The Allandale Reporter

ANA Executive Committee Meeting 6-28-2006

 Many thanks to Wendy Wilson and her husband Peter Eckert for the design and printing of the Allandale t-shirt. A special thanks to Kathleen Vale O’Hara for the winning tagline – Allandale Hugged by Shoal Creek Loved by All. The t-shirts were a hot item before the meeting. They will be available for purchase at the Allandale 4^th of July Parade!

Prior to the Executive Committee Meeting was the initial meeting for the Allandale Neighborhood Planning process, which is set to begin at the end of the year.

Allandale T-Shirts are In

They're Here! The official 2006 Allandale Neighborhood t-shirts are in and ready for purchase. Thanks to Wendy Wilson and her husband Peter Eckert for the design and having them printed. The t-shirt displays the winning tagline submitted by Kathleen Vale O'Hara:  "Allandale, hugged by Shoal Creek" on the front, "loved by all" on the back along with the website URL. The women showing off the t-shirt in the photo are Gerry Schwartz, Kay Newell, and Susan Frank.  The t-shirts will be available for sale at the 4th of July Parade. The price is $12 or 2 for $20.

Late night Permit Request - Dry Dock

submitted by Cynthia Keohane

The request for a late night permit at Allandale Village is on the ANA Executive Board agenda for 7:30–8:00 PM Wednesday, June 28, at the Yarborough Library on Hancock   Drive. Monica Moore, agent for the business owner, has agreed to attend and present her client’s plans.

The owner is Gail Johnson, who owns Canary Hut Pub, Canary Roost Pub, Ego's, and The Pub in Round Rock. The new restaurant is slated to be a combination restaurant and karaoke bar, called The Dry Dock at Canary Nest.

This permit would allow the restaurant/bar to operate until 2 AM daily. Without the permit it can stay open until midnight.

Neighbors who live close to this property are concerned that a late night permit would lead to an increase in crime, noise, and drunkenness around the Allandale Village shopping center and particularly in the rear of the property where it backs up to the neighborhood. They welcome a good restaurant in the space but want to avoid the problems that are likely to come with the late hours permit.

The meeting with the owner’s representative is intended to help identify any points of compromise, should compromise prove necessary, as well as to build a bridge between the neighbors and the new business owner.

The City of Austin case manager for this case is Senior Planner, Kathy Haught: kathy.haught@ci.austin.tx.us, phone 974-2724. The Case Number is SPC-06-0007A. The case may come before the City Zoning and Platting Commission as early as July 18. The city will send a notification letter to all “stakeholders” - neighbors and business owners within 300 feet of the restaurant – in advance of the meeting.

SF Regs: Council approves new site development regs

Today before noon, the City Council completed approval of new site development regulations for single-family and other non-multi-family residential development. The vote was 7-0 (all council members in favor). These regulations go into effect on October 1.

Is there a Wal-mart in our Future?

The good news is Northcross will be getting a  facelift. What may not be such good news  for some is Wal-mart is being mentioned as part of the new face. Northcross Mall has been languishing for some time with many of the stores vacant or occupied by tenants not typically found in a retail  mall.  Yesterday the Austin American-Statesman reported on the planned redevelopment speculating that Wal-mart may be on the list of new tenants. Reactions from the neighborhood based on discussion on the ANA listserve are mixed. Some support the idea, some are strongly against it, and others would welcome Wal-mart's presence with conditions. Not sure ANA would have a say in the matter. It doesn't appear a zoning variance will be required because the mall is already zoned commercial. Other than the reporter who interviewed ANA's president, Gretchen Vaden for the article, no one is asking for the neighborhood's input. What is clear is Dallas-based Lincoln Property is purchasing the mall and is well underway with plans for its redevelopment. Anderson and Burnet Rd is a  prime mall location. Wal-mart has not publicly said they are considering the location. The design for the new development is expected in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Votes are In - Sidwalks Coming to SCB

From Jennifer Herber, City of Austin Public Information/

Public Works:

Majority for sidewalk on both sides of Shoal Creek Blvd.; next steps

Public Works has completed the validation and tallying process for the Shoal Creek Blvd. (W. 38th St. to Foster Lane) sidewalk issue. Eighty-four percent of respondents favor sidewalk on one or both sides of the boulevard. Sixty-two percent of those favor sidewalk on both sides of the street.  

Farmer's Market Up for Sale

The Farmer's Market on Burnet Rd. is up for sale and the new owners see the possibilities. According to today's article in the Statesman, 6601 Partners, the group that developed the adjacent Academy store and Penn Field on South Congress, is the likely buyer. No surprise, there is a lot of new development on Burnet Rd these days. Consider Rosedale Village, Amy's Ice Cream, and the retail development underway accross from Curra's. Read the full article here. The Market will remain open until  2008.

Notes From May ANA Executive Committee Meeting

submitted by Kay Newell

ANA Executive Committee Meeting 5-24-2006

Gretchen Vaden, President ANA opened the meeting.

John Kelly, VP DMJM Harris – gave an update on the Loop 1/MOPAC Corridor Project. The proposed interim project involves the possibility of adding one managed lane on each side of MOPAC from the river to Parmer Lane. The project has to show a need for increased capacity in order to proceed with the sound walls. If at the end of the project the collective decision is that no improvement or increased capacity can be undertaken, then there will be no sound walls. The outcome hinges on the ability to increase capacity on MOPAC.

City Council Approved Task Force Recommendations

from Tina Bui, City of Austin Neighborhood Planning & Zoning Dept.  

 Early this morning on June 9, the City Council approved an ordinance on 1st & 2nd readings based on the Single-Family Regulations Task Force’s recommendations. The effective date approved is October 1. The Council removed the creation of the Residential Design Review Commission from the ordinance, so when reading the ordinance, consider any relevant sections stricken.

The Council will be scheduled to consider the 3rd and final reading on June 22. More details on that later. They have closed the public hearing.

For updated information, please visit the website about this issue: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/sf_regs.htm.

Outcome of Planning Commission Meeting

from a post to the listserve from Chris Allen

Hi Neighbors:

Last night, the Planning Commission (PC) voted to forward a statement of issues and recommendations to the City Council, requesting that Council grant the Task Force more time to finalize their recommendations.

The following recommendations were included as part of the PC motion:

- Recommend a FAR of 0.4 for single-family structures and a FAR of 0.5 for duplexes and garage apartments.

- Recommend the building envelope as proposed by the Task Force

Allandale Sidwalk Project

from the Allandale listserve:

All that remains to be done on the Allandale Sidewalk Project is to complete the corner at Marilyn and Allandale. Some traffic signal conduit needed to be lowered so that it would not conflict with the sidewalk. This was being done yesterday and should be completed today. We should complete the sidewalk at this location by Friday.

Highlights ot Task Force Recommendations

contrbuted by Chris Allen

Hi Neighbors:

The work of the Single Family Development Regulations Task Force is coming to an end, and this will be a big week. The draft ordinance goes to Planning Commission on Tuesday night and to City Council on Thursday. Below is a summary of the highlights of the changes to the Land Development Code we're recommending. Take a look at it, think about how it all affects you and your neighborhood and COME TO THE HEARING ON THURSDAY!!

Hearings on SF Task Force Recommendations This Week

According to the recommendations of the SF Development Task Force, central city homes will be limited to 2,300 square feet or square footage that is no more than 40 percent of their lot size. 

Two public hearings regarding the Single Family Task Force recommendations are scheduled this week. The first is on Tuesday with the Planning Commission. The second is with the City Council on Thursday. You can get the details of the recommendations at the City's website. The Austin American-Statesman also had a write-up on the Task Force's recommendations in today's paper , "Austinhome size limits up for votes this week." 

Tues, June 6 - Planning Commission meeting, One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road 7:00 PM, Room 325 (3rd floor), Parking is available in the surface lot in front of the building & in the parking garage behind.

Thurs, June 8 - City Council mtng, There will be a public hearing, 6:00 PM. City Hall Council Chambers