Stories by Joseph Caterine
Wider discretionary powers for Board of Adjustment envisioned in CodeNEXT draft
Assistant city attorney Brent Lloyd made a small presentation at the joint meeting of the land use commissions last Tuesday night outlining a possible reconfiguration of the Board of Adjustment’s role in city planning as part of the changes on…
Land Development Code • By Joseph Caterine • Mar 7, 2017
Planning Commission plays Historic Landmark Commission in demolition appeal case
In the first case of its kind, the Planning Commission, acting in place of the Historic Landmark Commission, denied an appeal of demolition permits released in July. Property owner D & L Rent Properties LP originally filed for demolition of…
Preservation • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 27, 2017
Planning Commission rejects waiver after conversation on racism
Remarks on how institutional racism influences the city’s historic preservation goals prompted the Planning Commission’s indecision to approve or reject a compatibility waiver for a 5-foot setback on the western side of 2724 E 12th St. during its Feb. 14…
Development • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 21, 2017
ZWAC rejects Republic contract renewal again
In a bit of bureaucratic acrobatics during its Feb. 8 meeting, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission voted to rescind a November recommendation against the proposed renewal of the Republic Services solid waste collection services contract for city facilities, so that…
Resources • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 16, 2017
Immigrant Affairs commissioners debate legality of Travis County policy
Disagreement broke out at the Feb. 13 meeting of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs as to whether Travis County or the city of Austin would face criminal or civil prosecution for violating federal immigration law as inferred by President Donald…
Travis County • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 14, 2017
ZWAC approves organics processing contract with lackluster contingency plan
In line with City Council’s plans to expand curbside compost collection, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission voted at its Feb. 8 meeting to approve staff’s recommendation of Organics By Gosh, the only bidder on the request for proposal released by…
Resources • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 13, 2017
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New ZAP commissioner opposes first rezoning case
Unable to come to a consensus, the Zoning and Platting Commission had no official recommendation in a rezoning case for a property currently zoned Development Reserve in Northwest Austin. Applicant Robert Earl Strobo is seeking Single Family Large Lot (SF-1)…
Zoning • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 10, 2017
Zilker Park could soon see new ADA-compliant restroom
At its Feb. 1 meeting, the Environmental Commission approved staff recommendation to grant an amendment and a variance to city code that would allow an additional restroom facility to be built inside Zilker Park. Gary Gregson, the program coordinator from…
Parks • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 6, 2017
Planning Commission recommends drive-through at Oltorf intersection
Overruling objections from the East Riverside/Oltorf Neighborhood, the Planning Commission voted during its Jan. 24 meeting to move forward with a change that could bring a drive-through to the area. Applicant 1616 E Oltorf Street, LTD. requested to upzone the…
Zoning • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 3, 2017
CodeNEXT draft presented to land use commissions
In the first “fifth Tuesday” meeting of a CodeNEXT-geared 2017 calendar, the city’s land use commissions convened to receive a presentation of the CodeNEXT draft text, which was published online the day before. The release marks a big step in…
Land Development Code • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 2, 2017
Planning Commission denies request for bank drive-in services on 38th
At the urging of two Zoning and Platting commissioners, the Planning Commission unanimously denied a rezoning request for a conditional overlay for drive-in services at 623 West 38th St. during its Jan. 24 meeting. City staff had supported Pioneer Bank’s…
Zoning • By Joseph Caterine • Jan 30, 2017
Despite community concerns, Planning Commission approves Pershing House permit
The Planning Commission’s decision to approve a conditional use permit to the Pershing House, a private club on East Fifth Street, caused a stir on Tuesday. Activist Gavino Fernandez Jr. asked the commission to deny the request for a club or…
