Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission June 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM 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 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 Justin Fleury Mariana Krueger, Vice Chair Martin Luecke Hanna Cofer, Secretary Ashika Ganguly Annie Fierro Jennifer Bristol, Chair David Sullivan Richard Brimer Isabella Changsut CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first 10 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 21, 2025 1 PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Name: 500 S Congress, C814-2024-0001 Applicant: Armbrust & Brown, L.L.P (Amanda Hendrix) Location: 500 S Congress, Austin, TX 78704 Council District: District 9 Staff: Sean Watson, Environmental Program Coordinator, (512) 963-2167, Sean.Watson@austintexas.gov; Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, (512) 535-8914, Leslie.lilly@austintexas.gov Applicant request: Planned Unit Development Zoning Staff Recommendation: Staff recommended with conditions WORKING GROUP UPDATES 3. Update on response to Council Resolution 20241121-073 on Bird-Friendly Design – Environmental Commission Chair Jennifer Bristol FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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 Funk, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 568-2244, Elizabeth.Funk@austintexas.gov, Watershed Protection Department, for additional information; TTY users …
ITEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AGENDA COMMISSION MEETING DATE: June 4th, 2025 NAME & NUMBER OF PROJECT: NAME OF APPLICANT OR ORGANIZATION: 500 S Congress, C814-2024-0001 Armbrust & Brown, L.L.P (Amanda Hendrix) LOCATION: 500 S Congress, Austin, TX 78704 COUNCIL DISTRICT: 9 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STAFF: WATERSHED: Sean Watson, Environmental Program Coordinator, (512) 963- 2167, Sean.Watson@austintexas.gov; Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, (512) 535-8914, Leslie.lilly@austintexas.gov East Bouldin Creek and Lady Bird Lake Watersheds, Urban Watershed REQUEST: Planned Unit Development Zoning STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommended with conditions. STAFF CONDITION: Development associated with C814-2024-0001, located at 500 S. Congress Ave, shall comply with the following requirements a. Section 25-8-63(C)(12) (Impervious Cover Calculations) as modified by the PUD b. Section 25-8-261 (Critical Water Quality Zone Development) as modified by the PUD c. Section 25-8-213(C) (Water Quality Control Standards) as modified by the PUD d. Comply with the City of Austin’s Green Building Program for a 2-star rating. e. Comply with the most current AEGB Light Pollution Reduction criteria available at the time of site plan f. Comply with the most current AEGB Bird Collision Deterrence criteria available at the time of site plan g. Provide water quality treatment with rainwater harvesting cisterns and rain gardens. h. Reduce site impervious cover by 5% i. Remove 8000 sqft of concrete from the CWQZ, reducing the existing impervious cover in the CWQZ from 48.2% to 20.7% j. Use natural channel design techniques as described in the DCM to enhance East Bouldin Creek k. Restore 23,000 sqft of riparian area in East Bouldin Creek by improving the site’s Functional Assessment of Floodplain Health score from “poor” or “fair” to “good” or better using both Zone 2 and Zone 3 assessments l. All riparian restoration plantings will exceed density and diversity code requirements by at least 20%, based on COA ECM 609s criteria. m. Include a minimum of 20 native plant species that attract pollinators and/or provide bird habitat n. Preserve all heritage trees; preserves 75% of the caliper inches associated with native protected size trees; and preserves 75% of all of the native caliper inches. o. Tree plantings use Central Texas seed stock native and with adequate soil volume p. Utilized rainwater harvesting to irrigate no less than 50% of the landscape areas. q. Provide an Integrated Pest Management plan and Natural Areas Management Plan at time of site plan r. Extend purple pipe (reclaimed water) to the property …
500 South Congress Planned Unit Development (PUD) C814-2024-0001 Sean Watson Environmental Program Coordinator Watershed Protection C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 500 South Congress PUD C 8 1 4 - 2 0 2 4 - 0 0 0 1 C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Site Information • To t a l s i t e a r e a = 6 . 4 8 a c r e s • A u s t i n F u l l P u r p o s e J u r i s d i c t i o n • • • • • • C o u n c i l D i s t r i c t 9 E a s t B o u l d i n C r e e k a n d L a d y B i r d L a k e W a t e r s h e d s, U r b a n W a t e r s h e d S o u t h S h o r e C e n t r a l D i s t r i c t W a t e r f r o n t O v e r l a y P r o p o s e d r e z o n i n g t o a l l o w f o r m i xe d u s e d e v e l o p m e n t / P U D T wo R i m r o c k C E F s s o u t h o f s i t e C r i t i c a l W a t e r Q u a l i t y Z o n e ( C W Q Z ) a n d 1 0 0 - Ye a …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, May 21, 2025 The Environmental Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Krueger called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Mariana Krueger, Richard Brimer, Annie Fierro, Ashika Ganguly, Martin Luecke, Haris Qureshi, David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Isabella Changsut Commissioners Absent: Jennifer Bristol, Hanna Cofer, Justin Fleury PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 7, 2025 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 7, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Brimer’s motion, Commissioner Qureshi’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bristol, Cofer, and Fleury were absent. Commissioner Ganguly was off the dais. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Name: Camelback PUD Amendment #3, C814-86-023.01 Applicant: Armbrust & Brown, L.L.P (Amanda Morrow) Location: 6505 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730 Council District: District 10 Staff: Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, (512) 535-8914, Leslie.lilly@austintexas.gov; Sean Watson, Environmental Program Coordinator, (512) 963-2167, Sean.Watson@austintexas.gov Applicant request: Amend a Planned Unit Development Staff Recommendation: Staff recommended with conditions 1 Speakers: Sean Watson, WPD Johnathon Coons, Applicant Leslie Lilly, WPD Allison __ , Kimley-Horn Naomi Rotramel, City Arborist, DSD A motion to close the public hearing passed on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second, on a 10–0 vote. Commissioners Bristol, Cofer, and Fleury was absent. A motion to recommend the Camelback PUD Amendment #3 with conditions passed on Commissioner Krueger’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on a 8–0 vote. Commissioners Bristol, Cofer, and Fleury was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation and discussion on Austin Resource Recovery’s Road to Zero Waste – Ron Romero, Assistant Director, Austin Resource Recovery Item conducted as posted. No action taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Krueger adjourned the meeting at 7:51 pm without objection. 2
500 South Congress Planned Unit Development (PUD) C814-2024-0001 Sean Watson Environmental Program Coordinator Watershed Protection C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 500 South Congress PUD C 8 1 4- 2 0 2 4 - 0 0 0 1 C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Site Inf ormation • • A u s t i n F u l l P u r p o s e T o t a l s i t e a r e a = 6 . 4 8 a c r e s J u r i s d i c t i o n • • • • • • C o u n c i l D i s t r i c t 9 E a s t B o u l d i n C r e e k a n d L a d y B i r d L a k e W a t e r s h e d s , U r b a n W a t e r s h e d S o u t h S h o r e C e n t r a l D i s t r i c t W a t e r f r o n t O v e r l a y P r o p o s e d r e z o n i n g t o a l l o w f o r m i x e d u s e d e v e l o p m e n t / P U D T w o R i m r o c k C E F s s o u t h o f s i t e C r i t i c a l W a t e r Q u a l i t y Z o n e ( C W Q Z ) a n d 1 0 …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION 20250604-002 Date: June 4, 2025 Subject: 500 S Congress, C814-2024-0001 Location: 500 S Congress, Austin, TX 78704 Motion by: Hanna Cofer Seconded by: David Sullivan WHEREAS, The Environmental Commission recognizes the applicant is requesting Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning for a 6.48-acre; and WHEREAS, The Environmental Commission recognizes that the project is located within the Urban Watersheds of Lady Bird Lake and East Bouldin Creek, includes portions of the 100-year floodplain and Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ); and WHEREAS, The Commission acknowledges that the applicant has proposed numerous environmental enhancements and elements of superiority; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes that City staff recommends the PUD with numerous conditions as provided in back-up material; THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends approval of the Mixed-Use PUD with the following conditions: 1. Implement on-site recycling and reuse of existing concrete and other demolition materials to the extent feasible. 2. Require the use of low-intensity, shielded, dark-sky compliant lighting along the creek corridor and riparian zones. 3. Commit to certifying the riparian restoration area and adjacent natural spaces as a Texas Wildscape with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or as a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation. 4. Require an additional 5% of all parking spaces be constructed with the capability to support future installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. VOTE 8-1 For: Isabella Changsut, Haris Qureshi, Martin Luecke, Justin Fleury, Jennifer Bristol, Hanna Cofer, Annie Fierro, David Sullivan Against: Richard Brimer Recuse: None Absent: Mariana Krueger, Ashika Ganguly 1 Approved By: Jennifer Bristol, Environmental Commission Chair CONDITIONS TO BE INCLUDED FROM CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATION: a. Section 25-8-63(C)(12) (Impervious Cover Calculations) as modified by the PUD b. Section 25-8-261 (Critical Water Quality Zone Development) as modified by the PUD c. Section 25-8-213(C) (Water Quality Control Standards) as modified by the PUD d. Comply with the City of Austin’s Green Building Program for a 2-star rating. e. Comply with the most current AEGB Light Pollution Reduction criteria available at the time of site plan f. Comply with the most current AEGB Bird Collision Deterrence criteria available at the time of site plan g. Provide water quality treatment with rainwater harvesting cisterns and rain gardens. h. Reduce site impervious cover by 5% i. Remove 8000 sqft of concrete from the CWQZ, reducing the existing impervious cover in the CWQZ from 48.2% to 20.7% j. Use natural channel design techniques as …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Environmental Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Bristol called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Jennifer Bristol, Hanna Cofer, Richard Brimer, Isabella Changsut, Justin Fleury, Annie Fierro, Martin Luecke, Haris Qureshi, David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None Commissioners Absent: Mariana Krueger, Ashika Ganguly PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Craig Nazor, concerns on the Little Walnut Creek Flood Risk Reduction Project APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 21, 2025 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 21, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Cofer’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Krueger and Ganguly were absent. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Name: 500 S Congress, C814-2024-0001 Applicant: Armbrust & Brown, L.L.P (Amanda Hendrix) Location: 500 S Congress, Austin, TX 78704 Council District: District 9 Staff: Sean Watson, Environmental Program Coordinator, (512) 963-2167, Sean.Watson@austintexas.gov; Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, (512) 535-8914, Leslie.lilly@austintexas.gov Applicant request: Planned Unit Development Zoning Staff Recommendation: Staff recommended with conditions Speakers: Sean Watson, WPD 1 Roy Wayley, Sierra Club Bobby Levenski, SOS Michael Iannacone, Related Companies Dawood Rouben, Related Companies Liz Johnston, Interim Environmental Officer, WPD Sherri Sirwatis, Planner, Planning Department Matt Yeager, TGB Partners Leslie Lilly, WPD Jonathon Ogren, Siglo Group Jonathan McKee, Garza engineers A motion to close the public hearing passed on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Cofer’s second, on a 9–0 vote. Commissioners Bristol, Cofer, and Fleury were absent. Krueger and Ganguly were absent. A motion to recommend the 500 S Congress with conditions passed on Commissioner Cofer’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on an 8–1 vote. Commissioners Krueger and Ganguly were absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 3. Update on response to Council Resolution 20241121-073 on Bird-Friendly Design – Environmental Commission Chair Jennifer Bristol Item conducted as posted. No action taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Qureshi requested a presentation on the post-op of the recent storm. Liz Johnston stated that the Homeland Security office does an after-action report that we can share. Commissioner Sullivan requested commissioners share ideas for Bond projects. Commissioner Changsut requested a presentation on wildfire risk. Staff will send over the presentation recording from May. Chair Bristol asked for a presentation to learn more about recycling concrete. ADJOURNMENT Chair Bristol adjourned the …
