Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission October 15, 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 Allison Morrison 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 October 1, 2025. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend approval of an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development Code) related to the drainage easements on parkland owned by the City of Austin – Kevin Shunk, Floodplain Administrator, Austin Watershed Protection DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Presentation of Development Assessment Report for Townlake YMCA PUD, located at 1100 West Cesar Chavez Street, 206 1/2 and 220 1/2 North Lamar Boulevard, CD-2025- 0003 (District 9). Applicant: Richard T. Suttle, Armbrust & Brown, PLLC. Staff: Cynthia Hadri, Planning Department Overview of Austin Climate Action and Resilience – Zach Baumer, Director, Austin Climate and Resilience 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 …
Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission October 15, 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 Allison Morrison Ashika Ganguly Annie Fierro Jennifer Bristol, Chair David Sullivan Richard Brimer Isabella Changsut AGENDA REVISED CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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. 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on October 1, 2025. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend approval of an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development Code) related to the drainage easements on parkland owned by the City of Austin – Kevin Shunk, Floodplain Administrator, Austin Watershed Protection DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Presentation of Development Assessment Report for Townlake YMCA PUD, located at 1100 West Cesar Chavez Street, 206 1/2 and 220 1/2 North Lamar Boulevard, CD-2025- 0003 (District 9). Applicant: David Anderson, Drenner Group, PC. Staff: Cynthia Hadri, Planning Department Overview of Austin Climate Action and Resilience – Zach Baumer, Director, Austin Climate and Resilience 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 …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 1, 2025 The Environmental Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Bristol called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Jennifer Bristol, Mariana Krueger, Richard Brimer, Isabella Changsut, Annie Fierro, Justin Fleury, Martin Luecke, Haris Qureshi, David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None Commissioners Absent: Ashika Ganguly PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on September 17th, 2025. The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on September 17, 2025 were approved on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Ganguly was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the Green Infrastructure in the Right of Way – Michelle Marx, Transportation and Public Works Department. Speakers: Naomi Rotramel, City Arborist Michelle Marx, Transportation Officer Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Election of the Environmental Commission Secretary for a term ending on April 30, 2026. Commissioner Qureshi was elected as secretary on Commissioner Brisol’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second, on a 10–0 vote. Commissioner Ganguly was absent. 4. Discussion and action on Urban Forestry committee membership The commission nominated Commissioners Justin Fleury and Annie Fierro to the Urban Forestry Committee. 5. Approve the 2026 Environmental Commission Meeting Schedule The draft 2026 meeting schedule was approved on Commissioner Krueger’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on a 10–0 vote. Commissioner Ganguly was absent. 6. Discussion and action on the Travis County Landfill permit #684 leakage – Commissioners Sullivan and Brimer Speakers: Corbin Graham A motion to postpone the item passed on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Ganguly was absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Changsut requested a presentation from Austin Youth River Watch on December 3. Commissioner Bristol seconded. ADJOURNMENT Chair Bristol adjourned the meeting at 7:52 pm without objection. 2
C20-2025-009 ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REVIEW SHEET Amendment: C20-2025-009 City of Austin parkland drainage easements LDC 25-7 code amendment Description: Amends 25-7-152 (E) as related to parkland drainage easements. The proposed amendment would allow an administrative variance to not require drainage easements associated with development projects on parkland owned by the City of Austin. Proposed Language: Approve an ordinance amending 25-7-152 (E): to allow for an administrative variance to drainage easement requirements associated with development projects on parkland owned by the City of Austin. Background: Current code requires that property owners dedicate a public drainage easement to the limits of the 100-year floodplain as a part of the site development permit approval process. Additionally, 25-7-152 (E) includes provisions allowing the Director to grant an administrative variance under certain circumstances as described in that section. The purpose of the drainage easement is to alert present and future property owners that there is flood risk on the property. There are limitations on the use of the drainage easement and floodplain areas on the property. These uses are regulated by the floodplain regulations. Importantly, an approved administrative variance waiving the drainage easement requirement does not waive or alter existing restrictions or development requirements within the 100-year floodplain. The proposed amendment would only apply to the dedication of a drainage easement on City of Austin parkland. Additionally, if parkland is later sold through the Chapter 26 process and voter approval, the new property owner would be required to dedicate a drainage easement as part of any future site plan application. The process for the sale of public parkland must follow the requirements outlined in Chapter 26 of the Texas statues which serve as a protection for public parks and recreational lands from programs or projects that would change their use or require taking of public land. A benefit of this proposed code change is to reduce the fiscal and administrative burden on new parkland projects by improving efficiency during the permit review process. Austin Parks and Recreation and Austin Watershed Protection are in agreement that this change is appropriate and beneficial. Currently, each parkland development project must apply for a variance and be approved on a case-by-case basis. Codifying this exception will streamline the process and reduce unnecessary administrative work for both departments. Additionally, there will be no impact or change on maintenance or operational responsibilities as a result of the code amendment. Staff Recommendation: Staff …
Code Amendment C20-2025-009 Parkland Drainage Easements Austin Watershed Protection | October 15, 2025 Intent of Current Code: Drainage Easements LDC 25-7-152(A) The owner of real property proposed to be developed shall dedicate to the public an easement for stormwater flow to the limits of the 100-year floodplain ▪ Ensures that the current and future property owners know that flood risk exists on their property ▪ Accomplished by surveying the floodplain area on the property 2 Austin PARD Project Impacts Under Current Code ▪ Requires solicitation and contract negotiation ▪ Requires multiple rounds of staff review ▪ A Declaration of Use (DOU) requires Real Estate and Legal review ▪ Final approval requires multiple levels of executive review, signatures and recording with associated County fees ▪ Overall process cost: ▪ Consultant for survey (increased significantly over time) ▪ Cost of staff time charged to the project (reducing available money for construction) ▪ Adds cost/time to the site plan review process ▪ Park property remains city-owned unless voter approved for sale through a Chapter 26 process 3 Proposed Code ▪ Add public parkland owned by the City of Austin to the list of options for a variance. ▪ Would not exempt parkland from following all code requirements for development in the floodplain. ▪ If a property is approved for sale, the new owner would be required to dedicate the easement once a subdivision or site plan application is submitted. 4 Proposed Code Language § 25-7-152 - DEDICATION OF EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY E. For property in the full-purpose limits of the city, the director may grant a variance to Subsection (A) if the director determines: 1) development with the variance does not result in additional adverse flooding of other 2) property; and the development: a) is permitted by a variance granted under Section 25-7-92(C) (Encroachments on Floodplain Prohibited); is permitted in a floodplain under Section 25-7-93 (General Exceptions), Section 25-7- 94 (Exceptions in Central Business Area), Section 25-7-95 (Exceptions for Parking Areas), or Section 25-7-96 (Exceptions in the 25-Year Floodplain); is not a building or parking area; is a non-conforming use, as defined by Chapter 25-12, Article 3 (Flood Hazard Areas); or is on parkland owned by the City of Austin. b) c) d) e) 5 Boards and Commissions Review Schedule Meeting Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee: Initiation Recommendation (approved) Date July 16, 2025 Planning Commission: Initiation Recommendation (approved, initiated) August 12, 2025 Parks …
DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT CASE NUMBER: CD-2025-0003 BRIEFING SUMMARY SHEET REQUEST: Presentation of a Development Assessment Report for Townlake YMCA Planned Unit Development (PUD), located at 1100 West Cesar Chavez Street, 206 1/2 and 220 1/2 North Lamar Boulevard - within the Lady Bird Lake Watershed - Urban Watershed in District Area 9. DEPARTMENT COMMENTS: The applicant has submitted a development assessment for a 4.8 acre mixed use project generally located at 1100 West Cesar Chavez Street; 206 1/2 and 220 1/2 North Lamar Boulevard (see Case Map – Exhibit A). The PUD will consist of a mixed-use development of up to 750 condominium homes, a minimum of 90 affordable housing units, 110, 000 square feet of civic and office uses and approximately 35, 000 square feet of pedestrian oriented uses on the ground floor of the project. Approximately 10, 000 square feet of ground floor pedestrian oriented space will be for a restaurant use. The parking for the development will be achieved through parking structures (see Development Assessment Application Letter – Exhibit B). The applicant is proposing the LI, Limited Industrial Services District, as the baseline zoning district for the PUD. The property in question is zoned Limited Industrial Services – Conditional Overlay – Neighborhood Plan (LI-CO-NP). It is designated as “Civic” on the Land Use Map in the Old West Austin Neighborhood Plan that was adopted on June 29, 2000. The property is located within the Lady Bird Lake Watershed, which is classified as an Urban Watershed, and is part of the Lamar Waterfront District. The applicant has stated in the submittal materials that the project will meet all of the applicable Tier One PUD development standards, two Tier One Additional Requirements and offer elements of superiority in eleven Tier 2 categories (Open Space/Parkland; Environmental/Drainage; Austin Greener Builder Program; Art; Community Amenities; Transportation; Building Design; Parking Structure Frontage; Affordable Housing; Accessibility; Local Small Business). Therefore, they have stated that the proposed PUD will result in a superior development to that which could be developed under conventional zoning standards (see Basis of Superiority Table – Exhibit C). In the PUD Development Assessment submittal letter, the applicant states that they are seeking LI, Limited Industrial Services District zoning and site development regulations for the PUD. The staff will provide a review of the proposed site development standards, including the applicant’s request for an increase in height up to 425 feet and a …
Overview: Austin Climate Action & Resilience Austin Environmental Commission | October 2025 Today’s Agenda Overview • Timeline & History • Climate Team • Resilience Team • Food Team • Urban Forestry Team • Communications Team 2 Timeline & History 2010 2014 2022 2024 2025 Office of Sustainability created with AE Climate Team Food Policy Manager hired Office of Resilience created Resilience joins Sustainability, renamed Climate Action & Resilience Urban Forestry joins Climate Action & Resilience We are the Liaison to the Joint Sustainability Committee and the Food Policy Board 3 What we do ● Lead cross-departmental initiatives and collaborations ● Coordinate responses to new challenges with pilots and research partnerships ● Advise larger departments with specific expertise related to climate, resilience, trees, and food issues ● Respond to community and Council requests on big-picture questions What we don’t do ● Create or enforce regulations ● Own, operate, or manage any major assets ● Respond to disasters and emergencies 4 Climate Equity & Resilience Framework Climate Equity Plan — Mitigation Resilience & Climate Adaptation Actions that avoid, reduce, or capture greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Actions that increase our ability to prepare for and recover from shocks and stressors related to a changing climate. Sustainable Buildings, Energy Generation, and Water Demand Natural Systems Regional Collaboration & Green Jobs Climate and Environmental Data, Research, & Modeling Long Range Planning Recovery & Economic Resilience Transportation Electrification Materials, Purchasing, Food and Product Consumption Mass Transit, Planning, Land Use, and Housing Social Infrastructure and Community Preparedness Green Infrastructure (creeks, rivers, trees, landscape) Utility Infrastructure (water, power, drainage) Equity and Affordability 5 Austin Climate Equity Plan Overview ● Adopted by City Council in September 2021 ● Goal: Net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 ● 5 Sections: ○ Sustainable Buildings ○ Transportation and Land Use ○ Transportation Electrification ○ Food and Product Consumption ○ Natural Systems ● 17 Goals: To be accomplished by 2030 ● 75 Strategies: Progress in next 5 years 6 Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program ● Achievable in a two-year timeframe ● Filterable by various criteria ○ 4 Action Types: Project, Policy, Program, Foundational ○ Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential over 15 years ○ Two-year cost ○ Cost per ton of GHG reduced ○ Co-Benefits ○ Funding status and type ○ Departmental leads View the full Climate Implementation Plan, including interactive action tables 7 CCIP: Cost / Ton Summary If all actions …
