Circle C Neighbors

Town Hall Amenities Meeting

Judging from the all time high level of responses to the Circle C Amenities survey, it was ironic that only 24 people showed up to hear the board?’s report. Never the less, Quentin Fennessy lead off with a high level overview and summary of the amenities that you asked for. He was followed by Ed Scruggs, who use a PowerPoint presentation to go over the Master Plan, the Amenities Fund, the Survey process, and the open space we have to work with. His presentation will appear on the new Circle C web site shortly.


There was a considerable amount of background information that helps to explain why we have relatively few amenities today, other than the pool, a huge park that was donated to the city, and several miles of hiking trails today. Ed brought some photographs of amenities in other neighborhoods as examples of what they expect for Circle C Ranch. He showed us two good sized new lots that were zoned for houses, but have now been donated the HOA at each end of Barstow (Circle C North).

You can check the PowerPoint presentation for the numbers, but Playscapes was clearly the most desired amenity. The second highest request was for a Community Center, which many of us have been expecting and told over and over, would come with a second pool around 2007. The good news is that both of these items are affordable.

The Recreation committee (formerly the Pool Committee), already has some ideas on upgrades to the current pool and has some RFP that look promising. Ed feels that the board is ready to move forward with choosing a 5 member task force, that will include 1 or 2 board members. They will choose a Land Use Planner, who will study and report on what we can do, with regard to space, regulations, and available funds. Once we have a concept and a plan, we can go to the Phoenix Holdings to show what we want, and with their approval and advice, move forward to fund the projects. (the current board will bid out anything over $10 k, that is likely to be the next step).

There were 8 distinct amenities requested: PLAYSCAPES (53%) and COMMUNITY CENTER (48% were clear priorities, the next 5 were closely matched (29-39%) NEW AMENITIES for the existing Pool (upgrades), HIKING TRAILS, PAVILION, SPORTS COURTS, SMALL PARKS, and AMPHITHEATER/STAGE came in at 15%

New Trails comming!

I'm very enthusiastic about Hike & Bike trails, because the help tie the community together and give us access to the natural landscapes we all moved out here to enjoy!

Trails are the most affordable and safest form of recreation we can build and promote. It serves all ages, from babies in strolers to kids on bikes and old farts like me, who just want to enjoy a little sun and a rare deer sighting. The are easily made ADA compliant, as well, so you should be able to take a wheel chair, even if you only go a few hundred feet.


We have two trailheads that need to be prepared. I would like to get our builder to do this, which he could do with his equipment and labor, condierabley easier than we can bid it out. However, he's not shown much interest in the past, and frankly, neither have the residents here in Park West.

This is the one and only amenity in our little neighborhood and this is the right time to move forward with it. We have the best access at the first mailcenter - that's the easiest site to develop with the least amount of effort.

The second site is in Phase II, it's much smaller in width, and it requires a good deal more work.

Both sites need to have the fence completed and a gate installed.

In the mean time, CCHOA is going to the city for permission to develope and trail that extends from deep in Circle C West along the drainage path to Circle C Park, which will take it right beind our own Phase II section along the powerlines.

Access to the Prop 2 land is very likely, as well, although there will be much stricter guidelines for use (e.g. no off-trail excursions will be allowed, no soccer, no horses, etc.)

Amenities like the Hike & Bike trail are very attractive and add to the neighborhood appeal. In the meantime, an effort has just been organized to being tieing together all of SW Austin, which has the largest number of undeveloped lots. The Wildflower Center is the central hub, and we are already looking for a way to connect to it, under MOPAC.

See www.SWGreenbelt.org for details

Pool info

Couldn't attend the meeting and our ''new'' website delivers less info than the old one. Was there any discussion about the years of unanswered complaints about getting rid of the swim team that monopolizes the pool and their ugly training poles? I am not referring to the kid's summer swim team but the training program associated with UT.

Swim Team issues not discussed

The current use of the swimming pool factilites is still a major concern in the neighborhood and a significant expense to the association.

That hasn't changed, however, it was not a topic at the Town Hall meeting. (at least, not before I left about 8:40 pm). The primary focus of the Town Hall meeting, was what to do next.

The board is well aware of the neighborhood's concern about UT Swim team's use of the pool and what it costs us to make it available to them all year long. However, to their credit, the have worked to try to keep the swim team from tying up the pool during the peak use (no week-end meets).

There are some positive spinoffs from hosting that swim team, however, which includes a good reason to keep the pool heated and open all year long (otherwise, we would only have it open for the usual 4-5 summer months). Our local swim clubs are able to use the facilites and that's a good thing.

What ever you think about our pool, the fact is, it was designed and built as a swimming team facility. Then, the builders gave it to the HOA. It is what it is.

I still think we need to build at least 2 more small pools, one near Circle C North and one in the Wildflower Park neighborhood. I think it can be done in such a way so that the neighbors feel comfortable walking to those neighborhood pool facilities, which would have a spa, water fountains, waterfalls, extensive shade, and a small bathroom.

(This is a popular plan in the Lakeway area - some pocket pools serve as few as a dozen homes).

Much as I like the plans for a community center with meeting rooms and offices, I'm worried that another large pool is a mistake. It encourage people to drive and park, when we clearly would prefer amenities that are close enough we can walk to them.

We clearly drive too much already and building more parking lots is NOT the right plan.

Sharing a parking lot with the school is a novel idea. Building another large central facility, however, is probably not the best plan, in my opinion.

More schools will help with our needs for larger membership meetings and more outdoor greenspace. Also, when we get some new resturants in the area (Escarpment Village and along Slaughter Lane), I think we may be able to hold those smaller club meetings.

Our amenity funds are limited and I don't think anyone wants to see another Special Assessment. To me, that means we are over-reaching or we failed somewhere, in our budget planning process. The HOA is doing well and the neighborhood is growing at a steady, predictable rate. The Developers have been very generous in many ways, but we can't count on them all the time.

What ever your thoughts, CCHOA needs more volunteers to work though these plans. The board welcome your thoughts and ideas. Give some of your time, too!