The Allandale Reporter

ANA meeting minutes 8-22-07

In attendance: Joe Reynolds, Dan Jones, Brent Sjolseth, Paulette Kern, Allan McMurtry, Michael Bomba, Katie Hansen, Cathy Yang, Tom Linehan, Laura Slaughter and Donna Beth McCormick.

Reading of the minutes by Paulette Kern from July 5^th. Allan McMurtry makes a motion that the minutes are approved for the 5^th. Michael Bomba seconds. Passes

Reading of the minutes from July 25 th. Katie Hansen motions to approve the minutes. Allan McMurtry seconds. Minutes approved.

Rat in the hood

This is Cutie, a pet of Steve, Sue and Sarah Neel's who regularly accompanies them on there evening walk in the neighborhood.  Cutie is about nine months old. Very friendly.

Local Retailer, Knife Sharpest in Today's Statesman

You can read about Howling Wolf, an employee of local retailer Knife Sharpest in today's Austin American-Statesman.  In addition to sharpening and selling knives, Howling throws them. You can see Howling in action here, and read the Allandale Reporter's profile of Knife Sharpest here.

HOMEOWNER TRAINING LANDSCAPING FROM THE GROUND UP!

Mention you are an Allandale resident for Free registration!

Date: Saturday, September 8th, 2007
Time: 9am - noon
Where: Austin City Hall - 301 West 2nd
Parking: Free in the City Hall parking lot (entrance on the west side of Lavaca between Cesar Chavez and Second Street)
Cost: $10
Registration Required:

SPEAKERS:
It Starts with the Soil
Skip Richter, Horticulturist, Texas Cooperative Extension

Smart Plant Choices for Austin
Denise Delaney, Horticulturist, City of Austin Landscape

Pest Management
Wizzie Brown, Entomologist, Texas Cooperative Extension

Note: Feel free to bring a sample of a pest problem you’d like help with and plan to stay late to take a tour of the City Hall Green Garden.

CapMetro seeing comments

submitted by CYang

CapMetro is looking for comments on its fare adjustement from 50 cents to $1. Please note, IMHO fares have been adjusted, but the price has remained the same.

http://www.capmetro.org/fares.asp
A Fare Value for Central Texas
Wanted: Your feedback on proposed 2008 fare adjustments for public
transportation services

1. Please let us know how to contact you.
2. How often do you use Capital Metro?
3. If you ride Capital Metro, how do you usually buy your fare?
4. Capital Metro has never adjusted its fares. Since 1985 the cost of
virtually everything has risen dramatically. Do you agree that it is
time for Capital Metro to consider adjusting fares?
5. Comments

For more information about meetings, the fare approval process, or to
register a comment, please call our Comments Line at 512-385-0190.

Where is Terry's?

Some of you may have noticed the fence that went up next to the future home of Miguel's Imports being built on Burnet Road and wondered where Terry's Burnet Rd. Inspection has gone. It hasn't gone anywhere, it's just on the other side of the fence. You can access it from North Loop. When you turn on to North Loop look for the entrance sign shown here. And if you're wondering whether to take your car to Terry's for your annual inspection, you can read a profile of Terry's here.

August Newsletter Now Available

submitted by Tom Linehan

The August edition of the Allandale Neighbor is out and being delivered to Allandale doorsteps this week. Can't wait?  Download it here.  Articles in this issue include:
- The Biggiset Zoning Rollback in Austin
- Allandale is Hot
- Deterring Crime
- Lightsey Farm's 20th Year
- Farming in the Neighborhood
- ANA Committee Updates
- Allandale is Having a Ball
- 4th of July pictures and more.
Thanks to Cathy Yang, newsletter editor, and Cathy Savage,  newsletter layout and advertising for putting together another superb edition.

City Plans Improvements to the Storm Drain System on White Rock Dr.

from Stephanie Lott, City of Austin
The Shoal Creek-Allandale Storm Drain Improvements Project is currently slated to begin construction in January 2008. During heavy rains, the channel that crosses under White Rock Drive (between Bull Creek Drive and Woodview Avenue) is prone to overflow, resulting in street  flooding. Also, neighborhood residents have reported yard and interior house flooding for 17 properties in this area.

Having Sewer Problems?

If so you may be interested in learning more about this project the city is getting underway with in the southwest area of Allandale -  Bull Creek Wastewater Improvements Project (part of the Gaston/Bull Creek/W. 25th wastewater project)

You are invited to attend an information briefing:
Thursday, August 15, 6 to 7 pm,
Northwest Recreation Center,
2913 Northland Drive, Multi Purpose Room
Light refreshments will be served
RSPV to 684-3204/

What has the Neighborhood Association Ever Done for Me

Allandale’s Neighborhood Plan
by Allan McMurtry

When Allandale was being formed, subdivision by subdivision, starting in the far south along 45^th   Street after WWII and the far east south of Northland in the late 1930s, the City of Austin had rudimentary zoning laws. On occasion, the City would be uncertain as to what zoning was appropriate for an area and it would identify it as Interim Zoning. This meant that the zoning was there as an indication only. That zoning could be changed over owner’s or the surrounding neighbors’ objections much easier than permanent zoning. Interim zoning only required a majority vote of the Council to change it rather than a super majority vote of 75%. The result for Austin wasn’t particularly ominous as Austin was growing slowly and from a smaller base. As Allandale grew west, but mostly north, the number of lots of Interim Zoning grew. Back then, residential zoning would allow both duplex and single family dwellings. This was actually much more permissive than the predominant single family residential use found in deed restrictions.

Letter from Toby Futrell to Neighborhoods

submitted by Tom Linehan

Yesterday I received this follow up letter from City Manager Toby Futrel (click to open)  regarding the Townhall neighborhood association meeting she conducted back on July 19 with representatives from Austin's neighborhood associations.  The letter outlines the items she has included in the budget to address the concerns that were raised at that meeting.  Below is the note I posted to the ANA newsgroup following the meeting on July 20.

"I attended the Townhall neighborhood association meeting last night at Palmer Auditorium conducted by city manager, Toby Futrell.   

The Start To Another Great Year of McCallum Football

submitted by Tom Davis

Well, everyone, another great year of McCallum Football is quickly approaching. By the time this article is printed, the teams and coaches will have been hard at work back on the field in preparation for the upcoming season. Not only the teams but, the Band, the Blue Brigade, and the Cheerleaders will have been hard at work getting everything ready for another season of MAC Football. Not to be left out, the Football Booster Club has already been working through the summer getting ready for this years football season.

Recent Crime in the Neighborhood and Helpful Hints

submitted by Robin Senor

Robbie Paver remembers when he was a teenager and his family didn't even bother to lock the door on Carleen Street. “My parents would leave the door open all the time,” he recalls, laughing. The Pavers have since moved away from Carleen Street, but the family still thinks back fondly on the comfort and safety they felt in Allandale.

These days, residents aren’t feeling so safe. A rash of recent nighttime car break-ins, air conditioner thefts, and even house thefts have caught the attention of many residents and left them feeling uneasy. These thefts are occurring mainly along Shoal Creek and its side streets, but also on non-major streets. And while in some cases, thieves are helping themselves to cars left open, in others, they are doing the work themselves.

Apartments Proposed for Antique Mall lot

A new apartment complex with retail on the ground floor is being proposed along Burnet Road. At last month's ANA Executive Committee meeting, Brett Denton, partner with Ardent Residentail Properties made a presentation to the EC on his proposed plans to build an apartment complex where the Antique Mall is currently, at 5350 Burnet Road.

Ardent Residential Properties has this property under contract from Ken Carr.  Ken presented to the ANA EC approximately two year's ago a proposal for condominiums. Brett does not believe the area will support such a development at this time. The cost of the condos at approximatley $300 p/sq ft., is higher than what the market will support.

Review: The Sandwich Joint

submitted by Robin Senor

I grew up back East, and so I'm a stickler for a big, hearty sandwich.

The Sandwich Joint does the big hearty sandwich right. With a huge array of sandwich selections named after Austin Institutions such as Devil's Cove (chicken, jalapenos, avocado, salsa, sour cream, and jack cheese) , and sandwich standy-bys such as Cheesesteaks and Chicken Cheesesteaks, the joint aims to please everyone.

ANC Executive Board Meeting, 7/25/07

Meeting called to order at 7 p.m. as no quorum at 6:30 p.m.

Board members in attendance: Tom Linehan, Joe Reynolds, Allan McMurtry, Michael Bomba, Bent Sjolseth, Donna Beth McCormick, Cathy Yang, Paulette Kern, Laura Slaughter

Agenda
Approval of agenda
Treasurer’s report
Committee updates:

• Northcross
• Planning-VMU
• Zoning
• Fundraising-Masquerade Ball
• Newsletter
• Membership
• Other Business
• Approval of web hosting expenses
• North Loop Plan
• Ardent Properties presentation (Brett Denton)

Agenda approved with understanding to move to Ardent Res. Presentation and North Loop
plan at 7:15 p.m. –Paulette moved approval, Cathy 2nd.

Street Markings are a good thing!

Residents have been inquiring about the various colored markings painted on Great Northern, Foster and Shoal Creek. We asked the city what they mean and there response is below. B.T.W., the city has a routine repaving project planned this summer for Great Northern Blvd from White Rock Dr to Foster Ln . It is a simple resurfacing of the existing road and will not widen the road.

From Ron Koehn, Public Works Department City of Austin:

The “One Call” markings are being done to allow survey crews to draw up maps that can be used to develop street and utility reconstruction plans.