SRCC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Monday, October 6, 2014 7:15 PM
GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
205 E. MONROE, AUSTIN, TEXAS
AGENDA
To be sure you get a vote, become a member. You can join or renew online www.srccatx.org. Not sure if you are current? Email membership@srccatx.org and we’ll let you know.
CALL TO ORDER/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. 7:15 Meeting procedures, etiquette, welcome newcomers. Verification of quorum. Reminder: state your name when presenting or seconding a motion. If an acronym is stated during the meeting and you don’t know what it means, please feel free to raise your hand and ask (see also footnote*).
Presenter throughout: Sounthaly “Tune†Outhavong, SRCC President, unless otherwise noted.
2. 7:20 Membership and voting announcements. Pay multiple years in advance and get a discount. Â Single membership: 1-yr $20; 2-yr $35; 3-yr $50 / Family membership: 1-yr $35; 2-yr $65; 3-yr $95
NOTE: In order to vote, dues must be paid a month in advance, with the exception that if a former member’s dues have lapsed no more than 2 years, they may renew at the meeting and be eligible to vote.
3. 7:22 Approve minutes from August 4 and September 1, 2014, last regular monthly meetings (available at www.srccatx.org).
MOTION: Marc Davis / Russell Frasier – to approve the meeting minutes from the August 4th and September 1st, 2014 meetings = PASSED
4. 7:25 Treasurer’s Report – see attachment to agenda distributed at the meeting; all reports are available upon request to the Treasurer.
5. 7:30 Committee Chairs reports
1) Parks, Schools, Environment; 2) Planning & Zoning; 3) Transportation & Public Safety; 4) Norwood*; 5) Historic District; 8) Finance; status of projects funded by SRCC; 9)ANC*; 10) Communication; 11) Quality of Life
ANC report by James Bilodeau: – The Austin Neighborhoods Council met in extended session on September 24th for its Annual Candidate Forum to endorse candidates for Mayor and the ten Council districts. Endorsements were determined by vote of neighborhood association representatives present at the meeting. While the SRCC is a voting member of the ANC and sent a representative, SRCC’s practice is to not endorse candidates in any of the races. Candidates were allowed to make brief opening and closing remarks and answered questions posed by the ANC executive committee. Questions and subsequent discussion of attendees spanned preservation of neighborhood plans in the Land Development Code rewrite, reduction of corporate tax incentives and the promotion of affordability through tax reform. The ANC voted to endorse Steve Adler for Mayor, Mario Cantu for District 3 and Kathie Tovo for District 9. These are all races in which SRCC members will vote. Endorsements for other districts in the city included Ora Houston for District 1, Delia Garza for District 2, Laura Pressley for District 4, Ann Kitchen for District 5, Melissa Zone for District 7, Ed Scruggs for District 8 and Jason Meeker for District 10. No candidate was endorsed for District 6. Additional information on the endorsements can be found at www.ancweb.org. This includes detailed survey responses from the candidates on issues relevant to our neighborhood.
Norwood House report by Wolf Sittler:Â The front porch has been removed while the foundation is inspected before the porch is rebuilt. They are in the process of selecting a new project manager. For more information see http://www.norwoodparkfoundation.org
OLD BUSINESS
6. 7:35 Since our last general meeting, the executive committee voted on the following motion:
MOTION : that SRCC become an Adopter of Heritage Oaks Park and apply to Austin Parks Foundation grants programs requesting $20,000 to supplement SRCC funds dedicated to making improvements to Heritage Oaks Park =Â PASSED
Presenter: Sounthaly Outhavong, SRCC President; Carol Martin, SRCC Membership Chair
This is a recently formed park that was spearheaded by neighbors. Some of the proposed features of the park triggered processes within the city that involve a master plan, ADA compliance and other requirements. The APF grant would help cover all the remaining expenses that SRCC was unable to cover with the monies allocated. The Executive Committee voted prior to the General Membership meeting in order to meet APF deadlines.
NEW BUSINESS
7. 7:40 The Austin Music Commission has proposed an ordinance for busking, to abolish restrictions to it that are based on panhandling. City Council has asked the city manager to write a resolution. Council will hear the resolution October 16.
Presenters: Brandon Hodge, owner of Big Top, pegleg@prodigy.net; Linsey Lindberg, AKA Mama Lou, American Strong Woman, http://www.strongwomanshow.com | mamalou@strongwomanshow.com
Brandon Hodge is the president of the South Congress Merchants Association. The Austin Music Commission proposed changes to the busking / panhandling restrictions. The initial proposal has gone back into review to address concerns raised by affected parties. Mr Hodge has concerns about the clarity of the difference between busking and panhandling. Currently we are at the resolution stage that is simply directing City staff to review and address the issue, this is not an ordinance but is the first step in the discussion. Lindsey was present to share information on busking. There are legal issues with limiting busking due to 1st amendment rights. She mentioned the possibility of having a busking mark that would encourage the activity in particular spots around the city.
8. 7:55 Austin Water is planning some wastewater line improvements in the area. The main work will be between Summit Street and Upland Drive. Representatives will explain the work and answer any questions.
Presenters: Yvonne Gil, Project Manager at Austin Water, 512-972-2048 | yvonne.gil@austintexas.gov; Geneva Barrett Guerrero, Austin Water Public Information Office, (512) 974-2461 | geneva.guerrero@austintexas.gov
The problem they are working to resolve is that some of the properties they serve for wastewater have service that is lower than the line they feed into. They are looking to add an easement along the backs of the properties to run a new wastewater line in order for customers to drain properly. The easement would be approximately five or six feet wide and cost $300 a linear foot for about 300 feet. It was a city error in the past that created this issue when they sold “taps†and access to the wastewater line.
9. 8:10 New Torchy’s coming to South Congress (at location of former Fran’s — W. Mary at Congress). The owners have requested a waiver from the ordinance that prohibits the sale of alcohol within 300 feet of a school (Fulmore). City Council has postponed hearing until October 23.
Presenters: Jeremy T. Correll Smith, Torchy’s Sr. Director of Design and Construction, 512.441.8900, jeremy.smith@torchystacos.com; Kurt Cadena-Mitchell, SRCC Member/Austin InterFaith/Wildflower Unitarian-Universalist Church, 512-786-5388 | cadena4@ymail.com
Torchy’s has signed a lease at this location at W. Mary & South Congress directly across from Fulmore Middle School. There are 36 parking spaces onsite. They have filed for a mixed beverage permit to allow for beer, wine and liquor. This would require a waiver from the ordinance prohibiting sale of alcohol within 300 feet of a school. Some of the other Torchy’s locations also have a full bar. Their location on Spicewood Springs is within 300 feet of a school and has been there for 4+ years without an incident according to the presenters. The hours would be 7am-10pm weekdays, 7am-11pm weekends and would allow for serving of alcohol during regular business hours. All of their locations that have proper zoning serve alcohol, newer locations have full bars. Existing business that currently sell alcohol within the school boundary were grandfathered (C-Boys, Magnolia and two convenience stores). Torchy’s agreed to restrictions for selling packaged alcohol to go and said it is not part of the business model.
Kurt Cadena-Mitchell provided another view about access to alcohol with a concern about middle school students who would be near adults who have been drinking and adults who are drinking and driving. He feels there is a tipping point where alcohol restrictions are no longer upheld and the character of the area changes for the worse. Due to past efforts by neighbors, the AISD School Board developed a policy that now opposes such waivers.
MOTION: Jeff Kessle / Joe Day – to support the AISD School Board position to oppose the waiver = PASSED
10. 8:25 Discussion and possible vote on the Terrace Hotel’s (110 Academy Drive/1101 Music Lane) request for a Neighborhood Plan amendment, NCCD* amendment, and zoning change. SRCC and the NPCT* have worked with the developer on a set of restrictions and limitations that they will agree to in return for these changes and these will be presented.
Presenters: Marc Davis, SRCC Member; Clark Lyda, developer, clarklyda@gmail.com | 512.635.0002
The proposed project sits on a portion of the former Terrace Motor Hotel land situated between Music Ln, Academy Dr. and the St. Cecilia Hotel. Although this project had been presented at prior SRCC meetings, the complexity of the issue required a brief overview of Zoning, Neighborhood Plans, and Neighborhood Conservation and Combining Districts (NCCDs). The properties that the developer are proposing to develop have a base Commercial (CS) zoning that would support being developed as a hotel but they are overlaid by the GSRCC Neighborhood Plan and the Fairview Park NCCD which partially restrict their development and would need to be amended to allow for a project like this. The developer walked the members through an overview of the proposed hotel which would consist of two courtyards surrounded by varying-height buildings that would house the 102 guest rooms, a small restaurant, a 1500 sq ft “speakeasy” bar and approximately 15 condominium units. The architect, Lake-Flato, has proposed a design that reflects the former Terrace Motor Hotel, preserves heritage trees, restores green space and is extremely environmentally conscious. The resulting hotel will be operated by Bunkhouse group and will be positioned between the Hotel San Jose and the Hotel St. Cecilia from a room price perspective. The topography of the site is unique – it slopes downward dramatically towards the back allowing multiple levels to be built without presenting more than two stories that face Academy Ln. While there will still be a taller building on the site, it is positioned back from Academy behind trees and next to the Hotel St. Cecilia in an effort to minimize it’s visual impact.
A detailed document was provided that describes the various restrictions and standards that the developer will adhere to in return for the zoning changes and NCCD amendment. This document is the result of many meetings and negotiations between a group of SRCC members, direct neighbors, the applicant’s development team, and the prospective hotel operator since February of 2014. The goal of these negotiations and the document was to reduce the impact that this project has on the SRCC residents that live nearby while still allowing for a successful and compelling redevelopment of the site. In particular, the developer agreed to, among other things:
– limitations on height and impervious cover
– limitations on outdoor events – no outdoor amplified music, attendance limited to 150, and restrictions on set-up and take-down hours
– restrictions on property access and parking – a parking structure to be built on a neighboring property that provides more than the required parking for the whole facility, no property access on Academy, free valet service for hotel, restaurant, and bar guests, support of the neighbors for RPP or other parking/traffic remediation
The requested zoning changes and amendments were described in the handout as well:
Zoning Changes:
1. Tract 1 zoned CS-NCCD-NP (no change) except a 1500 square foot footprint along
Music Lane will be re-zoned to CS-1-NCCD-NP for a cocktail lounge (Exhibit A)
2. Tract 2 zoned CS-NCCD-NP (no change)
NCCD Amendments for Tract1 and Tract2
1. Increase maximum impervious cover allowed under NCCD from 45% to 65% of gross site
area (existing impervious cover is approximately 95%; CS base zoning allows 95%
impervious cover)
2. Increase maximum building coverage allowed under NCCD from 35% to 50% of gross site
area (CS base zoning allows 95% building coverage)
3. Increase maximum height allowed under NCCD from 30’ to agreed upon levels, measured
relative to mean sea level (MSL), on a per building footprint basis (Exhibit B)
4. Allow the following permitted uses:
a. Hotel
b. Hotel accessory uses:
– restaurant (general)
– 1,500 square foot cocktail lounge
– parking
– events (indoor and outdoor entertainment)
c. Condominiums residential
MOTION: Marc Davis / Michael Sledge- that SRCC approve the zoning change and NCCD amendment provided that 1. The applicant agrees to adhere to the development standards and restrictions outlined in this document. 2. SRCC retains an attorney to represent us and cast this document into the appropriate legal documents required to make these standards and restrictions unambiguous and enforceable. 3. The team of individuals that have been working on this project will work with the attorney to ensure that all of the intent of this document is properly captured in the resulting legal documents” = PASSED
11. 8:45 Board of Adjustment variances for 1327 and 1325 Bonham Terrace. SRCC P&Z Committee met with property owners regarding their applications for variances and then voted to “not oppose†the variances. Needs a general membership vote.
Presenter: Marc Davis, SRCC Member. Applicants: Ann Gatlin & Dorr Scherz, 1327 Bonham Terrace, 512-444-6459 | dscherz@austin.rr.com
The zoning committee met with the applicants who want to develop their on the second lot by adding a garage and additional living space along with a new house. The challenge is the property has a 40’ drop in the first 200.’ There are restrictions & limits to the amount of pavement allowed on the front of a lot and the placement of the garage in front of a house but the property does not allow for it to be developed differently. The lots are 50’ wide so placing the house on the side of the garage isn’t practical.
MOTION: Marc Davis / Russell Frazier – for SRCC to adopt recommendations of the P&Z Committee to not oppose the requested variances = PASSED
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Art Trail 2014, presented by Charlotte Bell, Member – TH Arts Trail is November 8th and 9th. Postcards are being mailed out very soon. TH Arts Trail group is a recent recipient of a grant from the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Department.
Call for Volunteers: Additional Area Coordinators needed. The names of block captains can be provided.
– Area 3a (to replace Kathleen Littlepage), boundaries: between IH35 and Travis Heights Blvd, from Woodland Ave to Riverside Drive
– Area 1, boundaries: between East Side Drive and South Congress, from Riverside Drive to Monroe
Presented by Sounthaly Outhavong, SRCC President
Council Members Kathie Tovo and Chris Riley are candidates for District 9 and were both present for the last part of the meeting and made comments about the upcoming election on November 4th.
Newsletter update, presented by Gretchen Otto, SRCC Vice President
Account reconciliation, Profit & Loss and Balance reports available upon request from treasurer@srccatx.org
Presenter: Nancy Byrd, Treasurer
*Frequently used acronyms: ACF: Austin Community Fund; ANC: Austin Neighborhood Council; SF: Single Family zoning category; FLUM: Future Land Use Map; GSRC NPCT: Greater South River City Neighborhood Planning Contact Team, NCCD: Neighborhood Conservation Combining District
