The Planning Commission on Tuesday denied a request to expand a mini storage facility near a future light rail station, holding out for the possibility of mixed-use, transit-oriented development over what they deemed a suburban, car-oriented use. The owner of Life Storage at 8227 N. Lamar Blvd. requests a rezoning to Commercial Services – Mixed-Use […]
Jonathan Lee
Posted inPreservation
Council to vote on allowing taller buildings along Sixth Street
City Council is set to vote next week on allowing taller buildings along part of Sixth Street, in hopes of bringing more daytime uses to Austin’s most famous stretch of bars and clubs. The plan is to allow buildings up to 140 feet high on properties along “Dirty Sixth”’ between Sabine and Neches streets, as […]
Posted inHousing
District-by-district analysis shows unequal progress on affordable housing construction
The nonprofit HousingWorks Austin on June 29 released its eighth “District by District and Community at a Glance Analysis,” an annual report that shows how many units of subsidized affordable housing have been built in each City Council district, as well as other stats about housing affordability. The report tells a two-sided story. On one […]
Posted inBudget
What you need to know about Austin’s budget season
It’s that time of year again. The process to adopt the annual city budget is set to begin late next week and last through mid-August, according to a detailed schedule released by Mayor Kirk Watson last Friday. Over the next several weeks, city staffers will brief City Council on how different departments plan to spend […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Planning Commission urges quicker processing of Land Development Code amendments
With dozens of amendments to the city’s outdated Land Development Code currently in the works – many aimed at increasing supply and lowering costs for housing – City Council members and city staffers in recent weeks have discussed how to prioritize the changes, given limited staff resources. The Planning Commission on June 13 weighed in, […]
Posted inZoning
Brentwood multifamily project secures Planning Commission support for rezoning
The Planning Commission on June 13 voted unanimously to rezone a collection of properties in Brentwood to allow mixed-use housing. Developer Narrow Road Group plans to build approximately 350 housing units on the 2.44-acre site bounded by Clay Avenue, Houston Street and William Holland Avenue. The developer requests General Commercial Services and Vertical Mixed-Use (CS-MU-V-CO-NP) […]
Posted inZoning
Borden Dairy plant rezoning approved on second reading despite objections
The massive Borden Dairy plant redevelopment moved one step closer to approval on Thursday, when City Council passed a rezoning associated with the project on second reading. The project would bring 1,400 residential units, a 220-room hotel, 411,500 square feet of offices, 66,000 square feet of restaurant space and 40,000 square feet of retail to […]
Posted inPlanning
Council proposes allowing more homes in single-family zoning
City Council on Thursday voted to create a program that would allow more homes on single-family lots, as long as some homes are priced affordably. “What we are trying to accomplish here, from a high level, is to create an ownership density bonus program that allows for affordable units to be built without subsidy,” said […]
Posted inZoning
Council gives initial approval to redevelopment of East Austin dairy plant
A huge mixed-use development on the site of a Borden Dairy plant in East Austin’s Govalle neighborhood is nearing approval. City Council on Thursday voted on first reading in favor of a rezoning that would allow the project to advance. Developer Endeavor Real Estate plans to build 1,400 residential units, a 220-room hotel, 411,500 square […]
Posted inPlanning
1,200 housing units planned near Lakeline, pending zoning change
The Planning Commission on May 23 recommended allowing up to 1,200 housing units on the last 30 acres of undeveloped land in the 446-acre Leander Rehabilitation planned unit development, instead of office and commercial space as had previously been planned. The request would increase the total number of housing units allowed in the whole development […]
Posted inLand Development Code
City to ban unsafe fence designs
The city will soon prohibit unsafe fence designs, like those with spiked or widely spaced pickets, to reduce the risk of serious injury and death in humans and animals. On Tuesday, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended City Council approve the new rules. This comes a year and a half after Council passed a resolution to […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commission supports rezoning for mixed-use development on East 12th
A new mixed-use development is in the works on East 12th Street. The Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval of a rezoning that would allow taller and denser buildings on two properties at 3117 and 3121 E. 12th St. Developer Geyser Group hopes to add Vertical Mixed-Use (CS-MU-V-CO-NP) zoning on the properties, which total 1 […]