South Lamar Neighborshood Association-May-Julyl 2004 Scoop Archive

07/29/04--Walgreeens Case Postponed
Hey folks. At today's City Council meeting Walgreens' developer requested a postponement for 2 weeks. The case is now scheduled for Thursday, August 12. Thanks for staying involved.

Kevin

07/28/04--Walgreens Pros & Cons
Hey folks. I'd like to provide some perspectives on the Walgreens case at Lamar and Bluebonnet. This case has some support within the neighborhood, and possibly a lot of support from folks outside the neighborhood. A majority of SLNA voted to oppose it, however, because of what I believe are reasonable concerns. It is up to each individual to decide their position. City Council will hear input and decide whether to support Walgreens at their meeting TOMORROW (Thursday). The meeting is at the LCRA's Hancock building on Lake Austin Blvd. (across from Hula Hut). Please consider giving your input, either on a card that will be read into the record, or by speaking.

Here are some of the points in favor of the Walgreens deal:

> This is a better plan than last years'. It does not come as far back into the neighborhood, and leaves a more useful balance of the trailer park for future (and current) use. It would move Taco Xpress to a new location adjacent to Walgreens, at a very low cost to the owner. This is a sweet deal for Taco Xpress, and we can rejoice in their good fortune.

> The developer has agreed to several points that would help manage the impact on the neighborhood. We appreciate their working with us on this in a non-adversarial manner. Some of the mitigating features agreed to:

1. Redesigning and rebuilding the east side of the Bluebonnet/Lamar intersection.

2. Building sidewalks for the entire length of Bluebonnet.

3. Including bike lanes in the widening of Bluebonnet.

4. Stipulations beyond code-requirements on landscaping, screening, light pollution and noise pollution.

5. The inclusion of public spaces (e.g. a place for Girl Scout cookie sales).

6. A $50,000 performance bond in case of non-compliance with the above.

Here are some of the reasons we decided to oppose the Walgreens plans.

> Traffic problems remain. It would dump several hundred additional car trips per day onto Bluebonnet Lane, a small, residential collector. The increased traffic would threaten Bluebonnet’s residential character and even challenge its residential classification with the city. We believe this would be the FIRST Walgreens in Austin located at the intersection of a major arterial and a neighborhood collector. It is a bad precedent. Walgreens published site criteria call for the intersection of two major arterials, for a reason. Failing to find one (notwithstanding their current location) they’re trying to make Bluebonnet into an arterial.

>We need neighborhood planning, not spot rezoning. In a few months our neighborhood is scheduled to start the City’s neighborhood planning process, which we are looking forward to. There are several acres of undeveloped or underdeveloped land adjacent to this tract, and across Bluebonnet. We need the chance to look at this in context of the neighborhood and of the South Lamar corridor. The Zilker Neighborhood Association also opposes the plan.

> This is bad commercial design. The plan is suburban in character. It is single-use, puts parking along the right of way, isolates businesses, has a DOUBLE drive-through, and an entrance away from the street/sidewalk. Instead of the model at 45th Street and Guadalupe, they’ve planned sprawl.

> Taco Xpress is not the issue. We support Taco Xpress and celebrate their continued success. We are glad that they have a long-term, secure lease on their current location. That lease was strong enough to break the proposed Tramell Crow deal two years ago. We know that Taco Xpress will be included in any future plans for this land, because anyone seeking to redevelop would be REQUIRED to include them. Their position is secure for several years. This rezoning case is not about Taco Xpress, even though Walgreens would LIKE it to be, since we love Taco Xpress, but it's hard to love Walgreens.

I hope that this information is helpful. Please do share your opinions, and be good to each other.

Kevin

07/28--Walgreens News Story on KUT

Hey folks. Story today on KUT radio about zoning issues, included a report and a quote about the Walgreens case. You can listen via the website link.

As you may know, Walgreen's case on Bluebonnet and Lamar has its first public hearing at the City Council meeting this Thursday, July 29. This deal will have a big impact on the neighborhood, indeed the whole area, and deserves very careful consideration.

Please plan to voice your opinions to council members. You can send them email or a fax, or speak at the meeting Thursday. It's at the Lower Colorado River Authority, Hancock Building, 3700 Lake Austin Blvd. No telling when exactly the case will come up. It could be as early as mid-afternoon, or run as late as 10 or 11pm. You can also sign a card at the council meeting at any time during the day, with a comment in favor or opposed, that will be read into the record.

I sincerely hope everyone will consider speaking or signing a card. I want to make sure all sides are heard clearly. This would also be a good time to express opinions on the email lists.

I know there are mixed opinions, and a lot of emotion, about this in the neighborhood. I ask (as always) that everyone stay respectful of others' opinions, whether we agree or not. SLNA voted to oppose the Walgreens deal, for what I believe are very valid reasons, but I also believe every viewpoint is valid, as long as it's based on facts and goodwill. Let's remember that there are no enemies here.

I'll be putting out some more information reflecting both pro-Walgreens and opposed-to-Walgreens perspectives. The Walgreens plans are available for viewing on www.SouthLamar.org. For now, please plan to vote with your voice or pen, and be good to each other.

06/17--Meeting with McCracken on commercial design
I want to inform everyone about our special meeting next Tuesday, June 22, with Council Member Brewster McCracken. It's in our usual meeting room at Unity Church, but at 6:30pm. This meeting will be to discuss the city's task force on commercial design standards, just the kind of questions we've been discussing regarding Walgreens. The essence is that Austin has some of the lowest design standards in the country. Developers will build better, more useful buildings, but only if we tell them what we want. I attended a focus group on this, and there are some really good ideas for shaping future development. For more info visit the city's website:

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/development/commercial_design.htm

Kevin

06/03--Burglaries In the Hood!
Neighbors,
In the past week or so, at least four houses around the intersection of Kinney and Roberts Ave. have been burglarized -- at least two of them in the middle of the day, while nearby neighbors were home. They have typically broken a window in the carport or back of the house when no one was home. One neighbor today noticed a "suspicious looking white guy with a t-shirt tied around his waist" walking down the street, only later to learn the house 2 doors down from him was robbed about that same time.

They've taken electronics, power tools, jewelry, and a $400 bicycle. The bicycle was in a shed, not secured, but everything else apparently required breaking a window and entering the home. (The bicycle wasn't missed until the owner learned of the burglaries and thought to check on it - so she's not sure when it actually disappeared. So check your sheds and storage rooms!)

Each neighbor said they filed a police report (called 311), and I emailed our APD District Rep, Dawn Leonard, in case her officers can keep an extra close eye on us for a while. But we can help ourselves and each other by noticing unusual cars and unusual activity at a neighbor's home when they aren't usually there. Please ask someone nearby to keep an eye on your house when you're gone, and lock up everything that might be inviting to a burglar!

Please share this warning with all your neighbors who are not on the SLNA email list. Together we can shut these guys down!

Carol Gibbs
Roberts Ave.

05/26--Walgreens zoning request meeting postponed
Hey folks. I just confirmed with city case manager Wendy Walsh that the Walgreens case has been postponed at the applicant's request (they want to submit additional traffic count backup info) to Tuesday, June 15.