12 C14-2024-0137 1207 S 1st Street; District 9 Public Comment — original pdf

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February 7, 2025 Ms. Cynthia Hadri, Case Manager City of Austin Planning Department Permitting and Development Center (PDC) 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, TX 78752 RE: C14-2024-0137; Project Address: 1207 and 1209 S 1st St. (District 9) ITEM: Planning Commission Public Hearing: February 11. 2025 Currently Zoned: CS-MU-V-CO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP (General Commercial Services - Mixed Use - Vertical Mixed-Use Building-Conditional Overlay - Equitable Transit-Oriented Development - Density Bonus Equitable Transit Oriented Development-Neighborhood Plan). Hi Cynthia, I’m writing to voice my objection to granting the applicant’s request for a waiver. If this property cannot comply with the pedestrian-oriented ground-floor commercial space requirement due to site constraints, then I’m confused why they would have been granted ETOD zoning in the first place. I plan to attend the planning commission public hearing to voice my concerns and to object to the applicant’s request for a waiver of the pedestrian-oriented ground floor commercial space requirement for ETOD: • • Failure to Meet Key ETOD Principles: The property’s inability to provide pedestrian- oriented ground-floor commercial space undermines one of the fundamental objectives of ETOD zoning, which is to create active, transit-supportive streetscapes. Incompatibility with Intended Urban Form: Without an engaging ground-floor commercial presence, the property may fail to contribute to the walkable, mixed-use environment envisioned for ETOD areas, limiting its benefits to the surrounding community. • Reduced Economic and Social Activation: The absence of pedestrian-friendly • commercial space could result in a lack of vibrancy, lower foot traffic, and missed opportunities for small businesses that ETOD zoning is designed to encourage. Environmental and Floodplain Concerns: If bordering Bouldin Creek limits buildable space, the increased density and impervious cover allowances of ETOD zoning could create risks related to stormwater runoff, erosion, and flood mitigation challenges. • Unintended Precedent for Other Non-Compliant Sites: Granting ETOD zoning despite a failure to meet key requirements could create a precedent for other properties seeking similar exceptions, weakening the effectiveness and intent of the overlay. 12 C14-2024-0137 - 1207 S 1st Street; District 91 of 2• Alternative Zoning May Be More Appropriate: Given the physical constraints of the site, a different zoning classification that allows for increased density without requiring commercial activation (e.g., a modified mixed-use or multifamily designation) may be a better fit. Equity and Planning Inconsistencies: Other properties with ETOD zoning will be required to meet the pedestrian-oriented ground-floor requirement. Granting an exception in this case could lead to inequitable application of zoning policies. • Thank you, William (Billy) Weaver 900 Bouldin Avenue Austin, TX 78704 Member, Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Zoning Committee 12 C14-2024-0137 - 1207 S 1st Street; District 92 of 2