E-1 C15-2021-0026 LATE BACKUP — original pdf

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March 3, 2021 Ms. Elaine Ramirez CASE NUMBER C-15-2021-0026 Contact: Elaine Ramirez; elaine.ramirez@austintexas.gov Public Hearing Board of Adjustment; March 8th, 2021 Dear Ms. Ramirez, My name is Salomon Stavchansky and I live in 4000 Sidehill Path, Austin, TX 78731. I am writing to express my disappointment with the City of Austin, and to strongly OBJECT to the application of Matt Williams ((512)600-4324) on behalf of the owner, Mr. Luis Zaragoza ((512)782-8582) concerning a variance from the Land Development Code, Section 25-2-492. 1. I am disappointing with the City of Austin because its representatives assume that everyone has a scanner and a computer in the house to respond to the request made by Ms. Ramirez. It is truly insensitive to assume that everyone, especially elderly residents, have a scanner at home and a computer to deliver a scan of a document and an email stating their opinion concerning this case. The City of Austin should respect and facilitate the ability of its residents to respond in writing or in person (if needed, provide transportation) to the Austin City requests. 2. I strongly object to granting Mr. Matt Williams a variance from the Lan Development Code, Section 25-2-492 for the following reasons: a. The application requires clarification because the requested variance involves a corner lot impacting the streets of Sidehill Path and Stoneywood. It is not clear from the application if the applicant is requesting a variance of both Sidehill Path and Stoneywood or only Sidehill Path or only on Stonewood. The applicant should specify in writing to the City of Austin which street or if both streets will be impacted. b. If the Variance impacts the street of Sidehill Path, then, I strongly object to the application. One of the reasons for my objection involves the impact that the variance will have on my neighbor’s front yard. Fundamentally, my neighbor will lose sun light and all other neighbors withing 500 feet, including myself, will be looking at the sidewall of a future house. Furthermore, the harmony of the neighborhood will change, and more importantly it opens the door to future applications by other neighbors or builders to request similar variances which would destroy the harmony of the neighborhood, which is one of the reasons that attracted the applicant and owner to buy an old house and demolish it to build a new house. In addition, the impervious cover will decrease, potentially increasing the chances of flooding my neighbor’s yard. In addition, if the E-1/1-LATE BACKUPbuilder has plans for a swimming pool, this will decrease the impervious cover adding to the potential flooding of both the front neighbor and the back neighbor. It should be clarified if the building plans call for a swimming pool. If a swimming pool is in the building plans, the impervious cover will be impacted, and the city should determine a priori if future permits will be granted. c. d. If we assume that the length of the lot on the stoneywood side and sidehill side are 100 - 150 feet in length, the requested variance (10 feet) involves 1000 to 1500 sq.ft. If the future house is a two-story house (plans were not submitted) the total number of square feet of construction is approximately (2000 to 3000 square feet.). This information should be clearly clarified by the applicant and the builder. In addition, if the variance is granted, the property tax of the houses within 500 feet on Sidehill Path and Stoneywood around the future new house should be decreased proportionally to the granted variance per square foot. Another proposition is for the City of Austin to request a payment for the square feet of variance and construction square feet that is requested based on the ongoing cost of construction per square foot. Thank you for the opportunity to submit my comments which I understand will part of the public record. Respectfully, Salomon Stavchansky. E-1/2-LATE BACKUPE-1/3-LATE BACKUPE-1/4-LATE BACKUPE-1/5-LATE BACKUP