TipSheet: Austin City Council meetings 3.10 & 3.12

Council cuts it close to the SXSW downtown population boom this week with a voting session just before the start of the interactive portion of the festival. Still, this is as light a Council agenda we here in Monitorland can remember.

As always, the Austin City Council meets in an agenda work session Tuesday and for its regular meeting Thursday. Below is a list of items we’re watching for the upcoming week. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The City Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website, here.

9. Approve an ordinance waiving certain development regulations in City Code Title 25 for a project located at the 12800 block of Research Boulevard.

Monitor’s Take: This is part of a settlement agreement with Nieman Properties that would allow development of the property to the tune of 80 percent impervious cover, save — perhaps through relocation — Heritage Trees on the site, and “allows approximately (four-to-five) feet of fill,” among other highlights. The ever-touchy issue of grandfathering is at play here, as is a lawsuit (hence the settlement) over the project.

15. Approve a resolution initiating a neighborhood plan amendment to the East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Plan to change the land use from Multi-Family to Mixed Use for the approximately 27 acre site that includes the 17.8 acres owned by Rebekah Baines Johnson Center at 21 Waller Street and the adjoining 8.98 acres owned by the City.

Monitor’s Take: This is ultimately a rezoning of the RBJ property that would lead to the redevelopment of the facility. It seems as though this version would maintain “500 affordable senior units” as part of the project. D3 Rep “Pio” Renteria brings this item forward. He’s collected co-sponsors in the persons of Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, Sheri Gallo, and Anne Kitchen.

21. C14-2014-0136 — Cameron Apartments — (District 1) — Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-2 by rezoning property locally known as 9201 Cameron Road (Little Walnut Creek Watershed) from limited industrial services (LI) district zoning to multifamily residence-high density (MF-5) district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To deny multifamily residence-high density (MF-5) district zoning. Zoning and Platting Commission Recommendation: To grant general commercial services-mixed use-conditional overlay (CS-MU-CO) combining district zoning. Owner: FSI Cameron Crossing, LP (Philip Capron). Agent: Husch Blackwell, LLP (Nikelle Meade). City Staff: Heather Chaffin, 512-974-2122.

Monitor’s Take: This is for what developers hope will be “creative-class” apartments. ZAP unanimously approved the zoning change at its last meeting.

23. Conduct a public hearing and consider an appeal by Gregory Bow and Simmi Mehta, of a decision by the Residential Design and Compatibility Commission to increase the maximum allowable floor-to-area ratio to an existing single-family residence located at 905 Columbus.

Monitor’s Take: This would allow the homeowners to hold on to a carport-turned-garage that turned garage without the appropriate permits. The Bouldin Creek NA voted “no position” on the matter, and there is neighbor support for the OK. But there is opposition to the case, and the advising city body was only able to muster a “no vote.”