MileStone changes zoning application, case to go back to ZAP

Autism center, housing development will now be considered together

By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News

MileStone Community Builders, the developer at the center of a controversial zoning dispute in River Place, has submitted an amended zoning application for the 82-acre tract, forcing the case to go back to the Zoning and Platting Commission for reconsideration. The date for the ZAP hearing has not been set yet.

One of the biggest changes is that instead of dividing the land into two separate zoning cases — one for a proposed autism center and the other for a MileStone housing development at the end of Milky Way Drive — and considering the requests separately, the two cases will now be combined into one.

A letter from a MileStone representative was sent on April 27 to Greg Guernsey, director of the planning and zoning department for the city of Austin, notifying the city of MileStone’s intent to modify its application. The zoning case was scheduled to go before the Austin City Council on May 4 for its first public hearing but will now be postponed so that the case can go before ZAP.

“As has been repeated throughout the entire process of this case, the development proposal for each tract is inextricably tied to the other and both portions of the overall development plan rely on the other as a cohesive development plan in order to provide a successful project,”  the letter states. “In the end, approving a rezoning on only one portion of the development would not bring the overall project to fruition with the compromises and community benefits that are, in essence, a package to ensure a viable planned project.”

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Annexation bill moves through House, Could affect River Place annexation

Tim Mattox

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Annexation legislation is making its way through the Texas legislature and some River Place residents opposed to the city of Austin’s annexation are hopeful that a new law could keep them from what they call Austin’s over-reach.

“We are in the final stretch of making forced annexation a vestige of the past in Texas and saving River Place residents thousands of dollars a year in additional taxes and higher utility rates,” said Tim Mattox, an 18-year resident of River Place and a member of the homeowners association board.

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VHS, CRMS, FPMS, RRE on 2016 nationwide honor roll

 

 

Staff Reports

Vandegrift High School, Canyon Ridge Middle School, Four Points Middle School and River Ridge Elementary School were selected as 2016 Honor Roll schools by the Educational Results Partnership and the Institute for Productivity in Education. The fifth Leander ISD school to receive the honor was Florence W. Stiles Middle School.

The honor roll is part of a national effort to identify high-performing schools and highlight successful practices that improve outcomes for students.

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Mansfield Dam $10 million repairs underway

Ryan Schnitzler, Mansfield Dam supervisor, gave a media tour last week inside of the dam showing the floodgate repair project. He stands in front of one of the nearly 9-foot floodgates. This is the first time the gates have been seen since the dam’s construction  more than 75 years ago.

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Mansfield Dam is undergoing a decade-long, $10 million-plus maintenance project which includes taking out each of its 24 floodgates to repair — something that has never been done in the dam’s 75-year history.

Built between 1937 and 1942, Mansfield Dam is 278 feet tall and the tallest dam in Texas. The dam created Lake Travis and protects Austin from flooding.

Mansfield Dam’s 24 floodgates are showing signs of corrosion and deterioration.

“It’s time to take them out and completely refurbish them. There is corrosion due to humidity and water,”  said John Hofmann, executive vice president for water at Lower Colorado River Authority.

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