Training Kitchen rezoning request advances

The Zoning and Platting Commission has approved a previously delayed rezoning request for a nonprofit that wants to build a South Austin community center. The Training Kitchen wants to redevelop 1.5 acres at 1901 Matthews Lane into an alternative learning community to host adult education classes, food preparation and community events. Numerous residents made public comments touting the nonprofit’s work, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Another resident had concerns about the development’s effect on drainage and runoff, but Stansberry Engineering Company’s Blayne Stansberry, representing the applicant, said any flooding impacts would be reviewed in the site development stage. Commissioners expressed concerns about sidewalk access to the site, as well as the community commercial zoning requested by the applicant. “It does seem like an intensive (zone) but it seems like a really good use of the property and hopefully we can come up with something creative to help them,” Commissioner Nadia Barrera-Ramirez said. Commissioners ultimately approved Community Commercial-Mixed Use-Conditional Overlay (GR-MU-CO) for part of the tract and General Office (GO) for the remainder. The conditional overlay prohibits a lengthy list of uses including automotive, extermination, financial, funeral, convenience store, hotel, sports and recreation, medical office and entertainment services. ZAP Chair Jolene Kiolbassa and commissioners David King and Bruce Evans voted against the rezoning, which is now on City Council’s Oct. 15 agenda.