REGULAR MEETING of the DESIGN COMMISSION MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2024, 6:00 PM PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1405 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Design Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Nicole Corona, at 512-974-3146 or nicole.corona@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Kevin Howard Conners Ladner AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Chi Lee Ben Luckens Marissa McKinney Brita Wallace Brendan Wittstruck The first five speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on March 25, 2024. Presentation by Lily Rerecich and Heidi Trudell, Travis Audubon Society, regarding bird-safe buildings. 1. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. 4. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council the Sound Assessment and Disclosure Requirements Proposal. Presented by Brian Block, Development Services Department. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project Mexic-Arte Museum Renovation, located at 419 Congress Avenue, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards. Presented by Matt Catterall, Levy Dykema. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. Select a representative to serve on the Downtown Commission per City Code § 2-1-140. 5. 6. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 7. 8. 9. Update from the Urban Design Guidelines Working Group regarding the meeting on April 12, 2024. Update from the representative of the Joint Sustainability Committee regarding the meeting on March 27, 2024. Update from the representative of the South-Central Waterfront Advisory Board regarding the meetings on April 1, 2024, and April 15, 2024. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Note: City Code requires two board members sponsor an item to be included on an agenda. This section of the agenda provides members an opportunity to request items for future agendas. Staff should assume that if there is no objection from other members expressed …
April 22, 2024 Design Commission The Travis Audubon Society requested this report on bird safe buildings for presentation to the City of Austin and general dissemination within the Central Texas community. It was submitted to the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board on March 18, 2024, and was prepared by Heidi Trudell, a bird collision prevention researcher and consultant, who in March 2024 was hired as a technical advisor by Guardian Glass. Passing directly over Austin, North America’s Central Flyway serves as the primary migration corridor1 during spring and fall for hundreds of species of birds. Due to this geographic funneling, Texas is home to three of the top ten most deadly cities for birds2 (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio), making it especially critical to proactively preserve biodiversity. Travis County alone has documented 4273 species of birds, which is more than fourteen states4 have recorded. With bird populations in steep decline,5 and an estimated 621 million to 2 billion6 birds dying at windows in the US annually, it is critical now more than ever that municipal leaders, especially in ecologically significant areas like Austin, step forward to reverse the trend. Initial steps have already been taken; Austin’s dedication to bird conservation has already been established by committing to meet the standards of a Bird City.7 This includes a pledge to reduce nonessential lighting during migration8 that comes as part of a statewide initiative9 to address the detrimental impact that artificial light at night has on migrating birds. As Austinites are well aware, however, it’s not just birds that need dark skies to thrive; even outside of bird migration, bats are especially sensitive to lighting.10 1allaboutbirds.org/news/heres-how-to-use-the-new-migration-forecast-tools-from-birdcast/# 2news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/04/chicago-tops-list-most-dangerous-cities-migrating-birds 3ebird.org/region/US-TX-453?yr=all 4ebird.org/region/US/regions 53billionbirds.org 6meridian.allenpress.com/wjo/article-abstract/125/2/406/129654/Evaluating-the-Effectiveness-of-Select-Visual/ 7austintexas.gov/news/austin-now-designated-bird-city-working-protect-habitats-and-promote-bird-friendly-practices 8traviscountytx.gov/news/2021/2113-lights-out-for-migrating-birds 9tx.audubon.org/urbanconservation/lights-out-texas 10batcon.org/new-paper-suggests-light-pollution-limits-bat-habitat/ The next step is to address the built environment directly. Glass is a dynamic material; it can reflect habitat or be entirely transparent. As a result, birds are unable to see glass11 unless it is modified. Poorly designed buildings dramatically increase the risk of collision. One way to significantly improve the odds of survival for birds living in or migrating through Central Texas is to ensure that buildings meet bird safe standards.12 Every building that is made bird safe - as new construction or a retrofit - will save dozens to hundreds of birds13 per building, per year. Best practices in bird safe building standards align with Austin’s values14 of being a biodiverse, ecologically resilient community. The US …
Sound Assessment & Disclosure Requirements Proposal Presentation to City of Austin Design Commission April 22, 2024 Background • Council approved Resolution No. 20181018- 038 directing the City Manager to propose programs, rules, and ordinances necessary to improve compatibility between residents, lodging establishments, and music-related businesses. • The resolution was part of Council efforts to support music, arts and culture. Purpose • Policy related to residential development responsibility is still outstanding. • In addition to the sound ordinance and enforcement, the sound management system should also anticipate and address quality of life issues for residences in proximity to nightlife and entertainment establishments and districts. Ensure Accurate Expectations Policy Goals • Improve compatibility between entertainment uses with amplified sound and residential and hotel uses. • Anticipate, plan for, and minimize common conflicts between residential and hotel uses and entertainment-related amplified sound. • Ensure residential and hotel development projects understand the sound levels in the area so they can design and construct the building considering the sound impact from nearby code-compliant entertainment uses. • Provide residential development projects and new residents with accurate expectations about the level of sound that will be present in the environment, and the information they need to make informed decisions. Approach A commonsense solution that is not prescriptive and focuses on education and awareness Sound Assessment & Disclosure Requires residential and hotel developments near Outdoor Music Venues and Performance Venues to: • conduct a sound assessment • disclose to future residents when they sell or lease units about the presence of nearby venues, and that a sound assessment was conducted Description and Intent • Does NOT mandate building standards. • Requires residential developers to: Promotes Education and Informed Decisions 1. document that they have studied the sound levels in the area they are building. • This includes assessing the impact of legally compliant sound from nearby music and nightlife establishments. 2. disclose to future residents the presence of nearby music and nightlife establishments, and that a sound assessment has been conducted. Description and Intent • Residents are encouraged to ask questions about sound mitigation efforts, make informed decisions Promotes Education and Informed Decisions • Does NOT require anything further from Outdoor Music Venue Permit Holders or Performance Venues. • Their sound level is already regulated with a fixed sound level standard that is appropriate for the context, is predictable and doesn’t change when new residential is built nearby. …
Mexic-Arte Museum Project (25,696 GSF) Meeting objective: to understand how the project is conforming with Design Guidelines • Existing building located at 419 Congress Avenue • Congress Avenue Historic District, however, the building is not historic • Congress Avenue Façade will be rehabilitated, the remainder of the building will be demolished • American Alliance of Museums Accreditation • Requires new floor to floor heights of 18’-6” • Requires new structure and foundations to meet loading requirements appropriate for museum occupancy LEED Silver Certification | AEGB 2 Stars • • Great Streets Program • Program Requirements: • Museum Store • Galleries • • • • • • Loading/Unloading Administrative Offices Support Spaces AIPP (Art in Public Places) Mural Rotating Mural Program AD Space MEXIC-ARTE MUSEUM5TH STREET & CONGRESS AVE. Site Plan MEXIC-ARTE MUSEUM " 0 1 - ' 7 4 1 I I I R O D R R O C W E V L O T P A C K A O E V I L T S A E T A S S E R G N O C H T U O S CONGRESS AVE R.O.W. MEXIC-ARTE MUSEUM " 0 - ' 0 9 . X A M " 0 - ' 0 3 . I N M Level 1 Plan Level 2 Plan Level 3 Plan Roof Level Plan Building Section Future Stair
1. DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024 The Design Commission convened a regular meeting on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1401, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Salinas called the Design Commission Meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Conners Ladner Ben Luckens Marissa McKinney Brita Wallace Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Design Commission meeting on February 26, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of 02/26/2024 were approved on Vice Chair Meiners’s motion, Commissioner McKinney’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Howard, Commissioner Lee, and Commissioner Wittstruck were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and action on the engagement plan for the update to the Urban Design Guidelines. Presented by Sophia Benner, Planning Department. 1 The motion to approve the engagement plan for the update to the Urban Design Guidelines was approved on Commissioner McKinney’s motion, Chair Salinas’ second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Howard, Commissioner Lee, and Commissioner Wittstruck were absent. Conduct a nomination for the representative for the Downtown Commission. No action was taken. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 4. Update from the Urban Design Guidelines Working Group regarding the meeting on March 1, 2024. Update and presentation were given by Commissioner Carroll. Update from representative of the Downtown Commission regarding the meeting on March 20, 2024. No update was given. Update from representative of the Joint Sustainability Committee regarding the meeting on February 28, 2024. Update was given by Chair Salinas. Update from representative of the South-Central Waterfront Advisory Board regarding the meeting on March 18, 2024. Update was given by Commissioner Ladner. Chair Salinas adjourned the meeting at 7:13 p.m. without objection. 3. 5. 6. 7. 2
Mexic-Arte Museum Project (25,696 GSF) Meeting objective: to understand how the project is conforming with Design Guidelines • Existing building located at 419 Congress Avenue • Congress Avenue Historic District, however, the building is not historic • Congress Avenue Façade will be rehabilitated, the remainder of the building will be demolished • American Alliance of Museums Accreditation • Requires new floor to floor heights of 18’-6” • Requires new structure and foundations to meet loading requirements appropriate for museum occupancy LEED Silver Certification | AEGB 2 Stars • • Great Streets Program • Program Requirements: • Museum Store • Galleries • • • • • • Loading/Unloading Administrative Offices Support Spaces AIPP (Art in Public Places) Mural Rotating Mural Program AD Space Site Plan " 0 1 - ' 7 4 1 I I I R O D R R O C W E V L O T P A C K A O E V I L T S A E T A S S E R G N O C H T U O S CONGRESS AVE R.O.W. MEXIC-ARTE MUSEUM " 0 - ' 0 9 . X A M " 0 - ' 0 3 . I N M Building Section Future Stair Level 1 Plan Level 2 Plan Level 3 Plan Roof Level Plan West Elevation – Congress Ave (Principal Street) North Elevation – 5th Street
DESIGN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20240422-004 May 2, 2024 Vice Chair Meiners Mexic-Arte Museum Renovation Date: Subject: Motioned By: Recommendation The motion that the project Mexic-Arte Museum Renovation, located at 419 Congress Avenue, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards was approved on Vice Chair Meiner’s motion, Commissioner Wittstruck’s second on a 7-0-1 vote Vote For: Chair Salinas, Vice Chair Meiners, Commissioner Gelles, Commissioner Lee, Commissioner McKinney, Commissioner Wallace, Commissioner Wittstruck Seconded By: Commissioner Wittstruck 7-0-1 Against: Recusal: Commissioner Howard Absent: Commissioner Carroll, Commissioner Ladner, Commissioner Luckens Attest: Jon Salinas, Chair- Design Commission 1 of 1
