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 meeting. The application, made to accommodate site improvements to the multifamily Lofts at 12th Street […]
Joseph Caterine
Posted inResources
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 it could recommend against it again with updated rationale. City Council will consider that updated […]
Posted inTravis County
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 Trump’s Jan. 25 executive order, “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States.” […]
Posted inWhispers
Simple Recycling blowback discussed at ZWAC
After an update on the recently launched curbside textile/housewares recycling program, some members of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission urged staff to include them in the creation of future recycling initiatives at their Feb. 8 meeting. During the director’s report, Interim Austin Resource Recovery Director Sam Angoori informed the commission about the public blowback to […]
Posted inResources
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 Council last year, for a 36-month, $1,510,000 contract to provide additional organics processing services. The […]
Posted inWhispers
Duncan appointed to Small Area Planning Joint Committee
The Zoning and Platting Commission appointed new Commissioner Jim Duncan to the Small Area Planning Joint Committee, replacing former Commissioner Susan Harris. Vice Chair Gabriel Rojas, who serves on the joint committee along with Commissioner Jolene Kiolbassa, said he was hoping others would be interested so that his spot could also be filled. “I’m not […]
Posted inZoning
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 for 4509 City Park Road and is agreeable to staff’s recommendation of a conditional […]
Posted inParks
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 the Parks and Recreation Department, said that the facility would help accommodate growing traffic to […]
Posted inZoning
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 eponymous property from community commercial-conditional overlay to general commercial services, which would remove current prohibitive […]
Posted inLand Development Code
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 the overhaul of the Land Development Code, the first comprehensive revision since 1984. Admittedly, the […]
Posted inZoning
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 request to remove the current prohibition on drive-in services from the current zoning, in part […]
Posted inPlanning
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 lodge use at 2415 East Fifth St., filed by venture capitalist and property owner Kip […]