NEWS UPDATE [posted Oct. 5, 2006]
WTP 4: Meryl Streep Plays Travis County?
Born into trouble, the proposed Water Treatment Plant No. 4 has been plagued with questions. Is the speed at which City Council is proceeding on the plant appropriate? Are the two proposed tracts – both in the ecologically sensitive Balcones Canyonlands Preserve – the only viable candidates? More broadly, what does building a plant in Northwest Austin to draw from Lake Travis, mean for the city’s overall water plans? City Council hoped to assuage such concerns at its hearing last Thursday – predicated on the city’s position that, while each site is home to endangered species, the Cortaña tract is preferable to the originally permitted site at Bull Creek. So why did the hearing end with the announcement that construction was already under way at Bull Creek?
“There is a construction trailer on the site tonight,” Will Wynn told the Travis Audubon Society’s Jeff Mundy. He had asked the mayor what had come of council’s Aug. 24 resolution authorizing Bull Creek construction to begin Sept. 27 if Travis County had not given Cortaña its blessing by then. “My understanding is,” said Wynn, “the construction driveway, the gate, construction trailer, and survey work began today on Water Treatment Plant No. 4, Bull Creek site.”
Bull Creek thus officially became the latest logjam between the county and the city over site selection. The city’s insistence that we will need additional water capacity by 2013 has informed the considerable speed of the process, speed that has dismayed biologists and board and commission members who’ve felt left out of critical decisions. The county has taken a decidedly more cautious approach. After council passed its drop-dead date (save Jennifer Kim, who has opposed the project from the start), Travis Co. Judge Sam Biscoe wrote to the council, saying that due to “widespread public interest, a public hearing by Travis County is the prudent step to take.” With public-notice requirements, that also meant a three-week delay, to past the Sept. 27 deadline. (The county’s hearing was under way at press time Wednesday.)
The county’s approval is required because it co-manages the BCP with the city. A collection of conservation lands in Northwest Austin, the local/federal preserve was created as sprawl mitigation and a home for endangered species. The Bull Creek site was bought before the BCP’s creation and is mitigated, permitted, and ready for construction. But, along with the fact that it’s surrounded by preserve lands, its development has long been hampered by concerns of creek pollution. It’s also home to the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and the Jollyville Plateau salamander. The Cortaña tract doesn’t pose the same problems but is home to a few pairs of black-capped vireo, another endangered bird. In exchange for building there, the city has agreed to an extensive list of conditions, such as adding thousands of additional acres in mitigation to the BCP. According to the city’s fact-finding for the hearing, “There is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the Cortaña site in the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve for WTP 4.”
Some at the county believe the Bull Creek vs. Cortaña dilemma presents a false choice. “They’re both fatally flawed,” says Co. Commissioner Karen Sonleitner. “I’ve not heard anybody other than city staff say this is a good idea. … You’ve got lots of other options that don’t involve Cortaña. The [city’s] environmental board was right on target when they said we are not in favor; we don’t think you’ve exhausted all possibilities. Right now, we are not under this kind of gun-to-the-head ‘you must make a decision’ pressure.” Sonleitner admitted that the city’s deadline puts the county in an tough position. “If we approve Cortaña, it’s the court’s fault; if we don’t approve Cortaña [and work continues at Bull Creek], it’s the court’s fault.” But she punted that ball back to City Hall: “That is the council’s decision to own. The council decided to proceed ahead with Bull Creek.”
Of building on Bull Creek, Council Member Lee Leffingwell said, “If that turns out to be what happens, to me that will be a sad day. … Cortaña is such a superior site.” But if that’s the case, then why was the city building on Bull Creek? Pressed again, Leffingwell said “because frankly, there’s not going to be a lot of dollars involved. At some point, you’ve got to go ahead.” It’s fitting that should come from Leffingwell. Last week, his water-conservation task force convened for its initial meeting; with a goal of cutting water consumption 10% in as many years, it’s partially responsible for pushing back plant construction from 2011 to 2013.
While a worthy project, Leffingwell’s task force can’t take the place of a long-term strategic plan for future water use, a need the short, troubled history of WTP 4 certainly underlines. Even a short-term plan would be welcome: Judging from Leffingwell’s admission that “we’re not doing any work that can’t be undone,” the Bull Creek construction seems most likely a gambit to force the county’s hand on Cortaña.
At this point, the real question surrounding WTP 4 is this: Is it a threat or a promise?
Designing Members:
After passing a Brobdingnagian consent agenda last week, council convenes to a light posting this Thursday. Dominating matters is the Downtown Design Plan; council crowns a lucky firm to implement the scheme and gets a 2pm briefing on the DDP, apparently the greatest thing ever. (Just by chance, the behind-the-dais buzz is that the Second and Congress Marriott Hotel project, as proposed, violates the design guidelines – has council found a negotiating wedge?) Returning from last week is a motion from Betty Dunkerley directing City Manager Toby Futrell to “implement accountability guidelines” for the $55 million in affordable housing money proposed for the November bond election. Also up is Brewster McCracken’s amendment covering “reporting standards, outside employment, benefits, compensation and conflicts standards” – i.e., a possible pay raise.
So here’s the burning question: with McMansion fatigue setting in months ago, and mixed-use development overexposed, is transit-oriented development the new black for discerning urbanists? An item from Mike Martinez includes the Saltillo Plaza TOD in Phase 1 of the city’s station area planning (the TOD master plan); and there’s a 6pm public hearing on developing additional TOD districts for Highland Mall and South I-35.
Get in on the ground floor – just make sure it’s retail. – W.D.
This article appears in October 6 • 2006.