C-01 (Bobby Levinski) — original pdf

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From: Bobby Levinski < Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 1:39 PM To: King, David - BC <BC-David.King@austintexas.gov>; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC <bc- Jolene.Kiolbassa@austintexas.gov>; Aguirre, Ana - BC <BC-Ana.Aguirre@austintexas.gov>; Ray, Ellen - BC <BC-Ellen.Ray@austintexas.gov>; Ramirez, Nadia - BC <BC-Nadia.Ramirez@austintexas.gov>; Duncan, Jim - BC <BC-Jim.Duncan@austintexas.gov>; Denkler, Ann - BC <bc- Ann.Denkler@austintexas.gov>; Rivera, Andrew <Andrew.Rivera@austintexas.gov>; Rhoades, Wendy <Wendy.Rhoades@austintexas.gov>; Evans, Bruce - BC <bc-Bruce.Evans@austintexas.gov>; Bray, Timothy - BC <BC-Timothy.Bray@austintexas.gov> Cc: Tom 'Smitty' Smith <citizen.smitty@gmail.com> Subject: Wayne Riddell Reconsideration *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Chair Kiolbassa, Vice Chair Barrera-Ramirez and ZAP Commissioners, Many thanks to each of you for even entertaining a reconsideration of the Wayne Riddell Loop zoning case. Your willingness to give this case more thought demonstrates a level of public service beyond what we could have asked. When I got word that Commissioners King and Duncan were bringing this item up to rectify the flaws of the public hearing that occurred, I felt proud to be a resident of Austin. We are living in interesting times, and we are trying to do the best we can. Sometimes that involves recognizing when our systems have failed and attempting to make it right. Throughout the night, the public hearing was hindered with technical difficulties and indiscernible audio. Each one of the speakers took the time to provide testimony they wanted heard, and the inability to hear them deprived the Zoning and Platting Commission with the information they intended to convey. All of that testimony--by definition--would be new information, because you haven’t heard it. No matter what level of review this case receives, we are continuing to explore possible paths towards resolution. The letter from Council Member Kitchen was nice, because it emphasized the need to take the time to work together. We spent an hour today with the Austin Transportation Department to explore what traffic solutions might be available in the area. New information to us today was that the applicant’s proposed traffic calming solutions would likely not be considered viable by ATD. We also learned that it would be feasible for the Zoning and Platting Commission and/or Council to condition/phase the connection of the roadway’s extension on a triggering event. (For example, the extension could be made a “Healthy Street”, until such time that the intersection at 1626 and Wayne Riddell Loop is improved.) There are more options available. We just need the time to explore them. On a final note, I don't think the flooding/erosion concerns have received near enough attention or discussion in this area or for this zoning case. Smitty has raised the need to take into account climate change as we map out our flood plain and establish our environmental regulations. This is a fair point. Planning out 45 years of a development based on past rainfall data makes no sense. Regardless of what happens with this case, we hope the conversations on mitigating flood risks will continue, so we can proactively plan for the changes ahead of us. Many thanks, Bobby -- Bobby Levinski Attorney, 512-636-7649 (mobile) *NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY: This email, including any attachments, is intended for use only by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain confidential information, legally privileged information and attorney-client work product. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email, including any attachments, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and permanently delete the original and any reproduction thereof.* CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to CSIRT@austintexas.gov.