crazyt Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Is anyone up for the fight? The old land development code had a clause which made it possible to build trails anywhere on properties in austin. The old code allowed multi-use trails within the buffer zone if they were for hiking. It looks like the new code says trails can be within the buffer zone only if they are "educational trails" which is not defined anywhere else. Critical environmental feature buffer zones are literally almost everywhere in the hill country. Regardless, you would likely have to map out every buffer zone for the watershed director to give approval. This was good because as long as the trail was hiking you were ok. Quote A natural surface trail for hiking may be located within 50 feet of a critical environmental feature (CEF). Otherwise, multi-use trails are prohibited within CEF setbacks. The new code says Quote Construction is prohibited, except for restoration activities or the construction of educational trails as approved by the Watershed Director; and This is bad because even if you say it is an educational trail, it needs approval. Educational trails are not defined at all and the process for approval is not defined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cxagent Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 It *WILL* be a fight. The City is looking for any way it can to prevent "unauthorized trails". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBaron Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Are there other stakeholders that are affected by this also and would like to "join in the coalition"? -CJB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckt Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 (edited) NVM Edited October 12, 2019 by chuckt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamwa Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 If this is about Cat, hopefully you are grandfathered, maybe get pics of what's there before changes take effect. But yeah. Sucky news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cxagent Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 5 hours ago, Bamwa said: If this is about Cat, hopefully you are grandfathered, maybe get pics of what's there before changes take effect. But yeah. Sucky news. From the way I read it, this is about each and every trail that is not currently recognized by the City of Austin. That includes most trails on City lands. And virtually all the really good ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 What do you think the city council member's reactions would be if I said this at a meeting: "I feel the population of Austin would take this proposal to regulate trails, supposedly for the sake of the environment, much more seriously if all of you council members would stop ignoring the environmental disaster that is being caused by the homeless camps in our greenbelts and parks." I'm sure it would make zero impact on them. They all seem to be so far gone and removed from reality it amazes me. We all know, and they do to, that this sort of proposal is about control and fund raising (via fees and permits) rather than the environment. Whereas observing the mountains of trash generated by the homeless camps doesn't even require a million dollar study to see what a negative impact they have on the environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 None of those clowns understand just how bad litter in the creeks is because they don't get out in the woods. The creek downstream from WC is absolutely full of crap but no one see it but me, apparently. Always looking for snakes back there because it's fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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