The Planning Commission on May 24 endorsed Vertical-Mixed Use (VMU) zoning for a parcel along East 51st Street where a developer plans to build up to 249 residential units. The rezoning concerns a 4-acre tract at 5525 E. 51st St., near U.S. Highway 183. Ledgestone Development Group requests to add a VMU designation to the […]
Jonathan Lee
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission nearly derails East Austin townhome projectÂ
A townhome project requesting to build closer to single-family homes than typically allowed nearly fell through Tuesday, when the Planning Commission lacked enough votes to approve the requested variance.  The developer of the seven-unit project at 1400 Cedar Ave. originally asked to build within five feet of its north and west property line – closer […]
Posted inZoning
Hancock project to house the homeless sails through Planning Commission
The Planning Commission unanimously supported a zoning change Tuesday that would allow the construction of housing for people exiting homelessness in the Hancock neighborhood. A group of affordable housing developers hopes to rezone three lots at 1004-1008 E. 39th St. to Multifamily-Moderate Density (MF-4-NP) in order to build 100 units of permanent supportive housing, an […]
Posted inPolice
APD making headway toward academy reforms, but still a work in progress
The Austin Police Department is well on its way toward implementing recommended changes to its training academy, according to a presentation Monday from consulting firm Kroll Associates. APD has enacted nearly all of the short-term recommendations and just under half of the long-term recommendations outlined in Kroll’s April 2021 report on the academy’s teaching methods, […]
Posted inCity Council
Public divided over proposed development rules
Members of the public weighed in Thursday on changes to Vertical Mixed-Use (VMU) zoning and the potential for relaxed development rules along busy streets as City Council continued discussions on the proposals. Opinions were split among those who spoke at the Council meeting. Some showed support for the proposals while others opposed any changes that […]
Posted inWhispers
Taller buildings coming to North Burnet
Austin’s second downtown may soon see taller buildings. City Council voted unanimously Thursday to allow more height and floor area ratio in the North Burnet Gateway Regulating Plan’s Commercial Mixed-Use (CMU) Gateway Zone Subdistrict, which dictates land use rules for the portion of the Domain around the old IBM campus. Once the change is adopted […]
Posted inPlanning
Council endorses development bonuses near the Capitol
A rule prohibiting tall buildings near the Texas Capitol may soon be relaxed, opening up a sleepy part of downtown to more development. City Council passed a resolution Thursday that would allow properties currently under the Capitol Dominance Overlay – which limits building height within a quarter-mile of the Capitol – to participate in the […]
Posted inZoning
More homes on the way to substandard Rogers Lane
Rogers Lane, a steep, narrow road in East Austin, has seen substantial development recently. On Tuesday, the Zoning and Platting Commission heard a rezoning case that could bring 107 additional units to the street, drawing concern from some residents. The rezoning covers 17 acres of vacant land at 7902 W. Rogers Lane & 4708 Rogers […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council lays out compromise for more density along major streets
As Austin’s housing crisis deepens, City Council is pushing to relax two major constraints on development – compatibility and parking requirements – for properties along busy streets, in hopes of increasing the supply of housing. “We believe there is consensus on this Council to increase housing capacity on our corridors to meet our housing goals […]
Posted inHousing
Neighborhood association attempts to put kibosh on housing for the homeless
Advocates and city officials often say affordable housing is the key to ending homelessness. But as a rezoning case heard Tuesday at the Planning Commission showed, this type of housing can be hard to build, due in part to neighborhood opposition. A group of affordable housing developers plans to turn three lots at 1004-1008 E. […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission recommends rezoning amid ‘heartwrenching’ testimony
A case at the Planning Commission Tuesday highlighted the vulnerability of renters amid Austin’s rapid growth, as older apartment buildings are increasingly torn down to make way for new development. At issue is the Old Homestead apartment complex, an 80-year-old, 16-unit building at 1120 and 1124 Clayton Lane. Developer JCI Residential seeks a zoning change […]
Posted inZoning
Montopolis project gets Council go-ahead
City Council approved a rezoning Thursday that will bring affordable housing for women and children experiencing homelessness to the Montopolis neighborhood. The rezoning from Family Residence (SF-3-NP) to Multifamily-Moderate Density (MF-4-NP), which Council approved on all three readings, will allow approximately 75 homes on a 3-acre site at 1013 and 1017 Montopolis Drive. Twenty percent […]