ITEM05 C15-2025-0026 LATE BACKUP OCT13_OPPOSTION — original pdf
Backup
Opposition to Variance 2 CASES C15-2025-0026 and C15-2025-0027 1 Site Plan SP-2025-0119D 1750 Channel Rd. & 1752 Channel Rd. By: Bruce & Nellie Slayden, Conforming dock at 1744 Channel Rd. 1 ITEM05/1-OPPOSITION 1750 Channel Rd - Nonconforming 37’ Existing nonconforming: Never Permitted 1 story Uncovered fishing pier NO watercraft slips Proposed nonconforming: • 3 stories • 1 watercraft slip • 37’ Shoreline L is 124% of statutory 30’ Limit • 14’ Wide vs. ~10 existing W • 2 flights of stairs • Proposed dimensions and location different than existing 2 ITEM05/2-OPPOSITION 1752 Channel Rd - Nonconforming 47’ or 46’ 1” Existing nonconforming structure: Never permitted 1-story 1-watercraft slip 47’ Length Proposed nonconforming: • 3 stories across entire structure • 2 watercraft slips • 46’1’ shoreline L is 16’1” (154% of) over statutory 30’ • 22’ W vs. 14’W Existing • 2 flights of stairs • Proposed dimensions and location different than existing 3 ITEM05/3-OPPOSITION Applicants Proposed Docks vs. Existing All dimensions and locations of Proposed nonconforming docks differ from existing allegedly “Grandfathered” footprints 4 ITEM05/4-OPPOSITION NO HARDSHIP Applicants False/Misleading Assumptions for Alleged Hardship Applicant FALSE assumption “‘a modern watercraft’ requires water depth of 4 feet” True: Numerous modern watercraft require much less than 4. “Modern watercraft” operate in 2.5’depths: • Inboard/Outboard Watercraft • Pontoon Watercraft • Tritoon Watercraft • Outboard Watercraft • Jet Watercraft 5 ITEM05/5-OPPOSITION NO HARDSHIP Applicants False/Misleading Assumptions for Alleged Hardship; Ignores Readily Available Options Applicants state “‘modern watercraft’ require 4’ water depth; See Aqua Permit, Item 05/8 Presentation, p. 8 True: Modern lifts designed specifically to protect “modern watercraft” in shallow waters only need 2.5’ depth; no excess dredging • Cantilever Lifts extend and retract 3’ to 6’ into lake for launching and docking Modern Watercraft ; e.g. HydroHoist Ultralift for 6500 lbs watercraft, extends 4.5’ into lake, min depth 2.5’ • Articulating Lifts • Extending Lifts 6 ITEM05/6-OPPOSITION 7 ITEM05/7-OPPOSITION NO HARDSHIP (1750 Channel) Applicants Alleged Hardship Ignores Facts and Alternatives Cantilever Lifts prevalent on Lake Austin HydroHoist Ultra Cantilever Lift; 6500 lbs watercraft, travels 54”, 2.5’ depth Only 8.17 Cu Yds Dredge Volume Less than 25 Cu Yds No dredging needed past ~17.5’ from shoreline Methodology: 2.5’ Depth (Red Line at 490.3’ ) applied to Applicant Data; Intersects “Existing Profile of Lake Bed” at 17.5’ shoreline L, eliminating dredging from 17.5’ to 30’ Using above data for Average End Area Calculation, Dredge Volume = (Ave Height 0.9’ x 14’W x 17.5’ L ) = 220.5 Cu Ft = 8.17 Cu Yds 2.5 requires only 8.17 Cu. Yds of dredge across 17.5’ from shoreline 8 ITEM05/8-OPPOSITION NO HARDSHIP (1752 Channel) Applicants Alleged Hardship Ignores Facts and Alternatives Cantilever Lifts prevalent on Lake Austin HydroHoist Ultra Cantilever Lift; 6500 lbs watercraft, travels 54”, 2.5’ depth Only 9.72 Cu Yds Dredge Volume Less than 25 Cu Yds No dredging needed past ~17.5’ from shoreline Methodology: 2.5’ Depth (Red Line at 490.3’) applied to Applicant Data; Intersects “Existing Profile of Lake Bed” at 15’ shoreline L, eliminating dredging from 15’ to 30’ Using above data for Average End Area Calculation, Dredge Volume = (Ave Height, Bulkhead & 15’) 1.25’ x 14’W x 15’ L = 9.72 Cu Yds 2.5’ Depth requires only 9.72 Cu. Yds of dredge across 15.0’ from shoreline 9 ITEM05/9-OPPOSITION NO HARDSHIP (1750) Applicants Apply False/Misleading Data FALSE TRUE ‘Modern Watercraft’ require water depth of 4 ft” Forces excessive dredging greater than 25 Cu Yds Dredge Volume: 31.01 Cu Yds Modern lifts specifically designed to store, launch and dock 6500 lbs modern watercraft in shallow waters; 2.5’ depths ; Cradle travels 4.5’ Cantilever Lift Significantly Reduce Dredging Dredge Volume: 8.17 Cu Yds Average End Area Calculation using Applicants’ Data at 2.5’ Depth 10 ITEM05/10-OPPOSITION NO HARDSHIP (1752) Applicants Apply False/Misleading Data FALSE TRUE ‘Modern Watercraft’ require water depth of 4 ft” Forces excessive dredging greater than 25 Cu Yds Dredge Volume: 42.18 Cu Yds Modern lifts specifically designed to store, launch and dock 6500 lbs modern watercraft in shallow waters; 2.5’ depths ; Cradle travels 4.5’ Cantilever Lift Significantly Reduce Dredging Dredge Volume: 9.72 Cu Yds Average End Area Calculation using Applicants’ Data at 2.5’ Depth 11 ITEM05/11-OPPOSITION NO HARDSHIP Applicants misapply “Navigation and Safety” to Conjure Alleged Hardship • LDC 25-2-1176(A)(1): "A dock may extend up to 30 feet from the shoreline, except that the director may require a dock to extend a lesser or greater distance from the shoreline if deemed necessary to ensure navigation safety" • Navigation safety under LDC 25-2-1176(A)(1) includes navigation safety for the public, watercraft operators, and other legal users of “a navigable waterway” • Applicants blatantly ignore “Navigation safety” for the Public and Lawful Users in the most Congested area of a designated public Navigable Waterway • Applicants’ nonconforming structure egregiously disrupts the safest lane of travel in the most congested and highest traffic area of a designated “navigable waterway;” see e.g. SB 1844 • City of Austin’s Lake Austin Incident Data shows highest responder encounters within 1/2 mile of 360 Bridge Public Watercraft Ramp, including near Applicants’ proposed structures • We urge the Board to seek Legal advice in interpreting “NAVIGATION SAFETY” as codified in LDC 25-2-1176(A)(1) 12 ITEM05/12-OPPOSITION High Traffic Area of Public Navigable Waterway 13 ITEM05/13-OPPOSITION High Traffic Area of Public Navigable Waterway • Airplanes taking off and landing • New to Watercraft operators • Kids on floats • Jet Skis (rental) • New surfers and skiers falling • Multiple watercraft accelerating from Party cove and Boat ramp at no wake buoys near Applicants’ properties 14 ITEM05/14-OPPOSITION Nonconforming 1750 & 1752 Docks Are Navigation Hazards to All Proximate Users • “Navigation Safety” applies to all lake users; not just Applicant • Most Watercraft accelerate from idle to high speeds starting at No Wake Zone buoys • Nonconforming Extending 6’ and 16’ into Lake’s most congested and highest usage thoroughfare • Creates an artificial blind curve in a critical area • Disrupts and impedes visibility for all Watercraft, jet skiers, and public users following shoreline and adhering to Lake Laws • Unnecessary Navigational and Safety Hazard for • Watercraft, jet skiers, and public users near 360 Ramp • Many Watercraft exiting “Party Cove,” numerous DUI • Blocks watercraft visibility in congested area, reducing reaction time for watercraft operators • Blocks visibility and reduces reaction time for downstream neighbors entering or exiting their conforming docks 15 ITEM05/15-OPPOSITION Nonconforming 1750 & 1752 Docks Are Navigation Hazards for Conforming Neighbors • Applicants’ False statement: “Additionally, this dock’s design will not extend further than nor impede access to any of the neighboring docks.” • All newly constructed docks along Channel Rd, including 1704, 1744, 1756 and 1758 Channel Rd., conform with shoreline length requirements of LDC 25-2-1176(A)(1) • Non-Conforming Structures: Disrupts 6’ and 16’1” into navigable waterway. Creates artificial blind curve • Impedes Visibility of watercraft approaching downstream neighbors entering or exiting their docks at slow speeds, leaving minimal reaction opportunities for approaching vessels • Impedes visibility of downstream neighbors entering or exiting their docks at slow speeds, leaving minimal reaction opportunities for docking vessel • Removes 16’1” of visibility for watercraft operations in Lake’s most congested and highest use thoroughfare • Navigational and Safety Hazard for the immediate three conforming downstream dock users ~30’ of shoreline • Penalizes conforming new structures 16 ITEM05/16-OPPOSITION