Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

2. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, March 4, 2020 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 in Council Chambers City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Commissioners in Attendance: Pam Thompson Peggy Maceo Perry Bedford Kevin Ramberg Katie Coyne Linda Guerrero Commissioners Absent: Andy Creel Curtis Smith Ryan Nill Mary Ann Neely Wendy Gordon Staff in Attendance: Kaela Champlin Marc Coudert Susana Herrera Chris Herrington Thain Maurer Atha Phillips Pamela Abee-Taulli Mike McDougal CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Guerrero called the meeting to order at 6:01 P.M. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speakers should sign up to speak prior to the meeting being called to order; you will receive a three-minute allotment to discuss topics not posted on the agenda. None 1. EDUCATION a. Update on City of El Paso Resilience Strategy, Nicole Ferrini, City of El Paso Chief Resilience Officer (30 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approve the minutes of the regular Environmental Commission meeting of February 19, 2020 (5 minutes) 1  3. 4. 5. 6. The minutes of the regular Environmental Commission meeting of February 19, 2020 were approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Coyne’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Creel, Smith, Nill, Neely, and Gordon were absent. ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER’S UPDATE ON PAST COMMISSION ACTIONS AND REPORT ON ITEMS OF INTEREST a. Update on XSpace Group SP-2019-0189D variances b. Process for how to discuss miscellaneous reports at Environmental Commission meetings Item conducted as posted. No action taken. (5 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. STAFF BRIEFINGS* a. Presentation on Water Quality Compliance Pollution Data Viewer—Thain Maurer, Environmental Compliance Supervisor, Watershed Protection Department (20 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Discuss and consider the future of Austin resilience planning—Katie Coyne, Environmental Commission Member and Vice Chair (20 minutes) Speakers Thomas Visco A motion to consider the future of Austin resilience planning was approved on Commissioner Coyne’s motion, Commissioner Guerrero’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Creel, Smith, Nill, Neely, and Gordon were absent. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Name: Lantana PCA Applicant: Michael Whellan, Armbrust & Brown, PLLC Watershed: Williamson Creek Watershed, Barton Springs Zone, Drinking Water Protection Location: 7415 Southwest Parkway (District 8) Staff: Atha Phillips, Environmental Officer’s Office Zone Request: Consider a Project Consent Agreement waiving provisions of City Code Chapters 25-7 (Drainage) and 25-8 (Environment), including Chapter 25-8, Article 13 (Save Our Springs Initiative), to allow construction of a mixed-use residential project located at 7415 Southwest Parkway in the East Oak Hill Neighborhood Planning Area. This action concerns land located in the Barton Springs Zone. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommended with conditions. (30 minutes) A recommendation to approve the requested project consent agreement (PCA) to allow for the construction of a mixed-use development with a residential component with conditions was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Maceo’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Creel, Smith, Nill, Neely, and Gordon were absent. A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Coyne’s motion, Commissioner Guerrero’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Creel, Smith, Nill, Neely, and Gordon were absent. 2  b. Name: HEB 10, SP-2019-0034C Applicant: Joe Farias, Stantec Consulting Service Location: 7901 W US 290 Hwy, Austin, TX 78749 (District 8) Staff: Pamela Abee-Taulli, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Watershed: Williamson Creek Watershed, Barton Springs Zone Classification, Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: Variance request is as follows: 1. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut in excess of 4 feet (maximum cut 7 feet) in 2. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill in excess of 4 feet (maximum fill 14 feet) in 3. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-302(A)(1) to construct a building on a slope with a gradient the Barton Springs Zone. the Barton Springs Zone. of more than 25 percent. 4. Request to vary from LDC 25-8-302(A)(2) to construct a parking area that is not a parking structure on a slope with a gradient of more than 15 percent. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends this variance, having determined the findings of fact to have been met, with conditions. (30 minutes) A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Coyne’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Creel, Smith, Nill, Neely, and Gordon were absent. A recommendation to approve the variance requests with conditions was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Creel, Smith, Nill, Neely, and Gordon were absent. 7. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Urban Growth Policy and Water Quality Protection Committee – Pam Thompson, Kevin Ramberg, Mary Ann Neely, Curtis Smith, and Perry Bedford b. Urban Forestry Committee – Peggy Maceo, Pam Thompson, Linda Guerrero, and Mary Ann Neely Commissioner Maceo gave an update on the Urban Forestry Committee. c. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne Commissioner Coyne gave an update on the Steering Committee for the Climate Plan. d. Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Mary Ann Neely e. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Mary Ann Neely, Peggy Maceo, Linda Guerrero, and Pam Thompson Commissioner Guerrero gave an update on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board. f. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero Commissioner Guerrero gave an update on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. 8. NEW BUSINESS – Future agenda items a. None 3  9. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Guerrero adjourned the meeting at 8:20 P.M. 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. For additional information, please call Kaela Champlin, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 974-3443; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Environmental Commission, please contact Kaela Champlin, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 974-3443. * A member of the public may not address a board or commission at a meeting on an item posted as a briefing, per City Code Section 2-1-144(E). 4