Minutes

Hancock Neighborhood Association Minutes for Wednesday, July 19th

At the start of the meeting, members thanked Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo for joining us, and for her continued hard work on the Council. Approximately sixty HNA members attended the meeting.

CodeNext Discussion:
Mary Sanger and Mike Hebert gave a brief description of the history of CodeNext and to-date information. In summary, CodeNext is the process of updating Austin’s land development code, which regulates what can be built, where it can be built and how much can be built. The 2012 Comprehensive Plan, known as Imagine Austin, recommended the City Council update the City’s land development Code, which has not been revised since 1984. Mike Hebert explained that the CodeNext process has been non-transparent, has cut out neighborhood plans and the neighborhood planning process and has targeted Austin’s core neighborhoods for up-zoning based on their market desirability – that is, our core neighborhoods are ripe for redevelopment. This will result, not in the building of affordable housing, but in the acceleration of the tearing down of moderately priced rental and homeowner housing to be replaced by high-end duplexes, cottage courts, and ADUs. Mike H. explained the new zoning categories, which replaced Hancock’s Single Family neighborhood zone with what is termed T3 zoning increases density and allows more housing units on smaller lots. The out-of-state consultants, who mapped the City’s new zoning categories showed no appreciation of Austin’s older, dense and diverse neighborhoods. They did not follow Imagine Austin’s goals for respecting Neighborhood Plans, and creating density on the Transit and Activity Corridors, among other items. Essentially, the mappers looked at our urban core. There was no concern for the destruction of affordable housing, nor the displacement of renters or homeowners, nor the ruin of Austin’s healthy and diverse core neighborhoods.

HNA members were asked to vote on a CodeNext resolution and a letter to the Mayor and City Council, both of which are attached The 60-plus members in attendance, voted unanimously to send the letter and the resolution to the Mayor and Council. (see attached)

Perry Estate:
Carolyn Palaima, a member of HNA’s Zoning Committee, reported that the Zoning Committee had reviewed the Perry Estate’s recent permit request. The zoning committee concluded that the development plan is in accordance with the covenant entered into by HNA and the owner of the Perry Estate. HNA President, Mark Harkrider said he also will review the permit and the covenant.

Graffiti:
The neighborhood anti-graffiti team gave its report on their campaign to paint over graffiti and the lack of police resources and the inability to identify the perpetrators. The best tools to discourage graffiti seems to be painting over the marks and placing hidden cameras everywhere the perpetrators conduct their attacks.

Historic Hancock Neighborhood
Teri Meyers, Hancock resident and Historic Landmark Commissioner, and representatives from North University Neighborhood Association discussed the local preservation process.

Minutes prepared by Mary Sanger, Secretary, HNA

Alternative Formats

https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-meeting-minutes-july-19-2017docx
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-meeting-minutes-july-19-2017pdf

Attachments

CodeNext Resolution
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-resolution-re-codenext-719171docx
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-letter-71917docx

CodeNext Letter
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-letter-71917docx
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-resolution-re-codenext-719171pdf

Minutes from the Hancock Neighborhood Association. Wednesday, January 18, 2017.

Due to the lack of a quorum, those present did not elect Association officers for 2017. Thus the current officers, who were nominated without opposition, will remain in their positions until January, 2018.

District 9 Council member Kathie Tovo and her assistant,Joi Harden, came by the meeting to say hello.

Our guest speaker for the evening was Sabrina Vidaurri, training supervisor for the City's Rodent and Vector Control Program. She gave an excellent, informative and interesting discussion on the habits and qualities of the two types of rats which we have in Austin: the Norway rat and the Tree rat and how to prevent and exclude them from our yards and homes. For those interested in the life and habits of rats, Ms Vidaurri suggested the documentary called "Rats."

The best take away from the presentation is the Rodent and Vector Control Program will come to an owner occupied home and for free assess what you can to do to "exclude" rats from the premises. I do not know if it will do this for commercial properties. Under Austin's code, Commercial/ and rental property owners and landlords are responsible to maintain rentals free from rodents and insects. A tenant/renter may call Code Enforcement ( 311) to report an on going problem, if the owner is not addressing rodents or other infestations, like roaches.

There are numerous companies which provide rodent and rat control services. I use Chem-Free which uses the preferred methods of excluding and killing rats

The Rodent and Vector Control Program: 512-978-0370. You might check out its website for more information. Mary Sanger, Secretary, HNA.