440,000 SF of Industrial in SE Austin
From initial feasibility to obtaining site permit, Radius was the Civil Engineer for this ~450k GSF industrial park off SH 130. Unique project challenges included significant public wastewater design and wetland mitigation.
Project details
Challenging? Yes. Impossible? No.
When initially contacted to analyze the feasibility of an industrial development on ~35 acres in the Austin ETJ, prior to the Client purchasing the land, the concept was for smaller scale (20,000 SF buildings) due to lack of wastewater mains in the vicinity. We analyzed the costs associated with extending public sewer to the site in order to unlock additional capacity and eventually changed the design to the final almost 450,000 SF across 4 large tilt-wall, dock-high industrial buildings.
Our experience with the City allowed us to warn that 2 existing agricultural stock ponds were likely to be considered wetlands and that a 150 ft setback from them would be imposed. Although we understand the frustrations accompanying being told that ugly man-made ponds are considered to be precious wetlands that must be protected, we advised that fighting these determinations would require costly, lengthy legal battles. Limited to 65% impervious cover, those wetlands were only an issue due to their existing location on the site. So, we proposed to remove those wetlands, and build nicer intentional wetlands along with improved landscaping & biofiltration water quality treatment on site, above what code would otherwise require, which the City accepted.
The Site required site development permits separately from the City of Austin, Travis County, and the Travis County Fire Marshall, which we were proud to help our Client obtain.
