Over 200 people packed the event center in Dripping Springs on Nov. 10 for what they said was their first real chance to get their questions answered about a proposal that would allow the city to discharge treated effluent into Onion Creek. As part of the Dripping Springs’ expansion of its wastewater treatment plant, it […]
Cate Malek
Posted inCity Council
Council votes to spay/neuter stray animals on first impoundment
A proposal that requires that stray dogs and cats be spayed or neutered so they can’t reproduce moved forward this week, despite questions over whether the measure actually addresses the problems it’s meant to solve. City Council voted 8-1 to pass a proposal that dogs and cats be spayed or neutered the first time they […]
Posted inParks
Proposal stirs debate over whether internet would bring Pokemon or porn to parks
Members of the Parks and Recreation Board recently painted two very different images of a proposal to investigate the idea of bringing free Wi-Fi access to Auditorium Shores. In an 8-1 vote at their Oct. 25 meeting, board members passed a plan to take the first exploratory steps to introduce public internet to Auditorium Shores, in […]
Posted inEnvironment
Hotel strives to preserve Austin’s heritage, but not all of its heritage trees
The developers of the Carpenter Hotel are trying to strike a delicate balance between protecting the environment, preserving Austin’s heritage and creating a viable business. That was the argument they made before the Environmental Commission on Oct. 19, when they asked for approval to remove two heritage pecan trees from the Carpenters Hall site in […]
Posted inPlanning
Council votes down attempt to revisit McMansion exemption
An amendment that some hoped would lead to more clarity in the McMansion Ordinance only seemed to lead to greater confusion at a City Council meeting on Oct. 6. The McMansion Ordinance was passed in order to prevent developers from building oversized houses on small lots. But the complicated ordinance has led to some confusion, […]
Posted inPlanning
New section of Guadalupe named activity corridor, despite neighborhood concerns
City Council designated a new section of Guadalupe Street as an activity corridor despite some neighborhood concerns, making its higher concentration of businesses, people and services official. The change came as part of a package of amendments to the Imagine Austin comprehensive plan, the city’s detailed 30-year plan that was adopted in 2012. The majority […]
Posted inParks
Parks and Rec Board hopes to make golf courses self-sustaining
Worried that Austin’s municipal golf courses are sucking money away from the city’s already underfunded parks, the Parks and Recreation Board is investigating how to make the courses pay for themselves. The city’s municipal golf courses have been operating at a loss for the last four years because of various difficulties ranging from flooding to […]
Posted inZoning
Environmental Commission fears Austin Oaks PUD will threaten too many trees
After months of contentious negotiations, the Austin Oaks planned unit development is nearing its hearing before City Council. But the Environmental Commission hopes to hash out a better tree plan before deciding whether to sign off on the project. At its meeting on Sept. 21, the Environmental Commission voted to convene a committee with representatives […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council moves forward with rezoning for Cactus Rose site, but vows to protect residents
The decision whether to rezone the Cactus Rose Mobile Home Park in East Austin has put City Council in a tight position that it did its best to wiggle out of at its meeting Thursday. Council voted to pass the rezoning on first reading but required the developer to continue to negotiate with Cactus Rose […]
Posted inAustin
Animal Commission votes down spay and neuter proposal
Despite public appeals, the Animal Commission has decided not to move forward on a proposed ordinance that would require that all dogs brought to Austin animal shelter be spayed or neutered the first time they are impounded. The ordinance was meant to reduce the number of animals filling shelters by preventing stray dogs from breeding. […]
Posted inCity Council
Stagehands at ZACH Theatre ask city to step into wage fight
Although they’re used to being behind the scenes, the stagehands from ZACH Theatre are going public with their requests for more equitable pay. On Sept. 1, representatives of the stagehands asked City Council to put stipulations on cultural organizations like ZACH Theatre requiring that they pay fair and stable wages. This is the first campaign […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council OKs worker protections with expedited permit review
City Council acted to increase protections for construction workers and speed up the building permit process for some at last night’s meeting. Council members strongly supported a proposal that would allow developers to pay an extra fee in order to pass through Austin’s building permit process more quickly. In exchange, developers must agree to pay […]