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Austin: Major Land Rezone for Retail Hub

Monday, October 26, 1959 special called
  • Big Commercial Push:

    Austin officials moved to rezone nearly 40 acres of the "Old Country Club" property, changing its designation from residential to general retail use.
  • Prime Location:

    This large tract is strategically located at the intersection of Red River Street, East 41st Street, and the then-new Interregional Highway (future I-35).
  • Future Development:

    The decision paves the way for a significant retail or commercial development in an area previously intended for housing.
  • Fast Approval Process:

    The council quickly advanced the zoning change, scheduling a special meeting for the very next day to finalize this major land-use shift.

Full Transcript

914 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: 914 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting October 26, 1959 4:00 Ρ.Μ. Council Chamber, City Hall The meeting was called to order with Mayor Pro-tem Palmer presiding. Roll call: Present: Councilmen Bechtol, Perry, White, Mayor Pro-tem Palmer Absent: Mayor Miller Present also: W. To Williams, Jr., City Manager; Doren R. Eskew, City Attorney Mayor Pro-tem Palmer announced that this meeting was called for the purpose of considering passage on second reading of an ordinance amending the zoning ordinance of the City as applied to that certain tract of land commonly known as "The East forty acres of the Old Country Club". Mayor Pro-tem Palmer brought up the following ordinance for its second reading: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THAT CERTAIN ORDINANCE PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, JULY 17, 1941, AND RECORDED IN ORDINANCE BOOK "L", PAGES 152-174, INCLUSIVE, OF THE ORDINANCE RECORDS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH ORDINANCE WAS AMENDATORY OF THAT CERTAIN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING ZONING REGULATIONS AND DISTRICTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, APRIL 23, 193k, AND RECORDED IN BOOK "I", PAGES 301-318, INCLUSIVE, OF THE ORDINANCE RECORDS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE AMENDATORY ORDINANCE HEREBY CHANGING THE USE DESIGNATION FROM "A" RESIDENCE DISTRICT TO "GR" GENERAL RETAIL DISTRICT ON A TRACT OF LAND CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 38 ACRES FRONTING APPROXIMATELY 1050 FEET ON THE EAST RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF RED RIVER STREET: APPROXIMATELY 1480 FEET ON THE NORTH RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF EAST 41ST STREET, AND APPROXIMATELY 1040 FEET ON THE WEST RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF INTERREGIONAL HIGHWAY, LOCALLY KNOWN AS 4101-4209 RED RIVER STREET; 900-1018 EAST 41ST STREET; AND 4100-4210 INTERREGIONAL HIGHWAY, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS; AND CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 915 915 ORDERING A CHANGE IN THE USE MAPS SO AS TO RECORD THE CHANGE HEREBY ORDERED. The ordinance was read the second time and Councilman Bechtol moved that the ordinance be passed to its third reading. The motion, seconded by Councilman White, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Bechtol, Perry, White, Mayor Pro-tem Palmer Noes: None Absent: Mayor Miller Councilman Bechtol moved that the Council adjourn. The motion, seconded by Councilman White, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Bechtol, Perry, White, Mayor Pro-tem Palmer Noes: None Absent: Mayor Miller The Council adjourned at 4:15 P.M. ATTEST: Ele City Clerk y APPROVED Mayor Pro-tem 916 916 _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Austin will be held on the 27th day of October, 1959, at the Municipal Building, Eighth and Colorado, in Austin, Texas, at 9:00 o'clock a.m., for the purpose of considering final passage of an ordinance amending the zoning ordinance of the City as applied to that certain tract of land commonly known as "The East forty acres of the Old Country Club", being approximately 38 acres bounded on the East by Interregional Highway (U.S. 35), on the South by East 41st Street, on the West by Red River Street, and on the North by a line 117.75 feet South of and parallel to the South right-of-way line of East 43rd Street. (Sgd) Elsie Woosley City Clerk (Sgd) Lester E. Palmer (Sgd) Hub Bechtol (Sga) Edgar H. Perry III (Sgd) Ben White ATTEST: (Sgd) Elsie Woosley City Clerk CONSENT TO MEETING We, the undersigned members of the City Council, hereby accept service of the foregoing notice, waiving any and all irregularities in such service and such notice, and consent and agree that said City Council shall meet at the time and place therein named, and for the purpose therein stated. (Sgd) Lester E. Palmer (Sgd) Hub Bechtol (Sgd) Edgar H. Perry III (Sgd) Ben White