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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 language does not make clear if the 12 ft refers to the surface width or if it includes the sub-grade shoulders that extend beyond the usable width of the trail. Proposed Improvement #EFA160 #16362F  Clarify the language to formalize the current interpretation to make clear that a trail within the critical water quality zone is limited to 12 ft plus one ft compacted sub grade shoulders on each side #1886CA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – CITY OF AUSTIN 9 CURRENT EXAMPLE • Lower Boggy Creek Trail UPCOMING PROJECTS: • Country Club Creek Trail • Northern Walnut Creek Trail Questions? Katie Wettick, AICP Urban Trails Program Manager Public Works Department Katie.Wettick@austintexas.gov 11 LDC 25-8-341 – Cut Requirements (A) Cuts on a tract of land may not exceed four feet of depth, except: (1) (2) (3) (4) pool; in an urban watershed; in a roadway right-of-way; for construction of a building foundation or swimming for construction of a water quality control or detention facility and appurtenances for conveyance such as swales, drainage ditches, and diversion berms, if: (a) the design and location of the facility within the site minimize the amount of cut over four feet; (b) the cut is the minimum necessary for the appropriate functioning of the facility; and (c) the cut is not located on a slope with a gradient of more than 15 percent or within 100 feet of a classified waterway; for utility construction or a wastewater drain field, if the (5) area is restored to natural grade; (6) in a state-permitted sanitary landfill or a sand or gravel excavation #EFA160 located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction, if: #16362F the cut is not in a critical water quality zone; the cut does not alter a 100-year floodplain; (a) (b) (c) the landfill or excavation has an erosion and restoration plan approved by the City; and (d) all other applicable City Code provisions are met. #1886CA (7) for cut associated with construction of a multi-use trail, if: (a) the cut is not located on a slope with a gradient of more than 15 percent or within 100 feet of a classified waterway; (b) the cut is limited to no more than eight feet in depth; (c) the cut is located in a public right-of-way or public easement; and (d) the trail Criteria Manual. is designed in accordance with the Environmental PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – CITY OF AUSTIN 12 LDC 25-8-341 – Fill Requirements (A) Fill on a tract of land may not exceed four feet of depth, except: (1) (2) (3) (4) in an urban watershed; in a roadway right-of-way; under a foundation with sides perpendicular to the ground, or with pier and beam construction; for construction of a water quality control or detention facility and appurtenances for conveyance such as swales, drainage ditches, and diversion berms, if: (a) the design and location of the facility within the site minimize the amount of fill over four feet; (b) the fill is the minimum necessary for the appropriate functioning of the facility; and (c) the fill is not located on a slope with a gradient of more than 15 percent or within 100 feet of a classified waterway; (5) for utility construction or a wastewater drain field; or (6) in a state-permitted sanitary landfill located in the extraterritorial #16362F #EFA160 jurisdiction, if: the fill is derived from the landfill operation; the fill is not placed in a critical water quality zone or a 100- (a) (b) year floodplain; (c) the landfill operation has an erosion and restoration plan approved by the City; and (d) all other applicable City Code provisions are met. #1886CA (7) for fill associated with construction of a multi-use trail, if: (a) the fill is not located on a slope with a gradient of more than 15 percent or within 100 feet of a classified waterway; (b) the fill is limited to no more than eight feet in depth; (c) the fill is located in a public right-of-way or public easement; and (d) the trail Criteria Manual. is designed in accordance with the Environmental PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – CITY OF AUSTIN 13 LDC 25-8-261: Critical Water Quality Zone Development 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 #16362F within the critical water quality zone only if: #EFA160 limited to 12 feet in surface width plus one-foot compacted sub-grade shoulders, unless a wider trail is located outside the erosion hazard zone unless protective works are provided as prescribed in the Drainage (a) designed in accordance with the Environmental Criteria Manual; (b) Criteria Manual; (c) designated in a Council-adopted plan; located not less than 25 feet from the centerline of a waterway if within an urban watershed; (d) (e) 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; (f) Long, as defined in Section 25-8-92; and (g) Longhorn Dam. located not less than 100 feet from the ordinary high water mark of the Colorado River downstream from located not less than 50 feet from the shoreline of Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and Lake Walter E. #1886CA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – CITY OF AUSTIN 14