Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee September 15, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Street Jones Building – Room #400A 1000 E. 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS Claire Hempel Joao Paulo Connolly Awais Azhar Todd Shaw Nadia Barrera-Ramirez (Vice-Chair) Ann Denkler Jolene Kiolbassa EXECUTIVE SESSION (No public discussion) The Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee will announce it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel on matters specifically listed on this agenda. The committee may not conduct a closed meeting without the approval of the city attorney. Private Consultation with Attorney – Section 551.071 CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approval of the April 21, 2021 meeting minutes. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Officers. Elect a chair and vice-chair of the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee. 3. POTENTIAL CODE AMENDMENTS: Proposed for Discussion and/or Initiation Facilitator: City Attorney: None 1 Potential amendments to the code are offered for discussion and/or possible recommendation for initiation. If initiated, Staff will research the proposal and report back to the subcommittee. a. None. 4. REGULAR AGENDA: Previously Initiated Previously initiated amendments to the code are offered for discussion and possible recommendation to the full Planning Commission. a. Urban Trail Code Amendments. Discuss and consider amendments to City Code Title 25 related to cut and fill requirements and critical water quality zone development regulations as applied to Urban Trails. City Staff: Katie Wettick, Public Works Department (512) 974-3529, katie.wettick@austintexas.gov (Discussion and/or possible action). 5. OTHER BUSINESS a. Update on Potential Upcoming and Current Code Amendments – City Staff: Greg Dutton, Planning and Zoning Department, (512) 974-3509, Greg.Dutton@austintexas.gov; (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Future agenda items will NOT be discussed at the current meeting, but will be offered for initiation, discussion, and/or possible recommendation to the full Planning Commission at a FUTURE meeting. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days before the meeting date. Please call Greg Dutton at Planning and Development Review Department, at (512) 974-3509, for additional information; the City receives and accepts Video Relay Service (VRS) calls from people who are …
Subsection (B) of City Code Section 25-8-261 (Critical Water Quality Zone Development) is amended to read as follows: (B) Open space is permitted in a critical water quality zone if a program of fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicide use is approved by the Watershed Protection Department, subject to the conditions in this Subsection. (1) In a water supply rural watershed, water supply suburban, or the Barton Springs Zone, open space is limited to sustainable urban agriculture or a community garden if the requirements in subsection (B)(4) are met, multi-use trails, picnic facilities, and outdoor facilities, excluding stables, corrals for animals and athletic fields. (2) A master planned park that is approved by the council may include recreational development other than that described in Subsection (B)(1). (3) A hard surfaced trail may cross the critical water quality zone pursuant to Section 25-8-262 (Critical Water Quality Zone Street Crossings). A hard surfaced trail that does not cross the critical water quality zone may be located within the critical water quality zone only if: (a) designed in accordance with the Environmental Criteria Manual; (b) (c) (d) (e) located outside the erosion hazard zone unless protective works are provided as prescribed in the Drainage Criteria Manual; limited to 12 feet in width plus one-foot compacted sub-grade shoulders, unless a wider trail is designated in a Council- adopted plan [the Urban Trails Master Plan adopted by Council]; located not less than 25 feet from the centerline of a waterway if within an urban watershed; located not less than 50 feet from the centerline of a minor waterway, 100 feet from the centerline of an intermediate waterway, and 150 feet from the centerline of a major waterway if within a watershed other than an urban watershed; September 2021 Ordinance re: Urban Trails Page 1 of 5 (f) located not less than 50 feet from the shoreline of Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and Lake Walter E. Long, as defined in Section 25-8-92; and (g) located not less than 100 feet from the ordinary high water mark of the Colorado River downstream from Longhorn Dam. (4) Open space may include sustainable urban agriculture or a community garden only if: (a) in an urban watershed and located not less than 25 feet from the centerline of a waterway, or in a watershed other than an urban watershed and located not less than 50 feet from the centerline …
1 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION 20210818 004b Date: August 18, 2021 Seconded by: Rachel Scott Subject: Proposed changes to the Land Development Code for urban trails Motion by: Kevin Ramberg RATIONALE: WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the City staff are requesting changes to Land Development Code for urban trails specifically requesting: (1) An amendment to LDC 25-8-341 and 25-8-342 to cut and fill requirements to allow cut and fill of up to 8 feet for a public trail if the cut or fill is not located on a slope of more than 15% or within 100 feet of a classified waterway and the trail is constructed in accordance with the Environmental Criteria Manual and (2) An amendment to LDC 25-8-261 to clarify the language to formalize the current interpretation making clear that a trail within the critical water quality zone is limited to 12 feet plus one foot compacted subgrade shoulders on each side. THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends the above noted changes to the Land Development Code. VOTE 7-0 For: Qureshi, Brimer, Scott, Thompson, Barrett Bixler, Ramberg, and Coyne Against: None Abstain: None Recuse: None Absent: Bedford, Bristol, Guerrero Approved By: Linda Guerrero, Environmental Commission Chair
Urban Trail Proposed Code Amendments SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 Agenda 9.15.2021 I. Background #EFA160 #16362F II. Proposed Code Amendments I. II. LDC 25-8-341/342 LDC 25-1-261(B)(3)(c) #1886CA III. Q&A PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – CITY OF AUSTIN 2 Background Resolution NO. 20200220-045 ] PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – CITY OF AUSTIN 3 Background February 2020 April 2020 • Resolution NO. 20200220-045 Passed • Stakeholder Group Convened January 2021 #EFA160 • Memo response to Resolution June 2021 #16362F • Resolution NO. 20210610-041 Passed Resolution NO. 20210610-041 #1886CA “(2) Council initiates the following amendments to the Land Development Code, as recommended by PWD and WPD in Appendix B of the January 4, 2021 memo from PWD, and asks that they be brought back to Council by August 26, 2021: (a) Amend Land Development Code 25-8-341 and 25-8-342 to grant urban trails projects greater cut and fill allowances under specific environmental circumstances. (b) Amend Land Development Code 25-8-261(B)(3)(c) to reflect current policy that trails within the critical water quality zone be limited to 12 feet in surface width plus one-foot shoulders on each side. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – CITY OF AUSTIN 4 PURPOSE • Streamline review process • Create transparency • Formalize internal policy What is Cut + Fill? cut fill #EFA160 #16362F #1886CA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – CITY OF AUSTIN 6 LDC 25-8-341 & 25-8-342: Cut and Fill Current Status: Cut and/or fill in a suburban watershed is limited to 4 ft in depth Administrative variance typically granted to allow up to 8 ft, with certain conditions Construction of roadways in public right-of-way has no cut or fill limit Proposed Improvement #EFA160 #16362F Allow cut and/or fill of up to 8 ft for a public trail if: The cut or fill is not located on a slope of more than 15% The cut or fill is not located within 100 #1886CA ft of a classified waterway; and The trail is designed in accordance with the Environmental Criteria Manual. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – CITY OF AUSTIN 7 NORTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL Northern Walnut Creek Trail Phase 2A • Construction beginning November 2021 • Granted admin variance from cut and fill requirements LDC 25-8-261: Critical Water Quality Zone Development Current Status: A hard surface trail within the critical water quality zone is limited to 12 feet in width, unless a wider trail is designated in a Council adopted plan. Current …
Description Type of Change Current Status/Concern Proposed Improvement 25-8-341 Cut Requirements and 25-8-341 Fill Requirements Policy 25-8-261 Criteria for hard surfaced trails located within the critical water quality zone Clarify Cut and fill for a trail located in a suburban watershed is currently limited to 4 ft or an administrative variance is required. While administrative variances are typically granted, construction of roadways in public right-of-way has no cut or fill limit. A hard surface trail within the critical water quality zone is limited to 12 feet in width, unless a wider trail is designated in a Council adopted plan. Current language does not make clear if that is surface width or if it includes the sub- grade shoulders that extend beyond the usable width of the trail. Current interpretation is that the 12 ft width refers to the usable width of the trail. Allow cut and fill of up to 8 ft for a public trail if the cut or fill is not located on a slope of more than 15% or within 100 ft of a classified waterway and the trail is designed in accordance with the Environmental Criteria Manual. Clarify the language to formalize current interpretation making clear that a trail within the critical water quality zone is limited to 12 feet plus one foot compacted sub grade shoulders on each side. Advantage Disadvantage Streamlines review process. None Formalizes internal policy. None
REGULAR MEETING CODES AND ORDINANCES JOINT COMMITTEE MINUTES Wednesday, September 15, 2021 The Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 15, at 1000 E. 11th St, Street Jones Building, Room 400A, Austin, TX 78702. Vice Chair Barrera-Ramirez called the meeting to order at 6:15 pm. Subcommittee Members in Attendance: Awais Azhar Ann Denkler Todd Shaw City Staff in Attendance: Katie Wettick, Public Works Department Atha Phillips, Watershed Protection Department Others in Attendance: None CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Nadia Barrera-Ramirez (Vice-Chair) Claire Hempel Jolene Kiolbassa a. Approval of the April 21, 2021 meeting minutes. Postponed without objection to the next meeting. 2. NEW BUSINESS Committee. a. Election of Officers. Elect a chair and vice-chair of the Codes and Ordinances Joint A motion was made to elect Commissioner Barrera-Ramirez as Chair and Commissioner Hempel as Vice-Chair, by Commissioner Azhar, seconded by Commissioner Shaw. Vote: 6-0. (Commissioner Connolly absent). 3. POTENTIAL CODE AMENDMENTS: Proposed for Discussion and/or Initiation Potential amendments to the code are offered for discussion and/or possible recommendation for initiation. If initiated, Staff will research the proposal and report back to the subcommittee. a. None. Facilitator: Commissioner Barrera-Ramirez, Vice-Chair of COJC City Attorney: None 1 4. REGULAR AGENDA: Previously Initiated Previously initiated amendments to the code are offered for discussion and possible recommendation to the full Planning Commission. a. Urban Trail Code Amendments. Discuss and consider amendments to City Code Title 25 related to cut and fill requirements and critical water quality zone development regulations as applied to Urban Trails. City Staff: Katie Wettick, Public Works Department (512) 974-3529, katie.wettick@austintexas.gov (Discussion and/or possible action). Katie Wettick gave an overview of proposed amendments related to urban trails, that will modify cut and fill requirements and allow wider trails within critical water quality zones. A motion was made to recommend the item by Commissioner Azhar, seconded by Commissioner Hempel. Vote: 6-0 (Commissioner Connolly absent). 5. OTHER BUSINESS a. Update on Potential Upcoming and Current Code Amendments – City Staff: Greg Dutton, Planning and Zoning Department, 974-3509, Greg.Dutton@austintexas.gov; (Discussion and/or Possible Action). A request was made for a summary list of in-process code amendments, which will be provided at a future meeting. 6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Future agenda items will NOT be discussed at the current meeting, but will be offered for initiation, discussion, and/or possible recommendation to the full Planning Commission at a FUTURE …
