The developers that brought you the Domain are now redeveloping more than 260 acres in East Austin called Dog’s Head. They’re doing so without regard to the community or environment. You can help.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
On May 21st, Austin City Council unanimously voted to annex Dog’s Head. The meeting agenda was adjusted just one week before the annexation vote. Neighbors were not notified.
Dog’s Head is more than 2600 acres of open space located in East Austin along the Colorado River. It’s a floodplain and an aquifer that supplies a substantial amount of people with drinking water. Dog’s Head is currently being used for industrial mining.
Annexation means that this area was recently added to the city. This means it should be subject to city taxes and regulations, however this situation is a bit different.
Endeavor Real Estate Group owns the land in question. This is the development group that built the Domain. The proposed development would be over nine times bigger than the Domain.
As apart of the annexation vote, the city also advanced a 45-year development agreement that gives Endeavor freedom to develop without regard to certain environmental, building, and public-oversight standards.
Endeavor has immediately started development without providing a clear plan of what the development is. They will not rule out a data center and they are openly competing for an unnamed Fortune 100 company’s tenancy.
THE DETAILS
These are some of environmental and public oversight standards what were waived:
No cap on impervious cover – this means that the entire area can be covered in concrete which would be environmentally detrimental
No setback requirements – what does this mean?
No height restrictions – this means it can be as tall as it wants without regard to the environment and vibe
$2.2 billion in public subsidies – our taxes paying for a development which doesn’t serve us. 80% of taxes collected here will immediately go back to the developers.
Special zoning permissions – allowing the developers to do almost anything they want
Usual permiting waived – this means they can freely develop without typical permiting and environmental protection restrictions
City still provides city services – the city will still need to build roads, provide power, wastewater, EMS, fire, police, etc. all for this one development that’s probably just a data center
WHAT YOU CAN DO
We are asking city officials to delay the TIRZ vote on July 23rd so that the public has a chance to provide input and oversight over this project. Use this script by Austin PSL to contact your reps before July 23rd.
“Hi, I’m (name) and I’m from district _. I urge you to delay the TIRZ meeting on July 23rd so that environmental studies can be conducted on the Dog’s Head area, and so residents can be adequately informed and involved.
As it stands, Endeavor’s deal with the city is a textbook example of environmental racism, and puts the interests of an undisclosed Fortune 100 company over the health and safety of my fellow Austinites.
I urge you to postpone voting on the proposed TIRZ and avoid moving forward on the development agreement.”
District 1: Natasha Harper Madison 512-978-2101
District 2: Vanessa Fuentes 512-978-2102
District 3: José Velásquez 512-978-2103
District 4: José “Chito” Vela 512-978-2104
District 5: Ryan Alter 512-978-2105
District 6: Krista Laine 512-978-2106
District 7: Mike Siegel 512-978-2107
District 8: Paige Ellis 512-978-2108
District 9: Zohaib Qadri 512-978-2109
District 10: Marc Duchen 512-978-2110
Mayor: Kirk Watson 512-978-2100
Email all council members: www.austintexas.gov/email/all-council-members
PEOPLE
OVER
DEVELOPERS.
ACT NOW.
SOURCES
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