Conditions for Acceptance of Zoning Approval for Proposed Wal-Mart at Headwaters of Blunn Creek on Ben White

South River City Citizens Neighborhood Association

1. No diminishment of existing base flow rate and volume from site. Maintain at least 95% of existing site average annual infiltration. To be accomplished using one or more of the following:

· Pervious pavement or “green” parking areas.
· Larger vegetated areas with storage and infiltration.

--Depressed landscaping.
--Bioretention.
--Decreased impervious area.

· Roof top rain water storage and infiltration.
· Infiltration trenches or dry vaults.
· No liners on flood and water quality controls.


2. Enhanced Water Quality Requirements

· Capture and treat 2 inches of runoff from site.
· Develop and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program per City of Austin specifications.
· Landscape using exclusively native plant species.
· No installation of asphalt for roads and parking or use of coal-tar sealant.
· Implement construction safeguards to be reviewed by SRCC.

--Construction sequence (construction of water quality control prior to site clearing and grading).
--Hazardous materials handling.
· Granting of non-revocable right of access and use for City or any other governmental entity for water quality monitoring.
· Implementation of same agreement for Grow Green program with the City of Austin used with Home Depot store at 3600 S. IH-35.


3. Neighborhood Compatibility design standards:

· Lighting standards to achieve “dark skies”:
--Same design as HEB store at William Cannon and Brodie Lane;
--Glenrose Engineering specifications [Attachment 1];
--Specifications agreed upon for the Wal-Mart at Slaughter Lane and IH-35.
· Implementation of Architectural standards [Attachment 2]
· Rainwater collection, storage, and reuse for at least 0.5-inch of roof runoff.
· Urban Heat Island reduction

--Provide 30% shade in parking lot within five years of construction;
--Light-colored concrete pavement.
--Porous pavement
.
--Use of green parking systems for excess parking areas.

· All interior and exterior paints & coatings to meet or exceed VOC and chemical component limits of Green Seal (www.greenseal.org/standard/paints/html).
· Meaningful enforcement provisions.


Attachment 1: Exterior Light Pollution Reduction ("Dark Sky" Guidelines)

Attachment 2: Architectural and Design Standards

  1. Design in character to surrounding architecture, i.e. Limestone materials. Avoid "Anywhere, USA" standard design.
  2. Use color and material of the primary structure to be harmonious with local architecture, e.g., nearby St Edwards University.
  3. Break up big box standard design. Promote plaza, pedestrian-friendly design.
  4. Provide multiple customer entrances; use sides of building adjacent to public streets. Entrances should be clearly defined and highly visible with features such as canopies or porticos, arcades, arches, wing walls, and integral planters. Provide direct access to all store entrances via 8-foot sidewalks.
  5. Establish a vibrant relationship to the surrounding community, St. Edward’s University, and South Congress "Main Street." Avoid the sterile environment of blank walls.
  6. Create a pedestrian friendly environment. Use lampposts, plazas, fountains, clock towers to humanize area.
  7. Use traditional design elements (gabled roofs and articulated building fronts) and quality design materials. Will serve to hide shopping carts and outside display/ clutter.
  8. Establish variations in rooflines to reduce the massive scale of these structures and add visual interest. Roofs must have at least two of the following features: parapets concealing flat roofs and rooftop equipment; overhanging eaves, slopes roofs, and three or more roof slope planes.
  9. Forbid "uninterrupted length of any facade" in excess of 100 horizontal feet. Facades greater than 100 feet in length must incorporate recesses and projections along at least 20% of the length of the facade.
  10. Windows, awnings, and arcades must total at least 60% of the facade length abutting a public street (e.g., Ben White and Payload Pass).
  11. Require smaller retail stores that are part of a larger principal building have display windows and separate outside entrances. All facades of a building that are visible from adjoining properties and/or public streets should contribute to the pleasing scale features of the building and encourage community integration by featuring characteristics similar to a front facade.
  12. No more than 50% of the off-street parking area for the entire property shall be located between the front facade of the principal building and the primary abutting street." (http://www.asu.edu/caed/proceedings98/Duerk/duerk.html)
  13. Continue use of red brick pavers for sidewalk areas and pedestrian areas including Bus stops per the adjacent Ben White project built by the Texas Department of Transportation.
  14. Restrict the location of landscape and garden materials from parking lot(s). Keep these materials contained in the Garden Center area at all times (with the exception of Christmas tree sales).
  15. Place one side of building near bus stop or allow buses patrons close proximity per transit-oriented design principles.
  16. Work with Capital Metro to provide a bus pull in lane on feeder road.
  17. 8-foot wide sidewalks continuously along ROW with larger native tree plantings
  18. Bike racks in accordance to City of Austin specifications.
  19. Relocate loading docks away from side adjacent to Blunn Creek Affordable Housing apartments (701 Woodward St) Conduct a noise and visual cone analysis.
  20. Enclose loading dock to buffer noise from delivery trucks.
  21. Plant Cottonwood grove as vegetative buffer to the Blunn Creek Apartments.
  22. Install 6-foot wrought-iron fence or equivalent (not chain link) around north and east perimeter of site for security.
  23. Share parking with Southfield Tower(additional spaces exist) to reduce on-site parking and associated impervious cover required.
  24. Provide 24-hour on-site security patrols.
  25. Contribute to an environmental impact study for a long-range analysis of Blunn Creek developmental build-out.
  26. Have an independent consultant conduct an economic and fiscal impact study of the impact of the proposed Wal-Mart store on South Congress merchants.
  27. Conduct an energy audit and make appropriate adjustments to reduce energy inputs and associated pollutants.
  28. Design as a Natural Lighting Green Wal-Mart store per pilot store in Lawrence, Kansas.
  29. Commit to participation in twice-annual cleanup of Blunn Creek.
  30. Fund site plan for conversion of Dark store(s) if Stassney stores closes.
  31. Keep Alpine closed to through traffic.

These items have been successfully implemented at other Wal-Mart stores and/or other big box stores. References upon request.

 

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