ZNEWS Articles beginning with the letter (u)
umlauf
Shhhh! Don't tell the Barton Hillbillies!
- It's a little known secret that the Umlauf Sculpture Garden (at 605 Robert E Lee Rd.) directed by Nelie Plourde, is free to Zilker neighbors on the last Thrusday of each month from 1-4:30.
From: 1996_July umlauf
United
UNITED SOUTH AUSTIN United South Austin is an umbrella group that now includes 15 South Austin Organizations: Becker Area Community Organization, Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association, Cooper Lane Neighborhood Association, Dawson Area Neighborood Group, MECCA (Manchaca Estates, Cherry Creek I, & Associated Subdivisions), Nuckols Crossing Neighborhood Association, South Austin Multi-Purpose Center, South Austin Neighborhood Council, South Austin Recreation Center Advisory Board, South First Street Business Corridor Association, South River City Citizens, Southwest Austin Neighborhood Association, Southweed Neighborhood Association, Travis Heights Improvement Association and Zilker Neighborhood Association.
Some of the issues'USA" has been concerned with this summer are: new Zoning Ordinance--The City Council has scheduled action on 10-20-83. lawsuits Against the City of Austin for the Williamson Creek and Govalle Wastewater Treatment Plants-- United South Austin voted to bring suit against the city for threatening health and safety by discharging raw sewerage in violation of their nits. USA is joining Austin Neighborhood Council in this suit. Before one can sue, an Intent to Sue is required to be n. That written notification was made on 6-28-83, a 60 day wait is required. inema West (on S. Congress) and the Pleasure Shoppe (on Oltorf and S. ist) r is concerned with the happenings immediately outside of these two "businesses":
Cinema_West-- Prostitution
Pleasure Shoppe--exposing (flashing) of genitals to children as they walk home from school rs to discourage these operations are being considered.
'useum for the Spanish Speaking--USA voted to support and lobby for the creation of the museum for the Spanish ~king. This would be at Fiesta Gardens and would be the first one of its kind in the United States. It is needed: because \nexican-American history and culture are in the process of extinction, to record its history and provide on-coming gen- ions with a complete sense of history and social direction, to instill a sense of pride in the Mexican-American (ground. For more information call the League of United Chicano ArtistslLUChAIMuseo dal Barrio at 477-5770. unicipal Utility Districts-MUDs have been an ongoing concern. There are many, many problems with the concept of ving these to be formed. Austin's options concerning MUDs are:
Consent to MUD and negotiate with MUD for land use controls. Deny the MUD. Then it can develop anyway with alternative utility resources and can potentially cause more en- ~mental damage than if the city consented to it in the first place. Annex the area. Problem--if we annex then we have to serve the area. We can't serve the area we now have. unanimously voted to: Join Cooper Lane Neighborhood Association in support for stricter and more enforceable or- nces for all creek watersheds, encourage innovative and new wastewater systems. Further, that no development at all I critical recharge zones. Land in the 100 year flood plain be dedicated as park land--with limited use of higher density :ers to off set park area. And, that no variances from existing ordinances be allowed. lights from Bergstrom Air Force Base - Enriq ue Lopez from Montopolis Neig hborhood Association has organized an ad coalition to deal with the noise disruption from Bergstrom. USA voted to join this group (Zilker joined --based on res- :ion at last meeting to negotiate with Bergstrom-from presentation made by T. Paul Robbins). The group is named: gstrom Neighbors for Peace and Tranquility. Members from this group met with top officials from Bergstrom at J.J. te" Pickle's off ice on 7-6-83. At th is meeting Bergstrom officials announced that flig hts will be limited on Sunday morn- ; and Sunday early afternoons. Another meeting with Bergstrom officials is due to take place in September. Ideas that being considered by the Bergstrom Neighbors for Peace and Tranquility include: requesting more use on preferable Nays--less use on those that bring noise closest, noise abatement compensation. The last Bergstrom Neighbors Meet- passed a resolution to request that the City of Austin monitor noise with a decibel meter in Montopolis as well as South tin. noise and jet disruption complaints call Major John Smalley, Public Affairs Office, Bergstrom -orce Base, 479-2577 during regular business hours. Weekends and after 5 pm, call 479-3375 ask for officer in charge, Wing Command Post (on duty 24 hours). Be sure to give date and nf nninn in~i~nnt VVCL~VIVI~ [3~~r\. from the President's desk: Kinney Avenue Baptist Church has begun a major building improvements program and ZNI not be able to use the meeting hall until after May. Because of their central location but especially their cooperation--ZNA has had an exce place to meet in the past two years. The church and its pastor--Rev. Mr. Charles Stewart--l certainly been good neighbors. We want to take this opportunity to publicly thank the Kinney Avt Baptist Ch urch for their help i n the past and wish them success with their cu rrent bui Iding prograrr Any ideas for future meeting places are welcome. NEW ZONING ORDINANCE The proposed new zoning ordinance is scheduled for City Council Action on October 20th. following, written by Austin Neighborhoods Council President Smoot Carl-Mitchell for distribu in neighborhood newsletters, are deficiencies in the current draft of the ordinance. Fact: The new ordinance encourages downtown commercial sprawl into close-in neighborho by encouraging intensive commercial use outside of the Downtown area. There is no hei limit on downtown buildings. Fact: All property is grandfathered for 2-10 years. One year on all property is more than sufficier Fact: So called compatibility standards for intensive development of apartments in single fat neighborhoods are only guidelines and have no enforcement power. In addition there no compatibility standards for commercial property. Fact: There are no provisions for limiting traffic impact on existing neighborhoods. Fact: The Neighborhood Conservation Combining District, a tool for neighborhood planning, been deleted from this draft. Fact: There are no noise standards in the ordinance. They were removed from a previous draft. Fact: The ordinance does not address overzoning of existing properties nor provide for rollbi of properties to existing use. This deficiency will continue to fuel the current speculation cyci A Skyscraper Planned for the JalapeAo Charlie's Site A zoning change for 100-foot building on Barton Springs Road and Bouldin Avenue is b requested before the City Council. Originally John Joseph representing owner Steve Scott reque a change to 4th Height and Area. (Downtown buildings are zoned 4th Height and Area-the presently no height limit for this zoning.) At the Planning Commission Public Hearing he char his request, asking for the back lot to be changed from "A" ist Height and Area to "C" 2nd H~ and Area. Getting approval for this change would allow a building of 120 feet to be built (usine 3-to-1 set back exemption). In a 5-4 vote, Joseph got his request with a 100 foot limit at Planning Commission stage. At the City Council Public Hearing on September 8th, it was determ by the Planning Department that proper re-zoning notification was not posted. Therefore, the ( has been sent back to the Planning Commission. If this zoning change is allowed, it will s precedent for skyscrapers from Wright Pottery Studio to the Magic Time Machine. Now is the time to let the Planning Commission members know how you feel about develops along Barton Springs Road. Can This Man Predict Your Future? Probably not, but why not discuss your future real estate plans with the broker who specializes in the Zilker and Barton Heights neighborhoods? This area is undergoing rapid change and has one of the highest rates of appreciation in Austin. If you think you may be.moving during the next year or if you have an insurance policy coming up for renewal and you are unsure about the value of your property, please call us for a free competitive market analysis. A visit from us is better than going to the dentist or getting audited by the IRS and it will certainly cost you a lot less so give us a call today and we will arrange for a brief and informative meeting to discuss your plans and current trends in South Austin real estate. We want to be your real estate firm. Henry Benedict & Associates
From: 1983_September United
usa
UNITED SOUTH AUSTIN
UNITED SOUTH AUSTIN, a new group composed of representative from neighborhoods, civic clubs, and other organizations in South Austin, approved and adopted its Bylaws on November 10, 1982. More time was spent on Section 5(c) of the Bylaws which stated:
The Corporation will not formally adopt an official position or undertake any action without the approval of 60% of the members present at the meeting.
After earnest discussion and several votes, the "60% " was changed to "100%." Organizations that have been represented at the meetings include:
Becker Area Community Organization
Bouidin Creek Neighborhood Association
Nuckols Crossing Neighborhood Association
South Austin Civic Club
South Austin Multi-Purpose Center
South Austin Neighborhood Council
South First Street Coordinating Council
South West Austin Neighborhood Association
Southwood Neighborhood Association
Zilker Neighborhood Association
From: 1982_December usa
usa
UNITED SOUTH AUSTIN
United South Austin is an umbrella group that now includes 17 South Austin Organizations: ecker Area Community Organization, Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association, Cooper Lane eighborhood Association, Dawson Area Neighborhood Group, Fairview Neighborhood Associa- ~n, MECCA (Manchaca Estates, Cherry Creek I & Associated Subdivisions), Montopolis Neighbor- 3od Association, Nuckols Crossing Neighborhood Association, South Austin Multi-Purpose Center, outh Austin Neighborhood Council, South Austin Recreation Center Advisory Board, South First treet Business Corridor, South River City Citizens, Southwest Austin Neighborhood Association, outhwood Neighborhood Association, Travis Heights Improvement Association and Zilker eighborhood Association.
The 1983-84 officers (the same as 82-83) are: Chairperson James Austin Pinedo from Bouldin Creek Neighborhood
Vice-chair Jack Goodman from Cooper Land Neighborhood
Secretary Glenna Batch from Zilker Neighborhood
Some of the "USA" concerns this Fall are:
Municipal Utility Districts-MUDs have been an ongoing concern. There are many, many ~oblems with the concept of allowing these to be formed. Different MUDs have formed with different pes of arrangements. Some earlier agreements have been beneficial to the city. Depend- g on bonding agreements within the package, the city can incur a vareity of levels of in- !btedness. We may not want to recommend that the city deny approval of these MUDs. If e city denies the MUD or MUDS it has 6 months to investigate alternative funding of ilities to these new developments outside the city limits.
Resource Recovery Plant-"USA" had voted to support the garbage burning plant and was jappointed that it did not pass in the last city election. "USA" voted to support that it be placed I a future ballot.
A media skills workshop is being planned by our T. Paul Robbins, through USA, for the spring. terested in attending? Call Glenna at 442-0554.
Near South Austin Neighborhood Plan-United South Austin has made a long-term commitment do a South Austin Plan. Already representatives from Zilker Neighborhood Association and Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association have indicated that they wish to join this effort. The need this became apparent in our combined effort to stop the skyscraper on Barton Springs/Bouldin lenue (Where Xalapeiio Charlie's is now located.)
Adopt a Non-profit Agency Program- was approved by United South Austin. The idea came Im Fairview Neighborhood Association who is putting this in action in their neighborhood. It is a ly to support a neighborhood social service and gain more visibility for both the neighborhoodd the agency. This is an idea Zilker may wish to consider and vote to participate.
From: 1983_December usa
usa
UNITED SOUTH AUSTIN
United South Austin (USA), a group composed of representatives from neighborhood associations, civic clubs and other groups in South Austin has met twice since our January 17, 1983 Zilker meeting.
At the 1-19-83 USA Meeting the main concern was the proposed New Zoning Ordinance in its revised form of December 7, 1982(to date, the latest revision available to the public). Lengthy discussions evolved regarding the radical change in the revision--the expansion of the central area parking exemption making the new boundaries south of the river as follows: IH-35, Riverside Drive, E. Bouldin Creek, Post Oak, S. Lamar to the river. Expanding the central area parking exemption in effect expands the Central Business District to the same boundaries. Therefore, intensive development of the 4th-height-and-area type (200 ft. height limitation according to current zoning ordinance; no height limit under proposed new zoning ordinance) would be allowed and encouraged within these boundaries. Furthermore, the parking exemption allows the builder to provide only 10% of the parking that the development would generate.
USA unanimously moved that--
United South Austin urges the City Council to confine the central area parking exemption to the contiguous 4th Height and Area district north of the river.
The above motion was presented to the City Council at the 1-20-83 public hearing on the Zoning Ordinance
Needing more time to study the possible results, the City Council has delayed voting on this ordinance.
The 2-3-83 USA meeting saw more discussion concerning the new Zoning Ordinance. It was decided that each member would study the proposed ordinance and come to the next meeting prepared to vote on:
To support the ordinance with specified changes and what the changes should be, and
To support the Zilker Neighborhood Association letter to the City Council (that we requested Cicily Simms
write at our last ZNA meeting, outlining our specific objections to the new ordinance).
by Glenna Bale
From: 1983_March usa
usa
UNITED SOUTH AUSTIN
United South Austin (USA), a group composed of representatives from neighborhoods, civic clubs and other groups in South Austin met last on April 13, 1983 and the following happened:
Election of New Officers (Chairperson Jim Bowen resigned in March):
Chairperson James Pinedo, Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association
Vice-Chair Jack Goodman, Cooper Lane Neighborhood Association
Secretary Glenna Balch, Zilker Neighborhood Association
Moratorium for New Development in All South Austin based on the Crisis Status of the Williamson Creek Treatment Plant. This plant has twice been cited by the Texas Water Quality Board in the last few weeks for excessive discharge of raw effluent into the Williamson Creek.
As of this writing, USA may not get a chance to request this moratorium. The City Council is now in executive session to consider the same. If drastic action is not taken quickly to correct this health and environmental hazard, Austin will be in serious trouble with the State Water Quality Board.
Moratorium for New Development in Far South Austin based on Traffic Problems and
Overdevelopment of Apartments Until a Land Use Scheme can be made. At the April 21, 1983 City Council Meeting, Roger Duncan will request that the Planning Department do an Infill Study on South Austin from Ben White to the city limits and from Congress to Manchaca. USA will consider requesting a moratorium in conjunction with Councilman Duncan's Infill Study request.
--Glenna Balch
From: 1983_May usa
utilities
4. Utilities. There will be a presentation by the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Department about utility work affecting the neighborhood.
From: 1993_June utilities