A vacant court isn’t all it takes to play tennis in Austin. It also takes a vacant parking spot. To that end, City Council’s Open Space, Environment and Sustainability Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that 28 parking spaces be transferred to the Parks and Recreation Department and turned into dedicated parkland. Currently, those spaces […]
Jack Craver
Posted inDevelopment
Planning Commission delays action on new Crestview church redevelopment proposal
It’s Round 2 in the fight between Crestview neighborhood activists and developer David Kahn. The neighborhood won the first round in May, when City Council declined to endorse Kahn’s request for a zoning change to build a 70,000-square-foot office complex and 10 apartment units on a property formerly occupied by the Korean United Presbyterian Church […]
Posted inPreservation
Council denies landmark designation for Lightsey-Russell House
The yellow-clad neighbors who came out to urge preservation of the Lightsey-Russell House struck a chord with City Council, but not one strong enough to save the 83-year-old home at 1805 Lightsey Road from demolition. With a seemingly heavy heart, Mayor Steve Adler and four other Council members cast votes denying a petition by neighbors […]
Posted inThe Code
Planning Commission to take a closer look at neighborhood infill tools
Most members of the Planning Commission appear to believe that something should change about city infill tools attached to neighborhood plans, but none appear certain about what specifically should change. After a half-hour discussion with city staff about how neighborhoods dealing with unwanted infill tools could remove them from their neighborhood plans and how the […]
Posted inDevelopment
ZAP delays decision on North Austin subdivision amid neighbor complaints
The Zoning and Platting Commission delayed action on a proposed multiuse development in North Austin after residents from the area showed up to register their disapproval of the anticipated increase in traffic. The commission, which was missing three of its 11 members at the Tuesday meeting, moved to vote on whether to recommend the plan […]
Posted inPreservation
Planning Commission OKs landmark status for former home of legendary businesswoman
Celebrating female entrepreneurship, racial harmony and, of course, beautiful architecture, the Planning Commission voted to recommend historic zoning for an 85-year-old house at 113 West 33rd St. last week. After hearing Steve Sadowsky, the Historic Preservation Officer for the city, argue that the house represented a significant place in Austin’s history because it had been […]
Posted inCity Hall
Land Use Commissions look for more cooperation
What does the overhaul of municipal commissions mean for the future of city planning in Austin? Those involved in development policy at City Hall hope that a larger City Council, which has led to more appointees to both the Planning Commission and the Zoning and Platting Commission, will ease the burden on individual commissioners by […]
Posted inPlanning
Commission reverses Mt. Zion church decision
Confronted with new information about zoning regulations related to the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church at 1801 Pennsylvania Ave., the Planning Commission voted Tuesday night to reverse a decision it had made in June aimed at helping the church sell the property. Commissioners also voted on 7-3 on Tuesday to recommend denial of Greater Mount […]
Posted inAustin, City Hall
Adler announces volunteering partnership with Austin startup company
Mayor Steve Adler believes that volunteering is the way forward for Austin. Flanked at a Sunday press conference by volunteers of various groups – some holding adorable ready-to-adopt chihuahuas from Austin Animal Center – Adler challenged city residents to volunteer at least one hour during the month of August. The challenge is part of an […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Courts
Judge hits Laura Pressley and attorney with $100,000 sanctions in election lawsuit
Laura Pressley tells the Austin Monitor that she is disappointed but not discouraged by $100,000 in sanctions imposed on sheher and her attorney. The unsuccessful city council candidate added that the ruling awarding nearly $100,000 in damages to her former District 4 Council opponent–and current Council Member–Greg Casar will not end her drive to challenge the […]
Posted inDevelopment, Zoning
Legal questions abound at Zoning Commission meeting
While some city commissioners have been complaining about a lack of support from the city law department during commission meetings, a recent session of the Zoning and Platting Commission showed that the volunteer officials can have a hard time figuring out what they’re allowed to do even when there is a city attorney providing advice. The body […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning, Zoning
ZAP also suffers from lack of legal input, says commissioner
Planning Commissioners aren’t the only people at City Hall grumbling about the city law department. Jackie Goodman, a former mayoral candidate and former longtime Austin City Council member who is now vice chair of the Zoning and Platting Commission, said she is also frustrated by her panel’s lack of access to city attorneys, who she […]