Austin Monitor

Members of the Zoning and Platting Commission are making a recommendation for new conditions for a tract along South Congress Avenue they hope will help accelerate the transformation of the neighborhood. However, they are concerned their zoning recommendation for 8008 South Congress may not win Council approval, based on a similar recommendation for a nearby […]

Some remarks made by local blues legend Marcia Ball during a Wednesday night concert have the developers of the Barton Place Condos crying foul. According to several people who attended KGSR-FM’s “Blues on the Green” concert in Zilker Park, Ball told the crowd that the developers had cut down trees to build their project even […]

The Planning Commission has unanimously approved its new bylaws as part of the city’s efforts to standardize regulations for all boards and commissions. Commissioners made a few minor changes that were allowed under the Council’s direction, so the changes will not have to go to the Council’s Audit and Finance Committee for approval.   One […]

The Austin City Council has approved on first reading a change to the city code that will clear the way for the construction of a new fly tower at the Zachary Scott Theatre (See In Fact Daily, June 12, 2008). The theatre’s Board of Directors is working with city staff and the Zilker Neighborhood Association […]

The Austin City Council is giving members of the commission overseeing the Renaissance Market at 23rd St. and Guadalupe one more opportunity to adopt the standardized bylaws the Council has approved for all the city’s boards and commissions. The Council had been set to dissolve the Renaissance Market Commission on Thursday, but postponed that action […]

Council Member Jennifer Kim said good-bye to her colleagues and staff at Thursday’s Council meeting. As the first Asian-American Council Member, Kim has been a strong advocate for minority businesses in the city.   Although she lost her re-election campaign, Kim, 35, remained a favorite of the environmental community throughout her tenure. She was the […]

After six years on the City Council, 11 years as the city’s Financial Director and a year as Assistant City Manager over housing, health and human services, and libraries, among others, Mayor Pro Tem Betty Dunkerley is retiring from the City of Austin—for the second time.   Dunkerley, 72, retired in 2002 to run for […]

A City Auditor’s report said Austin’s public safety costs are growing at a rate almost three times that of several other comparable cities, giving Council Members Brewster McCracken and Lee Leffingwell—who both site on the Council Audit and Finance Committee—an issue to argue over while addressing Channel 6 cameras on Tuesday.    While the committee […]

At first glance, neighborhood activist Laura Morrison’s wide margin of victory in Saturday’s runoff election against developer Cid Galindo could be interpreted as neighborhood activism triumphing over new urbanism in the race to lead Austin’s future. That, however, is neither the candidates nor their consultants read the results. Galindo, at his election night party Saturday, […]

According to the Travis County Clerk’s Office, Laura Morrison took 60 percent of the early vote in the race to replace outgoing Council Member Betty Dunkerley.   The early vote was tabulated quickly but it could be quite some time before additional boxes come in. However, Morrison’s opponent, Cid Galindo will have to make up […]

Place 4 Council candidate Cid Galindo filed four amended campaign finance reports Thursday, changing the amount of money he has collected and spent as well as the amount left over in the final days of the race. His battle with Laura Morrison over the Place 4 seat will be over with Saturday’s election.   Galindo’s […]

Responding to a request to help a local theatre, the Planning Commission has endorsed a proposed change to the portion of the city code dealing with building height restrictions. The proposal would allow for a specific part of public theatres to exceed the normal height restrictions in certain zoning districts by 33 percent.   The […]