Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 19, October, 2022 The Environmental Commission convened in a regular meeting on 19, October, 2022 at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Commissioners in Attendance: Ana Aguirre, Rick Brimer, Jennifer Bristol, Kevin Ramberg, and Rachel Scott. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Perry Bedford, Colin Nickells, Pam Thompson, and Haris Qureshi. Commissioners absent: Audrey Barrett Bixler and Melinda Schiera. CALL TO ORDER Chair Ramberg called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:04 P.M. 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. Speakers Malcom Yeatts spoke about Country Club Creek cleanups. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION 1. Approval the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on October 5, 2022 (5 minutes) The minutes of the October 5, 2022 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting were postponed until the next meeting. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Briefing on the Palm District Plan. Briefing and Possible Action. Housing and Planning Staff, Stevie Greathouse, (512) 974-7226, stevie.greathouse@austintexas.gov (30 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 3. Presentation of Development Assessment Report for 311-315 South Congress, located at 311-315 South Congress Avenue, CD-2022-0002 (District 9). Applicant: Amanda Swor, Drenner Group, PC. Staff: Wendy Rhoades, Housing and Planning Department and Leslie Lilly, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 1 PUBLIC HEARINGS 4. Chair Ramberg recessed the meeting for ten minutes at 8:32 P.M. Chair Ramberg resumed the meeting at 8:45 P.M. Name: Karanam Subdivision Wastewater Service Extension Request #5575 Applicant: I.T. Gonzalez, I.T. Gonzalez Engineering Location: 10802 D K Ranch Rd, Austin, TX 78759 Council District: Limited Purpose Jurisdiction (District 10) Staff: Kaela Champlin, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department Watershed: Bull Creek, Water Supply Suburban, Northern Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: Wastewater Service Extension Staff Recommendation: Recommended (20 minutes) A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Aguirre’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Barrett Bixler and Schiera were absent. A motion to approve the Karanam Subdivision Wastewater Service Extension Request #5575 was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Barrett Bixler and Schiera were absent. Name: Loyola Junction Apartments, SP-2021-0242C Applicant: Stephen Jamison, Jamison Civil Engineering Location: 6525 Ed Bluestein Boulevard NB, Austin, Texas 78724 Council District: District 1 Staff: Mel Fuechec, Environmental Review Specialist, Development Services Department Watershed: Walnut Creek, Suburban Watershed, Desired Development Zone Request: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill up to 17 feet in the desired development zone Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions (30 minutes) A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second. Commissioners Barrett Bixler and Schiera were absent. A motion to approve the variance request with conditions was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Barrett Bixler and Schiera were absent. COMMITTEE REPORTS 6. Urban Forestry Committee – Richard Brimer (Committee Chair), Pam Thompson, Rachel Scott, and Colin Nickells Commissioner Brimer gave an update about a future briefing on the Heritage Tree Ordinance. 5. 2 Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Haris Qureshi (member) and Richard Brimer (alternate member) Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Jennifer Bristol Commissioner Bristol gave an update on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Pam Thompson, Rachel Scott, Perry Bedford, and Haris Qureshi Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Ana Aguirre Commissioner Aguirre gave an update on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramberg adjourned the meeting at 9:26 P.M. The minutes of the October 19, 2022 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting were approved at the November 2, 2022 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Bristol’s second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioner Schiera abstained. Commissioner Scott was off the dais. Commissioner Nickells was absent. 7. 8. 9. 10. 3