[March 14 Update: The CUP was approved by the Planning Commission. Watch the video.]
Called neighborhood team meeting to discuss conditional use permit application for late night alcohol sales by Mariscos Tampico, 10601 N Lamar Blvd, Jan 25, 5:30pm at the site / 10601 N Lamar Blvd, 25 de enero a las 5:30pm en Mariscos Tampico. The NACA neighborhood association and contact team were also invited to attend.
Voting Members: Melissa Caudle, Lisa Garner, Lisa Hinely, Mary Kraemer, Mona Noll
New Members: Martin Farias
Guest: Daisy Marquez (Masterplan)
Concerns expressed by nearby residents included the increased possibility of driving while intoxicated and additional late night music noise from 10601 N Lamar.
Mariscos Tampico owner (and Mockingbird Hill resident) Martin Farias described his business: It’s a family-oriented restaurant with live music, karaoke, and live sports viewings. It’s been at that location for many years. He says that most of their customers live in the general area, and typically would drive to the restaurant. He believes he has a different customer base than the food trucks nearer N Lamar Blvd. His staff are trained to avoid over-serving, which he says is easier with regular customers and the lower-key restaurant atmosphere.
The conditional use permit (CUP) would permit him to extend alcohol sales one hour for the interior part of the restaurant (not the patio). This could allow him to recoup more of the cost of live bands, since they are paid for the evening. Although the city application process includes a review of stormwater management for the entire site, the CUP would not apply to other areas of the 10601 N Lamar property, or to other businesses.
Neighborhood team concerns included understanding possible impacts on other food businesses at and near the site. The neighborhood team also used this opportunity to learn more about the economics of “supper club”-style venues and their role in Austin’s live music scene, and to begin hearing from small businesses how they would be affected by redevelopment of the site into multifamily housing. Martin had not heard from the new property owner that they were intending to redevelop the entire site.
From the neighborhood plan:
Objective Q.10: Acknowledge the cultural diversity of North Lamar/Georgian Acres.
Recommendation 23 Preserve and enhance the international character of the business district.
Objective Q.D28: Develop “international district” branding to enhance profitability, employment, and consumer choices in the planning areas
Recommendation D178 Implement banners, landscaping and other architectural elements from the North Lamar Mobility Corridor Study or similar work.
Recommendation D179 Promote healthy, culturally-specific, groceries, restaurants, and mobile food vendors.
Recommendation D180 Explore making the North Lamar planning area a cultural district to preserve the multicultural elements such as restaurants, stores, and churches.
Objective Q.D29: The ability of existing small and locally-owned businesses to remain in the planning area is preserved.
Recommendation D183 Develop policies to preserve or foster small business “incubator” locations, such as the North Austin pulgita.
Objective Q.D32: Activity corridors develop with a complete community mix of neighborhood-serving retail businesses and public spaces.
Objective Q.12: Promote healthy behaviors among North Lamar/Georgian Acres residents.
Recommendation 119 Non-residential uses should not encroach into the established neighborhoods of the NLCNPA.
Objective L.3: Establish North Lamar Boulevard as a mixed use, pedestrian-friendly corridor.
Recommendation 125 Incorporate small-scale, neighborhood-serving commercial or retail establishments into new mixed use developments.
North Lamar/Georgian Acres neighborhoods 