Stories by Bill McCann
Green improvements win board approval for Barton Springs Road building
A proposal to construct a 120-foot-tall building on vacant land between two existing office buildings on Barton Springs Road across from the Palmer Events Center received backing from the Environmental Board on Wednesday. The property, owned by Texas American…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • May 8, 2009
Forecast shows recession lowering electric usage
Austin Energy is seeing the effects of the national recession in its latest forecast of electric power use in Austin and on Austin Energy’s projected future revenues. The 2009 forecast, issued Tuesday, shows peak power demand by Austin Energy…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Apr 22, 2009
Outcry delays city plan to cut trees at Barton Springs
There are two sure-fire ways to upset local community activists: mess with beloved Barton Springs or cut into the canopy of Austin’s trees. And last week, the city unveiled a plan to cut trees AT Barton Springs. Ouch. Parks and…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Apr 20, 2009
City says thirty trees need to come down at Barton Springs
When Austin Parks and Recreation Department officials held a news conference Wednesday at the Barton Springs pool, they came braced to face tough media questions about why they planned to cut down 30 trees in Zilker Park along and near…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Apr 16, 2009
City staff recommends complete cleanup of old dump
City environmental officials are taking on another job of cleaning up trash from the past – this time in the city-owned Barton Creek greenbelt. Consultants to the city recently completed an investigation of an abandoned 3.6-acre dump just east…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Apr 8, 2009
Waterfront overlay ordinance still controversial
A proposal by city staff to exempt Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) and Planned Development Areas (PDAs) from a revised Waterfront Overlay District ordinance drafted at the behest of the City Council drew opposition from Environmental Board members last week. …
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Apr 6, 2009
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Environmental Board approves South Shore PUD
The proposed South Shore District Planned Unit Development (PUD) near Lady Bird Lake in southeast Austin successfully cleared the Environmental Board last week after getting support from city staff and opposition from neighborhood leaders concerned about its effect on the…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Mar 10, 2009
City Council approves contract for 30MW solar plant
The Austin City Council took a significant step Thursday toward the city’s lofty goal of getting 30 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, including 100 megawatts from solar energy. The council voted unanimously to award a…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Mar 6, 2009
Water Utility delays implementation of new rate structure
Citing complications with billing and the current economic climate, Austin Water Utility officials plan to delay rates designed to curb excess water use by commercial and multi-family customers by at least another two years. Residential customers already have in…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Mar 5, 2009
Dead vultures found near landfill site raise questions, concerns
Opponents of two private landfills in northeastern Travis County believe a pile of dead vultures will help bolster their case against proposed expansions at the landfills. Two weeks ago Evan Williams, who co-owns 23 undeveloped acres between the Colonial…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Feb 27, 2009
Lakeside height limits could impact new developments
The seemingly endless debate over the maximum height that developers should be allowed to construct buildings near and along Lady Bird Lake is heating up again. Supporters of height limits are being bolstered by a recently released report from a…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Feb 23, 2009
Would Sustainable Events Plan hurt nonprofits?
A fast-tracked plan to make public events on city property cleaner and greener hit a speed bump Wednesday at the Environmental Board. Members of the board raised questions about the plan’s financial impact on event holders, especially nonprofit groups…
