Bryker Woods Neighborhood Association
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 7:00 p.m.
Lamar Senior Activity Center
Board Members Present: Annette Graves, Bill Woods, Jerry Balaka, Derek
Barcinski, Irene Pickhardt, Sita Lakshminarayan, Michele Macky Orr, Celeste
Hubert, and Michael Curry
Others Present: Alyson McGee, David Gershater, Susan Buzbee, and Margaret
Cook
Sita called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Bill motioned to approve the June
meeting minutes and Michele seconded the motion.
During the Neighbor Communications/Announcements section of our meeting,
Joyce announced that the City of Austin Planning Commission will be meeting
tonight regarding Short Term Rentals and the City Residential Parking Program
working group will begin to meet this fall. Celeste also announced that Shawn will
soon be printing our neighborhood newsletter.
At the meeting, discussion items included an informative presentation to the Board
and others in attendance regarding the creation of Local Historic Districts by
Alyson McGee, Deputy Preservation Officer, from the Preservation Office at the
City of Austin. Alyson described the nomination requirements and contributing
standards necessary for a local Austin neighborhood to achieve a Local Historic
District designation by the City of Austin.
Next, the Board moved on to discuss current zoning cases that were brought to the
Bryker Woods Neighborhood Association for recommendation. After plan
presentation by the architect, the Board motioned to the support the 12 Happy
Hollow project and ask the Historic Landmark Commission (HLC) to grant
administrative approval for this case. The Board also decided to oppose a
demolition/new construction project located at 3214 Beverly Road until a code
compliant site plan is received. Due to an upcoming HLC hearing the following
Monday, the Board proposed attempting to visit with the property owner to discuss
suggestions to make the project more compatible with the context of the
neighborhood.
Joyce and Sita presented a flow chart to help explain the City of Austin Residential
Review Process for National Register District (NRD) properties. The suggestion
was made for the BWNA to encourage neighborhood residents to come before the
BWNA Board prior to talking their plans through the long City review process,
specifically reserved for homes within the NRD. In this context, the Board
discussed proposed zoning committee organizational changes. The Board also
discussed the importance of Bryker Woods' National Register District status and
the role of the designation in helping to preserve the historic character,
sustainability, and economic vitality of the neighborhood. Irene suggested
displaying National Register District signs around the Bryker Woods
neighborhood. The signs could be placed strategically at entrances to the
neighborhood to educate residents and prospective residents about the historic
charter of the neighborhood. A recommendation was made for the Board to send to
Alyson McGee, the new City of Austin Deputy Preservation Officer, the link to
Bryker Woods National Register Historic District status, so that the information
can be added to the City of Austin's Preservation Office Website.
The meeting concluded at 9:00 p.m.