From Wooten Neighborhood Plan Contact Team - May 2, 2024

		  Response from Anderson Square Property owners – May 15, 2024

	Regarding the redevelopment of the 16 acres adjacent to Anderson Square Dr.  The Wooten Neighborhood Plan Contact Team and the Wooten Neighborhood Association will likely support the up zoning of the property for future mixed-use development.  With our approval we wish to convey our hopes and wants for the outcome of the redevelopment.  Most of our “asks” will probably concern the development plan phase, not the zoning phase, but there may be issues which relate to zoning, so we want them considered at the rezoning hearing.

Response: with the support of the Wooten Neighborhood Plan Contact Team for CH-PDA-NP zoning with a maximum building height of 250 feet, the property owners will enter into a restrictive covenant for the acceptable items below.
 
1)	Attractive retail environment. We would like attractive businesses such as grocery stores, restaurants, bars, hair salons, retail shops. Something like the domain or the triangle.  Can this be ensured by a Restrictive Covenant or a Zoning Ordinance, or by other means?

Response:  Create "People Places" with commercial/retail and residential uses and amenities that enhance a sense of community. 

2)	Pedestrian friendly. We would like a nice pedestrian environment, with small parks or places for people to walk their pets.  Provide plenty of shade from planted trees or other constructions.  Space for a small farmers market, food trucks, small outdoor music venue.  Features like these would attract us to the site. Can this request be ensured by a Restrictive Covenant or a Zoning Ordinance, or by other means?

Response:  Development of the property will be designed in accordance with the City of Austin Land Development Code relating to commercial design standards outlined in Subchapter E, specifically section 2.25 (internal circulation routes); and section 2.7 ( private common open space and pedestrian amenities.
  
3)	Easy pedestrian Traversal of Property. Easy pedestrian access across the property for Wooten residents walking to and from the North Lamar Transit Center.  Current conditions for crossing Anderson Square are not pedestrian friendly.  Arrange for an entrance driveway to the property along Anderson Square Dr. aligned with the location where Dale Drive would connect to Anderson Square if it were connected. Connecting Dale Drive Is a city issue, not zoning, but reconnection Dale Drive , at least for pedestrians only, would be a big plus for our residents accessing this site.  Make sure the zoning does nothing to prohibit this.  Can this be ensured by a Restrictive Covenant or a Zoning Ordinance, or by other means?

Response: Redevelopment of the property will include a driveway to Anderson Square that aligns with the future extension of Dale Drive to allow for future connectivity through the property that is east of Anderson Square Road as reflected in the Zoning Traffic Analysis approved by the City of Austin Transportation Department and summarized in a memo dated February 28, 2024.

4)	Parking. Parking for the residential towers and retail businesses should be put below the ground like was done at the “Anderson” apartments on Anderson Lane.  Make sure the zoning category allows for this.  This will probably add expense but will make the resulting environment much nicer for all.  Extra building height can be negotiated against such requests.  How does zoning affect this possibility? Can this be ensured by a Restrictive Covenant or a Zoning Ordinance, or by other means?

Response: Underground parking is too expensive.  To address this concern, parking garages will be screened in accordance with Subchapter E (Commercial Design standards) of the City’s Land Development Code, Article 3  - building design standards section 3.2 (glazing and façade relief).

5)	Transit Connectivity. Let the northern terminus of the Project Connect light rail line (now planned to stop at 38th and Lamar) be at this site, not crossing 183 to the Transit Center. Instead, it could veer to the east at Morrow and follow the line of 183 north to stop along that edge of the property.  This will save money for the rail line and create an ideal end point for that eventual line.  Let the zoning be such that this would be possible.  Make the property zoning consistent with transit-oriented zoning, even though current plans do not reach this site.
Can this be ensured by a Restrictive Covenant or a Zoning Ordinance, or by other means?

Response: The property owners do not have control over the proposed alignment or location of Project Connect light rail. 

 6) 	Affordability. The neighborhood members feel strongly that affordability of housing is a large problem in Austin.  We hope that the apartment units created by this up-zoned property will provide housing which is “affordable”.  We are aware that this is a large, city-wide problem which no single project will solve.  We would like a reasonable portion of the rental units to be affordable. Can this be ensured by a Restrictive Covenant or a Zoning Ordinance, or by other means?

1.	Response:  a. For a residential development with a building height between 61 feet and 120 feet, a minimum of 10% of the residential units will be reserved as affordable (i)  (if for-sale residential) for at least 99 years from the date of initial sale, for ownership and occupancy by households earning 80% or less of the current Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area Median Family Income as determined by the Director of the Housing and Planning Department,   or (ii) (if for-lease residential) for at least 40 years from the date of issuance of the certificate of occupancy for lease and occupancy by households earning  50 percent or less of the current Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area  Median Family Income as determined by the Director of the Housing Department; and 
b. For a residential development with a building height between 121 feet and 250 feet, a minimum of 12% of the residential units will be reserved as affordable (i) (if for-sale residential) for at least 99 years from the date of initial sale, for ownership and occupancy by households earning 80% or less of the current Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area Median Family Income as determined by the Director of the Housing and Planning Department,  or (ii) (if for-lease residential) for at least 40 years from the date of issuance of the certificate of occupancy for lease and occupancy by households earning  60 percent or less of the current Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area Median Family Income as determined by the Director of the Housing Department. 

7)	The Pink Gorilla.  This site, being mainly an asphalt parking lot, lacks much “personality” with the exception of a Pink Gorilla located near the bingo parlor.  We playfully would like the pink gorilla to be preserved or commemorated at the site.  We propose the light rail station terminus be called the pink gorilla station. Can this be ensured by a Restrictive Covenant or a Zoning Ordinance, or by other means?

Response: The owners will endeavor to keep the pink gorilla onsite, if it is feasible, or donate it to the City of Austin’s Parks Department to be placed at the Wooten neighborhood park.