The Zoning and Platting Commission’s hands were tied when it came to many of the concerns raised by neighbors at ZAP’s March 5 meeting on the proposed Junction Athletic Complex at 8921 W. U.S. Highway 290. The case was only set for the commission to approve or disapprove three environmental variances dealing with construction and […]
Alyx Wilson
Posted inWhispers
ZAP approves ‘unnecessary’ conditional overlay
Staffers’ recommendation was quickly usurped in a rezoning case that was pulled for discussion at the March 5 Zoning and Platting Commission meeting. Owners of the two-lot property at 2503 Westlake Dr. were seeking a rezoning from a Lake Austin Residence and Family Residence zoning to Urban Family Residence zoning with a conditional overlay limiting […]
Posted inZoning
ZAP unanimously approves Keilbar Lane rezone
The Zoning and Platting Commission granted its blessing to a new condominium development at 1903 Keilbar Lane during their Jan. 29 meeting. The applicant, Michael Winningham, hopes to build up to seven condominium units which he said he believes are compatible with the Imagine Austin comprehensive plan. Winningham also owns the adjacent property at 1905 […]
Posted inAustin
ZAP contemplates uprooting
Last month, on Jan. 15, the Zoning and Platting Commission heard a long-awaited briefing from the University of Texas’ Uprooted study on gentrification and displacement in Austin. Dr. Jake Wegmann, one of the three authors, presented a summarized version of the study, which was completed in September 2018. The project evaluated three main factors: where […]
Posted inPlanning
Neighborhood planning poised to change
The Planning Commission was recently briefed on the future of small area planning by Planning and Zoning staff. Austin has focused its small area planning around the neighborhood planning strategy since a 1997 City Council resolution. But subsequent to a resolution passed in September 2017, staffers have come up with three new planning services that […]
Posted inZoning
New multifamily slated for Old Bee Caves Road
The owners of an 18-acre plot at 6901 Old Bee Caves Road earned a recommendation from the Planning Commission at its Nov. 27 meeting for a change that would add mixed-use zoning to the tract. The developer hopes to build 315 multifamily units on the property and dedicate 6.3 acres of parkland to the city. […]
Posted inZoning
Old UT Co-op gets an upzoning after being empty for over a year
The University of Texas Law School Foundation owns the building that used to be a retail UT Co-op store on the corner of Medical Arts and Dean Keeton streets (2902 Medical Arts St. and 2901 Hampton Road). The foundation came to the Planning Commission on Nov. 27 hoping to rezone the building from neighborhood commercial […]
Posted inWhispers
St. Andrew’s School looking to rezone and sell land
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School owns a 25-acre plot of land at 6113 Southwest Parkway that the school hoped to sell after rezoning the land from LR-MU-NP to GR-MU-NP. The GR zoning would allow potential buyers to develop up to 60 feet in height instead of 40 feet. The case was pulled for discussion at the […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission recommends Sekrit Theater move forward with tiny housing development
The Planning Commission recommended a rezoning Tuesday for an East Austin venue known as Sekrit Theater that will enable the owner to turn the two-acre plot into a tiny housing development, with some conditions. The owner, Austin artist Beau Reichert, requested the rezoning of 1145/1147 Perry Road from Family Residence (SF-3) to Townhouse & Condominium […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission balks at neighborhood VMU
At its Oct. 23 meeting, the Planning Commission found itself reeling at a request for vertical mixed use on a rezoning case in Windsor Park at 6203, 6205 and 6207 Berkman Drive. The applicant presented two options that were agreed upon by the property owner and the neighborhood planning contact team, but that agreement did […]
Posted inWhispers
Planning Commission looks to streamline
The Planning Commission has been looking at ways to improve its meetings and keep the caseload at a reasonable amount. To that end, Commission Chair James Shieh has been working with city staff liaison Andrew Rivera to plan ahead and make adjustments the Thursday before meetings, and consider postponements. The commissioners have also been working […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic building could be renamed after freed slave Rev. Jacob Fontaine
At their most recent meeting, Planning commissioners were briefed on a proposed name change of a historic building at 2402 San Gabriel St. near the University of Texas. The building was most recently known as home to Freedmen’s barbecue restaurant, but the building has served many purposes since it was built in 1870. The Historic […]