03 C14-2026-0046 - Howard Plaza; District 1 - Neighborhood Postponement Request — original pdf

Backup

From: To: Cc: Subject: Date: Attachments: Nick G Sirwaitis, Sherri Gobel, Jim; Sherry Graham; LandUseLiaison Re: Howard Plaza - C14-2026-0046 and SP-2025-0311C - Adjacent Property Owner Friday, July 31, 2026 11:30:21 AM image001.png External Email - Exercise Caution Hi Sheri, Thanks for the clarification. Yes, September 15, 2026 works for me for the new date. The ultimate goal is till to allow time for the applicant, staff, and interested adjacent home owners to discuss conditional overlay and restrictive covenant terms along the lines set out in my memorandum. If discussions are productive but not complete by September 15, I understand the Commission may consider a further postponement at that hearing within a new 60-day window? Best regards, Nicholas Graham 12604 Hallstatt Drive, Manor, TX 78653 On Fri, Jul 31, 2026 at 11:19 AM Sirwaitis, Sherri <Sherri.Sirwaitis@austintexas.gov> wrote: Hi Nicholas, Please be aware that you can only request a postponement up to 60 days. The October 6, 2026 date would exceed the requirement in the Code that states that time limit for the postponement or continuation of a public hearing on the record without renotification. Therefore, will you be amending your request for a postponement to the September 15, 2026 date? Thank you, Sherri Sirwaitis Planner Principal, Current Planning Division Austin Planning 512-974-3057 sherri.sirwaitis@austintexas.gov 03 C14-2026-0046 - Howard Plaza; District 11 of 4Please note: E-mail correspondence to and from the City of Austin is subject to required disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act. From: Nick G <> Sent: Friday, July 31, 2026 10:36 AM To: Sirwaitis, Sherri <Sherri.Sirwaitis@austintexas.gov> Cc: Gobel, Jim <Jim.Gobel@austintexas.gov>; Sherry Graham <>; LandUseLiaison <LandUseLiaison@austintexas.gov> Subject: Re: Howard Plaza - C14-2026-0046 and SP-2025-0311C - Adjacent Property Owner External Email - Exercise Caution Hi Ms. Sirwaitis, Thank you for confirming that my memorandum will be included as backup for the Commission, and for the clarification regarding the Religious Assembly use. On postponement: yes, as an adjoining property owner I am formally requesting a neighborhood postponement of Case C14-2026-0046 at the August 4, 2026 Zoning and Platting Commission hearing. Per the Commission's posted meeting schedule, I request postponement to the October 6, 2026 meeting. Please confirm if that's acceptable. The purpose of the postponement is to allow time for the applicant, staff, and interested adjacent home owners to discuss conditional overlay and restrictive covenant terms along the lines set out in my memorandum (Appendix A). On Religious Assembly: I appreciate the clarification. I see that Religious Assembly is already a permitted use under the current W/LO zoning, so the rezoning is not needed for that use. Accordingly, I am not pursuing a prohibition of Religious Assembly. Consistent with Section VIII.D of my memorandum, I instead request that any approval include use-neutral operational conditions that apply equally to all uses of the property: the amplified-sound standard measured at the shared residential property line, hours for activity, loading, and refuse collection near the residential boundary, and the lighting and screening provisions in Appendix A-2. Because these conditions are neutral and generally applicable to the land rather than to any particular user, I understand them to be fully consistent with RLUIPA and state law. I would ask staff to note the distinction with respect to the other proposed use: unlike Religious Assembly, Indoor Entertainment is not a permitted use under the current W/LO zoning - t would be a new entitlement created solely by this rezoning. My request that Indoor Entertainment (including the wedding/event venue use) be added to the conditional overlay's prohibited stands as-is. Finally, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss overlay terms with you and the applicant during the postponement period. 03 C14-2026-0046 - Howard Plaza; District 12 of 4Thank you again for your responsiveness throughout this process. Best regards, Nicholas Graham 12604 Hallstatt Drive, Manor, TX 78653 On Fri, Jul 31, 2026 at 10:17 AM Sirwaitis, Sherri <Sherri.Sirwaitis@austintexas.gov> wrote: Hi Nicholas, Thank you for your comments. They will be included as late backup material for this item for the Commission’s review. Please clarify if you as a neighbor are requesting a postponement of this case at the Zoning and Platting Commission and what specific date you are requesting the postponement to. The Zoning and Platting Commission schedule is listed on their webpage at: Zoning and Platting Commission | AustinTexas.gov Please be aware that the city cannot prohibit the Religious Assembly use due to state and federal laws. Religious Assembly is permitted by the current W/LO zoning on the property. Sincerely, Sherri Sirwaitis Planner Principal, Current Planning Division Austin Planning 512-974-3057 sherri.sirwaitis@austintexas.gov Please note: E-mail correspondence to and from the City of Austin is subject to required disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act. 03 C14-2026-0046 - Howard Plaza; District 13 of 4 From: Nick G <> Sent: Friday, July 31, 2026 9:45 AM To: Sirwaitis, Sherri <Sherri.Sirwaitis@austintexas.gov> Cc: Gobel, Jim <Jim.Gobel@austintexas.gov>; Sherry Graham <> Subject: Re: Howard Plaza - C14-2026-0046 and SP-2025-0311C - Adjacent Property Owner External Email - Exercise Caution Hi Ms. Sirwaitis, Thank you again for providing the Zoning Case Report and supporting materials earlier this week. As indicated in my July 28 email, please find attached my planning memorandum regarding Case C14- 2026-0046, together with its exhibits. I respectfully request that the memorandum be included in the official record for this case and in the backup materials for the August 4, 2026 Zoning and Platting Commission hearing, and that you confirm receipt. In brief, the memorandum documents the following: 1. I request denial of the rezoning at the August 4 hearing, or alternatively a postponement of at least 60 days, so that a complete conditional overlay can be settled before, rather than after, any approval of GR-CO. 2. I support retention of all fifteen staff-recommended use prohibitions, but the overlay does not reach the two proposed uses with the greatest impact on the abutting homes. I request that Indoor Entertainment (including the wedding/event venue use and, on equal terms, Religious Assembly) be prohibited, consistent with staff's own rationale for prohibiting Club or Lodge as adjacent-to-residential. 3. I do not oppose professional office use, and I conditionally support the indoor pickleball facility subject to recorded conditions on hours, enclosure, sound attenuation, and identification of the building that would house it. 4. I request that the W/LO site development standards on which the adjoining homeowners relied (25-foot setbacks, the 25-foot/one-story height limit, and W/LO impervious-cover and floor- area limits) be carried forward in the overlay. Appendix A of the memorandum contains adoptable conditional overlay and restrictive covenant language addressing each of these items. I remain willing to work constructively with staff and the applicant toward recorded conditions along these lines. I plan to attend the August 4 hearing if it proceeds as planned and welcome the opportunity to discuss the memorandum with you or the applicant. Best regards, Nicholas Graham 12604 Hallstatt Drive, Manor, TX 78653 03 C14-2026-0046 - Howard Plaza; District 14 of 4