About the Author
Mark Richardson is a multimedia journalist, editor and writer who has worked in digital, print and broadcast media for three decades. He is a nationally recognized editor and reporter who has covered government, politics and the environment. A journalism graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, he was recently awarded a Foundation for Investigative Journalism grant and has three Associated Press Managing Editors awards for excellence in reporting.
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Tip Sheet: Planning Commission 10/28
Monday, October 27, 2014 by Mark Richardson
The City of Austin Planning Commissions meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
In the interest of saving space, we will not publish the entire agenda here. It is available on the City’s website.
Items of interest for Planning Commission include:
1. Plan Amendment: NPA-2014-0016.02 — Springdale Farm
Location: 755 Springdale Road, Boggy Creek Watershed, Govalle/Johnston Terrace NPA Owner/Applicant: Glenn and Paula Foore Agent: Glenn and Paula Foore Request: Single Family to Mixed Use land use Staff Rec.: Recommended Staff: Maureen Meredith, 512-974-2695, maureen.meredith@austintexas.gov; Planning and Development Review Department
2. Restrictive Covenant Termination: C14-99-2061 (RCT) — Springdale Farm
Location: 755 Springdale Road, Boggy Creek Watershed, Govalle/Johnston Terrace NPA Owner/Applicant: Glenn and Paula Foore Agent: Glenn and Paula Foore Request: Termination of Public Restrictive Covenant Staff Rec.: Recommended Staff: Heather Chaffin, 512-974-2122, heather.chaffin@austintexas.gov; Planning and Development Review Department
3. Rezoning: C14-2014-0123 — Springdale Farm Location: 755 Springdale Road, Boggy CreekWatershed, Govalle/Johnston Terrace NPA Owner/Applicant: Glenn and Paula Foore Agent: Glenn and Paula Foore Request: CS-MU-CO-NP to CS-MU-CO-NP, to change a condition of zoning Staff Rec.: Recommended, with conditions Staff: Heather Chaffin, 512-974-2122, heather.chaffin@austintexas.gov; Planning and Development Review Department
Monitor’s Take: About a year ago, the Council passed a number of changes to the city’s Urban Farm ordinance. The Planning Commission will consider additional zoning changes for Springdale Farms to remove outdoor entertainment from a list of prohibited uses for its property. Read our coverage here.
20. Code Amendment: C20-2014-004 — SMART Housing Owner/Applicant: City of Austin Agent: Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department Request: Consider an amendment to Title 25 of the City Code related to the Transportation component of SMART housing requirements. Staff Rec.: Recommended Staff: Jessi Koch, 512-974-3184, jessi.koch@austintexas.gov; Neighborhood Housing and Community Development
Monitor’s Take: The Planning Commissions’ Code and Ordinances Committees reviewed and recommended changes to the transit component of the SMART Housing Ordinance. The full commission will now consider a resolution proposed by Council Member Riley asking that SMART housing be located within one-half mile of a transit stop and said that transit stop should have an ADA-accessible route. Opponents claim this could hurt efforts to promote affordability.
37. Preliminary Plan: C8-2013-0118 — Lightsey 2 Location: 1805 Lightsey Road, West Bouldin Creek Watershed, South Lamar NPA Owner/Applicant: Lightsey Two, LP
Agent: PSW Homes (Casey Giles) Request: Approval of a preliminary plan of 16 lots and related right of way on 4.0 acres. Staff Rec.: Recommended Staff: Sylvia Limon, 512-974-2767, sylvia.limon@austintexas.gov; Michael Embesi, 512-974-1876, Michael.embesi@austintexas.gov; Planning and Development Review Department
Monitor’s Take: The developer is requesting approval of a preliminary plan for the Lightsey 2 project. The Planning Commission sent the plan to the Environmental Board for its take on the development. Environmental Board members thought the plan needed more “creativity.” Now it is back at the Planning Commission. Read our coverage here.
Location: Loyola Lane, Walnut Creek Watershed, University Hills NPA Owner/Applicant: City of Austin-Neighborhood Housing & Community Development/AustinHousing Finance Corp. (Sandra Harkins) Agent: Urban Design Group (Laura Toups)Request: Approval of Colony Park composed of 191 lots on 208 acres. Staff Rec.: Disapproval Staff: Planning and Development Review Department
Monitor’s take: Colony Park is a master planned development that will provide affordable housing. The developers are seeking approval of a preliminary plan, but staff is recommending disapproval. Approval was recommended by the Zoning and Platting Commission. Read our coverage here.
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Key Players & Topics In This Article
City of Austin Planning Commission: This commission addresses issues of land use as assigned to it by Austin's City Code. These include the abilities "[t]o make and amend a master plan, recommend approval or disapproval of proposed zoning changes and control land subdivision within neighborhood planning areas and submit, annually, a list of recommended capital improvements." It has sovereign authority, or the right to make final decisions on certain cases.
