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 July 7, 2021 Environmental Commission to be held July 7, 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 (July 6, 2021 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the July 7, 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 (7 de julio 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 (6 de julio 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 …
1875 WESTLAKE DR NORRIS BOAT DOCK SP-2020-0223DS Lindsey Sydow Hydrogeologic Reviewer Watershed Protection Department PROPERTY DATA • BEE CREEK WATERSHED • WATER SUPPLY RURAL CLASSIFICATION • CANYON RIMROCK CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE ON SITE • COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 BACKGROUND • • • BOAT DOCK ON LAKE AUSTIN (BEE CREEK) DOWNSLOPE FROM CANYON RIMROCK UPDATING OLD BOAT DOCK 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 A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE (CEF) BUFFER. Canyon Rimrock Rimrock extends onto neighboring property • Dock construction is proposed at bottom of slope, with Limits of Construction (orange) as far from Rimrock CEF (purple) as is feasible. • No new shoreline access is proposed between house and new dock. 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? Existing Conditions
ITEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AGENDA July 7, 2021 Norris Boat Dock SP-2020-0223DS Stephen Hawkins, Aqua Permits, LLC COMMISSION MEETING DATE: NAME & NUMBER OF PROJECT: NAME OF APPLICANT OR ORGANIZATION: LOCATION: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STAFF: WATERSHED: REQUEST: COUNCIL DISTRICT: District #10 1875 Westlake Dr. Lindsey Sydow, P.G. Lake Austin and Bee Creek Watershed, Water Supply Rural, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request to vary from LDC 25-8-251(C)(2)(b) to allow construction of a boat dock within 150 feet of a Canyon Rimrock Critical Environmental Feature (CEF). STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends this variance with conditions, having determined the findings of fact to have been met. STAFF CONDITION: All construction will be completed by barge. Staff Findings of Fact Watershed Protection Department Staff Recommendations Concerning Required Findings Project Name & Case Number: Norris Boat Dock SP-2020-0223DS 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 Feature (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 canyon rimrock critical environmental feature (CEF) is proposed, all proposed construction activities are to occur 75 feet downgradient of the rimrock CEF, and construction is to occur from the lakeside by barge. The proposed construction being performed from a barge provides greater overall environmental protection to the slope. 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 CEF buffer. This buffer is not being reduced. The scope of the variance is limited to allowing construction activities to occur within a CEF buffer only for the proposed boat dock replacement. c) Does not …
ITEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AGENDA July 7, 2021 SP-2021-0015D; Cross Roads Logistics Michele Rogerson Lynch & Steve Jamison LOCATION: 8400 E. Parmer Lane, Austin, Texas, 78653 COUNCIL DISTRICT: Not applicable – ETJ COMMISSION MEETING DATE: NAME & NUMBER OF PROJECT: NAME OF APPLICANT OR ORGANIZATION: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STAFF: WATERSHED: REQUEST: Hank Marley, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department, 512-974-2067, hank.marley@austintexas.gov Gilleland Creek Watershed, Suburban, Desired Development Zone Variance request is as follows: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut up to 14.3 feet within the Desired Development Zone. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill up to 16.5 feet within the Desired Development Zone. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends this variance, having determined the findings of fact to have been met. STAFF CONDITION: Provide a landscape plan in accordance with City zoning jurisdictional requirements. Provide tree replacement/mitigation plan in accordance with City zoning jurisdictional requirements. Increase the wetland CEF setback from 150 feet to 200 feet. Provide structural containment of the cut with retaining walls. Development Services Department Staff Recommendations Concerning Required Findings Project Name: Cross Roads Logistics; SP-2021-0015D Ordinance Standard: Watershed Protection Ordinance Variance Request: To allow cut up to 14.3 feet within the Desired Development Zone. 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. Less than two miles away the land use commission recently granted a similar grading variance to the Applied Materials Logistics Service Center (SP-2020- 0321C). This site is also an industrial manufacturing center. That site required cut up to 12 feet in order to maintain level finish floor elevations, level loading docks and grades minimal for maneuverability. For the proposed project the situation is nearly identical. Due to the natural topography and the size of the buildings, 14.3 feet of cut is necessary to maintain level finish floor elevations, level truck courts, and truck lanes with grades less than 4%. Therefore, by not allowing this variance would deprive the applicant of a privilege available to owners of similarly situated property. 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 …
ITEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AGENDA July 7, 2021 SP-2021-0015D; Cross Roads Logistics Michele Rogerson Lynch & Steve Jamison LOCATION: 8400 E. Parmer Lane, Austin, Texas, 78653 COUNCIL DISTRICT: Not applicable – ETJ COMMISSION MEETING DATE: NAME & NUMBER OF PROJECT: NAME OF APPLICANT OR ORGANIZATION: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STAFF: WATERSHED: REQUEST: Hank Marley, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department, 512-974-2067, hank.marley@austintexas.gov Gilleland Creek Watershed, Suburban, Desired Development Zone Variance request is as follows: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut up to 14.3 feet within the Desired Development Zone. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill up to 16.5 feet within the Desired Development Zone. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends this variance, having determined the findings of fact to have been met. STAFF CONDITION: Provide a landscape plan in accordance with City zoning jurisdictional requirements. Provide tree replacement/mitigation plan in accordance with City zoning jurisdictional requirements. Increase the wetland CEF setback from 150 feet to 200 feet. Provide structural containment of the cut with retaining walls. Development Services Department Staff Recommendations Concerning Required Findings Project Name: Cross Roads Logistics; SP-2021-0015D Ordinance Standard: Watershed Protection Ordinance Variance Request: To allow cut up to 14.3 feet within the Desired Development Zone. 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. Less than two miles away the land use commission recently granted a similar grading variance to the Applied Materials Logistics Service Center (SP-2020- 0321C). This site is also an industrial manufacturing center. That site required cut up to 12 feet in order to maintain level finish floor elevations, level loading docks and grades minimal for maneuverability. For the proposed project the situation is nearly identical. Due to the natural topography and the size of the buildings, 14.3 feet of cut is necessary to maintain level finish floor elevations, level truck courts, and truck lanes with grades less than 4%. Therefore, by not allowing this variance would deprive the applicant of a privilege available to owners of similarly situated property. 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 …
CROSSROADS LOGISTICS CENTER 8400 E PARMER LANE SP-2021-0015D Hank Marley Environmental Review Specialist Senior Development Services Department 1 PROPERTY DATA • Gilleland Creek Watershed Crossroads Logistics Center • Suburban Watershed Classification • Desired Development Zone • City of Austin Extraterritorial Jurisdiction • Not located over Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone • Wetland CEF adjacent to site NTS North 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS North 3 TOPOGRAPHY • The site mostly slopes from north to south. However, the northern portions of the site contain the most elevation drop from west to east. All slopes are less than 15%. High Point NTS North 4 VARIANCE REQUEST • To allow cut in excess of four feet and up to 14.3 feet within the Desired Development Zone. (LDC 25-8-341) • To allow fill in excess of four feet and up to 16.5 feet within the Desired Development Zone. (LDC 25-8-342) 5 PROPOSED SITE PLAN & GRADING NTS North 6 FINDINGS • • This site offers a reasonable location for large industrial manufacturing warehouses as it is located in the Desired Development Zone along a growing manufacturing corridor, in line with sites such as Tesla and Amazon. In order to facilitate this type of development the truck courts / loading dock areas must have grades of less than 4% for maneuverability and must be fairly level so that when the trucks are parked at the loading docks the trailer elevations sit level with the finish floor elevations of the buildings and can be loaded and unloaded with ease. 7 FINDINGS (CONTINUED) • • Due to the topography of the site and the size of the proposed buildings (each approximately 4 acres in size), in order to accomplish the operational criteria, cut up to 14.3 feet and fill up to 16.5 feet are necessary. It can be challenging to find property flat enough to prevent the required amount of grading. Therefore, staff is requiring retaining walls to structurally contain the cut and fill and minimize the amount of grading. 8 FINDINGS (CONTINUED) • • This variance request is the minimum deviation from the code requirement necessary to allow a reasonable use of the property. Moreover, the design decision provides greater overall environmental protection than is achievable without the variance. The project proposes to expand the wetland CEF setback from 150 feet to 200 feet. It also proposes to provide landscaping and tree replacement & mitigation in accordance with City …
CROSSROADS LOGISTICS CENTER 8400 E PARMER LANE SP-2021-0015D Hank Marley Environmental Review Specialist Senior Development Services Department 1 PROPERTY DATA • Gilleland Creek Watershed Crossroads Logistics Center • Suburban Watershed Classification • Desired Development Zone • City of Austin Extraterritorial Jurisdiction • Not located over Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone • Wetland CEF adjacent to site NTS North 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS North 3 TOPOGRAPHY • The site mostly slopes from north to south. However, the northern portions of the site contain the most elevation drop from west to east. All slopes are less than 15%. High Point NTS North 4 VARIANCE REQUEST • To allow cut in excess of four feet and up to 14.3 feet within the Desired Development Zone. (LDC 25-8-341) • To allow fill in excess of four feet and up to 16.5 feet within the Desired Development Zone. (LDC 25-8-342) 5 PROPOSED SITE PLAN & GRADING NTS North 6 FINDINGS • • This site offers a reasonable location for large industrial manufacturing warehouses as it is located in the Desired Development Zone along a growing manufacturing corridor, in line with sites such as Tesla and Amazon. In order to facilitate this type of development the truck courts / loading dock areas must have grades of less than 4% for maneuverability and must be fairly level so that when the trucks are parked at the loading docks the trailer elevations sit level with the finish floor elevations of the buildings and can be loaded and unloaded with ease. 7 FINDINGS (CONTINUED) • • Due to the topography of the site and the size of the proposed buildings (each approximately 4 acres in size), in order to accomplish the operational criteria, cut up to 14.3 feet and fill up to 16.5 feet are necessary. It can be challenging to find property flat enough to prevent the required amount of grading. Therefore, staff is requiring retaining walls to structurally contain the cut and fill and minimize the amount of grading. 8 FINDINGS (CONTINUED) • • This variance request is the minimum deviation from the code requirement necessary to allow a reasonable use of the property. Moreover, the design decision provides greater overall environmental protection than is achievable without the variance. The project proposes to expand the wetland CEF setback from 150 feet to 200 feet. It also proposes to provide landscaping and tree replacement & mitigation in accordance with City …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION 20210707 003a Date: July 7, 2021 Subject: Norris Boat Dock, SP-2020-0223DS 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. Seconded by: Andrew Creel THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends the variance request with the following Staff Condition: 1. Construction to be completed by barge. VOTE 7-0 For: Creel, Thompson, Brimer, Ramberg, Barrett Bixler, Bristol, and Guerrero Against: None Abstain: None Recuse: None Absent: Coyne and Bedford Approved By: Linda Guerrero, Environmental Commission Chair 1
1 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION 20210707 003b Date: July 7, 2021 Seconded by: Richard Brimer Subject: Crossroads Logistics Center, SP-2021-0015D Motion by: Kevin Ramberg RATIONALE: WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the applicant is requesting a variance from LDC 25- 8-341 to allow cut up to 14.3 feet within the Desired Development Zone. WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the applicant is requesting a variance from LDC 25- 8-342 to allow fill up to 16.5 feet within the Desired Development Zone. WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes that staff recommends this variance (with conditions) having determined the required Findings of Fact have been met. THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends the variance request with the following Staff Condition: 1) 2) 3) 4) VOTE 7-0 Provide a landscape plan in accordance with City zoning jurisdictional requirements. Provide tree replacement and mitigation plan in accordance with City zoning jurisdictional requirements. Increase the wetland CEF setback from 150 feet to 200 feet. Provide structural containment of the cut with retaining walls. For: Creel, Thompson, Brimer, Ramberg, Barrett Bixler, Bristol, and Guerrero Against: None Abstain: None Recuse: None Absent: Coyne and Bedford Approved By: Linda Guerrero, Environmental Commission Chair
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, July 7, 2021 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications via remote video conferencing. Commissioners in Attendance: Andrew Creel Pam Thompson Jennifer Bristol Audrey Barrett Bixler Rick Brimer Kevin Ramberg Linda Guerrero Commissioners Absent: Perry Bedford Katie Coyne Staff in Attendance: Kaela Champlin Jose Guerrero Scott Hiers Hank Marley Jorge Morales Mike McDougal Atha Phillips CALL TO ORDER Chair Guerrero called the meeting to order at 6:01 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. None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the June 16, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) A motion to approve the June 16, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes were approved on Commissioner Creel’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Bedford and Coyne were absent. Commissioner Barrett Bixler was off the dais. 1 2. WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT UPDATES a. Update from Jose Guerrero, Assistant Director, Watershed Protection Department (5 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. b. Update on Watershed Protection Department Realignment—Jorge Morales, Director, Watershed Protection Department (10 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS a. Name: Norris Boat Dock, SP-2020-0223DS Applicant: Stephen Hawkins, Aqua Permits, LLC Location: 1875 Westlake Dr. (District #10) Watershed: Lake Austin and Bee Creek Watershed, Water Supply Rural, Drinking Staff: Scott Hiers, Program Manager, Watershed Protection Department Water Protection Zone Request: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-281(C)(2)(B) to allow construction within 150-feet of Rimrock Critical Environmental Feature Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions (30 minutes) A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Thompson’s motion on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bedford and Coyne were absent. A motion to approve the variance request with conditions was approved on Commissioner Ramerg’s motion, Commissioner Creel’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bedford and Coyne were absent. b. Name: Crossroads Logistics, SP-2021-0015D Applicant: Michele Rogerson Lynch and Steve Jamison Location: 8400 E. Parmer Lane, Austin, Texas, 78653 (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Staff: Hank Marley, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Watershed: Gilleland Creek Watershed, Suburban, Desired Development Zone Request: 1. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut up to 14.3 feet …
