Council OKs water, wastewater extension to environmentally sensitive property

In a vote of 7-4, City Council on Thursday approved granting water and wastewater service for a proposed multi-family project outside the city limits and within the Drinking Water Protection Zone.

The property at 10656 North FM 620 is in the North Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, upstream from habitat for the Jollyville Plateau salamander, which is listed as threatened by the federal government. Council members Ryan Alter, Marc Duchen, Zo Qadri and Mike Siegel opposed the item, citing environmental concerns.

The Environmental Commission voted unanimously to oppose the project, while the Water and Wastewater Commission voted to support it. Likewise, city environmental staff opposed the extension, while Austin Water supported it.

“We’ve heard a number of things about (the property), but one thing we didn’t talk about is this is an area that was de-annexed from the city. And I don’t know what the right policy is going forward, but I do think that we need to stop rewarding areas that de-annex from the city,” said Alter. “We see these come to us all the time. Someone either releases themselves from the ETJ or de-annexes so they don’t have to play by our rules. And they come and ask us or something. I am going to be working with other offices here to figure out what is the right balance. Because there has to be some negative impact, or at least motivation, from trying to not play by our rules but then still get the benefit of being part of the city.”

Attorney Richard Suttle, representing the developer, told City Council the project would provide workforce housing in Travis County. He said the developer purchased the property after it had been de-annexed.

The developer is proposing 59 percent impervious cover. Because of its location in an environmentally-sensitive area, if the property were within the city they would only be allowed to develop at 20 percent impervious cover. Suttle said that would not work for the development. He said the developer would be providing more than $2 million worth of water and wastewater improvements that will serve other areas in the city in the extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ).

Suttle concluded, “The policy of extending service to people that get out of the ETJ is why you guys get paid the big bucks. But on this particular one, this one only works as an affordable housing project if it gets water and wastewater and remains in Travis County’s jurisdiction.”

Although the majority on the dais did not address the items, District 6 Council Member Krista Laine spoke in favor of them. Laine told her colleagues the development would include “a significant amount of affordable housing.”

“I can say wholeheartedly that we need affordable housing in District 6,” she said.

Environmentalists from the Sierra Club and the Save Our Springs Alliance, as well as others, urged Council to reject the extensions.

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