South River City Citizens (SRCC): minutes for meeting of general membership, December 3, 2012

South River City Citizens (SRCC): minutes for meeting of general membership, December 3, 2012 return to SRCC home page

MEETING OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP OF SRCC
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012
7:15 PM
GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
205 East Monroe; Austin, Texas

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. 7:15 Meeting procedures, etiquette, welcome newcomers
Presenter throughout: Marc Davis, President, unless otherwise noted
2. 7:20 Membership & voting announcements.
Presenter: Carol Martin, Vice President and Membership Chair
New membership fee structure effective immediately. If you pay multiple years in advance, you will get a discount.
Single membership: 1-yr $20; 2-yr $35; 3-yr $50
Family membership: 1-yr $35; 2-yr $65; 3-yr $95
* There WILL be a general SRCC meeting on Monday January 7th, 2013. Although we usually skip January due to the New Year holiday, this year the 1st Monday falls a week later, and we have issues to cover.
* The Annual SRCC Potluck will be Tuesday March 5th, 2013. Because the Annual Potluck starts at 6:00 pm, and GUMC Fellowship Hall is not available on Mondays until 7:15pm; we hold this special meeting on a Tuesday. Remember: Annual meeting is 1 hour earlier and 1 day later.
3. 7:25 Approve minutes from November 5, 2012, last regular monthly meeting
MOTION: Eric Rangel / Russell Frasier - to approve the minutes = PASSED
4. 7:28 Treasurer's Report, November 2012
Presenter: Les Case, Treasurer
Account reconciliation, Profit & Loss and Balance reports available from treasurer
5. 7:35 Committee Chairs' reports--
1) Parks, Schools, Environment Parker Lane and Wind Oak is the location of the new pocket park called ‘Heritage Oaks Park.’
2) Planning & Zoning (report below)
3) Transportation & Public Safety - no report
4) Norwood; Last week the parks department approved the agreement to renovate and operate the Norwood House
5) Historic District; no report
8) Financial; no report
9) Reps to ANC Austin Neighborhoods Council; "The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) is dedicated to planning, prioritizing, and developing strategies to end homelessness in Austin/Travis County, TX. ECHO provides dynamic proactive leadership that engages policy makers and the community in ending homelessness. Working with 90 community members monthly from local non-profits, businesses and government, ECHO develops, prioritizes, and promotes strategies to prevent end homelessness." Each year ECHO uses volunteers to count the homeless to assist with advocacy. This years dates are Jan. 25 & 26 with training dates Jan. 12 & 13. For more info and/or to sign up go to: austinecho.org/count Questions? Write homelesscountaustin@gmail.com or call Tera 247-8678. The city is looking for participants to help flesh out the details for the new 10-1 City Council plan, the newly formed Commission's main objective will be to slice up the City that is representative of the ever-changing demographics and geography. If you would like to voice your opinion, you can send an email to: oca_auditor@austintexas.gov
10) Communication (report below)

OLD BUSINESS
6. 7:40 Zoning change: 518 Oltorf [at Rebel Road] upzoning and FLUM (Future Land Use Maps) change request
Presenters: Jean Mather, co-chair Zoning & Planning committee; Terry Franz, member Neighborhood Plan Contact Team; Jean Mather, co-chair Zoning & Planning committee; Terry Franz, member Neighborhood Plan Contact Team; Alice Glasco, Client Representative; Mark Vornberg, Architect
The owner of the property is looking to retire his practice so the property is under contract as he tries to sell it. There is an insurance agency and a dentistry in the building and it is located three doors west of Curra’s. They are looking to change the zoning to GR (general retail) from GO (general office) so as to house a restaurant. The original ceiling is very low and would be raised. A tree currently in front of the building would be kept and a deck built around it with no plan for outdoor music. 40 parking spots are required and there are 40 proposed in the plan. The seating would accommodate approximately 100 customers. The zoning conditions can prohibit things like live amplified outdoor music. There is also a basement space that could house retail. The rear alley space would be the location where the deliveries and collections would take place with Rebel Road being the access for the alley. As a restaurant they would be allowed to serve alcohol despite the distance to the church but it cannot be a bar. The potential buyer agreed to GR zoning with LR restrictions and height restrictions. The NPCT has voted not to support the request given the restaurant related odors, late night traffic, delivery truck traffic and other issues that were identified.
MOTION: Sarah Cambell / Claudette Lowe - to support the position of the NPCT = PASSED

NEW BUSINESS
7. 8:00 Variance request for 204 Park Ln. to decrease the minimum back setback from 10 to 5 ft
Presenter: Jean Mather, Chair of Planning & Zoning Committe; Craig Adair, Applicant
The applicant is requesting a variance for the rear lot setback from 10 ft to 5 ft. The committee recommends supporting the variance given the small size of the lot and that the neighbor next door with the same issue was given the same variance for the same reason. The property also contains a large portion of the critical root zone of two large oak trees and this change will help protect them.
8. 8:10 Variance request for 1336 Bonham Ter. to decrease the minimum front setback from 25 to 5 ft
Presenter: Jean Mather, Chair of Planning & Zoning Committe; Michael Hide, Applicant
The property forms a triangle on Bonham Terrace and Kenwood so the city was undecided on which street the address should exist. The house is situated along the back of the property with a garage on one side and a “back” yard on the other. The shape of the front yard is triangular and the setbacks make it prohibitive to use. There is much history on the property that supports the request.
MOTION: Jean Mather / David Swann - to support the variance request = PASSED
9. 8:20 Proposal to write a letter in support of the City's plan to purchase Joe's Crab Shack and make it part of the park system in conjunction with the new extended Lake Trail
Presenter: David Todd, Chair of Parks Committee
Joe’s Crab Shack is for sale for $5.4 million and the city has been looking at possibly buying it with PARD being the prospective department to be housed there. The current zoning would allow for a 200’ tall building.
MOTION: David Todd / Sarah Campbell - to write a letter to the city recommending the city purchase the property = PASSED
10. 8:25 Welcome new members to Communication Committee, Kristen Haga and Jason Moline
Presenter: Marc Davis, President
We have new volunteers on the Communication Committee who have stepped up to help with the website. The goal is to increase our reach by leveraging all the tools at our disposal and develop additional tools.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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