Neighbors,
Last night I and several others from our NW Hills neighborhood attended the COA Zoning & Planning Commission meeting where both The Overlook and PUD were on the agenda.
- - - The Overlook - - -
You may remember we were successful at City Council meeting this summer to deny a zoning request to GO. The Overlook zoning change was the topic for discussion again last night where the developer was now requesting LO - CO. The developers plan of square footage, size etc. had not changed and the only difference was that he pushed the setback further from Spicewood Springs Road. Since his proposal had not changed the BCA's position based on your feedback did not change either. I spoke and asked only for the zoning change if the building and impact was smaller. This was the same message all of us had last night for the Zoning & Planning Committee.
The great news is that ZAP heard our voice and approved the LO with conditions, the official recommendation is...
Approved staff's recommendation of LO-CO zoning with the following added conditions.
1) Make administrative and business only offices with medical not to exceed 5000 sq. ft.
2) Limit the height to 2 stories
3) Limit the development intensity to less than 500 vehicle trips per day.
This was a win for our neighborhood! I don't think any of us are saying we don't want growth and development, Austin is not the town it was even 10 or 15 years ago. We want smart growth and I think the zoning with conditions achieves this.
- - - Austin Oaks PUD - - -
The item for discussion on the COA Zoning & Planning Commission meeting was a question of postponement. Staff was recommending an indefinite postponement for reasons we do not fully agree with, therefore myself and others were asking for a time limit to postponement of 60 days to February. All of the review has been completed by staff except for an updated review of TIA or traffic impact analysis. This updated review came to staff in August and 4 months should have been plenty of time to review. Staff for various reasons has not completed their part in all this so that is why they were asking for postponement and an indefinite postponement because this PUD has so many moving pieces. Having a date or and end time for postponement keeps this process moving along, an indefinite postponement is well, indefinite. The ZAP Commission did not agree with us and granted an indefinite postponement, however they did add one stipulation that Staff would report progress at the next ZAP meeting on February 17th.
So for now the PUD in a holding pattern. That doesn't mean things are not happening behind the scenes between Staff and the developer, things are definitely happening but there will probably not be much to report on until February. I'll let you know if something comes up before then.
Thank you to all who have emailed, called or attended various meetings, YOU really do make a difference!
Happy Holidays!!!
Debra Bailey
President Balcones Civic Assn.
www.baileysolutions.com
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