Hog-Pen Transportation Meeting (Jackie Robinson)

Links to all documents

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1avTh4zffRcz-2D2CkZ2_cdBT-RQki8de?usp=sharing

From Scott Grantham

On: Wednesday, December 6, at 2pm

At: Austin Transportation Department - 3701 Lake Austin Blvd.

Please find attached:

-          Ms. Susan Tingley’s slide presentation which will be given at the meeting
-          The Neighborhood Traffic Analysis (NTA) prepared by Ms. Mehrnaz Mehraein of the Development Services Department.

Please review these prior to the meeting. The major take-homes from the NTA are that the applicant will be required to do mitigation (i.e. construct something beyond what is already required for site development). Simply summarized, the mitigation will be to complete the sidewalk along the north side of Jackie Robinson from Tannehill to Delano, and on the east side of Delano from Jackie Robinson to Fort Branch, and to construct an ADA-accessible curb ramp at Delano and Fort Branch - see page 3 of the NTA, conclusion #2.

Below is a basic agenda for the meeting. Although this is subject to change, it is important to have some time standards to make sure everyone can present, and we come away with something meaningful.

I.                    Introductions and setting the framework – Scott G. (10 mins)
II.                  Presentation of neighborhood research on operational issues in the area – Susan T. and others. (20 mins)
III.                NTA – findings and required mitigation for Jackie Robinson Residential proposed rezoning – Natalia R. and Mehrnaz M. (20 mins)
IV.                Current plans for the area / Service Request process – Cole K., Joel M (transportation), and John E. (sidewalks). (20 mins)
V.                  Next steps – forwarding the action – brief time for questions -  Scott G. (15 mins).

On Tuesday, I will be providing you all with an aerial exhibit, graciously prepared by Ms. Carol Gibbs, to show existing sidewalks, required sidewalks, and mitigation sidewalks. I’ll have some extra copies at the meeting as well.

From John Eastman

Thanks for sharing the map of sidewalk improvements associated with the new development. I’ve attached a preview of the draft 2018 Local Mobility Annual Plan (LMAP) sidewalk improvements for the area. The draft plan incorporated input from the neighborhood. There will also be additional rehabilitation work in the area coordinated with the public and private investments in new sidewalks to ensure the new sidewalks are connected into complete functional routes. Based on my initial review it appears that the plans are complementary and would result in a comprehensive upgrade to sidewalk infrastructure in the area.

The draft 2018 LMAP should be available to the public by December 12th on the 2016 Mobility bond website. It is still a draft plan and is subject to revision based on public feedback. The 2018 LMAP will be finalized in February; projects included in the final 2018 LMAP will then be scheduled for construction over the following 12 months as contracts and crews become available.

From Susan Tingley

·  Preserving 98% of the trees 8” or over in diameter.

·  Rain water retention and release of the completed development to be at least 110% of the current undeveloped property, using three retention ponds.

·  Engineered abatement of all of the “fill” piles on the property.  

·  Protection for the homeowners against the failure of the foundation (due to building on a site with previous “fill” piles) by a 10-20 year warranty that covers foundation failure due to any reason.  We would prefer at least a 15 year warranty.

·  Two of the three buildings that are designated as three stories shall be toward the interior of the property, not to intrude visually on the one story single family homes as much as reasonably possible.

·  A $5000 contribution to the neighborhood to be used for improvements to the neighborhood as deemed appropriate by The Hog Pen Neighborhood Association and the East MLK Combined Contact Team.  

·  City of Austin testing for contaminants in the creek water flowing through the property and taking proper mitigation measures if necessary.  (Neighbors have witnessed what appears to be contaminants in the water on the opposite side of the Jackie Robinson bridge from the subject property.)

·  Completion of sidewalks along both streets bordering the property.

·  Placement of all constructed sidewalks (including any built off-site) to be 2-3 feet (or more) off the street as much as is possible during the construction process.  In other words, not adjoining the curb, if possible; as long as this does not conflict with site development requirement

From Jim Witleaf/Developers

A few counterpoints to your list:

I represented that we plan to save an estimated 98% of the “significant” sized trees 12” and larger. I specifically told you that I do not know (or care) how many 8” trees are removed, since we will be required to provide mitigation (replacement) for them.

Foundation warrantees will be provided to the HOA for a term agreed by both parties. There will be no other parties to the foundation warrantees.

Per City of Austin Compatibility regulations, all 40 foot tall buildings must be located a minimum distance of 50 feet from any SF-5 or more restrictive property.

Now that the City has asked the property owners to build off-site sidewalks and handicap ramps at an estimated cost of $35,000 to $40,000, the $5,000 Community Benefit money will go towards off-site sidewalks.

Sidewalks will only be built on one side of the streets, adjacent to the property.

Per the City’s standard, sidewalks are to be constructed 2 feet behind the curb, unless there are obstructions that need to be avoided.

From Susan Tingley

The right-of-way we were talking about is not on Delano, but numerous other possible but non-existent streets that are shown on the FLUM.  I see I need to re-write that part of our letter to be more clear.  There is no possible way to widen Delano, nor would we ever want that.  There may be a way to construct some or one of the other non-existent streets shown on the FLUM, so that is what we are talking about.

As far as bulb-outs, striping, bike lanes, etc. etc. for calming traffic on Delano, we can and will give the city feedback on that and let the city engineers design it.  We will be working with the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan where we can have a say in improving Delano, but that will not happen at this moment for this development.

All of the conditions we listed were discussed with Jim Wittliff, the developer's agent, however, once the conditions were put into writing, some areas of disagreement came to light, so there are a few areas that are still being negotiated.

Jon, good point!  I will add what you suggested to the letter.  

Regarding the ordinance, we must work with Council Member Houston for that.  I have called her office a number of times, and am expecting a call back for an appointment to get in there before Tuesday.  Her aides say she (and they) are slammed right now.  The letter may change once I talk with her office.

It turns out that our conditions need to go into a Private Restrictive Covenant.  Jim said that the developer will pay for the legal expertise to achieve that.  However, it would be great if we had an attorney on our team, that could look at the Covenant, and tell us it is good.  I assume we don't have that at this time, but we should consider recruiting one to our team.  

Anyone know of an attorney with expertise in building contracts who might help us pro bono just for this, right now?  The developer's attorney will draft the covenant, our's would only read it and make suggestions. 

Scott Grantham

Planning Commission, Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 6pm, City Hall, City Council Chambers.

The meeting will start at 6. Please plan to be there to check on the items and sign up to speak if you wish.

1.       The meeting will start with the reading of the agenda, and, if no postponement requests are made, these items (neighborhood plan amendment and rezoning case) will be offered for Discussion.

2.       The Commission will dive into the meeting, and they will first hear a Code Next item which will take 1 – 2 hours! You may want to leave one lucky person to remain behind, and send a text to the rest when this item is wrapping up.

3.       Then Discussion items will be heard. These items are #7 and 8 on the agenda. By my reckoning there is only one pair of items that will actually be heard before yours. Not sure how long those will take.

4.       For your items, I will present first, then the applicant, then everyone who has signed up to speak.

From Susan Tingley

Some of us went to the Planning Commission meeting last night.  We had prepared a letter opposing the zoning change and Neighborhood Plan change request by the developer who recently purchased land on the corner of Jackie Robinson and Delano.  They are wanting to go from SF3 to SF6.  That basically means they want to build about 62 condo units rather than 28 single family units.  However, due to the configuration of the land and roads, and financial considerations regarding engineered abatement of the "fill" piles, I don't believe they could actually build 28 single family homes under the current zoning.  I don't know how many, but most probably much fewer than 28.

Anyway, a new proposal came up from Trinity (one of the commissioners) (I forget her last name) that we agree to a lesser number of units than 62, the amount to be determined by acceptable traffic levels on Delano.  You see, the city had determined that the requested zoning would allow a maximum of 64 condo units and that would put traffic on Delano at 1,919 vehicle trips per day.  (Acceptable is 1800.)    

We got a postponement in order to try to work this out with the developer's agent.   

Needless to say, there are many details and many pros and cons regarding this development and its approval process that are too numerous to put in this email.  

We will update everyone on Dec 18 at the EMLK meeting.