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Latest Headlines for Wednesday, May 22
Following HOME 2 passage, advocates seek Council action on short-term rentals
Members of the Tourism Commission are pushing City Council to move forward with an agreement with short-term rental platforms that could make it possible for the city to more easily regulate the thousands of unlicensed homes operating as lodging businesses…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • May 21, 2024
Developing a former summer camp proves to be more than a seasonal project
Efforts to redevelop a former ranch and summer camp in Northwest Austin have hit another snag with the city’s Historic Landmark Commission, which has voted for a second time to postpone the convoluted case. The house at 7304 Knox Lane…
Preservation • By Kali Bramble • May 21, 2024
Travis County will turn family's ranch into 1,500 acres of public parkland
Travis County commissioners plan to add about 1,500 acres to the county’s wilderness parklands, protecting the pristine land from development and setting it up as a future destination for hikers and bicyclists. The $90 million deal to purchase a privately…
Parks • By Sangita Menon, KUT • May 21, 2024
Auditor’s report points out difficulties with 911 call taking
As a result of complaints citizens made about problems they had connecting with the city’s 911 service during emergencies, City Council members Alison Alter and Vanessa Fuentes requested that the Office of the City Auditor look into how the Austin…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • May 21, 2024
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Featured Collection: 35 expands
Funding freeze for I-35 expansion denied in heated CAMPO vote
An attempt to freeze funding for the Interstate 35 expansion through Central Austin until the project’s impact on air quality can be more fully assessed was easily defeated Monday in a vote by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s planning…
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Vacant downtown storefronts eyed for arts, music activations to reverse downturn
Seeking to bring more foot traffic to an area with an increasing number of vacant storefronts, the Downtown Austin Alliance is working to partner local artists and musicians with property owners interested in exposing their spaces to new potential businesses.…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 20, 2024
Council adopts ordinance for electric vehicle charging stations
After adopting ordinances that promise to provide more housing on smaller pieces of land and changing compatibility requirements to allow taller buildings to be built closer to single-family housing, City Council quickly adopted changes to the city Land Development Code…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • May 20, 2024
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Austin Energy dialing in to climate protection plan
After pausing to rethink its approach, Austin Energy is revisiting its update to the 2030 Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan with a series of workshops set to begin next month. The first of four workshops, scheduled for June 7…
Energy • By Kali Bramble • May 20, 2024
Austin cuts minimum lot size by more than half, requiring less land to build a home
More homes, less lawn. This was the pitch made by Austin City Council members Friday when, for the first time in 80 years, they voted to lower the amount of land needed to build one house. The change allows property…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 17, 2024
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Supported by: Austin Community Foundation
Featured Data: Austin Police Department’s 148th cadet class
This data graphic first appeared in the story APD Training Academy audit shows improvement – but not enough to curb attrition on October 19, 2023 by Emma Freer. Graphic credit: Kroll Audit of APD Training Academy – 148th Cadet Class
Pro and con: HOME 2 brings out the speakers
The May 16 City Council meeting promised to be a long one, with four controversial changes to the city’s development rules and one much less controversial but important proposal creating rules for placement of electric vehicle charging stations. Many of…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • May 17, 2024
As downtown sees slowing of development, new programs aim to promote activity
In delivering its annual State of Downtown report that showed some slowdown in development efforts in the central business district, the Downtown Austin Alliance announced two new efforts intended to improve quality of life and bring more activity throughout the…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 17, 2024
Planning Commission backs historic zoning for east side beauty shop
Despite its recent history, the Planning Commission unanimously endorsed historic landmark status for East Austin’s Fashionette Beauty Shop as a step toward more equitable historic preservation this week. The Fashionette Beauty Shop and McDonald Jackson House have stood at East…
Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 17, 2024
Austin will vote on rules that impact housing. Here's what's on the table.
This explainer was originally published April 10. It has been updated ahead of City Council’s vote. How do you retrofit a city that never planned for a population of nearly 1 million or for an extensive public transit system? Should…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 16, 2024
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Nonprofit spotlight: Four questions for American Gateways
American Gateways ensures access to the justice system for low-income immigrants. We serve 23 counties in Central Texas and provide high-quality legal representation and accurate information about what is happening in our immigration system. What is the mission of American…
