A development near Lake Travis brought a contentious public hearing to Tuesday’s Travis County Commissioners Court. A developer is looking to create a detached-condominium subdivision tentatively called the Summit at Lake Travis. The project is slated for land off Bee Creek Road approximately two miles north of SH 71 abutting three other neighborhoods, Inverness […]
Jimmy Maas
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Politics, Transportation
Travis Commissioners vote to spend $15 million on SH45 SW
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved spending $15 million in county funds Tuesday toward a plan to extend the southwest portion of State Highway 45 from the end of MoPac Boulevard to FM 1626. The vote fulfilled Travis County’s part of a plan to accelerate construction of the road by the end of this year […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety
County may join city in developing local sobriety center
Travis County Commissioners took a step Tuesday toward developing a sobriety center for the Austin area. The resolution passed unanimously, though it came with a few caveats. Commissioners instructed their staff to work with the City of Austin and other stakeholders to develop the sobriety centers as an alternative to incarceration for those found […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety
Travis County still working on finalizing flood buyout program
Four and a half months after the devastating Halloween floods, the county still doesn’t have a definitive buyout plan for all of the affected properties in the Bluff Springs Road area. After an hour of public discussion, and even more in executive session, Travis County Commissioners decided Tuesday they need more information, including current […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
City Council meetings to move to Travis County this summer
The City of Austin is moving. The City Council, at least, will be moving up Lavaca Street to the Travis County building this summer while renovations take place in council chambers to accommodate a larger membership. The Travis County Commissioners Court chambers will serve, at least temporarily, as City Hall in August and September. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Resources
LCRA raises permit fees for developers to recover 100 percent of cost
Developers along the Highland Lakes will be paying more for construction permits as part of the Lower Colorado River Authority’s effort to keep what’s left of its water supply as clean as possible. The LCRA Board of Directors approved the increase in permit fees in areas under the Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance Wednesday. It is […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Resources
LCRA to consider shifting watershed ordinance fees to developers
For the first time ever, the Lower Colorado River Authority may raise fees to develop within the Highland Lakes watershed. The only question seems to be how much of those fees will be passed on to developers. The measure – up for a vote Wednesday at the LCRA’s February board of directors meeting – […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Report says key to Austin’s economic success is staying on top
Austin’s economy – if statistical rankings can be believed – is currently among the best in the country. Judging by those rankings, the city is at or near the top of many publications’ lists for job creation, business environment, places to go to school, live, work, socialize and retire. In their annual Economic Development […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources, Uncategorized
Travis County Commissioners back LCRA emergency drought order
Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to back the Lower Colorado River Authority’s 2014 emergency drought order that would again limit the release of Highland Lakes water to agriculture interests downstream. The three-member Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are expected to take final action today amid new discouraging information about the drought. TCEQ’s executive director […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
Travis Commissioners approve plans for new office building
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved design plans Tuesday for the county’s planned office building at corner of 11th and San Antonio streets. The plans for the building, which will house the District Attorney’s Office, were approved by unanimous vote. According to Roger El Khoury, director of the county’s Facilities Management Department, the seven-story […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Gun show a no go with background checks in contract
Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to offer the promoters of the Saxet Gun Show a new contract containing language requiring background checks on all gun sales, even private transactions. However, show promoter Todd Beiter said late Tuesday that he will not accept the new contract. Commissioners voted 3-0 to offer a contract with the […]
Posted inLocal Government, Transportation
Capital Metro endorses Highland-East Riverside rail alignment
The Capital Metro board officially backed the first phase planned by Project Connect Wednesday. The board voted 7-0 on the resolution with Frank Fernandez off the dais. The plan is the same one Project Connect finalized late last year that would connect the Highland Mall area of Austin with downtown and East Riverside by rail. […]