APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approve the minutes of the regular Environmental Commission meeting of April 3, 2019 (5 minutes)
CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speakers should sign up to speak prior to the meeting being called to order; you will receive a three-minute allotment to discuss topics not posted on the agenda.
ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER’S UPDATE ON PAST COMMISSION ACTIONS AND REPORT ON ITEMS OF INTEREST a. Update on amendment to the agreement with Austin Independent School District establishing site development standards for Bowie High School to allow transfers of impervious cover to Bowie High School from certain campuses in the Barton Springs Zone (5 minutes) b. Update on Courtyard Final Plat and Subdivision (C8-2017-0016.0A) (5 minutes)
Name: Villas on Rio Grande, SP-2018-0362C.SH (D-9) Applicant: Jason Rogers, Garrett-Ihnen Civil Engineering Location: 2111 Rio Grande Street Staff: Jim Dymkowski, Environmental Program Coordinator, Development Services Department Watershed: Shoal Creek Watershed, Urban Classification, Desired Development Zone Request: Request to vary from 25-8-641 to allow the removal of two heritage trees, each with a single-stem greater than 30” in diameter. Staff Recommendation: Tree #19730 (34-inch Pecan): The request meets the City Arborist approval criteria set forth in LDC 25-8-624(A)(2), thus the variance is recommended. Tree #19726 (37-inch Pecan): The request does not meet the City Arborist approval criteria set forth in LDC 25-8-624(A)(2), thus the variance is not recommended. (30 minutes)
Name: Valla Djafari, SP-2018-0028D (D-10) Applicant: Jennifer Hanlen, Permit Partners, LLC Location: 2009 Lakeshore Dr., Austin, TX 78746 Staff: Pamela Abee-Taulli, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Scott Hiers, Environmental Scientist Senior, Watershed Protection Department Watershed: Lake Austin Watershed, Water Supply Rural Classification, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-281(C)(2)(b) to allow the construction of a boat dock, a shoreline access, and shoreline stabilization within a 150-foot Critical Environmental Feature (CEF) buffer for a Rimrock CEF. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the findings of fact have been met. Staff conditions: 1. Construction access will occur from Lake Austin by barge. 2. Staircase will span the rimrock and posts will not be located closer than 5’ from the crest and base of the rimrock critical environmental feature. 3. Staircase shall be preassembled in sections off-site, which will reduce the amount construction activities near the rimrock critical environmental feature. 4. Additional wetland mitigation and shoreline stabilization will be installed per Landscape Plan Sheet 10. (30 minutes)
Name: Jaylee Business Park, SP-2018-0455D (2-Mile ETJ) Applicant: Carlson, Brigance & Doering, Inc Location: 2709 N FM 620 RD, Austin, TX 78734 Staff: Alex Butler, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Watershed: Running Deer Creek Watershed, Water Supply Rural, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: 1. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut above allowable four feet to no more than eight feet of depth. 2. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill above allowable four feet no more than eight feet of depth. Staff Recommendation: 1. Staff recommends that the required findings of fact have been met. 2. Staff recommends that the required findings of fact have been met. Staff Conditions: 1. Commercial landscaping in accordance with Land Development Code Chapter 25-2, Subchapter C, Article 9 and the Environmental Criteria Manual Section 2; excluding Hill Country Roadway Requirements. 2. Tree mitigation in accordance with current Land Development Code and Environmental Criteria Manual requirements, ad ‘No Mow’ signs placed in the 40% Natural Area Buffer. (30 minutes)
Name: Ranch Road 620 Project Consent Agreement Applicant: Michael Whellan, Armbrust & Brown, PLLC Location: FM 620 at Storm Drive (2-mile ETJ) Staff: Atha Phillips, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department Watershed: Running Deer Creek Watershed, Water Supply Rural, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: Consider a project consent agreement (PCA) to allow for the construction of an affordable rental housing development of approximately 180 units. Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions. (30 minutes)
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Urban Growth Policy and Water Quality Protection Committee –Pam Thompson, Hank Smith, Linda Guerrero, and Wendy Gordon b. Development Committee –Pam Thompson, Hank Smith, and Wendy Gordon c. Air Quality Committee –Mary Ann Neely, Pam Thompson, and Wendy Gordon d. Urban Forestry Committee – Peggy Maceo, Pam Thompson, Linda Guerrero, Mary Ann Neely, and Wendy Gordon e. Drainage Infrastructure and Flood Mitigation Committee –Pam Thompson, Mary Ann Neely, Hank Smith, and Brian Smith i. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne j. Report from Mary Ann Neely on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee k. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Mary Ann Neely, Peggy Maceo, Linda Guerrero, and Pam Thompson l. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero m. Zilker Park Working Group – Hank Smith and Mary Ann Neely n. Other reports from Commissioners 11. ADJOURNMENT
Apr 17, 2019 Environmental Commission
APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approve the minutes of the regular Environmental Commission meeting of April 3, 2019 (5 minutes)
CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speakers should sign up to speak prior to the meeting being called to order; you will receive a three-minute allotment to discuss topics not posted on the agenda.
ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER’S UPDATE ON PAST COMMISSION ACTIONS AND REPORT ON ITEMS OF INTEREST a. Update on amendment to the agreement with Austin Independent School District establishing site development standards for Bowie High School to allow transfers of impervious cover to Bowie High School from certain campuses in the Barton Springs Zone (5 minutes) b. Update on Courtyard Final Plat and Subdivision (C8-2017-0016.0A) (5 minutes)
Name: Villas on Rio Grande, SP-2018-0362C.SH (D-9) Applicant: Jason Rogers, Garrett-Ihnen Civil Engineering Location: 2111 Rio Grande Street Staff: Jim Dymkowski, Environmental Program Coordinator, Development Services Department Watershed: Shoal Creek Watershed, Urban Classification, Desired Development Zone Request: Request to vary from 25-8-641 to allow the removal of two heritage trees, each with a single-stem greater than 30” in diameter. Staff Recommendation: Tree #19730 (34-inch Pecan): The request meets the City Arborist approval criteria set forth in LDC 25-8-624(A)(2), thus the variance is recommended. Tree #19726 (37-inch Pecan): The request does not meet the City Arborist approval criteria set forth in LDC 25-8-624(A)(2), thus the variance is not recommended. (30 minutes)
Name: Valla Djafari, SP-2018-0028D (D-10) Applicant: Jennifer Hanlen, Permit Partners, LLC Location: 2009 Lakeshore Dr., Austin, TX 78746 Staff: Pamela Abee-Taulli, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Scott Hiers, Environmental Scientist Senior, Watershed Protection Department Watershed: Lake Austin Watershed, Water Supply Rural Classification, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-281(C)(2)(b) to allow the construction of a boat dock, a shoreline access, and shoreline stabilization within a 150-foot Critical Environmental Feature (CEF) buffer for a Rimrock CEF. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the findings of fact have been met. Staff conditions: 1. Construction access will occur from Lake Austin by barge. 2. Staircase will span the rimrock and posts will not be located closer than 5’ from the crest and base of the rimrock critical environmental feature. 3. Staircase shall be preassembled in sections off-site, which will reduce the amount construction activities near the rimrock critical environmental feature. 4. Additional wetland mitigation and shoreline stabilization will be installed per Landscape Plan Sheet 10. (30 minutes)
Name: Jaylee Business Park, SP-2018-0455D (2-Mile ETJ) Applicant: Carlson, Brigance & Doering, Inc Location: 2709 N FM 620 RD, Austin, TX 78734 Staff: Alex Butler, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Watershed: Running Deer Creek Watershed, Water Supply Rural, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: 1. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut above allowable four feet to no more than eight feet of depth. 2. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill above allowable four feet no more than eight feet of depth. Staff Recommendation: 1. Staff recommends that the required findings of fact have been met. 2. Staff recommends that the required findings of fact have been met. Staff Conditions: 1. Commercial landscaping in accordance with Land Development Code Chapter 25-2, Subchapter C, Article 9 and the Environmental Criteria Manual Section 2; excluding Hill Country Roadway Requirements. 2. Tree mitigation in accordance with current Land Development Code and Environmental Criteria Manual requirements, ad ‘No Mow’ signs placed in the 40% Natural Area Buffer. (30 minutes)
Name: Ranch Road 620 Project Consent Agreement Applicant: Michael Whellan, Armbrust & Brown, PLLC Location: FM 620 at Storm Drive (2-mile ETJ) Staff: Atha Phillips, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department Watershed: Running Deer Creek Watershed, Water Supply Rural, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: Consider a project consent agreement (PCA) to allow for the construction of an affordable rental housing development of approximately 180 units. Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions. (30 minutes)
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Urban Growth Policy and Water Quality Protection Committee –Pam Thompson, Hank Smith, Linda Guerrero, and Wendy Gordon b. Development Committee –Pam Thompson, Hank Smith, and Wendy Gordon c. Air Quality Committee –Mary Ann Neely, Pam Thompson, and Wendy Gordon d. Urban Forestry Committee – Peggy Maceo, Pam Thompson, Linda Guerrero, Mary Ann Neely, and Wendy Gordon e. Drainage Infrastructure and Flood Mitigation Committee –Pam Thompson, Mary Ann Neely, Hank Smith, and Brian Smith i. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne j. Report from Mary Ann Neely on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee k. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Mary Ann Neely, Peggy Maceo, Linda Guerrero, and Pam Thompson l. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero m. Zilker Park Working Group – Hank Smith and Mary Ann Neely n. Other reports from Commissioners 11. ADJOURNMENT