Planning Commission nearly derails East Austin townhome project
A townhome project requesting to build closer to single-family homes than typically allowed nearly fell through Tuesday, when the Planning Commission lacked enough votes to approve the requested variance. The developer of the seven-unit project at 1400 Cedar Ave. originally…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • May 27, 2022
Hancock project to house the homeless sails through Planning Commission
The Planning Commission unanimously supported a zoning change Tuesday that would allow the construction of housing for people exiting homelessness in the Hancock neighborhood. A group of affordable housing developers hopes to rezone three lots at 1004-1008 E. 39th St.…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • May 26, 2022
Parks board postpones vote on alcohol sales in Republic Square Park
The Parks and Recreation Department asked the parks board this week for its support of a conditional use permit that would allow for the sale of alcohol in Republic Square Park. Since the park is public property, it needs to have…
Parks • By Willow Higgins • May 26, 2022
Audit report finds city making slow progress on website accessibility, usability
The city has moved slowly in making its website as accessible and useful as possible for residents and falls short of federal principles to ensure usability for people of all abilities, according to a recent report from the Office of…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • May 26, 2022
APD making headway toward academy reforms, but still a work in progress
The Austin Police Department is well on its way toward implementing recommended changes to its training academy, according to a presentation Monday from consulting firm Kroll Associates. APD has enacted nearly all of the short-term recommendations and just under half…
Police • By Jonathan Lee • May 25, 2022
Land trust program targets applicants impacted by displacement
Residents in City Council districts 1 and 6 will have the first chance to purchase one of a cluster of single-family homes the city is making available at affordable prices through the Austin Community Land Trust. In a memo released…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • May 25, 2022
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Council approves land use code amendments, paving smoother path for mobility projects
Staff charged with delivering on Austin’s mobility investments hope to soon see faster returns, as City Council passed an ordinance last Thursday that would simplify land use regulations for mobility projects. The ordinance comprises a hodgepodge of land use code…
Land Development Code • By Kali Bramble • May 25, 2022
Cap Metro board approves new interim CEO as Clarke says farewell
At its Monday meeting, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved Dottie Watkins, deputy CEO of Capital Metro, to step into the role of interim chief executive officer of the transit organization. Watkins will lead Capital Metro…
Transit • By Samuel Stark • May 25, 2022
Downtown Commission proposes stricter regulation of Austin's scooter onslaught
Calls for firmer regulation of the dockless scooters, mopeds and e-bikes scattered about the city may hit the desks of City Council in coming months, as a recommendation from the Downtown Commission makes its way to the agenda. The recommendation…
Transportation • By Kali Bramble • May 24, 2022
No historic zoning for experimental air-cooled house
With no City Council member willing to make a motion for historic zoning that was sure to fail, the push to preserve the Chrysler Air-Temp house at 2502 Park View Drive died quietly at last Thursday’s Council meeting. Owner Hugh…
Preservation • By Jo Clifton • May 24, 2022
Safer Sixth Street memo pushes new cameras, advises against gun buyback
The city is moving ahead with several new components of last year’s Safer Sixth Street initiative, with police, fire and emergency services staff already using a new staging area on Neches Street intended to improve response times for medical needs…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • May 24, 2022
Procedural change sparks disagreement at Commissioners Court
Travis County commissioners approved a revision last week to the Commissioners Court agenda setting procedure. Now, any agenda item that will have a budgetary impact must first go through the Planning and Budget Office for analysis before a vote. While…
