TipSheet: City Council, 11.10.16

City Council will hold its regular meeting Thursday. Below is a list of items we’re watching. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda. The Office of the City Clerk posts a copy on its website, here.

2. Approve an ordinance amending City Section Code 3-1-29 (Sterilization) related to the sterilization of animals at the Austin Animal Shelter.

Monitor’s take: Look familiar? That’s because last week, City Council passed a resolution asking for an ordinance to allow the city’s animal shelters to spay and neuter animals the first time they are impounded. This here is an ordinance, which will actually change the code.

7. Approve an ordinance setting the council meeting schedule for calendar year 2017.

Monitor’s take: OK, we know this is boring, but it does mean that the end of “zoning meetings” (like this one) is nigh.

8. Authorize the execution of an Affordable Housing Agreement for the Pilot Knob Planned Unit Development. (District 2). Related to Item #32

32. C814-2012-0152 – Pilot Knob Planned Unit Development – District 2 – Approve third reading of an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by zoning property locally known as east and southeast of the intersection of East William Cannon Drive and McKinney Falls Parkway, and west of South U.S. Highway 183 and FM 1625 (Cottonmouth Creek Watershed; North Fork Creek Watershed; South Fork Creek Watershed) from interim-rural residence (I-RR) district zoning and interim-single family residence-standard lot (SF-4A) district zoning to planned unit development (PUD)

Monitor’s take: Oh, look, Pilot Knob is back! And, if you read Jo Clifton’s story earlier this week, you know that the trouble that accompanied the development the first go-around might be back as well.

10. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 9-2 relating to the requirements for non-peak hour concrete installation within portions of the Central Business District (CBD) and Public (P) zoning districts.

Monitor’s take: Speaking of “things coming back,” it’s our old pal, the downtown concrete installation thingie! The interim ordinance, which has been extended approximately one gazillion times, may finally be replaced after almost exactly two years. The concrete-pouring ordinance has always been exciting to us, of course, but this is really extra.

16. Approve a resolution initiating historic zoning for the property located at 1618 Palma Plaza and initiating an amendment to City Code Chapter 25-11 relating to the release of certain demolition permits.

Monitor’s take: Right, so last week, City Council didn’t really get anywhere on taking things into their own hands and initiating historic rezoning on this fourplex themselves. Instead, they asked for a little more thinking time and essentially made the owner pinkie-swear that they wouldn’t tear it down before today’s meeting. We’re thinking that they’ll come to some decision today, based mostly on the tone of that “promise not to tear it down?” conversation last week.

36 NPA-2015-0005.04 – Lenox Oaks – District 3 – Conduct a public hearing and approve second and third reading of an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20010927-05, the Montopolis Neighborhood Plan, an element of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, to change the land use designation on the future land use map (FLUM) on property locally known as 6705, 6707, 6709 Ponca Street; 434 Bastrop Highway Southbound; 444, 446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456 Bastrop Highway Southbound; and 500 Bastrop Highway Southbound (Carson Creek Watershed) from Single Family, Office and Commercial land uses to Mixed Use, Commercial, Mixed Use/Office and Multifamily land uses.

37. C14-2015-0104 – Lenox Oaks – District 3 – Conduct a public hearing and approve second and third reading of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-2 by rezoning property locally known as 434-500 Bastrop Highway Southbound and 6705-6709 Ponca Street (Carson Creek Watershed; Colorado River Watershed)

Monitor’s take: Late-breaking Wednesday news out of City Council Member Pio Renteria’s office announced that a compromise has been struck in this case. Lenox Oaks (ne Cactus Rose) owners Oden/Hughes have agreed to a comprehensive relocation package for the remaining residents, with mobile home owners receiving $10,000 and recreational vehicle owners and renters receiving $2,000 for relocation. Residents will also receive their security deposits and relocation assistance.

43. C14-2015-0160 – Champions Tract #3 – District 10 – Conduct a public hearing and approve third reading of an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 6409 City Park Road (West Bull Creek Watershed) from general office-conditional overlay (GO-CO) combining district zoning to multifamily residence-moderate-high density-conditional overlay (MF-4-CO) combining district zoning

Monitor’s take: Last week, City Council opted to take public testimony on this item but save their input for today. You’d think that means they will make quick work of this one but: 1) Nobody makes quick work of the Champions Tracts and 2) The testimony last week alone took more than an hour and there were so many slides! This one is complicated.

46. C14-2016-0039 – Thornton II – District 5 – Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 2413 Thornton Road (West Bouldin Creek Watershed) from general commercial services (CS) district zoning to multifamily residence-moderate-high density-conditional overlay (MF-4-CO) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To grant multifamily residence-low density (MF-2) district zoning. Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant multifamily residence-moderate-high density-conditional overlay (MF-4-CO) combining district zoning.

Monitor’s take: If you need a refresher on this case, we’ve got you covered. As for today, the rezoning is ready for all three meetings, and there will probably be a bit of discussion.

63. C814-2015-0074 – The Grove at Shoal Creek PUD – District 10 – Conduct a public hearing and approve second reading of an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 4205 Bull Creek Road (Shoal Creek Watershed) from unzoned (UNZ) district zoning to planned unit development (PUD) district zoning.

Monitor’s take: The Grove! Don’t get too excited, though: All signs point to this one being postponed yet again. We think that it won’t be put to rest until a new District 10 City Council member is official.