The Wooten Neighborhood Contact team met on October 7 at Nosh and Bevy to discuss the posted items on the agenda. Contact team members, neighborhood members, and interested parties attended.
Toyota Permit Dealership
Before the meeting, the contact team members received updated documents from the Toyota dealership, including screening items, photometric plans, and the city’s updated comments on their plans.
The updated photometric plan included enough detail to address concerns about light pollution and light entering the neighbors’ homes facing the dealership.
The current members also discussed the dealership’s proposed screening. Discussion surrounded whether the dealership would be willing to change the proposed screening from concrete grated screens to wood screens similar to those found in Mueller Parking Garage. The Chair mentioned that they would send an update to the Toyota Dealership representative to discuss this option.
2020 Anderson
The 2020 Anderson Rezoning request is to remove the Conditional Overlay under Part 10, line #14 of ordinance number 040401-32A as it relates to tract #30, to develop the maximum number of dwelling units allowed under the Density Bonus Combining District. The original rezoning request was to change the zoning from GR-CO-NP to GR-DBC60-NP allowing a max height of 120ft. After the candidate spoke with the Austin Planning Department, they stated that because the rapid transit is ½ mile and not ¼ mile away, city staff would support only a DBC45, not a DBC60. The DBC45 max height is 105ft. (see image below).
This zoning change would allow the developer to increase the number of available dwelling units to 350, from 134.
Discussion around this case revolved around items to discuss with the developers, including continuing our path of making the neighborhood more walkable and connected. Specifically, discussions revolved around whether the developer should be asked to implement underground parking, to implement a parking cap, and to decouple the parking from the units.
In addition, there were discussions about building and sustaining green spaces. Specifically, it was discussed requesting a walk and bike trail that would connect Brockman to Anderson and having a potential pocket park in that area since Wooten Park is more than half a mile away.
A Wooten resident impacted by this development attended the meeting and raised concerns about the height of this rezoning.
Elections
The Chair discussed holding an election for Chair and Secretary as required by the bylaws; however, no eligible candidates came forward during the meeting. Discussion then continued on the bylaws themselves, as they may not ensure the Contact team can meet current and future needs. This includes previous discussions about the future of the contact teams once rezoning cases reduce.
With no eligible candidates and a need to review the bylaws, the meeting ended with the next steps including sending out proposed revisions to the bylaws for discussion at the October meeting.