B-05 (Additional Backup) — original pdf

Backup

Inspiring Conservation through Birding 3710 Cedar Street, Box 5 Austin, TX. 78705 512.300. BIRD (2473) www.travisaudubon.org info@travisaudubon.org July 14, 2020 To the Planning Commission: Travis Audubon remains in favor of MF-3 zoning for the property adjacent to Blair Woods, 5201 E MLK. We support the City of Austin and Stonegate Neighborhood Association’s assessment that a lower- density zoning designation is more appropriate for the site. We have gathered independent geological and hydrological assessments of both tracts. We now understand that increasing impervious cover to 65% at 5201 E MLK is unlikely (but not impossible) to affect the pond, wetlands, and drainages on our property. We continue to have concerns about other effects of high-density development adjacent to the restored habitat. Travis Audubon will continue to stand for development at scale rather than maximal up-zoning; the City can provide protection for natural spaces and still provide housing in growing neighborhoods. We appreciate that Thrower showed several examples of MF-6 development in their discussion, but we would like to ask whether any of them are next door to a 10-acre nature preserve? Blair Woods is the only greenspace within a 10-minute walk for almost 1000 neighbors in this community. That number will only continue to increase. Being sure that the preserve is protected as even more people move to this part of town benefits everyone. The Austinites who will live along MLK in 20 or 50 or 100 years will thank the Commission for having the foresight to balance development with protection for an important natural and historical site that future generations can enjoy. We must think about and try to avoid potential unintended negative effects of such intense development so near the preserve. Travis Audubon’s mission is to be good stewards of this habitat both now and in the future, and that requires us to support zoning no higher than MF-3. Sincerely, Nicole Netherton Executive Director, Travis Audubon 10-Minute Walk Impact Report The Trust for Public Land August 6, 2019 P a g e 1 o f 2 P r o j e c t A r e a s B l a i r W o o d s A l l s t a t i s t i c a l r e s u l t s a r e a g g r e g a t e d f o r t h e l i s t e d p r o j e c t a r e a s a n d t h e i r s e r v i c e a r e a s . S e r v i c e a r e a s a r e b a s e d o n 1 0 - m i n u t e ( 1 / 2 m i l e ) w a l k t i m e s f r o m p r o j e c t a c c e s s p o i n t s d e f i n e d f o r e a c h p r o j e c t a r e a a n d b a s e d o n t h e w a l k a b l e r o a d n e t w o r k . A c c u r a c y o f d e m o g r a p h i c c a l c u l a t i o n d i m i n i s h e s o u t s i d e o f c i t i e s , w h e r e p o p u l a t i o n s e r v e d m a y b e u n d e r e s t i m a t e d . F o r T P L s t a f f o n l y : A c r e s l i s t e d f o r L a n d P r o t e c t i o n P r o j e c t s a r e o f f i c i a l f r o m F i n a n c e , w h i l e P a r k D e v e l o p m e n t P r o j e c t a c r e s a r e e s t i m a t e d b a s e d o n G I S c a l c u l a t i o n s . A r e a S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t A r e a C o u n t P r o j e c t A c r e s S e r v i c e A r e a A c r e s V a l u e 1 . 0 0 9 . 8 0 2 0 5 . 8 7 M a p L e g e n d Access Points User-Defined Project Boundary 10-minute walk service areas T h i s r e p o r t w a s c r e a t e d o n A u g u s t 6 , 2 0 1 9 u s i n g t h e P r o j e c t I m p a c t o r P r o j e c t S u m m a r y i n t e r a c t i v e m a p p i n g s i t e . I t i s f o r i n f o r m a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s o n l y. T h e p r o v i d e r s o f t h i s r e p o r t d i s c l a i m a n y a n d a l l w a r r a n t i e s , e x p r e s s o r i m p l i e d , i n c l u d i n g f i t n e s s f o r a p a r t i c u l a r p u r p o s e o r m e r c h a n t a b i l i t y, a n d m a k e n o r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a t t h e r e p o r t i s c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e , o r e r r o r f r e e . U s e a n d r e l i a n c e o n t h i s r e p o r t i s a t t h e s o l e r i s k o f t h e p a r t y u s i n g s a m e . © 2 0 1 9 T h e T r u s t f o r P u b l i c L a n d . 0 0.2 0.4 0.8 Miles 10-Minute Walk Impact Report The Trust for Public Land August 6, 2019 P a g e 2 o f 2 P o p u l a t i o n To t a l P o p u l a t i o n H o u s e h o l d s S e r v e d 9 9 3 3 8 1 A g e C h i l d r e n ( l e s s t h a n a g e 2 0 ) A d u l t s ( a g e 2 0 t o a g e 6 4 ) S e n i o r s ( a g e 6 5 a n d u p ) S e r v e d P e r c e n t 2 7 6 5 4 8 1 6 9 2 7 . 7 9 5 5 . 1 9 1 7 . 0 2 I n c o m e L o w ( l e s s t h a n $ 3 5 , 0 0 0 ) M i d d l e ( f r o m $ 3 5 , 0 0 0 t o $ 7 5 , 0 0 0 ) H i g h ( $ 7 5 , 0 0 0 a n d u p ) S e r v e d P e r c e n t 1 8 0 1 3 1 4 7 . 2 4 3 4 . 3 8 7 1 1 8 . 6 4 R a c e / E t h n i c i t y S e r v e d P e r c e n t W h i t e B l a c k A s i a n N a t i v e A m e r i c a n P a c i f i c / H a w a i i a n O t h e r R a c e M i x e d R a c e H i s p a n i c * 2 7 1 5 3 6 1 0 8 0 2 7 . 2 9 5 3 . 9 8 1 . 0 1 0 . 8 1 0 . 0 0 1 3 1 1 3 . 1 9 3 6 3 . 6 3 3 3 1 3 3 . 3 3 * U S C e n s u s c a p t u r e s H i s p a n i c o r i g i n s e p a r a t e f r o m r a c e Demographic Information is derived from ESRI 2018 Demographic Forecast Block Groups data. T h i s r e p o r t w a s c r e a t e d o n A u g u s t 6 , 2 0 1 9 u s i n g t h e P r o j e c t I m p a c t o r P r o j e c t S u m m a r y i n t e r a c t i v e m a p p i n g s i t e . I t i s f o r i n f o r m a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s o n l y. T h e p r o v i d e r s o f t h i s r e p o r t d i s c l a i m a n y a n d a l l w a r r a n t i e s , e x p r e s s o r i m p l i e d , i n c l u d i n g f i t n e s s f o r a p a r t i c u l a r p u r p o s e o r m e r c h a n t a b i l i t y, a n d m a k e n o r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a t t h e r e p o r t i s c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e , o r e r r o r f r e e . U s e a n d r e l i a n c e o n t h i s r e p o r t i s a t t h e s o l e r i s k o f t h e p a r t y u s i n g s a m e . © 2 0 1 9 T h e T r u s t f o r P u b l i c L a n d .  Inspiring Conservation through Birding 3710 Cedar Street, Box 5 Austin, TX. 78705 512.300. BIRD (2473) www.travisaudubon.org info@travisaudubon.org June 9, 2020 To the Planning Commission: My name is Nicole Netherton and I’m the Executive Director of Travis Audubon Society here in Austin. Travis Audubon was founded in 1952 by Central Texas birders who were interested in conserving habitat for the birds they love. In 1985, preeminent University of Texas at Austin zoologist Dr. Frank Blair gifted the Society his property at 5401 E MLK, we believe at the request of his wife Fern, who was an avid birder. Travis Audubon has since set those 10 acres aside as a nature preserve in a rapidly developing part of Austin. Blair Woods, as it has come to be known, is one of three sanctuaries that Travis Audubon owns and maintains. Since 1985, Blair Woods has been the site of woodland habitat restoration and more recently, has been the focus of our youth education programming. We see the preserve as a community asset that we hope to share with children and families in a relatively nature-deficient part of Austin. As part of the “Cities Connecting Children to Nature” initiative, in-depth GIS mapping identified nature deficits for communities in 78721 and 78723, the zip codes adjacent to Blair Woods, which received scores of 7 out of 10, indicating high levels of nature “need.” Blair Woods serves an important role in its community. Because it is an important part of our mission to conserve this land, restore and manage wildlife habitat, and provide environmental education, Travis Audubon opposes the request for the adjacent property at 5201 E MLK to be developed with MF-6 zoning. We support the City of Austin and Stonegate Neighborhood Association’s assessment that a lower-density zoning designation would be more appropriate for the site, and we agree with their opinion that MF-3 is a more suitable choice. Our main opposition to MF-6 concerns the high density and impervious cover allowances for surface parking. Blair Woods is home to Coleman Springs, named after the Republic of Texas Fort that was adjacent to the property. The possibility of flooding and pollution of this water source from runoff from the proposed 80% impervious cover is a huge concern for the overall health of the preserve. Damage to the springs would have detrimental effects to the wildlife and habitat at Blair Woods. We can support increasing the density above SF-3, and do support the affordable housing .SH designation, but think MF-6 is too aggressive for this site. Thank you for the opportunity to speak and for your consideration. Sincerely, Nicole Netherton Executive Director, Travis Audubon June 17, 2020 To the Planning Commission RE: C14-2020-0031.SH – E MLK Rezoning My name is Mark Wilson. I am a member of the Travis Audubon Board, with Director responsibilities for Blair Woods Nature Preserve, located at 5401 East MLK Blvd. First, I would like to affirm the Travis Audubon Board’s unanimous support for the position outlined by our Executive Director, Nicole Netherton, regarding the zoning change request at 5201 East MLK. Secondly, I want to bring the Commissioner’s attention specifically to the historic Coleman Springs, located in Blair Woods. Listed in Brunnar’s Springs of Texas, it is believed to have been an important water source along the El Camino del Real de los Tejas and the key spring for the 1830’s Fort Coleman, located in the immediate area of the zoning change request. Coleman Springs is a gravel bed spring, different from the aquifer springs found in west Travis County. While the spring flow is certainly less than in historic times, it still emerges from the ground today, near an old well-house located in the preserve, replenishing the pond and wetlands. This flow depends entirely on surface rain infiltration in the local drainage basin. The proposed MF-6 zoning will allow up to 80% impervious cover on the adjacent property. This could well cause the end of this historic spring with all the detrimental effects you can imagine to the pond, wetlands and the habitat we seek to restore. Blair Woods is an important community asset, providing green space in a natural setting needed by any thriving community. Many thousands of volunteer hours have gone into restoring the habitat. The proposed very high density development (MF-6) on the property immediately adjacent to the preserve is not appropriate. The City of Austin staff have wisely recommended a lower density zoning (MF-3) that will allow more housing without the extreme amount of impervious cover allowed by MF-6. We support the recommendation for MF-3 zoning, as do most of the surrounding neighbors, and hope you will agree. Respectfully, Mark WIlson Mark Wilson, RN, FNP-C Travis Audubon Board Member Austin, Texas