Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, March 6, 2024 The ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION convened Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. in a REGULAR meeting on Chair Ramberg called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford, Richard Brimer, Jennifer Bristol, Colin Nickells, Kevin Ramberg, and David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Mariana Krueger, Haris Qureshi Commissioners Absent: Hanna Cofer, Peter Einhorn, and Melinda Schiera PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Charles Mossberger, Get Fertilizer Wiser APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on February 21, 2024 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular meeting on February 21, 2024 were approved on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cofer, Einhorn, and Schiera were absent. 2. Recognition of Kevin Ramberg for his service on the Environmental Commission – Katie Coyne, Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department Item conducted as posted. No action taken. DISCUSSION ITEMS PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. Make a recommendation regarding the request for 311-315 South Congress Planned Unit Development (PUD) (C814-2023-0027) located at 311, 313, 315 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78704 (District 9). Presenter: Leslie Lilly, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department. Speakers: 1 Leslie Lilly, Watershed Protection Department Amanda Swor, Drenner Group Maura Powers, Audubon Society Thomas Smith, architect Aan Coleman, landscape architect A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cofer, Einhorn, and Schiera were absent. A motion to approve the 311-315 South Congress Planned Unit Development (PUD) with conditions was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cofer, Einhorn, and Schiera were absent. 4. Name: Ledgestone Revised Wastewater Service Extension Request #4622R Applicant: Danny Miller, P.E. LJA Engineering, Inc. Location: 9209 Ledgestone Terrace, Austin, Texas 78737 Council District: Austin 2-Mile Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Staff: Kaela Champlin, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department Applicant request: Wastewater Service Extension Revision Staff recommendation: Recommended Speakers: Kaela Champlin, Watershed Protection Department Vito Trupiano, Endeavor A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cofer, Einhorn, and Schiera were absent. A motion to approve the Ledgestone Revised Wastewater Service Extension Request was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on an 8- 0 vote. Commissioners Cofer, Einhorn, and Schiera were absent. 5. Name: Northwest Area Lift Station Improvements Great Hills Lift Station No.53 (SP-2022 0537C) Applicant: Sharon Hamilton, Civil Team Engineers LLC on behalf of the Austin Water Utility Department Location: 9009 ½ Spicebrush Drive, Austin, TX 78759 Council District: District 6 Staff: Brad Jackson, Environmental Compliance Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Applicant request: A Land Use Commission variance is requested to a) allow development in the CWQZ for a lift station per LDC 25-8-261; b) allow construction of a building on a slope 2 with a gradient of more than 25% per LDC 25-8-302(A)(1); and c) allow fill up to 14 feet for construction of a lift station exceeding the 4-foot limitation per LDC 25-8-342 Staff recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the variances with a condition Speakers: Brad Jackson, Development Services Department Chris Leal, K Friese + Associates A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cofer, Einhorn, and Schiera were absent. A motion to approve the requested variances with conditions was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Brimer abstained. Commissioners Cofer, Einhorn, and Schiera were absent. COMMITTEE UPDATES 6. Update from the Urban Forestry Committee on the next committee meeting date and time – Richard Brimer (Committee Chair) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 7. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee on the Green Streets Initiative, Impact Report for Parking, and Budget Recommendations– Haris Qureshi Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 8. Update from the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Golden Cheek Warblers– Jennifer Bristol Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 9. Update from the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board on the status of the Combining District & Density Bonus Program – David Sullivan Item conducted as posted. No action taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Qureshi and Commissioner Sullivan requested to put the Joint Sustainability Committee budget recommendations on the next Environmental Committee meeting on March 20th. Commissioner Bristol requested a presentation from the Cities Connecting Children to Nature program, which was seconded by Commissioner Bedford. 3 Elizabeth Funk (Staff Liaison, Watershed Protection) provided updates on officer elections, committee updates, and the Special Called meeting on March 28th for the DSD and WPD budgets ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramberg adjourned the meeting at 8:42 P.M. The minutes were approved at the March 20, 2024 meeting on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Einhorn, Qureshi, Schiera, and Ramberg were absent. 4