Welcome to the neighborhood planning process!

The Tarrytown Neighborhood, along with the Bryker Woods and Pemberton Heights Neighborhoods, are officially going through the City’s “Neighborhood Plan” process as part of the Central West Austin Combined Neighborhood Planning Area. The Neighborhood Planning Process will address a number of important issues, including, Parks & the Environment, Transportation, Urban Design/Neighborhood Character, and Land Use & Zoning (properties may be rezoned as a result of the planning process).

Neighborhood planning is an opportunity for citizens to take a proactive role in the planning process and decide how their neighborhoods will move into the future. All stakeholders of the neighborhood – business owners, renters, residents, property owners, and various community organizations and institutions -- are invited to provide community input addressing the local issues and concerns affecting the neighborhood. Working together with Neighborhood Planning staff, stakeholders establish a clear vision of their priorities, needs and guide for future development. For a general introduction to neighborhood planning, visit our Overview of Neighborhood Planning. To browse other education and background materials, visit Neighborhood Planning Library Resources. Finally, to see the previous West Austin Neighborhood Group “Neighborhood Plan” adopted in 1986, see the WANG Neighborhood Plan (www.deepeddy.com/wang/neighborhoodplan.pdf).

Upcoming Meetings

The next neighborhood planning workshop is the “Land Use Education Workshop” which will be Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 6:30pm to 9pm at the Austin State School, 2203 W. 35th St., in the "NEOS" building. This meeting will introduce the first step in the land use planning process, and set the foundation for the upcoming land use meetings.

Future Meetings

Land Use Education Workshop II, Wednesday, May 21, 6:30pm to 9pm, Austin State School.

Land Use TBA, Saturday, June 7, 9:00am to 1:00pm, LCRA Board Room.

Schedule of upcoming meetings (tentative).

For complete information on the Neighborhood Planning process, go to www.deepeddy.com/wang/NeighborhoodPlanningInfo.htm. Also, please check out the updated Website, www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/central_west_austin.htm for more information.

Previous Meetings (Listed Chronologically)

Neighborhood Plan Kickoff Meeting on June 21, 2007 | Agenda | Notice
The Kickoff Meeting for the Central West Austin Neighborhood Plan was held on June 21 at the Lions Municipal Golf Course Club House, and the turnout was tremendous! At the Kickoff Meeting, the City staff presented various aerial and land use maps of our neighborhood, and provided an introduction and overview of the neighborhood planning process.

Powerpoint Presentation - Introduction to the Neighborhood Planning Effort
Stakeholder Input - See their responses about improving the neighborhood
Meeting Game - stakeholders were asked to perform several tasks to facilitate discussion

At the June 21 meeting, certain questions were raised, and the following links provide information about those questions:

· In response to questions about which neighborhoods have been through the neighborhood planning process, see the neighborhood planning status map at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/downloads/npstatus_tab.pdf.

· In response to questions about the status of the Brackenridge Tract, see the document entitled “The Brackenridge Tract: Frequently Asked Questions” which is posted at www.deepeddy.com/wang/BrackTractFAQ.pdf. Additional information is posted at http://www.deepeddy.com/wang/BrackTract.htm.

· In response to requests to see a copy of the Brackenridge Tract Development Agreement, it is posted at http://www.deepeddy.com/wang/BrackenridgeAgreement.pdf.

First Workshop, July 11, 2007 | Agenda | Notice
This workshop focused on stakeholder issues, expectations and questions for the planning area, and also allowed stakeholders to provide input discussing the initial survey results and neighborhood history.
If you could not attend this meeting, please fill out and return the What issues you would like to discuss questionnaire.

· Initial Survey Results are in, with over 300 respondents! See what issues you and your fellow participants thought were important by clicking here.

Second Workshop, August 1, 2007 | Agenda | Notice
This meeting focused on answering stakeholder questions and concerns about the planning process
What were stakeholders issues, expectations, and questions from the July 11 Meeting?

Mapping the Neighborhood Vision, August 30, 2007 | Agenda | Notice
This meeting focused on reviewing neighborhood demographic data and obtaining stakeholder input using a neighborhood vision map exercise
Definition of Vision, Goals, Objectives, and Recommendations
PowerPoint Presentation (demographic data comparisons between 1990 and 2005)

Vision and Goals Workshop, September 13, 2007 | Agenda
In this meeting, stakeholders provided input to begin drafting various “vision” and “goal” statements for the neighborhood plan
PowerPoint Presentation (explains “Visions,” “Goals,” etc.)
Examples of a Vision from other plans
Examples of Goals from other plans
Results from the August 30 Vision Mapping exercise (these were not presented at the Sept 13 meeting, as suggested by the City’s website)

First Issue Specific Workshop – Parks and Open Spaces, Thursday, September 27, 2007 | Agenda |

In this meeting, stakeholders provided input on the topic of parks and open space issues. Presentations were made by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Keep Austin Beautiful program, and stakeholders conducted a brainstorming session to propose ideas for maintaining and improving parks, as well as creating additional park space and open areas in any development of larger areas (e.g., Austin State School, Lions Municipal Golf Course, Brackenridge Tract, etc.) as buffers to the existing residential neighborhood. A copy of the PowerPoint Presentation for the Parks and Open Space Workshop is posted at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/downloads/cwa_PowerPoint_Sept_27.pdf.

The City’s website includes a posting of Meeting Notes for the meeting. These meeting notes do not correctly reflect what actually occurred at the meeting, particularly with reference to the statement that the stakeholders approved the proposed working goal. In fact, the stakeholders requested a number of revisions to the proposed working goal to clarify that the goal here should also include creating open space and parks on large properties to serve as a buffer to protect existing single family homes in the neighborhood.

On the topic of “Parks and Open Space,” please be sure to review the "Parks and Environment" section from WANG's 1986 Neighborhood Plan (www.deepeddy.com/wang/neighborhoodplan.pdf.

Second Issue Specific Workshop – Transportation, Wednesday, October 17, 2007 | Agenda |

In the Traffic Issues Workshop meeting, stakeholders received presentations from City Staff concerning traffic issues, such as traffic calming, cut-through traffic, speeding, bike lanes, and sidewalks. In addition, there was a discussion of the report by the Brackenridge Task Force concerning the redevelopment of 345 acres along Lake Austin Boulevard and the Colorado River that includes 500 units of affordable housing for married students (many with children), the municipal golf course, a biological field lab, and the West Austin Youth Association. In summary, the Report recommends that a master plan be prepared to guide the development of the entire tract by leasing (not selling) the tracts (including the Golf Course and WAYA facility) to meet “pressing financial needs of the University.” The Board of Regents is holding a public hearing on the report on November 9th at 1:30pm at 201 W. 7th Street. You can view the task force's report at http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/files/bracktract/report.pdf.

Time ran out before the group interaction exercises were conducted to review traffic circulation and management, bikes, and sidewalks data.

On the topic of “Transportation,” please consider the Transportation section from WANG's 1986 Neighborhood Plan (www.deepeddy.com/wang/neighborhoodplan.pdf.

Third Issue Specific Workshop – MoPac and Mass Transit, Wednesday, November 14, 2007 | Agenda | Meeting Notes

Focus: Stakeholders provided input on draft Parks goal.

Presentation from the Texas Department of Transportation, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Austin/San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District regarding Loop 1 (MoPac) and mass transit. Stakeholders asked questions about MoPac sound barriers, traffic improvement, managed lanes and other transportation project implications.

Documents: PowerPoint presentations from the Central West Austin planning team (including TxDOT Loop 1/MoPac presentation), Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District, and Capital Metro. A second Capital Metro presentation, about their long- and short-range planning efforts, was not given during this meeting, but can be viewed here: Capital Metro Long and Short Range Planning.

Fourth Issue Specific Workshop – More Transportation, Wednesday, December 5, 2007 | Agenda | Meeting Notes

Focus: Stakeholders revised the draft Transportation Goal as follows:

Transportation Draft Goal

"Support and not compromise the livability and vitality of Central West Austin neighborhood streets by not widening existing streets, enhancing safety and convenience for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users (with particular attention to routes serving neighborhood schools, parks, and libraries), improving access to reliable transportation services, enforcing speed limits, controlling on-street parking to protect residents' property rights, and maintaining acceptable traffic service levels and traffic safety and protecting against cut-thru traffic."

In addition, the stakeholders worked in groups for a mapping exercise to revise and extend transportation issues and concerns in the neighborhood. In particular, topics discussed included proposed transit oriented development at the MoPac/35^th street intersection, designing traffic flow to address future development at Brackenridge, Camp Mabry and the Austin State School, sidewalks, school bus routes through the neighborhood, cut-through traffic, traffic calming, speeding, and bike lanes.

Documents: PowerPoint presentation | Concerns and opportunities regarding a potential commuter rail station at 35th St. | Transportation Goal handout.

Maps: Two maps were handed out at this meeting, including the Traffic count map (explanation of map; traffic count data) and Traffic collision map (explanation of map).

Fifth Issue Specific Workshop – Process Check-up & Vision, Wednesday, January 9, 2008 | Agenda and Plan Timeline |

Focus: Review what was covered in 2007, and what will be done in 2008—trees, creek erosion, neighborhood character, housing, land use, and zoning. In addition, draft recommendations for the parks and open space chapter were introduced, and a vision statement was “workshopped.” On both topics (see "handouts" below), comments may be provided by contacting Greg Claxton at gregory.claxton@ci.austin.tx.us.

Documents: Powerpoint presentation | draft Vision handout | Parks and Open Space handout

Sixth Issue Specific Workshop – Trees, Wednesday, January 30, 2008 | Agenda |

Focus: Presentation by City Staff regarding Austin's tree protection and planting programs and how Austin Energy manages trees alongside its utility infrastructure. Neighbors were asked to prepare for the meeting by thinking about the questions posted at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/downloads/CWA_Jan9_HWJan30.pdf. Topics addressed included the different roles that trees can play in shaping neighborhood character, providing shade for pedestrians, lowering energy costs, and improving creek erosion.

Documents: Neighborhood planning staff presentation | Austin Energy presentation | Tree protection regulations presentation. For more information, please see the City's information on urban forestry and Austin Energy's tree trimming website.

Seventh Issue Specific Workshop – Water, Creeks, Erosion & Flooding, Wednesday, February 20, 2008 | Agenda | Mapping Exercise handout

Focus: Watershed Protection and Development Review staff presented information about water quality and drainage issues. A mapping exercise looked at flooding and erosion problems and opportunities for water quality improvement.

Documents: Watershed Protection Presentation Entitled "Protecting Lives, Property and the Environment"; part two.

Eighth Issue Specific Workshop – Community Life and Housing Affordability, Wednesday, March 5, 2008 | Agenda |

Focus: Neighborhood crime and safety presentation from APD Sergeant Dustin Lee, followed by a presentation of staff discussions with the principals of Brykerwoods Elementary, Casis Elementary, and O. Henry Middle Schools. We ran long and did not get to the housing affordability section. Before the meeting, the vision statements (below) were presented and attendees voted for their favorites.

Documents: Planning staff presentation | APD presentation |

Crime maps: personal, property, nuisance, drug/alcohol | Crime tallies by offense | APD Districts for Central West Austin

Links: Sergeant Lee mentioned two online safety resources the city provides. First is the Resource Manual, which directs citizens to city resources for complaints or problems. Second is APD's online crime map viewer.

Ninth Issue Specific Workshop - Residential Review, Code Enforcement, Housing Affordability, and Historic Preservation, Saturday, March 29, 2008 | Agenda | Presentations: part 1, part 2 |

Focus: Jessica King from Residential Review talks about the city's review of new construction, demolitions, and remodels and how to report violations. Susan Villareal from historic preservation talked about historic designations and historic districts. Paul Tomasovic of Code Enforcement talked about how to spot and report code violations. The group did a mapping exercise to look at what areas could be designated historic and what characteristics of housing in the neighborhood they wanted to preserve.

On the topic of affordable housing, there will likely be a request made for locating multi-family zoning in our neighborhood. On this topic, please be sure to review objective 1.6 of the “Land Use” section from WANG's 1986 Neighborhood Plan (posted at http://www.deepeddy.com/wang/neighborhoodplan.pdf), which is set forth below:

1.6 Limit multifamily housing as a buffer from office and retail zoning along arterials. It should not be permitted as an end in itself. A buffer is a use which is less intrusive than that which is being buffered.

Tenth Issue Specific Workshop - Mid-Process Review And Open House, Saturday, April 26, 2008 | Agenda | Introductory presentation | Chapter drafts (Word) (PDF) |

Focus: At this meeting, staff and stakeholders discussed the following draft neighborhood plan chapters:

· Transportation (available as PDF; editable Word file).

· Parks, Open Space & Environment (available as PDF).

· Community Life (not available).

· Neighborhood In Context (not available).

Stakeholders reviewed the draft chapters to determine whether they help to create the neighborhood that we envision for the future. Neighborhood stakeholders have been working on revisions to the draft “Transportation” and “Parks” chapters, which are posted as redlined documents at “Revised Transportation Chapter” and “Revised Parks Chapter.”

This WILL NOT be the final review for these chapters, and staff will continue to take comments on these chapters in the coming months.

Maps and Documents
Maps (these are large files stored on our ftp site)
Base Map | 2003 Land Use Map
Aerial Photo Maps: 2006 | 1997 | 1940