20250604-002: 500 S Congress PUD Recommendation — original pdf

Recommendation

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 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 from the nearest available point s. provide a 500 sf of vertical green wall located within the public realm in an area that receives greater than 4 hours of sunlight and will either be a vine and mesh or living wall system t. Provide environmental signage and wayfinding that for the following environmental superior elements: Water Quality and Riparian Restoration, Tree Preservation and Relocation, Biofiltration Areas, and Pollinator Plantings u. Participate in the Carbon Impact Statement pilot project and commits to a minimum of 10 points v. Provide electric vehicle charging stations for a minimum of 5% of provided parking w. Commit to achieving a minimum LEED rating of “Silver” for residential buildings and “Gold” for commercial office buildings x. Pursue sustainable SITES certification to create a landscape that meets the highest standards in landscape sustainability 2