Environmental Commission Special Called Meeting of the Environmental Commission - Special Called Annual Planning meeting: 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Events Center Room 1401, Austin, Texas 78752
Special Called Meeting of the Environmental Commission August 28th, 2024 at 6:00 PM Permitting And Development Center, Events Center, Room 1401 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, Texas 78752 Some members of the Environmental Commission will be participating by videoconference. 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 Elizabeth Funk, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 568-2244, Elizabeth.Funk@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 Peter Einhorn Mariana Krueger Melinda Schiera Hanna Cofer, Vice Chair Colin Nickells Jennifer Bristol, Secretary David Sullivan Richard Brimer Perry Bedford, Chair CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first 5 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. Staff Briefing on Environmental Commission recommendations, including findings of fact and appropriate conditions for land use commission variances – Liz Johnston, Interim Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department; Chrissy Mann, Assistant City Attorney; and AJ Urteaga, Assistant City Attorney STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion of cut and fill variances, including what they are and potential positive and negative outcomes associated with their approval – Requested by Environmental Commissioner David Sullivan Discuss the committees of the Environmental Commission, including the status of current and past committees – Environmental Commission Chair Perry Bedford Discuss goals and objectives for the Environmental Commission 2024-2025 calendar year – Environmental Commission Chair Perry Chair Bedford ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Elizabeth 512-568-2244, Elizabeth.Funk@austintexas.gov; for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. Protection …
Recommended with Conditions Finding of Facts and Conditional Approvals Presented to Environmental Commission on 8/28/2024 Liz Johnston, Interim Environmental Officer WPD AJ Urteaga Assistant City Attorney, Law Dept EV Commission Recommendations Application types require distinct considerations • Land Use Commission Variances = Findings of Fact • Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) = Tier 1 & Tier 2 Superiority Items • MUDs = Extraordinary Community Benefits • Restrictive Covenant Amendments = Zoning laws apply • Save Our Springs site specific amendments = No code defined considerations. Water quality impacts are most important. Land Use Commission Variances • Land Use Commission (LUC) Variances occur when either Zoning and Platting or Planning Commission must approve the variance after receiving a recommendation from Environmental Commission • Variances are necessary when a proposed project cannot comply with the Land Development Code (LDC) • Environmental variances may be requested from any code requirement in 25-8 except 25-8 Article 13 Save Our Springs • Other code sections may require different variance processes. • Ex: Zoning variances are heard by the Board of Adjustment unless otherwise described • The LDC allows certain variances to be approved administratively (staff approved) Variance Approval Process • Both staff and applicant create separate versions of the Findings of Fact – submitted as backup with each variance • EVC may accept or reject staff’s recommendations • Recommended disapprovals should have a basis in not meeting one of the findings • PC & ZAP are the Land Use Commissions (LUCs) that hear environmental variances • Cases located in a neighborhood planning area are heard by Planning Commission. All others are heard by the Zoning and Platting Commission. • LUC issues final decision. • EVC variances have no appeals. Land Use Commission Variances FINDINGS OF FACT Land Development Code § 25-8-41 § 25-8-41 LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCES. (A) It is the applicant's burden to establish that the findings described in this Section have been met. Except as provided in Subsections (B) and (C), the Land Use Commission may grant a variance from a requirement of this subchapter after determining that: (1) the requirement will deprive the applicant of a privilege available to owners of other similarly situated property with approximately contemporaneous development subject to similar code requirements; (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 …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, August 28, 2024 The ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION convened in a Special Called meeting on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Bedford called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford, Jennifer Bristol, Richard Brimer, Mariana Krueger, Melinda Schiera, David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Hanna Cofer Commissioners Absent: Peter Einhorn, Colin Nickells, Haris Qureshi PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff Briefing on Environmental Commission recommendations, including findings of fact and appropriate conditions for land use commission variances – Liz Johnston, Interim Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department; Chrissy Mann, Assistant City Attorney; and AJ Urteaga, Assistant City Attorney Item conducted as posted. No action taken. DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion of cut and fill variances, including what they are and potential positive and negative outcomes associated with their approval – Requested by Environmental Commissioner David Sullivan Item conducted as posted. No action taken. Chair Bedford called for a recess at 8:24 pm. Chair Bedford reconvened the meeting at 8:30 pm. 1 1. 2. 3. 4. Discuss the committees of the Environmental Commission, including the status of current and past committees – Environmental Commission Chair Perry Bedford Item conducted as posted. No action taken. Discuss goals and objectives for the Environmental Commission 2024-2025 calendar year – Environmental Commission Chair Perry Chair Bedford Item conducted as posted. No action taken. ADJOURNMENT Chair Bedford adjourned the meeting at 9:42 pm. The minutes were approved at the September 4, 2024 meeting on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Nickells was off the dais. Commissioners Cofer and Schiera were absent. 2
