Elizabeth Pagano

Bolstered by support from the Montopolis Neighborhood Association, the Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a plan amendment and rezoning case on East Riverside, despite initial concerns that it could conflict with an impending master plan for the area.   The plan will rezone 18.25 acres of land in the East Riverside Corridor (ERC) for small-lot, […]

At a press conference yesterday, San Antonio businessman and key Formula 1 investor Red McCombs unveiled the new name for the F1 racetrack currently under construction in Elroy — Circuit of the Americas. Soon after, presenters discussed future plans for the track, emphasizing its year-round use and the anticipated positive economic impact it will have […]

In what Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky termed a “difficult case,” the Historic Landmark Commission last week was unable to prevent the remodel of a contributing structure in the Bryker Woods neighborhood.   The Kerbey Lane house is a contributing property to the Old West Austin National Register district. Built in 1941, Sadowsky described it […]

Yesterday afternoon at the Green Pastures restaurant in South Austin, incumbent Council Member Chris Riley and two of his opponents in the race for Place 1, Roger Chan and Josiah Ingalls, faced tough questions about energy, urban rail, and economic development from members of the Republican Club of Austin.   Candidate Norman Jacobson, meanwhile, was […]

Community Action Network members warned Monday that 35 percent of Austin and Travis County’s population is considered to be low income, a situation that could have serious consequences for the region.   The Community Action Network (CAN) presented its second annual Community Dashboard report yesterday. The report evaluates 16 indicators designed to measure the “social […]

Addressing the state-wide education budget crisis, speakers at Thursday’s Austin Chamber of Commerce annual Education Progress Report Luncheon spoke in favor of strict accountability standards, greater empowerment for superintendents and school board trustees, reduced budget cuts and reduced operational mandates by the legislature.   Tony Befi, a vice president at IBM and the Vice Chair […]

Representatives from the Watershed Protection Department expressed concern last week that further delays on much-needed repairs to the bypass tunnel at Barton Springs Pool could mean a lengthier closure of the pool.   In an update to the Parks and Recreation Board, Johnnie Price of the Watershed Protection Department presented a new plan for the […]

Without discussion Monday night, the Board of Commissioners of the city’s Urban Renewal Agency opted to extend an interim Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the agency and the city of Austin for six more months, until September 20, 2011. The board voted unanimously in favor of the extension.   The MOU was adopted this past […]

A month after passing a new policy, City Council will soon have a chance to test its stance on Municipal Utility Districts.   Austin Water Utility’s Bart Jennings last week outlined two Municipal Utility District applications, the first submitted since the adoption of a new district policy on MUDs. The new policy changed the city’s […]

Sara Hensley, director of Parks and Recreation, becomes visibly distressed when discussing the details of a recently discovered incident of encroachment on parkland. “It is a serious, serious issue of encroachment—the worst I’ve ever seen in my career,” said Hensley.   Surveyors working to construct a trail in the Colorado River/ Walnut Creek Greenbelt discovered […]

Confusion over the true meaning of bill pending in the Texas Legislature led Council members to backtrack Thursday, while staff and environmentalists argued over the merits of the measure that purported to protect the Barton Springs zone of the Edwards Aquifer.   Council eventually tabled discussion of a resolution on the matter in order to […]

Bringing an end to an emotional case, the Zoning and Platting Commission was left with no option on Tuesday but to approve a re-subdivision of Kellywood Estates.   Pat Kelly, who has lived there for 30 years, explained that it is not a typical subdivision. His father purchased the land in the mid-1970s, Kelly said, […]