Learn What’s Planned Around the Pool

There is a push by the Parks and Rec Dept and a small number of people to develop and change much of what the people of Austin love about Barton Springs. To many of us, it feels like a "Disney-fication" of the pool. Several of the changes being considered are widely opposed by the community of people who regularly use the pool.

The most dangerous aspect of the plan is to amend the SOS Ordinance to allow for more impervious cover at the springs, the very place SOS was designed to protect. This will set a precedent that will lead to a weakening of SOS altogether.

View the proposed site plan.

Watch video of the Planning Commission: February 26, 2013
City Council: March 7, 2013 to set hearing date; Tentatively March 28, 2013
Planning Commission (Public Hearing for Conditional Use Permit): Tentatively April 09, 2013
The public is welcome to attend and provide input.
View the recordings of past meetings.

Agendas of boards and commissions, meeting times and locations, and backup materials will be posted seventy-two hours prior. See City Council agendas and backup materials.

PARD says that board and commissions will be presented the same site plan and that recommendations from each will be provided to subsequent boards, commissions and Council. But the plans keep changing. City Council will have final determination regarding site plan design and components.

Here is the massive Masterplan for Barton Springs Pool (358 pages)

Visit Save Barton Springs Pool on Facebook

Visit Save Barton Springs Pool on Facebook for great videos about what's happening. Help spread the word.

Council Approves Construction Plans

Proposals to amend the SOS Amendment and to pay for construction was approved by Austin City Council, 7-0, with amendments to move the overlook from the south hill to the ADA switchback area; move historic marker by the  ticket booth area; look into the lighting illumination, etc -take to design commission.

Council was asked for a plan to reduce impervious cover by redesigning and removing some of the other 2 parking lots –  PARD staff said this will be taken… Continue reading

Council holds Public Hearing and Vote April 11 on BSP Construction Plans

The importance of a big turnout at City Hall today cannot be over-emphasized. There will be a public hearing on Item #82 and, following that, the Council will vote on whether to approve the proposed plans for massive alterations of the BSP grounds. There have been meetings on these topics for the past four years, but none are as important as today’s. Please come to City Hall and, when you arrive, after getting your parking ticket stamped for free parking,… Continue reading

Lighting Recommendations from Dark Skies Expert Stephen Bosbach

uring the noon time Citizen’s Communication, I spoke about my understanding that the council is under great pressure to approve the plan today as it is presented, with some compromises on the most controversial points. I understand that, if it is not approved today, staff will have to file to re-permit, which may delay construction by as much as a full season. But, I said, it would be a great tragedy if the plan were approved without a many questions… Continue reading

Unanswered Questions About BSP Contruction

Unanswered Questions about BSP Construction Plans

  1.             What will all these construction plans cost? Where are the costs detailed? Where is the money to come from? Does it put us in debt?
  2.             What impact on public access (closure, blocking off areas, reduced parking) will occur for EACH of the renovations: Tree court, building ADA path, paving South Parking lot, fence replacement? When will these disruptions occur if the plan is approved tonight?
  3.             Since the landscape architect, Mr Larsen,… Continue reading

Unanswered questions about the Construction Plans

At the public hearing on April 11, Austin City Council was read many of these unanswered questions but took no action on them:

  1. What will all these construction plans cost? Where are the costs detailed? Where is the money to come from? Does it put us in debt?
  2. What impact on public access (closure, blocking off areas, reduced parking) will occur for EACH of the renovations: Tree court, building ADA path, paving South Parking lot, fence replacement? When will these… Continue reading

Briefing to City Council on Barton Springs Pool General Ground Project

General Grounds Improvements Project:

Update: March 26, 2013

A briefing will be given to City Council on March 28 during the 10:30 a.m. staff briefings.

A public hearing on the project… Continue reading

Timeline for public review of and Council action on the final draft of the Barton Springs Pool General Improvement Plan

Below is information about the timeline for public review of and Council action on the final draft of the Barton Springs Pool General Improvement Plan. This information came in an email from Kimberly McNeeley, Assistant Director for the Parks and Recreation Department. Her contact information is listed at the bottom of the email below.

March 7th- Council Meeting to set the public hearing (Council requested a briefing on March 28th and moved the public hearing to April 11th)

March 20th… Continue reading

James Nortey, City of Austin Planning Commission, exlains Denial of Variance

MEMORANDUM

 

To: Ms. Liz Johnston, Case Manager (Case No. C20-2013-001)

Planning and Development Review Department From: Mr. James Nortey, City of Austin Planning Commission CC:

 

 

 

Date: Mr. Dave Anderson, Chairman, City of Austin Planning Commission

Mr. Greg Guernsey, Director, Planning and Development Review

Ms. Dora Anguiano, Planning Commission Liaison

 

February 28, 2013 RE: Planning Commission Recommendation to Deny Staff Recommendation on Barton Springs Pool General Grounds Improvements (Case No. C20-2013-001)

 

On February 26, 2013,… Continue reading

Planning Commission Denies Recommendation for Variances at Barton Springs Pool

On Tuesday night, February 26, 2013, the Planning Commission voted 5-2 to deny staff’s recommendation to amend the Save Our Springs Ordinance and grant variances to the Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance to allow construction at Barton Springs Pool.

Commissioner James Nortey made the motion to deny to allow time for staff to look at issues they have with the plan and to consider the following:

  •    Removing the South Overlook Trail;
  •    Installing a pervious/porous ADA path;
  •    Increasing bicycle parking… Continue reading

DRAFT resolutions voted on by Environmental Board Feb 20, 2013

Regarding the request to recommend approval of an ordinance granting variances to the Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance (current Code) as follows:

1.            To allow construction within the Critical Water Quality Zone of Barton Creek {LDC Section 25-8-482};

2.            To allow construction within a Water Quality Transition Zone of Barton Creek {LDC Section 25-8-483 (A)};

The Environmental Board recommends approval with the following Board conditions:

Board Conditions:

1.            Removal of the walkway to the “overlook” on the south lawn; 2.            Removal of… Continue reading

Mailing List

Visit and join Barton Springs Yahoo Group for group email about the pool, photos, links and documents about the pool's policies and history. In the searchable archive, you can find the latest news on many pool-related topics.
Audio recording of June 28, 2012 Joint Committee Meeting This is a large file (may take several minutes to download on a high-speed connection). Some of the voices of the members of the Joint Committee are faint, but those of the public, sitting in the audience, ring loud and clear.

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