REGULAR MEETING of the DESIGN COMMISSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2024, 6:00 P.M. PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1405 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Design Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Nicole Corona, at 512-974-3146 or nicole.corona@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Kevin Howard Conners Ladner AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Chi Lee Ben Luckens Marissa McKinney Brita Wallace Brendan Wittstruck The first five speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on August 26, 2024. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project 701 W 6th St, located at 701 and 709 West 6th Street and 510 and 512 Rio Grande Street, complies with the Urban Design Guidelines for the City of Austin in accordance with Land Development Code § 25-2-586 (C)(1)(a)(ii). Presented by Richard Suttle, Armbrust & Brown, and Ray Tse, GDA Architects. Select a representative to serve on the Downtown Commission per City Code § 2-1-140. Select a representative to serve on the South-Central Waterfront Advisory Board per City Code § 2-1-172. Select a meeting date for the November 2024 Design Commission regular meeting. 5. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES Update from the Urban Design Guidelines Working Group regarding the meeting on September 13, 2024. Update from representative of the Joint Sustainability Committee regarding the meeting on August 28, 2024. 3. 4. 6. 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Note: City Code requires two board members sponsor an item to be included on an agenda. This section of the agenda provides members an opportunity to request items for future agendas. Staff should assume that if there is no objection from other members expressed at the meeting, the members’ silence indicates approval for staff to include on …
1. DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2024 The Design Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday August 26, 2024, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Meiners called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Josue Meiners, Vice Chair Nkiru Gelles Kevin Howard Conners Ladner Chi Lee Marissa McKinney Brita Wallace Brendan Wittstruck Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on June 24, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of 6/24/2024 were approved on Commissioner Wallace’s motion, Commissioner Howard’s second on an 8-0 vote. Chair Salinas and Commissioners Carroll and Luckens were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Staff briefing regarding the status of the affordable housing component to the Downtown Density Bonus Program. Presented by Rachel Tepper and Brendan Kennedy, Housing Department. The presentation was made by Rachel Tepper and Brendan Kennedy, Housing Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discussion and possible action to recommend to City Council whether the Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum Historic Preservation, Expansion, and Unification Plan reflects the Shared Values for Urban Areas in the Urban Design Guidelines. Presented by Alyssa Tharrett, Parks and Recreation Department, Katie Robinson Edwards and Amanda Valbracht, Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum, and Leland Ulmer, Melissa Gutierrez Soto, and Ginny Chilton, Page. A motion to recommend to City Council that the Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum Historic Preservation, Expansion, and Unification Plan located at 605 Azie Morton Road meets the City Design and Sustainability Standards in addition to consideration for mobility, parking, and circulation was approved on Commissioner Wittstruck’s motion, Commissioner Lee’s second on an 8-0 vote. Chair Salinas and Commissioners Carroll and Luckens were absent. Discussion and possible action to recommend to City Council whether the project 400 W 14th Steet located at 400 West 14th Street complies with the Urban Design Guidelines for the City of Austin in accordance with Land Development Code § 25-2-586 (C)(1)(a)(ii). Presented by Leah Bojo and Drew Rafael, Drenner Group PC, Jonathan Schwartz, Page, and Cameron Campbell, Campbell Landscape Architecture. A motion to recommend to City Council that the project 400 W 14th Steet located at 400 West 14th Street complies with the Urban Design Guidelines for the City of Austin in accordance with …
701 W. 6TH STREET 09.11.2024 D V L B R A M A L . N . E V A T S E W . T S E D N A R G O R I I . T S O N O T N A N A S . T S S E C E U N . T S E P U L A D A U G . T S A C A V A L . T S O D A R O L O C E V A S S E R G N O C 1/4 MIL E R A DIU S 1/2 MIL E R A DIU S W. CESAR CHAVEZ ST. W. 6TH ST. W. 5TH ST. W. 4TH ST. W. 3RD ST. W. 2ND ST. AERIAL MAP 2 of 33 Austin, Texas09.11.2024701 W. 6TH| SITE MAP 4 of 33 Austin, Texas09.11.2024701 W. 6TH| PROJECT SITECAPITOL VIEW CORRIDORCAPITOL VIEW CORRIDORCAPITOL VIEW CORRIDOR 701 W. 6TH ST. 751’ 6TH & GUADALUPE 865’ THE INDEPENDENT 694’ 5TH & WEST 459’ GOOGLE HEADQUARTERS 594’ 3D RENDERING | LOOKING NORTH FROM CESAR CHAVEZ 3 of 33 Austin, Texas09.11.2024701 W. 6TH| BUILDING DATA 5 of 33 Austin, Texas09.11.2024701 W. 6TH| W 6TH STREETADJ. LOTALLEYRIO GRAND ST.W 6TH STREETRIO GRANDE STADJ. LOTALLEYProject Summary/Highlights:SITE AREA: 18,996 SQUARE FEETFAR AREA:FAR PROPOSED: PROPOSED USES:NUMBER OF FLOORS:18,996 SQUARE FEET567,331 SQUARE FEET29.86:1RETAIL (F&B), MULTI-FAMILY66 LEVELS 701 W 6th STREET URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES MATRIX AREAWIDE URBAN GUIDELINES # DESIGN GUIDELINE MET DISCUSSION AW.1 Create dense development YES The project is requesting additional density through Downtown Density Bonus program to increase density to an FAR of 30:1. AW.2 Create mixed-use development YES The project will span a quarter block and proposes approximately 394 multi-family residential units with approximately 4,547 square feet of F&B/retail and multi-family lobby/amenity at the ground level in the northeast corner of the proposed building with frontage along W. 6th Street and Rio Grande Street. AW.3 Limit development which closes downtown streets YES The project does not propose to close any existing city streets. AW.4 Buffer neighborhood edges N/A The project is located within the Central Business District and does not border any residential neighborhoods. AW.5 Incorporate civic art in both public and private development NO The project does not anticipate any civic art. AW.6 Protect important public views YES The project is partially located in a Capitol View Corridor (CVC) and …
Date: To: From: Subject: September 12, 2024 City of Austin Design Commission Planning & Urban Design Working Group Density Bonus Working Group review of 701 W. 6th St for substantial compliance with the Urban Design Guidelines 09.11.2024; 12:00 pm; Virtual Microsoft Teams Meeting Meeting date: Applicant: The project is located at 701 W. 6th St The project includes mixed use of Residential Units and F&B space (unknown sq. ft.). The project also includes 7(?) levels. The applicant is seeking a Density Bonus to raise the FAR to 30:1 ((Must go to Council to ask for additional entitlements -15:1 is what DDBP offers) Current zoning allows 8:1. WORKING GROUP REVIEW OF PROJECT FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES AW.5 Incorporate Civic Art in both public and private development : Public art is encouraged. Incorporating art from local artist is a good way to minimally meet the incorporation of civic art and the inclusion of local character AW.11 – Reuse existing building stock: Has any consideration been given to reuse existing building stock from the existing building adjacent to the alley PS.1 Protect the pedestrian where the building meets the street: Provide more information at both garage entrances on how pedestrians will be protected from vehicles egressing from garage. PS.2 Minimize Curb Cuts: Heavy consideration should be given to rotating garage entrance to alley side of building to minimize curb cuts along Rio Grande and replace with activated frontage PS.4 Reinforce Pedestrian Activity / PS.6 Enhance the street scape - planters have a prominent place on the street frontage and could be considered more intentionally to contribute positively to the pedestrian experience by perhaps reducing their scale as the planting itself will do the work of screening or perhaps incorporating useable street furniture on both sides, the pedestrian thoroughfare and the restaurant side PS.9 Provide pedestrian scaled lighting: Provide more information for building lighting along both ground floor elevations PS.13 Install Pedestrian-Friendly materials at the street level: Provide more detailed images and information regarding the materials proposed for the building, especially the ground floor level and garage and west wall running the entire height of the building PZ.7 Determine plaza function, size and activity- Street plazas appear to meet great street standards, however no connection to the interior activated uses exists. Tables and chairs do not directly connect or correlate to any interior use PZ.10 Provide an appropriate amount of plaza …
701 W. 6TH STREET 09.23.2024 D V L B R A M A L . N . E V A T S E W . T S E D N A R G O R I I . T S O N O T N A N A S . T S S E C E U N . T S E P U L A D A U G . T S A C A V A L . T S O D A R O L O C E V A S S E R G N O C 1/4 MIL E R A DIU S 1/2 MIL E R A DIU S W. CESAR CHAVEZ ST. W. 6TH ST. W. 5TH ST. W. 4TH ST. W. 3RD ST. W. 2ND ST. AERIAL MAP 2 of 33 Austin, Texas09.23.2024701 W. 6TH| SITE MAP 3 of 33 Austin, Texas09.23.2024701 W. 6TH| 701 W. 6TH ST. 751’ 6TH & GUADALUPE 865’ THE INDEPENDENT 694’ 5TH & WEST 459’ GOOGLE HEADQUARTERS 594’ 3D RENDERING | LOOKING NORTH FROM CESAR CHAVEZ 4 of 33 Austin, Texas09.23.2024701 W. 6TH| Project Summary / Highlights SITE AREA: FAR AREA: FAR PROPOSED: PROPOSED USES: NUMBER OF FLOORS: 18,996 SQUARE FEET 567,331 SQUARE FEET RETAIL (F&B), MULTI-FAMILY 29.86 : 1 66 LEVELS BUILDING DATA 5 of 33 Austin, Texas09.23.2024701 W. 6TH| 701 W 6th STREET URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES MATRIX AREAWIDE URBAN GUIDELINES # DESIGN GUIDELINE MET DISCUSSION AW.1 Create dense development YES The project is requesting additional density through Downtown Density Bonus program to increase density to an FAR of 30:1. AW.2 Create mixed-use development YES The project will span a quarter block and proposes approximately 394 multi-family residential units with approximately 4,547 square feet of F&B/retail and multi-family lobby/amenity at the ground level in the northeast corner of the proposed building with frontage along W. 6th Street and Rio Grande Street. AW.3 Limit development which closes downtown streets YES The project does not propose to close any existing city streets. AW.4 Buffer neighborhood edges N/A The project is located within the Central Business District and does not border any residential neighborhoods. AW.5 Incorporate civic art in both public and private development YES A mural by local artist(s) is proposed at the junction of Rio Grande and the Alley to soften the corner where mechanical vents/BOH are located. AW.6 Protect important public views YES The project is …
DESIGN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20240923-002 701 W 6th St Vice Chair Meiners September 23, 2024 Date: Subject: Motioned By: Recommendation To not support of the proposed development located at 701 W. 6th Street. Description of Recommendation to Council The proposed development as presented to the design commission on September 23rd located at 701 W. 6th Street does not meet the Urban Design Guidelines. Rationale: The rational behind the recommendation are as follows. Seconded By: Commissioner Howard The proposed project was found to have too many curb cuts for a project of this size. Concern with curb cuts being along 6th street which has high level of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Alley was not utilized to minimized curb cuts. Garage entrances were presented as double loaded which consumes valuable building frontage Lack of activated use of the first floor: Disproportionate amount of sq. ftg. dedicated to parking garage, utilities and private residences rather than public use A 700 foot bare firewall facing west towards mopac was not architecturally address properly. Very little information was presented to show how this extremely tall and highly visible portion of the building will be addressed Vote For: 7-0-1 Vice Chair Meiners, Commissioner Gelles, Commissioner Howard, Commissioner Luckens, Commissioner McKinney, Commissioner Wallace, Commissioner Wittstruck Against: Abstain: Chair Salinas Absent: Commissioner Carroll, Commissioner Ladner, Commissioner Lee Attest: Jon Salinas, AIA Chair, Design Commission 1 of 1
DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 The Design Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, September 23, 2024, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco in Austin, Texas. Chair Salinas called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair Nkiru Gelles Kevin Howard Ben Luckens Marissa McKinney Brita Wallace Brendan Wittstruck Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on August 26, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of 08/26/2024 were approved on Commissioner McKinney’s motion, Vice Chair Meiners’ second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Lukens was off the dais. Commissioners Carroll, Ladner, and Lee were absent. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project 701 W 6th St, located at 701 and 709 West 6th Street and 510 and 512 Rio Grande Street, complies with the Urban Design Guidelines for the City of Austin in accordance with Land Development Code § 25-2-586 (C)(1)(a)(ii). Presented by Richard Suttle, Armbrust & Brown, and Ray Tse, GDA Architects. The motion that the project 701 W 6th St, located at 701 and 709 West 6th Street and 510 and 512 Rio Grande Street, does not comply with the Urban Design Guidelines for the City of Austin in accordance with Land Development Code § 25-2-586 (C)(1)(a)(ii) was approved on Vice Chair Meiners’ motion, Commissioner Howard’s second on a 7- 0-1 vote. Chair Salinas abstained. Commissioners Carroll, Ladner, and Lee were absent. Select a representative to serve on the Downtown Commission per City Code § 2-1-140. No action was taken. Select a representative to serve on the South-Central Waterfront Advisory Board per City Code § 2-1-172. No action was taken. Select a meeting date for the November 2024 Design Commission regular meeting. The motion to select Tuesday, November 19th for the Design Commission regular meeting was approved on Commissioner Howard’s motion, Chair Salinas’ second on an 8-0 vote. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES Update from the Urban Design Guidelines Working Group regarding the meeting on September 13, 2024. Update was given by Commissioner Howard. Update from representative of the Joint Sustainability Committee regarding the meeting on August 28, 2024. Update was given by Chair Salinas. Chair Salinas adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m. without …
