D-01 (Briefing - Lillie Legacy ) — original pdf

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Planning in Austin: The Lillie Legacy Richard Ransom Lillie 21 October 1930 -22 June 2020 Born: Merrill, Wisconsin Military: US Navy, 1950-54 College: University of Texas, 1955-58 Georgia Tech, 1961-63 In Memoriam It was on a hot August afternoon in Austin in 1961 when I first met Dick Lillie. As a recent UT graduate, I was checking out job possibilities in city hall. And as it turned out, Dick was leaving for graduate school and his position as a research analyst in the planning department was open. I was hired and Dick spent the next several weeks teaching me the basics of his job. Dick returned to Austin to continue his career in 1965 and when he finally decided to leave almost two decades later, I was again honored to assume his job responsibilities. And he was again there to ensure my smooth transition. While I have often said that I twice replaced Dick, that is actually not true because Dick Lillie was not replaceable! In both 1961 and 1984, all I did was continue his work. Over the past 60 years I have been associated with many many planners and, without hesitancy, I can say that none matched Dick’s caring, competency and character. Dick personified the perfect professional planner. Period! Jim Duncan, FAICP Homecoming Planning Coordinator Assistant Planning Director Planning Director 8 May 1965 12 Apr 1966 4 Dec 1970 Austin Tomorrow “We are not concerned about whether growth, but we want to know when, where and how.” Dick Lillie “Neighborhood planning … allows …a planning system tailored to … individual areas.” “(Residents want) elimination of public and private policies which encourage growth.” Dick Lillie Dick Lillie “If it wasn't for Dick Lillie, the whole thing (Goals Program) would have folded by now.” Dan Love, Mayor Pro Tem Austin Tomorrow 24 Jul 1974 “All my vital signs were vital. When you are anxious about an occurrence or event and you have been working on it hard and you haven’t eaten just right sometimes this happens. ” Dick Lillie Housing Preservation “There is a segment of almost any community that doesn’t have access to the advantages the majority enjoy .” Dick Lillie 22 May 1973 “It would be tragic to lose all of our older buildings.” Dick Lillie 23 May 1973 Capitol Views Aesthetics “The views are rapidly disappearing.” Dick Lillie 9 May 1965 “We have no voice in architectural design. There is really a need for (better) aesthetic design.” Dick Lillie 16 Aug 1973 10 Oct 1982 Watersheds 1974 Waterways 1980 Lake Austin 1980 Barton Creek 1980 Williamson 1981 Lower “Despite a history of floods, there wasn’t a city ordinance addressing creeks until 1974; no rules for building on flood plains until 1975, no requirements for runoff until 1976.” American-Statesman 26 May 1981 Watersheds Environment The Memorial Day flood occurred only three weeks after Dick warned that the City should be spending more on enforcing watershed development. “A problem is getting us out of cars.” Dick Lillie 1 May 1981 18 Oct 1972 Utilities Utility Districts “If the bond issue doesn't pass, there will be no more permits.” Dick Lillie “Eighteen months ago, we had no process for the review of municipal utility districts. Now, we’ve got the best in the state.” Dick Lillie 21 Nov 1976 10 Jul 1983 Annexation Interim Zoning “The (183 Corridor) is bursting at the seams to develop.” Dick Lillie “(Eliminating) interim zoning is a massive procedural task, but one I asked the city council to fund on an area-by-area basis.” Dick Lillie 17 Oct 1978 25 Jun 1982 Austin doubled in area during Lillie Years Zoning “Cluster housing in planned unit developments can minimize the negative impact of growth.” Dick Lillie “The ordinance should cut down on speculative zoning and speculative buying of property .” Dick Lillie 7 Feb 1971 25 Jul 1980 Growth “Even if we had two million people, if the right decisions were made, Austin's quality of life could be maintained” “We need a larger planning staff. We get so bogged down in routine processing that we don’t have the time for important issues.” Dick Lillie Dick Lillie 16 Oct 1974 19 Nov 1979 Accolades “… instrumental in … Barton Creek Plan.” “… most competent planning director in the Southwest.” “… backbone of the Austin Tomorrow program.” Environmental Council Austin Association of Homebuilders Austin Junior Bar Association City Council “(Lillie) is a capable confident fellow. … I never heard of anyone on the council dissatisfied with him, though a lot of the more conservative people felt he was too liberal. He did have his share of beards and Volkswagens working for him.” Mayor Roy Butler “The most unique thing about Dick Lillie is that he has survived in Austin through some very innovative planning efforts. He's a very diplomatic person, very talented in the art of negotiation. He has the ability to get along with everyone.” Sally Shipman, Councilmember Reputation August 1982 “Decent is the adjective most frequently used to describe Lillie, a low-key administrator whose choir boy reputation is an accurate one: he really does sing in the church choir.” Resignation 29 Apr 1984 “This office has never been controversial in my opinion. We have always taken the objective role. We never play favorites. We try to inform everyone who comes through the door what the rules are, if they want to play by them.” Dick Lillie “I sincerely regret your decision to leave the city… I appreciate your many contributions over the past twenty-two years.” Jorge Carrasco, City Manager The Mentor “What I have to offer is what most classes don’t have – that which comes out of real life, the approach of how it really happens.” Dick Lillie Dick and APA Reception in Seattle Limo in San Francisco Award in Austin Fellows in DC The Singer 26 Sep 1954 The Sailor 9 Dec 1959 1951 1993 The Lillie Legacy: 1965-1984 • Austin Tomorrow • Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance • Growth Policy • Watershed Ordinances • Capitol View Ordinance • Loop 360 Ordinance • Historic Preservation Ordinance • Annexations • Municipal Utility Districts Downtown 1968