Austin Environmental Commission recommends denial of Arbor View slope and impervious-cover variances

The Austin Environmental Commission on Dec. 3 recommended denial of three requested variances tied to the proposed Arbor View Subdivision at 4316 Far West Boulevard, saying staff’s review found the applications did not meet required findings of fact and could pose significant environmental risk.

Mike McDougall of Austin Development Services told the commission the property is in the Bull Creek watershed and the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and features steep slopes—much of the parcel exceeds 25 percent—and a net site area of about 775 square feet. Under city calculation methods that produces an allowable watershed impervious cover of roughly 232 square feet; the applicant proposes 3,900 square feet. “Staff does not recommend the requested variances having determined that the required findings of fact have not been met,” McDougall said.

The three variance requests were to allow (1) a driveway on slopes over 15 percent (LDC 25-8-301), (2) a building on slopes over 15 percent (LDC 25-8-302), and (3) exceeding the 30 percent net site-area watershed impervious-cover limit to allow 3,900 square feet (LDC 25-8-423). McDougall summarized staff concerns: construction on steep slopes…