01. Draft Meeting Minutes April 28, 2025 — original pdf

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DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025 The Design Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Salinas called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Jon Salinas, Chair David Carroll Conners Ladner Jenny Murkes Brendan Wittstruck Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Josue Meiners, Vice Chair Nkiru Gelles Marissa McKinney – Commissioner McKinney joined the meeting at 6:16 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on March 24, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of 03/24/2025 were approved on Commissioner Wittstruck’s motion, Commissioner Carroll’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner McKinney was off the dais. Commissioners Howard, Khan, and Luckens were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1 2. 3. 4. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project Austin Convention Center Redevelopment, located at 500 East 3rd Street, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards as presented to the Design Commission on March 24, 2025. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Commissioner Wittstruck. There was a motion to recommend to City Council that the project Austin Convention Center Redevelopment, located at 500 East 3rd Street, as presented to the Design Commission on March 24, 2025, complies with and elevates the City’s Sustainability Standards and substantially complies with the City’s Design Standards; however, with respect to the unique size and civic importance of the project, the Design Commission recommends that the project team continue to strengthen the urban design for the project specifically to more ardently and comprehensively address the following Urban Design Guidelines: PS.1 – Protect the Pedestrian Where the Building Meets the Street, including but not limited to providing more consistent and larger awnings protecting pedestrians around the full building rather than solely at building entrances. PS.12 – Provide General Street-Level Windows, including but not limited to providing more street level fenestration in general and avoiding major grade separations between the building plinth and street. PZ.1 – Treat the Four Squares with Special Consideration, including but not limited to more strongly articulating the plaza space’s relationship to Brush Square, including for future phases; and situating outdoor seating and retail uses facing the square. PZ.2 – Contribute to an Open Space Network, including but not limited to more strongly articulating and emphasizing the project’s relationship to the Red Line Parkway, Palm Park and Waterloo Greenway. PZ.3 – Emphasize Connections to Parks and Greenways, including but not limited to providing a direct connection to Waller Creek and the Waterloo Greenway and creating a direct, physical connection with the Greenway and creek. This motion was approved on Commissioner Wittstruck’s motion, Chair Salinas’ second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner McKinney recused from the item due to a conflict of interest and left the dais. Commissioners Howard, Khan, and Luckens were absent. Discussion and action to select Downtown Density Bonus Program projects from the past ten years to conduct analysis on outcomes. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Vice Chair Meiners. No action was taken. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. The motion to nominate Jon Salinas as Chair was approved on Vice Chair Meiners’ motion, Commissioner Ladner’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Howard, Khan, and Luckens were absent. 2 The motion to nominate Josue Meiners as Vice Chair was approved on Commissioner Wittstruck’s motion, Chair Salinas’ second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Howard, Khan, and Luckens were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. Discussion of analysis on the past Downtown Density Bonus Program projects, 405 Colorado, located at 405 Colorado Street, associated with SP-2016-0260C, and 5th and West, located at 501 West Avenue, associated with SP-2013-0454C. The item was withdrawn. Left off at 32:15 WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 6. 7. 8. 9. Update from the representative of Urban Design Guidelines Working Group regarding the meeting on April 14, 2025. Update was given by Sophia Benner, Planning Department. Update from the representative of the Joint Sustainability Committee regarding the meeting on April 23, 2025. Update was given by Chair Salinas. Update from the representative of the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board regarding the meeting on April 21, 2025. No update was given. Update from the representative of the Downtown Commission regarding the meeting on April 16, 2025. No update was given. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion of building on 4th and Colorado. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Vice Chair Meiners. ADJOURNMENT Chair Salinas adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m. without objection. 3