Stories by Joseph Caterine
Zoning and Platting looks to pinpoint gentrification
As the only major growth city in the U.S. with a declining African-American population, Austin knows it has a gentrification problem, and the Zoning and Platting Commission took a step toward addressing it on May 2. Commissioners unanimously passed a…
Land Development Code • By Joseph Caterine • May 9, 2017
CodeNEXT review process to get makeover
With only a few months left to provide its recommendations on CodeNEXT, the Planning Commission is talking about scrapping staff’s prescribed review process for one of its own making. “I don’t think we’re going to get where we want to…
Land Development Code • By Joseph Caterine • May 2, 2017
Teacher health care surfaces as key issue in AISD budget conversations
As the Austin Independent School District braces for a tough financial year, even by district standards, staff presented preliminary budget plans to the Board of Trustees at its regular meeting April 24. The rough waters are courtesy of Austin’s growth.…
AISD • By Joseph Caterine • Apr 27, 2017
No special election: AISD Board votes to appoint District 6 rep
In an emotional ceremony Monday night, the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees honored outgoing Vice President Paul Saldaña at his last official meeting as a board trustee. His colleagues made personal statements expressing their gratitude for Saldaña’s service…
AISD • By Joseph Caterine • Apr 26, 2017
Land-use commissions unimpressed with CodeNEXT mapping
Ending a bit rougher than it began, the CodeNEXT map’s first day in the sun experienced some cloudiness in the evening when, during a joint work session, some of the land-use commissioners made cutting observations about the effort’s potential impact…
The Code • By Joseph Caterine • Apr 24, 2017
Convention center skybridge postponed by Planning Commission
A request seeking permission to construct a pedestrian skybridge connecting the Austin Convention Center and the Hilton Austin hotel downtown was postponed by the Planning Commission last week. The case, which the commission came close to denying altogether, will now…
Planning • By Joseph Caterine • Apr 17, 2017
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In lieu of Imagine Austin update, Planning Commission recommends mixed-use project
The city’s comprehensive plan is starting to show its age. On Tuesday, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a mixed-use zoning request, against staff’s recommendation, for three commercially zoned properties on the border of one of the Imagine Austin…
Planning • By Joseph Caterine • Apr 14, 2017
AISD trustee reveals reasons behind resignation
In a sit-down interview with the Austin Monitor, Austin Independent School District Trustee Paul Saldaña opened up about the reasons behind his departure from the board, disclosing his fears of becoming bogged down in bureaucracy and describing a school district…
AISD • By Joseph Caterine • Apr 12, 2017
Planning Commission initiates historic zoning for Emancipation Park site
A week before the release of the Mayor’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Equities’ 70-page report, the Planning Commission took a small step during its March 28 meeting in fixing what local historian Fred McGhee called a “broken…
Preservation • By Joseph Caterine • Apr 11, 2017
AISD magnet school policy in turmoil
Emotions ran high as Austin Independent School District trustees, school alums and parents weighed in on the district’s magnet school policy at the board’s special called meeting April 3. The board deliberated for several hours before it voted to adopt…
AISD • By Joseph Caterine • Apr 7, 2017
Zoning and Platting Commission debates its role in deciding reasonable use
Opposing zoning philosophies came to a head at Tuesday night’s Zoning and Platting Commission meeting, resulting in a split vote over a conditional overlay removal request for a planned gas station project in Northeast Austin. Last year, City Council approved…
Planning • By Joseph Caterine • Apr 6, 2017
AISD board adopts Facility Master Plan update
Against the wishes of some trustees to postpone the item, the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees worked into the early hours of Tuesday morning to adopt the Facility Master Plan update in a special called meeting. The master…
