Short Term Rentals

City Council Says “No Thanks” to Neighborhood Plan for Brackenridge Tract

By Martha DeGrasse

After three years of hard work, negotiation and compromise, the West Austin residents finally saw the proposed Central West Austin Neighborhood Plan put before the City Council last week. Although the City Council approved the neighborhood’s requested limitations on new development, some parts of West Austin were excluded from the plan. Most notable of these is the Brackenridge Tract, which includes the West Austin Youth Association and Lions Municipal Golf Course. The Brackenridge Tract is currently owned by The University of Texas, which has made clear its intention to increase the revenue it receives from the property.

Throughout the West Austin Neighborhood Group’s three years of meeting with city planners, the Brackenridge Tract was part of the neighborhood plan. The neighbors’ stated goal from the outset was to help plan for “intelligent” development of the Brackenridge Tract.  So many members of WANG were very disappointed at what they saw as the eleventh hour exclusion of the Brackenridge Tract from the plan. “We are concerned that the Council’s decision to exclude the Brackenridge Tract could have a dramatic and adverse impact on our neighborhood since it would allow an immense and unplanned development,” says Michael R. Cannatti, secretary and past president of WANG.

The university is in the process of considering many proposals for development of the Brackenridge Tract, but the one that has gotten the most attention is a plan from Cooper, Robertson & Partners, a New York-based architect group. That proposal would add up to 6,600 new residential units to the neighborhood, more than doubling the number of homes in the part of West Austin that is west of MoPac.

The decision to exclude the Brackenridge Tract from the Central West Austin Neighborhood Plan was not made by the entire City Council. The council’s integrity officer asked asked council members Laura Morrison and Chris Riley to recuse themselves from the decision. They both have relatives who work at The University of Texas, and UT could clearly be affected by the Brackenridge Tract’s inclusion in the plan. Council Member Bill Spelman also recused himself because he is a professor at UT. Ironically, WANG members suspect that these Council members who have ties to UT may have been more supportive of the neighborhood group than some of the other council members.

Although this is a disappointing time for WANG, the group’s members realize that they have made some good progress. The neighborhood plan calls for restrictions on development along Windsor Road, Exposition and Enfield, areas that were once considered likely to be heavily developed with many more apartments.  “To the extent that we have avoided that, we have had some success,” says Cannatti.

The next Central West Austin neighborhood planning workshop will occur on Monday, November 2nd (6:30pm to 9:00pm) at The Sanctuary, 2600 Exposition Boulevard (we will be meeting in the chapel).

Topics:  First, we will examine the possibility of changing the current zoning of the condominiums located at 3111 Windsor Road (known as Tarry Court Condominiums) from office to multi-family zoning.  Second, we will discuss the potential to rezone properties at the intersection of Hearn Street, 7th Street, and Pruett Street that have single-family and multi-family residential uses from retail to single-family and multi-family residential zoning.  Please see the map below:

For more information , please visit the Central West Austin Neighborhood Planning website at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/central_west_austin.htm, or contact City Staff by calling Carol Haywood at 512-974-7685 with any questions (Carol.Haywood@ci.austin.tx.us).

The City of Austin is creating a new Comprehensive Plan for Austin which will set forth the city’s policies for growth and development.  The existing Comprehensive Plan (the Austin Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan (ATCP)) was developed during the 1970s and adopted in 1979, but even with various amendments and updates, the ATCP remains a product of its time and does not address many contemporary issues facing the City such as sustainability and climate change.  The lack of a contemporary, community-based vision for the City’s future has lead to many “ad hoc” policy directives.

An overview of the Comprehensive Plan process for the next two or so years is available, including a recent “Comprehensive Plan Kick-Off” Event.

The City has posted a survey to obtain citizen input on some of the questions from the October 12 Kick-Off Event concerning what makes Austin great and what could be improved.  Survey answers will form the foundation of the first Community Forum Series, the week of November 9.

In addition, Comprehensive Plan Citizens Advisory Task Force is being formed.  The application form for the Comprehensive Plan Citizens Advisory Task Force is available for download.  Interested in serving, or know someone who might be perfect for the task force? Fill it out or pass it on. Instructions for submitting the application are included.

Sign up to receive all email updates from the Comprehensive Planning Staff at NPZD: <http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/contact_info_ncp.cfm>.  Please help encourage city-wide participation in OUR Comprehensive Plan
by forwarding this information.  Individuals’ involvement can be minimal or extensive — but the sooner
they tune it, the more sense it will make as we proceed…

Additional information is posted at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/compplan/.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 24, the Austin Water Utility (AWU) will enact Stage 2 Mandatory Watering Restrictions because of the exceptional drought in Central Texas and recommendations made by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).

Stage 2 Watering Restrictions are in line with the 2009 Drought Contingency Plan authorized by Council earlier this year.  The plan states the City Manager may order additional water restrictions when the combined lake storage levels of Lakes Travis and Buchanan is less than 900,000 acre-feet. That level was reached on Aug. 12.

Austin residents and businesses may only water one day a week:

• Residential customers (4 or fewer units) with addresses ending in an odd number may water on Saturday.
• Residential customers (4 or fewer units) with addresses ending in an even number may water on Sunday.
• Commercial and multifamily customers (including common areas of condominiums or homeowners’
• associations) with street addresses ending in an odd number may water on Tuesday.
• Commercial and multifamily customers (including common areas of condominiums or homeowners’ associations) with street addresses ending in an even number may water on Friday.
• You may schedule your system no earlier than 12:01 a.m. on your designated water use day. All cycles must be complete by 10 a.m. that same day.
• You may water with a hose-end sprinkler, a soaker hose, or drip irrigation only from 12 a.m. to 10 a.m. and/or from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. on a designated outdoor water use day.
• You may water with a hand-held hose or bucket any time of day and any day of the week.

Stage 2 Mandatory Water Restrictions

• Requires residential and commercial water customers to follow a once-per-week watering schedule.
• Limits automatic irrigation systems to operation between the hours of midnight and 10 a.m. on designated days.
• Limits residential vehicle washing to designated days and times and prohibits charity car washes.
• Automatic fill valves for pools or ponds should be turned off.
• No outdoor fountains should be used except to provide aeration for aquatic life.
• No water to be served at restaurants unless requested by the customer.
• No washing of sidewalks, driveways, parking areas or other paved areas except to alleviate an immediate health or safety hazard.

To ensure that restrictions are followed, the AWU Water Conservation staff will begin stepped-up, around-the-clock enforcement and take a zero-tolerance approach to violations of the restrictions. Violating mandatory watering restrictions is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $500. To report water waste, residents should call 3-1-1. For more information on water conservation visit www.WaterWiseAustin.com.

City of Austin Directory (Start with the Public Information Office, (499-2220) if you need help figuring out whom to call.)

Calendars City, AISD, UT and more.

Construction Awareness Information System To obtain information about on-going construction projects that may affect your travel through Central Austin, click here.

Electric Utility (322-9100)

Graffiti Hot Line (473-4125)

Hazardous Waste (499-2111) (batteries, pesticides, paints, solvents, cleansers, etc.)

Health & Human Services Dept.(469-2188)

Oak Wilt information

Parks Department (call 974-6700 to express concerns about park grounds and facilities; Park Police 974-7707)

Potholes (440-8444)

Solid Waste (trash pickup and the reporting of brush piles in public spaces)

Street light problem reporting (505-7617)

Traffic Calming (and the reporting of neighborhood traffic problems)

Utility locator (472-2822) ONE CALL marks your property for underground utility lines you might damage by digging.

Tree Permits and Protection (what are protected trees and permit requirements from Austin’s Green Building Program) (974-1876 Jim Rhoades e-mail)

Trees – Grow Green Program (Native and adapted plant guide) (974-2446 or Kathy Shay e-mail)

Water Conservation (974-2199)

Water and Wastewater (emergency number 972-1000) Austin Police Department – Web Links (Emergencies: 911, Non-emergencies: 311)The following links are to assist you in keeping up with recent Austin Police Department news releases and other information. You can periodically check them for updated information. Crimes reported within the boundaries of neighborhood associations

News/ Press Releases on Events Making the News: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/apd_news.htm

V.I.N. Etching Dates: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/vinetch.htm

APD District Representative for West Austin,
Senior Police Officer Nicole Gray #3466
CWNAC District Representative
Austin Police Department
Central West, North Area Command
512-974-5241 nicole.gray@ci.austin.tx.us

Austin History Heritage Society of Austin

History of Austin – Austin History Center

History of Austin – Convention & Visitors Bureau Helpful Information Austin City Connection

Austin Chamber of Commerce Neighborhood Restaurants Holiday House 2425 Exposition (478-2652) (RIP)

Abel’s On The Lake, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. (904-0572) (no menu)

Maudie’s Cafe, 2608 W. 7th (473-3740) (menu)

Mangia’s Pizza, 2401 Lake Austin (478-6600) (menu)

Magnolia Cafe, 2304 Lake Austin Blvd. (478-8645) (menu)

Fabi and Rosi, 509 Hearn (236-0642) (menu)

Original David’s Brick Oven, 1608 W. 35th (453-4330)

(Lunch Menu and Dinner Menu)

Food!Food!, 2727 Exposition Blvd. (474-8515) (sandwich menu)

Mozart’s, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd (477-2900)

Hula Hut, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd (476-4852) (menu)

Téo Espresso, Gelato & Bella Vita 26 Doors Shopping Center (451-9555)

ThunderCloud Subs, 2308 L. Austin Blvd. (479-6504
FAX: 479-0440
ORDER ON-LINE!) (menu) Governmental Contacts Austin City CouncilComplete Detailed Information Here

Mayor Will Wynn
Phone: (512) 974-2250 Fax: (512) 974-2337
E-mail: Will.Wynn@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 1 – Council Member Lee Leffingwell
Phone: (512) 974-2260 Fax: (512) 974-3212
E-mail: Lee.Leffingwell@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 2 – Council Member Mike Martinez
Phone: (512) 974-2264 Fax: (512) 974-1887
E-mail: Mike.Martinez@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 3 – Council Member Randi Shade
Phone: (512) 974-2255 Fax: (512) 974-1888
E-mail: Randi.Shade@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 4 – Laura Morrison
Phone: (512) 974-2258 Fax: (512) 974-1886

E-mail: Laura.Morrison@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 5 – Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken
Phone: (512) 974-2256 Fax: (512) 974-1884
E-mail: Brewster.McCracken@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 6 – Council Member Sheryl Cole
Phone: (512) 974-2266 Fax: (512) 974-1890
E-mail: Sheryl.Cole@ci.austin.tx.us Regional, State and Federal Gov’t
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO)Texas State Senators

Senate District 14 – Senator Kirk Watson (463-0114 or kirk.watson@senate.state.tx.us)

Senate District 25: Senator Jeff Wentworth (463-0125 or jeff.wentworth@senate.state.tx)

Texas State Representatives

House District 46: State Representative Dawnna Dukes (463-0506 or dawnna.dukes@house.state.tx.us)

House District 47: State Representative Valinda Bolton (463-0652 or valinda.bolton@house.state.tx.us

House District 48: State Representative Donna Howard (463-0631 or donna.howard@house.state.tx.us)

House District 49: State Representative Elliott Naishtat (463-0668 or elliot.naishtat@house.state.tx.us)

House District 50: State Representative Mark Strama (463-0821 or mark.strama@house.state.tx.us)

House District 51: State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (463-0674 or eddie.rodriguez@house.state.tx.us)

Texas U.S. Representatives

Congressional District 10 -Michael T. McCaul ((202) 225-2401 or michael.mccaul@mail.house.gov)

Congressional District 21 – Congressman Lamar Smith (202-225-4236)

Congressional District 25 – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (202-225-4865 or doggett@hr.house.gov)

Texas U.S. Senators

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (202-224-5922 or senator@hutchison.senate.gov)

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (202-224-2934 or senator@cornyn.senate.gov)

U.S. President President Barack H. Obama (202-456-1414 or president@whitehouse.gov)

United Nations Secretary-General Of The United Nations – The Honorable Ban Ki-moon (Fax: (212) 963 2155 or sg@un.org or ecu@un.org) ]]> http://westaustinng.com/2009/05/13/helpful-links-list/feed/ 0 http://westaustinng.com/2009/04/03/code-enforcement-concerns/ http://westaustinng.com/2009/04/03/code-enforcement-concerns/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:52:50 +0000 admin http://westaustinng.com/wordpress/?p=58 Are The City’s Land Use and Zoning Requirements Not Being Enforced? Are there new construction projects on your street where the City is not enforcing its land use and zoning requirements relating to impervious cover, setback requirements, tree protection? If so, please send us an email to let us know by clicking here. This information will be forwarded to the Austin Neighborhood Council (ANC) which is compiling a database of code enforcement “failures” across the city which will be presented to the City in an effort to obtain better enforcement. Alternatively, you can contact the City code enforcement directly at Zoning.Enforcement@ci.austin.tx.us or 974-6576.