Additional sections of the former East Austin tank farm site at Airport Boulevard and Springdale Road may be redeveloped, according to a zoning change request heard by the Planning Commission Tuesday.
Two pieces of the former tank farm totaling nearly 10 acres could be developed into a mix of uses including housing. But uncertainty over whether the site is safe for residential use held up the rezoning application. Springdale Green, an office project that also sits on the former tank farm site, has been under construction since 2021.
The owner of the tracts at 1005 Springdale Road and 1113 Airport Blvd. requests a zoning change from Community Commercial-Mixed-Use (GR-MU-CO-NP) and Rural Residential (RR-NP) to Commercial Services-Mixed Use (CS-MU-NP). Beyond allowing greater density, the rezoning would remove a 2,000-car daily trip limit and allow a driveway onto Airport Boulevard – essential elements to make future development feasible.
City staffers recommend against adding the mixed-use (-MU) designation, which allows housing, because the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has not yet deemed the site safe for residential use.
“City of Austin zoning should be consistent with state law on this matter of health and safety,” Heather Chaffin with the Housing and Planning Department said.
The tank farm was partially remediated in the 1990s following a push by environmental justice advocates and residents harmed by pollution, though not to standards that would allow housing.
The property owner’s representative, Alice Glasco, argued that the city should approve the rezoning without an OK from TCEQ for residential use.
“The -MU zoning is not a (building) permit,” Glasco said. “By the time we get in with a site plan, if we are indeed pursuing residential development, then TCEQ will be involved and we will get through that process as required.”
A letter from TCEQ in November signaled that the site’s environmental conditions could already meet standards for residential use, but the applicant has not yet asked TCEQ for an Affected Property Assessment Report that would confirm this.
Commissioners agreed that the rezoning case should not move forward until there is greater clarity about the site’s habitability. But they aired different ideas about how to move forward.
Commissioner Jennifer Mushtaler argued that the commission should not grant mixed-use zoning, in line with what staffers recommend.
“Number one, we have to protect the public health,” Mushtaler said. “And so even though we’re looking for opportunities to expand housing, we really need to do that safely. I think if they wanna come back and get the -MU, then we need the data.”
Commissioner Greg Anderson motioned instead to postpone the case to March 14 to allow more time for the applicant to gather environmental approvals. His motion passed 8-2, with Mushtaler and Chair Todd Shaw against.
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City of Austin Planning Commission: This commission addresses issues of land use as assigned to it by Austin's City Code. These include the abilities "[t]o make and amend a master plan, recommend approval or disapproval of proposed zoning changes and control land subdivision within neighborhood planning areas and submit, annually, a list of recommended capital improvements." It has sovereign authority, or the right to make final decisions on certain cases.
