The Allandale Reporter

ANA to Oppose Zoning Request on Montview Street

submitted by Tom Linehan

At the July 27th Allandale Executive Committee meeting the Board voted to oppose the rezoning request regarding 5513 Montview. This is a deep lot behind commercial property on Burnet Rd. The estate of the owner is requesting that the section of the lot close to Burnet Rd be changed from SF-2 to CS (commercial) zoning leaving the remaining section of the lot on Montview as SF-2. You can track progress on the case at the City's web site here. At Wednesday's meeting, Anne Young, a resident of the area, brought the Board current on the status of the request and summarized the concerns of her and her neighbors. In the picture taken from Montview facing the lot, you can see the back of the commercial building that fronts Burnet Rd. However, you cannot see the homes that are either side of the lot.   

Zoning issues were the focus of ANA’s Executive Meeting

Three zoning issues: subdividing the lot on 6100 Bull Creek, Dry Dock Seafood permit request for a late night hours permit, and rezoning of a lot on Montview from single family residence to commercial comprised the bulk of the August meeting discussion.  What follows are the minutes from the 7/27/06 ANA Executive Committee Meeting.

Gretchen Vaden called the meeting to order. The following items were discussed:

Zoning issue - 6100 Bull Creek - Recap: Allan McMurty and several neighbors are looking into the request by the owner to resub the lot at 6100 Bull Creek (divide the existing lot to make two lots). Patrick Manley, Executive Committee member and neighbor, spoke with the owner – his plans are to build a 2100+ sq ft courtyard home on each of the two lots.

July 26 update: Mark Herron submitted a plan to the city to resub/divide the lot at 6100 Bull Creek to the Zoning and Platting Commission on July 18th. Neighbors spoke at the meeting

Gullett 50th Anniversary Celebration Coming

It’s been 50 years since the first bell rang at Gullett Elementary. Since that late-summer morning, thousands of children have opened the doors to a great education at Allandale’s little red-brick schoolhouse.

To recognize this long legacy of learning there will be a 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 30 from 9 a.m. to noon.

We Want You - Neighborhood Planning

Allandale is a great neighborhood. Help out with steering  its evolution.

We will be participating in the City of Austin's neighborhood planning process later this year and invite you to join in. Those interested can begin learning about neighborhood planning in Austin by attending the upcoming monthly meetings devoted to this initiative at the Yarborough Library. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26th from 6:00 to  7:00. 

We have invited Dr. Patricia Wilson, Graduate Professor at UT's School of   Community and Regional Planning, to share her insights on successful neighborhood planning. Dr. Wilson just concluded a semester-long project with her graduate class entitled "Ten Years of Neighborhood Planning in Austin," that concluded with a Neighborhood Planning Conference held at City Hall in April. The class compiled some very good information from interviewing representatives from other Austin neighborhoods that have gone through the process  as well as from researching successful neighborhood planning efforts elsewhere in the country.

Last month was the kickoff meeting for Allandale's planning  initiative. The red dots on the  map above show where some of those who signed up to participate are in the neighborhood. We want to make sure we have broad participation.  I'll update the map as the group grows. Join us on Wednesday and get on the map. You can also sign up for the planning group listserve here.

Allandale is a great neighborhood. Help out with steering  its evolution.

We will be participating in the City of Austin's neighborhood planning process later this year and invite you to join in. Those interested can begin learning about neighborhood planning in Austin by attending the upcoming monthly meetings devoted to this initiative at the Yarborough Library. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26th from 6:00 to  7:00. 

We have invited Dr. Patricia Wilson, Graduate Professor at UT's School of   Community and Regional Planning, to share her insights on successful neighborhood planning. Dr. Wilson just concluded a semester-long project with her graduate class entitled "Ten Years of Neighborhood Planning in Austin," that concluded with a Neighborhood Planning Conference held at City Hall in April. The class compiled some very good information from interviewing representatives from other Austin neighborhoods that have gone through the process  as well as from researching successful neighborhood planning efforts elsewhere in the country.

Last month was the kickoff meeting for Allandale's planning  initiative. The red dots on the  map above show where some of those who signed up to participate are in the neighborhood. We want to make sure we have broad participation.  I'll update the map as the group grows. Join us on Wednesday and get on the map. You can also sign up for the planning group listserve here.

Food, Music and Fun at the Triangle

At the intersection of everything and everyone, The Triangle invites you to enjoy an evening of food, music, and fun in the park.

August 2, 2006 at 8pm, Ausin's own Gary Clark, Jr will be performing; bring the family and check out Austin's hottest new urban development and hangout with friends and neighbors. Stop by Mandola's Italian Market for some delicious Italian eats and vino! Bring a bottle to the park! Don't forget your lawn chairs!

Gary Clark, Jr.
"Probably the most talented Texas guitarist since a certain SRV." - Texas Music Magazine Fall 2004

2005-2006 Austin Music Award Winner- BEST BLUES BAND

Harrell's Is Closing

Today's Austin American-Statesman has an article about the closure of Harrell's on Burnet Rd. The hardware store has been at that location for over 40 years. They have another location on Oltorf which will remain open. According to the article, the owner Mike Harrell attributes the closure to rising taxes and competitive pressure from the big-box home improvement stores. Click here for the article. If you're an Allandale resident, you can sign up for ANA's listserve to read and/or submit comments about the closing.

No Parking Zone

The photo to the left shows Kent Bates outside his house on Shoal Creek cleaning up some of the wreckage after his classic 1965 Ford Mustang was hit by another car. The incident happened yesterday evening around 6:30. Apparently, an older  lady came around the bend not expecting the parked car. Kent doesn't normally park one of his two classic mustangs on the street. However, he's having his trees trimmed and parked the Mustang on the street to protect it from falling limbs. Kent said a couple of people have stopped to express their condolences, one of which was a bike rider who commented that given the car was in the bike lane, the collision could have been with her. (Maybe the City should put a permanent fixture extending from the curb...never mind). Insurance will cover the repairs but Kent wasn't optimistic it will cover the full cost or that the repairs will adequately restore it.

See PHotos from the Parade

You can see photos from yesterday's Allandale Parade here. This is the first batch. I have more photos to add and if you have some you would like to submit, email them to allandalereporter@yahoo.com. A special thanks to Charles Randow who provided the bulk of the photos in the gallery.

help! Parade photos needed

Waiting for the parade photos? They're coming and you can help. Please submit your best parade photos for inclusion in our 2006 Allandale 4th of July Photo Gallery. I'm looking for submissions of  up to 5 photos from today's parade that show off the best of the Allandale parade. Email your photos along with captions to allandalereporter@yahoo.com.  And thanks to Joe and Carolyn Reynolds for organizing this year's parade. It was a great event!

Neighborhood Planning

As Allandale will be participating in the City of Austin's neighborhood planning process, a new group has been established. The Allandale Neighborhood Planning group is for Allandale residents to communicate about the City's planning process for the neighborhood.

Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/allandaleplanning/ to register.

46th Annual Independence Day Parade

4th of July Parade tomorrow!. We will follow the usual route, beginning at the corner of White Rock and Bullard Drive, marching up Bullard to Gullett Elementary. Parade participants will begin gathering at 8:30 a.m. Don't forget to pick up an Allandale t-shirt. $12 for one $20 for 2.

New Weather Station in Allandale

A new weather station has been installed in North Allandale. Its location is between Anderson and Ohlen and between Burnet and 183. To see weather reports from this station, go to http://www.weatherunderground.com and enter either Austin, TX or 78757. A listing of weather stations in the area is presented. The new station is called North Allandale. Click on the link to get current weather information. There is also another link on the search results page that says "View the Personal Weather Stations for this area using Google Maps". Click on this link to get a map showing icons for all the weather stations in the area. The icons show temperature, windspeed, rainfall, and humidty. You can zoom in or out and toggle between a map view and a satellite view.

Victor Engel
(owner of the North Allandale weather station)