Circle C Tract 110 (9/24 items 83 & 92)

[Julie Montgomery]

On behalf of CM Ellis:

Colleagues,

I want to share information on two items related to District 8’s Circle C Tract 110 on today’s Council agenda: a zoning case (item #92) and a related fourth amendment to the Development Agreement (item #83). Due to the complex history and legal agreements related to Circle C, this case presented unique challenges to navigate, and I’ve upheld a commitment to hearing from neighbors, the Circle C HOA, the Protect Circle C Coalition, City staff, and the applicant to help shape the outcome. We have worked diligently with these stakeholders over the past year to identify and negotiate the solutions captured in the proposals before Council today.

Of particular concern has been traffic safety around the ingress/egress access points of Tract 110. A multi-family housing project of this size will require two access points for safety and mobility when fully built out (as would an office project, as the tract is currently zoned), and I respect our professional staff’s determination on that matter. I also, however, recognize my constituents’ real traffic safety concerns—especially for our Kiker Elementary families—and therefore have ensured important prioritization is included in Section 6.d. of the fourth amendment to the Development Agreement (found in Exhibit A) that addresses these safety risks with actionable commitments from the city and the applicant.

While there is no magic wand that gives everyone everything they hope for, it is thanks to the neighbors’ organization and engagement with my office and the applicant that we were able to negotiate and secure the important guardrails in this legally binding document. Throughout my time in office, I’ve consistently championed safe roadway improvements (especially around schools) AND for diverse and accessible housing in all parts of Austin. For these reasons, I plan to support this rezoning and the development agreement amendment.

I do want to acknowledge that this case has opened a broader conversation in Circle C about growth, safety, and how our neighborhoods adapt to change. I am confident these conversations will not end with this vote, and continued transparency and collaboration by all stakeholders throughout this development’s future phases will be critical.

Thanks, and please let me know if I can help answer any questions.

Paige