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Council puts off fixing environmental rules for east side
At the urging of Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Paige Ellis, City Council postponed voting on a resolution Thursday that would begin to equalize environmental regulations in Central and East Austin with protections that have long been standard in…
Environment • By Jo Clifton • May 20, 2022
Waterways beginning to recover from Samsung acid waste spill
The tributary of Harris Branch Creek in Northeast Austin is beginning to recover from an acid waste spill that killed off the creek’s aquatic life. Samsung’s semiconductor facility discharged as much as 763,000 gallons of the acidic waste into its…
Environment • By Willow Higgins • May 20, 2022
Council endorses development bonuses near the Capitol
A rule prohibiting tall buildings near the Texas Capitol may soon be relaxed, opening up a sleepy part of downtown to more development. City Council passed a resolution Thursday that would allow properties currently under the Capitol Dominance Overlay –…
Planning • By Jonathan Lee • May 20, 2022
Stream Realty reveals plans for reinventing 'dirty Sixth'
If the downtown Sixth Street entertainment district is going to achieve a successful transformation in the coming years, the first real glimpse of its future will come from the improvements planned for the north side of the two blocks between…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • May 19, 2022
City provides update on Covid-19 funding, plan for ‘maximizing’ impact
The city of Austin spent $535.6 million related to Covid-19 through Dec. 31, 2021, according to a May 6 memo from Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo to Mayor Steve Adler and City Council members. About 53 percent of those costs…
City Hall • By Emma Freer • May 19, 2022
Austin's airport now wants people to arrive three or more hours before departure
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is busier than ever. With more than 250 flights a day, the airport is drawing an unprecedented number of passengers. But airline counters, TSA screening lines and concession businesses don’t have enough employees. The result has been notoriously…
Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • May 19, 2022
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More homes on the way to substandard Rogers Lane
Rogers Lane, a steep, narrow road in East Austin, has seen substantial development recently. On Tuesday, the Zoning and Platting Commission heard a rezoning case that could bring 107 additional units to the street, drawing concern from some residents. The…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • May 19, 2022
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 5.19.22
Today’s City Council meeting could be a long one, with a few contentious items on the agenda in addition to a list of smaller things that can add up quickly. As usual, we’ve gathered the things that are most interesting…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 19, 2022
Council lays out compromise for more density along major streets
As Austin’s housing crisis deepens, City Council is pushing to relax two major constraints on development – compatibility and parking requirements – for properties along busy streets, in hopes of increasing the supply of housing. “We believe there is consensus…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • May 18, 2022
Judge rejects voting rights suit against city
In a brief letter Tuesday, Travis County District Court Judge Lora Livingston ruled in favor of the city of Austin and against plaintiffs who argued they were being denied their right to vote as a result of redistricting. The plaintiffs…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • May 18, 2022
City, music groups seek partners for update of 2015 creative ecosystem census
The 2015 census that showed the Austin music and creative community was becoming economically marginalized will be updated this summer, with organizers hoping to reach a larger and more diverse pool of respondents from the Austin area and beyond. More…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 18, 2022
Environmental regulations finally set to move forward
City Council is considering directing city staff to revise some of the city’s environmental regulations this week, with an eye to protecting the city from the growing threat of industrial discharges, flooding and the heat island effect so common in…
