May 12th, 2026 - Spring Meeting
- May 12
- 3 min read
Drainage Infrastructure Updates
Janae Spence from Austin Watershed Protection provided updates on the neighborhood drainage project designed to reduce flooding and improve water management.
North Acres Drainage Project
This project will install underground pipes and inlet systems to redirect street drainage in the North Acres neighborhood. Because the area was developed before current drainage regulations were implemented, the project requires design waivers and careful coordination with existing utility lines. While design work continues to move forward, project funding depends on whether the city approves and allocates funds from an upcoming bond measure. Timeline remains uncertain pending council's funding decision, and additional consideration has been given to a partial funding scenario. In the event that the project does not receive full funding, the most problematic area where the most good can be done will be prioritized (Newport Ave. was alluded to during this presentation).
Environmental Monitoring
Drainage from the project will flow into the neighborhood creek. The city is monitoring water velocity, volume, and ecological impacts to ensure no adverse effects on creek habitat or neighboring areas. Additionally noted, City-owned properties at 1204 and 1208 Somerset have been acquired to support the drainage improvements.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
How will the increased water flow affect the creek ecosystem? The city is actively monitoring and studying velocity, volume, and ecological impacts. Current assessment indicates no anticipated adverse impacts, though ongoing monitoring will continue.
What can be done if the City of Austin has purchased land but refuse and other build-up have settled onto the property, causing drainage issues for neighboring properties? Please call 311 and report that. Watershed Protections will come out to clear it up. Additionally, if you see any inlets or creek concerns (it can't just be a discarded cup, has to be significant blockage) please report to 311 and someone will come tend to it.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT
Watch for city council announcement on bond measure approval - timing TBD
Report any drainage blockages at Somerset properties by calling 311
Join the 'Adopt a Creek' or 'Adopt an Inlet' programs to help monitor watershed health
Contact Janae Spence
Work Phone: 512-974-6591
Email: Janae.spence@austintexas.gov
Email anytime, call preferably during business hours as a courtesy. Additional note: She has a lot of projects on her plate, please provide as much context as you can about the project and your question. She might need to loop in other folks to help.
Proposed Zoning Change at Fiskville Road
Stephen Rye, a zoning consultant with DPR Construction, presented a proposal to rezone the former Frito Lay Warehouse at 9807 Middle Fiskville Road from Mixed-Use to Light Industrial classification. The property has been acquired by Exowatt, a modular thermal energy system assembly operation. No changes to the building footprint are currently planned, but there are some nuanced aspects called out. The primary neighborhood impact will be truck deliveries for supply chain operations. Detailed traffic pattern analysis is available in the zoning application (refer to page 10 of the handout attached).
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What happens if Exowatt sells the property to a different industrial operator with potentially greater impact? The city is considering protective measures including: (1) a clawback provision allowing zoning to revert if conditions change (2) conditional overlay restrictions tied to specific operating conditions. The proposal is classified as Light Industrial (LI) rather than Major Industrial (MI), limiting the scope of permitted operations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT
Review the detailed project details in zoning application handout
Submit additional comments / concerns on the zoning proposal to Stephen or forward to NAHA representatives
Advocate for rollback provisions and conditional overlays if you have concerns about future operators who might own the space. The critical note of consideration for this bullet point is that the space is transition from Mixed-Use to Light Industrial, after which point it's open to new occupants of a different discipline than the Mixed-Use would permit.
Other NAHA Items
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We are looking for the following volunteers for our neighborhood association:
Vice President - you don't need to have decades of political experience to be a VP in this neighborhood, just a desire to connect the community and help coordinate events.
Block Captains - if you love to walk the block, you might be the perfect person to spread the word about important updates to the familiar faces you see on your strolls.
Website Maintainers - don't have the time to fit the above into your schedule, but find yourself with a 20-30 minutes every couple of weeks? Either fancy yourself a tech wiz or you're willing to learn how to use a webpage editor. We could use someone like you to help our neighbors stay up to date with the latest info and updates on our site.
Additional meeting contents located here.
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