Oakmont Heights Neighborhood
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Annual Neighborhood Meeting Thursday, December 10, 2009 , 6:45 pm, at Harris Bell HallView this Newsletter as a PDF document. Number 09-01 Greetings! Oakmont Neighbors, from the Oakmont Heights Neighborhood Association (OHNA). The OHNA would like to welcome everyone to its annual meeting, scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, in Harris Bell Hall at Westminster Manor. The meeting will start off with an update on Westminster Manor expansion from a representative of Westminster. Following that, we will review items affecting our neighborhood, and what is ahead for 2010. We also will elect officers and fill at-large positions on the Executive Committee, the association’s governing board, for next year. If you have time and interest to serve, please contact association president Arten Avakian at 452-6188 or at ajavakian@aol.com. Directions to Harris Bell Hall: Harris Bell Hall is on the third floor in the north wing of Westminster Manor. To get there, enter through the health care center at the north end of the facility, go to the end of the hallway behind the front desk, then take the elevator up one floor (or take the stairs at the end of the next hallway to the right). The hall is across from the elevator. If driving, park in the lot at Jackson and Bull Creek Road. Association Dues $5.00 for 2010
Annual neighborhood association dues for 2010 will be $5.00 per household
(an increase of $2 from prior years). Dues payments cover association expenses such
as printing this newsletter, and a small reserve for emergencies. Payment of dues
allows you to vote and participate at neighborhood association meetings, although everyone
is welcome to attend. Items Affecting Our Neighborhood - The Past Year in ReviewThis past year we have seen several changes in our surroundings (Post West Austin apartments, and Comerica Bank), and can expect to see more in the coming year. Following is a summary of things that the OHNA has been tracking during the past year. Westminster ManorWestminster Manor has announced they are set to begin expansion (into the area of the parking lot and vacant land to the north), with the goal to begin construction in the first quarter of 2010. A representative from Westminster will be present at the beginning of our annual meeting on December 10 to give us an update. 1600 W 38th Street - Central Texas Rehabilitation HospitalEarly this year, a site plan was filed for Central Texas Rehabilitation Hospital/Center, for construction of a building and parking garage in place of the parking lot behind the existing building at the northeast corner of Jefferson and 38th/Bull Creek Road. The applicant initially sought a series of variances from development codes, but was unsuccessful due in large part to strong and well organized opposition from affected parties in the Ridgelea neighborhood. The OHNA and the Rosedale NA supported our Ridgelea neighbors in opposition to the variances. The applicant redesigned the project and is in the process of addressing requirements of the City of Austin. For more information on permit details and status, go to Hospital Permit and enter SPC-2009-0066C in "Search By Case Number," and press submit. State Property on Bull Creek RoadDuring this past legislative session, we were caught off guard by House Bill 4536 regarding sale of the State Cemetery Annex (open area southeast of 45th and Bull Creek Road). The purpose of the bill was to dedicate proceeds from the sale to the State Cemetery to allow acquisition of other property adjacent to the current State Cemetery. In recognition of concerns expressed by all three neighborhood associations (Ridgelea, Rosedale, and Oakmont Heights), regarding future development of the property, the bill’s sponsor withheld the bill from further consideration. The property is not currently zoned, but would need to be zoned once sold. During the summer, representatives from Ridgelea, Rosedale, and Oakmont met with representatives of the State Cemetery, and agreed to work together on the concept of applying conditions to the property or the sale to assure standards of development compatible with the surrounding neighborhoods. This work will need to be done in advance of the next legislative session. If anyone is suited for this type of work and would like to get involved, please contact the OHNA. More info on HB 4536: MoPacThe OHNA attended the annual meeting of MoNAC (the MoPac Neighborhood Associations Coalition, see www.main.org/monac/) in October. Representatives from TxDOT gave a recap of the recent history of the plan to add managed lanes and sound walls to MoPac: TxDOT decided in November 2007 to suspend the project due to funding constraints. TxDOT asked the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) to take over the project. While TxDOT is exploring new options, such as issuing bonds to finance its project backlog, CTRMA is reviewing toll financing options, and at this point neither TxDOT nor CTRMA is committed to resuming the project in the near future. The TxDOT and CTRMA representatives emphasized that should future financing become available for the project, they would not be starting from scratch, but would build on the work already completed. An optimistic forecast is that once the project is restarted, it would take about two years to complete environmental and noise studies and environmental assessment and public hearings before construction could begin. Post West Austin Apartments on Bull Creek RoadThe new apartments on Bull Creek Road have been completed. When it first went up it sure seemed big, but the finishing touches really toned that down and gave it a nice look. OHNA representatives tagged along on a tour of the place this past summer, including several model rooms, courtyards, pool, exercise room, and other amenities. Nicely done. Neighbors living on 44th Street present on the tour were pleased and felt it is a great improvement over the prior apartments. 44th street bonus:The developer of the apartments split costs with the City of Austin to rebuild 44th street, giving residents a much nicer street and better drainage.
Other Items of Interest |