Bee Cave City Council 1-10-12

After executive session tonight, the Council authorized the Mayor to settle the “rate case” with the LCRA. This settlement is a part of the ongoing negotiations for the purchase of the West Travis County System.

Prior to the regular City Council meeting, the Zoning Board of Adjustments met and approved a second median cut to the Bee Cave Parkway and the placement of spoils and a waterline casing for Mr. Tim Skaggs.

1)  The general election was called for May 12, 2012.    This will be a joint election with Travis County.

2) The Council voted to approve a variance for All-Star Burgers at the Hill Country Galleria.   The sign is allowed to have a star because the trademark application is underway and the sign may be vertical rather than horizontal.

3)  Mr. Skaggs was granted a temporary construction easement for purposes of completing the items discussed by the Zoning Board of Adjustments as discussed above.   A second amendment to the agreement for the construction and dedication of right-of-way was also approved.  Finally,

4)  Change orders were discussed regarding the turn lane and water casing in the amount of $34,034.00.  Change order #3 is for the upsizing of casing on existing wastewater line.  The cost is $4,198.00.   By way of update regarding the project, the tentative completion of the roadway is still mid – August, 2012.

5)  The Council approved the addition of a handicap parking space to the site and NPS plans for the Lake Travis Fire & Rescue on propety located at 13333-A on Highway 71.

6)  Council approved a payment of $6,000 to the UDC for work on the acquistion of the LCRA west Travis County facilites.

City Council 12-13-11

1)  Hill country urgent care- asking for two new signs.

2) Ladera Ranch asked for relief regarding offsite construction for portions of Ladera Ranch.

3) Morningside:  The maximum height is four stories for the attached, but this should not occur unless there is a grade variance requiring a basement entry. They also reduced the number of units to 316 units with 62 detached units.   The attached community will be gated while the detached will be a free-flowing designed.  The gate system is not designed yet.

Issues.  The first issue was ownership vs. rental.  The original plan was office and retail with the City of Austin.  Conversations have gone from townhouse/condominiums to apartments.   There is a problem with the fact there is no trigger as to when these units would become for sale rather than for rent.   The developers responded by asserting that these will be built to condominium grade and not apartment grade.    Regarding the impervious cover, the law allows 40% while the agreement set it at 35%.  Accordingly, there needs to be an 85% pollution removal plan.    Density is also a concern.

Barry Lewis, the owner of the Morningside tract, commented that he has been working on this project a long time.  Retail will not work.    “Looking at what is right for this property, this project is what should be here,” Mr. Lewis said.  “It is in between Falconhead, Home Depot, Spillman Ridge and Ladera.”

Regarding the density issue, Mr. Lewis said that we are under a new flood plain study creating developable acreage at 33 acres.   The developer, Scott Morledge, said that wet ponds may be the answer to the pollution removal issue.   They are proposing a wet pond in conjunction with vegetative filter strips per LCRA code.

There were also discussions that annexation would occur when the first building permit is issued or at least an application would occur when the first permit is issued.   The city will be doing the inspections under current code.

Trail system- Of significance, the developers agree to design and construct a trail from Falconhead Blvd to City Park.  There are a number of hurdles in terms of easements and accessibility.  The developers agree to seek the necessary permission from the landowners to construct the trail down the creek bottom.

Another issue is the use of hardi-board or hardi-plank.  Many concerns were lodged with me regarding the use of the siding at Spillman Ridge.  The siding at Spillman Ridge allowed up to 50% use of non-masonry siding.  In this project, the developers agree to use up to only 25% of non-masonry product.

The plan is to complete the entire build-out in 22 months on the attached and 24 months on the detached.  Spillman Ridge is currently at about at 65% build out.

– add restrictive covenants for no parking on street for detached units and add sufficient spaces to cover guest parking;

– 75% of masonry shall be extended with regard to both attached and detached

– The developer agreed that each wall of the structures will have a minimum of 60% masonry with the entire structure comprised of only 25% non-masonry product.

4) Skaggs tract-   Mr. Skaggs appeared requesting movement of the Bee Cave Parkway construction spoils onto their property, for the City to contribute 134,000.00 to create the water quality pond which was originally to cost the city 205,000.00 thus resulting in a $71,000.00 savings to the City.  Additionally, the Skaggs asked for a median cut and movement of a pipe encasement at a cost of $24,000.00 to them.

The motion passed pending a jurisdictional definition.  Additionally, the landscape variance must also pass the Zoning Board of Adjustment in January.

5)Presbyterian Church of Lake Travis asked to have its final plat approved.  The council voted to approve the final plat.

6) Ordinance #104- creation of Public Utility Agency to negotiate the purchase of the West Travis County systems from the LCRA.

7)  The City opted not to tax “goods-in-transit.”

8)  The Council authorized staff to hire a “Director of Community Services.”  This person will oversee all development related issues, including zoning & platting.  He/she will coordinate response to submittals with engineering, including building plan review comments.

9)  The Council authorized the retention of John Carsey to serve as Special Prosecutor to handle complaints against AusPro Enterprises, Inc., Planet K and other potential defendants.