The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available at the Travis County website. This week’s meeting will be broadcast to ensure everyone is able to follow social […]
Jessi Devenyns
Posted inLand Development Code
Board of Adjustment denies sign variance, says it came too early in development process
The north MoPac Expressway by the old Hewlett Packard campus may not appear to be very scenic at first glance. Yet this section of highway is identified as a Scenic Roadway under city regulations, so all road signs must adhere to the corresponding regulations. In the future, the site at 14231 Tandem Blvd. will become a […]
Posted inWhispers
Dunes sagebrush lizard may be listed as an endangered species
The dunes sagebrush lizard, a native species, has the smallest range of any lizard in the United States – a 655-square-mile habitat that occupies four counties in Texas and a small area in New Mexico. Already limited by its small habitat, the lizard’s future is uncertain due to territory threats from sand mining, oil and […]
Posted inWhispers
Tesla is coming to Travis County
Travis County can officially welcome Tesla to the region. The California electric car maker announced yesterday that it had selected eastern Travis County as the home of its new Gigafactory, which will generate 5,000 new jobs over 20 years and $1 billion in capital investment as well as $8.8 million in tax revenue benefit for […]
Posted inDevelopment
Commissioners Court approves easement vacation despite neighborhood protests
In the far reaches of Precinct 3 in Northwest Austin, in a subdivision between Nameless Road and Round Mountain Road owned by Giddens Development Inc., water is served to residents through wells operated by Aqua Texas. Although the developer of the subdivision is looking to expand into another section called the Bluffs of Sandy Creek […]
Posted inWhispers
Travis County enacts burn ban
At the July 21 meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court, commissioners voted to issue a burn ban in the unincorporated areas of the county beginning July 21 and extending through Aug. 26. The burn ban does not limit prescribed burns or outdoor grilling, although Travis County Fire Marshal Tony Callaway urged caution when barbecuing […]
Posted inTravis County
County to identify funding source for implementing permanent teleworking
Following a successful emergency rollout of teleworking capabilities in response to Covid-19 this spring, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted in May to make the digital work environment permanent for 75 percent of eligible county employees. On Tuesday, commissioners took the next step in this transition process and directed staff to identify a funding source […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 7.21.20
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available at the Travis County website. This week’s meeting will be broadcast to ensure everyone is able to follow social […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Board of Adjustment says maintaining area character is not sufficient hardship
While neighborhood character is an important aspect of design in a historic neighborhood, it is not the only thing the Board of Adjustment takes into account when considering a variance request to modify a home. Architect Ryan Bollom proposed adding a 450-square-foot, one-story addition to a 768-square-foot home in the historically Black neighborhood of Clarksville. At […]
Posted inPlanning
Environmental Commission recommends environmental aspects of COTA PUD
The Circuit of the Americas has been making its way through city boards and commissions on its quest to expand from a concert venue and racetrack into a more residential- and retail-focused development. The 1,153-acre parcel located east of State Highway 130 and north of Farm to Market 812 are seeking City Council’s approval to […]
Posted inPlanning
Applicant contests the math of supermajority at Board of Adjustment vote
After several postponements and a design adjustment for the home at 71 Julius St., the Board of Adjustment narrowly failed to approve a motion to grant a variance to allow the Holly neighborhood house to be built within the waterfront overlay setback. Board members Melissa Hawthorne and Darryl Pruett voted against a motion to approve […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County approves Tesla incentive deal
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a $13.9 million tax rebate deal to coax Tesla to build its “Gigafactory” in southeastern Travis County. The tax rebate is based on a $1.1 billion investment from Tesla and will be paid out over the course of 10 years. The agreement has a 20-year term that will […]