Environmental Commission Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission - Remote meeting to be held with social distancing modifications. See agenda for details.
Versión en español a continuación. Environmental Commission Regular Meeting June 16, 2021 Environmental Commission to be held June 16, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications. Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (June 15, 2021 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the June 16, 2021 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting, members of the public must: •Call or email the board liaison Kaela Champlin, (512) 974-3443, Kaela.Champlin@austintexas.gov, no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). •Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Kaela.Champlin@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If the meeting is broadcast live, it may be viewed here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn- live 1 Reunión del Environmental Commission FECHA de la reunion (16 de junio de 2021) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (15 de junio de 2021 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en Kaela Champlin, (512) 974-3443, Kaela.Champlin@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutral, dirección de correo electrónico (opcional) y un número de teléfono (debe ser el número que se utilizará para …
3800 ISLAND WAY– BOAT DOCK REPLACEMENT SP- 2021-0021D Eric Brown Hydrogeologic Reviewer Watershed Protection Department PROPERTY DATA • LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED • WATER SUPPLY RURAL CLASSIFICATION • CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES ON SITE • COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 BACKGROUND • • • • BOAT DOCK ON THE LAKE NEAR RIMROCK BRINGING EXISTING NON-COMPLIANT DOCK INTO COMPLIANCE ADDING SECOND STORY CODE REFERENCE •TITLE 25 – LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, CHAPTER 25-8-281(C)(2)(B). VARIANCE REQUEST REQUEST TO VARY FROM LDC 25-8- 281(C)(2)(B) TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 150-FOOT OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE (CEF) BUFFERS. Rimrock CEF VARIANCE RECOMMENDATION FINDING OF FACTS HAVE BEEN MET. STAFF RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THIS VARIANCE WITH THE CONDITION THAT ALL CONSTRUCTION BE COMPLETED BY BARGE. QUESTIONS?
ITEM FOR DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MEETING DATE: June 16, 2021 NAME & NUMBER OF PROJECT: 3800 Island Way SP-2021-0021D NAME OF APPLICANT OR ORGANIZATION: Janis Smith, PE Janis Smith Consulting, LLC LOCATION: 3800 Island Way Austin, Texas 78746 COUNCIL DISTRICT: Council District #10 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STAFF Eric Brown Senior Environmental Scientist Watershed Protection Department Eric.Brown@austintexas.gov WATERSHED: REQUEST: Lake Austin Watershed, Water Supply Rural Classification, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request to vary from LDC 25-8-281(C)(2)(B) to allow construction within 150-feet of Critical Environmental Feature (Rimrock) STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends this variance having determined the findings of facts have been met. RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS: 1. Construction to be completed by barge. Staff Findings of Fact Watershed Protection Department Staff Recommendations Concerning Required Findings Project Name & Case Number: 3800 ISLAND WAY Boat Dock Replacement SP- 2021-0021D Ordinance Standard: Watershed Protection Ordinance Variance Request: LDC 25-8-281(C)(2)(b) - To allow construction within 150 feet of a Rimrock Critical Environmental Features (CEF) Include an explanation with each applicable finding of fact. A. Land Use Commission variance determinations from Chapter 25-8-41 of the City Code: 1. The requirement will deprive the applicant of a privilege available to owners of similarly situated property with approximately contemporaneous development subject to similar code requirements. Yes. A variance from 25-8-281(C)(2)(b) allowing for construction of a boat dock, shoreline access, and stabilization, has been granted for similarly situated properties with approximately contemporaneous development subject to similar code. 2. The variance: a) Is not necessitated by the scale, layout, construction method, or other design decision made by the applicant, unless the design decision provides greater overall environmental protection than is achievable without the variance; Yes. No disturbance of the rimrock CEF is proposed, all proposed construction activities are to occur downgradient of the rimrock CEFs, and construction is to occur from the lakeside by barge. The proposed construction to be performed from a barge provides greater overall environmental protection. Additionally, the applicant is providing wetland plantings that will reduce shoreline erosion and sediment-laden surface runoff from discharging into the lake. b) Is the minimum deviation from the code requirement necessary to allow a reasonable use of the property; Yes. The variance is the minimum deviation from the code requirement to allow for a reasonable use of the property. The code requires a 150-foot critical environmental feature buffer. This buffer is not being reduced. The scope of the variance is limited to allowing construction …
M E M O R A N D U M Mayor and Council Christopher Herrington, P.E., Environmental Officer Watershed Protection Department (WPD) June 2, 2021 TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: The purpose of this memo is to provide a link to the 2020 State of Our Environment Report. As required by Austin City Code 25-1-45(C), the Environmental Officer is required to deliver a report on Austin’s environment to the City Manager and City Council annually. Although the format of the State of Our Environment Report has evolved over time, the report now exists as an interactive ArcGIS Story Map with information about the current condition of Austin’s environmental resources. State of Our Environment Report 2020 www.austintexas.gov/environment2020 The State of Our Environment site includes quantitative metrics describing the condition of key components of Austin natural resources over time and a feature story focusing on an important environmental topic or issue impacting residents each year. For this year’s report, we collaborated with community leaders from People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources and Go Austin/Vamos Austin to share the history of the work done by the East Austin community to shutdown the 52-acre petroleum tank farm near Airport Boulevard and Springdale Road. After partial remediation, it is now being redeveloped as the Springdale Green Planned Unit Development, providing a unique milestone in the journey of this massively polluted industrial site. The retelling of this story could not be done without the voices of the individuals who worked tirelessly to relocate the facility, address community health issues, clean up contamination, and strengthen pollution controls. Viewers can learn about this history by watching the video “TANK FARM: Organizing for Justice” and following along with the interactive StoryMap. The report and video are available in both English and Spanish. We express our sincere appreciation to the community who shared their story with us. Additionally, I would like to recognize the exceptional work done by Kaela Champlin with WPD and Christian Bruncsak of ATXN in producing this incredible visual narrative of the legacy of pollution endured by residents in the heart of our city. If you would like additional information or have feedback on the 2020 report, please contact me at 512-974-2840 or chris.herrington@austintexas.gov, or Kaela Champlin at 512-974-3443 or kaela.champlin@austintexas.gov. cc: Spencer Cronk, City Manager Rey Arellano, Assistant City Manager Jorge Morales, P.E., Director, WPD Kaela Champlin, Environmental Program Coordinator, WPD 2
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION 20210616 004a Date: June 16, 2021 Seconded by: Perry Bedford Subject: 3800 Island Way SP-2021-0021D Motion by: Kevin Ramberg RATIONALE: WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the applicant is requesting a variance from LDC 25- 8-281(C)(2)(B) to allow construction within 150-feet of Critical Environmental Feature (Rimrock). WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes that staff recommends this variance (with one condition) having determined the required Findings of Fact have been met. THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends the variance request with the following: Staff Condition: 1. That the construction be completed by barge. VOTE 8-0 For: Bedford, Creel, Thompson, Brimer, Ramberg, Barrett Bixler, Bristol, and Guerrero Against: None Abstain: None Recuse: None Absent: Coyne Approved By: Linda Guerrero, Environmental Commission Chair 1
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, June 16, 2021 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications via remote video conferencing. Commissioners in Attendance: Andrew Creel Pam Thompson Jennifer Bristol Perry Bedford Audrey Barrett Bixler Rick Brimer Kevin Ramberg Linda Guerrero Commissioners Absent: Katie Coyne Staff in Attendance: Eric Brown Kaela Champlin Chris Herrington Liz Johnston Atha Phillips CALL TO ORDER Chair Guerrero called the meeting to order at 6:02 P.M CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Speakers Zenobia C. Joseph 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the June 2, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) A motion to approve the June 2, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes were approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Thompson’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Ramberg abstained. Commissioner Coyne was absent. 1 2. 3. 4. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER UPDATES a. Watershed Protection Department staffing updates (15 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Update on 2020 State of Our Environment Report—Kaela Champlin, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department (45 minutes) Speakers Ana Aguirre Item conducted as posted. No action taken. PUBLIC HEARINGS a. Name: 3800 Island Way, SP-2021-0021D Applicant: Janis Smith, PE, Janis Smith Consulting, LLC Location: 3800 Island Way, Austin, Texas 78746 (Council District #10) Staff: Eric Brown, Senior Environmental Scientist, Watershed Protection Department Watershed: Lake Austin Watershed, Water Supply Rural, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-281(C)(2)(B) to allow construction within 150-feet of Critical Environmental Feature (Rimrock) Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions (30 minutes) A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Creel’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioner Coyne was absent. A motion to approve the variance request with conditions was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioner Coyne was absent. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Urban Forestry Committee –Pam Thompson, Rick Brimer, and Linda Guerrero Chris Herrington gave an update on the Urban Forestry Committee. b. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne c. Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Kevin Ramberg d. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental …
