06 C14-2024-0071 - Thornton Road Multifamily; District 5 Public Comment — original pdf

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Case Number C14-2024-0071 Kim Vitray Fri 8/23/2024 12:36 PM To: Hadri, Cynthia <Cynthia.Hadri@austintexas.gov> Cc: Dana Lasman Board or Commission's Name: Planning Commission Scheduled Date of Public Hearing: Aug 27, 2024 Case Number: C14-2024-0071 Contact Person: Cynthia Hadri Cynthia, External Email - Exercise Caution I am writing to vehemently object to both this rezoning request by the developer and the alternative recommendations of city staff. My understanding of the developer's rezoning request is to enable construction of a 350-unit apartment building on Thornton Rd, and that city staff's counter recommendations would allow the developer to still build multi-family housing but not to the height and density they are requesting. I own and live in a condo at 2216 Thornton Rd, which is just a block down the street from the proposed rezoning and development area. Most alarming about the rezoning request is the neighborhood traffic analysis that projects an increase in vehicle trips per day from the current 217 to an expected 1623. The analysis also notes that Thornton Rd is already operating at an undesirable traffic volume for the kind of street it is, which will get significantly worse if the properties are rezoned and developed as requested, or as alternately recommended. The developer indicates its goal is progress toward the city's affordable housing goal, which is laudable. However, the infrastructure on Thornton Rd simply cannot support more multi-family development. The developer also indicates the existing zoning allows for intense commercial uses with higher vehicular impact; however, no such commercial development currently exists or is planned, and if it were, the neighborhood would similarly object. The developer mentions "easy access" to Oltorf and South Lamar - have they been there lately? With all the development currently on South Lamar, both north and south of Oltorf, South Lamar has become virtually impassable, and the terrible effects of this have spilled onto Oltorf and Thornton Rd. There's no "easy access" anywhere in our neighborhood right now! Also, any development of any kind on Thornton Rd would necessitate considerable street improvements, in terms of widening, sidewalks, and parking, as well as designated right and left turn lanes and a signal at the intersection of Thornton and Oltorf (although I've been told the latter is not possible because of proximity to a nearby railroad crossing). Otherwise, traffic on Thornton will become gridlock and our neighborhood will become unlivable and dangerous. I am aware of previous rezoning requests and neighborhood efforts against them by a very well informed, active, and articulate working group. Is the developer simply trying again two years later? Has something changed in the meantime that they think it more reasonable now? Or are they just hoping there won't be resistance this time? It seems to me the situation and problems and arguments are the same, or worse, today as they were then. The developer and the city can expect neighborhood objection efforts to continue, likely stronger than ever, including the involvement of the South Lamar Neighborhood Association and our city councilperson's office. Respectfully submitted, Kim Vitray Concerned citizen and homeowner on Thornton Rd Case C14-2024-0071 David Ansel Fri 8/23/2024 2:45 PM To: Hadri, Cynthia <Cynthia.Hadri@austintexas.gov> Cc: Dana Lasman; Kim Vitray External Email - Exercise Caution Hi Cynthia, I’m David Ansel and I live at 2509 Thornton Rd. The resurrecon of this case is terrible news for our neighborhood and I object to it enrely. The same zoning overreach, the same song and dance from the same high-priced lawyer. But who is the client? PSW is bankrupt/in receivership, their projects are dead all over town. If they are starng with this obscene zoning ask, my starng negoang posion is that it should be down-zoned to parkland, then maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle. But we simply cannot reward bad-faith negoang from developers. I’m not sure of your level of familiarity with Thornton Rd or the remaining parcels on it, but there is an historic mismatch between the zoning of these parcels and the rest of the interior of this neighborhood. Moreover, the design and size of not only the street but the intersecon with Oltorf and its closeness to the railroad crossing make an increase in traffic impossible. Our neighborhood has very few outlets and they are mostly compromised in some way (see the construcon/closures at Bluebonnet/Lamar, the construcon backups occluding the two other possible exits onto Lamar, the backups due to the construcon on Oltorf and railroad crossing). We finally received some relief in the way of single-side controlled neighborhood parking and a sidewalk, but the volume CANNOT be increased. I feel REALLY BAD for the developers, but the infrastructure is just not here. We shot down a similar proposal at a parcel near the bend in our road and the owner changed to warehouse/creave space which current zoning allows and it has been a perfectly fine fit for our neighborhood. I will be happy to reiterate these comments on the 27th in council chambers. Thank you, David Ansel 2509 Thornton Rd 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". case number: C14-2024-0071 Ravi Jain Tue 8/20/2024 7:34 AM To: Hadri, Cynthia <Cynthia.Hadri@austintexas.gov> External Email - Exercise Caution Ms Hadri, I would like to file an objection to the following notice: The board or commission's name: Planning Commission Scheduled date of public hearing: August 27, 2024 Case number: C14-2024-0071 The traffic analysis provided shows an increase of VPD from 2445 to 3851, or a 57.51% increase. There was no analysis provided of increased foot traffic, but it is obvious such a development will result in at least a 57.51% increase in foot traffic as well.  Thornton Road is basically a one way road because people do regularly park on the restricted east side of the road and  leave trash for pick up on both sides of the road on trash days which can be left out 1-2 days before and after pick up.  Such an increase in traffic and pedestrians would make the road very dangerous for pedestrians who regularly walk/run on the road as there is no sidewalk running the length of Thornton road on both sides, and the existing side walks are already too narrow to support existing foot traffic.    I am concerned that a marked increase in traffic accidents and pedestrian injuries will occur if 1406 more vehicles per day are traveling down this narrow road and there is also increased foot traffic from 350 new units along Thornton Road  Finally, given the train crossing just east of Oltorf and Thornton, and how busy Oltorf has become over the last 5 years, it does not seem possible  that the intersection of Oltorf and Thornton can physically support a 1406 vpd increase. Given development on Thornton Road in just the last 5 years, vpd on thornton must have already doubled at least in the last 5 years.  Thornton Road was not originally designed for this flow, much less a 57.51% increase from today's levels.  Traffic waiting to turn onto Thornton will get backed up onto Oltorf regularly and traffic waiting to turn onto Oltorf will get backed up down narrow Thornton Rd making Thornton road unuseable. The bluebonnet exit onto Lamar is not suitable for a mass increase in traffic either, and will already be stressed given the large development at Bluebonnet and Lamar in process.  I do not believe the infrastructure of Thornton road can support this development and I believe allowing it will provide a marked safety risk to pedestrians and motorists. Ravi Jain  2216 Thornton Road #431 Austin, TX 78738.    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".