'S PRETTY FAIR.
HEY, NEIGHBORS, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL ENDEAVORING IN THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, AS IS YOUR RIGHT, AND AS WE ALWAYS CELEBRATE, FOLKS COMING IN BEING A PART OF THIS.
BUT I ALSO HAVE TO SAY, THIS GOES BACK TO THE CORE OF WHAT A LOT OF OUR COMMISSION HANDLES, WHICH IS SITUATIONS WHERE THERE NEEDS TO BE TRUST BUILT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE TRUST BUILT.
AND FOR THE NEIGHBORS, I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL, LET'S GET TO A PLACE OF TRUST WITH THIS CHURCH AND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.
I WOULD JUST SAY FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THIS SPECIFIC AREA, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CONGREGATION THAT'S 161 YEARS OLD.
IT'S BEEN IN THAT LOCATION FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS.
YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET JUST A BIT TO THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER LIBRARY, YOU SEE A GENEALOGY CENTER THAT WAS AUSTIN'S FIRST TEMPORARY LIBRARY BUILDING, PICKED UP, MOVED TO EAST AUSTIN AGAINST THEIR WILL SIMILAR TO WHAT THIS CHURCH WENT THROUGH.
AND I SAY ALL OF THAT BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE HEARD AND WHY I ASKED MY QUESTION EARLIER TONIGHT WAS, "HEY, ARE THERE ANY PLANS PAST MOVING THIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING?" THE CHURCH SAID NO.
AND YES, NEIGHBORS AND ANYONE LISTENING, IT IS FAIR TO SAY, "HEY, THAT IS THEIR WORD AGAINST OUR WORD, THAT IS THEIR WORD AGAINST ALL THE FUTURE POSSIBILITIES." I DON'T BEGRUDGE YOU FOR FEELING THAT, BUT NEIGHBORS, WHAT I ASK OF Y'ALL AND WHAT I, I PERSONALLY THINK IS THE BEST PATH FORWARD IS Y'ALL ARE GONNA HAVE THE BEST AGREEMENT, THE BEST NEIGHBORLY ENERGY MOVING FORWARD BY STARTING FROM A PLACE OF TRU- TRUST WITH THIS CHURCH, BECAUSE I STRONGLY BELIEVE WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR TODAY IS A VERY LOGICAL, VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD, FRANKLY, LESS COMPLICATED CASE THAN WE ARE USED TO HANDLING IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.
SO FOR ME, THIS IS AN EASY YES.
I WANNA AGAIN SAY THOUGH, THANK YOU NEIGHBORS FOR COMING OUT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS, UH, PROCESS.
TO ME, IT JUST COMES DOWN TO IF YOU CAN'T CH - TRUST THIS SPECIFIC CHURCH IN THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION, I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHO YOU CAN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
COMMISSIONERS SPEAKING AGAINST THE MOTION.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS LIKE TO SPEAK FOR THE MOTION? YES, COMMISSIONER AHMED.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER POWELL IN THAT, UH, TO ME, THIS WAS A PRETTY SIMPLE CASE.
I, I UNDERSTAND THE FEAR FOR MANY IN THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS LOT IS IN BETWEEN TWO IMAGINED AUSTIN CORRIDORS AND THERE'S MULTIPLE LO ZONE SITES RIGHT THERE.
AND I THINK MS. STEVENS REALLY SAID IT WHEN SHE SAID, "YOU'RE JUST LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY." SO TO ME, CONSISTENT WAY WOULD BE TO GRANT THIS.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF THE, EVERYONE ON BOTH SIDES THAT HAVE COME, AND PARTICULARLY A LOT OF THE LONG-TIME RESIDENTS OF EAST AUSTIN THAT HAVE COME OUT HERE.
I'M A RECENT RESIDENT MYSELF AND
[01:50:01]
I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO MAKE AUSTIN, EAST AUSTIN, THE VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IT IS, UH, TODAY.AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS CHURCH HAS ADDED A TON OF VALUE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S LEGACY, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SUPPORT A WAY TO FINANCIALLY SUSTAIN THIS CHURCH FOR THE DECADES TO COME.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS SPEAKING FOR OR AGAINST? YES, COMMISSIONER GANNON.
I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS CASE, AND I THINK, UM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THE CHURCH GROWS.
UH, I THINK OUR, OUR NATIONAL EXPERIMENT WITH SINGLE USE LAND ZONES HAVE, HAVE NOT, UH, RESULTED IN A GOOD, UM, AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SINGLE FAMILY ZONING AND THEN QUARTER ZONING, AND I'M A BIG FAN OF SEEING HOW THESE THINGS CAN SAFELY AND COHERENTLY MIX TOGETHER.
THAT'S THE DREAM OF MIXED USE, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A, A VERY LIGHT TOUCH, UM, ESPECIALLY MOVING A EXISTING COMMERCIAL USE THAT IS LESS THAN 600 FEET AWAY, JUST OVER ONTO YOUR PROPERTY.
I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, ON LAND USE, THIS COUNTRY HAS HAD A REALLY DARK HISTORY AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DISENFRANCHISED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND I AM HAPPY TO SEE THIS, UH, UH, THIS ENTITLE - OR I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE THIS ENTITLEMENT GO THROUGH.
UM, YEAH, AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S MY PIECE.
ANY COMMISSIONERS SPEAKING AGAINST THE MOTION? OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION MADE BY COMMISSIONER POWELL, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL.
I WANNA SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS WHO CAME OUT.
I KNOW IT IS NOT EASY TO BE HERE FOR THIS LONG ON A TUESDAY EVENING.
THANK YOU TO THE APPLICANT, TO OUR STAFF LIAISONS, MR. TOMKO AND MS. MEREDITH FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK ON THIS ITEM.
BEFORE WE DO, I'M GONNA JUST CHECK IN WITH THE COMMISSION.
UH, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SPEAKERS AHEAD OF US.
WE ARE NOT AT RISK OF BREAKING QUORUM.
HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT NOT TAKING A BREAK AND, UH, JUST LETTING FOLKS STEP OFF THE DIOCESE NEEDED OUT OF RESPECT FOR ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING HERE FOR A WHILE? ANY STRONG OBJECTIONS? OKAY.
UH, WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE
[15. Discussion and action on a recommendation to City Council regarding the proposed amendments to the Interlocal Agreement between the City and the University of Texas related to the Brackenridge Tract. (Sponsored by Chair Woods and Secretary Maxwell)]
INTO ITEM 15, WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RELATED TO THE BRACKENRIDGE TRACT.SO WE WILL FIRST HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
IF YOU WERE HERE AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING SIMILAR WHERE WE'RE GONNA CALL SPEAKERS THREE AT A TIME.
IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE COME ON UP AND SIT IN FRONT OF ONE OF THESE CHAIRS UP HERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK WITHIN THAT THREE SPEAKER ORDER.
IF YOU'RE UP, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND START SPEAKING AND WE'LL TRY TO MOVE THROUGH EFFICIENTLY SO THAT WE CAN ALL GET OUT OF HERE AT A REASONABLE TIME, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
SO I'M GONNA ASK MS. GARCIA TO MC AND CALL SPEAKERS THREE AT A TIME.
IF YOU ARE HERE IN SUPPORT AND DON'T WISH TO SPEAK AND WANNA WAIVE YOUR TIME, JUST GIVE ME A WAVE AND I'LL KNOW THAT YOU'RE PASSING.
BEGINNING WITH OUR FIRST SPEAKER IN FAVOR, WE HAVE EDWIN BAUTISTA WHO WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
AND IF WE COULD HAVE BILL OLIVER AND EDWARD LEBRUN COME TO THE FRONT.
IT LOOKS LIKE MR. BAUTISTA IS NOT CURRENTLY ONLINE, BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE TO COME BACK AND CHECK.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL OLIVER.
AND BILL OLIVER WILL BE RECEIVING TWO MINUTES OF DONATED TIME FROM VIRGINIA PALMER.
HEY, VIRGINIA, OR BILL, YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
AND IF WE COULD HAVE EDWARD LEBRUN AND CHRISTOPHER MAI COME TO THE FRONT.
I HAD FORMATIVE YEARS IN A WEST HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IF WE WANTED TO GO SEE SOME NATURE, WE HAD TO GO DOWN THE END OF THE STREET TO THE BRIAR GROVE DITCH, AND IT WENT FOR A MILE OR SO TO THE BUFFALO BIO, WHICH WAS PRETTY SPOOKY AND KIND OF SCARY, BUT THE DITCH WAS WHERE KIDS WENT.
AND IF WE HAD HAD A BRICK TRACK, MY GOSH, WHAT A OPPORTUNITY AROUND THIS TOWN.
[01:55:05]
THE BREAK TRACK'S NOT OVER THE OCEAN.THE BRICK TRACK'S NOT OVER THE SEA.
THE BRICK TRACK IS RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
OH, PLEASE SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME.
OH, PLEASE SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME, FOR ME.
OH, PLEASE SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME.
WE'RE HAPPY WE'RE SAVING THE GOLF COURSE.
THE GOLF BALLS, THE BUNKERS, AND TEES.
SAVE THE GOLF BALLS WITHOUT ANY LAWSUITS OR PROTESTS.
NOW, PLEASE SAVE THE TURTLES AND TREES.
OH, PLEASE SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME.
PLEASE SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME.
A CLASSROOM FOR A GROWING CITY.
WE'LL SAVE IT FOR DEAR RACHEL CARSON, WHO SAVED US FROM FIRE ANTIES.
YOUNG STUDENTS ARE GETTING THEIR FIELD WORK FOR SCIENCE DEGREES FROM UT.
A CANOPY CAMPUS FOR ALL OF US, FROM GRADE SCHOOL TO OLD PHDS.
SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME, FOR ME.
OH, PLEASE SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME.
LATELY, THIS TOWN HAS BEEN THINKING CONCRETE IS SO OBSOLETE.
SIX DECADES AND 82 ACRES ARE WAITING FOR US TO BE LEAVE.
SO KEEP THIS RIPARIAN HABITAT.
SO WILD AND SO FREE AND INTACT.
WE'LL SAVOR THE DAYS IN OUR KAYAKS.
WHEN WE SAVE THE BREAKING RIDGE TRACK LAST TIME, SAVE BRICK.
OH, PLEASE SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME.
AND THE SAVE BRICK, SAVE BRECK.
OH, PLEASE SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME.
THE BRICK TRACK'S NOT OVER THE OCEAN.
THE BRICK TRACK'S NOT OVER THE SEA.
THE BRICK TRACK IS ONLY IN AUSTIN, SO PLEASE SAVE THE BRICK TRACK FOR ME.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THE, OUR SPEAKERS WERE IN OPPOSITION.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE EDWARD LEBRUN AND CHRISTOPHER MAY PRESENT? AND MOVING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, WE HAVE AUTUMN JOHNSON-RAY, TAZMIN, AND TYLER SCHROEDER.
AND WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH AUTUMN.
I UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT HAVE A SONG FOR Y'ALL, BUT MY NAME IS AUTUMN JOHNSON-RAY, AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY TO REGISTER MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO INCREASING DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENTS ON THE LAND OCCUPIED BY THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY.
IN 1900, THE DAM ON THE COLORADO RIVER CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED, CAUSING SEVERAL MILLION CUBIC FEET OF SEDIMENT TO RUSH DOWNSTREAM.
THIS BLANKETED WHAT IS NOW THE BFL, WIPING OUT MOST OF THE ECOSYSTEM.
THIS PROVIDED AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR SCIENTISTS TO STUDY ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION, THE PHENOMENON WHERE PLANTS AND ANIMALS CALL AN AREA IN
[02:00:01]
STAGES AFTER NATURAL DISASTER.THERE HAVE BEEN 60 YEARS OF STUDIES INTO THIS PHENOMENON HERE, ALONG WITH 60 YEARS OF STUDENTS GETTING INVALUABLE HANDS-ON FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE AT THE BFL.
I PERSONALLY HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS AT ACC EARNING AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN BIOLOGY TO TRANSFER TO UT TO STUDY ECOLOGY.
ONE OF THE LONG, ONE OF THE LARGEST DRAWS FOR ME IS THE BFL AND THE TRAINING THAT IT UNIQUELY PROVIDES.
IF THAT IS GONE, I WILL SERIOUSLY HAVE TO CONSIDER LEAVING THE CITY AND PEOPLE THAT I LOVE FOR A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
CENTRAL TEXAS HAS A WONDERFUL YET FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM.
WE ARE HOME TO QUITE A NUMBER OF SPECIES THAT ARE ONLY FOUND IN TRAVIS COUNTY, NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
ENCOURAGING THE SALE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BFL TRACT WOULD KILL SUCH A VITAL RESOURCE FOR LEARNING HOW TO PROTECT WHAT MAKES TRAVIS COUNTY SPECIAL, ALL FOR PROFITS THAT MOST RESIDENTS OF THE CITY WOULD PROBABLY NEVER BENEFIT FROM.
ONCE THIS LAND IS DEVELOPED, WE FOREVER LOSE IT AS A SCIENTIFIC RESOURCE.
I URGE YOU TO NOT ENABLE A PERMANENT MISTAKE LIKE THIS.
DON'T LET YET ANOTHER PIECE OF WHAT MAKES AUSTIN SO UNIQUE DIE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WE'LL NOW BE HEARING FROM TASNEEM AND SANULA.
HELLO, MY NAME IS TASNEEM ISANULA, AND I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES AUSTIN SO SPECIAL TO ME IS ITS NATURAL SPACES.
I ATTENDED UT AUSTIN WHERE I JOINED THE BUGS AND BUGS RESEARCH PROGRAM AND WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY, OR BFL.
FOR MY RESEARCH PROJECT, I STUDIED THE GUT BACTERIA OF WILD FRUIT FLIES AND DISCOVERED SPECIES THAT WE NEVER KNEW WERE IN FRUIT FLIES BEFORE.
THIS C - DISCOVERY CONTRIBUTED TO A PUBLISHED PA - SCIENTIFIC PAPER OF WHICH I'M AN AUTHOR.
THE INVALUABLE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE I GAINED AT BFL HELPED PREPARE ME FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AT DUKE UNIVERSITY.
AT DUKE, I LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CURRENT PACE OF THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT DOES NOT ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR EVERYONE AFFECTED TO PARTICIPATE AND SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
SOME OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES AT BFL ARE WALKING IN TRAILS WITH FRIENDS AND LOOKING FOR WILDLIFE.
I'VE SEEN COYOTE FAMILIES, ARMADILLOS, SALAMANDERS, AND HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF INSECTS.
MY FRIEND JENNIFER SCHLAUSCH EVEN DISCOVERED TWO NEW SPECIES OF RODEO ANTS ON BFL THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN DOCUMENTED ANYWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.
NOT MANY UNIVERSITIES HAVE ACCESS TO LAND WITH SUCH INCREDIBLE BIODIVERSITY AND POTENTIAL FOR GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH.
YOU MIGHT BE THINKING A LITTLE DEVELOPMENT WON'T HURT IF WE PROTECT PART OF IT AND THEN DEVELOP ANOTHER PART, BUT IF WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THE RANGE OF A LOT OF THESE SPECIES LIKE THE RODEO ANTS, WE COULD POTENTIALLY WIPE OUT THEIR WHOLE SPECIES BEFORE EVER HAVING LEARNED ABOUT THEM.
AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN AUSTIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR CITY IS GROWING AND CHANGING, BUT GROWTH ALSO COMES WITH A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT IMPORTANT PLACES.
WE OFTEN TAKE THINGS LIKE CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR GRANTED AND IGNORE THINGS LIKE FLOODING UNTIL IT AFFECTS US.
BFL ABSORBS WATER FROM STORM RUNOFF AND PREVENTS CONTAMINANTS FROM ENTERING OUR RIVERS FOR FREE WITHOUT ASKING FOR ANYTHING IN RETURN.
I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE SHOULD PROTECT ALL OF BFL IN PERPETUITY.
BFL IS NOT JUST A PIECE OF LAND, BUT IT'S A LIVING LABORATORY.
IS TYLER, IS TYLER SCHRADER PRESENT? MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT FEW SPEAKERS, WE HAVE JEN SHALASH WHO WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
JEN, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
AND IF BOBBY LEVINSKY WANTS TO COME TO THE FRONT, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
I AM AN ECOLOGIST WHO RECEIVED MY UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM UT IN 2019.
I SPEAK TODAY ON THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF BFL, THE UT SCIENCE AND EDUCATION MISSION AND TO ITS INDIVIDUAL VALUE TO RESEARCHERS.
OVER THE LAST WEEK, WE HAVE GATHERED OVER 2,000 SIGNATURES ON OUR PETITION IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESERVATION OF BFL.
MY ARGUMENTS TONIGHT ARE TWOFOLD.
FIRST, BFL'S LAND IS WORTH MORE TO THE UNIVERSITY AS A PLATFORM OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION, AND POSITIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAN IT WOULD BE AS A DEVELOPED PROPERTY.
SECOND, BFL'S LOCATION IS CRITICAL FOR BIODIVERSITY AND RESEARCHER ACCESSIBILITY.
THE FIELD STATION CANNOT SIMPLY BE RELOCATED.
I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE TASMI MENTIONED WHO DISCOVERED A RARE NEW SPECIES LIVING IN BFL'S TRAILS.
TO REITERATE, IT IS FOUND HERE AND NOWHERE ELSE ON THE PLANET.
AS AN ECOLOGIST CURRENTLY WORKING IN RESTORED SITES, I CAN TELL YOU THAT PAVING OVER THIS PROPERTY WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE IRREVERSIBLE IN OUR LIFETIMES.
BFL SERVES AS A VULNERABLE BIODIVERSITY ISLAND IN URBAN AUSTIN FOR MANY OF THE BUTTERFLIES, BIRDS, AND OTHER WILDLIFE THAT MAKE THE CITY A SPECIAL
[02:05:01]
PLACE TO LIVE.EXPLORING BFL'S GROUNDS AS A YOUNG RESEARCHER INTRODUCED ME TO A LIFE IN ECOLOGY MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED.
BFL IS THE SOURCE OF WONDER AND CURIOSITY FOR UT STUDENTS AND THE BROADER PUBLIC ALIKE.
THE INDIVIDUALLY STUDIED TREES, ROCKS, AND POPULATIONS, THE DECADES OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE BASED HERE ARE CRITICAL TO THE MISSION AND IMPACT THAT THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE CLAIMS TO UPHOLD.
IF BFL IS SO VALUABLE FOR RESEARCH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, WHY ARE WE RUSHING THIS DEAL THAT WOULD OPEN IT UP FOR DESTRUCTION? I AM ARGUING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF BFL IN PERPETUITY.
AT THE LEAST, I AM ASKING THE CITY TO PAUSE AND GIVE THIS HUGE DECISION THE TIME IT DESERVES AND FOLLOW THE AMENDMENTS MADE ON OCTOBER 21ST BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
THE UNIVERSITY NEEDS TO CONSIDER THE UNIQUELY VALUABLE ASSET IT HAS WITH THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY.
BY WORKING TOGETHER ON A REASONABLE TIMELINE, WE CAN COME TO A SOLUTION THAT WILL BE BETTER FOR BOTH UT AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BECKY WOODWARD, WHO WILL BE AL - WHO WILL ALSO BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
BECKY, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS BOBBY LEVINSKY, SAVER SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I MAINLY WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
I SEE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU POSTED AND IT'S CLEAR I THINK THAT THERE'S AT LEAST A FEW OF YOU THAT WANT TO, UH, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD HELP SAVE THE FIELD LAB.
SO I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK TO LIKE THE VALUE OF IT.
I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THAT FIELD LAB AND WHY IT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED.
THE QUESTION'S HOW? UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS MADE LAST WEDNESDAY.
UM, THAT WAS A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD ONE.
ONE OF THE, THE THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE IN THE DRAFT THAT'S POSTED IS THAT THERE WAS ALSO RECOMMENDATION FROM, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN THAT INCLUDED A SETBACK AROUND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FIELD LAB, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA BE PROTECTING THE FIELD LAB, IT PROBABLY NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF A BUFFER FROM ANY, UH, DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY NEXT TO IT.
THAT'S ONE THING I THINK YOU SHOULD CONSIDER AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN REALLY, I THINK JUST ANYTHING WE CAN PUSH BACK ON LOCKING IN DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THE, YOU KNOW, FOREVER, UM, ON THE SITE.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS THAT SHOULD BE, UM, AB- ABSOLUTELY ENFORCEABLE HERE REGARDLESS OF WHO'S DEVELOPING IT.
I THINK THAT WE ARE, UH, SEEDING A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS AND THEY'RE BEING TOO RUSHED AND HOPEFULLY NEXT, LAST TUESDAY WILL GIVE US SOME HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER AND THE NEXT GENERATIONS NEED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT TOO.
JUST TO CONFIRM, BECKY WOODWARD IS CURRENTLY NOT IN OUR QUEUE, BUT IF SHE DOES JOIN, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO COME BACK TO HER.
MOVING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, WE HAVE ABIGAIL JONES, CALLAN INNEN, AND JULIA BERLINER.
ABIGAIL WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
ABIGAIL JONES WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
ABIGAIL, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I AM A RECENT GRADUATE OF UT AUSTIN AND I CURRENTLY WORK AT THE LADYBIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER.
HOWEVER, EVERY STATEMENT THAT I MAKE TODAY IS MY OWN AND DOES NOT REFLECT MY POSITION, UM, OR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
I WANT TO JUST REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT WAS STATED AT THE PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING COMMISSION THAT BFL IS A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE THIS COMMISSION TO AGREE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION TO POSTPONE THE, UM, OR TO RECOMMEND CITY COUNCIL TO POSTPONE THE DISCUSSION OF THE, UH, AMENDMENTS TO THE BDA UNTIL JUNE OF 2027 WHEN THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABS ANNIVERSARY HAS COME TO PASS AND THE PEOPLE THAT CARE SO MUCH ABOUT BFL HAVE TIME TO ADVOCATE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY FOR THIS PLACE THAT MATTERS SO MUCH TO US.
UM, I MYSELF COMPLETED AT LEAST THREE FIELD COURSES THERE THAT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO MY CAREER, AND I'VE GIVEN TOURS TO STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN RANGING ALL THE WAY TO UNDERGRADUATE, AND THEY'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE UNIQUE, UM, FOLOR AND FAUNA OF THIS FIELD STATION AND THE FACT THAT IT'S SO ACCESSIBLE IN THE CITY.
UM, SO YEAH, PLEASE DO EVERYTHING THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SAID, AND PLEASE, PLEASE POSTPONE THE VOTE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL SO THAT WE, THE PEOPLE OF BFL, HAVE TIME TO ADVOCATE WITHIN OUR UNIVERSITY AND GET THEM TO PROTECT THIS LOVELY PLACE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CALLAN INMAN.
CALLAN, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I'M A POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION.
UM, THE VIEWS OF EXPRESS ARE MINE ONLY.
UM, SO AS A PHD STUDENT AT UT, UM, I SPENT FIVE YEARS TAING COURSES THAT TOOK PLACE AT BFL.
UM, AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, I TA'D A COURSE THAT'S REALLY CENTRAL TO, UH, BFL'S MISSION, THE, UH, FIELD ECOLOGY COURSE TAUGHT BY THE FACULTY DIRECTOR, UH, LAWRENCE GILBERT.
UM, AND THIS COURSE IS REALLY AMAZING
[02:10:01]
IN THAT IT EXPOSES, UH, UNDERGRADUATES TO INTENSIVE, LARGELY SELF-DIRECTED RESEARCH 15 MINUTES, UM, FROM A MAJOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN AN URBAN AREA.UM, STUDENTS, UH, CAN STUDY EVERYTHING FROM DEER BROWSING TO MOCK POLLINATION.
A FEW CLASS PERIODS ARE DEVOTED SOLELY TO PROJECT DESIGN AND DATA COLLECTION, AND STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ON THEIR OWN WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T THROUGH CAREFUL OBSERVATION OF NATURE.
UM, THE STUDENTS ARE ALSO ASSIGNED THEIR OWN ACRE OF THE FIELD LAB TO MONITOR FOR THE ENTIRE SEMESTER, AND THIS ALLOWS THEM TO COLLECT VITAL DATA ON, UH, BASICALLY EVERY KIND OF ORGANISM, UM, THEY CAN FIND.
AND OVER THE PAST 20 PLUS YEARS, THESE PROJECTS HAVE YIELDED, UH, REALLY GREAT INFORMATION ON HABITAT AND COMMUNITY CHANGES AND HOW THEY'RE TAKING PLACE, UM, IN THIS RAPIDLY URBANIZING, UH, REGION.
UM, AND, UH, AGAIN, THIS APPLIES NOT ONLY TO THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN THAT COURSE IN THE PAST 20 PLUS YEARS, BUT, UM, WHICH IS ABOUT 700, UM, BUT, UH, LEGIONS OF UNDERGRADUATES AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, UM, WHO HAVE, UH, TAKEN COURSES AND DONE RESEARCH AT BFL SINCE THE 1960S.
UM, SO I HOPE, UM, THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THIS ENTIRE PROPERTY SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN, UH, CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS SMALL SLIVER OF NATURE IN URBAN AUSTIN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIA BERLINER.
UH, I AM A PHD STUDENT AT UT AUSTIN STUDYING ECOLOGY, AND I ALSO VOLUNTEER AS A TOUR GUIDE AT BFL DURING THE SCIENCE UNDER THE STARS COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT HAPPEN ONCE A MONTH.
AND YOU MAY REMEMBER ME FROM LAST TIME WHERE I SPOKE AS I AM TONIGHT, JUST AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO IS VERY INVESTED IN THE VALUE OF BFL, AND M- MUCH OF THAT COMES FROM MY KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE I AM A TOUR GUIDE AT BFL.
AND I SPOKE ABOUT HOW, UM, SEEING THAT MAP WITH THE WORDS DEVELOPMENT AREA OVER THE, THE TRAILS AND THE LABORATORY FACILITIES THAT I GUIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH ONCE A MONTH WAS REALLY DEVASTATING.
AND I JUST WANNA, FIRST OF ALL, THANK ALL OF YOU SO, SO, SO MUCH FOR HEARING ME AND OTHERS WHO SPOKE IN OPPOSITION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
IT MEANS SO MUCH TO SEE THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY WRITTEN.
UH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO SOME THINGS THAT I THINK YOU'LL HEAR A LOT, WHICH IS THAT, UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MADE SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ALL REALLY VALUE, SUCH AS THAT 300-FOOT BUFFER, UH, 300-FOOT BUFFER AREA BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE FIELD LAB AND REALLY ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE.
I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY MENTION THAT COULD INCLUDE GREEN SPACES.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME INTEREST IN, YOU KNOW, MORE GREEN SPACES RIGHT NEAR THE LAKE.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THAT.
UM, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE LAKE AREA BETWEEN BFL AND THAT BLUFF IS A REALLY SECLUDED PLACE, AND THAT'S A REALLY RARE FEELING RIGHT IN METROPOLITAN AUSTIN.
IT'S ALSO REALLY RARE FOR ALL THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE AT BFL.
SO PLEASE ALLOW TIME TO CONSULT EXPERTS ON MATTERS JUST LIKE THIS, ON THE WILDLIFE BEHAVIOR, ET CETERA.
AND, UM, THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF BFL IS COMING UP IN APRIL, AND E.O.
WILSON, WHO IS A WORLD-RENOWNED ECOLOGIST FAMOUS FOR HIS STUDY OF ANTS, HE VISITED BFL ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY AND SAID, "GOSH, WHAT A GEM.
THIS IS SO RARE TO HAVE AN URBAN FIELD LAB LIKE THIS, AND I HOPE TO BE HERE FOR THE 60TH." HE WON'T BE, BUT I HOPE WE ALL CAN.
OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE MAXIMUS RAMSARUP, CAROLINE CHESHIRE, AND CRAIG NAZAR.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH MAXIMUS, WHO WILL BE GIVING, WHO WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
GOOD EVENING, AND FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY, MY NAME IS MAXIMUS RAMSARUP.
I AM A FOURTH-YEAR PHD CANDIDATE AT UT AUSTIN.
I'M ALSO AN ACTIVE RESEARCHER AND EDUCATOR AT BFL AND HAVE BEEN, TO SOME DEGREE, FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
WORLD-RENOWNED NATURALIST DAVID ATTENBOROUGH ONCE SAID, "IF CHILDREN DON'T GROW UP KNOWING ABOUT NATURE AND APPRECIATING IT, THEY WON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
AND IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, THEY WON'T PROTECT IT.
AND IF THEY DON'T PROTECT IT, WHO WILL?" TODAY, I WANNA SPEAK ON MY TIME AS AN EDUCATOR AT BFL AS A TEACHING ASSISTANT THROUGHOUT 2024 AND 2025.
KAY MCMURRAY TO DELIVER UT'S FIELD BIOLOGY COURSE, WHICH INTRODUCES EARLY UNDERGRAD STUDENTS TO HAND-ON FIELDS, UH, HANDS-ON FIELD RESEARCH AND TREATS
[02:15:01]
BFL LIKE A CLASSROOM.WE BROUGHT STUDENTS TO BFL THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS AT A TIME, AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER, WE SURVEYED THE UNIQUE ECOLOGY OF BFL, TOOK NATURE WALKS, AND, UH, STUDENTS LEARNED TO WRITE THEIR OWN RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND PAPERS.
FORMER STUDENTS OF THIS COURSE I KNOW PERSONALLY HAVE GONE ON TO, INTO HIGHER EDUCATION IN FIELD BIOLOGY, AND OTHERS HAVE BECOME TEXAS MA- MASTER NATURALISTS, AND ALL OF THEM, I BELIEVE, WALKED AWAY WITH A GREATER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD.
IN THE 20 PLUS YEARS OF FIELD BIOLOGY, IT, IT EDUCATED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS GENERATIONS USING BFL, AND IT'S THE, ONE OF, IT'S, UH, JUST ONE OF THE COURSES AT BFL, OR AT BFL AND UT TO DO SO.
NO OTHER INSTITUTION IN TEXAS, AND PERHAPS ONLY A HANDFUL NATIONALLY, CAN ACTUALLY OFFER THEIR STUDENTS ACCESS TO A NATURAL CLASSROOM, JUST A 15-MINUTE BUS RIDE AWAY FROM CAMPUS.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO HEED THE AMENDMENTS RECOMMENDED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TO PROTECT BFL IN PERPETUITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROLINE CHESHIRE WHO WILL BE RECEIVING TWO MINUTES OF DONATED TIME FROM SYDNEY JANSEN.
IS SYDNEY PRESENT? CAROLINE, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
UM, THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH OUR COMMITTEE OR FOR OUR, WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND BEING RECEPTIVE TO ALL OF OUR CONCERNS SO FAR.
UM, MY NAME IS CAROLINE CHESHIRE.
I'M A PHD CANDIDATE IN THE EAB PROGRAM AT UT, UM, BUT MY OPINIONS I'M EXPRESSING TODAY ONLY REPRESENT MY OWN.
I DON'T REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY.
UM, ALL OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN KIND OF SHOCKED BY THE PACE OF THIS APPROVAL PROCESS, AND WE'VE HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO INVOLVE OUR COMMUNITY FOR FEEDBACK AND INPUT.
MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK AT OR VOLUNTEER AT BFL ON A DAILY OR WEEKLY BASIS WERE NOT REALLY EVEN AWARE OF THIS UNTIL THE PAST WEEK OR SO, SO WE REALLY DO NEED MORE TIME.
DESPITE THE TIME CONSTRAINT, WE WORKED PRETTY HARD TO ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ALL THESE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, BETWEEN UT AFFILIATES, BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS, UM, AND ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHO LOVE THIS PLACE.
SO WE HAVE A PETITION WITH OVER 2,100 SIGNATURES, UM, JUST IN THE PAST FEW DAYS AND OVER 550 JUST TODAY, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED.
WE'VE ALSO SENT AROUND AN INDEPENDENT SURVEY, THIS IS EXTERNAL TO UT, JUST WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, TO GATHER INFORMATION FROM THESE STAKEHOLDERS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA QUANTITATIVELY OF WHAT BFL MEANS TO ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A F - A FEW, A FEW KEY STATISTICS FROM THAT SO FAR.
OUT OF THE CURRENT UNDERGRAD AND GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHERS WHO RESPONDED TO OUR SURVEY, 68% CURRENTLY USE BFL FOR THEIR WORK AND 22% PLAN TO.
OUT OF FORMER UNDERGRAD AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, 89.2% USED BFL FOR THEIR RESEARCH.
AMONG CURRENT AND FORMER UT AFFILIATES, THIS INCLUDES FACULTY, POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS, AND STAFF SCIENTISTS, 83% USED BFL IN THEIR RESEARCH, AND 66% USE BFL FOR ITS VERY MANY TEACHING RESOURCES.
BEYOND THIS, WE ASKED RESPONDENTS, "WHAT BFL RESOURCES HAVE YOU PERSONALLY USED OR BENEFITED FROM?" AND THE NUMBER ONE RESPONSE OVERALL WAS THE ONSITE BIODIVERSITY.
SO BFL IS REALLY NOTHING WITHOUT ITS BIODIVERSITY.
IT CAN'T BE MOVED TO ANOTHER SPOT BECAUSE WE LOSE ALL OF THIS LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL DATA, AND WE CAN'T ALLOW DEVELOPMENT ON THIS TRACT TO THREATEN THAT BIODIVERSITY.
SO IT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
WE CAN'T PIECE THIS UP AND SELL IT OFF.
SO ALSO ON THIS MATTER, I WANT TO REFER TO DR.
UM, SHE PROVIDED WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THIS POINT TO YOU ALL AS TO PRECISELY WHY SACRIFICING EVEN A PORTION OF BFL SHOULD NOT BE ON THE TABLE.
THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT HABITAT TYPES THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE, AND EACH HABITAT TYPE HAS ITS OWN COMMUNITY OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT MAKE IT UNIQUE AND VERY VALUABLE TO, UM, BFL OVERALL.
AND, UH, ALL THESE PIECES TOGETHER IS THE BEST PICTURE THAT WE HAVE OF AUSTIN'S UNIQUE ECOLOGY, UM, IN THE WHOLE CITY.
AND I WANNA END ON, UM, THIS POINT THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THE FULL POTENTIAL OF BFL YET.
OUT OF OUR SURVEY RESPONDENTS WHO ARE RESEARCHERS, 85.7% INDICATED THAT THREATS TO BFL DEVELOPMENT OVER
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THE YEARS HAVE BEEN AT LEAST IN SOME CONSIDERATION IN THEIR DECISION TO START WORKING THERE.10% OF RESPONDENTS OVERALL INDICATED THAT THEY WERE COMPLETELY DETERRED FROM USING BFL, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THESE RECURRING DEVELOPMENT THREATS OVER THE YEARS.
THIS INCLUDES FACULTY, THIS INCLUDES STUDENTS, POSTDOCS WHO ARE CHOOSING NOT TO USE THIS PLACE BECAUSE IT IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE DEVELOPED AT SOME POINT.
SO WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE FULL POTENTIAL OF BFL PRE- PRECISELY BECAUSE IT'S NOT PROTECTED.
UM, SO WHAT I WANNA END ON IS THAT WE CAN SAVE MUNI WITHOUT SACRIFICING BFL, SO PLEASE RECOMMEND PRESERVING BFL IN ITS ENTIRETY AND IN PERPETUITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CRAIG NASER, AND IF DANIEL TABIS, HANU - HANNAH GILBREATH, AND SUKI STEINHAUSER COULD COME TO THE FRONT.
WE SUPPORT SAVING MUNI, BUT SAVING MUNI WITHOUT SAVING THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LAB IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB IS MOSTLY COVERED WITH LARGE TREES.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD HISTORIC AND SCIENTIFIC REASONS TO SAVE THIS FACILITY.
LARGE TREES PROVIDE INCREASINGLY RARE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.
IN ADDITION, THEY ARE THE BEST, CHEAPEST WAY TO MITIGATE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, AN EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGE THAT AUSTIN, TEXAS, AMERICA, AND THE WORLD ARE CURRENTLY FAILING TO ADDRESS.
THERE'S ONE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT REASON TO SAVE THIS MAGNIFICENT URBAN FOREST, WHICH IS REVEALED IN THIS POEM BY MARY OLIVER.
"WHEN I AM AMONG THE TREES, ESPECIALLY THE WILLOWS AND THE HONEY LOCUST, EQUALLY THE BEACH, THE OAKS AND THE PINES, THEY GIVE OFF SUCH HINTS OF GLADNESS.
I WOULD ALMOST SAY THAT THEY SAVE ME AND DAILY.
I AM SO DISTANT FROM THE HOPE OF MYSELF IN WHICH I HAVE GOODNESS AND DISCERNMENT AND NEVER HURRY THROUGH THE WORLD, BUT WALK SLOWLY AND BOW OFTEN.
AROUND ME, THE TREES SIT IN THEIR LEAVES AND CALL OUT, STAY A WHILE.
THE LIGHT FLOWS FROM THEIR BRANCHES.
IT'S SIMPLE, THEY SAY, AND YOU TOO HAVE COME INTO THE WORLD TO DO THIS, TO GO EASY, TO BE FILLED WITH LIGHT AND TO SHINE.
WE'LL NOW BE HEARING FROM DANIEL TABIS.
UM, SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE THOUGHTFUL DRAFT RECOMMENDATION.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS ON IT.
UM, I THINK THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ALSO PUT FORTH A REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, AND THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT IF YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR RECOMMENDATION, THEN IT COULD STRENGTHEN, UH, THE, UH, IMPETUS TO CITY COUNCIL TO PRESERVE BFL AND PERPETUITY.
UM, ONE THING THAT THEY'RE PUTTING FORTH IS, UM, A REQUEST FOR DARK SKY LIGHTING IN A 300-FOOT BUFFER AROUND BFL, UH, TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF RESEARCH THAT'S BEING DONE THERE.
UM, INTENSE LIGHTING CAN DISTURB ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, WHICH CAN THEN DISRUPT THE RESEARCH.
UM, ANOTHER THING THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED IS A BUFFER OF NO DEVELOPMENT OF 300 FEET AROUND BFL, UM, ALSO TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF RESEARCH THAT'S GOING ON THERE.
UM, ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD URGE YOU TO DO IS TO, UM, TO RECOMMEND POSTPONING THE VOTE, UM, THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR NO- NOVEMBER 19TH UNTIL AT LEAST JUNE OF 2027, UM, TO GIVE PROPER TIME FOR IMPACT ANALYSIS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, SO YEAH, I THINK, UM, IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN NEEDS MORE THAN JUST GREEN SPACES.
AND BFL IS THE MOST, UH, WILD SPACE, THE MOST PRISTINE WILDERNESS THAT WE HAVE IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, AND IT'S WORTH PRESERVING.
UM, SO IF YOU WANNA SEE IT FOR YOURSELF, UH, THE NEXT SCIENCE UNDER THE STARS EVENT IS THIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH AT 7:00 PM.
THERE'S GONNA BE A TOUR OF THE FIELD LAB.
UM, AND THEN AT 8:00, THERE'S GONNA BE A LECTURE BY A GRAD STUDENT FROM UT, UM, ON WHY ANIMALS EVOLVED TO BE DIFFERENT COLORS.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HANNAH GILBREATH.
HANNAH, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
HI, MY NAME IS HANNAH GILBREATH, AND I'M A UT GRADUATE WHO CONDUCTED INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND STUDENT MENTORING AT BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB.
UM, CAN ANYONE IN THIS ROOM WHO HAS EVER SEEN THE BATS EMERGE FROM SOUTH CONGRESS RAISE THEIR HAND? IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, IT'S VERY COOL, VERY AUSTIN.
MERLIN TUTTLE, THE SCIENTIST WHO IS CREDITED WITH SAVING THIS BAT POPULATION, ACTUALLY BEGAN HIS CAREER STUDYING BATS AT BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW BFL MAKES AUSTIN UNIQUE AS A CITY WITH A DISTINCTIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ITS PEOPLE, NATURE, AND SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES.
THE MEASURABLE EVIDENCE OF BFL'S VALUE IS IMMENSE, THE THOUSANDS OF SPECIES WHICH IT CALLS HOME, THE SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS, THE SPECIES NEWLY DISCOVERED HERE BY STUDENTS, BUT I AM EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSSES WE CANNOT MEASURE HERE TODAY, THE RESEARCHERS WHO WILL NEVER BE INSPIRED AND THE DISCOVERIES THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IF THIS RESOURCE IS LOST.
WHAT BAT POPULATIONS UNDER BRIDGES LIKE SOUTH CONGRESS MIGHT GO UNSAVED BECAUSE A FUTURE RESEARCHER NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY BATS AT BFL? WHAT SPECIES MIGHT GO UNDISCOVERED BECAUSE A STUDENT NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO TURN OVER A ROCK, ENCOUNTER SOMETHING UNEXPECTED AND ASK A QUESTION? WHAT FUTURE SCIENTISTS MIGHT NEVER DISCOVER THEIR LIFE'S WORK BECAUSE THEY NEVER EXPERIENCED A PLACE LIKE THIS? WE CAN ESTIMATE THE VALUE OF WHAT BFL HAS ALREADY PRODUCED, BUT WE CANNOT CALCULATE THE VALUE OF EVERYTHING IT HAS YET TO MAKE POSSIBLE.
SUBSTITUTE FACILITIES CANNOT REPLACE DECADES OF ECOLOGICAL HISTORY AND ACCESS TO A LIVING LAB IN THE HEART OF A CITY.
BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB IS TRULY IRREPLACEABLE.
I URGE YOU TO POSTPONE AGENDA ITEM 15 UNTIL THE PLAN INCLUDES MEANINGFUL PROTECTIONS FOR BFL.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PRESERVE NOT ONLY A PIECE OF LAND, BUT AN IMPORTANT PART OF AUSTIN'S IDENTITY, SCIENTIFIC LEGACY, AND ITS FUTURE.
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A DECISION TODAY WHICH WILL PRECLUDE DISCOVERIES AND CONSERVATION CONTRIBUTIONS THAT FUTURE GENERATION OF, FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AUSTINITES HAVE YET TO MAKE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUKI STEINHAUSER, WHO WILL BE RECEIVING TWO MINUTES OF DONATED TIME FROM CHRISTINE KREMER.
IS CHRISTINE PRESENT? PERFECT.
SUKI, YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
GOOD EVENING, AND I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PASSION FOR THE CITY AND YOUR ABILITY TO WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND YOUR PATIENCE, UM, WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE, THAT'S A LOT OF PEACE.
UM, GOOD EVENING, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M SUKI STEINHAUSER, A LONGTIME AUSTINITE, A FORMER UT GRAD STUDENT, A FORMER RESIDENT OF THE, OF THE BRACKENRIDGE MARRIED STUDENT HOUSING, AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY MAS- MASTER NATURALIST, BUT I'M REALLY AMATEUR COMPARED TO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE.
I'VE SPENT MANY HOURS VOLUNTEERING AT THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB, SO I'M SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH THAT HIDDEN GEM.
YOU'RE HEARING FROM SO MANY FOLKS WHO ARE BECOMING OR ARE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED SCIENTISTS.
AS A UT ALUM, I HOPE THAT THAT ESTEEMED INSTITUTION WILL PROTECT THE MISSION OF B- BFL RIGHT WHERE IT IS.
YOU'LL HEAR FROM PLENTY OF PEOPLE TONIGHT, INCLUDING MY FE- FELLOW BFL VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL EXPLAIN HOW THE PROPERTY IS UNIQUE, BIODIVERSE, AND A HIS - HAS A HISTORY OF EDUCATING STUDENTS AND MAKING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES THROUGH THEIR RESEARCH AT BFL.
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, THE LAND WE'RE DISCUSSING BELONGS TO UT.
THEIR DECISIONS MUST BALANCE MAKING MAXIMUM PROFIT TO PURSUE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE WITH KEEPING GOOD RELATIONS WITH THEIR HOST CITY AND NEIGHBORS.
THEY NEED TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS TO HOUSE STUDENTS, AND THAT'S IN SHORT SUPPLY.
THEY NEED FACILITIES AND LABS.
THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN ACADEMIC PRESTIGE, AND AS A PUBLIC INSTITUTION, MUST, MUST RING ALL THE MONEY THEY CAN OUT OF THEIR ASSETS AND OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND IT'S NOT A SIMPLE DECISION.
THANKFULLY, THEY'VE CHOSEN TO SEED MUNI TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, PARTLY BECAUSE OF VERY GENEROUS DONATION FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE GOLF COURSE AVAILABLE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR.
BUT HERE'S WHERE I'LL BE BLUNT.
THE DECISION TO ACCEPT THE GOLF COURSE AND ALLOW DEVELOPMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD GIVES UT LEVERAGE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH THE REST OF THE BFL TRACT, THE BRACKENRIDGE TRACT.
I THINK UT WILL CRAM ALL 715 HOUSING UNITS ONTO THE GATEWAY SITE OVER ON THE EAST SIDE OF MOPAC AND 6TH STREET IN ORDER TO FREE UP THE VALUABLE LAKEFRONT ACREAGE.
I'VE BEEN OVER TO GATEWAY, AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE IT BEING A GOOD PLACE FOR SCHOLARS WITH LITTLE KIDS TO LIVE, BUT IT IS NEAR MATTHEWS ELEMENTARY AND A QUICK BUS RIDE TO CAMPUS.
OKAY, SO ONCE FAMILY HOUSING IS MOVED, WHAT IS UT LIKELY TO DO? BFL SITS, UNFORTUNATELY, SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 140 ACRES SOUTH OF LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD.
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82 ACRES, IT BISECTS THE PROPERTY, AND EXEMPTING IT FROM THIS DEAL WOULD MAKE THE TRACK VASTLY LESS PROFITABLE FOR REDEVELOPMENT.WHAT CAN THE PLANNING COMMISSION DO? I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE FULLY.
CAN YOU APPROVE MORE DENSITY ON THE 20 AND THE 40 ACRE PARCELS? CAN YOU SUSPEND RULES FOR PARKING OR DRAINAGE OR HEIGHT? I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE TO DO IN A WEEK OR TWO.
SO I'M REALLY IMPRESSED THAT YOU HAVE A DRAFT OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WAS ABLE TO COME UP WITH A DRAFT OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON SUCH A SHORT TIMELINE.
SO STILL, IT'S NOT A CHOICE THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO YOU, THAT THIS PROPERTY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO UT CARTE BLANCHE, BLANCHE.
UM, PLEASE RECOMMEND TO DELAY THE CITY COUNCIL'S VOTE THIS MONTH.
THEY DESERVE THE TIME TO CONSIDER NEXT STEPS ON BEHALF OF THE GREAT CITY OF AUSTIN.
NEXT, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS SPECIAL PROPERTY FROM A COUPLE OF OTHER BRACKENGE FIELD LAB VOLUNTEERS.
OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE MEREDITH LOVELACE, RON MOSS, AND SUSANNA METCALF.
MEREDITH WILL BE RECEIVING TWO MINUTES OF DONATED TIME FROM SARAH JENKINS.
IS SARAH JENKINS PRESENT? MEREDITH WILL BE RECEIVING FOUR MINUTES OF TIME, AND I WILL BE BRINGING SOME HANDOUTS TO THE COMMISSION.
UH, MY NAME IS MEREDITH LOVELACE.
I'M A CAPITAL AREA MASTER NATURALIST AND THE VOLUNTEER LEAD AT THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB HERBARIUM, A THREE-YEAR-OLD ALL-VOLUNTEER-LED COLLECTION OF OVER 400 PRESERVED PLANT SPECIMENS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE TRACT.
UH, I WILL- WILL ADD, AS BLOWN AWAY AS I AM BY ALL THE FORMER STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS WHO'VE WORKED HERE, I AM NOT AN ACADEMIC.
I AM A DATA ANALYST WHO WORKS FOR THE STATE.
I HAD NEVER BEEN TO BFL UNTIL I WAS 40 YEARS OLD.
AND PRETTY MUCH ON SITE MY FIRST TOUR, I FELL IN LOVE THAT THIS AMAZING WILDERNESS GYM COULD EXIST IN THE MIDDLE OF AUSTIN AND IMMEDIATELY REC - JUST DECIDED TO VOLUNTEER FOR WHATEVER THEY WANTED ME FOR.
AND I THINK THAT OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO FUTURE NATURE FREAKS OUT THERE FOR DECADES TO COME.
UH, SO ECOSYSTEMS DON'T FOLLOW CLEAN LINES LIKE PARCEL BOUNDARIES.
SO WHAT MAKES BFL SPECIAL AND IT'S NEARLY 60 YEARS OF PROTECTED GROWTH COMES FROM HOW THE LANDSCAPE SHIPS JUST BY TURNING A CORNER DOWN A TRAIL.
YOU CAN WALK THROUGH A FIELD OF PERENNIAL GRASSES AND, YOU KNOW, SUNFLOWER FAMILY PLANTS, AND THEN SUDDENLY YOU'RE BUNCHED BY A BUNCH OF OLD LIVE OAKS CALLED A MOTT, UM, WHICH SHELTER A BUNCH OF FRAGILE SHRUBS AND OUR HOMES FOR ALL THE LITTLE FUNGI AND ANIMALS AND INSECTS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE CLEARED OUT ALL THIS INVASIVE HEAVENLY BAMBOO, UH, RECENTLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
AND ITS PLACE ARE NOW, JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, A WHOLE FIELD OF BLOOMING LINDHEIMER SENNA OR A GIANT AREA OF FROSTWEED, WHICH ARE BOTH CRUCIAL FOOD AND HOSTS FOR POLLINATING BUTTERFLIES AND BIRDS, UH, TOWARDS WINTERTIME.
UH, ALL OF THIS IS A TAPESTRY WOVEN BY TIME, BY GROWTH, AND DECAY.
THIS IS WHY THE ENTIRETY OF THE FIELD LAB NEEDS TO STAY PRESERVED.
BFL IS 82 ACRES ON THE RIVER WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN HABITAT TYPES FROM UPLAND JUNIPER WOODLAND TO RIPARIAN WOODLAND ALONG THE WATER.
MORE THAN 1200 SPECIES HAVE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED AND CONFIRMED ON INATURALIST ALONE BY COMMUNITY SCIENTISTS SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2020 WITH ABOUT 15 SPECIES PER ACRE.
AND THAT'S ONLY WHAT SOMEONE HAPPENED TO PHOTOGRAPH AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
75% ARE OBSERVED ALSO WITHIN SIX FEET WITHIN THE TRAILS.
I WILL ALSO POINT OUT AS A BOTANIST, IT IS VERY EASY TO MAKE AN OBSERVATION OF PLANTS ON YOUR IPHONE BECAUSE THEY DON'T MOVE.
SO THEREFORE THE NUMBERS OF INSECTS, BIRDS, MAMMALS ARE MUCH, UH, UNDERREPRESENTED TO THE PLANTS ON, UH, THE MAP YOU SEE BEFORE YOU AND ON THE SCREEN.
UM, SO ALSO JUST SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE ARE PHOTOGRAPHING, IT'S HARDLY OFF THE TRAILS.
THERE'S WHOLE AREAS THAT WE STILL HAVE YET TO FULLY DISCOVER AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE MADE THAT POINT BEFORE.
UM, SO AGAIN, GOING ON THAT SCREEN, EVERY DOT IS ONE OF THOSE RECORDS I TALKED ABOUT FROM INATURALS, ALL VERIFIED BY OTHER PEOPLE.
UM, I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN GIS, HENCE THE MAP, BUT, UH, I ASSURE YOU I DID NOT DRAW THE BOUNDARY.
THAT IS ACTUALLY WHERE YOU SEE THE DENSITY OF THE DOTS FORMS THE OUTLINE OF BFL PROPERTY AND THE TRAILS THAT RUN THROUGH IT.
UM, AND MORE INTERESTING, MORE THAN 400 OF THOSE SPECIES HAVE BEEN RECORDED EXACTLY ONCE IN ONE SPOT.
NO ONE CAN TELL YOU IN ADVANCE WHAT PART BFL CAN BE SPARED.
THE SAFEST BET IS TO SAY NONE OF IT.
CARVE OUT ONE PIECE AND YOU LOSE MORE ON THAT PIECES OF ACREAGE.
THE RESEARCH HERE DEPENDS ON CONTINUITY AS WELL.
THERE'S BEEN ACTIVE FIELD ADS SINCE 1967.
UH, WE'VE HAD, UH, MASTER NATURALISTS HAVE DONE A PLANT PHENOLOGY SURVEY EVERY TWO WEEKS SINCE 2020, AND THAT DAY IS BEING
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USED TO REFINE CLIMATE CHANGE MODELS BY RESEARCHERS.UH, IN THESE DECADES, THIS TYPE OF WORK IS GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
2023 COMMENTARY AND PROCEEDINGS OF NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES MAKES THE CASE THAT LONG-TERM RECORDS FROM A SINGLE SITE, INCLUDING SPECIES INVENTORIES AND PRESERVED HERBARIUM SPECIMENS ARE SOME OF THE BEST EVIDENCE FOR HOW ECOSYSTEMS RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF THE SITE STAYS WHERE IT IS.
UH, SO I AM ASKING, UH, JUST FOR BASICALLY, I'M ASKING TO SUPPORT AND GO...
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HA ALREADY RECOMMENDED SORRY.
RON, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
GOOD E - GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
I AM, UH, ALSO A MASTER NATURALIST, UM, AND, AND A VOLUNTEER AT BFL.
YOU'VE HEARD A LOT HERE TODAY, OR TONIGHT RATHER, ABOUT THE BIODIVERSITY AT THE BRECKENRIDGE TRACT, AND I'VE BEEN THERE, I'VE SEEN THAT IT'S, IT'S TRUE, BUT I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAKES THIS PLACE UNIQUE, AND THAT IS ITS HISTORY OF HUMAN ACTIVITY.
NOW, THE BIR - THE BFL TRACT IS NOT VIRGINAL FOREST.
WE KNOW THAT IN THE NI - IN THE 1800S, IT WAS USED FOR FARMING AND FOR LOGGING.
WE KNOW THAT IN THE 1890S, IT WAS A QUARRY.
UM, WE KNOW THAT PARTS OF THE TRACT WERE USED, UM, FOR HOUSING IN THE 19 - EARLY 1900S.
AND ONE UNFORTUNATE RESULT OF THAT IS THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NANDINA AND LAGUSTRUM AND OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES OUT THERE THAT CAME FROM THOSE LANDS - THE LANDSCAPING AROUND THOSE HOUSES.
SO HOW DO THESE HUMAN ACTIVITIES MAKE BFL, UH, UNIQUE? WELL, THEY CREATE A LIVING LABORATORY FOR RESEARCHERS TO DETERMINE HOW LAND RECOVERS FROM HUMAN ACTIVITY, OR MAYBE WHAT THE LAND NEEDS FROM US TO RECOVER FROM HUMAN ACTIVITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, BFL RESEARCHERS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO RESTORE HABITAT THAT WAS ALTERED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF THESE INVASIVE SPECIES THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THEY'RE ALSO TRA- TRACKING THE ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION, UH, WHEN INVASIVE SPECIES ARE REMOVED.
SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT'LL BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO REHABILITATE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN ALTERED BY HUMAN D- DEVELOPMENT.
THE BFL'S HISTORY OF HUMAN ACTIVITY, COUPLED WITH THE DILIGENCE OF ALL OF THESE RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS AND VOLUNTEERS COULD HELP US WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE.
IS SUSANNA METCALF PRESENT? AND WHILE SHE'S COMING UP, IF WE COULD HAVE AJ MARKS, ROBERT METCALF, AND KYLIE BEARD BEGIN MAKING THEIR WAY FORWARD.
AGAIN, SUSANNA METCALF, AJ MARKS, ROBERT METCALF.
WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO KYLIE BEARD.
KYLIE WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
KYLIE, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I'M A SEVENTH GENERATION, UH, CENTRAL TEXAN AND RESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN AREA SINCE 2013.
I'M SPEAKING TO THE LARGER ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF RETAINING AND PRESERVING EXISTING ECOSYSTEMS AND PROTECTED AREAS, SOME OF THE FEW WE HAVE LEFT.
THIS COMMITTEE AND THE COUNCIL ARE CONSIDERING MORE OR LESS AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TRACT, OVER 82 ACRES OF LARGELY RIPARIAN FOREST, MUCH OF WHICH IS IN THE 500-YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
UH, RIPARIAN AREAS PROVIDE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES THAT HAVE A FINANCIAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATED WITH THEM THAT POTENTIALLY OUTWEIGHS ANY FINANCIAL BENEFIT OF DEVELOPING THE LAND.
THEY FILTER POLLUTANTS BEFORE AND DURING THE RIVER, PREVENT EROSION, PROVIDE ESSENTIAL AND SOMETIMES THE ONLY REMAINING WILDLIFE MIGRATION CORRIDORS, AND THEY MITIGATE FLOODING.
NATURE, FORESTS, IN GENERAL, PROVIDE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFITS TO HUMANS.
ADDITIONALLY, PROTECTION OF ONE PIECE OF LAND ALLOWS FOR BENEFITS IN OTHER PLACES SUCH AS THE PROTECTION OF GANG SPECIES AND THE TRANSMISSION OF PLANT SPECIES ACROSS SPACE THAT SERVICE FOOD AND OTHER USEFUL MATERIALS THROUGH THE SPREADING OF SEEDS BIRDS EAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE PROPAGATION OF POLLINATOR PLANT SPECIES FOR BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND SO ON AND SO ON.
PREVENTING IMPACTS TO THESE REMAINING LANDS REDUCES
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THE COST OF MITIGATING THE EFFECTS RESULTING FROM DEVELOPING THE LAND, INCLUDING EVERYTHING FROM POLLUTION REMEDIATION TO FLOOD DAMAGES, TO LIFE AND PROPERTY, TO THE COST, UH, TO AN INDIVIDUAL OF HAVING TO BUY MEAT AT THE SUPERMARKET RATHER THAN HUNTING THE DUCK THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE RUINED ITS YOUNG ON PROTECTED LANDS.PLANTING A FEW ISOLATED TREES IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT AFTER SCRAPING THE LAND OF AN INTACT, INTERDEPENDENT ECOSYSTEM ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
I ALSO DON'T HAVE TO REMIND ANYONE IN THIS ROOM THAT EVEN 500-YEAR FLOODPLAIN DOESN'T MEAN AS MUCH ANYMORE SINCE WE'VE BEEN SEEING THOUSAND YEAR STORMS BECOME ALMOST THE NORM.
THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN A 500-YEAR FLOODPLAIN SHOULD NO LONGER BE A CONSIDERATION.
MS. BEARD, YOUR TIM HAS ELAPSED.
MOVING FORWARD, OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE GABRIEL MILLER, ELIZABETH BOWMAN, AND MILES MAXTER.
WE WILL COME BACK TO THESE FOLKS WHO DO NOT SEEM TO CURRENTLY BE PRESENT, BUT WE'LL BE HEARING FROM ELIZABETH BOWMAN WHO WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
ELIZABETH, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
ELIZABETH BOWMAN, AND I'M A RESEARCH SCIENTIST WORKING AS A FUNGAL ECOLOGIST AT THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY.
MY COMMENTS AND I DO NOT REPRESENT BFL OR UT.
FIRST, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR YOUR TIME, ATTENTION, AND THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF BFL'S FUTURE.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION'S RECOGNITION OF BFL'S IMPORTANCE AND THE EFFORT THAT HAS GONE INTO DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADDRESSING THE FUTURE.
I AM ENCOURAGED TO SEE BFL'S PRESERVATION INCLUDED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS AND SUPPORT AND ECHO ALL THE COMMENTS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE GIVEN TONIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT AND HIGHLIGHT ONE THING.
I ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION TO EXPLICITLY RECOMMEND PERMANENT PROTECTION OF THE ENTIRETY OF BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT BFL'S SCIENTIFIC VALUE IS NOT CONCENTRATED IN ITS BUILDING OR ANY ONE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY.
ITS ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH VALUE IS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE SITE WITH DIFFERENT AREAS HOSTING DISTINCT PLANTS AND ANIMAL COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTS, WHICH WE SAW IN MEREDITH'S IMAGE.
LOSING A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY WOULD MEAN A LOSS OF THIS DIVERSITY IN AN ENTITY'S LONG-TERM DATA SETS THAT HAVE BEEN GENERATED.
THESE ARE NOT RESOURCES THAT CAN SIMPLY BE RELOCATED OR RECREATED ELSEWHERE.
PRESERVING ONLY A PORTION OF BFL DOES NOT PRESERVE ITS TRUE VALUE.
ITS VALUE WOULD BE LOST DISPROPORTIONATELY AS THE PROPERTY IS REDUCED.
I THEREFORE ASK THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT SUBDIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL REDUCE THE EXISTING ACREAGE OR COMPROMISE THAT ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY AND RESEARCH FUNCTION OF BFL.
I'D LIKE TO REPEAT THE REQUEST FOR MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THIS.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION'S EFFORTS AND ASK THAT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS MAKE CLEAR THAT PRESERVING BFL MEANS PROTECTING THE ENTIRE PROPERTY INTACT AND IN PERPETUITY, AS WE'VE HEARD MULTIPLE TIMES TONIGHT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MILES MAXER, WHO WILL JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
MILES, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MY NAME IS MILES MAXER AND I AM THE CEO OF TRAPSHAW LABS.
MY BACKGROUND IS IN INVASIVE ANT ECOLOGY AND SCIENCE POLICY.
AS AN UNAFFILIATED COLLEAGUE, I AM EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY TO RESEARCH, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS.
BFL WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE 1960S WITH A GRANT FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THROUGH THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
THIS SET THE STAGE FOR DECADES OF IMPACTFUL RESEARCH AND TRAINING.
SITES LIKE BFL ARE VALUABLE PRECISELY BECAUSE THEY ARE STUDIED OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
AND TEXAS TAXPAYERS, AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AT LARGE, REASONABLY EXPECT CONTINUITY FOR THESE INVESTMENTS.
THE FIELD LAB CONTINUES TO BE INTEGRAL TO INVASIVE SPECIES RESEARCH, AND IN PARTICULAR, THAT OF INVASIVE ANTS, WHICH COST THE STATE OF TEXAS MORE THAN $1.2 BILLION EVERY YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS FARM BUREAU AND THE USDA.
MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS HAVE SUPPORTED ANT RESEARCH AT BFL, AND THOSE STUDIES HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES, TALK ABOUT SOME SERIOUS RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
THE LOSS OF BFL'S CURRENT CAMPUS AND RESEARCH TRACKS WOULD COME AT IMMENSE ECONOMIC AND BIOLOGICAL COST FOR TEXAS.
IN 2023, THE LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC GIFT IN THE HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES WAS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S FIELD LABORATORY NETWORK, OF WHICH BFL WAS THE FIRST.
BFL WAS ALSO MY INTRODUCTION TO AUSTIN AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AND IT WAS CLEAR THEN THAT ITS BIODIVERSITY HOLDS IMMENSE PROMISE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
[02:45:01]
AND TEACHING.FAST TRACKED DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SITE WOULD BE AN INSULT TO THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS AND TAXPAYERS, INVESTMENTS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR ITS PRESERVATION AND UTILITY TO THE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH AND TEACHING COMMUNITIES.
I COMMENT IN OPPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT, AND I ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION, CITY COUNCIL, AND UNIVERSITY TO TAKE MORE TIME TO ENGAGE CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE NEW YEAR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALISON SHELLENBERG WHO WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY, BUT SHE'S NOT CURRENTLY IN OUR QUEUE, SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, KELLY PIERCE, ASPEN FRENCH, AND HOWLAND SHU.
UM, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE VOICES OF, UH, MY PEERS WHO'VE SPOKEN PREVIOUSLY AND WHO ARE YET TO ADDRESS YOU.
I AM A GRADUATE OF UT'S ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND BEHAVIOR PHD PROGRAM, AND I WANNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH YOU ALL ABOUT HOW BFL HAS IMPACTED MY LIFE AND, AND THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE PREVIOUS, UH, SPEAKERS MENTIONED THAT STUDENTS WHO STUDY FIELD ECOLOGY AT BFL STUDY AN ACRE.
SO EACH STUDENT IN THIS COURSE GETS ASSIGNED AN ACRE, AND FOR THE SEMESTER, THEY HAVE TO INVENTORY ALL OF THE BIODIVERSITY THAT THEY CAN FIND.
SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY GOOD AT THIS, SOME OF THEM ABSOLUTELY HATE IT, BUT ALL OF THEM LEARN REALLY VALUABLE LESSONS ABOUT THE INTERCONNECTIVITY OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND NATURAL SYSTEMS. MANY OF THE GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM, UH, THE AL- ALUMS OF THIS COURSE DON'T GO ON TO BE PRACTICING ECOLOGISTS.
I, MYSELF, EVEN THOUGH I GOT A PHD IN ECOLOGY, I'M NOT AN ECOLOGIST ANYMORE IN MY HEART, BUT NOT PROFESSIONALLY.
UH, YOU CARRY THESE LESSONS WITH YOU, AND SO THE IMPACT OF BFL ISN'T JUST IN ITS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OUTPUT, IT'S IN THE MINDSETS THAT IT SHAPES IN ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE PROPERTY AND DO WORK ON IT, WHETHER THEY BECOME ECOLOGISTS OR HEALTHCARE WORKERS OR TEACHERS OR LAWYERS.
AND SO I WANT TO URGE YOU TO LET THE NEXT GENERATION OF STUDENTS CONTINUE WRITING CHAPTERS TO THIS LONG STORY OF A FIELD STATION THAT'S CHANGING AS THE CITY AROUND IT CHANGES.
I'M HAPPY TO ADD MY VOICE, UH, IN, IN OPPOSITION OF THE AMENDMENT, UH, TO REDEVELOP THE TRACT, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
WE'LL NOW BE HEARING FROM ASPEN FRISCH.
MY NAME IS ASPEN FRISCH, AND I'M AN UNDERGRAD AT UT STUDYING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.
I'M CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN A RESEARCH PROJECT UNDER DR.
ELIZABETH BOWMAN ABOUT, UH, BFL'S LICHEN DIVERSITY.
I COULD SPEAK TO HOW BFL HAS CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF MY ACADEMIC CAREER, OR I COULD SPEAK TO ITS INCREDIBLE BIODIVERSITY, BUT INSTEAD, I WANNA TOUCH ON THE POLITICAL CONTEXT IN WHICH THE BRACKENRIDGE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS BEING MADE.
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, UH, IN MY OPINION, UT'S ADMINISTRATION HAS BECOME MORE BRAZENLY PROFIT-DRIVEN THAN EVER BEFORE AND MORE ENTRENCHED IN THE CONSERVATIVE POLITICS OF ITS DONORS.
UT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE DISSOLUTION OF MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES, BLACK STUDIES, AND WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES, AND JUST LAST YEAR, THE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE BRAND NEW SCHOOL OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP, A COLLEGE BORN OUT OF A CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK CALLED THE CIVITAS INSTITUTE.
WHILE THESE EVENTS MAY SEEM UNRELATED TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, THEY POINT TO A WIDER PATTERN OF PROFIT AND POLITICS BEING PRIORITIZED OVER ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WITH VERY LITTLE INPUT FROM THE DEPARTMENTS BEING AFFECTED, AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW WITH THE INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AND BFL.
WE RECEIVED WORD TODAY FROM UT'S BIODIVERSITY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT THE UNIVERSITY INTENDS TO QUOTE, "RETAIN PORTIONS OF THE TRACT TO PRESERVE AREAS FOR RESEARCH AND BIODIVERSITY EDUCATION," END QUOTE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORDING OF THIS STATEMENT.
WILL BFL CONTINUE TO EXIST IN ITS ENTIRETY AND OPERATE IN THE CAPACITY THAT IT CURRENTLY DOES, OR WILL PORTIONS OF IT BE SHAVED OFF, CAUSING IRREPARABLE LOSS OF THE HABITATS THAT MAKE UP ITS LANDSCAPE? I SPEAK FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS WHEN I SAY THAT I DON'T TRUST THE UNIVERSITY TO ACT IN OUR BEST INTEREST HERE.
UH, THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS MEETING AT 9:00 AM ON NOVEMBER 19TH BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT NOON, AND THEY HAVEN'T PUBLISHED THEIR AGENDA YET, BUT WE SUSPECT THAT THEY'LL BE DISCUSSING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
SO IF THE AGREEMENT THEN PASSES AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE FUTURE OF BFL WILL BE ENTIRELY IN THE UNIVERSITY'S HANDS.
[02:50:01]
STRONGLY URGE THE COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND DELAYING THE VOTE AND ADDING A PROVISION FOR THE FULL PROTECTION OF THE FIELD LAB IN PERPETUITY.WE'LL NOW BE HEARING FROM SALON XU.
I AM A UT GRAD STUDENT AND A VOLUNTEER WITH THE TEXAS NATURALISTS, AND MY OPINIONS, UH, AND THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN.
UM, YEAH, I, I WANTED TO, UH, DISCUSS FURTHER, JUST LIKE LAST MONTH, UM, ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LAB IS, NOT ONLY TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, OF SCIENTISTS AND VOLUNTEERS HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, BUT ALSO TO MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A VOLUNTEER AS WELL.
FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, UM, UM, I HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING FROM SMITHVILLE ALL THE WAY TO HILL COUNTRY, AND I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DAMAGE TO THE WATER TABLE, THE WATERSHED, AND THE RIPARIAN ZONES AROUND THE TEXAS COLORADO RIVER.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HEAT SHOCK, A LOT OF, UH, NON-MITIGATION FOR EROSION CONTROL, AND AS THE SUPER EL NINO CONTINUES, AS WELL AS SIMILAR WEATHER PATTERNS, FLOODING IS A MAJOR CONCERN.
I HAVE PICTURES OF MY TIME AT THE SURVEYS AT THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LAB, WHICH ARE OVER THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE CAN SEE, UM, AND I'LL BE MOVING THROUGH.
UM, SO THIS IS THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LAB.
THIS IS A BRIEF GLIMPSE AT THE 82 ACRES.
UM, LIKE PEOPLE HAVE SAID, THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,000 SPECIES HERE AND INTERACT ALSO WITH THE SPECIES, BOTH FLORA AND FAUNA AROUND THE AREA.
UH, WE HAVE AN OVER 100-YEAR-OLD PECAN TREE THAT HAS SURVIVED THE 1901 DAM BREAK AND THE FLOODS.
AND WITH THAT, ALSO, WE HAVE, UH, JUST A TREMENDOUS, UH, BIODIVERSITY AND ALSO SPACES THAT THIS IS JUST A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE RESEARCH BEING DONE AT THIS PLACE IS SO SITE SPECIFIC THAT TO CHANGE IT WOULD ALSO BE TO CHANGE 60 YEARS OF HISTORICAL TEXAS, UT, AND, UM, CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH THAT CANNOT BE UNDONE.
UM, SO I, I PRESS FOR POSTPONEMENT AND YES, THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT TH - OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE CARALIE CORBIEL, WALKER MOORE, AND ANNIE KRESS, IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH CARLY CORBIEL, WHO WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS CARALIE CORBIEL, AND I'M A CITIZEN HERE OF AUSTIN AND A FORMER EMPLOYEE AT BRACKENRIDGE, BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB.
UM, I WILL CUT MY SESSIONS SHORT BECAUSE I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE ME, BUT I JUST WANT TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT AN ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE HERE.
SO PREVIOUSLY WORKING AT BFL, UM, I USED ITS RESEARCH FACILITIES.
UM, I COLLECTED SAMPLES IN ANOTHER PART OF TEXAS AND BROUGHT THEM BACK TO BFL, UH, FOR PROCESSING.
AND SO THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE AT BFL, AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE VALUE OF THIS FIELD STATION, UM, EXTENDS FAR BEYOND ITS ACTUAL BOUNDARIES.
UM, IT PROVIDES INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES, AND RESOURCES THAT ENABLE SCIENTISTS TO CONDUCT ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH FROM ACROSS TEXAS.
SO, UM, LOSING THIS TRACT WOULD, UH, LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY CON - TO CONNECT WITH OTHER RESEAR- RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE STATE, AND IT WOULD BE A BIG LOSS FOR TEXAS, AS WELL AS AUSTIN.
UM, SO I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE GOLF COURSE, AND I SUPPORT THAT GOAL.
HOWEVER, I JUST, UH, AGREE WITH EVERYTHING BEFORE ME, EVERYONE BEFORE ME, AND WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, UH, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SACRIFICE THIS ONE, UM, COMMUNITY RESOURCE TO PROTECT ANOTHER.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE F - TO PUSH FOR THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE AND THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF BFL.
WE'LL NOW BE HEARING FROM WALKER MOORE.
I'M A JUNIOR AT UT, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK HERE TODAY ABOUT SOMETHING I CARE ABOUT.
UM, I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT MY EXPERIENCES AT UT FIELD STATIONS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MOST FORMATIVE AND INSPIRING PARTS OF THE PAST THREE YEARS OF MY LIFE.
I AM CURRENTLY TAKING THE CLASS FIELD ECOLOGY AT BFL, WHERE WE GET TO STUDY THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE FIELD WITH REAL RESEARCH METHODS.
I INTEND TO GO TO GRAD SCHOOL AND DEDICATE MY LIFE TO ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND THE PROTECTION OF ECOSYSTEMS, SO THIS FIELD EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN BY FAR THE MOST USEFUL PART OF MY DEGREE.
[02:55:01]
ON AN ECOLOGY-RELATED CAREER PATH, THIS SORT OF EXPERIENCE IS NON-OPTIONAL AND, AND EDUCATION WITHOUT IT WOULD BE INADEQUATE.IF UT GETS RID OF BFL, I MIGHT POINT PROSPECTIVE ECOLOGY STUDENTS TO A&M.
BFL ALREADY DOES THIS AND IS BY FAR THE MOST ACCESSIBLE OF UT'S FIELD STATIONS.
10,000 PRISTINE ACRES IN WEST TEXAS WOULDN'T BE ADEQUATE, AN ADEQUATE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE BFL IS RIGHT HERE AND PEOPLE CAN BIKE AND BUST TO IT, AND FIRST GRADERS CAN TOUR IT.
POINT OUT THAT BFL'S LOCATION IN AUSTIN MAKES IT, MAKES ITS RESEARCH DIRECTLY APPLICABLE TO THE REST OF AUSTIN.
IF WE WANT RESEARCH-INFORMED STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING OUR LOCAL PARKS, GREEN SPACES, OR EVEN LANDSCAPING, WE HAVE NOWHERE BETTER TO LOOK THAN BFL.
UT'S MOTTO IS WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD, AND I THINK IF THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW ANY COMMITMENT TO THIS STATEMENT, THEY SHOULD PROBABLY PRESERVE THE FIELD STATION THAT HAS ALREADY CHANGED THE WORLD WITH GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED RESEARCH, IS ACTIVELY CHANGING THE WORLD WITH ONGOING STUDIES AND HABITAT RESTORATION AND INVASIVE SPECIES, AND SO MUCH MORE, AND WILL CHANGE THE WORLD IF IT DOESN'T GET TURNED INTO A PAWN SHOP.
PLEASE PUT PERMANENT PROTECTION AROUND BFL.
WE'LL NOW BE HEARING FROM ANNIE KRESS, WHO WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK, BUT IF WE COULD HAVE RYAN NILL AND JENNA HAYNES COME FORWARD.
I WANTED TO START BY THANKING YOU ALL FOR TAKING...
FOR LISTENING TO OUR COMMENTS TODAY AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF BFL'S FUTURE.
MY NAME IS ANNIE KRESS, AND I'M A PHD CANDIDATE AT UT, AND ALL OF MY COMMENTS ARE MY OWN AND ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNIVERSITY.
FIELD STATIONS LIKE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB ARE...
SERVE AS A GATHERING PLACE TO LEARN FROM THE NATURAL WORLD, ADVANCED RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AND INSPIRE COMMUNITIES.
THEY OFFER RESEARCH EXPERIENCES WHICH DRIVE DISCOVERIES AND SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT TEXAS AND BEYOND.
AND BFL SUPPORTS LONG-TERM RESEARCH AND EDUCATION THROUGH IMMERSIVE FIELD EXPERIENCES, WHICH WE'VE HEARD ABOUT TONIGHT, AND THEY FEATURE STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES FOR DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.
IT IS WHERE STUDENTS, SCIENTISTS, AND CITIZENS WORK TOGETHER TO LEARN FROM THE PLACE, AND THAT IS WHY PROTECTING THAT PLACE IS SO CRITICAL.
BFL IS ESPECIALLY UNIQUE AS IT IS INCREDIBLY ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRUE OF MOST FIELD STATIONS.
AS WE'VE HEARD THIS EVENING, INVOLVEMENT IN REAL RESEARCH IS INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL TO STUDENTS, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT BFL IS VALUABLE AND HAS A LASTING IMPACT ON ALL OF ITS VISITORS.
THIS WIDE-REACHING IMPACT IS ONLY EXISTING BECAUSE OF HOW CENTRAL AND ACCESSIBLE BFL IS FOR ALL OF AUSTIN.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
BFL IS HOME TO NUMEROUS PUBLIC EVENTS, SUCH AS SCIENCE UNDER THE STARS, THE BFL OPEN HOUSE, BIOBLITZ, AND ALL OF THESE ELICIT AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE SCIENCE WITH PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, AGES, AND EDUCATION LEVELS.
THESE EVENTS ARE ALWAYS WELL ATTENDED AND HAVE EVEN BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE CURRICULUM OF SOME OF THE LOCAL AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOLS.
IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN, YOU WOULD BE, UM, WELL AWARE THAT THESE EVENTS ARE RE- REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THEY ALLOW US TO EXPERIENCE THE INCREDIBLE BIODIVERSITY WITHIN OUR CITY.
AND IF YOU HAVE YET TO ATTEND, I INVITE YOU TO COME TO SCIENCE UNDER THE STARS THIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH AT 7:00 PM AT BFL.
WE'LL NOW BE HEARING FROM ANGELA YANG, WHO'LL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
ANGELA, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
IS RYAN NILL PRESENT? WE'LL BE HEARING FROM JENNA HAYNES.
JENNA, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UM, MY NAME IS JENNA HAYNES, AND I'M A PHD STUDENT IN ECOLOGY AT UT AUSTIN.
MY COMMENTS TODAY ARE MY OWN, AND I DO NOT REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND FOR BEING OPEN TO OUR SUGGESTIONS.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF US TODAY, SO I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET.
UM, I WANTED TO USE MY TIME TO SHARE A PERSONAL STORY ABOUT WHAT BFL MEANS TO ME.
UM, I HAD MY FIRST EXPERIENCE BFL DURING
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MY JUNIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE, I WAS LOOKING TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN RESEARCH AFTER SWITCHING MY FOCUS FROM PRE-MED.AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND RESEARCH POSITIONS THAT WOULD TAKE SOMEBODY WITH NO EXPERIENCE, BUT I REACHED OUT TO THE FIELD STATION MANAGER AT BFL AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY ALWAYS HAD WORK TO BE DONE.
FOR MONTHS, I CAME TO THE FIELD LAB AND WORKED ON A PROJECT INVOLVING PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND MAP CREATION.
AND THAT EXPERIENCE WAS FORMATIVE IN MY ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE AFTER GRADUATION, I WAS OFFERED A POSITION AS LAB MANAGER AT BFL.
AND DURING THAT TIME, I DEVELOPED THE FOUNDATION FOR MY RESEARCH SKILLS AND INTERESTS.
I LEARNED HOW TO MENTOR OTHERS AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE INCREDIBLE SCIENTISTS.
AND AFTERWARDS, I WENT INTO THE PHD PROGRAM AT UT.
I CAN VERY CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT I WOULD NOT BE WHERE I AM TODAY WITHOUT THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE AT BFL.
BUT HOPEFULLY TONIGHT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THAT MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE.
BFL HAS SERVED AS THE STARTING POINT FOR SO MANY CAREERS.
AND IF IT IS PROTECTED, IT COULD BE THE START OF MANY MORE.
I'M ASKING THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO SUPPORT A DELAY OF THE DECISION UNTIL JUNE 20- 2027 AFTER BFL'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND I ALSO HOPE THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL SUPPORT PROTECTIONS FOR BFL SO THAT GENERATIONS TO COME CAN ENJOY THE FIELD STATION.
OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE SAM MATTHEW, STEVEN WANT, AND SHARON LYNCH.
AND WE'LL FIRST BE HEARING FROM SAM MATTHEW, WHO WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MY NAME IS SAM MATTHEW AND I'M A GRADUATE STUDENT STUDYING PLANT ECOLOGY AT UT AUSTIN.
I'M SPEAKING IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY AND I DO NOT REPRESENT UT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS AND SHOWING GENUINE CARE FOR THE FUTURE OF BFL.
I WORKED THERE FOR THREE YEARS RESEARCHING INVASIVE SPECIES AND PLANT GENETICS THAT ADDRESS SOME OF THE ECOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL CHALLENGES FACING TEXAS.
AND BFL WAS WHERE I DECIDED TO PURSUE MY PHD, OR WAS THE REASON I DECIDED TO PURSUE MY PHD AT UT.
MY CURRENT RESEARCH ON INVASIVE SPECIES THAT THREATEN TEXAS RANGELANDS BUILDS ON YEARS OF WORK AT BFL THAT CANNOT BE RECREATED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I GREW UP IN AUSTIN AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
BFL CONNECT, CONNECTS RESIDENTS WITH SCIENTISTS IN THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS WITHIN OUR CITY AND IS PART OF WHAT MAKES BFL SPECIAL, OR PART OF WHAT MAKES AUSTIN SPECIAL TO ME AND WHY I'VE CHOSEN TO STAY.
I SUPPORT PRESERVING MUNI AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK IN A PUBLIC GREEN SPACE AND I SUPPORT PROTECTING BFL.
THESE GOALS ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE BOTH.
LONG-TERM RESEARCH REQUIRES LONG-TERM CERTAINTY.
WITHOUT LASTING PROTECTIONS, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT BFL'S FUTURE COULD DISCOURAGE LONG-TERM RESEARCH AND INSTRUCTORS FROM DEVELOPING COURSES THAT DEPEND ON THE SITE.
I SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S PROPOSED 50-YEAR PROTECTION FOR BFL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE PROTECTIONS GO FURTHER, ENSURING THE ENTIRETY OF BFL REMAINS INTACT AND PROTECTED IN PERPETUITY.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT DELAYING THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE UNTIL JUNE 2027 AFTER BFL'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY TO ALLOW TIME TO EVALUATE THE AGREEMENT AND ESTABLISH LASTING PROTECTIONS.
PROTECTING BFL IS NOT JUST ABOUT PROTECTING 82 ACRES OF LAND, IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING DECADES OF SCIENTIFIC INVESTMENT THAT BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITIES AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SCIENTISTS.
I HOPE THESE PROTECTIONS ENSURE THAT FUTURE STUDENTS HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY I HAD TO DISCOVER THEIR PASSION FOR SCIENCE AND PURSUE A CAREER THEY LOVE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STEVEN WONT.
HEY, I THINK I MISSPELLED MY NAME.
I'M A GRADUATE STUDENT AT UT AUSTIN.
MY THOUGH CRIMES ARE MY OWN AND NOT UT'S.
SOMETHING WE TEAR OUR HAIR OUT ABOUT IN EDUCATION IS HOW TO NOT LOSE STUDENTS BEFORE THEY EVER STEP INTO AN ECOLOGY CLASSROOM.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT BFL, I'VE, I'VE BEEN A BENEFICIARY OF THAT.
UM, I FIRST ARRIVED AT BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LAB ON NOVEMBER 17TH, 2017.
I WAS FASCINATED BY AN INVASIVE ANTS SWEEPING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON.
LIKE BIKE LANES AND GREEN BELTS, SOMETHING THAT HOUSTON AND A&M DON'T HAVE IS A DEDICATED URBAN FIELD LAB WITH A RICH HISTORY OF INVASIVE ANT RESEARCH.
I DROVE THE TWO AND A HALF HOURS OVER AWAY FROM GOOD CHINESE FOOD AND INTO THE OLD RANDALL'S PARKING LOT.
I SAW THE CAR SIZE LEAF CUTTER NEST, THE SECOND LARGEST INSECT COLLECTION IN THE STATE, AND EVEN THE TATTERED FIRE ANT BATTLE MAP FROM THE ANTS SWEEPING THROUGH AUSTIN IN THE 80S.
IT DAWNED ON ME AT THE TIME THAT A LOT OF THE ECOLOGY I'D SKIMMED ON GOOGLE SCHOLAR HAD HAPPENED AT BFL, OUTSTANDING ON LIVING HISTORY.
I ACTUALLY LEFT THE ENGINEERING TRACK AND I GOT A DEGREE IN ENTOMOLOGY OUTSIDE OF THE STATE BECAUSE OF IT.
UH, I GOT TO WORK ON THE SAME INVASIVE BIGHEADED AMP BACK AT BFL IN
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2019, UH, OVER THE SUMMER.AND OVER THE COVID PANDEMIC, I AGAIN VISITED BFL TO COLLECT AN ANT ENDEMIC TO THE LIMESTONE OF CENTRAL TEXAS.
UM, I HOPE THAT THE CITY IS ABLE TO TAKE THEIR NEWFOUND BARGAINING POWER AND WORK TO PRESERVE BFL IN PERPETUITY.
UH, THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU.
IS SHARON LYNCH PRESENT? OKAY.
MOVING ON TO OUR LAST THREE SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE PEDRO HERNANDEZ, COREY EARP, AND BEATRICE ANDERSON.
MY NAME IS PEDRO HERNANDEZ AND I'M A PROJECT COORDINATOR WITH PODER, PEOPLE ORGANIZED IN DEPENDENT RESOURCES.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION TO VOICE OUR FULL SUPPORT FOR THE STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FIGHTING TO SAVE THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LAB.
MAKING THE CASE FOR PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND ALL THE WAYS THAT IT IMPACTS US, THE LAB AND ITS RESEARCHERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED A GREAT DEAL IN THE, A GREAT DEAL TO ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN EAST AUSTIN.
THROUGH A RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JACKSON SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES, BODE HAS BEEN, HAS SEEN HOW DEVELOPMENT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SIGNIFICANT EROSION OF THE COLORADO RIVER BY THE MONTOPOLIS AND AUSTIN COLONIES NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE EROSION ALONE IS A CAUSE FOR GREAT CONCERN, BUT IT'S ALSO RAISED FLAGS ON HOW AN IMPERVIOUS COVER HAS CONTRIBUTED TO INCREASED FLOODING AND TEMPERATURES IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE DO NOT NEED LUXURY CONDO COMPLEXES OR SHOPPING CENTERS THAT COULD CAUSE THE SAME PROBLEMS ALONG ANOTHER PART OF THE RIVER, ESPECIALLY NOT TO, NOT TO REPLACE A FIELD STATION THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTING PRICELESS RESEARCH FOR OVER 60 YEARS.
ARE COREY HERB OR BEATRICE ANDERSON PRESENT? I'LL GO THROUGH THE LIST OF NAMES THAT WERE MISSED.
HOPEFULLY SOME PEOPLE HAVE JOINED US.
WE HAVE EDWARD LEBRUN, CHRISTOPHER MAI, BECKY WOODWARD.
BECKY, WE'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BECKY WOODWARD.
I'M A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT, AFSCME MEMBER AND RECENTLY ELECTED SECRETARY OF THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION.
I'M ALSO A BOARD ADVISOR TO A LOCAL MASTER NATURALIST CHAPTER.
AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE STATED, THIS LAB WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE 1960S.
IT HAS A UNIQUE ABILITY TO SHOW LONG-TERM EFFECTS.
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, BUT ARGUABLY ACROSS THE GLOBE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CONSERVATION LAWS, THEY ALWAYS SAY WE NEED LONG-TERM STUDIES.
WE'VE ALREADY CROSSED 1.5 DEGREES AND CONTINENTAL LANDS WARM MUCH MORE THAN THE OCEANS.
WE'RE EXPERIENCING GLOBAL LOSS UNPRECEDENTED, INCLUDING AT THE MONARCH SANCTUARY, IN MONGOLIA, ARGENTINA, FRANCE, ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THIS PLACE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR INVASIVE ANT RESEARCH PROFESSIONALLY.
WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT ANTS? WELL, WE GOT AN ENDANGERED BIRD HERE.
WHAT DOES THE BIRD EAT BUGS? WHAT DO THE ANTS EAT BUGS? ANTS FORAGE ON THE GROUND AND THEY GO UP INTO THE TREES, THEY KILL THE BIRD FOOD, THEY GO DOWN INTO THE CAVE, THEY KILL OUR ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THE RESEARCH GOING ON AT THIS LAB HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED, REVOLUTIONIZED HOW WE MANAGE INVASIVE ANTS ON THE LANDSCAPE.
THIS PLACE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND AUSTIN HAS A FANTASTIC MARKET FOR ECOLOGICAL DRAW, JOBS.
WE KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AT BRACKEN, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE SUSANNA METCALF, AJ MARTZ, ROBERT METCALF, GABRIEL MILLER, ALISON SHELLENBERG, BRIAN NILL, SHARON LYNCH, COREY ERB, BEATRICE ANDERSON, AND ANGELA YANG.
[03:10:01]
MS. YANG, ARE YOU IN OUR QUEUE? IF SO, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.IT SHOWS SHE'S ONLINE, SO I WANNA GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, BUT SHE MAY HAVE STEPPED AWAY.
ANGELA, YOU'RE UNMUTED, SO WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
MS. YANG, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY, YOU ARE WELCOME TO AS WELL.
AND MOVING FORWARD, THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM, BUT I DO WANNA STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT WE HAD A TOTAL OF 89 PEOPLE WHO REGISTERED IN OPPOSITION WHO DESIGNATED THEMSELVES TO NOT SPEAK.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE WILL NOT BE READING ALL 89 NAMES, BUT THEY WILL BE POSTED TO BACK UP, NOT TOMORROW BECAUSE THE VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY, BUT THURSDAY MORNING BY 10:00 AM.
SO THAT'LL BE LIVE FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS WHO ARE STILL HERE WITH US AT 9:15.
UH, WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT GOLF AT OUR LAST MEETING, AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT ANTS AT THIS ONE, SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU.
AS A REMINDER, THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM AND WE WON'T NEED TO TAKE A VOTE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE ALSO ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE ACTION VOTING ON THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, AND WE CANNOT CONTROL WHETHER COUNCIL DECIDES TO POSTPONE THIS AGREEMENT.
ALL WE CAN DO AS A COMMISSION AT THIS POINT IS MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL.
WE WEREN'T EVEN ASKED TO DO THAT, BUT WE, WE FORCED OUR WAY INTO THE PROCESS.
UM, SO HERE'S HOW I'M PROPOSING TO WORK THROUGH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I THINK WE SHOULD START WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED AHEAD OF TIME AS A REMINDER TO COMMISSIONERS.
IT MAKES OUR STAFF'S LIVES A LOT EASIER TO SUBMIT THEM AHEAD OF TIME, AND THEREFORE YOU'RE GONNA GET PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT AS WE WORK THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'D LIKE TO READ THOSE ALL OUT, AND THEN IF COMMISSIONERS WANT TO PULL ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE CAN TAKE THOSE OUT, VOTE ON ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE NOT PULLED AS KIND OF A CONSENT PACKAGE, AND THEN TALK THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED SPECIFICALLY, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO DAY OF RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I'LL JUST MOVE DOWN THE LIST OF COMMISSIONERS AND SEE IF FOLKS HAVE DAY OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE PROCESS WILL WORK? OKAY.
LET'S GO THROUGH AND READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE SHARED AHEAD OF TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PULLING UP THOSE ON OUR SCREEN.
SO, COMMISSIONER AHMED, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THE SIX THAT YOU AND I WORKED ON TOGETHER? ABSOLUTELY.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS A GENERAL RECOMMENDATION TO ENSURE THE CONVEYANCE OF LYONS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBLE PUBLIC USE BEYOND GOLF, SUCH AS OPENING THE PROPERTY AS GENERAL PARKLAND AT DESIGNATED TIMES AND OFFERING PROGRAMMING FOR NON-GOLFERS.
AND YOU CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND READ DOWN THE LIST, AND THEN IF WE, IF ANY ARE PULLED, WE'LL COME BACK AND DISCUSS THEM IN MORE DE- DETAIL.
NUMBER TWO IS INCREASE THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT TO AT LEAST 200 FEET AND REMOVE THE PROVISION CAPPING ALL BUILDINGS AT 65 FEET AS MEASURED FROM LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD, WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE LIMIT THAT INCREASE.
THIRD IS, REQUIRE THAT ALL TURS REQUIRED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALL REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING CURRENTLY ON THE TRACT BE LOCATED EITHER ONSITE OR WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TERS.
FOURTH IS ENSURE THE TERS HAS A NET POSITIVE FINANCE, UH, SORRY, NET POSITIVE FISCAL IMPACT ON THE CITY OVER ITS TERM, AND THAT UPFRONT INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS ARE FUNDED BY UT OR ITS DEVELOPERS AND REIMBURSED ONLY IN THE FORM OF TAX INCREMENT, UH, ACTUAL COLLECTED WITHOUT THE CITY ISSUING BONDS.
THE FIFTH IS ENSURE NON-UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT ON THE TRACT ALIGNS WITH AUSTIN'S STRATEGIC PLAN, INCLUDING REQUIRING UT TO GRANT A PUBLIC EASEMENT WITHIN THE LADYBIRD LAKE, UH, LAKE SETBACK FOR FUTURE EXTENSION OF THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
AND THE SIXTH ONE IS PRESERVE THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY BY EXCLUDING ITS LAND FROM NON-UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT OR SECURING UT'S COMMITMENT TO KEEP IT AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION.
COMMISSIONER BRETON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THROUGH YOURS? HAPPILY.
THE FIRST IS ENSURE CONVEYANCES OF THE LAND CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY THE LYONS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE AND THE WEST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY TO THE CITY ARE BROAD ENOUGH TO FACILITATE ONLY THE CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY.
ACCEPTABLE USES FOR THE LAND SHOULD BE DETERMINED AND CODIFIED BY THE CITY ONLY.
TWO, AS A PART OF ESTABLISHING A
[03:15:01]
TURS, I JUST RECOGNIZED I MISSPELLED THAT.AS A PART OF ESTABLISHING A TURS, INCLUDE NON-CAR-ORIENTED TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PRELIMINARY PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A CONTINUOUS ADA COMPLIANT PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ACCESSIBLE BOARDWALK ALONG THE LENGTH OF LADYBIRD LAKE BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ROWING CENTER AND THE EMMETT SHELTON BRIDGE.
THREE, TO INCENTIVIZE THE PRESERVATION OF THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY, BFL, AND MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE TURS PRELIMINARY PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN.
A, AMEND THE PRIMARY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THE AREAS CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY THE BRACKENRIDGE APARTMENTS, COLORADO APARTMENTS, AND BOULEVARD AT TOWN LAKE TO REFLECT THE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OF THE CITY'S CBD ZONING DISTRICT.
AND B, IDENTIFY THE BFL AND ASSOCIATED AREAS OF RESEARCH AS A ZONE WITH RESTRICTED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS FOR BUILDINGS NOT USED FOR LONG-TERM RESEARCH AND EXCLUDE THIS ZONE FROM ANY TRANSFER OF ENTITLEMENTS.
COMMISSIONER HANEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THROUGH YOURS? YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
UM, I AM ACTUALLY GONNA WITHDRAW MY RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE.
THAT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT I, IN MY WALMART LEGAL DEGREE, UH, CAME UP WITH, AND I THINK I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE CITY'S LAWYERS AND, UH, UTS.
SO, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, UM, IS, UH, DEFINE IN THE AMENDED AGREEMENT WHAT DEVELOPMENT QUALIFIES AS A UNIVERSITY PURPOSE AND HAVE UT COMMIT NOT TO SEEK A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR LAND AT GROUND LEASES TO PRIVATE PARTIES FOR NON-UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TURS.
UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO REMOVE PAWN SHOP, AUTOMOTIVE SALES, RENTAL AND REPAIR, AND SERVICE STATION AND EXTERMINATING SERVICES FROM THE ALLOWED USES, UH, LISTED IN, UH, STAFF EXHIBITS A1 AND A2.
UM, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS TO CARRY FORWARD THE 1989 AGREEMENTS PROTECTIONS INSIDE THE 200-FOOT LADY BIRD LAKE SETBACK, NO STRUCTURES OR PARKING WITHIN THE FIRST 150 FEET AND IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS OF 15% IN THE FIRST 150 FEET AND 30% IN THE REMAINING 50 FEET, ALONG WITH PROTECTION OF THE RED BUD TRAIL CAPITAL VIEW QUARTER.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS TO CARRY FORWARD SECTION 7.5.
G.13 OF THE 1989 AGREEMENT, WHICH PROVIDES THAT THE BIOLOGICAL FIELD, FIELD LABORATORY, WHICH IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED IN THE 1989 AGREEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY, UM, AS SHOWN ON EXHIBIT A-5 IN THE 1989 AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE DEVELOPED FOR A NON-UNIVERSITY PURPOSE AND APPLY IT FOR THE FULL TERM OF THE AMENDED AGREEMENT.
THE LABORATORY'S ACREAGE SHOULD CONTINUE TO COUNT TOWARDS THE AGGREGATE FLOOR AREA RATIO SO THAT THE UNIVERSITY'S TOTAL DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENT IS UNCHANGED.
DID ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS BEFOREHAND THAT WERE MISSING HERE? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THOSE.
SO IF COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL ANY OF THESE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE CAN TAKE THAT NOW, BUT ALSO IF COMMISSIONERS JUST HAVE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT PRECLUDE THEM FROM PULLING SOMETHING, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE RECOMMENDATION MAKERS AND I'LL JUST OPEN IT UP.
SHOULD WE ASK QUESTIONS FIRST BEFORE WE KNOW IF WE WANNA PULL THEM OR NOT? YES, THAT'S FINE.
IF YOU KNOW YOU WANNA PULL IT, LET'S JUST PULL IT.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANNA PULL IT, ASK THE QUESTION FIRST.
UH, FOR, UH, CHAIR WOODS, YOURS AND PARLIAMENTARIAN.
UM, I THINK POLLING TWO AND FIVE, GIVEN THAT, UH, SOME OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT I HAVE SORT OF OVERLAP WITH THAT, AND I WILL LEAVE IT UP TO Y'ALL'S DISCRETION ON SIX.
UH, WE'VE GOT SOME OVERLAP ON SOME OTHER ONES TOO.
I THINK LET'S GO AHEAD AND PULL SIX AS WELL SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT KIND OF THE OVERLAP BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO PULL COMMISSIONER BRE RAMIREZ.
I WAS GONNA SUGGEST THAT, UM, BASICALLY ONE, TWO, AND THREE OF COMMISSIONER BRENTON'S ARE SIMILAR TO ONE, TWO, AND FIVE OF THE WOODS.
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEAR TO ALSO SAY PULL MINE.
I THINK THEY'RE KIND OF THE SAME, SO MAYBE WE JUST WORK THROUGH THOSE LANGUAGE, THAT LANGUAGE.
SO WE'RE GONNA PULL BRETTON AMENDMENT, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
UH, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL, AND THEN I'M COMING DOWN.
UM, UH, I HAVE A SMALL SUGGESTION REGARDING, UM, AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE FROM, UH, CHAIR WOODS AND PARLIAMENTARIAN AHMED.
AND THEN ACTUALLY, UH, MAY I ALSO REQUEST THAT WE PULL, UH, OR...
YES, NUMBER THREE, UH, UNDER THE HANEY AMENDMENTS.
AND COMMISSIONER SKIDMORE? I, I THINK, UH, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL MAY HAVE JUST PULLED IT NUMBER THREE UNDER THE, YOUR AMENDMENTS.
[03:20:02]
OTHER QUESTIONS OR AMENDMENTS WE WANNA PULL? VICE HANEY.UM, I, I THINK MY AMENDMENTS FOUR AND FIVE KIND OF OVERLAP WITH A FEW OTHER ONES, SO I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND PULL THOSE.
HAVE WE PULLED HANEY FOUR YET? WE HAVE.
COULD WE ALSO DO, UM, UM, WOODS FOUR? YES.
I THINK, I THINK WE MIGHT END UP PULLING ALL OF THESE.
I, I WANNA - NO, WE HAVEN'T PULLED THEM ALL.
WE'RE GONNA PASS A FEW OF THEM.
I'M, I'M REALLY ROOTING FOR IT.
UH, AS, UM, COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ NOTED THAT WE'RE PULLING MY THREE, THEY CORRESPOND WITH NUMBER ONE ON Y'ALL'S, WHICH I DON'T THINK WE'VE PULLED YET, UNLESS YOU AUTOMATICALLY DID THAT AS WE WERE, LIKE, TALKING ABOUT IT.
WELL, ADDING, ADDING ONE TO THE LIST.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR AMENDMENTS WE'D LIKE TO PULL? OKAY.
SO, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE NOT - APOLOGIES.
I REALIZE I'M PRETTY SMALL HERE.
SORRY, WE DID NOT SEE YOU, COMMISSIONER POWELL.
UM, MOSTLY JUST A QUESTION IN TERMS OF PROTOCOL.
IF THERE IS A NEW AMENDMENT TO BE SUBMITTED, WOULD NOW BE THE TIME OR WOULD IT BE BETTER TO DO IT AFTER WE CONSIDER THE PULLED AMENDMENTS? WE WILL GO TO DAY OF AMENDMENTS AFTER WE WORK THROUGH THESE.
CAN WE CLARIFY WHICH ONES HAVE NOT BEEN PULLED? YES.
THE AMENDMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN PULLED IS HANEY TWO.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE ON HANEY AMENDMENT TWO.
UH, WELL, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A BASE MOTION.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONER HANEY, I'LL HAVE YOU RESTATE YOUR RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO.
IT'S, UH, DEFINING THE AMENDED AGREEMENT WHAT DEVELOPMENT QUALIFIES AS A UNIVERSITY PURPOSE, AND HAVE UT COMMIT TO NOT SEEK A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR LAND AT GROUND LEASES TO PRIVATE PARTIES FOR NON-UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TERS.
TAKING THAT AS A MOTION, I'LL GO AHEAD AND SECOND.
THIS NOT BEING PULLED, I'M GONNA ASSUME WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON IT, AND I'M GONNA SAY, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT RECOMMENDATION PASSES.
IF YOU OBJECT, FEEL FREE TO SPEAK UP.
LET'S GO TO OUR AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED.
I THINK LET'S WORK THROUGH THESE KIND OF AS GROUPS OF AMENDMENTS THAT OVERLAP WITH ONE ANOTHER.
SO WE'LL START WITH THE WOODS AHMED AMENDMENT ONE, WHICH OVERLAPS WITH THE BRETTON AMENDMENT ONE.
DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE RECOMMENDATION MAKERS HERE? UM, I GUESS TO THE AMENDMENT MAKERS POTENTIALLY WHO...
CHAIRWOODS, WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO AMENDING YOURS TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE WORDING FROM COMMISSION BRETON'S? I WOULD.
I'LL LOOK TO COMMISSIONER AHMED TO...
YES, WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANNA ADD IN THERE? I THINK THAT OUR, UH, OBJECTIVES ARE ALIGNED HERE, WHICH IS TO ALLOW FOR SOME ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY ONCE THE LAND HAS BEEN CONVEYED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR OPENING UP THE USES IN VERY, VERY REGULATED WAYS, CONSIDERING, OF COURSE, THE, UH, THRUST OF THIS INITIATIVE.
UH, SO POTENTIALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT THE CONVEYANCE DOES NOT BRING IN ANY LANGUAGE TO STATE WHAT KIND OF ACCEPTABLE USES THERE ARE OR WILL BE FOR THAT LAND.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE, UH, ESSENTIALLY, UH, ASKING FOR MORE CITY CONTROL ON HOW THAT IS USED, WHEREAS WE ARE SPECIFICALLY SAYING TO ALLOW OTHER USES FOR THAT PARKLAND, UH, FOR THAT, UH, UH, GOLF COURSE VERSUS - YES.
A- AND WHAT I'LL MENTION IS IF THE CONVEYANCE HAS SOME SORT OF, UH, L- LEGAL TAG ON IT, OF COURSE I DO NOT HAVE THE WALMART LEGAL DEGREE THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER HANEY DOES, OR VICE CHAIR HANEY, UM, IF IT HAS A TAG SAYING, "IT CAN BE ONLY USED FOR THIS PURPOSE OR MUST BE USED IN THIS WAY," RIGHT, THAT YOUR AMENDMENT WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE.
THE WHOLE PURPOSE FOR, UH, I THINK FOR, UH, UH, CHAIR WOODS AND I IS TO ENSURE THAT IT CAN BE USED FOR, UH, MORE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT ABOUT A POSSIBILITY OF FIN - AFTER THE
[03:25:01]
WORDS CITY ONLY, UH, INCLUDING THE LANGUAGE STARTING WITH, "ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC USE." ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBLE PUBLIC USE BEYOND GOLF."ACCEPTABLE USE FOR THE LAND SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY...
DE- DETERMINED AND CODIFIED BY THE CITY ONLY AND ALLOW FOR PUB - FLEXIBLE PUBLIC USE BEYOND GOLF, SUCH AS, WELL, SUCH AS THE REST OF THAT SENTENCE.
ANY OTHER - COMMISSIONER? YES.
VICE CHAIR? I JUST HAVE A QUESTION TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING THE INTENT OF THE AMENDMENT.
SO IN, UH, THE CHAIRWOODS AND PARLIAMENT- PARLIAMENTARIAN AHMED AMENDMENT, IT SEEMS TO ME, UM, THAT THE AM- AMENDMENT'S INTENT IS TO CONVEY THE GOLF COURSE AS A GOLF COURSE, BUT ALLOW FOR OTHER USES ON THAT SITE WHILE IT REMAINS A GOLF COURSE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WAS THE THOUGHT BEHIND IT, YES.
IS THE BRETTON AMENDMENT THE SAME OR IS IT SAYING THAT WE ARE CONVEYING IT FOR ANY POSSIBLE USE? THAT THE CITY SHOULD DETERMINE WHAT THAT USE IS.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE CONVEYED AS, OR HA - DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A GOLF COURSE.
IT CAN BE A PIZZA PARLOR OR WHATEVER REASON.
AND, AND THAT IS WHAT THE BROAD ENOUGH TO FACILITATE ONLY THE CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY, RIGHT? TO, TO NOT PUT A TAG THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO USE IT LIKE THIS, OR THESE ARE THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE USES.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? UH, COMMISSIONER GANNON.
SO, UM, I- I ALSO AM, AM TRYING TO GET CLARITY.
UM, IN THE WOODS AHMED, UH, UH, RECOMMENDATION, IF IN THE FUTURE, SAY, OUR, OUR, OUR WATERSTRAP FUTURE, WE DECIDE THAT GOLF IS NO LONGER THE THING THAT WE WANNA DO ON THIS LAND, WOULD IT BE...
COULD WE USE THAT LAND FOR SOMETHING BEYOND A PARK? COULD IT BE DEVELOPED, UH, FOR HOUSING OR, OR COMMERCIAL USES IN, IN YOURS? I WOULD SAY THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY OUR INTENT.
UH, THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS LARGE PIECE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY IS AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AT SOME POINTS, NOT STRICTLY GOLFERS.
WE'RE TRYING TO BROADEN IT, BUT I THINK YOUR CONCERN IS MORE, UH, MORE, UH, ADDRESSED WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER BRETTON'S EDITS, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROPOSING TO PUT IT TOGETHER, RIGHT? OKAY.
UH, SO THAT, UH, THERE IS THIS IDEA THAT WE WANT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT AREN'T GOLFERS TO BE ABLE TO USE IT, BUT THERE IS FLEXIBILITY FOR OTHER USES POTENTIALLY - OKAY.
IN THE FUTURE IF NEED BE, UH, AND THE CITY WOULD HAVE THAT CONTROL.
SO I GUESS IS, IS THE - IS THAT CORRECT, COMMISSIONER BRETTON? MAY, MAY I CLARIFY JUST QUICKLY? PLEASE.
SO, UH, TO BE CLEAR, IF THE CITY, BASED ON OUR PUBLIC PROCESS, DECIDES THAT THE USE FOR THIS LAND SHOULD ONLY BE ONE WAY, SUCH AS A GOLF COURSE, THAT'S THE CITY'S CHOICE.
I WANT IT TO BE THE CITY'S CHOICE, NOT NECESSARILY THAT WE CHOOSE SOMETHING TODAY, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS OR DECADES LATER, WE DECIDE, "AH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE HELL? WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE WANT ON IT." UH, I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE USE THAT THEY WANT FOR THIS LAND AND THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY WANT IN THE C - THEIR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK WE SHOULD RESPECT THAT.
OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION ON THIS? COMMISSIONER SKIDMORE? I, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHETHER OR NOT THE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY COULD ENTER INTO SOME SORT OF DEED RESTRICTION ON THIS - YEAH.
LAND, RIGHT? SO JUST NOTE THAT FACT.
I, I THINK, YEAH, AS WITH ALL OF THESE, THEIR GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY, IT'S AS MUCH POWER AS WE HAVE IN THIS PROCESS.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOTION THE WOODS, AHMED, BRETON AMENDMENT ONE, WHICH IS TO ENSURE...
I'M S - I'M CALLING THESE AMENDMENTS.
THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I SHOULD BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
"TO ENSURE CONVEYANCES OF THE LAND CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY THE LIONS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE AND THE WEST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY TO THE CITY ARE BROAD ENOUGH TO FACILITATE ONLY THE CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY.
ACCEPTABLE USES FOR THE LAND SHOULD BE DETERMINED AND CODIFIED BY THE CITY ONLY, AND ALLOW FOR FLEXIBLE PUBLIC USE BEYOND GOLF, SUCH AS OPENING THE PROPERTY AS GENERAL PARKLAND AT DESIGNATED TIMES AND OFFERING PROGRAMMING FOR NON-GOLFERS.
"VICE CHAIR? CAN I JUST ASK A POINT OF CLARIFICATION? I, I, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU SAID THE WEST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION, AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, IS UNDER THE PROPOSAL GOING TO BE DEEDED DIRECTLY TO WEST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION AND NOT TO THE CITY.
UH, COMMISSIONER BRETTON, ARE YOU ARE YOU COMFORTABLE STRIKING THAT
[03:30:01]
FROM THIS AMENDMENT AND WE CAN MAYBE RETURN TO THAT IN A DIFFERENT AMENDMENT? I AM COMFORTABLE STRIKING THAT.I AM REMOVING AND THE WEST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION.
I'M LOOKING FOR A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION WITH THAT STRUCK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BODROZAN.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE UNLESS WE WANT TO HAVE DEBATE ON ISSUES.
OKAY, SO THAT PASSES 12 TO ONE.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE WOODS AHMED AMENDMENT TWO, WHICH WAS PULLED, I DON'T THINK BECAUSE IT WAS IN CONFLICT WITH ANYTHING, BUT WAS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL, GO AHEAD.
UM, YEAH, I THINK, WELL, ACTUALLY, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO, THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP TO, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S NUMBER THREE.
UH, UNDER COMMISSIONER BRETTON.
AND I THINK WE WERE JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY WHAT DID YOU WANT TO INDICATE WHAT YOU WERE THINKING WITH THE RELATIONSHIP TO DOWNTOWN? IS THAT WHAT YOU, YOU PUT CMU, IS THAT CORRECT? CBD.
UM, THE THOUGHT HERE WAS TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT TO INCENTIVIZE THE PRESERVATION OF THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB AND THE ASSOCIATED LAND, THAT WE WOULD WANT TO, AS EVERYTHING IS A TRADE OFF, BRING SOME BENEFIT TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BRACKENRIDGE TRACT THAT ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPED AND ARE IN THE FUTURE POTENTIALLY DEVELOPABLE CONSIDERING, UH, TO THE SCALE OF CBD, CONSIDERING THEIR PROXIMITY TO CBD.
COMMISSIONER AHMED, I'LL LET YOU WEIGH IN ON THIS, BUT I'M COMFORTABLE STRIKING OUR RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO IN FAVOR OF THIS LANGUAGE, WHICH I THINK ACTUALLY GOES A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS.
ESSENTIALLY JUST MIRRORING, UH, CBD - YES.
UH, REGULATIONS VERSUS PRESCRIBING 200 FEET? YES.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND STRIKE WOODS AHMED TWO, AND WE'LL COME BACK TO BRETON THREE.
UH, LET'S MOVE ON TO WOODS AHMED THREE, REQUIRE THAT ALL TURS REQUIRED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALL REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING CURRENTLY ON THE TRACK TO BE LOCATED EITHER ON SITE OR WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TURS.
UM, I WAS CURIOUS IF THE MOTION MAKERS OR RECOMMENDATION MAKERS WOULD BE OPEN TO A SLIGHT EDIT TO SUGGEST, SUGGEST, UM, OR IN PROXIMITY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND AUSTIN CAMPUS.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPENING IN THIS SPECIFIC TURS AREA RATHER THAN IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PART OF TOWN.
AND THEN I GUESS MY CLARIFICATION QUESTION IS, WOULD THE EXPECTATION BE OF A SPECIFIC LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHAT NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTS WOULD YOU EXPECT? THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AS DETERMINED BY THE TURS, WHICH I BELIEVE IS 20% OF THE UNITS AT 60% AND BELOW, BUT I MAY NEED TO BE CORRECTED ON THAT, AT 60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR BELOW.
UM, AND I WOULD JUST WANT THAT TURS AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT TO BE TIED LOCATIONALLY TO THAT TURS.
SO THERE IS, IS NOT AN INTEREST IN GIVING A WIDER GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY POTENTIALLY THAN JUST THE TURS AREA SPECIFICALLY.
NO, NO, THAT'S, I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I, I, SOMETIMES WITH OUR TURS, WE DO ACTUALLY GO IN A SLIGHTLY GAR - LARGER GEOGRAPHICAL ZONE AND THAT'S WHY I WAS, I BASICALLY WAS CURIOUS WHAT THE OPENNESS MIGHT BE TO THAT.
I, I THINK THE WHOLE PURPOSE WAS TO KEEP IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ESSENTIALLY, RIGHT? YEAH.
UH, TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT, WE SEE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT THERE VERSUS GOING TO THE PARTS OF THE CITIES WHERE PART OF, PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE WE OFTEN SEE, YOU KNOW, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOING UP.
AND, AND THE REASON I ACTUALLY RAISED THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN WE DID THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, UM, PLAN, WE ACTUALLY INTENTIONALLY TRIED TO KEEP IT ALL OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOUTH AUSTIN, BUT THAT'S A LARGER GEOGRAPHICAL REGION THAN THE TURS ITSELF.
AND GIVEN THE CONSTRAINTS IN THE TURS, I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO END UP BEING NEC - NOT NECESSARILY AS HELPFUL AS WE MIGHT HOPE.
IF, IF CHAIR WOODS IS OKAY, I, I WOULD BE OPEN TO EXPANDING IT SLIGHTLY, BUT I WOULDN'T BE OPEN TO, AS CHAIR WOODS SAID, UH, INCLUDING THE AREA AROUND THE UNIVERSITY.
BUT IF WE, YOU KNOW, EXPANDED SLIGHTLY NORTH OF WHERE IT WAS OR WHATNOT, IF CHAIR WOODS IS OPEN TO IT, I'D BE OKAY WITH IT AS LONG AS IT WAS KIND OF IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD OR SAME PART OF TOWN.
COMMISSIONER SKIDMORE, I'LL COME BACK TO THAT.
UH, I THINK TYING, UH, I ASKED TO PULL, UH, THIS, UH, ITEM AS WELL.
AND I THINK THIS IS CONNECTED TO WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN
[03:35:01]
WHEN THE UT SEEKS TO REDEVELOP THIS LAND, THE BRACKENRIDGE APARTMENTS AND THE COLORADO APARTMENTS.UH, THEY HAVE STUDENT HOUSING THERE NOW THAT THEY NEED TO FIND A PLACE FOR IT.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STUDY THEY DID IN 2009 FOR THIS BRACKENRIDGE TRACT, IT'S FREELY AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND DOWNLOAD THE HUGE PLANNING DOCUMENT THAT WAS PREPARED.
UH, THE GATEWAY APARTMENTS ON WEST 6TH STREET, BEFORE YOU GET TO MOPAC, WERE A BIG PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
OTHER SPEAKERS THIS EVENING ALLUDED TO GATEWAY.
AND, UH, RECOGNIZING THAT THAT'S LIKELY PART OF THEIR THOUGHT PROCESS ALREADY, I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL THAT ANY DISCUSSION AROUND THE TERS ALSO, UH, INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OR RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL THAT THEY CONSIDER THAT THAT GATEWAY TRACT BE INCLUDED IN THE TURS, UH, WHICH I THINK MAY PROVIDE SOME OF THE BENEFITS WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE TO ALLOW FOR MORE DENSITY, UH, FOR MORE, MORE HOUSING, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MOST LIKELY FOR STUDENTS.
SO I GUESS THAT'S MY PROPOSED MODIFICATION TO IT IS RELATED TO INCLUDING THE GATEWAY APARTMENTS PROPERTY IN THE TURS.
DON'T MEAN TO BE REJECTING ALL OF THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS HERE.
I THINK THAT IS A GREAT SEPARATE RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE.
I'M, I FEAR THAT ADDING AND INCLUDE THE GATEWAY APARTMENT WITHIN THE TURS IS CONFUSING THE ISSUE A LITTLE BIT HERE.
THEN I'LL BRING IT AS A SEPARATE, UH, PROPOSAL.
UH, COMMISSIONER GANNON THEN COMMISSIONER PETROSIAN.
UM, SO I'M, I'M EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF TRYING TO KEEP THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS NAR - UH, UH, THIS AREA, IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I AM CONCERNED THOUGH, IF WE'RE TRYING TO GET, UH, CBD STYLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE DEVELOPABLE TRACKS, UM, UH, WE'RE TALKING HIGH RISES AND THE MOST EXPENSIVE COST PER CONSTRUCTION, UM, THAT WE CAN BUILD.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, THERE MIGHT BE A, A, A STRATEGY OF, OF OFFERING A BUFFER WITH THE, UM, AROUND THE TURS ZONE FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO IT'S STILL, IT'S LOCATED WITHIN THIS AREA, BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE PARTICULAR CBD, UM, ZONE DISTRICTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT, UH, BUFFER WOULD BE, BUT SOMETHING THAT COULD, UM, CONTAIN GATEWAY SPREAD SORT OF AROUND THE AREA.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A MAPPING EXERCISE OR JUST A STRAIGHT UP 500-FOOT BUFFER OR SOMETHING, OR A THOUSAND FOOT BUFFER, SO THAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS STILL LOCATED GEOGRAPHICALLY IN THE SAME AREA, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BUILD OUT OF CONCRETE AND GLASS AND, AND 450 FEET UP.
AND I'LL KIND OF GO BACK TO WHAT COMMISSIONER AHMED SAID.
I THINK I WOULD BE OPEN TO A BUFFER THAT EXPANDS NORTH, BUT NOT THAT EXPANDS EAST OF MOPAC.
I'M, I THINK THAT A BUFFER NORTH IS, IS...
AND I WONDER IF WE CAN FIND SOME LANGUAGE THAT'S QUITE GENERAL TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I THINK IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF FEET OF BUFFER HERE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A REALLY CONCRETE PLAN LAID OUT IN FRONT OF US, WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE TOO SPECIFIC - AGREED.
FOR THESE GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, SO I'LL MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER BODROJAN AND I'LL KIND OF TRY TO WORK ON SOME LANGUAGE THAT ADDRESSES THE SPIRIT OF THAT.
COMMISSIONER PADROSIAN, GO AHEAD.
I WAS SIMPLY GONNA SAY THAT THE, THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT MAY BECOME IN CONFLICT WITH SOME OF THE OTHER GOALS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
AND I THINK AS, UH, COMMISSIONER GANNON POINTED OUT THE DEVELOPMENT, THE CBD WORDING IN PARTICULAR BECOMES PART OF THAT.
AND I THINK ALSO THE PRESERVATION OF THE BFL FEELS LIKE IT COULD BE HARMED BY THIS.
THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T THINK THAT THESE ARE JUST RECOMMENDATIONS.
THESE ARE NOT, WE'RE NOT WRITING CODE OR, OR TRYING TO DRAFT ANYTHING.
I THINK WE CAN ACTUALLY STATE EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT AND JUST SAY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS MUCH OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO REMAIN ON SITE OR WITHIN WHATEVER, WHATEVER FENCE POSTS YOU GIVE IT AND JUST STATE THAT OUTRIGHT, JUST TO SAY THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE'S AN ASPECT OF THIS THAT IS, WE'RE PUTTING FORTH THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE IMPORTANT QUALITIES AND VALUES THAT NEED TO BE REPRESENTED ON THE SITE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM ALL PERFECTLY ALIGN WITH EACH OTHER.
UH, I'M GONNA PROPOSE SOME NEW LANGUAGE WHICH IS TO REQUIRE THAT ALL TOURS REQUIRED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALL REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING CURRENTLY ON THE TRACT BE LOCATED EITHER ON SITE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TURS OR WITHIN A REASONABLE BUFFER NORTH OF THE TURS.
DOES THAT FEEL LIKE IT CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR? YOU GOOD WITH THAT COMMISSIONER AHMED? UM, I THINK THAT WORKS.
IF WE WANTED TO BE, TO BE MORE PRESCRIPTIVE, I THINK THERE ARE SOME
[03:40:01]
BOUNDARIES LIKE MOPAC, THE RIVER AND, UH, 35TH STREET THAT WE COULD OFFER.BUT IF WE WANNA KEEP IT BROADER, UH, I'M OKAY WITH THAT AS WELL.
I'M HAPPY WITH THOSE BOUNDARIES.
WITHIN A REASONABLE BUFFER NORTH OF THE TURS WITHIN, WITH...
SORRY, I SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS.
UH, SOUTH OF 35TH STREET - UH-HUH.
WEST OF MOPAC AND NORTH OF LADY BIRD LAKE.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION FOR THAT RECOMMENDATION AS WRITTEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE ON THE, ON WOODS AHMED RECOMMENDATION THREE.
OKAY, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO WOODS AHMED FOUR, ENSURE THE TURS HAS A NET POSITIVE FISCAL IMPACT ON THE CITY OVER ITS TERM AND THAT UPFRONT INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS ARE FUNDED BY UT OR ITS DEVELOPERS AND REIMBURSED ONLY FROM TAX INCREMENT ACTUALLY COLLECTED WITHOUT THE CITY ISSUING BONDS.
WAS THERE ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS IN CONFLICT WITH THIS? COMMISSIONER GANNON? UH, I, I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON THAT ONE.
UM, HOW, UH, HOW DOES THAT DIFFER FROM HOW A TURS, UH, NATURALLY WORKS? OR I GUESS WHAT IS IT, WHAT, WHAT PARTICULARS WOULD WE BE CHANGING THE, THE, THE TURS? I THINK IT'S RELATED TO THE FACT THAT, OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED LAST TIME, WHICH IS THE CITY WOULD ACTUALLY BE PROVIDING ALL THE INITIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ON DEBT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SAID INFRASTRUCTURE AND BE PAID BACK BY THE TURS OVER TIME.
AND I THINK WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS PROPOSING IS TO FLIP THAT AND SAY THE DEVELOPING AGENCY SHOULD TAKE ON THAT DEBT AND GET PAID BACK BY THE TAXES INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
IT'S TAKING OUT THE RISK AS WELL BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE RISK OF WHETHER THE CITY RECOUPS THOSE DOLLARS ARE REALLY IN, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPER UT'S HANDS.
THAT WAS KIND OF THE GOAL THERE TO HAVE MORE IN THERE TO ENSURE, FIRST OF ALL, ENSURE WE'RE NOT HAVING TO ISSUE THESE BONDS AND THEN GIVE US MORE, UH, THE CITY MORE CONTROL TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS FINANCIALLY POSITIVE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? WE HAVE A MOTION WOODS AHMED RECOMMENDATION FOUR AS JUST READ AND FOR A SECOND.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO WOODS AHMED FIVE.
ENSURE NON-UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT ON THE TRACT ALIGNS WITH AUSTIN'S STRATEGIC PLAN, INCLUDING REQUIRING UT TO GRANT A PUBLIC EASEMENT WITHIN THE LADY BIRD LAKE SETBACK FOR A FUTURE EXTENSION OF THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
THIS ONE IS SIMILAR TO NUMBER TWO FROM COMMISSIONER BRENTON.
AND, UM, I DO PREFER, YOU KNOW, HE DISCUSSES IN HIS AMENDMENT OR RECOMMENDATION DISC - ABOUT THE BOARDWALK, WHICH I THINK IS PREFERABLE.
I'M - I- I WOULD LIKE TO SMOOSH THE TWO TOGETHER IF WE COULD DO THAT.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN OURS THAT IS NOT COVERED IN COMMISSIONER BRETON'S? YES.
AND I THINK THIS IS PARTICULARLY, UH, IMPORTANT WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT THE LAND USED FOR THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB RESEARCH, THAT HAVING A BOARDWALK THAT ACTUALLY DIVERTS FROM USING ANY PART OF THAT LAND THAT CAN STILL PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS PATH FROM, AND THEN I THINK THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN BOUNDARIES OF WHAT THAT SHOULD INCLUDE IN TERMS OF THE TRAIL.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS NEEDED FROM COMMISSIONER AHMED'S IN MIND, OR CAN WE JUST STRIKE THAT? UH, GO- GO AHEAD.
I SAW COMMISSIONER GIDMORE FIRST AND I'LL COME TO COMMISSIONER AHMED.
A CLARIFYING QUESTION MAYBE TO BOTH, UH, MOTIONS OR BOTH, IS THAT THE INTENT IS FOR IT TO BE CONTIGUOUS THROUGH THE FIELD LAB, RIGHT? AND THAT ABSO - WHICH...
AND IF NECESSARY TO BE ON A BOARDWALK, RIGHT? WHEN YOU SAY THROUGH THE FIELD LAB, YOU'RE CLARIFYING - YEAH, RIGHT.
I WANNA CLARIFY THAT IT'LL CONTINUE ALONG WHERE THE FIELD LAB IS HORIZONTALLY.
ALONG THE RIVER IN- IN FRONT OF THE FIELD LAB - YEAH.
UH, I THINK THAT CONNECTIVITY IS IMPORTANT AND I AGREE WITH THAT COMPLETELY.
MY ONLY TWEAK MIGHT BE THAT JUST SAY AN ACCESSIBLE ROUTE AND LEAVE THE DESIGN OF IT UP TO THE- THE FOLKS WHO ARE DESIGNING THE TRAIL IN THE FUTURE.
SO LIKE, DOES IT HAVE TO BE A BOARDWALK? I MEAN, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
IT MAY NECESS - IT MIGHT BE IN- IN PARTS OF THE FIELD LAB IF IT'S AGREED THAT YOU CAN'T TOUCH THE GROUND ANYWHERE.
[03:45:01]
BUT I JUST...I DON'T WANT US TO BE MORE PRESCRIPTIVE THAN WE NEED TO BE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBLE CONNECTIVITY ALONG THE LENGTH OF LADY BIRD LAKE BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY ROWING CENTER AND, UH, SHELTON BRIDGE.
I- I WOULD STILL LIKE TO PRESERVE THE ACTUAL BOARDWALK PIECE, AT LEAST ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB LAND.
I- I DO REALIZE THAT THIS WORDING DOES NOT CONVEY THAT THAT'S THE PIECE THAT'S IMPORTANT AS A PART OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.
I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH AN ON-LAND TRAIL, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM THE ROWING CENTER TO BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB, AND THEN A BOARDWALK ALONG BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB, AND THEN AGAIN ON LAND UNTIL I'M AT SHELTON BRIDGE.
UH, I WANNA GO TO COMMISSIONER AHMAD.
YEAH, SO AS FAR AS THE BOARDWALK AND THE LADYBIRD LAKE TRAIL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY COMMON WHAT'S, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER BRETTON, WHAT'S IN YOUR, UH, RECOMMENDATION, WHAT'S IN OURS.
THE ONE OTHER THING THAT WAS IN OURS THAT I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO CONVEY IS IT SEEMED LIKE FROM THE DISCUSSION, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS JUST VERY LITTLE CONTROL THAT THE CITY HAD ON HOW, UH, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DEVELOPS HERE.
AND SO WE WANTED TO, UH, YOU KNOW, SHORT OF HAVING SOME TYPE OF VETO POWER WITH ANYTHING THAT GETS DEVELOPED, HAVE SOME WAY TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS IN LINE WITH OUR STRATEGIC GOALS, AND IT DOESN'T GO OUTSIDE OF, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, UH, YOU KNOW, A- A - EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE TO ENSURE, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A COA - COHESIVE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED THE PART ABOUT OUR, UH, STRATEGIC PLANS IN THERE.
UH, I DO THINK THAT MAYBE, UH, KEEPING THE, UH, UH, THE LANGUAGE OF THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT LOOSER OR PUTTING SOMETHING IN THAT SAYS, UM, UH, WITH INPUT FROM THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB.
UH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IF WE'RE SORT OF STIPULATING THAT WE WANT A BOARDWALK OR WE WANT SOME SORT OF CONNECTIVITY THROUGH THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB, UH, ACREAGE, WHICH I'M CONCEPTUALLY HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF, BUT IF WE'RE TRAMPLING THROUGH, UM, ENDANGERED SPECIES OR, OR, UH, EVEN IF, IF, IF THE BOARDWALK IS NOT TOUCHING THE LAND AND IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE WATER, I WOULD WANT TO HAVE THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB BE...
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON, ON SORT OF WHAT THAT DESIGN IS.
SO MAYBE, UH, COULD WE PUT IN A PIECE THAT SAYS, "WITH CONSULTATION FROM THE BRACKENBRIDGE FIELD LAB." LIKE THIS IS THE INTENT, BUT WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO COORDINATE WITH THE BFL.
SH - YES, I WILL GO TO COMMISSIONER BRIDROSIAN AND THEN I'LL READ THE VERSION THAT I THINK CAPTURES ALL OF THESE.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GO WITH YOURS.
"HERE'S WHAT I'M PROPOSING, OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.
ENSURE NON-UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT ON THE TRACT ALIGNS WITH AUSTIN'S STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, INCLUDING REQUIRING UT TO GRANT A PUBLIC EASEMENT WITHIN THE LADY BIRD LAKE SETBACK TO INCLUDE NON-CAR ORIENTED TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PRELIMINARY PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A CONTINUOUS ADA COMPLIANT PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ACCESSIBLE BOARDWALK ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE LADY BIRD LAKE, UH, ALONG THE LENGTH OF LADY BIRD LAKE BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND TEXAS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ROWING CENTER AND THE EMMETT SHELTON BRIDGE WITH INPUT FROM THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB.
" IT'S A HORRIFYING RUN-ON SENTENCE, BUT TRY TO CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WE'VE ALL PUT TOGETHER HERE.
DOES THAT-THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, CHAIRWOOD.
DOES THAT FEEL LIKE IT CAPTURES WHAT YOUR AMENDMENT IS GETTING AT? I THINK GIVEN THAT THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION AND HOPEFULLY THE, THE POWERS THAT BE WILL BE EN- ENGAGING IN LARGER CONVERSATION, I'M NOT AS WORRIED ABOUT THIS LANGUAGE BEING A LITTLE BIT LIKE, IS IT A BOARDWALK ALONG THE FULL THING OR JUST FOR THE BFL? I THINK WE'LL GET TO A GOOD PLACE AS THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL? UM, CAN I JUST MAKE ONE REQUEST THAT WE CHANGE NARC - NON-CAR TO MULTIMODAL, PLEASE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE - YES.
INCLUDE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE? YES, THANK YOU.
OTHER QUESTIONS, CHANGES TO THIS? ALL RIGHT.
I'M GONNA MOTION THAT WOODS AHMED BRETON AMENDMENT AS WRITTEN, AS READ.
LOOK FOR A SECOND, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SKIDMORE.
OKAY, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
FINALLY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO WOODS AHMED SIX, PRESERVE THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LAB BY EX - LABORATORY BY EXCLUDING ITS LAND FROM NON-UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT OR SECURING UT'S COMMITMENT TO KEEP IT AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION.
I THINK THIS, UH, OVERLAPS WITH BRETON
[03:50:02]
3B AND HANEY FIVE.QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER HILLER.
CAN I GO AHEAD AND ASK A QUESTION OF MR. SOTO SINCE HE'S STILL HERE? SURE.
I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR SO LONG.
THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH, UH, SUPPORT BETWEEN MEETINGS AND OBVIOUSLY HERE AT THE MEETING IN SUPPORT OF THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT A GOOD ANSWER ON WHY IT'S NEEDED.
TO THE BEST OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING, DOES THE UNIVERSITY NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO USE THIS AS A FIELD LABORATORY TO DO RESEARCH ANYMORE? LIKE, WHAT'S THE...
I DON'T THINK THAT DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.
THE DECISION BEFORE THIS BOARD AND THE CITY WON'T MAKE THAT DECISION EITHER.
UH, TODAY THE UNIVERSITY CAME OUT WITH A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THAT DECISION WILL BE MADE AFTER DISCUSSING WITH THE DEANS AND THE LEADERSHIP AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT DEAL WITH THE ACADEMIC ISSUES AT UT.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT REALLY RELATED TO THE BRECKENRIDGE AGREEMENT.
THE UNIVERSITY, I THINK, FEELS THAT THE FIELD LAB STUDIES ARE IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT THEY FEEL LIKE, UH, ACCORDING TO THEIR STATEMENT TODAY, THAT THEY HAVE MULTIPLE FIELD LABS AROUND THE STATE.
UM, THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE PLAN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO DO ANYTHING TO THE BIOFIELD LAB.
UH, THERE IS A DESIRE TO KEEP...
AND THIS IS GONNA MAKE PEOPLE DRIVE PEOPLE CRAZY, BUT EITHER ALL OR A PART OF THE FIELD LAB, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT DECISION HAS BEEN MADE YET.
BUT IT, IT IS INCLUDED IN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AS SOMETHING TO, TO DISCUSS, PERIOD, RIGHT? LIKE THE...
CLEARLY THE STUDENTS FEEL UNDER THREAT.
WELL, IT'S PART OF THE INTERLOCAL ONLY BECAUSE IT SITS WITHIN THE 190 ACRES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, I GOTTA BE SO CAREFUL WITH MY WORDS BECAUSE I, I'M, I'M TRYING NOT TO INFLAME ANYBODY, BUT THE UNIVERSITY CONTROLS THEIR LAND AND THEY CONTROL THEIR ACADEMIC STUDIES.
WITH AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, YOU COULD ZONE THE WHOLE THING CBD.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT FORCES UT OR ANYBODY ELSE TO DEVELOP IT.
IT DOESN'T FORCE UT TO GET RID OF THE BIOFIELD LAB.
THE WAY THIS WHOLE THING WAS SET UP, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND IT FINALLY ALL CAME TOGETHER WAS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CANNOT JUST GIFT THE GOLF COURSE TO THE CITY.
CONSTITUTIONALLY, IT'S A PROBLEM.
BUT IF YOU COME UP WITH, WHAT WE'VE COME UP WITH HERE IS A COMBINATION OF SOME RIGHT OF WAYS AROUND THE DOWNTOWN CAMPUS BEING THROWN INTO THE MIX, A GENEROUS DONOR BEING ABLE TO THROW SOME, UH, DONATION INTO THE MIX, A, UH, REDO OF A LEASE OVER IN MILLER, A, AN AGREEMENT NOT TO FIGHT ABOUT WHAT UT CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH THEIR CI - THEIR LAND IF THEY WERE TO SELL IT OR GROUND LEASE IT TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
THAT'S STILL AN OPEN QUESTION BECAUSE UNDER THE STATE LAW RIGHT NOW, IF IT'S UNDER THE CONTROL ADMINISTRATION OR OWNERSHIP OF UT, THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THAT THEY DON'T, THAT THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY OF THESE REGULATIONS, BUT TO AVOID THAT FIGHT, THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERLOCAL.
SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS KEEP ALL FIVE THINGS, AND WE FINALLY HAVE ALL FIVE THINGS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND IT INVOLVES THE GOLF COURSE BEING PUT IN THE HANDS OF THE CITY.
NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RESTRICTIONS ON THE GOLF COURSE, THE DONORS HAVE SOME FEELINGS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THAT LAND, AND THEY KIND OF LIKE IT AS A GOLF COURSE.
SO THAT'LL ENTER INTO THE WHOLE CONVERSATION.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRIVATE CITIZENS THAT HAVE DONATED MONEY NOW DICTATING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ON PUBLIC LAND? I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S NOT PUBLIC LAND.
WHAT IS IT? IT IS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PUBLIC LAND.
IT'S THEIR - YEAH, THAT'S PUBLIC LAND STILL.
THAT'S MY TAX DOLLARS STILL PAY FOR ALL THIS LAND.
THE GOLF - WHETHER IT'S OWNED BY THE STATE OR OWNED BY THE CITY, IT IS STILL PUBLIC LAND.
[03:55:01]
I'M GONNA MOTION TO EXTEND US TO 1030, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WITHOUT OBJECTION.AND WE MAY HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. SETTLE.
SO WE HAVE THREE THAT ARE, THAT OVERLAP ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY.
THERE'S CLEARLY A LOT OF WILL ON THIS COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT TAKES PLACE.
I THINK THAT OURS, COMMISSIONER AHMED, IS PROBABLY THE LEAST PRESCRIPTIVE, AND I'M HAPPY TO STRIKE IT AND WORK WITH THE OTHER TWO IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
I THINK THE GOAL IS JUST TO PRESERVE IT SOMEHOW.
IT, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT COM - VICER HANEY'S IS MOST SPECIFIC.
COMMISSIONER BRETON, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH VICTOR HANEY'S RECOMMENDATION FIVE AS IT RELATES TO THE FIELD LAB? I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH DOING SO.
THE, UH, THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER AS PART OF MY AMENDMENT RELATES TO THE ZONING OF OTHER TRACTS WITHIN THE BRECKENRIDGE OR OTHER PARCELS WITHIN THE BRECKENRIDGE TRACT.
I MIGHT RECOMMEND THAT WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOUR AMENDMENT, WE PULL OUT THAT A SECTION AND PASS IT AS RECOMMENDATION ON ITS OWN.
SO LOOKING JUST SPECIFICALLY AT HANEY RECOMMENDATION FIVE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS OR CHANGES THAT WE WANNA SEE THERE? COMMISSIONER HANEY, DO YOU WANNA MOVE THAT ITEM? SO MOVED.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON HANEY FIVE.
SO THEN IN THAT CASE, LET'S RETURN TO BRETTON THREE.
COMMISSIONER BRETON, ARE YOU OPEN TO PULLING OUT A AND PASSING THAT AS ITS OWN RECOMMENDATION? UH, I AM.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A LITTLE BIT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN, UH, WOODS AHMED TWO, UM, WHICH S - IT SEEMS STATES FOR ACROSS THE TRACT, WHEREAS THIS IS SPECIFIC CURRENTLY DEVELOPED PARCELS.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO EXTEND THIS TO BE ALL PARCELS NOT IN THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB, UH, AND ASSOCIATED RESEARCH AREA, WHICH I THINK WOULD THEN INCLUDE THE SAFEWAY, UH, AREA, THE, THE CVS NEXT TO THE BOULEVARD AT TOWN, TOWN LAKE.
I BELIEVE I STATED THAT RIGHT.
UM, AND ANY OTHER OF THE SMALLER TRACKS THAT SORT OF...
PARCELS, EXCUSE ME, THAT ARE WITHIN THE TRACT.
SO - IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THAT TO THAT.
THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD READ, "AMEND THE PRIMARY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR ALL PARCELS NOT WITHIN THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB TO REFLECT THE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OF THE CITY'S CBD ZONING DISTRICT." UH, I THINK WE COULD EVEN JUST SAY THE TRACT, GIVEN THE MOST RECENT COMMISSIONER HANEY'S NUMBER FIVE, WHICH HAS NO DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB, THAT SECTION.
BUT I'M OKAY WITH KEEPING IT VERY CLEAR AND WE'LL JUST SAY THE TRACT NOT PART OF THE BFL.
FOR ALL PARCELS NOT WITHIN THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY IN THE TRACT? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE WANTING TO ADD? FOR ALL PARCELS WITHIN THE TRACT, NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY OR ITS ASSOCIATED RESEARCH.
I WANNA BE CLEAR BECAUSE THE FIELD LAB, I, I BELIEVE IS THE BUILDING, BUT THEY USE THE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL LAND TO DO RESEARCH AND THAT PIECE THAT THEY CURRENTLY USE, WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING THAT AS WELL.
LET'S CALL IT THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY TRACT.
AMEND THE PRIMARY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR ALL PARCELS WITHIN THE TRACT, NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY TRACT TO REFLECT THE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OF THE CITY'S CBD ZONING DISTRICT.
DOES IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO SAY WITHIN THE TURS? IS THAT CLEAR? I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO THE REST OF THE COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONER BODROSIAN? I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT A FRIENDLY, UH, AMENDMENT THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION FOR A 300-FOOT BUFFER AROUND THE BRECKENRIDGE TRACT.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A PLAN TO DO AN ON THE DIAS AMENDMENT FOR THIS.
I THINK THAT COULD BE A SEPARATE RECOMMENDATION.
UM, JUST IN LINE OF THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD REGARDING THE INTENSITY OF CBD DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPLICATIONS THAT HAS, UM, I DO WONDER IF WE COULD ADD IN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS MADE IN TWO SO THAT IT WOULD BE AN EITHER/OR.
DOES THAT, DOES, WOULD WOULD THAT BE OKAY?
[04:00:01]
SO THAT WE WOULD SAY THAT THE, UM, AS YOU HAVE REWRITTEN IT, CHAIRWOODS, AND THAT A - THEN WE WOULD ADD, OR, UH, INCREASE THE MAXIMUM BY B- BUILDING HEIGHT TO AT LEAST 200 FEET AND REMOVE THE PROVISION CAPPING ALL BUILDING.I GUESS I WANTED TO GIVE COUNCIL A FLEXIBLE TWO DIFFERENT CHOICES, THAT THEY COULD EITHER GO FOR CBD ACROSS ALL ASPECTS OF THE CHURCH TRACKS OUTSIDE OF THE FIELD LAB, AND/OR THAT THE MINIMUM THAT THEY SHOULD DO IS GO TO 200 FEET AND REMOVE THE HEIGHT CAPS.
THE, UH, THE, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL STANDARDS WITHIN THAT THAT, UH, SOME STANDARDS RELATED, I'M SURE.
I BELIEVE THAT IT'S FAR IS THE MAJOR PIECE, UM, THAT WOULDN'T BE AMENDED WITH THAT.
WELL, THAT'S, I THINK THE FAR PIECE WAS TAKEN CARE OF WITH THE, UM, HANEY AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING THE FAR ACROSS ALL THE TRACKS.
YES, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE INCREASED.
IT WOULD BE THE 0.6 TO ONE THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS, AND THEN AS AMENDED WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER HANEY'S NUMBER FIVE, WE WOULD ADD WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, YOU LOSE FROM THE BFL INTO THAT, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE NEARLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF FAR.
SO WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EVEN ACHIEVE, I WOULD ASSUME, 200 FEET, DEPENDING ON HOW THE BUILDING AND, AND GENERAL LAYOUT IS.
SO I, I WOULD BE OKAY WITH THE AMENDMENT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING MORE LIKE CBD.
I THINK HAVING PASSED HANEY FIVE, WE CANNOT ADD ANY STIPULATIONS ABOUT FAR FURTHER BECAUSE THEY WILL CONFLICT WITH HANEY FIVE.
BUT I WANNA GO TO COMMISSIONER HILLARY, YOU HAD A QUESTION.
I, I, UM, MORE OF A STATEMENT.
I, I, I DO THINK WE WILL HAVE MORE SUPPORT FROM WEST AUSTIN IF WE AREN'T PRESCRIPTIVE ABOUT HEIGHTS.
AND IN, IN THE EVENT THAT WE ARE JUST MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS, I WOULD RATHER NOT PASS ON AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM FOR CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH, UM, RATHER THAN CREATE DRAMA THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THERE.
WELL, I THINK MAYBE THEN THE BASE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IS THAT WE RECOMMEND REMOVING THE PROVISION THAT CAPPING ALL BUILDING HEIGHTS AT 65 FEET.
THAT TO ME SEEMS TO BE THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THIS.
I, I AM VERY OPEN TO THE COUNCIL COMING UP WITH THEIR OWN RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT THE HEIGHT THAT FEELS APPROPRIATE IN CONVERSATION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I AM REALLY NOT OKAY WITH CAPPING AT 65, ESPECIALLY IN THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO COUNCIL IN TWO WEEKS, THEORETICALLY.
SO COMMISSIONER MAXWELL, WOULD THAT JUST BE TO STRIKE A BUILDING HEIGHT CAP WITHIN THE TURS? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA CAPTURE AND THEN - OKAY.
AND ADJUST TO HEIGHTS AS NEEDED, WHICH COULD BE CBD, IT COULD BE A LOT LESS.
COULD IT SIMPLY BE DOING, CONSIDER INCREASED ENTITLEMENTS ON THE LOTS OUTSIDE OF THE BFL? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO SOMEHOW MENTION THAT OUR GOAL IS HIGHER THAN 60 FEET, EVEN IF WE'RE NOT PRESCRIBING EXACTLY THAT AMOUNT.
'CAUSE WE COULD THEN SAY INCLUDING HEIGHT INCREASES, FAR, MODIFICATIONS, ET CETERA.
AMEND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR ALL PARCELS WITHIN THE TURS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY TRACT TO INCREASE ENTITLEMENTS AND REMOVE THE PROVISION CAPPING ALL BUILDING HEIGHTS AT 65 FEET.
AND MAY I MAKE A COUNTER STATEMENT TO COMMISSIONER HILLER JUST BRIEFLY?
IT RESPECTS THE RESEARCH AND THE, UH, OPEN SPACE AND THE GREEN SPACE OF THIS AREA WHILE STILL ALLOWING MANY PEOPLE TO LIVE THERE.
LOTS OF ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO OCCUR IN OUR CITY AS IT GROWS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY INHABIT THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, FEEL A CERTAIN WAY ABOUT HOW BIG BUILDINGS ARE.
SO ARE WE REMOVING THE RECOMMENDATION
[04:05:01]
ON CBD'S, UH, ZONING THEN AND REPLACING ALL OF THAT WITH WHAT YOU WERE READING OUT? YEAH, MORE GENERAL RECOMMENDATION.SO I HAVE THIS AS BRETTON RECOMMENDATION 3A, AMEND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR ALL PARCELS WITHIN THE TURS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY TRACT TO INCREASE ENTITLEMENTS AND REMOVE THE PROVISION CAPPING ALL BUILDING HEIGHT AT 65 FEET.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRETON.
THIS IS REMOVE PAWN SHOP, AUTOMOTIVE SALES, RENTAL AND REPAIR, SERVICE STATION AND EXTERMINATION SERVICES FROM THE ALLOWED USES IN EXHIBITS A1 AND A2.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHO PULLED THIS ONE.
I PULLED THIS ONE, UH, MOSTLY BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WEREN'T THE ONLY NOXIOUS USES THAT WERE REMAINING.
I THINK THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED AND I WAS GONNA LOOK TO COMMISSIONER PRIDROJAN IF HE HAD A R - IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD IN.
I APPRECIATE YOU CALLING ME OUT BECAUSE, UH, THESE ARE PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS.
I DON'T HAVE THE ORIGINAL LIST IN FRONT OF ME.
WE WILL RETURN TO HANEY THREE.
LET'S LOOK AT HANEY FOUR, WHICH WAS ALSO PULLED.
WHO PULLED THIS ONE? THIS IS CARRY FORWARD THE 1989 AGREEMENT.
UM, UM, THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR STA - TO, DO WE HAVE ANYONE FROM STAFF HERE? OKAY.
DO WE KNOW HOW THE BOUNDARIES ON, UM, ON LABOR LAKE, IF, IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN BOUNDARIES BETWEEN, UM, THE 1989 BOUNDARIES AND, AND TODAY'S BOUNDARIES? YOU, YOU'RE TALKING HAS THE, HAS THE BOUNDARY OF THE LAKE, IT'S LIKE AS THE SHORE OR MEAN - WELL, THERE'S BEEN LIKE ATLAS 25 STUDIES AND THERE'S BEEN LIKE A, THE, THERE'S BEEN LIKE SHIFTING BOUNDARIES FOR OUR WATERSHEDS.
CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? ARE YOU ASKING THE LIMITS OF THE FLOODPLAIN? NO, I'M WONDERING IF, IF THERE'S JUST A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UM, BECAUSE I, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, UH, UH, THE AGREEMENTS FROM THE 1989 AGREEMENT INCLUDE SORT OF A TIERED, UM, IMPERVIOUS COVER STRATEGY OF FIRST 150 FEET, UH, THEN THERE'S THE NEXT 50 FEET.
THERE'S AN INCREASE IN IMPERVIOUS COVER.
UM, BUT IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE BASING IT OFF OF BOUNDARIES THAT MAYBE HAVE SHIFTED, I JUST, I, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT AFFECTS IT AT ALL.
UM, MAY I MAKE A SUGGESTION TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD ADD IN SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF CARRY FORWARD THE 1989 AGREEMENTS PROJECT PROTECTIONS AND ADJUST AS NEEDED OR, YOU KNOW, ADJUST AS NEEDED, SOMETHING SO THAT IT JUST CLARIFIES THAT OBVIOUSLY IF WE WANTED TO UPDATE THESE PER NEW WATERSHEDS GUIDELINES OR WHATNOT, THAT THAT WOULD BE ENCOURAGED.
AND, AND IF, IF WE JUST WANNA KEEP IT GENERAL, YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE GETTING TOO SPECIFIC, THAT'S JUST WHY I PULLED IT.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION OF THE AMENDMENT, UH, OF, I GUESS, VICE CHAIR HANEY OF WHAT WAS THE INTENT OF PRESERVING THE 1989 AGREEMENTS RELATIVE TO IMPERVIOUS COVER SETBACKS? UH, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE PROTECTIVE THAN THE, UH, THE, THE PROPOSED, UM, AGREEMENT IS.
SO I, I BELIEVE THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT, UH, WAS ONLY TO 150 FEET AND THIS JUST KEEPS THE STATUS QUO.
I THINK WHEN I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS REGULATORY, WHAT STAFF GAVE US AT OUR LAST MEETING, IT SAID MAINTAINING THE EXISTING 200-FOOT SETBACK FROM LADY BIRD LAKE.
SO ADDING A NEW 50-FOOT SETBACK ON EACH SIDE OF A MINOR WATERWAY, ESTABLISHING AN AGREEMENT TO RE- REVIEW OF CEF, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.
I, I THINK I'M CAUTIOUS HERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS THAT ARE THERE, IF THAT I - WOULD PREVENT US FROM DOING SOME OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT OTHERWISE WANT TO DO IN TERMS OF, OF HAVING THESE SITES GROW AND DEVELOP TO SUPPORT MORE HOUSING AND MORE PEOPLE.
OF ALL OF THE NIGHTS TO FORGET MY LAPTOP WHERE I COULD PULL THAT
[04:10:02]
I THINK MY, MAYBE THE QUESTION, MORE GENERAL QUESTION IS, UH, ONE OF INTENT, RIGHT? THE, THE, THE NEW PROPOSED AGREEMENT INCLUDES DIFFERENT IMPERVIOUS COVER ENTITLEMENTS THAN THE EXISTING ONE, AND I'M FRANTICALLY WITH MY LAPTOP AND TWO SCREENS STILL CAN'T FIND IT, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH MORE PERMISSIVE THE DRAFT AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS WORKED OUT WITH UT RELATIVE TO IMPERVIOUS COVER IS.KNOW THAT WE CAN ANSWER IT QUICKLY AND CERTAINLY NOT WITHOUT STAFF HELP.
OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? DO...
VICTOR HANEY? I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT, SINCE WE'RE UNCLEAR ON THIS, TO JUST, UH, UH, WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT.
WE'RE GONNA WITHDRAW HANEY FOUR, AND THAT TAKES US BACK TO HANEY THREE.
COMMISSIONER BEDROSIAN, ANYTHING WE WANTED TO ADD TO THAT LIST? I WOULD RECOMMEND ADDING FUNERAL SERVICES, UH, TO THE EXCLUDED LIST, AND THEN INCLUDE A CAVEAT THAT THIS LIST SHOULD BE REVIEWED WITH THE, UH, SCIENTISTS OF THE FIELD LAB TO DETERMINE ANY INCONGRUENT USES THAT THEY WOULD CITE AS INAPPROPRIATE.
I HAVE THIS AS HANEY THREE, REMOVE PAWN SHOP, AUTOMOTIVE SALES, RENTAL AND REPAIR, SERVICE STATION, FUNERAL SERVICES, AND EXTERMINATION, AND EXTERMINATING SERVICES FROM THE ALLOWED USES IN EXHIBITS A1 AND A2.
THIS LIST SHOULD BE REVIEWED WITH THE SCIENTISTS IN THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY TO DETERMINE ANY ADDITIONAL INAPPROPRIATE USES.
UH, THE RENTAL USE, IS THAT SPECIFICALLY AUTOMOTIVE RENTAL OR IS IT RENTAL OF ANYTHING? WE SHOULD CLARIFY AUTOMOTIVE RENTAL.
SORRY, THAT, THAT LIST REALLY IS, SHOULD BE READ AS AUTOMOTIVE SALES, RENTAL AND REPAIR.
I MAY, UH, BE AN ERROR ON THIS.
I BELIEVE LIGHT MANUFACTURING IS ONE OF THE ALLOWABLE USES NOW, AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT TO THE LIST.
VICE CHAIR HANEY, ARE YOU OPEN TO THAT? I, I AM OPEN TO THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS RECOMMENDATION? OKAY.
VICE CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO...
I WOULD MOTION TO PASS THE RECOMMENDATION AS YOU HAVE STATED IT.
THAT WRAPS UP OUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE SHARED AHEAD OF TIME AND BRINGS US TO DAY OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
IF YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION, FEEL FREE TO MAKE IT.
IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL IT TO ME.
UH, I DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER DAY OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, I HAVE ONE RECOMMENDATION, UH, REGARDING THE, UM, RECOMMENDATION TO REVIEW THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, TO ENCOURAGE DARK SKY LIGHTING IT ACROSS THE TRACT IN COORDINATION WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LAB OR BFL.
I WANNA BE SPECIFIC WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB TRACK, BUT THE TURS.
THAT'S ACTUALLY MORE ACCURATE.
REVIEW OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE DARK SKYLIGHTING ACROSS THE TURS.
CAN WE ADD BIRD FRIENDLY DESIGN AS WELL? YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY BIRD FRIENDLY DESIGN.
UM, IN COORDINATION WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABS.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? WOULD THERE BE ANY APPETITE TO ADD A SPECIFIC, UH, REQUIREMENT OF DARK SKY AROUND A CERTAIN PART OF THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB? I, I THINK THAT'S WHY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CLEAR WHAT'S GONNA GET DEVELOPED, THAT IT'S A LITTLE TRICKIER.
I THINK I JUST REALLY WANNA SAY, LIKE, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE INCORPORATE BOTH OF THOSE AS, AS MUCH AS WE CAN ACROSS THE ENTIRE CHURCH.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THIS RECOMMENDATION FROM COMMISSIONER MAXWELL? WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE YOUR RECOMMENDATION? I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE OUR RECOMMENDATION AS BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BY OUR CHAIR.
[04:15:01]
THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.COMMISSIONER AHMED, ANY DAY OF RECOMMENDATIONS? NO CHAIR.
UH, COMMISSIONER BARRERA-RAMIREZ.
SO I'M REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO EXHIBIT B FOR VACATED RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, I THINK ESPECIALLY AROUND THE DOWNTOWN CAMPUS IS WHERE WE NEED RIGHT OF WAY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A RECOMMENDATION THAT SAYS THAT WE WOULD ENSURE THAT NO RIGHT OF WAY BE VACATED THAT SERVES AN EXISTING TRANSPORTATION USE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER BARRERA RAMIREZ? CAN I ADD A SLIGHT AMENDMENT IN THAT ALL VACATIONS WOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ASMP? WOULD THAT BE CORRECT? YES.
I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM COMMISSIONER BARRE- BARRERA RAMIREZ, ENSURE THAT NO RIGHT OF WAY BE VACATED THAT SERVES AN EXISTING TRANSPORTATION USE AND THAT ALL VACATIONS WOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE YOUR RECOMMENDATION? YES, I WOULD LIKE TO.
THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
UH, RECOMMENDATION TO INCLUDE A BUFFER AROUND THE BFL, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE, UH, ACTUAL AMOUNT OF THAT SETBACK THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED? THEY'RE RECOMMENDING 300 FEET ACCORDING TO TESTIMONY TODAY.
I'LL SHARE MY, I'LL SHARE MY OPINION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I LIKE THAT HIGH OF A SETBACK.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY MAYBE AS A PART OF THIS AMENDMENT, UH, SOME ACCEPTABLE USES IN THAT SETBACK.
FOR EXAMPLE, A TRAIL OR SOME OTHER SORT OF PARK LAND.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT THAT READS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF TO PROVIDE THE APPROP - AN APPROPRIATE SETBACK TO PROVIDE A BUFFER IN THE SPIRIT OF THE RECOMMEND- RECOMMENDATION FROM THE, UH, COMMISSION? YES.
CAN WE JUST ADD THAT IN ANOTHER PIECE, WHICH IS, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IN A L - TO ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE A TRAIL.
LIKE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S A POSSIBLE USE IN THAT SETBACK SPECIFICALLY.
THEY CAN DEFINE WHAT THEY WANT TO IN SETBACKS THOUGH.
IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN I'LL, I'LL, DON'T WORRY ABOUT ADDING IT.
I'LL, I'LL JUST TAKE WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED.
COMMISSIONER PEDROJI, LET ME KNOW IF THIS CAPTURES WHAT YOU'RE HOPING FOR.
INCLUDE AN APPROPRIATE BUFFER AROUND THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, BUT THAT INCLUDES ALLOWABLE USES INCLUDING TRAIL OR PARKLAND.
OTHER QUESTIONS LIKE TO MOVE? OH, I'LL MOVE.
I'M, I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THE TRACT AND THERE'S A, AND THERE'S LIKE A FEW AREAS, UH, FOR DEVELOPMENT.
DO WE KNOW, LIKE, HOW MUCH ACREAGE THAT, THAT THIS WOULD BE? I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO ESTIMATE.
I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT, THAT WE'RE GONNA BE LEFT WITH NOT ENOUGH DEVELOPABLE LAND TO MAKE THE THING WORK.
HERE, GO THE WORDING APPROPRIATE.
I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT IF YOU BUILD A 200-FOOT TOWER RIGHT UP AGAINST THE TRACT, WE'VE PROBABLY DAMAGED INHERENTLY SOME OF THE TRACT THAT EXISTS ALREADY.
AND I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE PEOPLE SMARTER THAN MYSELF THAT DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT THAT BUFFER NEEDS TO BE, BUT THAT WE DON'T WANNA BE INCREASING ENTITLEMENTS AND THEN D, AND THEN RUINING THE THING THAT WE WERE SEEKING TO PROTECT IN THE, IN THE EFFORT.
SO THAT'S THE INTENT OF MY MOTION IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS THAT CONSIDERATION THAT IS PART OF THE DISCUSSION, RIGHT? 'CAUSE IF WE WERE TO PUT THOSE BUILDINGS RIGHT AGAINST THE TRACT, WE MIGHT, WE MIGHT DAMAGE IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT NOT EFFECTIVE ANYMORE.
SO DOES THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATION INCLUDE A, JUST A, A FIXED AMOUNT OR HAVE WE MOVED BEYOND THAT? SOME APPROPRIATE BUFFER.
AN APPROPRIATE BUFFER? OKAY, BECAUSE THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF EXISTING STRUCTURES, ROADWAYS, UH, WITHIN THAT BUFFER TODAY, RIGHT? I MEAN, THERE'S THE FENCE AROUND THE FIELD LAB AND THEN - CORRECT.
THERE'S A, A STUDENT HOUSING UP AGAINST IT,
[04:20:01]
UNIVERSITY APARTMENTS OFFICE.SO I FEEL LIKE, UM, I, I WANT TO ABSOLUTELY PROTECT THIS LAND AND THIS SORT OF RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AND THE E- ECOLOGICAL PRESERVATION, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, SO, UM...
I THINK WE'VE KEPT IT QUITE BROAD.
IT'S VERY, VERY LOOSELY WORDED.
UH, CAN I MAKE A, A RECOMMENDATION TO INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT SAYS OF UNDEVELOPED LAND? SO, SO OF THE UNDEVELOPED LAND AROUND IT, THERE'S A BUFFER, BUT WHERE THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LAB LETS UP TO, LIKE, THE DRIVEWAY TO THE APARTMENTS.
INCLUDE SOME APPROPRIATE BUFFER OF UNDEVELOPED LAND AROUND THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE BY COMMISSIONER PADROSIAN LOOKING FOR A SECOND.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF PADROSIAN ONE.
COMMISSIONER POWELL, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM YOU? YES.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A GENERAL RECOMMENDATION TO THAT COUNCIL DELAY THE VOTE ON THE BRACKENRIDGE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT UNTIL COUNCIL, UNTIL CALENDAR YEAR 2027.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER POWELL? UM, COMMISSIONER PROWELL, DO YOU WANNA BE MORE SPECIFIC IN 2027 OR JUST KEEP THAT GENERAL?
AND UNDERSTANDING THAT INTER-LOCALS LIKE THIS DO HAVE A LEGISLATIVE AND STATE GOVERNMENT LAYER, I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO SEE WHAT MAYBE SOME NEW FACES IN 2027 COULD DO.
I'M PROBABLY BEING A LITTLE TOO SPECIFIC, BUT THAT'S THE INTENTION THERE.
SO NO SPECIFIC DATE, JUST CALENDAR YEAR 2027.
I THINK WE GOTTA BUMP THE BRAKES ON THIS BIT.
COMMISSIONER BRAD? COULD I THROW OUT SPRING 2027? YEAH.
COMMISSIONER POWELL, YOU VOTE REQUEST FOR SPRING 2027.
I THINK A MONTH MIGHT BE MORE HELPFUL.
I MEAN, I KNOW THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY'S IN APRIL.
GIVEN THE CURRENT STATE OF THE AGREEMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL T - FOR THE BRECKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY TO BE GUARANTEED TO MEET THAT.
SO I WOULD SAY TO, TO THE EXTENT THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS CONTROL OF.
OR YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'VE INSTRUCTED UP TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION.
LET'S JUST GO WITH THEM AND SAY JUNE 2027.
WE HAVE A GENERAL RECOMMENDATION THAT COUNCIL POSTPONE THE VOTE ON THE BRACKENRIDGE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT UNTIL JUNE 2027.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER POWELL? COMMISSIONER HILLER? UH, SO I, I LIKE YOUR IDEA.
UM, I ALSO HAD THE SAME THOUGH IN REGARDS TO COMMISSIONER HANEY.
LIKE IS THERE A WAY TO PEEL OUT MUNI FROM THIS RECOMMENDATION? UH, I'D LIKE TO KEEP IT JUST BROAD FOR THE WHOLE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
UM, I, I DON'T DISAGREE THERE THOUGH.
I MEAN, GENERALLY, I DO THINK THAT THE MUNI COMPONENT OF THIS IS AGREEABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY THERE, BUT I THINK IN GENERAL, THERE'S JUST TOO MANY QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE WOULD NEED MORE TIME.
COMMISSIONER POWELL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOTION THAT RECOMMENDATION? ABSOLUTELY.
I'LL MOTION THAT RECOMMENDATION.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATION TO DELAY A CITY COUNCIL VOTE UNTIL JUNE OF 2027 ON THE BRACKENRIDGE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GANNON.
EIGHT, NINE, UH, THOSE AGAINST.
OKAY, THAT PASSES NINE TO ONE TO TWO.
I'M GONNA MOTION TO EXTEND OUR MEETING UNTIL 10:45, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WITHOUT OBJECTION.
COMMISSIONER BRETON, ANY? OTHER PEOPLE GOT THE ONES I WANTED TO DO, SO NO.
ONE OF THEM WAS TO DELAY, UH, THE RECOMMEND COUNCIL DELAY THE VOTE, UH, ON THE AGREEMENT, AND THAT'S HAPPENED, THANKFULLY.
UH, THE OTHER ONE I HAVE IS RELATED TO THE LIMITS OF THE TURS AND OF KNOWING THAT PART OF THIS QUESTION
[04:25:01]
ON THE BRACKENRIDGE TRACT AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDENT HOUSING IS THAT THOSE STUDENTS HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE.AND KNOWING THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS CONSIDERED THE GATEWAY APARTMENTS TRACT AS PART OF THIS SOLVING THEIR PUZZLE OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION FROM THEM ON HOW THEY'RE MAKING THIS DEAL WORK, RIGHT? BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE GATEWAY APARTMENTS IS LIKELY PART OF THAT, THE RELOCATION STRATEGY, THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR US TO RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER INCLUDING THE GATEWAY TRACT WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE TERS.
WOULD YOU LIKE THAT TO READ EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TURS TO INCLUDE THE GATEWAY APARTMENTS TRACT OR TO BE MORE GENERAL, CONSIDER EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TURST? I MEAN, I, I THINK THE RECOMMENDATION COULD BE TO IN- INCLUDE THE GATEWAY TRACT IN THE TURS.
THERE MAY BE REASONS WHY IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, BUT I'D LIKE THEM TO AT LEAST CONSIDER IT.
SO EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TURST TO INCLUDE THE GATEWAY APARTMENTS TRACT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER SKIDMORE? COMMISSIONER BRETON.
MY BRAIN IS STARTING TO FAIL ME AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT, AND I'M ACTUALLY WANTING TO CLARIFY THE, THE BOUNDARIES OF THAT TURST, MAYBE NOT IN, IN FULL DEPTH.
I HAVE BIKED TO THE LAKE AUSTIN HEB ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND TRIED TO BIKE FURTHER WEST, AND THAT NORTH PART OF LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD, I WOULD HOPE, IS INCLUDED AND MAYBE GET SOME MULTIMODAL IMPROVEMENTS, UH, ALONG THAT EDGE OF MUNI.
SO IF THE TURS DOES NOT COVER THAT PIECE, I MIGHT WANT IT TO.
I THINK THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS IN MY MIND.
UH, UH, TO ANSWER YOURS, I THINK THE TURS WOULD, IT'S, THAT'S WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE, THE BOUNDARY THAT IS THE BRACKENRIDGE TRACT, RIGHT? UM, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS A SEPARATE PROPERTY.
AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT'S THE UT GATEWAY APARTMENTS, WHICH ARE WEST 6TH STREET AT CAMPBELL.
IT'S A LARGE TRACT OF LAND THAT IS ALSO UT STUDENT HOUSING, GRAD STUDENT HOUSING, UH, THAT, UH, WOULD LIKELY BE REDEVELOPED IN SOME FORM OF...
AND I, I THINK EXPANDING THE TURS TO INCLUDE IT MIGHT HELP TO PRACTICALLY ACHIEVE SOME OF THE GOALS IN TERMS OF MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN, UH, IN WEST AUSTIN.
I KNOW IT'S EAST OF MOPAC, BUT OLD WEST AUSTIN AND CLARKSVILLE'S CERTAINLY OF
SO, UH, I, I JUST THINK THAT IF THAT'S A PUZZLE WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE AND EXPANDING THE TURS HAS THE CITY A, A MORE ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THAT AND HOW THAT TRACK MIGHT BE DEVELOPED FROM A PLANNING STANDPOINT, THEN IT WOULD BE USEFUL.
OTHER QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER SKIDMORE, VICE CHAIR? I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION BECAUSE I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN IT DONE BEFORE.
CAN A TERS BE NON-CONTIGUOUS? THAT'S WHAT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
I WONDER IF THERE'S A GOOD LAND USE ATTORNEY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL US.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION.
OTHER QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER SKIDMORE? WOULD LIKE TO MOVE YOUR RECOMMENDATION? MOTION TO, UH, RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL TO INCLUDE, IF POSSIBLE, THE, THE GATEWAY APARTMENTS TRACT, UH, WITHIN THE TERS.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL.
I'M GONNA COME BACK AROUND AND MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY HAS SECOND AMENDMENTS.
UM, I HAVE ONE FINAL AMENDMENT RELATED TO, UM, I GUESS THE UNO, UM,
AS PART OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT? OR, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL? CAN I MAKE IT ON THE RECORD THAT I STRONGLY SECOND
OKAY, SO WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM COMMISSIONER MAXWELL.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATION THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DISCUSSION OF THE TURS OF THE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED AND DETAILED UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY AMENDMENTS
[04:30:01]
BE EXPEDITED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.STRONGLY SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRETON.
COMMISSIONER BARRERA RAMIREZ, ANY MORE FROM YOU? NO.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT I HAVE MISSED THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FURTHER DAY OF AMENDMENTS? GREAT WORK, EVERYONE.
WE DON'T HAVE A BASE MOTION TO VOTE ON HERE, BUT I THINK WE'VE, UH, MADE SOME GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I HOPE COUNCIL WILL TAKE SERIOUSLY.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US AND, UH, TO MR. SUTTLE FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOR US LATE AT NIGHT.
WOULD ANY COMMISSIONERS LIKE TO MAKE SOME FINAL REMARKS ON THIS? COMMISSIONER MAXWELL? UM, I JUST HAD A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
UM, I ASSUME THAT ALL THE REVISED RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE SHARED AT SOME POINT PUBLICLY.
I WILL SHARE THEM WITH STAFF TOMORROW AND THEN THE, TOMORROW IS A HOLIDAY, BUT I BELIEVE THAT STAFF WILL BE POSTING THEM THURSDAY OR FRIDAY TOO.
ONCE WE RECEIVE THEM IN THE FORMAL RECOMMENDATION FORMAT, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY WEBSITE, I CAN ALSO SEND THAT TO YOU AS WELL.
ONCE IT'S IN THAT FORMAT, THEN WE CAN POST IT AND IT'LL BE PUBLIC FOR EVERYBODY TO VIEW.
AND I'LL ALSO SEND THOSE OUT VIA EMAIL AS WELL.
I'M GONNA GIVE FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THREE MINUTES EACH TO DO SO.
COMMISSIONER GANNON, GO AHEAD.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE THE WHOLE THREE MINUTES, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, BEFORE I, YOU KNOW, BECAME AN URBANIST, I WAS A GREAT FAN OF E.O.
WILSON BROUGHT UP, I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED.
HE DID GREAT RESEARCH INTO ANTS.
THAT'S KIND OF HIS SEMINAL BOOK.
IT WAS IN THE '90S, BUT I'M ACTUALLY A BIGGER FAN OF HIS BOOK, SUPER ORGANISM.
UM, AND HE HAS A GREAT QUOTE IN THERE.
IT'S, IT'S KIND OF LOOKING AT ALTRUISTIC COOPERATION.
UM, AND HIS CENTRAL CLAIM IS THAT SELFISH INDIVIDUALS WILL BEAT ALTRUISTIC, UH, INDIVIDUALS, BUT AN ALTRUISTIC GROUP WILL ALWAYS BEAT OUT A SELFISH GROUP.
AND I KIND OF THINK THAT'S INSPIRING FOR ME AND I KIND OF THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE DO HERE ON, ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WILSON IS A FAN OF THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LAB.
AND THANK YOU ALL THE STUDENTS AND SCIENTISTS WHO CAME OUT.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS? COMMISSIONER BRETON.
I WILL KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET.
BASED ON MY, UH, QUESTION, MY PORTION OF THE QUESTION AND ANSWER LAST MEETING, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT APPLIES TO NON-UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, OR DEVELOPMENT FOR NON-UNIVERSITY USE.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME IS, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND THIS, ONLY UT CAN TRULY SAVE THE BFL.
WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST AS YOU, UH, ESPECIALLY HERE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE SEEN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BFL, WHICH IS A VERY, UH, IMPORTANT AND BENEFICIAL COMMUNITY ASSET, CONTINUES TO BE AN IMPORTANT AND BENEFICIAL COMMUNITY ASSET.
AS YOU'VE ALSO PROBABLY NOTICED, THIS IS A VERY TENUOUS, UH, SITUATION.
YOU ALL, I CAN TELL, ARE DOING YOUR BEST.
WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO OUR ABILITY.
I HOPE THAT UT AND THE CITY COUNCIL ARE DOING THEIR BEST AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE, UH, THAT THIS PROCESS HOPEFULLY WILL RESULT IN SOMETHING BETTER.
AND I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE CLOSING MESSAGE.
THIS AREA, I'VE BEEN TO MULTIPLE TIMES.
I LIVED FOR THREE YEARS IN SPYGLASS AND I GOT MY GROCERIES AT THE HEB AT LAKE AUSTIN ONCE IT OPENED.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE BEST TO BE AROUND THERE.
I WAS AT ACL RECENTLY AND HAD TO WALK, UH, TO THE BRECKENRIDGE AREA TO PICK UP FOR, FOR RIDESHARE.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE BEST TO BE AROUND THERE, BUT BETTER THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS AND SHARING YOUR PERSONAL STORIES AND HOW YOU BELIEVE THAT BETTER THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
WE HOPE, UH, THAT WE HAVE SERVED YOU WELL.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WISHING TO SPEA COMMISSIONER DROZIN.
I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS.
I THINK JUST FROM LOOKING OUT OVER THE ENTIRE EVENING, THE AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT WE'VE HAD FROM THE COMMUNITY IS, IS PRETTY AMAZING, UH, AND WE LOVE TO SEE IT, THAT AT THESE MEETINGS.
AS, UH, FOLKS SITTING ON THE COMMISSION, I KNOW THE, THE PROCESS FROM OUR VIEW OF THIS PARTICULAR CASE FEELS VERY OPAQUE.
UH, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE MACHINATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE
[04:35:01]
UNIVERSITY AND WHAT VALUES ARE BEING PLACED AND HOW THOSE ARE BEING EXECUTED ON OUR BEHALF.UM, AND I THINK THAT IT HAS RESULTED IN A, IN A LOT OF GOOD, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL, I THINK FROM EVERYBODY SITTING HERE AT THE DAIS TODAY.
UM, I WANNA SAY ALSO THAT WE ARE...
I WOULD SAY THE M - THAT THE MAJORITY OF US ON HERE, UP HERE, OUR GOALS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY ARE ALWAYS MOTIVATED BY SAVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL GREEN AND UNDEVELOPED AND WILD SPACES AROUND US.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO CONCENTRATE DEVELOPMENT WHERE DEVELOPMENT BELONGS, BUT ALWAYS CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT THAT IS IN THE SERVICE OF KEEPING THE WILD PLACES AS WILD AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE TO YOU WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT BUILDINGS THAT ARE 200 FEET TALL, BUT TO US, IT MEANS THAT THERE'S TREES THAT AREN'T GETTING CUT DOWN AND THERE'S ANIMALS THAT ARE LEFT WHERE THEY BELONG.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS? COMMISSIONER POWELL.
UH, I'M GONNA KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET.
LAST TIME I THINK I ILLUMINATED, UH, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GAVE ME PERSONALLY PAUSE AND I THINK SHOULD GIVE THE COMMUNITY PAUSE.
SINCE THEN, I THINK THE CLEANEST, CLEAREST THING TO ME IS WHAT I ADDED IN THE GENERAL RECOMMENDATION.
I'M GRATEFUL THIS, THAT THIS BODY APPROVED, WHICH IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE TIME.
I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENCY.
I THINK THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO SEE A PLAN AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS INTENTIONS AND THE CITY'S INTENTIONS EVEN DEEPER, UM, BECAUSE WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE CURRENT PREMISE RIGHT NOW I- IS AWFUL.
THE MONTH TO MONTH SITUATION CANNOT BE SUSTAINED.
IT'S HONESTLY AMAZING IT'S BEEN SUSTAINED THIS SO, THIS FAR.
BUT WE, WE GOTTA TAKE THE TIME.
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, A FEW THINGS HAVE CHANGED THAT I THINK MAY HELP US ALL HAVE A BETTER DEAL IN BOTH PARTIES NEGOTIATING IN A BIT BETTER FAITH IN CALENDAR YEAR 2027 THAN THEY WOULD BE IF WE PUSHED IT THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, TO THE MANY, MANY SPEAKERS WHO I WOULD SAY INFORMED MYSELF AND MANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THE BRACKENRIDGE FIELD LABORATORY LAST TIME AND THEN CERTAINLY TONIGHT, UH, IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN RELEASED A STATEMENT ABOUT THIS.
YOUR ADVOCACY HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE AT THE VERY MINIMUM IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND EDUCATING THIS COMMISSION AND OTHER COMMISSIONS, OTHER BODIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS COMMUNITY RESOURCE.
DON'T GIVE UP HOPE JUST THE SAME WAY THAT WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE ULTIMATELY MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IMPLEMENTED.
IT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT ALL THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.
AND LIKE COMMISSIONER BRETTON SAID, I JUST WANNA ECHO THAT BETTER THINGS ARE PROF - ARE POSSIBLE AND THEY'RE BECAUSE YOU'RE SHOWING UP AND YOU'RE GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WISHING TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, LET'S
[PERMANENT COMMITTEE UPDATES ]
MOVE INTO OUR PERMANENT COMMITTEE UPDATES, CODES AND ORDINANCES JOINT COMMITTEE.I HAVE NO UPDATE AT THIS TIME.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JOINT COMMITTEE.
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
SMALL AREA PLANNING JOINT COMMITTEE.
UH, WE MET LAST WEEK AND, UH, RECOMMENDED THAT WE DISSOLVE THIS COMMITTEE.
URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES UPDATE WORKING GROUP.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ]
ITEMS FROM THE COMMISSION? OKAY, SEEING NONE, I WANNA REMIND US THAT OUR MEETING NEXT WEEK ON NOVEMBER 17TH HAS BEEN CANCELED, SO YOU CAN TAKE THAT OFF YOUR CALENDAR AND WE WILL BE BACK TOGETHER ON DECEMBER 8TH.AND WITH THAT, I WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT 10:41 PM.