ITEM04 C15-2026-0014 LATE BACKUP OPP — original pdf

Backup

ITEM04/1-LATE BACKUP -OPP8 May 2026 Elaine Ramirez, Liaison Board of Adjustment City of Austin RE: C-15-2026-0014 2727 Exposition Boulevard Dear Board of Adjustment: The Board of Directors (BoD) of West Austin Neighborhood Group (WANG), after discussion, has voted electronically to oppose the above referenced variance request to reduce the LDC required setback from 10 feet to 3 feet in order to finish completion of an outside deck. The variance request for an expansion of the deck into the required setback is being done in conjunction with a request for a beer and wine serving license to also be granted to Zed’s Ice Cream, under an application by the property’s owners, a request that will require another waiver from the city because directly across the street from this proposal is Casis Elementary School. Substantial work has already been done on this proposed expansion including the removal of a ten-foot-wide asphalt driveway between Zed’s Ice Cream’s current deck and the 3- foot sidewalk that abuts the curb on Exposition Boulevard. After the unpermitted construction was begun early this year, a water line was severed resulting in a stop work order being issued. In the subsequent application process to correct these code violations, a site plan exemption was required to be filed by the applicant. In the review of the site plan exemption application, one of the reviewers commented that the construction proposed in the application appears to encroach on an existing fire lane. Reviewer comments also raised concerns about drainage. Cassis Village Shopping Center is a high functioning neighborhood commercial node. It contains a pharmacy, a grocery store, two clothing stores, a bank, a jeweler, a Starbucks coffee, an ice cream parlor and a small to-go food store. On-site parking is always tight, but is normally manageable except during school access/recess. If the variance request is granted so that the development proposal outlined in your packet is achieved, the expansion of the deck and the addition of food trailers, it is very foreseeable that the on-site parking will be overwhelmed. Going north along Exposition Boulevard at this edge of the center, the road drops and bends to the east resulting in a semi-blind hazard, a hazard compounded by a same-side driveway onto Exposition from the small office complex contiguous to the shopping center on the north. If the variance is granted, you would have a heavily used street, a three-foot sidewalk, and then the built-out deck. Very little room for error. And there are residential neighborhoods just across Exposition Boulevard to the west, and our neighbors and their children frequent the center. WANG respectfully asks that the requested variance be denied. A representative will attend the hearing. Blake Tollett, Secretary, WANG ITEM04/2-LATE BACKUP -OPPITEM04/3-LATE BACKUP -OPP