Dear Neighbors,

The City’s neighborhood planning process is starting soon. We want Barton Hills residents to be as informed as possible in order to participate wisely. So I strongly encourage you to attend the following special event that is designed to familiarize you with the ten most important planning and zoning terms that will be used and how to think about them strategically:

Planning As a Second Language
Thursday, August 25, 7-9 PM
1403 Foxwood Cove off of Deerfoot (which is two blocks south of Barton Hills Market)
Facilitator and host: Melissa Whaley Hawthorne
RSVP: melissa@austinpermit.com

We are very fortunate to have Melissa Whaley Hawthorne in our neighborhood. She will bring her experience with the City’s Planning Commission and her professional work in zoning and permits to this gathering, as she boils everything down into ten terms that will help you be a confident participant in the neighborhood planning process.

Melissa’s beautiful living room seats 25 people, so it is important to RSVP to save a seat. Delicious snacks will be provided. If Thursday’s event fills up, we will schedule another one.

I thank you in advance for playing your part in the neighborhood planning process.

Sincerely,

Don Long
BHNA President

PS. I wish to thank those who have volunteered to host the next round of walkabouts: Glee Ingram, Eddie Torres, and Sheila Stricker. And of course a big thanks to Bert and Yvonne Minten, who hosted the first one, and the 7 walkers who went with them. There are still many parts of the neighborhood that have not been covered yet, so if you would like to host a walkabout please contact Melissa at melissa@austinpermit.com

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
July 21, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road

BARTON SPRINGS ROAD BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES

The City of Austin, with matching grant funding from the Texas Department of Transportation, is planning to add bike lanes to Barton Springs Road from Rollingwood Dr. to Robert E. Lee Rd. and pedestrian walkways in Zilker Park.

[Note: view this notice in PDF format to see a map detailing the proposed location]

The 5′ bike lanes will be added by widening the existing shoulders of Barton Springs Road where necessary. The 5′ pedestrian walkway will generally parallel Barton Springs Road and meander through the park, providing connections to the McBeth Recreation Center bus stop, several parking lots, and the new pedestrian walkway under the Barton Springs Road Bridge at Barton Creek. This new walkway will be compliant with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation accessibility requirements.

All interested neighborhoods, bicyclists, and park users are invited to attend this informational meeting to learn more about the project.

A second meeting will be held on August 16, 2005 at the same time and location. For more information, contact: Mark Schruben, City of Austin Project Manager, 512-974-7048.

#1. The BHNA newsletter is coming!

Another fine edition of the best news in this part of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge zone is coming and will be delivered to all neighborhood residences this weekend. This is an expansion of our past practice where we only did neighborhoodwide delivery for the January and June editions, and just to members in April and October. You can of course see the newsletter online at www.bhna.net (probably late today or tomorrow).

Why are we doing this? Well, of course it is because we are a community and our strength and influence, as well as our vitality, friendliness, and enjoyment, is measured by the active engagement of our members and potential members (residents). The newsletter is self-supported by our wonderful sponsors, so please do make a special effort to support them.

# 2. Uncle Barton Wants You!

WE NEED A VOLUNTEER TO STEER THE JULY 4TH COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A HOW-TO MANUAL FROM LAST YEAR SO THIS IS A BREEZE AND LOTS OF FUN, AND WHAT A GREAT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU WILL HAVE WHEN YOU SEE EVERYONE CELEBRATING BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORT. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP. THANKS.

#3. BHNA MEETING THIS TUESDAY, APRIL 12, STARTING AT 6PM. Your Attendance Needed AGAIN!

We again have a very important neighborhood meeting this Tuesday, April 12th, with Green Mesquite barbecue on the deck at St. Mark’s starting at 6 pm. We have a full agenda, with an Open Forum, and I am strongly encouraging your attendance. This time we might actually have a crisis in the making that we need to pay attention to. As seen in the recent emails regarding HB 2833, the Legislature is considering a bill that would effectively remove the protections of the SOS Ordinance that limit impervious cover in our neighborhood. As you know, this is of profound consequence to our neighborhood planning efforts; SOS is our unique safeguard for securing the beauty and quality of this “planning” area and ensuring current patterns of land use and population density. AND REGARDLESS OF THE LIFE OF THIS BILL, IT SHOWS THAT WE NEED TO GALVANIZE AS A COMMUNITY TO SECURE OUR FUTURE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN!!

This and many others are all issues of vital interest to our community. And our influence is ultimately based on how active and large our membership is and the strength of our resolve. So please do come. And please help us with turnout by strongly encouraging friends and neighbors to attend as well.

The agenda is below (remember, our social hour/barbecue starts at 6 pm, outside on the deck, enjoying a beautiful spring evening on the Greenbelt; the General meeting then starts at 7pm).

Thanks. We look forward to seeing you this Tuesday evening.

Don Long
President
Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association General Meeting
April 12, 2005, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

AGENDA

Start: Welcome – Debby Kalk – 7:00

1. Approval of Minutes – Diana Stangl

2. Barton Hills Neighborhood Watch – John Luther, BHNA NW Director – 7:10

3. Zilker Botanical Gardens (without user fees) – Melvin Hinson, ZBG Manager – 7:30

4. Neighborhood Planning Series of Speakers: Special Guest, Terry Harris, Attorney – Legal issues and Q&A; regarding property law, deed restrictions, etc. – 7:45

5. Neighborhood Planning Update – Next steps (survey, Fall fundraiser) – 8:10

6. ANC Report – Eddie Torres – 8:15

7. Committee Reports – 8:20

– 1. Greenbelt Guardian – Glee Ingram
– 2. Sidewalks – Jen Stuart

8. Open Forum – BHNA Members – 8:30

Adjourn