HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness April 1, 2026 HR-2026-021800 Castle Hill Historic District 1107 West 9th Street 10 – 1 Proposal Renovate existing house. The non-contributing rear house will also be modified. Project Specifications 1) Replace existing siding with painted wood ship lap. 2) Construct new 8’0” steel fence. 3) Replace existing undivided windows with wood 1:1 windows at first floor, fixed-pane undivided square windows at dormers, and fixed-pane picture window at existing picture window. 4) Construct rear addition with dormer. 5) Remove chimney from east dormer. 6) Replace existing roof with flat terra cotta tiles and metal shingles at rear addition. Architecture A 2010 historic zoning application describes the building as follows: The house is one-and-a-half stories with a hipped roof, hipped dormers, and a wraparound porch…Above the front door there is a transom, an integral part of architecture of the period as well…The house still has 7 working transoms throughout the inside, which helped to circulate the air between rooms…The house has had a number of changes over the years. The house first appears on the 1922 Sanborn Fire Insurance Company map and shows a smaller footprint…[it] had a porch stretching all the way across the front of the house and another one along the east side. …Between 1922 and 1935, design of the house was modified to include a bay window, extend the sides and include a small porch in the middle of the back of the house. In 1962 the house was modified again — the bay window was brought forward a few feet onto the porch to create a larger living room inside — which eliminated the front porch in front of this window, and the back part of the side porch was enclosed to enlarge the bedroom. In 2008 the kitchen…was extended slightly to the rear…In 2010 the front porch was restored to again extend all the way across the front of the house (and free one of the original porch pillars from the wall built in 1962) by moving a modified version of the bay window back (Tim Cuppett was also the architect for this project). All of the finishes and details on the outside of the house are original with the exception of the new bay window.1 However, former Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky noted that the 2010 addition likely destroyed original fabric at the front of the house: …
ZONING CHANGE REVIEW SHEET CASE NUMBER: C14W2010-0022 HLC DATE: PC DATE: June 28. 2010 July26, 2010 December 13, 2010 February 22, 2011 APPLICANTS: Albert Percival, III and Kevin “Chuck” Hughes, owners HISTORIC NAME: Bones-Stokes House WATERSHED: Shoal Creek ADDRESS OF PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE: 1107 w qth Street ZONING FROM: SF3NP to SF3H-NP SUMMARY STAFF RECOMMENI)ATION: Staff cannot recommend the proposed zoning change from family residence — neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district to family residence — historic landmark — neighborhood plan (SF3-H-NP) combining district zoning because of recent significant modifications to the front of the house. The house is in the proposed Castle Hill Local Historic District. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION: Staff cannot recommend this house for designation as a historic landmark because the architectural character of the house changed substantially in the last year. The house had a projecting canted bay on the right side of the façade, which staff believes was original to the house in form, despite depictions on historical Sanhorn Fire Insurance Company maps. The canted bay was pushed forward several feet in a 1962 remodeling of the house, but still retained its essential form, if not location. In 2010, the owners replaced the canted bay with a boxed picture window, which, while sensitively designed, has compromised the historic appearance of the house to the extent that staff cannot recommend the house for individual designation as it no longer retains sufficient integrity of materials and design to convey’ its historic appearance. HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION ACTION: June 28, 2010: Postponed the case to July 26, 2010 at staffs request so that the applicants could meet with the Certificate of Appropriateness Committee for discussion of the new window on the July 26, 2010: Recommended denial of the proposed zoning façade of the house. change from SF3NP to SF3HNP due to the recent installation of the front window which has compromised the historic appearance of the house. Vote: 6-0 (Kleon absent). NOTE: The applicants were not present at the July 26, 2010 hearing and request a re-hearing of their application. December 13, 2010: The Commission’s action on July 26, 2010 to recommend denial of the proposed zoning change was not rescinded. The motion to rescind failed on a vote of 2-4 (Limbacher, Hansen. Kleon and Meyers opposed; Rosato absent). PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommended denial of the proposed zoning change from SF-3-NP to SF-3-H-NP due to the modifications to the front …
March 24, 2026 Kalan Contreras Principal Planner, Historic Preservation Office Austin Planning Dear Ms. Contreras, Here are responses to your questions: Q1: Will the existing window screens remain on the windows? It’s a little hard to tell in the photos, but it looks like there are currently exterior storm screens installed. Response: No. The windows will be replaced, including the screens. Q2: Will window openings at the main elevation change in size at all? Response: Yes. Two windows will be added to the living room, beside the existing two windows, matching the same size and proportion. Additionally, two windows at the dormer will be replaced with three. Q3: Will the height of the existing dormers change to accommodate the new windows? Response: No. Q4: Are there historic photos of the building showing a precedent for the tile roof? Response: Unknown. We could not find historic photos of the building. Q5: Could you please provide a close-up of the existing door and sidelight/transom? It’s a little hard to see in the photos provided on the plans. Response: Yes. See attached photo. Q6: Do you know when the existing trim was installed? (I’m assuming it was back in 2010ish when the front bay window was modified, but it will help to know if the trim appears older that that.) Response: No. Q7: Is the chimney to be removed entirely? Response: Yes. Q8: Can you include images of the proposed fence and gate to be installed? Response: No. The fence and gate have not yet been designed. Sincerely, Nathan Griffith, AIA Senior Project Manager 807 Brazos Street, Suite 800 Austin, Texas 78701 1001 Bannock Street, Suite 40, Denver, CO 80204 www.anderssonwise.com 512 476 5780 807 Brazos Street, Suite 800 Austin, Texas 78701 1001 Bannock Street, Suite 40, Denver, CO 80204 www.anderssonwise.com 512 476 5780
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Certificate of Appropriateness April 1, 2026 HR-2026-027548 Hyde Park Historic District 4010 Avenue B 11 – 1 Proposal Rehabilitate a contributing property and construct a single-family house in an adjacent vacant lot. Construct two garage structures at rear alley. Project Specifications 1) Repair and rehabilitate the existing house at 4010 Avenue B. 2) Construct a single-story rear addition behind the existing house, approximately 420 square feet in size. 3) Construct a two-story residence to one side of the existing house, currently an empty lot. Proposed design is similar in form to the existing and approximately 1700 square feet in size. 4) Construct two garage structures at the rear of the property behind the two houses, each approximately 528 square feet in footprint. These structures will be oriented to the rear alley, and no curb cuts are proposed at the Avenue B streetfront. Architecture The existing house, which is listed in city directories since at least 1900, is a two-story structure with an asymmetric appearance when viewed from the street. There is a front porch that occupies the left half of the front elevation, supported by wood posts. A front room projects toward the street at the right with a gabled roof above. The house is clad in horizontal wood siding and retains good integrity from the period. Alterations have been minor and appropriate to the original construction. Design Standards The Hyde Park Design Standards are used to evaluate projects within the historic district. The following standards apply to the proposed project: 1. General Standards 1.2. Retention of Historic Style Repair, rather than replacement, is proposed for materials at the property. No apparent alterations are to be made at the original house, with the exception of a rear addition minimally visible from the street and compatible to the overall design and style. 1.3. Avoidance of False Historicism As stated above, repair of the existing material will not attempt to alter the original appearance of the property. At the new construction to the side, the design is largely deferential to the historic and will not create the appearance of having been constructed at the same time. 3. Residential Standards: Single Family and Contributing Multifamily – Preservation and Restoration 3.1. Front of Houses Wood panel siding on the second floor is proposed to be replaced, though this was installed in the 1980s and not original to the building. …
GENERAL NOTES Codes 2021 International Residential Code 2020 National Electric Code 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code 2021 Uniform Mechanical Code Visit link below for more information https://publicinput.com/2021TechnicalCodeChanges 1. It is the intent of these Contract Documents to establish a high quality level of material and workmanship, but not necessarily to note and call for every last item of work to be done. Any item not specifically covered but deemed necessary for satisfactory completion of the work shall be accomplished by the Contractor in a manner consistent with the quality of work without additional cost to the owner. All material and methods of installation shall be in accordance with industry standards and manufacturer's recommendations. 2. The Contractor shall be responsible for a thorough review of all drawings specifications and existing conditions prior to commencement of work. This includes but is not limited to site utilities and the structural scope of work. The failure of the Contractor to report discrepancies and seek modification or change prior to commencement of work shall be construed as full acceptance of the condition in question by the Contractor. The Contractor shall assume responsibility for all work depicted by the Contract Documents regardless of whether the Subcontractors agree as to whose jurisdiction certain areas of the scope of work are under. 3. It shall be assumed that the Contractor and the Subcontractors are sufficiently experienced to be considered qualified in their respective work responsibilities. The Contractor shall insure that the Owner receives acceptable workmanship common to the industry from all Subcontractors and material suppliers and is responsible for hiring qualified staff personnel and/ or Subcontractors as necessary. 4. The Contractor shall verify the location of all existing utilities so that the work may proceed safely and be coordinated among all Subcontractors and personnel involved. The Contractor shall notify the Owner and Designer in advance of any work required by public utility entities that will affect the cost of schedule of the work. 5. The contractor shall meet all safety requirements applicable in the city of Austin and maintain a safe working environment for all personnel and occupants during the entire project. The jobsite is to be kept orderly and as clean as possible during all construction activities. 6. This drawing set is provided to communicate only the basic design of the building. Structural design by others, all plumbing and Electrical shall also be design build and shall be …
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Permits in National Register Historic Districts April 1, 2026 HR-2026-017990 Old West Austin Historic District 2502 Wooldridge Drive 12 – 1 Proposal Construct a new carport and storage space, construct a new front porch structure, revise the roofline, and install new windows. Project Specifications 1) Construct a carport at the existing curb cut, and pour a new driveway in the location of an existing driveway. 2) Construct a storage room behind the proposed carport, along with a gym and pantry to be connected to the side of the main house. 3) Construct a new front porch and roof structure extending across the full front of the original house. Architecture House is a two-story, L-shaped plan that features some early ranch-style elements. These are noticeable at the original ground floor, where the horizontality is emphasized when viewed from the street. The walls at this floor are clad in white cast stone, and the second floor with vinyl siding. The roof is set at a shallow-to-moderate pitch, which is gabled on the ground floor and hipped above. Though it has been heavily added on to, the original contributing structure remains legible. Research After construction in the early 1940s, the house was first owned by Walter & Leona Moore, who were both retired. By 1947, Walter Moore passed away, and Leona lived at the property until her passing in 1958. The property was then purchased by France & Eugene Tips. Design Standards The City of Austin’s Historic Design Standards (March 2021) are based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and are used to evaluate projects in National Register districts. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Residential additions 1. Location Additions are mostly to the side of the house, with the porch alterations occurring directly at the front of the property. However, this work does not add interior square footage, but rather alters the roof at this location into a flat assembly. This is not in keeping with the intention of the design standards, but does not run counter to them either. 2. Scale, massing, and height Additions are a single story, and to the side of the property, creating a massing behind the front line of the house and largely out of the way. 3. Design and style Proposed additions largely match the existing in style and design, but the scale and form …
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Demolition and Relocation Permits April 1, 2026 PR-2026-022411; GF-2026-025343 1406 Garden Street 13 – 1 Proposal Demolish a ca. 1903 house and later carport and garage. Architecture The house at 1406 Garden Street appears to originally have been a wing-and-gable Folk Victorian building, constructed around the turn of the century. It features horizontal wood siding and traditional cornice returns at gable ends, though a wraparound porch shown in Sanborn maps appears to have been removed around 1971, and a small gabled hood with triangular brackets constructed over the door in the 1930s or 1940s. Outbuildings on the site were constructed during the 1970s. Research The house at 1406 Garden Street was constructed around the turn of the 20th century. Its earliest recorded owner in city directories was Mrs. Maggie Piper, a widow who shared her home with two of her children. She sold it to another widow, Rachel Jones, around 1906. By 1912, Jones had sold it to J. C. and Mary Elizabeth Fox; J. C. Fox is listed as “retired” in directory listings but appears to have lived in Austin for some time per obituaries. After his wife’s death in 1914, Fox took in boarders, remarried, and tried to sell the home, but failed; he and his current wife both died in 1920. The home was then rented briefly to the Jones family, and then to Mrs. Elizabeth Frame, who eventually purchased it. Frame lived in the home for a little under ten years. Throughout the 1940s, various short-term renters occupied the home before it was purchased by Augustina and Hubert Halsell, who remained there until the late 1970s. Most of the home’s modifications appear to have taken place while Augustina Halsell owned the home. Department Comments April 1, 2026 is the first meeting at which the demolition application will be discussed. Property Evaluation The 2016 East Austin Historic Resources Survey lists the property as contributing to potential local and National Register historic districts. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain moderate integrity. The character-defining porch was removed late in the period of significance, but no major modifications occurred after the 50-year cutoff. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff have evaluated the property and determined that it does not meet two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. …
Briefing on FY 2026 Heritage Preservation Grant Recommendations Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | April 1, 2026 Award Announcements! ▪ 731 Awards announced on March 16th (1,606 applications submitted) ▪ $24+ million in grant awards ($67+ million in requests) Austin Live Music Fund Creative Space Assistance Program • 399 awards • $7.14 million • 22 awards • $1.32 million Elevate • 288 awards • $12.8 million Heritage Preservation Grant • 22 awards • $3 million 2 Heritage Preservation Grant Program The purpose of the Heritage Preservation Grant is to preserve and restore historic sites and preservation activities that are actively marketed to tourists. Based on State Statute Ch. 351, the project must: ▪ Be used for historical restoration and preservation projects or activities to encourage tourism to visit preserved historic sites. ▪ At, or in the immediate vicinity of, Convention Center facilities or visitor information centers; ▪ Located in the areas that would be frequented by tourists and convention delegates 3 FY26 Program Highlights ▪ Historic preservation projects and history-focused activities that promote the site’s history to tourists ▪ Project Types: ▪ Heritage Event up to $50,000 or up to $150,000 ▪ Capital Improvement Project up to $250,000 ▪ Term: 24 months for Capital Projects; 12 months for Heritage Events ▪ Eligible: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit and For Profit ▪ Funds preservation project costs (no match) ▪ Online Application in Eng/Spn ▪ Outreach and Education: Virtual and In-Person Awareness Workshops ▪ Outreach and Education: New Applicants ▪ Outreach and Education: Creative Collaborations ▪ (Once awarded) Tourism Marketing Training in Eng/Spn REQUIREMENTS ▪ Marketed to attract and expand audiences and tourism ▪ Open and Accessible grounds ▪ Occurs in Austin City Council District or ETJ 4 Review Process • Interdepartmental staff review PRE-PANEL • Heritage Events (with or without a historic designation) • Capital Improvement Projects Panel Types • Preservation architects, museum educators, Preservation expertise historians, tourism professionals 5 Heritage Preservation Grant Scoring Criteria Preservation Impact – Up to 36 Points Tourism Impact – Up to 36 Points New Voices, Historic Places – Up to 18 Points New Local Historic Designation – Up to 10 Points 6 FY26 Grant Overview FY26 Heritage Preservation Grants Application: Stats 473% Increase in Eligibility Forms (126 submitted) 109% Increase in Applications Received (45 submitted) FY26 Recommended Heritage Preservation Grants: Stats 22 Preservation Project Awards (over $3M) 72.73% Awarded Proposals from New Applicants 72.73% Local Historic Designation …
Historic Landmark Commission – Barton Springs Rd. Bridge Update April 1, 2026 Eric Bailey, P.E. – Deputy Director Capital Delivery Services Barton Springs Road Bridge 100years old built in 1926 1946 Bridge Expansion 20,000 Vehicles per day Key Entrance to Zilker Park and for Major City Events FUNDING SOURCE: • Preliminary Design: 2012, 2018 and 2020 Bonds • Design: 2020 Bond • Construction: FHWA/City 2 Project Development Process - PRELIMINARY PHASE 2015 - 2023 - DESIGN PHASE 2024 - 2027 - CONSTRUCTION PHASE 2027 - 2029 PUBLIC MEETING April 2023 RESPOND TO COMMENTS Summer 2023 REFINE REPORT Fall 2023 COUNCIL ACTION December 2023 60% DESIGN + NEPA PUBLIC MEETINGS + BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING BID AND AWARD + COUNCIL ACTION CONSTRUCTION WE ARE HERE Current Condition Spalling Concrete in Bridge Structure Concrete Cores Delamination of Beams Curb And Railing Do Not Meet Current ADA Standards Load Restricted As Of November 2023 – Heavy Vehicles Moving Eastbound Must Use Outer Lanes 4 Analysis Structural and Mobility Analysis: • • • • External Structure - Spalling Concrete • ADA compliance – Pedestrian Circulation Internal Structure – Deteriorating Steel Geotechnical Data –Replacement Design • Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility – no improvement to existing condition Cost/Benefit Analysis – extended life vs. cost Historic Analysis: • Coordinated with US Army Corps (USACE) and Texas Historic Commission (THC) • The bridge is a contributing feature to the Zilker Park Historic Landmark designation • The Texas Historic Commission has approved potentially fully replacing the bridge. As the process continues, the final design will be reviewed and approved by USACE and THC. 5 Project Options 6 Bridge Rehabilitation Bridge Structure Rehabilitation 1 Remove Existing Bridge Deck and Spandrel Columns 2 Remaining Portion of Existing Structure 3 New Components: Exterior Pairs of Arch Ribs, Spandrel Columns, Deck, and Abutment Extensions Less than half of the original structure will remain Remaining structure will require refacing with new material surfaces View of old arches will be mostly blocked by new structure 7 City Council Actions 1 Direction from Council in 2020 Bond Resolution (20200812-011): 2 Previous Council Action/Hearings: 11/30/23 – Council conducts a public hearing to recommend the bridge replacement alternative 12/12/23 – Council work session on the recommended option 12/14/23 – Council conducts a public hearing and directs Staff to pursue replacement option 03/07/24 – Council Directs TPW Director to apply for a federal bridge …
URTH CAFFÈ HLC -COMMISSION MTG April 1st, 2026 22222404040404023232323234040404040 MaMaMaMaMarcrcrcrcrch h h h h 23232323232323232323 20202020202626262626 , , , , 20 2222240404040402323232323 4040404040 MaMaMaMaMarcrcrcrcrch h h h h 23232323232323232323 20202020202626262626 , , , , 20 UUUUURRRRRTTTTTHHH CCCCCAAAAAFFFFFFFFFEEEEE:::: DDDDEEEETTTTTEEEEERRRIIIOOOORRRRRAAAAATTTTTIIIIIOOOOONNNN RRRRREEEEEPPPPPOOOOORRRRRTTTTT Dear Members of the Historic Landmark Commission: This letter is intended to clarify the site conditions and field decisions that led to a greater degree of demolition than originally proposed during our 2024 presentation. First, we wish to acknowledge that the extent of the demolition exceeded initial expectations. However, the report below outlines the harsh structural realities discovered on-site that necessitated the difficult decision to retain a smaller percentage of the original envelope than planned. This report details the specific damage found on every demolished wall and the technical rationale behind those actions. We want to clarify that the sections currently remaining on-site should not be viewed as exempt from the systemic damage documented in this report. Rather, these sections were retained as part of a strategic, surgical effort to preserve specific components, with the ultimate goal of restoring the building to its full architectural glory. While a total preservation of the entire structure was our preferred approach, the extent of the systemic decay made such a path both structurally unsound and economically unfeasible. The team elected to focus preservation efforts on the primary, most significant facade. The other walls required reconstruction to properly integrate modern systems and ensure long-term viability. Our approach focuses on three key pillars: · Modern System Integration: Incorporating necessary waterproofing, structural reinforcement, and code-compliant utilities that the original compromised structure could no longer support. · Structural Longevity: Preventing the imminent failure that would have occurred had we attempted to patch the existing, deteriorated sections. · Historic Fidelity: Replicating all original detailing, profiles, and facade treatments with exacting precision to ensure the building’s visual contribution to the district remains unchanged. It is important to note that the intended use of the building and property has not changed; the property and building will function as a restaurant. The high- intensity operational needs of such a program placed cumulative stresses on the historic structure that it was never designed to handle. Over the years, these commercial requirements resulted in a level of internal deterioration that made total preservation a physical impossibility. Our primary objective is to reconstruct the building in a way that accommodates modern restaurant standards while maintaining …
Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: Sturgill, Hunter Tuesday, March 24, 2026 9:42 AM Historic Preservation Office FW: Support for Rezoning Case for Marilyn Webb Hunter Sturgill (she/her) Planner II Historic Preservation Office Austin Planning 512-974-3393 hunter.sturgill@austintexas.gov Please Note: Correspondence and information submitted to the City of Austin are subject to the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) and may be published online. Por Favor Tome En Cuenta: La correspondencia y la información enviada a la Ciudad de Austin está sujeta a la Ley de Información Pública de Texas (Capítulo 552) y puede ser publicada en línea. From: brenda malik Sent: Monday, March 23, 2026 5:31 PM To: Sturgill, Hunter <hunter.sturgill@austintexas.gov> Cc: Marilyn Poole Subject: Support for Rezoning Case for Marilyn Webb You don't often get email from Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution Greetings, My name is Brenda Malik, longtime resident and past president of the Rogers-Washington-Holy Cross Historic Neighborhood. Mrs. Webb and family have been valued community members for decades and have a treasured place in our neighborhood's history and culture. I fully support her efforts in this rezoning request. Please forward my sentiments to the Commission. Sincerely, Brenda Malik CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report 1
March 30, 2026 RE: Hill-Thompson House Historic Designation Dear Chair Heimsath, Vice Chair Evans, and Members of the Austin Historic Landmark Commission, Preservation Austin exists to empower Austinites to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and meaningful community culture through preservation. We write today in support of historic designation for 1906 Maple Avenue, also known as the Hill-Thompson House, for its historic associations and community value. We are proud to partner with the home’s owner, our friend Marilynn Poole Webb, in preparing this well-deserved nomination. The house at 1906 Maple Avenue is associated with several significant figures, including architect John S. Chase, FAIA, zoologist and geneticist Oscar Thompson, and civic leader Irene Hill-Thompson. John S. Chase was the first African American student to enroll at The University of Texas at Austin following desegregation, the first to graduate from UT’s School of Architecture, and the first licensed African American architect in Texas. When he was unable to find work at white architecture firms after graduation, Chase forged a practice for himself with residential and institutional commissions in Black East Austin that speak to his distinctive modernist vision, including the Teachers State Association of Texas Building (1952), David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church (1959), and the Della Phillips House (mid-1960s). Throughout his long and successful career as an architect and entrepreneur, Chase paved the way for future African American architects in Texas. Like Chase, Oscar Thompson was among the first African American students to enroll at The University of Texas at Austin, and was the school’s first Black graduate in 1952. After Thompson’s passing in 1962, his wife, Irene Hill-Thompson commissioned Chase to build her home in the Rogers-Washington-Holy Cross neighborhood. Hill-Thompson was a longstanding civic leader in East Austin, and the house served as a meeting place for political and community organizing. During Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 presidential campaign, Irene and her daughter, Ida Dawn, were selected as “Blue Birds,” a group of trusted community liaisons tasked with outreach and voter engagement efforts within Austin’s African American community. Irene hosted numerous political events at her Maple Avenue home, for President Johnson, U.S. Congressmen Lloyd Doggett, East Texas Black Republican operative Ernest Sterling, J.J. “Jake” Pickle, and Texas State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos. This legacy of civic engagement extends to the home’s current owner, Irene Hill-Thompson’s niece Marilynn Poole Webb, a leader in the Rogers-Washington-Holy Cross Historic District effort and longtime friend and collaborator of …
TARA A. DUDLEY, PhD 130 Palmetto Cove Kyle, Texas 78640 (512) 317-5536 March 27, 2026 City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission Historic Preservation Office P.O. Box 1088 Austin, TX 78767 Dear Commissioners, I write to you expressing the strongest support of landmark designation for the Hill-Thompson House at 1906 Maple Avenue—an extraordinary site where architecture, community leadership, and Black history in Austin intersect in profound and enduring ways. Designed in 1963 by pioneering architect John Saunders Chase, the Hill-Thompson House represents a defining early moment in his career as his first residential commission in Austin. Chase, the first African American graduate of the University of Texas School of Architecture and the first licensed Black architect in Texas, brought a refined mid-century modern vocabulary to East Austin and Black Austinites—adapting modern design influenced by the Usonian principles of Frank Lloyd Wright to the cultural, climatic, and social realities of a segregated city. This home, with its careful siting, climate- responsive overhangs, and balance of privacy and openness, reflects both accessibility, innovation, and intention. Yet the significance of this house extends far beyond architecture. It is deeply rooted in the lives and legacies of its original owner, Irene Hill Thompson. Mrs. Thompson’s husband Oscar Thompson was a groundbreaking figure in his own right—the first African American graduate of the University of Texas, earning his master’s degree in zoology in 1952 and contributing to early research in genetics. After his untimely death in 1962, the construction of this home became both a personal and symbolic act. Designed by his close friend John S. Chase, the house reflects resilience, friendship, and Mrs. Thompson’s determination to build a life and legacy for her family in the face of loss. Irene Hill Thompson herself stands as one of the most significant civic figures associated with Austin’s history. During a 34-plus-year career with Austin Independent School District (AISD)—much of it at L. C. Anderson High School—she mentored generations of students and young professionals while also serving as a leader in civic, political, and cultural life. Her home was not merely a private residence; it was a vital gathering place for community organizing, political engagement, and social life in East Austin. From hosting campaign events during the 1964 presidential campaign of Lyndon B. Johnson to welcoming local and state leaders such as Lloyd Doggett and Gonzalo Barrientos, the Hill-Thompson House functioned as a hub of grassroots democracy and …
PARAMOUNT THEATRE RENOVATION HLC Presentation 01 April 2026 WEST ELEVATION - 1976 WEST ELEVATION - 1945 WEST ELEVATION - 1979 PARAMOUNT THEATRE RENOVATION HLC Presentation, 01 April 2026 1915 LOBBY DASHED LINE SHOWS EXTENT OF CURRENT LOBBY THIS PORTION OF 1915 FIRST FLOOR PLAN IS LOST FIRST FLOOR PLAN - 1915 PARAMOUNT THEATRE RENOVATION HLC Presentation, 01 April 2026 WEST ELEVATION - 2025 CENTER STOREFRONT SOUTH STAIR DOOR PARAMOUNT THEATRE RENOVATION HLC Presentation, 01 April 2026 EXISTING CENTER STOREFRONT Storefront frame proposed to be replaced in-kind to: • Address sagging transom framing • Provide a required accessible route from the front entrance • Move entry doors closer to their historic location – aligned with inner lobby doors EXISTING SOUTH STAIR DOOR Frame and transom proposed to be replaced in-kind to: • Lower the door and remove the dangerous 4” step at the door sill. PARAMOUNT THEATRE RENOVATION HLC Presentation, 01 April 2026 PARAMOUNT THEATRE RENOVATION HLC Presentation, 01 April 2026 PARAMOUNT THEATRE RENOVATION HLC Presentation, 01 April 2026 PARAMOUNT THEATRE RENOVATION HLC Presentation, 01 April 2026
Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: Sarah Arvey Sunday, March 29, 2026 6:17 PM Historic Preservation Office Oppose PR-2026-022411 You don't often get email from Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution Mr. Sturgill, I'm writing to oppose the demolition of 1406 Garden St, Austin TX 78702 (Case number PR-2026-022411). As a neighbor in the East Cesar Chavez (ECC) neighborhood since 2011, I have witnessed countless historically significant homes be demolished and replaced by large-scale multiple residential units that are quickly turned into Short Term Rentals or that sit unoccupied for reasons unknown. Neighborhoods should be made up of people who live there and who care about the community in which they live. ECC has gone through tumult over decades and is currently being torn up by the I36 freeway and the glut of STRs. Please do not let yet another house of historical significance be torn down. And please do not let it be given to developers who only keep one wall and demolish the rest (i.e.Cenote). Please confirm receipt and keep me apprised of this case. Thank you, Sarah -- ********************************* Sarah R. Arvey, PhD CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov". 1
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1405 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Environmental 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, contact Nicole Corona, 512-974- 3146, Nicole.Corona@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Jennifer Bristol, Chair Mariana Krueger, Vice Chair Haris Qureshi, Secretary Richard Brimer Isabella Changsut Annie Fierro AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Justin Fleury Martin Luecke Mar Moretta-Urdiales Allison Morrison David Sullivan The first ten 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 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on March 4, 2026. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. 3. Name: 1404 East Riverside PUD, C814-2025-0111 Applicant: Amanda Swor, Drenner Group Location: 1404 East Riverside Drive Council District: 3 Staff: Sean Watson, Environmental Program Coordinator, Austin Watershed Protection, 512-963-2167, Sean.Watson@austintexas.gov Applicant Request: The applicant proposes a new Planned Unit Development (PUD) Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions Name: Rundberg Multifamily, SP-2024-0381C.SH Applicant: Sydney Barre, WGI Location: 204 East Rundberg Lane Council District: 4 Staff: John Clement, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Austin Watershed Protection, 512-974-1475, John.Clement@austintexas.gov Applicant Request: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-261 (G) to allow floodplain modification in a Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ); Request to vary from LDC 25-8-263(C)(3) to allow floodplain modification outside of a CWQZ in an area determined to be in good condition. Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding the impact of data centers and their energy consumption and water usage. Sponsors: Commissioners Fleury and Sullivan. Conduct officer elections for the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2026 The Environmental Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Krueger called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 06:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Mariana Krueger, Vice Chair Haris Qureshi, Secretary Richard Brimer Justin Fleury Martin Luecke Allison Morrison Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: David Sullivan PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Special Called Meeting on February 19, 2026. The minutes from the Environmental Commission Special Called Meeting on February 19, 2026, were approved on Commissioner Brimer’s motion, Secretary Qureshi’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Sullivan was off the dais. Chair Bristol and Commissioners Changsut, Fierro, and Moretta-Urdiales were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation on Austin Watershed Protection’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget, Programs, and Projects Overview and approve recommendations for their FY27 budget. Presentation by Albert Castro, Financial Manager, and Janae Spence, Assistant Director, Austin Watershed Protection. 1 The motion to approve the recommendation to Council to support Austin Watershed Protection’s budget, programs, and projects was approved on Secretary Qureshi’s motion, Vice Chair Kruger’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Chair Bristol and Commissioners Changsut, Fierro, and Moretta-Urdiales were absent. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. Name: Circuit of the Americas (COTA) Planned Unit Development Amendment (PUD), C814- 2018-0122.03 Applicant: Armbrust & Brown, PLLC (Michael Whellan) Location: 9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard, Austin, Texas Council District: 2 Staff: Leslie Lilly, 8914, Leslie.Lilly@austintexas.com Applicant request: The applicant proposes to amend a previously approved Planned Unit Development (PUD). This is amendment #3. Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions The public hearing was conducted, and a motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Luecke’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Chair Bristol and Commissioners Changsut, Fierro, and Moretta-Urdiales were absent. Program Manager, Environmental Conservation 512-535- There was a motion to recommend the project Circuit of the Americas Planned Unit Development Amendment, C814-2018-0122.03, located at 9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard, to Council, with Staff conditions and the following conditions: • Restrict administrative cut/fill approvals to 15’ throughout the PUD • Remove the “fee in lieu” option for parkland • Require each cut/fill approval exceeding 15’ to be reviewed and specifically approved by the Environmental Commission throughout the PUD • …
ZONING CHANGE REVIEW SHEET CASE: C814-2025-0111 (East Riverside PUD) DISTRICT: 3 ADDRESS: 1404 East Riverside Drive ZONING FROM: ERC- CMU TO: PUD SITE AREA: approximately 2.6069 acres (approximately 113,556 square feet) PROPERTY OWNER: South Shore Apartments Owner LP AGENT: Drenner Group, PC (Amanda Swor) CASE MANAGER: Jonathan Tomko 512-974-1057, jonathan.tomko@austintexas.gov STAFF RECOMMEDATION: Pending PLANNING COMMISSION / OTHER COMMISSION ACTION / RECOMMENDATION: March 10, 2026: Small Area Joint Planning Commission approved unanimously April 1, 2026: Case is scheduled to be heard by the Environmental Commission April 14, 2026: Case is scheduled to be heard by the Planning Commission CITY COUNCIL ACTION: TBD ORDINANCE NUMBER: TBD ISSUES: None CASE MANAGER COMMENTS: The subject tract is approximately 2.5 acres of cleared land from the former Acton School north of East Riverside Drive just east of Manlove Street. It fronts Lady Bird Lake to the north, four multifamily apartments to the west, single family commercial to the south across East Riverside Drive (up a steep embankment) and older two-story multifamily buildings to the east. The site is approximately ¼ mile from the proposed Project Connect rail stop at East Riverside Drive and South Lakeshore Boulevard. Ther are several power lines and an easement along the front of the property, as well as a gravel off- street trail separate from the existing sidewalk. As a result, the building will have to be set back from East Riverside Drive further to the north. There is a substantial amount of tree cover on the northern and eastern portions of the tract. This site is within the Riverside Stations Imagine Austin Activity Center, along Riverside Drive which is an Imagine Austin Activity Corridor, an ASMP level 3 corridor, and part of the ASMP transit priority network. BASIS OF RECOMMENDATION: Site North (across Lady Bird Lake) South (across East Riverside Drive) East C814-2025-0111 TBD EXISTING ZONING AND LAND USES: 2 LAND USES ZONING ERC-CMU Undeveloped land P-NP Undeveloped parkland/trail ERC-NMU Office/retail in a two-story single family constructed in approximately 1951 ERC-CMU Several multifamily apartment buildings of 2 stories constructed in approximately 1963 West ERC-CMU Four apartment buildings were constructed in approximately 2012. The buildings are approximately 11, 9, 6, and 4 stories each. NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREA: East Riverside/Oltorf (Riverside) Combined Neighborhood Planning Area WATERSHED: Lady Bird Lake and Harpers Branch Watersheds SCHOOLS: A.I.S.D. Sanchez Elementary School Martin Middle School Austin High School COMMUNITY REGISTRY LIST: Austin Independent School District, …
ITEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AGENDA COMMISSION MEETING DATE: NAME & NUMBER OF PROJECT: NAME OF APPLICANT OR ORGANIZATION: April 1, 2026 1404 East Riverside PUD, C814-2025-0111 Amanda Swor, Drenner Group LOCATION: 1404 East Riverside Drive COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STAFF: WATERSHED: Sean Watson, Environmental Program Coordinator, 512-963-2167, Sean.Watson@austintexas.gov Urban Watershed, Lady Bird Lake Watershed, Harpers Branch Watershed, Desired Development Zone REQUEST: The applicant proposes a new Planned Unit Development (PUD). STAFF RECOMMENDATION: STAFF CONDITIONS: Recommended with conditions. Staff recommends approval of the PUD with the environmental superiority elements as conditions. • PUD will provide for additional off-site water quality capture of currently untreated stormwater from Manlove Street of a minimum of 7,000 square feet using innovative Jellyfish filter • A 54-inch live oak heritage tree will be relocated to rear of property per approved SP-2021-0451C • PUD will achieve a 3-star Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) rating, at a minimum • The project shall collect condensate from air conditioning units to support 100% of ground level irrigationThe project will be compliant with the LEED pilot Bird Collision Deterrence credit, ST7 Light Pollution Reduction and comply with Dark Sky regulations • All required tree plantings shall utilize native tree species selected from Appendix F of the Environmental Criteria Manual • Project shall utilize methods to support local Austin biodiversity through innovative native plant landscaping and/or rooftop installations • 100% of required stormwater will be treated using on-site water quality methods • This project will include several landscape solutions that will be achieved with the installation of raised terrace green roof media to be planted with a focus on pollinator-friendly species. 100% of rooftop plantings shall be native to the Edwards Plateau and Blackland Prairie ecoregions. A minimum of 10% of the roof terrace shall be dedicated to landscape installations • The Critical Water Quality Zone will remain free from all development except approved storm drain outfalls and restoration • 100% of all non-turf plant materials will be native or adapted • Shade trees that are not influenced by utility constraints shall be upsized to 4” caliper within the PUD • 1.17 acres of the property is dedicated to the City of Austin as parkland which constitutes approximately 44% of the property. As otherwise specifically modified by the PUD ordinance, the development will comply with current code. 1404 East Riverside PUD C814-2025-0111 Austin Watershed Protection | April 1, 2026 1404 East …
February 4, 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION VARIANCE APPLICATION FORM PROJECT DESCRIPTION Applicant Contact Information Name of Applicant Street Address City State ZIP Code Work Phone E-Mail Address Sydney Barre 4700 Mueller Blvd, Suite 300 Austin, Texas 78723 512-669-5560 Sydney.Barre@wginc.com Variance Case Information Case Name Case Number Address or Location Environmental Reviewer Name Environmental Resource Management Reviewer Name Applicable Ordinance Rundberg Multifamily SP-2024-0381C.SH 204 E. Rundberg Lane David Michael John Clement LDC 25-8-261 (G) and LDC LDC 25-8-263(C)(3) Watershed Name Little Walnut Creek Watershed Classification X Urban ☐ Suburban ☐ Water Supply Suburban ☐Water Supply Rural ☐ Barton Springs Zone City of Austin | Environmental Commission Variance Application Guide 1 February 4, 2026 Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone ☐ Barton Springs Segment ☐ Northern Edwards Segment X Not in Edwards Aquifer Zones Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone Distance to Nearest Classified Waterway ☐ Yes X No The centerline of Little Walnut Creek is located north of the subject property and clips the property boundary at the northeast corner of the parcel according to COA GIS. Water and Waste Water service to be provided by Austin Water Utility (AWU) Request Impervious cover square footage: acreage: percentage: Provide general description of the property (slope range, elevation range, summary of vegetation / trees, summary of the geology, CWQZ, WQTZ, CEFs, floodplain, heritage trees, any other notable or outstanding characteristics of the property) The variance request is as follows (Cite code references: Floodplain modification in the COA fully developed floodplain and CWQZ (LDC 25-8- 261(G)) and floodplain modification outside of the CWQZ with a FAFH score of good (LDC 25-8-263(C)(3)). Existing ____0____ ____0____ ____0____ Proposed ____185,173 SF__ _____4.251 ac___ ____65.01%_____ The proposed development for the site is a 199-unit affordable multifamily development located at 204 E. Rundberg Lane. The total site area is +/- 6.54 acres and is currently undeveloped. The existing topography ranges from roughly 688 to 664 and there is one heritage tree located on site that is being preserved. There are primary Cedar and Hackberry trees located on site that are being preserved where feasible for development. There are no CEFs identified on the project site. While there is no FEMA delineated floodplain on site, there is City of Austin 25-yr and 100-yr full developed floodplain that crosses the northern border of the site due to the offsite contributing area greater than 64 acres immediately upstream. The offsite contributing area is routed along the northern …
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY City of Austin March 8, 2024 PE Project No.: 202402082 Approximately 6.54 Acres 204 East Rundberg Lane Austin, Texas 78753 Travis County Prepared for: Elmington Capital 1030 16th Avenue South Suite 500 Nashville, TN 37212 Prepared by: Phase Engineering, LLC 5524 Cornish Street Houston, Texas 77007 Case No.: (City use only) Environmental Resource Inventory For the City of Austin Related to LDC 25-8-121, City Code 30-5-121, ECM 1.3.0 & 1.10.0 The ERI is required for projects that meet one or more of the criteria listed in LDC 25-8-121(A), City Code 30-5-121(A). 1. SITE/PROJECT NAME: Rundberg Lane 2. COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT PROPERTY ID (#’s): 814678 3. ADDRESS/LOCATION OF PROJECT: Approx. 6.54 acres at 204 East Rundberg Lane, Austin, Travis County, Texas 78753 4. WATERSHED: Little Walnut Creek 5. THIS SITE IS WITHIN THE (Check all that apply) Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone* (See note below) .................. ☐YES ☒ No Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone*.................................. ☐YES ☒ No Edwards Aquifer 1500 ft Verification Zone* ....................... ☐YES ☒ No Barton Spring Zone* .......................................................... ☐YES ☒ No *(as defined by the City of Austin – LDC 25-8-2 or City Code 30-5-2) Note: If the property is over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge zone, the Hydrogeologic Report and karst surveys must be completed and signed by a Professional Geoscientist Licensed in the State of Texas. 6. DOES THIS PROJECT PROPOSE FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATION?.......☐YES** ☒ NO If yes, then check all that apply: (1) The floodplain modifications proposed are necessary to protect the public health and safety; (2) The floodplain modifications proposed would provide a significant, demonstrable environmental benefit, as determined by a functional assessment of floodplain health as prescribed by the Environmental Criteria Manual (ECM), or (3) The floodplain modifications proposed are necessary for development allowed in the critical water quality zone under LDC 25-8-261 or 25-8-262, City Code 30-5-261 or 30-5-262. (4) The floodplain modifications proposed are outside of the Critical Water Quality Zone in an area determined to be in poor or fair condition by a functional assessment of floodplain health. ** If yes, then a functional assessment must be completed and attached to the ERI (see ECM 1.7 and Appendix X for forms and guidance) unless conditions 1 or 3 above apply. 7. IF THE SITE IS WITHIN AN URBAN OR SUBURBAN WATERSHED, DOES THIS PROJECT PROPOSE A UTILITY LINE PARALLEL TO AND WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE? …
ITEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AGENDA COMMISSION MEETING DATE: NAME & NUMBER OF PROJECT: NAME OF APPLICANT OR ORGANIZATION: April 1, 2026 Rundberg Multifamily, SP-2024-0381C.SH Sydney Barre, WGI LOCATION: 204 East Rundberg Lane COUNCIL DISTRICT: 4 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STAFF: John Clement, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Austin Watershed Protection, 512-974-1475, John.Clement@austintexas.gov WATERSHED: Little Walnut Creek REQUEST: • Request to vary from LDC 25-8-261 (G) to allow floodplain modification in a Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ) • Request to vary from LDC 25-8-263(C)(3) to allow floodplain modification outside of a CWQZ in an area determined to be in Good condition. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Recommended with conditions. STAFF CONDITIONS: Staff recommends the following conditions: • Restoration of 0.67 acres of floodplain to include: o Native seeding throughout the restoration area Invasive plant removal throughout the restoration area o o Planting of 0.22 acres of the restoration area with native trees and shrubs to improve canopy cover Installation of a bunchgrass hedgerow at the stormwater outfall to reduce erosion risk and facilitate infiltration o • Payment of $119,403 into the Riparian Zone Mitigation Fund Rundberg Multifamily SP-2024-0381C.SH Austin Watershed Protection | 4/1/26 John Clement Rundberg Multifamily Property Data • Little Walnut Creek Watershed • Urban Watershed Regulation Area • No Critical Environmental Features on site • Council District 4 2 Rundberg Multifamily Project Background • Currently undeveloped • Proposes 199 units of affordable housing through the Affordability Unlocked and SMART Housing programs, with more than 50% of units having 3 or more bedrooms • The site is on an Imagine Austin Corridor and adjacent to an elementary school • The site is constrained by parking needs of the development and total lack of nearby street parking • Variance would allow full build-out of the site by permitting modification of a portion of the floodplain 3 Rundberg Multifamily Variance Request 1. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-261 (G) to allow floodplain modification in a Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ) 2. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-263(C)(3) to allow floodplain modification outside of a CWQZ in an area determined to be in Good condition. 4 Rundberg Multifamily Location 5 Rundberg Multifamily Site Plan 6 Rundberg Multifamily Floodplain Modification 0.72 acres 7 Rundberg Multifamily Floodplain Health • Floodplain is in “Good” condition due to high canopy/understory cover • However, much of that cover is invasive and the creek typically has little to no base flow • The modification and …
Austin Watershed Protection Staff Recommendations Concerning Required Findings Project Name: Rundberg Multifamily, SP-2024-0381C.SH Ordinance Standard: Watershed Protection Ordinance (current code) Variance Request: • Request to vary from LDC 25-8-261 (G) to allow floodplain modification in a Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ) • Request to vary from LDC 25-8-263(C)(3) to allow floodplain modification outside of a CWQZ in an area determined to be in Good condition. A. Land Use Commission variance determinations from Chapter 25-8-41 of the City Code: 1. The requirement will deprive the applicant of a privilege available to owners of other similarly situated property with approximately contemporaneous development; Yes The project proposes 199 units of affordable housing facilitated through the SMART Housing and Affordability Unlocked programs. The site is uniquely situated on an Imagine Austin growth corridor and adjacent to a public elementary school. The on-site parking needed to serve the high density of affordable housing proposed necessitates expanding the development footprint into the floodplain and further modification of the floodplain, including a small portion of Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ), to compensate for the displaced flood volume. The site is further constrained by fire lane requirements for the adjacent shared private driveway which prohibits street parking on the driveway. 2. The variance: a. Is not based on a condition caused by the method chosen by the applicant to develop the property, unless the development method provides greater overall environmental protection than is achievable without the variance; Yes The project will reduce the total width of the floodplain but improves environmental protection by 1) benching a portion of the remaining floodplain, 2) increasing the density and diversity of native vegetation, 3) removing the dominant invasive understory vegetation, and 4) provide additional protection by installing a native bunchgrass hedgerow at the stormwater outfall. b. Is the minimum change necessary to avoid the deprivation of a privilege given to other property owners and to allow a reasonable use of the property; and Yes The project proposes 199 units of affordable housing facilitated through the SMART Housing and Affordability Unlocked programs. The site is uniquely situated on an Imagine Austin growth corridor and adjacent to a public elementary school. The on-site parking needed to serve the high density of affordable housing proposed necessitates expanding the development footprint into the floodplain and further modification of the floodplain, including a small portion of Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ), to compensate for the displaced …
AI, Data Centers, Electricity, and Water Dave Sullivan, Ph.D. The University of Texas Center for Energy and Environmental Resources March 2026 3/26/2026 AI, Data Centers, Electricity, and Water 1 Ironically…. • WASHINGTON – On February 4, 2025, U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, to achieve the agency’s mission while energizing the greatness of the American economy. • Pillar 4: Make the United States the Artificial Intelligence Capital of the World • “As we rapidly advance into this new age of AI, it is important that the United States lead the world in this field. Those looking to invest in and develop AI should be able to do so in the U.S., while we work to ensure data centers and related facilities can be powered and operated in a clean manner with American-made energy. Under President Trump’s leadership, I have no doubt that we will become the AI capital of the world,” said Administrator Zeldin. 3/26/2026 2 Ezra Klein, NYT, 3/4/2025 • “If you’ve been telling yourself this isn’t coming, I really think you need to question that. It’s not web3. It’s not vaporware. A lot of what we’re talking about is already here, right now. • I think we are on the cusp of an era in human history that is unlike any of the eras we have experienced before. And we’re not prepared in part because it’s not clear what it would mean to prepare. We don’t know what this will look like, what it will feel like. We don’t know how labor markets will respond. We don’t know which country is going to get there first. We don’t know what it will mean for war. We don’t know what it will mean for peace. • And while there is so much else going on in the world to cover, I do think there’s a good chance that, when we look back on this era in human history, A.I. will have been the thing that matters.” 3/26/2026 3 Ezra Klein… • “What’s fascinating to me is that this is the first revolutionary technology that is not funded by the Department of Defense, basically. And if you go back historically, over the last hundred years or so, nukes, space, the early days of the internet, the early days of the microprocessor, the early days of large-scale aviation, radar, the global positioning system …
AI, Data Centers, Electricity, and Water Dave Sullivan, Ph.D. The University of Texas Center for Energy and Environmental Resources March 2026 4/1/2026 AI, Data Centers, Electricity, and Water 1 Ironically…. • WASHINGTON – On February 4, 2025, U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, to achieve the agency’s mission while energizing the greatness of the American economy. • Pillar 4: Make the United States the Artificial Intelligence Capital of the World • “As we rapidly advance into this new age of AI, it is important that the United States lead the world in this field. Those looking to invest in and develop AI should be able to do so in the U.S., while we work to ensure data centers and related facilities can be powered and operated in a clean manner with American-made energy. Under President Trump’s leadership, I have no doubt that we will become the AI capital of the world,” said Administrator Zeldin. 4/1/2026 2 Ezra Klein, NYT, 3/4/2025 • “If you’ve been telling yourself this isn’t coming, I really think you need to question that. It’s not web3. It’s not vaporware. A lot of what we’re talking about is already here, right now. • I think we are on the cusp of an era in human history that is unlike any of the eras we have experienced before. And we’re not prepared in part because it’s not clear what it would mean to prepare. We don’t know what this will look like, what it will feel like. We don’t know how labor markets will respond. We don’t know which country is going to get there first. We don’t know what it will mean for war. We don’t know what it will mean for peace. • And while there is so much else going on in the world to cover, I do think there’s a good chance that, when we look back on this era in human history, A.I. will have been the thing that matters.” 4/1/2026 3 Ezra Klein… • “What’s fascinating to me is that this is the first revolutionary technology that is not funded by the Department of Defense, basically. And if you go back historically, over the last hundred years or so, nukes, space, the early days of the internet, the early days of the microprocessor, the early days of large-scale aviation, radar, the global positioning system …
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Environmental Commission Recommendation 20260401-004: Data Center Environmental Management WHEREAS, Data Centers are changing every sector of society and economy; and, WHEREAS, Data Centers will provide the City of Austin, Travis County, and Central Texas the opportunity to be a center of technical excellence ; and , WHEREAS, Central Texas has scarce water resources to support an industry requiring substantial water and the existing electrical grid may be challenged by the insertion of new facilities requiring large amounts of electricity; and, WHEREAS, by 2035 Data Centers could account for more than 20% of global electricity use and 56% of the power used to power Data Centers comes from fossil fuels; and, WHEREAS, Texas has a 4.8-million-acres-foot water shortage and US Data Centers consume 66 billion gallons of water/year. WHEREAS, Data Centers with significant environmental impact on the community have a footprint exceeding 20,000 square feet and consume more than 5kW/rack and are typically categorized as Tier II to Tier IV facilities as defined by the Uptime Institute requiring 24x7 availability; and, WHEREAS, the increasing demand for Data Centers in Central Texas requires a coordinated approach by all Central Texas Governments; therefore, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Environmental Commission recommends the City Council adopt the following policies: • Consistent with Council Resolution 20240215-024 and Resolution considered during the April 24, 2025 Council meeting. • Establish working relationships with adjacent counties (Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Blanco, and Burnett) and cities (e.g., Buda, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Round Rock, Taylor, Elgin) to develop consistent policies and procedures to manage the installation and growth data centers within Central Texas. • Publish, via the Environmental Commission, the report from the City Manager, requested in April 2025 of the “projected environmental impact and resource usage of local data centers over the next ten years”. • Require Tier II and higher Data Centers to generate power onsite via renewable resources, which may include, but are not limited to solar, wind, and battery power. The power generated should amount to at least 50% of the amount necessary to operate the data center. • Require Data Centers to curtail operations during periods of electrical emergency as declared by the Governor of the State or Local Authorities. • Recycle water drawn from aquifers, public water systems, rainwater capture. • Require water the Data Center to use reclaimed water. • Comply to “night sky” and “bird friendly” …
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Environmental Commission Recommendation 20260401-002: C814-2025-0111 1404 East Riverside PUD WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the applicant, Amanda Swor, Drenner Group, is requesting a Planned Unit Development (PUD) located at 1404 East Riverside Drive; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the site is located in Urban Watershed, Lady Bird Lake Watershed, Harpers Branch Watershed, Desired Development Zone; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes that staff recommends this Planned Unit Development. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Environmental Commission recommends the 1404 E Riverside PUD with the following conditions: Staff Conditions: • PUD will provide for additional off-site water quality capture of currently untreated stormwater from Manlove Street of a minimum of 7,000 square feet using innovative Jellyfish filter • A 54-inch live oak heritage tree will be relocated to rear of property per approved SP- 2021-0451C • PUD will achieve a 3-star Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) rating, at a minimum • The project shall collect condensate from air conditioning units to support 100% of ground level irrigation • The project will be compliant with the LEED pilot Bird Collision Deterrence credit, ST7 Light Pollution Reduction and comply with Dark Sky regulations • All required tree plantings shall utilize native tree species selected from Appendix F of the Environmental Criteria Manual • Project shall utilize methods to support local Austin biodiversity through innovative native plant landscaping and/or rooftop installations • 100% of required stormwater will be treated using on-site water quality methods • This project will include several landscape solutions that will be achieved with the installation of raised terrace green roof media to be planted with a focus on pollinator- friendly species. 100% of rooftop plantings shall be native to the Edwards Plateau and Blackland Prairie ecoregions. A minimum of 10% of the roof terrace shall be dedicated to landscape installations • The Critical Water Quality Zone will remain free from all development except approved storm drain outfalls and restoration . • 100% of all non-turf plant materials will be native or adapted • Shade trees that are not influenced by utility constraints shall be upsized to 4” caliper within the PUD • 1.17 acres of the property is dedicated to the City of Austin as parkland, which constitutes approximately 44% of the property. Environmental Commission Conditions: • Bird-friendly design best practices that exceed dark sky regulations and LEED Pilot Bird Collision Deterrence Credit; in particular, …
