Plan for town homes driving street concerns; Eminent domain in Fox Point being discussed

Published 10:42 am Tuesday, June 2, 2015

The Austin City Council may have to make a tough decision on whether to place a new road in the Fox Point neighborhood in northwest Austin.

Public Works Director Steven Lang showed off three potential street plans for the neighborhood, located between Seventh and 10th Street Northwest near 21st Avenue, as the city works with a housing nonprofit to develop 30 town home units at the site.

While two options include either a loop or a cul-de-sac for residents, the third option — the one favored by city staff — is to run a road between Seventh and 10th Streets, which Lang said would serve the area’s transportation needs better.

Lang

Lang

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The problem is, the road would be designed to take up part of the Village Co-op’s private roadway.

“It really creates a unique opportunity to connect this area,” Lang said.

Though the city has approached the co-op about the plans, city officials weren’t allowed to present to all 99 co-op owners at their annual meeting.

Co-op representatives have met with the city to take information back to the co-op owners.

The city hopes to work with the co-op should the council decide to put in a new street, but Lang said the city could potentially use eminent domain to seize control of part of 10th Street for the street.

Council members were torn on the idea.

“I’m really not in favor of using eminent domain,” Council member Jeff Austin said.

Austin pointed out many Village Co-op residents could take issue with the city taking over part of their private road along 10th Street, but other council members said the city had to work for the best interests of all its residents.

“As a neighborhood, I’d hate to see that access point be limited to these two streets,” Council member Steve King said.

City staff would also have to take nearby wetlands into consideration if they design a new street.

The city will seek input from the Village Co-op before the council takes action. Council members want to know how many co-op residents would favor the new street, but they also want the city to present the project to residents and answer follow-up questions.