Lake Austin marina project is a step closer to new docks

The marina construction project at 1703 N. River Hills Road is charging ahead after a vote from the Zoning and Platting Commission last week. 

Following the recommendations of the Environmental Commission, the Zoning and Platting Commission approved the easing of dredging restrictions for the Lake Austin project, which will bring modifications to an existing marina that used to be a music venue and the site of the Pier restaurant. 

The abandoned restaurant site has a long history in Austin, as it has operated in some form since the 1920s, according to variance documents. That changed in 2005, when the venue lost its lease after 47 years of continuous operation. 

Now, the focus is on the boat docks at the site, which were red-tagged almost four years ago and are in “perilous” condition, according to variance documents. The new marina will be a private facility and feature 16 new docks to replace the 21 that were built in the 1960s.

Similar approvals have been granted in the past, like in 2019, when the West Harbour Marina was granted allowance to dredge 16 cubic yards per boat slip. The current project would require dredging just 6.1 cubic yards per slip. Built in the 1950s, the West Harbour Marina is even older than the one at North River Hills and saw other massive updates, like condominiums built nearby. 

For the marina at North River Hills, the applicant has tacked on staff recommendations to the proposal, including a sediment boom to minimize disturbance. The sediment boom will be installed before construction and maintained for the duration of the project to minimize discharges to the lake. 

Another recommendation includes temporary orange construction fencing around the boundaries of the wetland critical environmental features. 

Lastly, the applicant will install additional wetland mitigation plantings in the water along the shoreline. The plantings could include American water willow, giant cutgrass or other herbivory-resistant obligate wetland species. 

Miranda Reinhard, a senior environmental scientist for the Watershed Protection Department and a wetland biologist reviewer for the case, said that “the variance is unlikely to result in harmful environmental consequences.” Reinhard also noted that water quality will be equal to or better than the quality without the variance. 

“Dredging is necessary to eliminate the churning of the lake bed by boat traffic leading to sediment-laden lake water,” Reinhard said.

Janis Smith, engineer of record for the reconstruction, echoed that idea. “Without the variance, the silt will likely be churned up by boat propellers and lifts repeatedly with no erosion controls at work,” Smith said. 

But similar to the Environmental Commission’s November vote, the Zoning and Platting Commission did not recommend the development of a gas fuel line with a dispenser at the dock for refueling private boats in the Critical Water Quality Zone of Lake Austin. 

When it was taken up by the Environmental Commission months ago, Smith discussed the fuel line, saying the station would be attended by a trained technician capable of mitigating any potential leaks and that the gas pump would greatly reduce air and water emissions.

The request was dropped, but it can be resubmitted one more time. If the plans were approved, it would be an unusual move, since fueling operations on Lake Austin haven’t been approved in more than 30 years.

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Posted In: Development, District 10