20260415-002, C20-2026-003 Transit System Projects Ordinance Amendment Recommendation — original pdf

Recommendation

. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Environmental Commission Recommendation 20260415-002: City Code Title 25 (Land Development) Ordinance No. 20221115- 048 Amendment for Project Connect WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission was given a presentation on the updates for the Austin Light Rail plan; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin and Austin Transit Partnership seek to amend City Code Title 25 (Land Development) and Ordinance No. 20221115-048 to modify development review processes, methods to demonstrate water quality compliance, street design, and utility infrastructure design for the design and construction of certain transit system projects and related transit system infrastructure; and WHEREAS, Austin Transit Partnership and Austin Project Connect want to: 1. Modify site plan requirements to accommodate permitting tools for the light rail permitting process. 2. Rescind utility ordinance from 2000. 3. Establish back-of-curb streetscape standards for light rail. 4. Establish a water quality compliance program for light rail. 5. Establish administrative review of heritage trees for Transit System Projects. 6. Incorporate administrative rule modifications that address constrained right of way conditions where compliance will be challenging and ensure consistency in expiration of site plan components. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Environmental Commission recommends the proposed amendments to Austin City Council with the following additions: • Only native (no adaptive) plants, including trees, will be used. • To promote insect and other pollinator survival, rain gardens and other green spaces in the Right of Way will never be mowed, but periodic efforts to remove non-native, invasive species will be made. • To promote the survival of insects and amphibians, fallen leaves from street trees will not be blown, but may be raked around the circumference of the tree and/or left in green space. . • Deny administrative waiver for heritage trees, maintaining the current code standards. If the waiver is granted, then every effort will be made to leave heritage trees in their current locations, followed by transplanting them, rather than cutting them down. • Staff, ATP, APC, and relevant stakeholders will present updates to this Commission regularly as they become apparent. • Clearly define “end of project” in the ordinance. • Any reimbursement for exceeding water regulatory requirements be limited to a specifically defined formula, as defined by the City. Date of Approval: April 15, 2026 Motioned By: Secretary Qureshi Seconded By: Commissioner Sullivan Vote: For: 9-0 Chair Krueger, Vice Chair Bristol, Secretary Qureshi, Commissioners Fierro, Fleury, Luecke, Moretta-Urdiales, Morrison, and Sullivan Against: None Abstain: Commissioner Brimer Off the dais: None Absent: Commissioner Changsut Attest: _____________________________________________ Mariana Krueger, Chair