Members of a Zoning and Platting Commission working group focused on its roles and responsibilities vis-à-vis the Planning Commission hinted at a plan that would move most simple zoning cases to their docket during their July 15 meeting. “(Generally), things that are site-specific would go to us, while things that are more planning-planning, more policy-based, […]
Miles Wall
Posted inTransportation
Council members hear update on the state of autonomous vehicle regulation
As a raft of autonomous vehicle companies prepares to deploy new “robotaxis” slated to eventually compete with the likes of Waymo and Tesla, city council’s Mobility Commission heard an update during a meeting on July 17 on how the legal ground under the tires has changed. The big news comes from Senate Bill 2807, which […]
Posted inZoning
West Sixth Street neighbors endorse industrial zoning
Yet another developer brought yet another big downtown-ish project to the planning commission for a rezoning on July 8, this time at West 6th and Walsh streets in West Austin. The commission recommended this one, too. The proposed zoning change would see a cluster of addresses on that corner currently developed under commercial mixed-use zoning […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commission recommends Hudson Yards-esque development on South Congress
A rezoning to support a massive new development designed by the same firm that built NYC’s Hudson Yards picked up a recommendation from the Planning Commission during a meeting on July 8. If built, the 6.48 acre site at at 500 South Congress would encompass around 950 residential units, 225 hotel rooms, 600,000 square feet […]
Posted inRoads
Urban Transportation Commission calls on city to narrow traffic lanes
The Urban Transportation Commission wants to see narrower Austin roads, and they have research to back the idea up. Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution recommending that the city adopt a 1- to 2-foot narrower standard for traffic lanes in many of the city’s larger streets and roads during the body’s regular meeting on July 1. […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission settles on recommendation in controversial doggy daycare zoning case
A rezoning case for an out-of-compliance doggy daycare in South Austin’s Sweetbriar neighborhood earned the recommendation of Austin’s Planning Commission (and the scorn of some of neighbors) last week. Planning commissioners heard the case for the second time during their June 10 meeting and voted to recommend the rezoning to City Council. The change from […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commission OKs removal of east side pecan tree
In a case that may tug at the heartwood of tree-hugging Austinites, the Planning Commission approved an variance allowing the cutting of one individual pecan tree during its May 27 meeting. The variance was granted at the request of nonprofit LifeWorks, who owns the property at 819 Tillery Street that the tree sits on. Its […]
Posted inZoning
A multi-family rezoning at the rugged edge of Northwest Austin
Way out in Austin’s northwest corner, where the city bleeds into undeveloped wildland, two people are trying to build a homestead. To do that, they’re asking the city of Austin for an upzoning to a district type meant for building small apartment, townhouse and condo complexes. The Zoning and Platting Commission voted to recommend the […]
Posted inWhispers
Planning Commission postpones hearing on West MLK hotel redevelopment
The Planning Commission voted 9-1 to postpone a hearing on a proposed development of a three-story, 168-room hotel, to be called “305 W. MLK – Home2” on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, to May 27th, in response to a request from neighbors concerned about traffic and pedestrian safety to postpone the hearing to a later […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commissioners and public weigh in on West Campus zoning updates with support… and some reservations
Planning Commissioners and the public weighed in on planned changes to a West Campus zoning plan during a marathon public comment session on May 13. Conducted as part of a hearing at the Planning Commission about the updates, the comments were mostly supportive. It was capped off by commissioners’ unanimous votes to recommend the plan […]
Posted inTransportation
Changes on the way for Austin’s scooters
New rules — and a new focus on equity — have arrived for Austin’s scooter rentals. Transportation and Public Works posted a new set of draft director’s rules governing the city’s shared micromobility program on May 12, which like a similar update to the residential parking program would offer tweaks in response to survey responses. […]
Posted inWhispers
Urban Transportation Commission gives stamp of approval to transit center vision plans
The Urban Transportation Commission unanimously recommended the addition of new “vision plans” for the area around two bus park-and-rides operated by Capitol Metro on North Lamar and South Congress boulevards during a meeting on May 6. The Austin Monitor has previously reported on the plans and some local opposition to them as they wind through […]