ITEM05 C15-2025-0027 LATE BACKUP SEPT8 — original pdf

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ITEM05/1-LATE BACKUPdemand, “we want a bigger boat” should override the Public’s interest as protected and codified by the Code. 2. Dangerous Precedent and Navigation Hazard This proposal represents the only new residential multi-level dock in the area that would extend more than 1.5 times farther from the shoreline than Code limits and thus, allowing the continued limit on the Public’s navigation safety and freedom. Notably, the subject dock is one of the first docks encountered by a new user of this Public waterway after launching from the 360 Bridge Public Launch. The Code limit was set as a compromise between the interests of Lake Austin residents and the Public’s interest in a Public waterway. Those interests include enjoyment (navigation/use freedom) and safety. The Board should not approve any new structure that compromises the Public’s safety on Lake Austin or unjustifiably limits the Public’s navigation freedom and enjoyment. Extending 1.5 times farther into a Public waterway than allowable by Code, the oversized dock requested necessarily decreases the Public’s Navigation Safety by limiting the amount of navigable water and therefore, further narrowing the usable lake. Consequently, maintaining congestion in an area already highly congested area of this Public lake. Thus, granting the request would decrease the Public’s navigational freedom, enjoyment and more importantly safety. Simply put, we need less 46 ft long docks on Lake Austin – not more and certainly not a new one.. 3. Lack of Justification This is not a request for repair or modest modification of an existing permitted Code- compliant dock—it is an attempt to construct an oversized, new three-story multi-level dock with an excessive and egregious footprint that blatantly exceeds code limitations by over fifty percent (50%). The applicant has failed to demonstrate any legitimate or compelling need for such an expansion that overrides the Public’s interest. The Board has no reasonable basis to approve a variance of this magnitude. If the owner desires a new dock for a new big boat that he/she dreams of purchasing, the Board should require the new dock to be Code-compliant extending only 30 ft from the shoreline thus, respecting the Public’s interest in navigation safety, freedom and enjoyment in this highly congested Public use area of the Lake. If the owner demands a 47ft dock, they should have to live with their existing structure and repair it. 4. No Posted Notice for September 8th Meeting Unlike the last meeting, there has been no public posting giving notice of a September 8th meeting. Multiple neighbors may or may not know of the meeting. In fact, we were confused by the lack of posting and are submitting new objections to the request assuming a September 8th meeting is set. We do note that the September 8th Meeting, if held, will not be Code compliant and we thus, object to the non-noticed meeting in its entirety. For these reasons, we object and urge the Board in the strongest possible terms to reject this variance application. Approving it would not only violate City Code, but would also jeopardize public and boaters safety, degrade the integrity of the lakefront community, and erode trust in the variance process. We expect and trust that the Board will uphold its duty to enforce the Code fairly and consistently. Thank you for your attention to this matter. ITEM05/2-LATE BACKUP ITEM05/3-LATE BACKUPITEM05/4-LATE BACKUP