North Austin Civic Association

March 27, 2008
  Macmora Rezoning Denied by City Council  
March 27, 2008: With a quorum of seven Council members present, the City Council voted 7-0 to deny the request by owner Holly Armstrong to rezone 10614 Macmora Road from single family to townhouse-condo residence.

The decision is a solid victory for NACA and community residents who want to maintain the rural flavor of this special part of Austin.
No Contest....

In the weeks prior to the City Council meeting, Anthony Williams, Joshua Tallent, members of the NACA Executive Board, and the residents of the Macmora area worked tirelessly to present NACA's case to the individual council members. The goal was to protect the Neighborhood Plan, which specifically calls to "...protect the unique character of residences on Macmora Road, which includes large lots and some livestock..." , and confine large development to the areas of NACA expressly earmarked for such change.

Council Member Brewster McCracken, in remarks that reinforced our effort to "maintain the rural character and large lot characterof this area"*, made the motion to deny, and CM Jennifer Kim seconded. CM Sheryl Cole also spoke in our favor. Citizens speaking against the zoning change were (the very eloquent) Joshua Tallent, NACA president Williams, Linda Moore, and residents Sean Walker, Tom Mathews, and Tam Win. Others, including Gina Almon, Susie Milam and Robert Baker contributed their three minutes of alloted time to the speakers so they may better plead our case. They were solidly supported from the gallery.
...but Beware...

There is still a chance that multiple units, as many as ten or eleven, could be proposed for the acreage as it is currently zoned. It must be recognized that our success was largely a result of the owner's lack of a comprehensive plan for the development. A subdivision plan under SF-1 zoning could add multiple residences with a street down the middle of them. That, too, would compromise the flavor of the neighborhood and bring infrastructure problems from traffic, utilities, drainage and the mess and clamor of construction. We may not have heard the last of this controversy.

But for now, we can enjoy a solid victory that came from community involvement and solidarity. Our thanks to the City Council and congratulations to Anthony, Joshua and all the other friends and neighbors who made it possible.

birdfly
* Closed Caption Log, Council Meeting, 3/27/08

Neighborhood Plan Amendment

A request has been made to the City of Austin by the NACA Neighborhood Plan Contact Team (NPCT) to amend the Neighborhood Plan to address the uniqueness of Macmora Road.

Update: According to the City Council minutes of August 28, the amandment is "ready for consent approval on all three readings."

The NPCT voted to petition the City to change Item 8, page 20 of the NACA Neighborhood Plan. The original text did not state the particular zoning desired, or the precise location the restrictions would affect.

Neighbors will have the opportunity to voice their opinion about the change to NPCT and City staff at the June 19 NACA meeting.

Existing Text: Protect the unique character of residences on Macmora Road, which includes large lots and some livestock.

Requested Change (updated from June 19 meeting): Retain the qualities that make Macmora Road between Topperwein Drive and Golden Quail Drive a special place within the NACA neighborhood. These qualities include larger lots with ranch-style houses set further back from the street, agricultural outbuildings, a maturing tree canopy and livestock. In the future, the only changes to the area should include the addition of organic, urban farms. New development should be sensitive to the character of this area.

Backstory:

Rezoning of Residential Lots on Macmora Road
Concerns Local Homeowners

Update: March 23, 2008

Re-zoning Case # C14-2007-0255
The Public Hearing before the City Council on the re-zoning has been scheduled
for Thursday, March 27th at 4 PM at City Hall, 301 West Second Street.
Item 57 on the Agenda.

NACA President Anthony Williams authored a letter to the Mayor and all Council Members in early March, concerning this issue, and meetings with City Council members are being scheduled. Betty Dunkerley and Jennifer Kim were updated March 18. Meetings are scheduled with with Brewster McCracken on Monday the 24th at 2:30 PM, and with Sheryl Cole on Tuesday the 25th at 1pm. Any interested NACA member or resident is welcome to attend either meeting.

Please note that the Public Hearing will not be at the usual time (6PM) on the 27th. IT WILL BEGIN AT 4PM. City staff have informed us that since there is a certified protest against this case by local neighbors, there will be 3 readings (reviews) of this case before City Council. The first reading (and the only one allowing a Public Hearing) will be on the 27th. The second and third will be held during future sessions (not yet determined.) It is at the THIRD READING ONLY that 75% of the Council vote is required to allow the proposed zoning change.

Update: February 23, 2008

Macmora Road curls through pastureland in NACA's Area 4b		 NACA's Neighborhood Plan, compiled and published in 2000, is a collaborative effort between neighborhood residents, businesses, property owners and non-profit organizations, with support from city staff, to control development and preserve the integrity of the NACA area.

But the Plan does not carry the force of law. If we want to preserve the integrity of our neighborhood as laid out in the Plan, we must sometimes stand up and fight for it.
Round One:
     10614 Macmora rezoning passed despite a petition of opposition
Round Two:
    City Council holds a 4 PM public hearing for the first reading of the rezoning of 10614 Macmora on March 27
Round Three:
    City Council needs 75% majority to confirm the rezoning of 10614 Macmora on third reading
On Tuesday, November 26, the meeting of the City of Austin Planning Commission included the rezoning of 10614 Macmora Road from SF-1 (single family residence - large lot) to SF-6 (townhouse and condominium residence).

The Commission passed the request for zoning change (C14-2007-0255), recommending SF-6 with restrictions, allowing as many as 15 units on the property.

There can be no question that this rezoning is contrary to the Neighborhood Plan, as seen both in the text and in the Land Use Map.
10514 Macmora is dead center in the grassland area.
The issue now goes before the City Council, which will give the measure the first of three readings on March 27. Since a petition in opposition to the rezoning was certified by the city, the measure will require three readings and a 75% vote to pass on the third reading. Watch here for updates on the date and time of the second and third reading.

Our neighbors in the Macmora area, along with members of NACA's Neighborhood Plan Contact Team and the officers of NACA, would like to encourage other NACA residents to support them in theis issue. The best help you can give is to contact the members of the City Council to bring our position in this matter to their attention.

Anthony Williams,Joshua Tallent and other concerned residents are collaborating on a presentation to bring before the City Council. For information on how you can help, contact Anthony Williams at 897-2354, or email williams762@earthlink.net.

Satellite photos courtesy Google Earth

~By Keith Huntsman

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