At its April meeting, the Historic Landmark Commission postponed the case for 1400 Winsted Lane in search of more context for the property. Instead, staff returned with a new reading of the code that could change how the commission does business from now on. The commission was surprised to learn at its May 20 meeting that […]
Jessi Devenyns
Posted inZoning
Annexation causes confusion over property zoning at ZAP
Before being annexed into the city of Austin in 1984, the half-acre lot at 9606 Swansons Ranch Road operated as a commercial lot with a gunsmithing business and later a seafood business. After annexation, the parcel of land, which was then zoned Single Family Residence – Standard Lot (SF-2), continued to operate commercially, with an […]
Posted inZoning
ZAP recommends rezoning AISD property for commercial use
Austin Independent School District’s Rosedale School is a special institution that serves students of all ages with severe disabilities, including children who are medically fragile or who need intensive behavioral support. Many of these special-needs children require intensive medical care, which requires them to frequently leave school and as a result, fall behind in class. […]
Posted inPreservation
Eureka Holdings to begin repairing I.Q. Hurdle House
After a surprising turn of events last month brought the I.Q. Hurdle House from a demolition-by-neglect case to a Certificate of Appropriateness approval for maintenance and repairs, the Historic Landmark Commission expressed enthusiasm that the fate of the property was looking brighter. One month later, however, and that enthusiasm has melted into uncertainty as photos […]
Posted inWhispers
Watershed Protection Department set to update master plan
The first time the Watershed Protection Department put its mission to “Protect the lives, property, and environment of our community by reducing the impact of flooding, erosion, and water pollution” into an actionable, long-range plan was in 2001. The Environmental Commission approved a major update in 2015. Now, with the 20th anniversary of putting pen […]
Posted inPreservation
East Austin poised to gain a new local historic district
East Austin is on its way to anointing another local historic district. Amid support from dozens of neighborhood residents in the audience, the Historic Landmark Commission unanimously recommended the approval of the creation of a Robertson/Stuart & Mair Historic District. The district is roughly composed of structures in and around Robertson Hill, a neighborhood generally […]
Posted inEnvironment
Despite zebra mussels, Austin’s waterways seeing a recovery trend
The news is full of horror stories about zebra mussels invading intake pipes and sediment causing city water to be of questionable quality. Yet statistics show that, overall, the waterways of Austin are regaining their health. According to Mateo Scoggins of the Watershed Protection Department, “We’re seeing an increase in overall health in these systems, which […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission decides how much office is too much office in a neighborhood
In Central Austin especially, neighborhoods evolve and zonings change. However, change is not always simple. The two owners of the properties at 1804, 1806 and 1808 W. Sixth St. came before the Planning Commission at its May 14 meeting to request a joint zoning change from single-family to multi-use and limited office. The two owners […]
Posted inWhispers
Environmental Commission approves park plans for new East Austin PUD
In far East Austin there’s a sand and gravel mine that also operates as a concrete batch plant, which produces a large portion of the construction concrete for Austin. Spread over 2,000 acres, this plot of land is in the process of becoming a mixed-use planned unit development. “It’s a really interesting project, especially from […]
Posted inWhispers
Moody Foundation donated $2.1 million to help restore Barton Springs bathhouse
After 72 years of constant public use, it’s no surprise that the Barton Springs bathhouse needs a little TLC. The state of the deteriorating bathhouse prompted Barton Springs Conservancy to begin its “For the Love of the Springs” campaign in 2016 to raise funds to rehabilitate the historic bathhouse on-site. Three years later, the Conservancy […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission fails to recommend zoning change, citing proximity to hazardous materials
Abutting the Cypress Semiconductor manufacturing plant is an undeveloped 1.63-acre tract of land that is currently zoned commercial. This transition property connects the industrial tract to the east with residential developments closer to town. On May 14, Ferris Clements, an associate attorney with Armbrust & Brown who was representing the developer of this property, came […]
Posted inLand Development Code
BoA postpones case to better understand 10-foot setback implications
After combining two plots of land in the West Austin Sweetbrush neighborhood in January and agreeing to conform to city of Austin ordinances in the process, the owners of 2404 Sweetbrush Drive came before the Board of Adjustment on May 13 to request a variance to decrease the rear yard setback of the through lot […]