Lake Travis ISD is in dire need of a new transportation center, district officials told Bee Cave City Council members at their regular meeting Oct. 27.

Jim Ratcliff, LTISD senior director of facilities, construction and support services, said the district experienced a 7 percent jump in enrollment from May to October of this year, 4 percent more than it was expecting.
District demographers project a 3 percent annual growth rate in student enrollment for next few years and the need for a third middle school and sixth elementary school as soon as 2014 and a second high school to open between 2015 and 2018. The second high school is proposed as the second phase of the project on the same tract of land in Sweetwater Ranch.
LTISD requested two variances under the city’s subdivision regulations for a transportation and distribution center on 136 acres at Texas 71 between Bee Creek and Hamilton Pool roads that would exempt the district from posting proof of fiscal security and from the city’s requirement to submit a development plat.
“We really are in dire need of these [transportation] facilities,” Ratcliff said.
Council member Mike Murphy expressed concern over rumors he had heard about the site exceeding the city’s impervious cover limit of 40 percent.
“There’s a lot of pavement here. We normally require the entire concept plan so we know what the impervious cover is going to be at the end before we start approving pieces,” Murphy said. “I don’t want to get in that box.”
Ratcliff assured him the site would stay within the city’s limits.
Council members unanimously approved the second variance but limited it to the first phase of the development as depicted in the current site plan.
In reviewing a conceptual plan for a condominium development at the Cottages at Spillman Ridge, concerns arose among several council members that it would violate the city’s subdivision ordinance that prohibits duplexes and single-family detached condo developments.
The Cottages would feature single-family homes ranging from 1,300 square feet to 1,800 square feet at the site where the Villas at Bee Cave was set for on Falconhead Boulevard.
City Attorney Patty Akers said the city has informed developer Ash Creek Homes Inc. that a zoning amendment would be required for them to proceed with the project.
“If we are going to allow this in the city limits, where do we stop,” council member Murphy said.
Council member Bill Goodwin, who opposed a similar development at Ladera Ranch, said he would not favoring opening the door to further duplex or condo developments coming into the city.
“It’s going to take a lot for me to overcome our ordinances,” council member Bill Goodwin said. “We specifically tried to prevent it from happening in the future.”
Mayor Caroline Murphy said the proposed development would be better than the one that was slated to go in.
“We just need to figure out how not to open Pandora’s box,” Mayor Murphy said.
In other action, council members:
3 Received a financial report from Assistant City Administrator Travis Askey that noted the city’s line item expenses are below budget and year-over-year comparisons of sales tax revenues are flat.
“From a net revenue standpoint with one month almost in the books, we look to be on the right track,” Askey wrote.
3 Heard from Municipal Court Judge Jack Stick that the court is considering a second court date every month because of a busier docket. The court had collected $31,261 as of the council’s Oct. 27 meeting.
3 Unanimously approved an interlocal agreement for emergency medical and helicopter services with Travis County.
3 Temporarily lowered the speed limit to 50 mph on Texas 71 in the Bee Cave Parkway Phase II construction zone near the Hamilton Pool intersection.
3 Contracted Sledge Engineering for $21,500 to provide personal services on Phase II of Bee Cave Parkway. Although it is a Texas Department of Transportation project, council members voted to hire Casey Sledge’s firm to monitor work on the project and report any delays or alterations.
3 Agreed to a request from Lake Travis Fire Rescue to install a traffic signal pre-emption device at the Bee Cave Parkway and Galleria stoplight that would allow emergency responders to turn the light green.
3 Authorized city staff members to purchase eight heavy-duty metal picnic tables, two pet waste receptacles and eight trashcans for Bee Cave Central Park. The city will fund the purchase not to exceed $12,000 from $413,000 remaining in bonds for the park.
3 Instructed staff members to request an application for a $20,000 federal Block Grant for Energy Efficiency and Conservation. City Manager Frank Salvato said the city spends about $70,000 in annual electricity costs to power Bee Cave City Hall.
3 Amended the city’s construction agreement with CCNG to extend the city’s deadline from Oct. 31, 2009, to start construction on Bee Cave Parkway Phase III to March 31, 2010.
3 Heard an update from council member Chad Bockius on the Bee Cave Arts Committee’s art show Oct. 25 at the Hill Country Galleria that featured works of Lake Travis High School students. Bockius, who is the founder of the arts committee, said many guests believed they were in an art gallery and were disappointed to find out the exhibit was temporary.
“It was a huge, huge success. We are all happy with this event and we are looking forward to the next one,” he said.