On June 5, Sean Haynes, with the Texas Real Estate Advocacy and Defense Coalition, came to the Environmental Commission to bring the commission’s attention to the Permian Highway Pipeline that is planned to run from the Permian Basin to the coast of Texas and pass over the Edwards Aquifer in Kyle. “Generally pipelines have gone […]
Jessi Devenyns
Posted inZoning
Despite ‘fuzzy’ answers, Planning Commission approves 4700 E. Riverside project
After three hours of discussion and deliberation against the backdrop of incessant shouting and profanities from members of Defend Our Hoodz, the Planning Commission voted 7-4 to forgo staff’s recommendation and approve the rezoning of the five tracts composing 4700 E. Riverside, as requested by the applicant, Presidium Group. In a nutshell, the applicant’s rezoning […]
Posted inPlanning
ZAP recommends allowing cellphone tower on church property
Data use on cell phones has become so ubiquitous that Verizon Wireless is finding some of its towers overwhelmed by capacity. One area Verizon is unable to adequately serve is in North Austin at the Parmer Lane and MoPac Expressway area. To help alleviate 126 percent over-capacity of cellular data usage this past April, Vincent […]
Posted inEnvironment
Austin at risk for violating federal ozone standards
Ozone levels in the Austin area have been hovering just below federal violation levels for the last six years. Ground-level ozone – or “bad” ozone – is an ingredient in smog and a primary pollutant that can cause a number of health problems. With weather patterns becoming more extreme due to climate change, Central Texas […]
Posted inEnvironment
Shoal Creek Trail solution coming to Council
After a catastrophic landslide carved a 30-foot-high cliff through residents’ backyards along Shoal Creek last year, the city sprang into action to devise a plan to stabilize what was left. However, the slope shifted again this spring, leaving Austinites wondering how much more damage is coming before a solution can be implemented. Repairing the crumbling […]
Posted inLand Development Code
ZAP says unlimited RVs should be allowed in mobile home parks
City Council will attempt to alleviate some of Austin’s affordability pressures on Thursday by discussing rezoning mobile home parks that are operating as such yet are not appropriately zoned and by amending the mobile home ordinance to allow recreational vehicles in the parks. City staff recognized that there is a disconnect between the way city code […]
Posted inZoning
Rezoning mobile home parks not straightforward, according to Planning Commission
Last August, City Council acknowledged that mobile home parks are a crucial housing option that can help combat Austin’s affordability crisis. Council gave city staff direction to identify mobile home parks that have improper zoning and work toward appropriately rezoning the sites. In preparation for Council to hear these cases, the Planning Commission heard 18 […]
Posted inCity Hall
Board of Adjustment members file grievance against former assistant city attorney
On Monday, Board of Adjustment Chair William Burkhardt and former Board Member Bryan King, with the support of Board Member Don Leighton-Burwell, filed a complaint with the State Bar of Texas against former Assistant City Attorney Brent Lloyd. The complaint alleges that Lloyd was in violation of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct due […]
Posted inParks
Start of summertime brings trash to Austin’s greenbelts
Austin’s greenbelts, though beautiful, have had a fraught history of visitors contaminating the wild beauty of the Central Texas landscape with their trash. At the May 28 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board meeting, Board Member Rich DePalma brought parks department staff and board members’ attention to this unfortunate, ongoing issue. DePalma said he […]
Posted inUncategorized
Austin’s Google Fiberhood smaller than promised
In 2013, with much fanfare, Google announced the arrival of Fiber in Austin, with promises of providing free Google Fiber services to 102 city buildings. But the internet giant has succeeded so far in providing that service to only 28 sites. When City Council passed a resolution in August 2013 to create the Community Connections […]
Posted inCity Council
Citing discrimination, City Council considers changing homelessness ordinances
City Council has decided it is time to take a hard look at the city’s policies associated with homelessness and take dramatic action. The homeless population in Austin is continuing to grow as the city’s population swells. According to the annual study conducted by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, homelessness increased 5 percent between 2018 […]
Posted inUncategorized
Historic Landmark Commission postpones demolition of home, has questions about integrity
A picture may be worth 1,000 words, but it does not always clearly tell the story of the integrity of a century-old structure. Such is the case for the Herrera family home at 1805 E. Third St. At the May 20 meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission, commissioners voted 6-1 to postpone the hearing for […]