Visions of wide, green banks of the Colorado River and of the numerous creeks contributing to the River's waters as they flow through the Austin area have long been a part of Austin's heritage. At least as early as 1928, these visions were formalized in the City's Master Plan, which showed the River and creeks as an integrated greenbelt system.
Thirty years later, in response to the building of Longhorn Dam, the Austin Development Plan, showing similar illustrations, called for "cooperative private and public development to preserve and enhance the potential values created by the lake," and recommended "definite plans for and development controls along Town Lake before development occurs."
We know now that development did occur without specific controls in place to address the waterfront. Witness the 1960-and 1970-era construction along the lake where there is no public access, especially the many apartment buildings that sprang up in anticipation of baby boomers coming to Austin to go to the University of Texas.
Although the visions were kept afloat by plans and studies for years, no attempt to put any waterfront-specific development controls in place occurred until 1984 when several events converged to galvanize citizen protests and City action.
Key events included the building of the Hyatt Hotel too close to the edge of Town Lake, and the discovery that much of the parkland along the Lake was not formally dedicated to protect it from potential other uses. The City Council responded to the latter event by formally dedicating all City parkland properties and establishing a process to ensure that all future parkland acquisitions, whether by purchase or by donation, would be formally dedicated.
In the spring of 1985, a quality of life report commissioned by the Austin Chamber of Commerce recommended development of Town Lake into a "Great Park" along the lines of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and Central Park in New York.
Soon after, the Parks and Recreation Department proposed to the City Council a comprehensive planning process that would include both private and public lands, both the water's edge and the urban edge, within Town Lake's sphere of influence. The City Council granted the funds required for the process, and work began immediately.
A citizenÿs Town Lake Task Force was formed in June 1985 to develop benchmark planning and policy directives for the Town Lake Corridor. A 90-day moratorium was placed on development 1000 feet on each side of the lake from Tom Miller Dam to the river's confluence with Walnut Creek to the east.
Four months later, the Town Lake Corridor Study presented a series of goals and policies for the Corridor and specific actions needed in each of five subzones in the urban part of the Corridor between Tom Miller and Longhorn dams. Within months, the goals and policies were translated into the Waterfront Overlay Combining District that was voted on and approved by City Council members.
These forward thinkers were looking to the future of the city when they adopted the Waterfront Overlay into the City's Land Development Code.
It is important to note that the most popular activityalong Town Lake, cited by respondents to a survey conducted by the Town Lake Task Force, was "relaxing at the waterfront or nearby restaurant and bar." Fitness and exercise (well afforded by the trail) was cited as the second most popular activity.
The primary and secondary building setbacks from Town Lake and the creeks required within the Waterfront Overlay go further than any other of the requirements to attempt to address this most popular activity, this very human need to be able to have access to the waterfront for purposes of relaxation and renewal.
No major variances were granted to the Waterfront Overlay for 21 years, not until early 2006 when both the Parks Board and the Planning Commission approved major reductions to the setbacks from East Bouldin Creek in their zeal for a new apartment building on the south side of Riverside Drive.
During that 21 years, most of Austinÿs development activity concentrated on providing homes for our newcomers in outlying areas. The current concentration on central city living is new, although the Waterfront Overlay Ordinance anticipated and encouraged high-rise residential within the Town Lake Corridor 20+ years ago.
The Town Lake Comprehensive Plan for park properties followed the Waterfront Overlay Ordinance in l987, and the Parks and Recreation Department has been more-or-less implementing this Comprehensive Plan along the lake since. Very little private redevelopment has occurred within the Corridor during this same time period which would have provided opportunities to expand open space on the lake.
Now, however there are plans for more than 20 projects within the Corridor, some of them are massive (see listing). If the Waterfront Overlay requirements are granted variances, or, worse, disregarded altogether, Town Lake users will experience dramatic changes when they come to the trail and lake?sunlight will be blocked from the path and the lake corridor views will consist of 200ÿ tall buildings crowding the shore.
Plants that depend on the light will die and dampness and erosion will increase. Buildings set too close to the water will create a canyon effect and a dark, closed-in, exclusive atmosphere.
Town Lake shores, the contributing creek shores, and our beautiful trail system belong to everyone. Letÿs keep them open, light and welcoming for all.
SaveTownLake.org
After years as Town Lake, the city of Austin has given the lake a new name for a woman who planted its roots, Lady Bird Johnson.
"I told her that we must rename Town Lake 'Lady Bird Lake' and she said, 'Oh my dear, not while I am here," former comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said of Mrs. Johnson.
Forever gracious and humble, Lady Bird Johnson wanted no recognition for turning what was at one time an eyesore into one of Austin's most beautiful and most cherished sights. But when asked if it could take her name after she died, she finally agreed.
"[I said] we would really appreciate it if you would allow us to name it after you, and my mother looked at me modestly," daughter Luci Baines Johnson said.
Many Austinites gave the idea two thumbs up as well. They say they are happy to see the lake finally taking its proper name.
"Because it's Lady Bird and it's much better that they call it Lady Bird Lake than Town Lake or whatever. I think it's a great idea," said one lake visitor.
It was Lady Bird's work on Town Lake that first allowed it to bloom, and now some say it will be her name that allows it to grow.
Honoring Lady Bird is something the Johnson family says Austin has done brilliantly, especially as she passed by her beloved lake for the last time.
"It was exquisite beyond belief. The citizens of Central Texas know how to say 'I love you' in ways that made our hearts soar," Luci said.
The ordinance to change the name took effect on Aug. 6, 2007.
City leaders say they hope the re-naming will boost improvement efforts for the lake and the trail.
Catie Beck
News 8 Austin
