A bend in the land development agreement between Austin ISD and the city of Austin will allow a transfer of impervious cover credits to be used in the expansion of Bowie High School, according to district officials.

Paul Turner, executive director of the office of facilities for Austin ISD, said the purchase of two land parcels adjacent to the school was preempted by a need to expand the total site area to allow for more impervious cover, or manmade surfaces impenetrable by rainfall.

By increasing the impervious cover allotment, the district could move forward with an expansion of the building to accommodate an increase in enrollment, Turner said.

On Monday, Aug. 28, the district’s board of trustees approved on consent the terms of an agreement with the city which will allow the district to unlock unused impervious cover credits linked to a 6.7-acre undeveloped district-owned site in the Travis Country neighborhood. In the past, due to the environmental sensitivity of the Barton Springs zone where Bowie is built, this has not been allowed, Turner said.

“It’s the first time [the city’s watershed protection department] has been willing to do that so we were very appreciative to the [city] council for being open to that,” said Beth Wilson, assistant director of the office of facilities.

Under the terms of the agreement, Austin ISD will be permitted up to 25 percent impervious cover across the entire site—a 10 percent increase from what is normally allowed for developments in the area under the city’s Save Our Springs ordinance.

The tracts contiguous to Bowie will be used for water quality treatment purposes, Turner said. The purchase of tracts is still in the works but is expected to be finalized within the next few months.

In October, city council is expected to approve the agreement.