09 C14-2008-0224(RCT) - AE Medical & Retail Amendment; District 6 - Opposition Letter — original pdf

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August 18, 2025 Dear Members of the Planning Commission, I am writing as Principal of Stepping Stone School Lakeline to express strong opposition to zoning case C14-2025-0060 and the proposed termination of the public restrictive covenant under C14-2008-0224 (RCT). Stepping Stone School has proudly served families in Austin for 45 years, and our presence in this neighborhood for more than 35 years has been central to our mission of providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for young children. I urge the City of Austin and the Planning Commission to deny these requests. Our school located on Hymeadow educates and cares for children daily, and our families depend on the surrounding neighborhood to support that mission. The proposed changes raise serious concerns: • Effort to void a legally binding agreement: The restrictive covenant in question was created through a negotiated agreement with the city and community stakeholders. Allowing it to be voided would weaken the reliability of such legal protections and suggest that even formally established covenants can be disregarded for convenience, setting a concerning precedent for future developments. • Removal of existing zoning safeguards: This would allow disruptive commercial uses, such as 24-hour operations, group homes, indoor entertainment venues, and general restaurants, next to our schools and homes of families we serve. These businesses are incompatible with the environment necessary for young children to thrive. • Elimination of the protective green buffer: The buffer is a vital safeguard, providing a physical and visual shield from noise, traffic, and other disruptions. Children play outside daily and walk to and from school with their families, and removing this protection would expose them to unnecessary risks and distractions. • Introduction of uses like group homes and residential treatment facilities: These could increase transient activity near our schools, raising serious safety concerns for children and families who trust us to provide a secure environment. The neighborhood already faces challenges—including increased incidents of people working on vehicles in residential areas—that impact safety, noise, and traffic. Approving these zoning changes would only exacerbate these issues, disrupting the calm, family- friendly environment essential for early childhood development. 09 C14-2008-0224(RCT) - AE Medical & Retail Amendment; District 61 of 3These zoning protections were established through meaningful community engagement to safeguard the neighborhood’s character and safety. There is no compelling reason to reverse them now. As a principal who cares deeply for the children, families, and staff of Stepping Stone School, I respectfully ask that the City uphold the existing restrictions and protect the integrity of our neighborhood. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, Brandi Graham Principal, Stepping Stone School Lakeline 09 C14-2008-0224(RCT) - AE Medical & Retail Amendment; District 62 of 3 August 18, 2025 Dear Members of the Planning Commission, I am writing in my capacity as Principal of Stepping Stone School to formally oppose zoning case C14-2025-0060 and the proposed termination of the public restrictive covenant under C14-2008-0224 (RCT). Our school has proudly served Austin families for 45 years, and the two campuses in this neighborhood have been providing a stable, safe, and nurturing environment for children for more than three decades. I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes, which I cannot support due to their direct impact on our children, families, and the surrounding community. My primary concerns include: 1. Incompatible commercial activity nearby: Allowing 24-hour businesses, group homes, indoor entertainment, and restaurants adjacent to our schools would disrupt the quiet, secure environment essential to early childhood education. 2. Removal of protective vegetation buffers: These buffers currently shield our students from traffic, noise, and other distractions. Children play outdoors, walk with parents to and from school, and rely on these buffers for a sense of safety. Eliminating them would increase risk and disrupt daily routines. 3. Potential increase in transient activity: Uses like group homes and residential treatment facilities near our schools could lead to unpredictable activity, creating safety concerns for children and families. 4. Attempt to terminate a binding legal agreement: The restrictive covenant that the applicant seeks to void was established as part of a negotiated compromise with the city and community stakeholders. Allowing its termination undermines the credibility of these planning tools and signals that even formal covenants can be discarded for convenience, setting a concerning precedent for the future. Our neighborhood already faces challenges, such as noise, traffic, and occasional unsafe activities in residential areas. These proposed changes would exacerbate these issues and compromise the peaceful, family-friendly environment that supports our children’s learning and well-being. As Principal, I respectfully urge the Commission to carefully consider the impact on children and families and to preserve the protections that help keep our schools and community safe. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Stephanie Rosas Stepping Stone School Northwest Austin 09 C14-2008-0224(RCT) - AE Medical & Retail Amendment; District 63 of 3