STR Audit Maps (Maps showing locations of STRs)

ANC STR FAQ

This fact/summary sheet from the ANC committee on Short Term Rentals is meant to clarify the intent of the resolution and to dispel misinformation regarding it. We ask that you share this information with your neighbors in preparation for the discussion of the resolution at the ANC’s November 30^th meeting.

The ANC resolution is not an ordinance (or a law.)  It is intended to inform and guide City Council and Staff in the creation of an ordinance.

Homesteaded STR’s are allowed under this resolution. The current land code does not allow for this use. We are asking that for homesteaded properties short-term rentals be an allowable use. (Similar to B&B’s and group homes.)

Homestead (in this resolution) means where you have a homestead exemption accepted by the Travis County Appraisal District (TCAD). Secondary structures can be a garage apartment, a granny flat, a second house on same lot, or duplex where one side is the primary residence. It allows both the primary and secondary structures to be used as STR’s on a limited basis. For example, you could rent the house you live in for SXSW and rent the garage apartment for up to 60 days per year. You could rent the homesteaded ½ of the duplex for ACL and rent the other ½ as a short-term rental for up to 60 days a year.

This ANC Resolution ONLY addresses rentals less than 30 days. For example: If you go on an extended trip, are in the hospital and rehab for 6 weeks or if you rent your home for the summer one time for 6-8 weeks, this does not apply to you.

Commercial STRs are residential rental properties that are not homesteaded that are being used for short-term rentals. We see these as commercial businesses and as not being a compatible use in a single family zoned neighborhood. For example, you can have a home office in SF zoning under certain guidelines already written in code, but if you starting renting out your residential property as office space, that is not allowed under SF zoning.

We are not opposed to CSTR’s in commercial zoning. For example if you buy a house on 1^st street, between Ben White and Barton Springs.  It looks like a house but can also be a business. It is not a residential neighborhood.

I have been renting my own home for SXSW and have been told I have to pay taxes with this new resolution, why?  HOT (Hotel Occupancy Tax) is a state law. The City collects the tax for the State Comptrollers office. Refer to the Comptroller for the form and information. If you are not paying the HOT tax, you need to read about the requirements being proposed by the Planning Commission. The ANC Resolution does not deal with tax liability.

I already own a rent house and am using it as a rental most weekends and during events. What about my investment? Renting residential property on a short-term basis is already a violation of the housing code. We are opposed to grandfathering this use as the Planning Commission is suggesting.  Local zoning laws should be studied before making such an investment. No one is forcing you to sell your property. You can do long term rentals or corporate rentals (3 month, generally.) You have many options.

Why do the neighborhoods care? We believe zoning is an implied agreement between a homeowner and the City. CSTR’s are a commercial business. We believe they remove housing stock, impacts affordable housing and affect neighborhood crime watch. The SWAT bust of a CSTR on La Casa last week and the fire on Argentia are good examples of CSTR’s impacting neighborhoods in a negative way.

For more background information visit the ANC website www.ancweb.org http://www.ancweb.org/issues/STRs/STRs.htm

Helen Rockenbaugh-Southwood <crock50@msn.com>

Joyce Basciano, VP 2, Austin Neighborhoods Council <JBASCIANO@austin.rr.com>

Blake Tollett-West Austin Neighborhood Group <blake.tollett@earthlink.net>

The City is discussing how to better regulate short term rentals.  Please click on the following to view the latest draft of WANG’s suggestions:

Short Term Rentals

Reed Park restoration fact sheet

Tarrytown Park restoration fact sheet

For more information, please contact

Mateo Scoggins
Environmental Scientist
Ph:(512)974-1917
Note – Effective August 15 , 2011 my email address will change to mateo.scoggins@austintexas.gov

Who: Home Depot and Scott Johnson

What: The Central Texas Electric Lawnmower Program

When: Saturday, April 7th from 8:30am-2pm

Where: Only at the Mueller Home Depot at 1200  Barbara Jordan at 51st St. (Next to Best Buy)

Why: To help folks save money when they upgrade their polluting gas-powered mower for an exhaust-free electric model. Also, to help reduce ozone-forming emissions, CO2 emissions (that are changing our climate)and to eliminate the spillage of gas/oil from gas-powered lawnmowers.

Trade in your gas-powered mower and save up to 25% off the cost of a new Homelite corded electric mower.

Quantities are limited and are based on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To reserve an electric lawnmower please call Scott Johnson at

(512) 389-2250 (O) by Friday April 6th at  3pm.

OpenHouse_Flyer_FINAL

TROWELarea newsletters

By: Wizzie Brown

Butterfly gardening can be a wonderful way to invite nature into your backyard.  With a little knowledge on local butterflies and the correct plants, you can create a garden that allows you to watch butterflies in various life stages.  Adult butterflies feed on nectar, gathering it from flowers.  Larvae, or caterpillars, feed on plant foliage, so if you do not like to have your plants eaten by insects, butterfly gardening may not be for you.

Some larvae feed only on particular plants.  The following is a list to help you with your plant selection:

Butterfly                                                          Plant

Monarch butterfly                                           milkweed, butterfly weed

Queen butterfly                                               milkweed

Viceroy                                                            cottonwood, poplar, willow

Black swallowtail                                             parsley, dill, fennel

Spicebush swallowtail                                     spicebush, sweet bay, sassafras

Pipevine swallowtail                                        Dutchman’s pipevine

Giant swallowtail                                             citrus, Hercules club

Brazilian skipper                                              canna

Brush-footed butterflies                                  nettles, thistles

Hairstreak butterflies                                       pecans, walnuts

Gulf fritillary                                                    passionflower vines

Giant purple hairstreak                                   mistletoe

Gray hairstreak                                               legumes

Question mark                                                            hackberry, elm

Texas crescent                                               shrimp plant, dicliptera, ruellia

Painted lady                                                    hollyhock, thistles

Buckeye                                                          plantain, snapdragon

Adult butterflies need a source of nectar in the garden.  The following is a list of plants they might like:

Plant name                                                      Flower color

Asters                                                              lavender, pink, purple, white

Blazing star                                                     lavender

Butterfly bush                                                  lavender, purple, white

Butterfly weed                                                 orange, yellow

Cone flower                                                    fuchsia

Flame bush                                                     red-orange

Goldenrod                                                       yellow

Ironweed                                                         pink, purple

Lantana                                                           combinations, lavender, orange, pink, white, yellow

Loosestrife                                                      lavender

Mexican heather                                             lavender

Mexican milkweed                                          red-orange, yellow

Mexican mint marigold                                   yellow-orange

Mist flower                                                      blue, white

Phlox                                                               pink, purple, red, white

Salvia                                                              blue, lavender, pink, red

Verbena                                                          blue, lavender, pink, purple, red, white

Zinnia                                                              orange, pink, red, white, yellow

For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600.  Check out my blog at www.urban-ipm.blogspot.com

The information given herein is for educational purposes only.  Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding

that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas AgriLife Research is implied.

Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

http://www.austinparks.org/itsmypark.html

PRESS RELEASE

Please join us for the Save Muni 5K Run Sunday, February 5th, 2012.

Save Muni 5K Run Flyer

Here is a link to being able to sign up for the Race on the Event Brite website:

http://savemuny5k-esearch.eventbrite.com/?srnk=1

Here is a link that shows the Race routing on the golf course:

http://www.mapitnow.com/?maproute=54751

Rebuild the Dream members are hosting MLK Meet-ups across the country to celebrate Dr. King — the original Occupier — and link the Civil Rights Movement with today’s struggle for an economy that works for all.

Neighbors and friends will gather to watch a great video we made, plus engage in a special discussion about how we strengthen our movements in 2012.

There’s an MLK Meet-up near you. Don’t miss it!

Event name: The Expression of People.
Date and time: Friday, January 13, 7:00 PM
Location: Parking Lot Meeting – Bring your chair.
1715 West 35th
Austin, Texas

RSVP now.

2012 will be a turbulent, exciting year. It’s important for us to get together and get ready. This is your chance to touch base with friends and like-minded folks in your area, and start the new year right.

There is a lot for us to fight for, and people are continuing Dr. King’s struggle every day in the 21st century. With a rising movement sweeping the country, let’s gather together and ask: What would Dr. King and other civil rights leaders do today? How can we continue their legacy in 2012 and beyond?

MLK Day is an opportunity to take a day on, not a day off. The meet-ups will be an opportunity to join with those who share your same passion for positive change. It’s a chance to look back and look ahead — let’s look at one of the most important movements of our past as a springboard for the ongoing fight for justice.

Yes, I want to attend an MLK Meet-up with my community.

Century after century, generation after generation, countless people of all different backgrounds have continued to arrive on America’s shores. Beyond our differences there lies the promise that maybe we can carve a better future for ourselves and our children and our children’s children, with opportunity and justice for all. This was the dream our country was founded on, and Dr. King’s dream throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Let’s gather this MLK Day and commit to continuing Dr. King’s fight for the dream.

Thanks for being a part of, and believing in, this movement,
Van, Billy, Natalie, Ian, Jim, Somer and the Rebuild the Dream Innovation Fund team

The planning process seems quite similar to the neighborhood planning effort we recently completed.  The plan will address all 365 acres of the property, excluding the Reserve Center at the northwest corner (which is federal property).  They’re using the Austin consulting firm, H.W. Lochner, to lead the planning process which started with a “data collection” phase this past October, and will proceed through a draft plan presentation (Summer 2012), Revised Plan (September 2012), and Final Plan (Sept. 2012).

The materials distributed at the meeting included a listing of “Draft Goals” for an initial framework for the plan, as well as “Draft Policies” which may be refined/supplemented.  Lots of planning blah-blah mumbo jumbo re efficiency, sustainability, historical significance, natural features, artillery target practice area.  (Just kidding about that last one.)

During the meeting, there was an opportunity to provide comments and input, including the proverbial colored-sticker-on-map exercise.  Suggestions from community stakeholders included taking down the LED scrolling display sign on MoPac, returning the main entrance to its original location, and making sure there is a fire plan worked out with the City regarding wildfires on Mabry.

As for the presentation, it was very nice and efficient and “structured” presentation like you’d expect from the military.  My favorite touch was the powerpoint show they prepared which had two little boxes at the top and bottom of each slide which said “Unclassified.”  I’m dying to see the classified version.

Camp Mabry is asking for community input for their upcoming master planning for the next 20 years.  Please see the links below for more information.

December 6 or 13th from 7:00 – 9:00PM, Audie Murphy Building, 82

Comm Workshop Invitation-General-Map

FAQ Camp Mabry Master Plan Meetings Dec 2011