Towering pecan trees have long protected and preserved the Shady Grove RV Park.  But after several years of talk of development, change is now coming with city council approval Thursday night.

Rick Engel first wanted to develop the $85-million project to help save his restaurant, Austin Java, at the front of the property.  But during negotiations, he also worked with the property owner, neighbors and adjoining businesses to save much more, including green space, height limits and many of the pecan trees.

“A lot of the large trees will stay on the property.  We're actually going to relocate some of the trees on the property,” he said.

Those are just some of the concessions that helped win over one of south Austin’s toughest watchdogs:  the Zilker Park Neighborhood Association. 

But what helped seal the neighborhood’s support was a commitment by developers to put an additional half-million dollars into an affordable housing trust fund.

“We're going to lose some affordable housing in the neighborhood displacing the trailer park -- and they were willing to come and put some money on the table to buy down affordable housing somewhere else in the neighborhood,” said Jeff Jack, of the Zilker Park Neighborhood Association.

Not everyone is pleased with the development, though, especially Shady Grove residents who will soon have to move.

“While we might not be property owners, we consider ourselves very responsible for the land down there,” said Laurie Wright.

Still, Councilmember Brewster McCracken says this is an example of the type of project the city wants to promote.

“We have to get smart about our land use.  We have to have high quality development go into these new developments,” he said.

In addition, the developer is also putting up $50,000 to the Zilker Park Neighborhood Association.  If the development breaks any of the process, the money will be used by the neighborhood to sue the developer.