Sustainable Neighborhoods Meeting - Feb. 16th

If you are interested in the future of Burnet Rd and Anderson Ln, please come out this Thursday, 2/16, for the Sustainable Neighborhoods meeting. We will be discussing two vital topics:

1. Should we organize to secure $20 million in bond funding for proposed sidewalk, bike lane and safety improvements on Burnet?

2. Should the City offer more than one definition of a mixed use corridor like Burnet or Anderson?

Probably most people in our area would support a vision for a Burnet Rd that is safer and more attractive for walking, biking and transit. Such steps help to reduce car congestion and make it easier for residents to reach neighborhood-friendly businesses. But there are some questions that SN raised about the details of such projects, based on a recent Burnet corridor study. We'll discuss the latest information about how the projects would be implemented, and decide whether to push ahead with a campaign to obtain funding fot the projects.

The current Comprehensive Plan definition of a mixed use corridor implies that infill development is expected to happen whereever there's a site for it. SN has pushed for a definition of corridors based on putting the most density in highly walkable places closest to the highest quality transit, and using places farther from transit for more affordable and family-friendly housing. We'll discuss these two different definitions with a representative of the Comprehensive Plan team. Council aides from the offices of Kathie Tovo and Chris Riley also plan to attend.

We'll also give a brief update on the proposed redevelopment at 8100 Burnet (Ross Dress for Less).

The meeting is 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Village Christian Apartments Activity Room, 7925 Rockwood Ln just north of Anderson. Directions here at http://www.snaustin.org/meeting-directions.

Sustainable Neighborhoods of North Central Austin will meet on Thursday, Feb 16, to decide whether to push for bond funding for pedestrian, bike and transit improvements on Burnet Rd.

The meeting will also decide whether to seek changes to Comprehensive Plan language for definition of mixed use corridors like Burnet, review a recent White Paper on getting more kids and less congestion from future housing, and provide an update on the proposed development at 8100 Burnet.

All of these topics are interrelated. The current Comprehensive Plan description of mixed use corridors is so vague that the City may never invest in improvements needed to achieve village centers at places like Burnet-Anderson, which are needed for child-safety and reduced traffic congestion. The lack of such a vision was felt in the recent Burnet corridor transportation study. Meanwhile, North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Association has been in intense discussions with a developer who wants to add 300 apartments at the Ross Property at 8100 Burnet, mainly concerning planning of the site to minimize traffic impact. Again, lack of a vision for the Burnet corridor has led to different expectations of what such a development would look like.

The meeting is open to the public. It is Thu. 2/16 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Village Christian Apartments activity room at 7925 Rockwood just north of Anderson. Directions here: http://www.snaustin.org/meeting-directions

Please come out and contribute.

Apologies to residents of North Shoal Creek - our meeting conflicts with the neighborhood meeting that same night. SN had scheduled this meeting prior to the NSC announcement.

posted by Steven Zettner