The controversial Austin Oaks planned unit development, or PUD, will be the marquee item on the Austin City Council’s packed agenda Thursday.
After a Feb. 2 postponement by District 10 Council Member Alison Alter, council looks to approve the rezoning request that would allow Spire Realty to turn the underutilized office park at the southwest corner of MoPac and Spicewood Springs Road into a roughly 1 million-square-foot office, hotel, retail and apartment development.
Council voted 7-1-1 to approve the PUD on first reading and keep the public hearing open at its final meeting of 2016.
The plan includes 865,900 square feet of office space, 12,800 square feet of restaurant space and 90,000 square feet of hotel space. The plan also calls for 250 apartments, 10 percent of which would be offered at 60 percent of the median family income for renters, and 80 percent MFI for ownership. The development will also provide 8.5 acres of dedicated parkland, and the developer would provide $1.5 million for the development of a neighborhood park.
While there was originally a plan to offer 50 percent of the affordable units to Austin ISD employees, the city’s law department said the city is not legally able to reserve affordable housing for any specific employer.
The Austin Oaks PUD follows the hotly contested Grove at Shoal Creek, which required more than a year of deliberation, public hearings and mediation before council could reach an agreement. Austin Oaks has been discussed for more than two years. Spire’s original proposal, which included 17-story buildings, was largely objected by surrounding neighbors. However, in 2015, the developer agreed to work with the neighbors in designing a new development.
The new proposal splits the surrounding neighbors in support. Members of the Northwest Austin Civic Association support the project as proposed. However, a valid petition was filed with more than 27 percent of surrounding neighbors objecting the development. The objectors focused their opposition on traffic and environmental issues.The valid petition means at least nine votes will be required for the zoning change to pass.
Here’s a list of other items on Thursday’s agenda:
Item 3: Award $3.75 million contract for installation of traffic signals and pedestrian hybrid beacons
Item 10: Authorize a one-year interlocal agreement for Austin Fire Department to respond to calls within Travis County Emergency Service District #4’s service area
Item 14: Approve ordinance to amend city code to change council’s committee structure
Item 27: Authorize $2 million contract with Signature Science LLC to assist in clearing Austin Police Department’s backlog of DNA kits
Item 30: Authorize contract to purchase body cameras for Austin Police Department Officers
Item 40: Direct city manager to create proposal for establishing an entity capable of structuring private-public partnerships that tackle priority projects in the city
Item 45: Second and third readings of Elysium Park rezoning application
Item 57-59: Second and Third readings of Plaza Saltillo development
Item 60: Public hearing for the Villas and Vinson Oaks [postponed from last week]