01 Draft Meeting Minutes July 8, 2025 — original pdf

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PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025 The Planning Commission convened in a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions, Room 1101, 301 W. Second Street, in Austin, Texas. Chair Azhar called the Planning Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Awais Azhar Imad Ahmed Greg Anderson Casey Haney Joshua Hiller Felicity Maxwell Adam Powell Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Alice Woods Anna Lan Danielle Skidmore Commissioners Absent: Nadia Barrera-Ramirez Peter Breton Patrick Howard Ex-Officio Members in Attendance: Jessica Cohen Ex-Officio Members Absent: TC Broadnax Candace Hunter Richard Mendoza 1 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Lorraine Atherton: Request for the action taken on C14-2025-0024 - Little Lion; District 5, which was approved at the June 24, 2025, meeting, to be rescinded and heard again by the commission as a CUP item as opposed to a rezoning. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Planning Commission regular meeting on June 24, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of June 24, 2025, were approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Plan Amendment: NPA-2024-0019.01 - Red River; District 9 Location: 4305, 4307 and 4309 Red River Street, Boggy Creek Watershed; Central Austin Combined Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: Sierra Halo, LLC Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Thrower Design, LLC (Victoria Haase) Single Family to Mixed Use land use (as amended) Recommended Maureen Meredith, 512-974-2695, maureen.meredith@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve the Neighborhood’s postponement request to August 12, 2025, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 3. Rezoning: Location: C14-2024-0121 - Red River; District 9 4305, 4307 and 4309 Red River Street, Boggy Creek Watershed; Central Austin Combined Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: Sierra Halo, LLC Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Thrower Design, LLC (Victoria Haase) SF-3-CO-NP to GR-MU-CO-NP Staff Recommends GR-MU-V-CO-NP Marcelle Boudreaux, 512-974-8094, marcelle.boudreaux@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve the Neighborhood’s postponement request to August 12, 2025, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 2 4. Plan Amendment: NPA-2025-0020.03 - 4811 SOCO; District 3 Location: 4811, 4821, 4911, 4917 South Congress Avenue and 5001 Wasson Road, Williamson Creek Watershed; South Congress (East Congress) Combined Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: 4811 SOCO, LP (William B. Hardeman) Alice Glasco Consulting (Alice Glasco) Agent: Higher Density Single Family and Single Family to Mixed Use land Request: use Recommended Maureen Meredith, 512-974-2695, maureen.meredith@austintexas.gov Planning Department Staff Rec.: Staff: The motion to approve the Neighborhood’s postponement request to July 22, 2025, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 5. Rezoning: Location: C14-2025-0040 - 4811 SOCO; District 3 4811, 4821, 4911, 4917 South Congress Avenue and 5001 Wasson Road, Williamson Creek Watershed; South Congress (East Congress) Combined Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: 4811 SOCO, LP (William B. Hardeman) Alice Glasco Consulting (Alice Glasco) Agent: CS-MU-CO-NP, MH-NP, RR-NP, SF-3-NP to CS-MU-V-NP Request: Staff Recommends CS-MU-V-CO-NP Staff Rec.: Nancy Estrada, 512-974-7617, nancy.estrada@austintexas.gov Staff: Planning Department The motion to approve the Neighborhood’s postponement request to July 22, 2025 was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 6. Plan Amendment: NPA-2024-0019.02 - 34th and West - FLUM Amendment; Location: District 9 715, 725, 800, 801, 804, 806, 808, 901, 905, 907 W 34th Street, 3301, 3404, 3406 West Avenue and 3316 Grandview Street, Shoal Creek and Waller Creek Watersheds; Central Austin Combined (West University) Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: West 34th Street Neighborhood Improvement Company, LLC Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Armbrust & Brown, PLLC (Michael J. Whellan) Mixed Use/Office and Single Family to Mixed Use land use Recommended Maureen Meredith, 512-974-2695, maureen.meredith@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve the Neighborhood’s postponement request to July 22, 2025 was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 3 7. Rezoning: Location: C14-2025-0006 - 34th and West (Tract 1); District 9 800, 804, 806 and 808 West 34th Street; 3404 and 3406 West Avenue, Shoal Creek Watershed; Central Austin Combined (West University) Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: West 34th Street Neighborhood Improvement Company, LLC Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Armbrust & Brown, PLLC (Michael Whellan) LO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP to CS-MU-V-DB90-ETOD-DBETOD-NP Staff Recommends GR-MU-V-CO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP Jonathan Tomko, 512-974-1057, jonathan.tomko@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve the Neighborhood’s postponement request to July 22, 2025, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 8. Rezoning: Location: C14-2025-0007 - 34th and West (Tract 2); District 9 901, 905, 907 West 34th Street; 3316 Grandview Street; and a portion of 3317 North Lamar Boulevard, Shoal Creek Watershed; Central Austin Combined (West University) Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: West 34th Street Neighborhood Improvement Company, LLC Agent: Request: Armbrust & Brown, PLLC (Michael Whellan) LO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP and CS-CO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP to CS- MU-V-DB90-ETOD-DBETOD-NP Staff Recommends CS-MU-V-CO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP on tract 2A and GR-MU-V-CO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP on tract 2B Jonathan Tomko, 512-974-1057, jonathan.tomko@austintexas.gov Planning Department Staff Rec.: Staff: The motion to approve the Neighborhood’s postponement request to July 22, 2025, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 9. Rezoning: Location: C14-2025-0008 - 34th and West (Tract 3); District 9 801 West 34th Street, Shoal Creek and Waller Creek Watersheds; Central Austin Combined (West University) Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: West 34th Street Neighborhood Improvement Company, LLC Agent: Request: Armbrust & Brown, PLLC (Michael Whellan) LO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP, and LO-CO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP to CS- MU-V-DB90-ETOD-DBETOD-NP and change tract 3B from Subdistrict 2 to Subdistrict 1 Staff Recommends GR-MU-V-CO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP and to deny changing tract 3B from Subdistrict 2 to Subdistrict 1 Jonathan Tomko, 512-974-1057, jonathan.tomko@austintexas.gov Planning Department Staff Rec.: Staff: The motion to approve the Neighborhood’s postponement request to July 22, 2025, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner 4 Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 10. Rezoning: Location: C14-2025-0009 - 34th and West (Tract 4); District 9 715 and 725 West 34th Street; and 3301 West Avenue, Waller Creek Watershed; Central Austin Combined (West University) Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: West 34th Street Neighborhood Improvement Company, LLC Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Armbrust & Brown, PLLC (Michael Whellan) LO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP to CS-MU-V-DB90-ETOD-DBETOD-NP Staff Recommends GR-MU-V-CO-ETOD-DBETOD-NP Jonathan Tomko, 512-974-1057, jonathan.tomko@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve the Neighborhood’s postponement request to July 22, 2025, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 11. Rezoning: Location: C14-2024-0179 - 6th and Lamar; District 9 600 North Lamar Boulevard; 1004, 1006, 1012, 1012 1/2, 1014 and 1016 West 6th Street; 603 and 605 Baylor Street, Shoal Creek Watershed; Old West Austin Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: 600 North Lamar, LTD; 603 and 605 Baylor, LTD Armbrust & Brown, PLLC (Richard T. Suttle, Jr.) Agent: CS-MU-CO-NP and CS-MU-V-CO-NP to CS-MU-V-ETOD- Request: DBETOD-NP (Subdistrict 1), increasing the maximum building height to 120 feet through participating in a density bonus program, and MF- 6-NP. Recommended Jonathan Tomko, 512-974-1057, jonathan.tomko@austintexas.gov Planning Department Staff Rec.: Staff: The motion to approve Staff’s recommendation of CS-MU-V-ETOD-DBETOD-NP (Subdistrict 1), increasing the maximum building height to 120 feet through participating in a density bonus program, and MF-6-NP for C14-2024-0179 - 6th and Lamar; District 9, located at 600 North Lamar Boulevard; 1004, 1006, 1012, 1012 1/2, 1014 and 1016 West 6th Street; 603 and 605 Baylor Street, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 5 12. Rezoning: Location: Owner/Applicant: Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: C14-2025-0058 - 1600 West Ben White; District 5 1600 West Ben White Boulevard, West Bouldin Creek JAY02 LP (Guy Oliver) Metcalfe Wolfe Stuart & Williams LLP (Michele Rogerson Lynch) GR to CS-CO Recommended Marcelle Boudreaux, 512-974-8094, marcelle.boudreaux@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve Staff’s recommendation of CS-CO for C14-2025-0058 – 1600 West Ben White; District 5, located at 1600 West Ben White Boulevard, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 13. Rezoning: Location: C14-2025-0003 - 6th and Walsh; District 9 1135, 1137, 1139, 1141 and 1143 W. 6th Street and 503, 505, 507, 509 and 511 Walsh Street, Lady Bird Lake Watershed; Old West Austin Neighborhood Planning Area Owner/Applicant: Walsh Street Ventures, LLC; Walsh Street Ventures 2, LLC; and Cohn Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Ventures, LLC Manifold Development, LLC (Mila Santana) CS-MU-CO-NP and CS-MU-V-CO-NP to LI-PDA-NP (as amended) Not Recommended Cynthia Hadri, 512-974-7620, cynthia.hadri@austintexas.gov Planning Department The public hearing was closed on Commissioner Maxwell’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. There was a motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Haney, to approve the Applicant’s request of LI-PDA-NP (as amended). There was an amendment made by Chair Azhar, seconded by Commissioner Haney, to add committee recreational as a conditional use. This was approved on Chair Azhar’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Maxwell voted nay. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. There was a substitute motion by Commissioner Maxwell, seconded by Vice Chair woods to recommend downtown mixed-use, as amended. This motion failed on a 2-8 vote. Vice Chair Woods and Commissioner Maxwell voted aye. Those voting nay were Chair Azhar and Commissioner Ahmed, Anderson, Haney, Hiller, Lan, Powell, and Skidmore. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. There was an amendment made by Chair Azhar, seconded by Vice Chair Woods, to include a Conditional Overlay (CO) that prohibits the uses listed on page 15 of the staff report, excluding those already prohibited under DMU zoning, and designates both public and private community recreation as conditional uses. The amendment also 6 included height limitations measured from the property line along East 6th Street: up to 65 feet in height for the first 60 feet of depth, up to 95 feet between 60 and 90 feet, and up to 120 feet beyond 90 feet. This was approved on Chair Azhar’s motion, Vice Chair Woods’ second, on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Skidmore voted nay. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. The motion to approve the Applicant’s request of LI-PDA-NP, as amended, for C14-2025- 0003 - 6th and Walsh, located at 1135, 1137, 1139, 1141 and 1143 W. 6th Street and 503, 505, 507, 509 and 511 Walsh Street, was approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 9-1 vote. Commissioner Maxwell voted nay. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 14. Rezoning: Location: C814-2024-0001 - 500 South Congress PUD; District 9 400, 500 and 510 South Congres Avenue, 407 ½ Haywood Avenue and 105 W. Riverside Drive Owner/Applicant: 500 South Congress Owner LLC (Michael Iannacone (Executive Vice Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: President), Riverside Partners SW, LLC (Scott W. Broaddus, Jr., President) Armbrust and Brown PLLC (Richard T. Suttle, Jr.) CS-1-NP, CS-1-V-NP to PUD-NP Recommended with conditions Sherri Sirwaitis, 512-974-3057, sherri.sirwaitis@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to close the public hearing and approve Staff’s recommendation of PUD- NP, as amended, with moving major utility to be a conditional use, removing the requirement for the fire station, and having the right of way 60 feet from the center line, for C814-2024-0001 - 500 South Congress PUD, located at 400, 500 and 510 South Congres Avenue, 407 ½ Haywood Avenue and 105 W. Riverside Drive, was approved on Commiissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 9-1 vote. Commission Lan voted nay. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 15. Historic zoning: Location: C14H-2025-0059 - Whitehall Cooperative; District 9 2500 Nueces Street, Shoal Creek; Central Austin Combined (West University) Owner/Applicant: Whitehall Intentional Society, Inc. Alessio Franko Agent: MF-4-NP to MF-4-H-NP Request: Recommended Staff Rec.: Kalan Contreras, 512-974-2727, kalan.contreras@austintexas.gov Staff: Planning Department The motion to approve Staff’s recommendation of MF-4-H-NP for C14H-2025-0059 - Whitehall Cooperative; District 9, located at 2500 Nueces Street, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 7 16. CUP Site Plan: Location: SPC-2025-0018C - ACCX - Convention Center C2 500 E Cesar Chavez Street, Waller Creek Watershed; Downtown NP (started but never adopted) per LDC Section 25-1-46.E Owner/Applicant: City of Austin Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: City of Austin (Audra Biediger) Approval of a convention center use site plan. Site plan for demolition, excavation, and shoring was approved by Planning Commission on March 25, 2025, and City Council on March 27, 2025. Recommended Meg Greenfield, 512-978-4663, meg.greenfield@austintexas.gov Development Services Department The motion to approve Staff’s recommendation of approval of a convention center use site plan. Site plan for demolition, excavation, and shoring was approved by Planning Commission on March 25, 2025, and City Council on March 27, 2025 for SPC-2025- 0018C - ACCX - Convention Center C2, located at 500 E Cesar Chavez Street, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. 17. CUP Site Plan: SPC-2024-0021A - Stout House at The LINC Cocktail Lounge CUP; District 4 6406 N IH 35 SR SB #1700, Tannehill Branch Watershed; St. John Location: Owner/Applicant: LED-LINC, LLC Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Thrower Design, (Ron Thrower) Approval of a conditional use pemrit to allow for a cocktail lounge in a CS-1-CO-NP zoning district. Recommended Gabriel Guerrero Jr., 512-978-4658, gabriel.guerrero@austintexas.gov Development Services Department The motion to approve Staff’s recommendation of approval of a conditional use pemrit to allow for a cocktail lounge in a CS-1-CO-NP zoning district for SPC-2024-0021A - Stout House at The LINC Cocktail Lounge CUP, located at 6406 N IH 35 SR SB #1700, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Powell’s motion, Commissioner Maxwell’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Breton, and Howard were absent. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 18. Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee – Update pertaining to recommendations to the Planning Commission regarding proposed amendments to the Land Development Code for which review is required under Section 25-1- 502 (Amendment; Review); requests to initiate amendments to the Land Development Code under Section 25-1- 501 (Initiation). (Sponsored by Chair Azhar, Vice Chair Woods, and Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez and Maxwell) No update was given. 19. Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee – Update regarding recommendations to the Planning Commission on issues relating to the comprehensive plan, including proposed amendments to 8 the Comprehensive Plan; and implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, including policy directives or initiatives of the city council or the Planning Commission. (Sponsored by Commissioners Ahmed, Lan, and Powell) No update was given. 20. Joint Sustainability Committee – Update regarding recommendation and matters related to conservation and sustainability; and review City policies and procedures relevant to the Austin Community Climate Plan and the Austin Climate Equity Plan, including planning, implementation, community engagement, goal setting, and progress monitoring; promote close cooperation between the council, City management, City boards, commissions, committees, and taskforces, and individuals, institutions, and agencies concerned with the politics, procedures, and implementation of the Austin Community Climate Plan and the Austin Climate Equity Plan with the goal of coordinating all similar activities within the City and the community in order to secure the greatest public benefit; and forward to the city manager all advisory material that the joint committee provides to the council, the Office of Sustainability, City departments and offices, or City boards, commissions, committees, and task forces. (Sponsored by Commissioner Hiller) Update was given by Commissioner Hiller. 21. Small Area Planning Joint Committee – Update regarding recommendation and issues surrounding planning and zoning in areas such as downtown, corridors and centers, neighborhoods, the waterfront, planned unit developments, and transit-oriented developments. (Sponsored by Commissioners Barrera-Ramirez, Haney, Howard, and Skidmore) No update was given. 22. South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Update regarding continuity and communication among stakeholders and advocates as the South-Central Waterfront Plan moves toward implementation and to provide recommendations to the city council regarding plan implementation. Section 2-1-172 of the City Code. (Sponsored by Commissioner Anderson) No update was given. 23. Governance, Rules, and Procedures Working Group – Update on the review and proposed updates to Planning Commission procedural rules to ensure they align with current and best practices. (Sponsored by Chair Azhar, Vice Chair Woods, and Commissioner Barrera-Ramirez) Update was given by Chair Azhar. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None. ADJOURNMENT Chair Azhar adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m. without objection. 9