Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission November 16, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. Permitting and Development Center, Events Center, Room 1405 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, Texas 78752 Some members of the Environmental Commission will 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 by 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. To register to speak remotely, call or email Kaela Champlin, Watershed Protection Department, at (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). CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Haris Qureshi Rachel Scott Pam Thompson Melinda Schiera Audrey Barrett Bixler Colin Nickells Jennifer Bristol, Secretary Kevin Ramberg, Chair Ana Aguirre Richard Brimer Perry Bedford, Vice-Chair AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION 1. Approval the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on November 2, 2022 (5 minutes) 1 3. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER UPDATES 2. Update on amendments to Title 25 related to environmental protection, landscape requirements, and site plan requirements—Liz Johnston, Deputy Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department (5 minutes) Update on Bull Creek PUD Amendment #3, Case No. C814-2009-0139.03—Liz Johnston, Deputy Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department (5 minutes) PUBLIC HEARINGS 4. Name: 1703 N River Hills Road Marina Reconstruction, SP-2022-0167D Applicant: Janis Smith, Janis Smith Consulting, LLC Location: 1703 N River Hills Road, Austin, Texas, 78733 Council District: District 10 Staff: Pamela Abee-Taulli, Environmental Program Coordinator, Development Services Department and Miranda Reinhard, Environmental Scientist Senior, Watershed Protection Department Watershed: Lake Austin Watershed, Water Supply Rural Classification, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: 1. Request to vary LDC 25-8-261 Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ) development to allow, in the CWQZ of Lake Austin, development of a gasoline fuel line with a dispenser at the dock for re-fueling private boats …
OLTORF SITE PLAN 4544 East Oltorf SP-2021-0091C Tunde Daramola Environmental Review Specialist Senior Development Services Department 2 OUTLINE Property Data Synopsis Site Constriction/Regulation Variance Requests Grading and Slope Exhibits Variance Recommendation and Conditions Variance Exhibits 3 Property Data Country Club West Watershed Suburban Watershed Classification Desired Development Zone Not located over Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Synopsis 1.96-acre site located at the intersection of East Oltorf and Wickersham Lane Project is a unified retail development with an associated detention pond and a rain garden. Elevation ranges from 558’ along Wickersham to 520’ in the west 4 Site Construction/Regulation Accessibility regulations and Drainage flows (the lowest portion of the site had to be raised to 552ft) Austin Commercial Design Standard Ordinance (access to Oltorf must cross existing slope greater of 15%) 5 North Variance Requests 6 To allow driveways on slopes over 15% within the Desired Development Zone. (LDC 25-8-301) (LDC 25-8-341) (LDC 25-8-342) To allow cut over 4 feet on slopes over 15% within the Desired Development Zone. To allow fill over 4 feet on slopes over 15% within the Desired Development Zone. Grading Exhibit (Cut and Fill) 7 8 Slope Exhibit 9 Variance Recommendation and Conditions 10 Staff recommends the variance, having determined that the required findings of fact have been met. Staff also recommends and supports the following conditions in accordance to approved variance exhibits: • Provide 8 additional trees at 3 caliper inches on site. • Provide structural containment of fill with retaining walls Variance Exhibits 11 12 THANK YOU References Google Earth GIS property profile Variance packet 13
BRIEFING SUMMARY SHEET DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT CASE NUMBER: CD-2022-0003 – 200 E. Riverside Planned Unit Development REQUEST: Presentation of a Project Assessment Report for the 200 E. Riverside Planned Unit Development, located at 200 East Riverside Drive, within the Lady Bird Lake Watershed and the East Bouldin Creek Watershed. DISTRICT AREA: 9 DEPARTMENT COMMENTS: The Applicant has submitted a project assessment for a proposed professional office and commercial development on 3.9555 acres to be known as the 200 E. Riverside Planned Unit Development (PUD). The banks of Lady Bird Lake are located approximately 160 feet to the northeast at their closest point. The proposed development area presently contains a circa 1970 51,285 square foot, two-story, 30-35 foot tall (vacant) office building with surface parking and has driveway access to East Riverside Drive and “Little” East Riverside Drive, a 60-foot wide private access easement adjacent to the western property line. The property is within the South River City Citizens Neighborhood Plan Area and designated as Mixed Use on the Future Land Use Map. The property is also within the South Central Waterfront subdistrict of the Waterfront Overlay and within the South Central Waterfront Vision Framework Plan district boundaries. The property is currently zoned lake commercial – neighborhood plan (L-NP) district. The Applicant’s proposed rezoning request to PUD-NP consists of a multi-use project that would include two high-rise buildings intended for 1,377,787 square feet of office uses and 29,318 square feet of ground floor, commercial / retail uses with a maximum height of 410 feet. The Applicant does not currently contemplate residential use of the property, although the proposed project could be modified to include it. The PUD will also provide 0.87 acres of open space (including two pocket parks with a cumulative area of 14,893 square feet and open to the public) located between the two buildings that will connect to surrounding park land through a public access easement. A mix of below grade and above grade structured parking is proposed. Vehicular access to the PUD is proposed to occur from one driveway to East Riverside Drive and one driveway to “Little” East Riverside Drive. The Applicant has had conversation with Capital Metro regarding an at-grade train station for the Project Connect Blue Line on “Little” East Riverside Drive. A transportation impact analysis (TIA) will be required at the time a formal rezoning application for PUD-NP is received by the City. The …
ITEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AGENDA COMMISSION MEETING DATE: 12/7/2022 NAME & NUMBER OF PROJECT: NAME OF APPLICANT OR ORGANIZATION: Oltorf Site Plan (SP-2021-0091C) Oltorf Site Plan (Jim Wittliff) LOCATION: 4544 E Oltorf, Austin, Texas 78741 COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STAFF: Tunde Daramola, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, DSD, 512-974-6316, Babatunde.Daramola@austintexas.gov WATERSHED: REQUEST: STAFF RECOMMENDATION: STAFF CONDITIONS: Country Club West Watershed, Suburban, Desired Development Zone Variance request is as follows: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-301 to allow driveways on slopes over 15%. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut over 4 feet up to 8 feet. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill over 4 feet up to 20.5 feet. Staff recommends this variance, having determined the findings of fact to have been met. Provide 8 additional trees at 3 caliper inches. Provide structural containment of fill with retaining walls. Development Services Department Staff Recommendations Concerning Required Findings Project Name: Ordinance Standard: Watershed Protection Ordinance Variance Request: Oltorf Site Plan To allow driveways on slopes over 15% per LDC 25-8-301 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. The variance will not be providing a special privilege to the applicant. The proposed buildings are similar in size to similarly situated property. Because the property is also subject to Austin’s Commercial Design Standards Ordinance, 40% of the roadway frontage along East Oltorf is required to have building frontage adjacent to the right of way, therefore, the only available driveway access from Oltorf must cross existing slopes which are steeper than 15% gradient 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. Existing site conditions and accessibility regulations require the only available driveway access from Oltorf to cross existing slopes that exceed 15% gradient. b) Is the minimum deviation from the code requirement necessary to allow a reasonable use of the property; Yes. The site is being graded and redesigned as efficiently as possible in accordance with code requirement to provide the required access slopes to minimize …
±15 LF RETAINING WALL -S3 2.5' ) B 7 2 1 G P , 5 8 . L O V ( . E . U . P G S ) T . ) L T E R V I C E 4 S Q . F L S 8 . 2 7 3 . 6 A U N D R O M A E R S O N A ( A R E 6 F E - A 3 ' = 4 F 5 5 ( P 553 E R E V O 6 ' C K L E W A D S I D 8 2 C 5 2 C 6 2 C 7 2 ±141 LF RETAINING WALL -S4 N I T S I X E / ) 6 0 9 9 4 1 2 2 0 2 . O N . C O D ( . T ) 6 0 9 M 9 S 4 1 2 2 0 2 . E L A C I R O T N C . E C L O E D ( . D E T S M O S P E O S R A P G D E S O P O R P 2 2 1 2 E C A P N S E O P 0 2 9 1 3 2 4 2 5 5 1 2 5 5 8 1 7 1 2 5 5 2 3 3 3 4 3 5 3 T S T S T S T S 6 3 T S 9 2 0 3 1 3 T S T S T S 6 1 5 1 4 1 3 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 6 ) 0 9 9 4 1 2 2 0 O . 2 C . N O S M T .( D L E A R I C T C E L D E E S O P O R P ±144 LF RETAINING WALL -S1 ±139 LF RETAINING WALL -S1 ±15 LF RETAINING WALL -S3 ±172 LF RETAINING WALL -S2 ±174 LF RETAINING WALL -S2 C R U S H E ST 8 4 5 T S D G R A ST N IT E T S 9 4 5 T S 0 5 5 D U M P S T E R T S 1 5 5 ST 4 9 4 8 …
Case No.: (City use only) Environmental Resource Inventory For the City of Austin Related to LDC 25-8-121, City Code 30-5-121, ECM 1.3.0 & 1.10.0 The ERI is required for projects that meet one or more of the criteria listed in LDC 25-8-121(A), City Code 30-5-121(A). 1. SITE/PROJECT NAME: 2. COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT PROPERTY ID (#’s): 3. ADDRESS/LOCATION OF PROJECT: 4. WATERSHED: 5. THIS SITE IS WITHIN THE (Check all that apply) Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone* (See note below) .................. YES No Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone*.................................. YES No Edwards Aquifer 1500 ft Verification Zone* ....................... YES No Barton Spring Zone* .......................................................... YES No *(as defined by the City of Austin – LDC 25-8-2 or City Code 30-5-2) Note: If the property is over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge zone, the Hydrogeologic Report and karst surveys must be completed and signed by a Professional Geoscientist Licensed in the State of Texas. 6. DOES THIS PROJECT PROPOSE FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATION?.......YES** NO If yes, then check all that apply: (1) The floodplain modifications proposed are necessary to protect the public health and safety; (2) The floodplain modifications proposed would provide a significant, demonstrable environmental benefit, as determined by a functional assessment of floodplain health as prescribed by the Environmental Criteria Manual (ECM), or (3) The floodplain modifications proposed are necessary for development allowed in the critical water quality zone under LDC 25-8-261 or 25-8-262, City Code 30-5-261 or 30-5-262. (4) The floodplain modifications proposed are outside of the Critical Water Quality Zone in an area determined to be in poor or fair condition by a functional assessment of floodplain health. ** If yes, then a functional assessment must be completed and attached to the ERI (see ECM 1.7 and Appendix X for forms and guidance) unless conditions 1 or 3 above apply. 7. IF THE SITE IS WITHIN AN URBAN OR SUBURBAN WATERSHED, DOES THIS PROJECT PROPOSE A UTILITY LINE PARALLEL TO AND WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE? ......................................................... YES*** NO ***If yes, then riparian restoration is required by LDC 25-8-261(E) or City Code 30-5-261(E) and a functional assessment must be completed and attached to the ERI (see ECM1.5 and Appendix X for forms and guidance). 8. There is a total of (#’s) Critical Environmental Feature(s)(CEFs) on or within150 feet of the project site. If CEF(s) are present, attach a detailed DESCRIPTION of the CEF(s), color PHOTOGRAPHS, the CEF WORKSHEET and …
Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission December 7, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. Permitting and Development Center, Events Center, Room 1405 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, Texas 78752 Some members of the Environmental Commission will 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 by 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. To register to speak remotely, call or email Kaela Champlin, Watershed Protection Department, at (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). CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Haris Qureshi Rachel Scott Pam Thompson Melinda Schiera Audrey Barrett Bixler Colin Nickells Jennifer Bristol, Secretary Kevin Ramberg, Chair Ana Aguirre Richard Brimer Perry Bedford, Vice-Chair REVISED AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION 1. Approval the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on November 16, 2022 (5 minutes) 1 5. 6. 7. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION 2. Presentation of Development Assessment Report for 200 E. Riverside, located at 200 East Riverside Drive, CD-2022-0003 (District 9). Applicant: Richard T. Suttle, Jr., Armbrust & Brown, PLLC. Staff: Wendy Rhoades, Housing and Planning Department and Leslie Lilly, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. Name: Oltorf Site Plan (SP-2021-0091C) Applicant: Jim Wittliff Location: 4544 E Oltorf, Austin, Texas 78741 Council District: District 3 Staff: Tunde Daramola, Development Services Department Watershed: Country Cub West Watershed, Suburban Classification, Desired Development Zone Request: 1. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-301 to allow driveways on slopes over 15% 2. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut over 4 feet up to 8 feet 3. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill over 4 feet up to 20.5 feet Staff Recommendation: Staff recommended with conditions. …
200 E. RIVERSIDE DRIVE CD-2022-0003 PROPOSED SUPERIORITY ELEMENTS • 100% on-site water quality treatment. • The PUD proposes to utilize green water quality controls to treat a minimum of 50% of the water quality volume required by code such as bio-filtration pond(s), rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, vegetated filter strips, pervious pavers, porous pavement, and non-required vegetation. • The PUD proposes to reduce overall impervious cover on the site by approximately 9.8%. The existing impervious cover is 89.8% and the proposed PUD will have 80% impervious cover. • Provide 0.87 acres of open space which will consist of two public pocket parks with a cumulative area of 14,893 sq. ft. (0.34 acres). • Exceed the minimum landscaping requirements and utilize native tree species selected from Appendix F of the Environmental Criteria Manual (Descriptive Categories of Tree Species) and utilize central Texas native seed stock. • Street yard landscaping will exceed the minimum requirements by an additional 10% for a total of 30%. • Rainwater harvesting capture will be used to irrigate at least 50% of the required landscape area. • When permitted by site topography & circulation routes, stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces will be directed to landscaped areas equal to or greater than the required landscape area. • The PUD will achieve a 3-star Austin Energy Green Building rating. PROPOSED SUPERIORITY ELEMENTS Integrated Pest Management Plan. • • Provide porous pavement for at least 25% or more of the pedestrian areas. • Buildings will be dual piped for reclaimed water. • Provide a community meeting space on the ground floor at no cost to the neighborhood association and/or • Provide affordable rates to an independent retail service provider, restaurant, or small business. • The PUD will achieve a minimum of 9 points under the building design options of Section 3.3.2 of Chapter 25- 2, Subchapter E (Design Standards and Mixed Use). • Onsite participation in the Art in Public Places Program. • Exceed local accessibility requirements including, but not limited to, additional accessible restrooms and community. shower stalls. Code Section Proposed PUD Language/Code Modification Section 25-6-532 (Off-Street Loading Standards) Section 25-2-742(F) (South Shore Central Subdistrict Regulations) Section 25-2-742(G)(4) (South Shore Central Subdistrict Regulations) Section 25-6-532 is modified to allow shared loading and unloading spaces for the various uses within the PUD regardless of where the use or loading and unloading is located within the PUD. Section 25-2-742(F) is modified to …
4. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION 20221207-003 Seconded by: Perry Bedford To vary from LDC 25-8-301 to allow driveways on slopes over 15% To vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut over 4 feet up to 8 feet To vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill over 4 feet up to 20.5 feet Date: December 7, 2022 Subject: Oltorf Site Plan, SP-2021-0091C Motion by: Jennifer L. Bristol RATIONALE: WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the applicant is requesting 1. 2. 3. WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the site is located in the Country Club West Watershed, Suburban, Desired Development Zone; and WHEREAS, Environmental Commission understands there is an additional overlay that establishes business hours; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes that Staff recommends this variance with conditions, with staff conditions having determined the required findings of fact have been met. THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends the variance request with the following: Staff Conditions 1. 2. Environmental Commission Conditions 1. Recommend use dark skies lighting that casts down to reduce light emitting into the adjacent properties, including the lighting for business signage. Minimize lighting during non-business hours while still meeting safety needs. Provide 8 additional trees at 3 caliper inches. Provide structural containment of fill with retaining walls. 2. Review site with staff to see if there is space to add additional trees. 3. Consider installing electric vehicle charging spaces for employees or as a business opportunity for the convince store proprietor. Install recycling stations for patrons and businesses on the property. Follow all commercial recycling requirements. Prohibit gasoline sales or gas station business on the property. 5. Consider adding native pollinator-friendly plants. 6. VOTE: 7-2 For: Bedford, Brimer, Bristol, Qureshi, Ramberg, Schiera, and Scott Against: Aguirre and Thompson Abstain: None Recuse: None Absent: Barrett Bixler and Nickells Approved By: Kevin Ramberg, Environmental Commission Chair 2
