Kimberly Reeves

It appears that the committee charged with naming a new member to the Capital Metro Board of Directors will take its time in arriving at a decision. On Thursday, a Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization committee met to establish procedures for naming the next member to the Capital Metro board, a job that may or […]

Austin’s Zero Waste efforts will hardly make a significant dent in the area’s trash generation if the full region does not get behind the effort.   Dan Cardenas, assistant director of Austin Solid Waste Services, presented an overview of the region’s current landfills and trash generation at last night’s Solid Waste Advisory Commission meeting. Cardenas […]

The Design Commission has joined Rep. Mike Krusee (R-Round Rock) in a call for Austin to move forward as quickly as possible on a full-scale urban rail plan.   The draft of an initial letter – which was actually divided into two letters – encouraged Mayor Will Wynn and City Council to act decisively on […]

Travis County and the City of Austin are trading amendments on the joint city-county subdivision ordinance, frequently referred to as Title 30. The City of Austin wants Travis County Commissioners to consider amendments to the Critical Water Quality Zone, as it is applied to the Colorado River buffer. Travis County’s Anna Bolin introduced the CWQD […]

After months of delay in considering the matter, the Planning Commission on Tuesday rejected a proposal to allow waiver of compatibility standards on DMU-CURE (Downtown Mixed Use Central Urban Redevelopment) zoning—a move sought last fall by developers who want to put a 25-story tower at 800 West Avenue. Mayor Pro Tem Betty Dunkerley, who retired […]

Residents crowded the boardroom at the Lower Colorado River Authority on Wednesday night, literally denying the possibility the University of Texas could be as cold-hearted as to develop the 346-acre Brackenridge tract. How could they? Surely, the university would recognize the error of such a plan – and possibly even turn to sell one of […]

At Planning Commission this week, agent Ron Thrower took another round – and another loss – on a potential zoning change for one tract of what was once the multi-tract Fort Magruder project near Ben White Boulevard. The intention was to add a “V” to the zoning category on Fort Magruder 1, which would be […]

The Historic Landmark Commission has scheduled a special meeting next week to take up the case of a dilapidated house on Highland Avenue that once belonged to Burnett “Blondie” Pharr, the composer of the University of Texas fight song. There is disagreement over just how long the home has been neglected. New owner Trevor Dallas, […]

Council Members Brewster McCracken and Mike Martinez clashed during the final vote on the revised Planned Unit Development ordinance as the Council concluded its meeting early Thursday morning, disagreeing over what kind of latitude should be offered on affordable housing. Planner Jerry Rusthoven walked the ordinance revisions through six commissions before bringing it to Council […]

The interim update of the Austin Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan is like getting a quick roller coaster ride through every development change and “good idea” in Austin that has occurred over the last three decades. Council approved the Austin Tomorrow Plan update at Wednesday night’s Council meeting. It also directed Greg Guernsey and his staff to […]

Outgoing Mayor Pro Tem Betty Dunkerley got only part of what she wanted in the city’s amended visitability ordinance last night, a compromise with the homebuilding community that was met with some bitterness from disability advocates like Jennifer McPhail of ADAPT Texas. Dunkerley, in particular, has been working for at least two years on trying […]

Planner Jerry Rusthoven has made his Planned Unit Development presentation to six commissions. After last night’s presentation, it was clear that the Zoning and Platting Commission has been the crankiest. Most likely it was the news that Rusthoven brought, which was that a number of significant amendments are likely to be added to the ordinance […]