From the Chair
Quite some time ago, a friend asked me how I spent my time. This conversation made me realize how much time and effort is spent by many neighbors on issues that impact not only our neighborhood, but also a few citywide matters. And, although there is no monetary compensation for the time spent, there is a great deal of personal satisfaction when the efforts result in a positive outcome. As Co-Chair of the Steering Committee this year, I look forward to having the opportunity to work with neighbors to not only preserve the quality of life that we all appreciate, but to expand our efforts in bettering our small part of a wonderful and vibrant city.
On that note, I am pleased to share that the Steering Committee is working on a set of goals for OWANA to recommend to the General Membership. One of the many steps in this process is revisiting the status of existing special committees to determine if they are still necessary and also organizing new special committees to take on new projects within our neighborhood. According to our most recent Bylaws, there are two standing committees: the Nominating Committee, chaired by Linda MacNeilage, and the Audit Committee, which will be chaired by Richard McCown. From time to time, a Bylaws Committee will be appointed as needed. The following is a list of the recently determined special committees (with the Chair or Co-Chairs listed):
- Community Events Committee, will include some fundraising (Christine Buendel)
- Historic Preservation Committee (Acting Co-Chairs Randy Hankamer and Beverley Brooks)
- Membership Committee (Sara Kennedy)
- Parks and Greenspace Committee (Marion Cimbala)
- Public Safety and Transportation Committee (Larry Halford)
- Welcome Committee (Chair not yet determined)
- Zoning and Land Use Committee (Laura Porcaro)
The Steering Committee also discussed the need to identify someone who would be willing to post important community events (e.g., road closures due to marathons, City Manager meetings, etc.) to the OWANA group when necessary.
We will briefly discuss this process at our upcoming March General Membership meeting and will also provide sign-up sheets with a short description of each special committee. I hope that you will consider volunteering on one (or more!) of these groups and I thank those who have already offered their time and efforts.
See you at the March 3, 2009 General Membership meeting!
Jean Stevens, Co-Chair
Agenda
OWANA General Membership Annual Meeting
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
6:45 pm to 9:00 pm
Mathews School Cafeteria
(906 West Lynn at West 9th)
- Registration and Social Gathering (6:45 – 7:00 pm)
- Call to Order – Jean Stevens (7:00 pm)
- Approval of Minutes – Beverley Brooks (7:02 pm)
- 2008 December General Membership meeting
- Neighborhood Watch Program - Officer Troy Schouest, Central West District Representative (7:05 – 7:20 pm)
- Historic Home Tours - Jackie Schraad, Executive Director, Heritage Society of Austin (7:20 – 7:35 pm)
- 2009 OWANA Goals – Jean Stevens (7:35 – 8:05 pm)
- Discuss Special Committees
- Does OWANA support the pursuit of Local Historic Districts?
- West End Austin Alliance Meeting Report – Paul Seals (8:05 – 8:10 pm)
- ANC Meeting Report – Paul Seals (8:10 – 8:15 pm)
- Committee Reports (8:15 – 8:45 pm)
- Zoning Committee Report - Laura Porcaro (8:15 – 8:20 pm)
Note: Only zoning case changes and updates of the OWL report are discussed
- Parks and Greenspaces – Marion Cimbala (8:20 – 8:25 pm
- Public Safety and Transportation – Larry Halford (8:25 – 8:30 pm)
- Historic Preservation – Acting Co-Chairs Beverley Brooks & Randy Hankamer (8:30 – 8:35 pm)
- Membership – Sara Kennedy (8:35 – 8:40 pm)
- Community Events – Christine Buendel (8:40 – 8:45 pm)
- Administrative and Organization Issues (8:45 – 8:50 pm)
- Treasurer’s Report – David Applewhite
- Other Administrative and Organizational Business
- Funds for Neighborhood Branding – Jean Stevens
- OWANA Web Site Update – Christopher Rankin
- Other Business and Announcements (8:50 – 9:00 pm)
- Adjourn (9:00 pm)
NOTE: Votes may be taken on any scheduled agenda items.
2009 OWANA Committees
Historic Preservation
Acting Co-Chairs: Randy Hankamer and Beverley Brooks
OWANA supports the Historic Preservation goal of the OWA Neighborhood Plan: to preserve and enhance the unique historic identity of the neighborhood.
The committee serves as a liaision with organizations on city-wide issues, completes research to protect historic assets and supports historic zoning of properties within the neighborhood.
Community Events
Chair: Christine Buendel
The Fundraising Committee has been renamed to Community Events Committee and will work with Membership and other OWANA committees to achieve 2009 goals set by the Steering Committee and to raise funds for causes identified and approved by OWANA members.
Public Safety and Transportation
Chair: Larry Halford
This committee serves to address issue that arise in the areas of public safety and transportation within the neighborhood. Along with helping to ensure a reasonable level of safety in the neighborhood, we also hope to use the Neighborhood Plan to identify one major transportation issue to pursue in the upcoming year.
Membership
Chair: Sara Kennedy
In addition to maintaining the OWANA membership roll and dues, this committee supports outreach and fundraising efforts that enhance the character and life in our neighborhood. Expansion of the business membership is also a focus of efforts, enhancing ties between residents and commercial endeavors in our area.
Parks and Greenspaces
Chair: Marion Cimbala
Let’s work together to make the most of our parks and continue to improve them as fun and welcoming spaces for all OWANA members, and our other neighbors. Whether you have gardening or design skills, like to organize events, or just like to play, we welcome your participation!
Zoning and Land Use
Chair: Laura Porcaro
OWANA supports the Land Use goal of the OWA Neighborhood Plan: to protect existing residential property and encourage the development of new residential property by supporting mixed-use development in certain areas of the neighborhood. Due to the pressures on our urban-core neighborhood, the Zoning and Land Use Committee is never at a loss for projects. Much work revolves around opposition to demolition of historic properties and upholding of compatibility standards.
Welcoming
Chair: You?
The Welcoming Committee will work to develop a “Weclome to the Neighborhood” packet that may contain general neighborhood information, OWANA information, and gift certificates and coupons from OWANA business members.
Recent Zoning Sucess
In recent months, the Zoning Committee has had the pleasure of working with neighbors to help resolve zoning issues in a facilitating manner. The following are brief descriptions of two cases in which the Zoning Committee brought disagreeing neighbors together to discuss the proposed projects and work towards outcomes that would satisfy both parties.
In late 2008, the Zoning Committee met with an agent for a property on Baylor Street to discuss the addition of a second story to an existing secondary building on a corner lot. The main structure was recently remodeled and was being used as housing for the owner’s college-age children. Because there was already inadequate off-street parking at this location, the Zoning Committee requested that the agent meet with near-by neighbors to discuss these plans. The agent complied and a second meeting was arranged that included the owner and his agent, nearby neighbors, and members of the Zoning Committee.
After a lengthy meeting in which concerns were expressed by both sides, the owner decided to forego the second-story addition. This decision was greatly appreciated by the neighbors.
The second instance was when the owners of Emerald City Press (ECP), a pedestrian-friendly coffee bar, applied for a variance to reduce their on-site parking in order to provide outdoor seating for its patrons. While this location is not within OWA’s boundaries, the Zoning Committee was approached by both ECP, who was seeking our support for the reduction, and members of West End Austin Alliance (WEAA) who felt that this business should adhere to City Code and provide adequate parking on-site. The Zoning Committee brought this matter to the Steering Committee who, after both sides presented their cases, voted to remain neutral on this issue.
However, some members of the Zoning Committee felt that a compromise could be reached and extended their help as mediators. After several somewhat contentious Board of Adjustment hearings (in which the case was often postponed) and several meetings and e-mails between all parties, ECP and WEAA were able to reach a compromise (see Zoning Report for a detailed description of the agreement). More importantly, the aggression between parties dissipated and the process ended with apologies from both sides and a promise to patronize each other’s businesses and become friends.
As a Zoning Committee, we will continue to help neighbors with property issues with the hopes that all parties can openly and respectfully communicate with each other to reach an acceptable outcome.
Help Support Technology Education at Mathews
Recognizing that all students need adequate preparation to succeed in this increasingly technological world, Mathews is committed to providing all students a weekly technology class. Unfortunately AISD does not fund this. The Mathews PTA has undertaken to raise $22,000 by August of this year in order to pay the salary of a half-time technology teacher.
We invite members of the OWANA community to join with us in this effort by participating in our grocery card program. A purchase of $50 or $100 HEB or Randalls grocery cards from the PTA yields 5% of the purchase for the technology fund, all at no cost to the participant. Cards can be purchased through ACH bank draft, monthy check orders, or purchased at school on Friday mornings from 8-8:30 a.m.
Additionally, we gratefully welcome contributions to the technology fund. For more information, please go to our web site or contact PTA treasurer Marcia Tugendhat at mtugendhat@austin.rr.com.
It's My Park! Day
Mark your calendar for March 7, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.!
It’s My Park! Day is an annual community service day focused on improvements to Austin’s park system.
West Austin Dog Park
Clean up, spreading mulch, reducing compaction, repair, if needed, on any rock work. This is for the Dog Park, so please don’t bring your dog as we work, as they will get in the way. One we are done, go get your pooches and enjoy the refinished park!
Mary Baylor/Clarksville Park Playground Installation
Join us as we install some wonderful new playground equipment and picnic tables in the park. We’ll clean and spruce up a few other areas, mulch the trees, and finish with a kickball game for the entire family! Children are welcome to join us around noon to be the first test out the new equipment!
For more information visit www.austinparks.org/itsmypark.html
Zoning Report
708 Patterson (The Historic Landmark Patterson House)
OWANA Zoning, nearby neighbors, the two owners and their architect met to discuss the proposed renovation of the historic house including an addition on the main house to equal 3300 sq. ft., demolishing the back structure and building a new 2200 sq. ft. single family home. The owners are requesting to divide the 13,500 sq. foot lot into two legal parcels. Nearby neighbors have expressed opposition to splitting the lot and revised plans are currently being discussed.
1617 West 10th Street
A demolition permit notice of public hearing was distributed for this historically contributing Clarksville home. After meeting with CCDC, the owner, and nearby neighbors, we did not oppose the permit after viewing plans for the back studio/structure to be demolished leaving the front contributing home intact with an addition added to the rear of the home.
The Pleiades Condominiums on Enfield
Since none of the contracts closed on the property, First State Bank, which foreclosed on the property many months ago, hired a builder to finish out the project in order to sell the finished units themselves. The builder reported on 1/19/09 hundreds and hundreds of problems with this project and sought preliminary approval for a live/work deal instead of residential. The 16,000 square feet would require 40+ parking spaces and a variance since he could only provide 25 spots. Zoning verbally opposed the inquiry and the builder said he’d advise the bank that demolition of the structure is a viable solution and sell the land.
915 Lamar Blvd. (Emerald City Press – East side of Lamar)
The BOA voted to postpone their decision in December on the parking variance sought by the owner (in order to add a guest seating area). OWANA Zoning decided to step in and act as a mediator between the opposing parties. After several meetings with WEAA and Emerald City Press, the owner agreed to a number of conditions in order to win over her opponents and go in with a unified front to the city to get her variance. In return for the variance (which reduces her parking requirements from 22 spots to 7 spots, she agreed to reduce her seating area to 480 sq. ft. (half what she originally sought), no indoor seating, no on-site beer or wine consumption, no commercial kitchen, and no business hours after 9 p.m. The BOA passed her variance January 12, 2009.
801 Highland Ave. (Blondie Pharr Home)
Historic Zoning was granted by City Council for the Pharr home, which is one-third of the property at 801 Highland. The vacant side of the lot will be developed into two single family modular homes. The owner agreed to support historic zoning, build garages for each new structure, and to vote in favor of the proposed local historic district of Terrace Park on his two properties in the neighborhood. Zoning agreed to not oppose the following six criteria in return, however, the Board of Adjustment must hear the case for approval of several variances in the coming months.
- Reduction of North yard setback from 10 feet to 7 feet.
- Increase in the number of stories permitted for each new structure from 2 to 3 stories. The lowest most level of the new structures will be no more than 30’x40’ and will contain a 2-car garage, as well as livable space.
- Increasing to a third story on the Pharr House is acceptable as long as it does not jeopardize or negate the Historic Landmark status and/or alter the historic zoning designation.
- Increasing the permitted height (as defined by city code) of each of the two new structures to not more than 36’ in order to incorporate an off-street 2-car garage for each structure.
- Increasing the permitted height (as defined by city code) to the Pharr Home to not more than 36’ is acceptable as long as it does not jeopardize or negate the historic landmark status and/or alter the H zoning designation.
- Increasing the allowable FAR from the current .75 to not more than 1.1 as a result of the additional story described in bullet #2.
800 Oakland Ave.
The owners contacted OWANA Zoning to review architectural plans for a 2300 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, single family home on their vacant MF3 zoned lot. They do not require any variances and are looking to go before the Historic Landmark Commission in March.
1300 Block of Woodlawn – 1309 Woodlawn Blvd.
A notice of public hearing was distributed for Administration approval of the site plan on 1/12/09.
1408-1410 W. 9th Street (Saint Francis Church)
No further action has occurred.
South Side of Railroad Tracks from Paul St. to Orchard St.
No contact with players since first meeting.
The Castle Project
No recent communication with principles involved.
Coming Soon!
Watch for the launch of the all new www.owana.org this March. The redesigned site will feature loads of useful neighborhood information, frequently updated OWANA and neighborhood news, and a calendar of area meetings and events.
We’re always looking for story ideas for upcoming issues of the Owl and the OWANA web site.
Please contact Christopher Rankin at crankin@bigcheckfactory.com if you’d like to contribute.
