The Parks and Recreation Board on Sept. 29 approved a staff-recommended temporary use permitting 4,756 square feet of park parking at 1108 West Riverside Drive as a staging and storage area for construction of a West Riverside reclaimed water main.

Austin Water project staff said the work includes approximately 2,800 linear feet of reclaimed pipe, with about 650 linear feet to be installed by horizontal directional drilling (HDD) beneath West Bouldin Creek and a railroad. The HDD operation requires heavy drilling equipment that would be staged nearby; staff sought temporary use for up to 150 days to avoid daily mobilization and traffic disruption.

Project manager James Mendez and Austin Water staff described the projects goals as increasing redundancy and looped reclaimed-water service across the south-central system, enabling more nonpotable irrigation and other reclaimed-water uses and connecting to the existing lake-crossing reclamation main. The department said it reduced the requested staging time from an initial 18 months down to a minimum five-month period (150 calendar days) needed for the HDD phase.

Parks board members raised concerns about loss of accessible parking spaces in the lot; project staff said one to two accessible stalls would be affected. The board approved the temporary use with the conditions that staff ensure replacement of any ADA-accessible spaces lost during the project, and that project staff provide appropriate signage and public notification of alternative parking options. The mitigation fee shown in the posting was $74,313; PARD and Austin Water staff said the lot would be rehabilitated and returned to park use once the HDD portion is complete.

Motion: "Approve temporary use of 4,756 square feet of parking lot on Parkland at 1108 West Riverside Drive for temporary storage and staging area for a period not to exceed 150 calendar days; ensure replacement of ADA-accessible parking spaces lost during the temporary use and provide signage and public notification of alternative parking options." Mover: Board Member (motion made from dais). Second: Board Member Franklin. Tally: unanimous. Outcome: approved.