24.g - 7304 Knox Ln - public comment — original pdf
Backup
From: To: Cc: Subject: Date: Attachments: Contreras, Kalan Fahnestock, Sam RE: Emailing: master comment report C8-2023-0233 (KNOX PRESERVE) Wednesday, September 4, 2024 11:37:54 AM image003.png Hi Rich, Thanks so much for reaching out with this information—the archaeological component has been on our radar, but having the site number and context is so helpful for further research. I’m going to CC Sam Fahnestock in our office to post this information as backup material for the Commission to review and to let you know how to participate at tonight’s meeting. It would be great if you were able to make it out to City Hall to speak to the archaeological significance of the subject property. I really appreciate it! Kalan Contreras MSHP | she/her | Historic Preservation Officer City of Austin Planning Department 512.974.2727 | kalan.contreras@austintexas.gov Please Note: Correspondence and information submitted to the City of Austin are subject to the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) and may be published online. Por Favor Tome En Cuenta: La correspondencia y la información enviada a la Ciudad de Austin está sujeta a la Ley de Información Pública de Texas (Capítulo 552) y puede ser publicada en línea. From: Richard Denney < > Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2024 11:16 AM To: Bertron, Cara <Cara.Bertron@austintexas.gov>; Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> Cc: 'Bob Ward' < > Subject: RE: Emailing: master comment report C8-2023-0233 (KNOX PRESERVE) Importance: High You don't often get email from rdenney@utexas.edu. Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution ccing Bob Ward here re: The Historic Landmark Commission will consider initiation of historic zoning on this property tonight, including under the archaeology criterion—see item 24 on the meeting agenda and backup. Thanks, Cara .. ! Hi Kalan – one of the concerns on this one is that the archeological site was for a long time (since the 60s) in the wrong location in the site atlas, so anyone that would have looked for a site wouldn’t have found it. I had it corrected just a few years back when I started working w/ the neighborhood association. On some maps (see attached) it is labeled as "Indian Springs", and is recorded with the THC archeology site atlas as 41TV156. As noted before, based on it and other archeological sites we know in the area -- near Spicewood Springs, Still House Hollow, up and down the Mopac corridor, Bull Creek, the Balcones Canyonlands in this area etc. -- there is a high chance there are additional sites both in the wetland CEF and the area around the wetland. The Knox Preserve is one of the last relatively untouched areas in Northwest Hills up on the mesa so once the bulldozers take it all down anything that is there is going to be lost. As this is all private property it would be up to the developer, but would be great to have additional survey of the whole area, but especially the wetland CEF. If I can be of any help let me know. I have lived in this area for 34 years, have visited the property, and have done extensive research on this area since it is my ‘hood. - Rich Denney > From: Bertron, Cara <Cara.Bertron@austintexas.gov> Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2024 10:53 AM To: Richard Denney Cc: Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> Subject: Re: Emailing: master comment report C8-2023-0233 (KNOX PRESERVE) Hi Rich, thanks for reaching out. The Historic Landmark Commission will consider initiation of historic zoning on this property tonight, including under the archaeology criterion—see item 24 on the meeting agenda and backup. Kalan Contreras (cc’d) is the case manager and can answer any specific questions. Cara From: Richard Denney > Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2024 9:36 AM To: Bertron, Cara <Cara.Bertron@austintexas.gov> Subject: FW: Emailing: master comment report C8-2023-0233 (KNOX PRESERVE) External Email - Exercise Caution Hi Cara – see e-mail thread below; attached PDF. I’ve been working w/ the NWACA neighborhood association on the Knox Preserve for many years; Bob and I visited there a good while back. It is centered around a wetland CEF with an archeological site and probably many more (tentative work done in the 60s at request of land owner). I think the best bet at this point is trying to convince the developer. Is this on your radar scope at all? Developer contacts? The old farmhouse was turned down for historic preservation. - Rich > From: Zavala, Cesar <Cesar.Zavala@austintexas.gov> Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2024 9:01 AM To: Richard Denney < Subject: RE: Emailing: master comment report C8-2023-0233 Hello Richard, The filed Knox Preserve application was for the review of a preliminary plan to subdivide the property. Review for an archeological site would not be part of the subdivision application and would not be a requirement for processing a case. Since ownership of the property is private, it is likely that hiring an archeologist to survey the area would be at the owner’s discretion. The City of Austin’s Historic Preservation Department may have information on a listing a property as an archeological site. Please refer to the link below to contact the Historic Preservation Department. Historic Preservation | AustinTexas.gov Thank you, Cesar Zavala Senior Planner, Land Use Review City of Austin Development Services Department P.O. Box 1088, Austin, Texas 78767-1088 Office: 512-974-3404 Land Use Review City of Austin Development Services Department The 88th Texas Legislature adopted new laws that impact the development process, many of which took effect Sept. 1, 2023. Here is a LINK to information about those changes. PER CITY ORDINANCE: All individuals scheduling or accepting a meeting invitation with a City Official are requested to provide responses to the questions at the following link: DSD Visitor Log. Please note that all information provided is subject to public disclosure via DSD’s open data portal. For more information please visit: City of Austin Ordinance 2016-0922-005 | City Clerk’s website | City Clerk’s FAQ’s From: Richard Denney < Sent: Monday, September 2, 2024 9:29 AM To: Zavala, Cesar <Cesar.Zavala@austintexas.gov> Subject: Emailing: master comment report C8-2023-0233 > External Email - Exercise Caution Mr. Zavala - Greetings. Richard Denney here with Travis County Historical Commission, and Texas Historic Commission's archeology / history stewards programs re: C8-2023-0233 Knox Preserve I live near the Knox Preserve. Wanted to see if the COA was aware that in addition to the wetland CEF, it is also a recorded archeological site. On some maps it is labeled as "Indian Springs", and is recorded with the THC archeology site atlas as 41TV156. One problem is that it was for a long time recorded in the site atlas in the wrong location (I have had that corrected) so anyone that would have looked at the Knox Preserve would not have seen an archeological site located there. Based on it and other archaeological sites we know in the area, near Spicewood Springs, Still House Hollow, up and down the Mopac corridor Bull Creek etc. there is a high chance that there are additional sites both in the wetland CEF and the area around the wetland. The Knox Preserve is one of the last relatively untouched areas in northwest hills up on the mesa so once the bulldozers take it all down anything that is there is going to be lost. Do you know is there any plan for the city to require archeological checks on the rest of the wetland area; Is the developer planning to hire an archeologist to do surveys of the area where the houses are going to be built? Regards, Richard Denney CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov". CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov". CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov".