Present: Jonathan, Heidi, Pam, Don, Kimberly
Mike was not present, so there was no feedback yet from the church on whether or not they wished to be included in the VMU overlay.
Pam had not heard back from the owners of the Dallas nightclub (and adjoining businesses) properties regarding their desire for inclusion or exclusion in the overlay.
The remaining properties along Burnet from Richcreek to Justin were considered, and the tabled properties from last meeting were reconsidered. The consensus was to keep ALL properties currently in the overlay district except for the property at the corner of Anderson and Lamar, the Top Notch property, and the the Dallas nightclub and adjoining strip mall lots. The decision was also made to include three lots at the corner of Burnet and Anderson that are surrounded by the VMU overlay district, but not technically in the overlay district due to facing Anderson Ln., within the overlay.
Reasons for exclusion:
Anderson and Lamar - current complaints by neighbors of parking along their street, no buffer between property and residences.
Top Notch - character, historical significance
Dallas and adjoining strip mall - surrounded by many residences with no buffer
The church was seen as desirable to exclude so that if a developer wished to redevelop it the neighborhood would have more leverage to request parkland. That plot is the best place for parkland (of the lots considered) in the neighborhood. The neighborhood is believed to have less bargaining power with a VMU development [why?]. It might be excluded or included depending upon the results of Heidi's percentage calculations (see below).
Action items:
Pam - Get feedback from the Dallas property owners.
Mike - Get feedback from the church.
Heidi - Create a spreadsheet with each of the overlay district's property's linear footage along the transit corridors for the purpose of determining the percentage of properties included in the overlay. The target is 60-80% inclusion.
Next meeting: TBD, likely early September - agenda will be to decide who presents to the planning commission and what the speaking points will be.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Electronic Communications Committee 07.16.08 Meeting Minutes
Present: Paige, Don
Committee Purpose:
The purpose of the committee is to provide a supplement to the newsletter and CNA general meetings in keeping the neighborhood informed of events and issues that affect the neighborhood in general, and ex com activities in particular. The committee will endeavor to provide more timely and/or detailed information than can, at times, be provided by the newsletter and CNA general meetings. Finally, due to the digital nature of the information distributed by the committee, it will also serve as an archive for past announcements, meeting minutes, city documents, poll results, etc. that may be available to everyone for research.
Short-term Goals:
[1] Provide a pdf version of the newsletter upon release (as some neighbors report not receiving a paper copy) - DOING
[2] Upgrade the existing CNA web site to improve navigation
[3] Post announcements of CNA ex com and general meetings, agendas and meeting minutes to the listserv and web site - DOING
[4] Provide a contact list for committee members on the websites - DONE
Long-term Goals:
[1] Provide an on-line means of renewing membership in the CNA
[2] CNA annual election support
[3] Increase representation at and coverage of city meetings by "on call" reporters
[4] Formalize committee responsibilities and procedures for inclusion into bylaws
[5] Archive: outside presentations given to CNA, newsletters, meeting minutes, documents of historical interest (aid future ex comms in understanding reasoning and history behind decisions)
[6] Recommended businesses section to website, updatable/commentable by general public
Member List:
Chair – Don Tucker (don.w.tucker@gmail.com)
Web Administrator - Paige Hill (designbarefoot@gmail.com )
Listserv Administrator - Ramona Brush (ramonabrush@yahoo.com)
Expressed Interest - Valerie Tyson, - Ami Hooper
Meeting Dates:
Last Wednesday of each month (starting in August) @ 7pm.
Procedure for article submission:
Jerry (Newsletter Editor) already has a procedure implemented:
"Call for submissions
Crestview Neighborhood Association (CNA) members are welcome to submit objective articles for the CNA newsletter that are relevant to the neighborhood's history, land, current events, and residents. Articles will be edited for style and grammar, and published on a space-available basis. Submissions should be in Word or plain text format, no longer than 700 words, and include a title and author name. Illustrations or photographs may be submitted in JPG format that are at least 300 dpi. Submissions should be sent to [e-mail address deleted]."
I suggested that we adopt the same submission guidlines and only alter the contact e-mail address.
Action Items:
Paige - Look at how to handle posting/archiving documents for the website; make sure she has administrator access to existing neighborhood sites; begin website upgrade
Don - Talk with Jerry about how to coordinate the newsletter and the website content.
Committee Purpose:
The purpose of the committee is to provide a supplement to the newsletter and CNA general meetings in keeping the neighborhood informed of events and issues that affect the neighborhood in general, and ex com activities in particular. The committee will endeavor to provide more timely and/or detailed information than can, at times, be provided by the newsletter and CNA general meetings. Finally, due to the digital nature of the information distributed by the committee, it will also serve as an archive for past announcements, meeting minutes, city documents, poll results, etc. that may be available to everyone for research.
Short-term Goals:
[1] Provide a pdf version of the newsletter upon release (as some neighbors report not receiving a paper copy) - DOING
[2] Upgrade the existing CNA web site to improve navigation
[3] Post announcements of CNA ex com and general meetings, agendas and meeting minutes to the listserv and web site - DOING
[4] Provide a contact list for committee members on the websites - DONE
Long-term Goals:
[1] Provide an on-line means of renewing membership in the CNA
[2] CNA annual election support
[3] Increase representation at and coverage of city meetings by "on call" reporters
[4] Formalize committee responsibilities and procedures for inclusion into bylaws
[5] Archive: outside presentations given to CNA, newsletters, meeting minutes, documents of historical interest (aid future ex comms in understanding reasoning and history behind decisions)
[6] Recommended businesses section to website, updatable/commentable by general public
Member List:
Chair – Don Tucker (don.w.tucker@gmail.com)
Web Administrator - Paige Hill (designbarefoot@gmail.com )
Listserv Administrator - Ramona Brush (ramonabrush@yahoo.com)
Expressed Interest - Valerie Tyson, - Ami Hooper
Meeting Dates:
Last Wednesday of each month (starting in August) @ 7pm.
Procedure for article submission:
Jerry (Newsletter Editor) already has a procedure implemented:
"Call for submissions
Crestview Neighborhood Association (CNA) members are welcome to submit objective articles for the CNA newsletter that are relevant to the neighborhood's history, land, current events, and residents. Articles will be edited for style and grammar, and published on a space-available basis. Submissions should be in Word or plain text format, no longer than 700 words, and include a title and author name. Illustrations or photographs may be submitted in JPG format that are at least 300 dpi. Submissions should be sent to [e-mail address deleted]."
I suggested that we adopt the same submission guidlines and only alter the contact e-mail address.
Action Items:
Paige - Look at how to handle posting/archiving documents for the website; make sure she has administrator access to existing neighborhood sites; begin website upgrade
Don - Talk with Jerry about how to coordinate the newsletter and the website content.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Executive Committee 07.07.08 Meeting Minutes
Present:
Jonathan, Steve, Tim, Jerry, Eddie, Don, Mike, (Dave showed up later)
Ice Cream Social:
Steve asked for volunteers to assist with the ice cream distribution at the ice cream social on the 12th. He also asked for people with water coolers to bring them to the social.
Affordable Housing and Ryan Austin Energy Property:
Eddie introduced Heather Way who represents groups working for affordable housing in Austin. Her organization’s goal is to get 25% affordable housing in new developments. 10% of this can be achieved with developer incentives for higher density. The remainder can typically only be accomplished through the acquisition of public lands donated specifically for affordable housing. The 25% is their goal because, at that level, federal funding can be received for a project. Because of the ongoing discussion with the city on the eventual use of the publically-owned Austin Energy site on Ryan Dr., Heather wanted to suggest that we consider working toward having that site be donated by the city for affordable housing development. For her organization to be able to apply for federal grants for next year, they would need to know by December of this year what the eventual use for that land would be. This item was tabled pending further discussion regarding the effects of developing this property (park land in Crestview, land swaps, pedestrian access to the TOD, density increases, etc.).
Variance Request:
Heidi, Chair for the Land Use Committee, presented a summary report regarding the owner’s request for a variance of the property on 1713 Justin Ln. The executive committee voted unanimously not to oppose the request for variance.
ANA Experience With VMU Application Process:
Members of the Allandale Neighborhood Association discussed their experience with the city regarding their neighborhood’s VMU Opt-In/Opt-Out Process Application. They were originally encouraged to be creative with their application response, coming up with their own incentives and conditions for VMU on various properties in their neighborhood. They later learned that the Planning Commission did not want any deviation from the application as laid out (i.e. property by property exclusion, or opt in/out). They have had a negative experience – 5350 Burnet Rd - with a developer promising 80 condos and changing to 160 apartments, and there was nothing they could do about it under the VMU overlay. They believe that the VMU overlay process was illegal as it was a zoning change that denied/denies the neighborhood right to petition. They are working on one hand to restore the neighborhood right to petition, while continuing on with the application process. They have had some success excluding properties from the VMU overlay that are shallow lots (less than 200 ft.), or have historical importance or contribute to neighborhood character. Other properties may require the property owner and others within 200ft to petition to be excluded. It is believed that the Planning Commission will respond favorably to 60-80% of properties along the transit corridors (percentage by linear feet of frontage) being included in the overlay.
Can the ANC help with this?
ANA also recommends adding a conditional overlay to some VMU-overlay properties to protect neighbors from unconscionable development. Brewster McCracken is holding meetings looking at alternative equivalent compliance requests from developers and conditional overlay requests from neighborhoods to consider changes to the ordinance as currently specified.
Allandale has 5 different methods to react to VMU:
a) Continue with VMU application process.
b) Attend Brewster McCracken meetings to influence changes to the design standard ordinance, which contains VMU.
c) Exert political pressure to remove small lots from VMU zoning.
d) Challenge the legality of the VMU zoning change which did not allow for the right of petition when changing zoning to VMU.
e) Help build a common image for north central Austin.
Neighboring NA’s:
Jonathan met with the surrounding 5 neighborhood associations leaders to discuss issues of concern. Most of the other neighborhoods big issue is the lack of code enforcement.
Hangtown Grill:
Hangtown Grill requested permission to distribute vouchers to neighbors at the Ice Cream Social for a free meal during a pre-opening training exercise. The ex comm voted unanimously to deny their request.
Jonathan, Steve, Tim, Jerry, Eddie, Don, Mike, (Dave showed up later)
Ice Cream Social:
Steve asked for volunteers to assist with the ice cream distribution at the ice cream social on the 12th. He also asked for people with water coolers to bring them to the social.
Affordable Housing and Ryan Austin Energy Property:
Eddie introduced Heather Way who represents groups working for affordable housing in Austin. Her organization’s goal is to get 25% affordable housing in new developments. 10% of this can be achieved with developer incentives for higher density. The remainder can typically only be accomplished through the acquisition of public lands donated specifically for affordable housing. The 25% is their goal because, at that level, federal funding can be received for a project. Because of the ongoing discussion with the city on the eventual use of the publically-owned Austin Energy site on Ryan Dr., Heather wanted to suggest that we consider working toward having that site be donated by the city for affordable housing development. For her organization to be able to apply for federal grants for next year, they would need to know by December of this year what the eventual use for that land would be. This item was tabled pending further discussion regarding the effects of developing this property (park land in Crestview, land swaps, pedestrian access to the TOD, density increases, etc.).
Variance Request:
Heidi, Chair for the Land Use Committee, presented a summary report regarding the owner’s request for a variance of the property on 1713 Justin Ln. The executive committee voted unanimously not to oppose the request for variance.
ANA Experience With VMU Application Process:
Members of the Allandale Neighborhood Association discussed their experience with the city regarding their neighborhood’s VMU Opt-In/Opt-Out Process Application. They were originally encouraged to be creative with their application response, coming up with their own incentives and conditions for VMU on various properties in their neighborhood. They later learned that the Planning Commission did not want any deviation from the application as laid out (i.e. property by property exclusion, or opt in/out). They have had a negative experience – 5350 Burnet Rd - with a developer promising 80 condos and changing to 160 apartments, and there was nothing they could do about it under the VMU overlay. They believe that the VMU overlay process was illegal as it was a zoning change that denied/denies the neighborhood right to petition. They are working on one hand to restore the neighborhood right to petition, while continuing on with the application process. They have had some success excluding properties from the VMU overlay that are shallow lots (less than 200 ft.), or have historical importance or contribute to neighborhood character. Other properties may require the property owner and others within 200ft to petition to be excluded. It is believed that the Planning Commission will respond favorably to 60-80% of properties along the transit corridors (percentage by linear feet of frontage) being included in the overlay.
Can the ANC help with this?
ANA also recommends adding a conditional overlay to some VMU-overlay properties to protect neighbors from unconscionable development. Brewster McCracken is holding meetings looking at alternative equivalent compliance requests from developers and conditional overlay requests from neighborhoods to consider changes to the ordinance as currently specified.
Allandale has 5 different methods to react to VMU:
a) Continue with VMU application process.
b) Attend Brewster McCracken meetings to influence changes to the design standard ordinance, which contains VMU.
c) Exert political pressure to remove small lots from VMU zoning.
d) Challenge the legality of the VMU zoning change which did not allow for the right of petition when changing zoning to VMU.
e) Help build a common image for north central Austin.
Neighboring NA’s:
Jonathan met with the surrounding 5 neighborhood associations leaders to discuss issues of concern. Most of the other neighborhoods big issue is the lack of code enforcement.
Hangtown Grill:
Hangtown Grill requested permission to distribute vouchers to neighbors at the Ice Cream Social for a free meal during a pre-opening training exercise. The ex comm voted unanimously to deny their request.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
VMU Committee 07.08.08 Meeting Minutes
Present:
Heidi, Mike, Larkin, Pam, Jonathan, Don, +? (father and son team, left early)
Jonathan explained the VMU application process.
Heidi presented the results of her property-by-property research, listing the addresses, owners, zoning, and places of business for the properties included in the VMU overlay.
The committee went over part of the list of properties, those along Lamar Blvd. and those along Burnet Rd. north of Richcreek Rd., to decide which properties should be excluded from the VMU overlay. It is believed that 60-80% (percentage by linear footage of the lots along the transit corridors) of the properties must be included for the application to be accepted by the Planning Commission.
All of the properties considered were voted to be included in the overlay except:
* St. Louis Church - Mike will ask the church on their opinion of being zoned civic, GR, or VMU
* Top Notch - This property was viewed to possess historical/neighborhood character qualities that makes it an asset worthy of preservation in Crestview.
* Corner of Lamar and Anderson - Some contention led us to table this property pending further discussion.
The next meeting will discuss the church and the Lamar & Anderson property along with those properties not yet considered (i.e. along Burnet Rd., south of Richcreek Rd.). Pam will ask the owners of the Dallas Nightclub (and nearby businesses) property of their desire for inclusion or exclusion into the VMU overlay.
The next meeting was scheduled for July 23rd.
Heidi, Mike, Larkin, Pam, Jonathan, Don, +? (father and son team, left early)
Jonathan explained the VMU application process.
Heidi presented the results of her property-by-property research, listing the addresses, owners, zoning, and places of business for the properties included in the VMU overlay.
The committee went over part of the list of properties, those along Lamar Blvd. and those along Burnet Rd. north of Richcreek Rd., to decide which properties should be excluded from the VMU overlay. It is believed that 60-80% (percentage by linear footage of the lots along the transit corridors) of the properties must be included for the application to be accepted by the Planning Commission.
All of the properties considered were voted to be included in the overlay except:
* St. Louis Church - Mike will ask the church on their opinion of being zoned civic, GR, or VMU
* Top Notch - This property was viewed to possess historical/neighborhood character qualities that makes it an asset worthy of preservation in Crestview.
* Corner of Lamar and Anderson - Some contention led us to table this property pending further discussion.
The next meeting will discuss the church and the Lamar & Anderson property along with those properties not yet considered (i.e. along Burnet Rd., south of Richcreek Rd.). Pam will ask the owners of the Dallas Nightclub (and nearby businesses) property of their desire for inclusion or exclusion into the VMU overlay.
The next meeting was scheduled for July 23rd.
Land Use Committee 6.25.2008 Meeting Minutes
present: Heidi, Brad, Cheryl
discussion items:
- I brought new member Brad up-to-date on our committee (He's an attorney who works with cities - not Austin - on land use issues) and invited him to join in on the VMU meetings - he's interested.
- Cheryl reported that she has followed up on the KAB grant info, and plans to apply.
She is considering projects for tree and / or wildflower planting along Arroyo Seco behind the Minimax. If this project comes to pass - we'll need to organize some volunteer help - a fun neighborhood project? More on that later?
- Cheryl is also doing some work in conjunction with the Crestview Baptist Church
and Tree People. She has organized a project to plant trees in the right-of-way along the South side of Dartmouth, and may need volunteers for this as well? I asked her to write up a little blurb about this project and submit it to Jonathan for possible publication on the website / newsletter? (As I think I am not doing her proper justice here in my brief summary)
- I also suggested that the traffic calming project might result in a few new islands / opportunities
which could benefit from her interest in, and talent for beautification / planting. So as that process
moves along, we should look for ways to collaborate.
- Cheryl also suggested that a project she would like to undertake is one involving some nifty Crestview signage - similar to the Brentwood markers? She will talk with the Brentwood folks about what it took to get this done in their neighborhood and maybe start formulating a budget / plan?
- We briefly discussed the variance request on Justin Lane. Brad and I will meet with the applicant next week and review the particulars of the case with him. We will forward a letter to the Executive Committee and to the Board of Adjustment ultimately. Our main point of concern is to verify that the adjacent neighbor has no complaints.
- Brad and I discussed formulating a zoning / code / permit process FAQ list for the website.
Submitted by Heidi Goebel, Land Use Committee Chair
discussion items:
- I brought new member Brad up-to-date on our committee (He's an attorney who works with cities - not Austin - on land use issues) and invited him to join in on the VMU meetings - he's interested.
- Cheryl reported that she has followed up on the KAB grant info, and plans to apply.
She is considering projects for tree and / or wildflower planting along Arroyo Seco behind the Minimax. If this project comes to pass - we'll need to organize some volunteer help - a fun neighborhood project? More on that later?
- Cheryl is also doing some work in conjunction with the Crestview Baptist Church
and Tree People. She has organized a project to plant trees in the right-of-way along the South side of Dartmouth, and may need volunteers for this as well? I asked her to write up a little blurb about this project and submit it to Jonathan for possible publication on the website / newsletter? (As I think I am not doing her proper justice here in my brief summary)
- I also suggested that the traffic calming project might result in a few new islands / opportunities
which could benefit from her interest in, and talent for beautification / planting. So as that process
moves along, we should look for ways to collaborate.
- Cheryl also suggested that a project she would like to undertake is one involving some nifty Crestview signage - similar to the Brentwood markers? She will talk with the Brentwood folks about what it took to get this done in their neighborhood and maybe start formulating a budget / plan?
- We briefly discussed the variance request on Justin Lane. Brad and I will meet with the applicant next week and review the particulars of the case with him. We will forward a letter to the Executive Committee and to the Board of Adjustment ultimately. Our main point of concern is to verify that the adjacent neighbor has no complaints.
- Brad and I discussed formulating a zoning / code / permit process FAQ list for the website.
Submitted by Heidi Goebel, Land Use Committee Chair
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