Certificates of Obligation to be used for $2.7m project

By KIM ESTES
Four Points News

Travis County commissioners have decided to use Certificates of Obligation as a new funding mechanism for priority safety projects, with one of those being construction of a Steiner Ranch evacuation route, said Brigid Shea, Precinct 2 commissioner.

“The first wave of safety projects using this new CO funding approach will be voted on February 28 by Commissioners Court,” said Shea.

At Four Points News press time, it was not known if the matter was approved.

“Travis County has historically relied on voter-approved bonds to fund projects every five to seven years,” Shea said.

The next bond election is tentatively scheduled for this coming November.

“Since this project (the Steiner evacuation route) is one of the Travis County’s highest priorities, we are not waiting on the 2017 bond referendum. Commissioner’s Court will make a decision on whether or not to approve the CO’s for this project along with four other projects,” said David Greear, Transportation and Natural Resources engineering division manager.

Four Points News detailed the Travis County evacuation road plans in the Feb. 15 edition.
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The two sites combined equal 82 acres which are owned by Berta Bradley.

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

In two zoning cases, Austin’s Zoning and Platting Commission last week voted in favor of the rezoning request for the Autism Trust’s 40-acre site in River Place, and against the MileStone Community Builders request for zoning that would allow them to build a higher density of homes on the adjacent 42-acre site.

“We are disappointed with the vote. This definitely puts the future of the Autism Center Austin in jeopardy,” MileStone Community Builders said in a statement. “We are going to work hard to find a solution so we can build homes families can afford and a desperately needed center for adults with autism.”

MileStone requested a SF-2 zoning to build 82 homes, each worth between $700,000 to $900,000, on 42 acres, to be sold by longtime land owner Berta Bradley.

But on Feb. 21, the Zoning and Platting Commission voted 6-4 to approve the city staff recommendation for SF-1 conditional overlay zoning  on the 42-acre site with a minimum lot size of 30,000-square-feet.

For perspective, the lot size of 30,000-square-feet (or the equivalent of nearly 2/3 the size of a football field for each home) exceeds the standard minimum lot size for SF-1 zoning, which is 10,000-square-feet.

Ted Gaunt, who lives on Milky Way Drive which is adjacent to the proposed MileStone housing site, said that the zoning commission sent a “clear signal” to accept the staff recommendation and neighborhood position.

“These conditions grant SF-1 conditional overlay which effectively limits the site to about 45 homes,” Gaunt said. “This is about 20 more than we want, but as a concession, it is a reasonable middle ground.”

“We are not telling MileStone what size homes to build, or how to price them – just simply looking to be smart and balanced about the number of homes in this last-build location in River Place,” Gaunt added.

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The boys Vandegrift 200m freestyle relay team earned 2nd place at the state swim competition Feb. 17 – 18. Team members accept their medal on the stand: Kevin Hammer, Andrew Pickard, Daniel Sarman and John Winkler.

John Winkler earned 5th place in the 50m freestyle race at the state meet.

Boys 200m free
relay places 2nd

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

The Vandegrift swim teams earned several top placements at the highly competitive University Interscholastic League Swimming & Diving State Meet on Feb. 17 -18 at the University of Texas Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.

“We had some awesome swims at state to finish out an amazing season,” said Genevieve Walsh, head VHS swimming coach.

These students qualified for and competed in finals (1st-8th place): John Winkler earned 5th place in the 50m freestyle; Kevin Hammer, Andrew Pickard, Daniel Sarman, Winkler earned 2nd place in the boys 200 freestyle relay; and Hammer, Simone Feroce, Sarman, Winkler earned 8th place in the boys 400 freestyle relay; and Julianna Birlin, Julia Roberto, Sydney Srncik and Jasmine Bui earned 8th place in the girls 200m freestyle relay.

Swimming in console finals (9th-16th place), Birlin earned 11th place in the 100m freestyle race. She posted a new school record in the 100m freestyle, finishing 52.07, Walsh said.

“It has been an exciting championship season competing in fast 6A district, region and state meets,” Walsh said. “The Vandegrift swimmers have shown that they are ready for this new level of competition and have really excelled this year.​”

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Sean and Alison Ziari have three daughters: Audrey, a sophomore at Texas State University, Emma, a junior at Vandegrift High School, and Laila, a fourth grader at River Place Elementary.

Sean, a U.S. refugee, appreciates opportunities

By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News

About a decade ago, Sean and Alison Ziari chose to move their family to Four Points, a place they live, work and volunteer.

Sean, 50, was recently appointed as the new chairman of the board for the West Austin Chamber of Commerce. He is also the president of the board for the Leander ISD Educational Excellence Foundation.

Alison is a pediatrician with Austin Regional Clinic and serves as Chief of the Department of Pediatrics. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Texas Pediatric Society.

Sean says he is grateful for the opportunities he’s been given. At the age of 13, he came to the United States as a refugee from Iran. It was 1980 and his family was escaping religious persecution. They settled in Round Rock.

“I believe America is still one of the greatest countries in the world and a destination for people around the world who are looking to escape tyranny and persecution,” he said.

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