On first day of early voting, the two remaining candidates in District 4 sat down to debate. Even though both focused on their plans for keeping North Austin affordable, their differences were apparent. Greg Casar, 25, a community organizer, led the election on Nov. 4 with 39 percent of the vote. His opponent, Laura Pressley, […]
Austin
Posted inAustin, City Hall, Local Politics
Boards & commissions transition marches onward
Before it hands over the keys to City Hall, City Council has a few loose ends to tie up. One of the heftier items left to draft concerns how the city’s boards and commissions will handle the shift from the seven-member to the 11-member Council. Early last month, Council members worked out most of the […]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Local Politics
Two-page ad attacks political consultant Butts
A two-page color ad in Sunday’s Austin American-Statesman, headlined “Invisible man controls the Austin City Council,” attacks political consultant David Butts and calls on voters to reject some candidates Butts supports in the Dec. 16 runoff election. The ad says, “Did you ever wonder why, no matter how much we vote for change in the […]
Posted inAustin, Development
Oak Hill residents stay late to warn against project
Though both sides recognized the threat of floods in the area, an Oak Hill project that some worry could make floods worse got an initial approval from City Council at its last meeting. Developers are seeking a zoning change from Limited and General Office Use to Multifamily and Mixed Use, and to change the Future […]
Posted inAustin, City Hall, Development
Planning Commission to revisit Lightsey 2
Despite still being in the early stages of development, PSW Real Estate’s Lightsey 2 project continues to provoke outrage in South Austin. And despite approving the preliminary plan at an earlier meeting, the Planning Commission will now take another look at it and consider reversing that decision. Last week, Planning Commissioners took the unusual step of […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Housing
Colony Park residents want voice in development
With the debate over proposed golf courses at Decker Lake continuing this week, and approval of the Colony Park Sustainable Community Initiative PUD likely Thursday, representatives from the Colony Park Neighborhood Association sat down with the Austin Monitor to give their perspective on the changes that might be headed their way. Colony Park Neighborhood Association […]
Posted inAustin, Energy, Environment, Resources
Austin Energy works to increase ECAD compliance
The city’s Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure ordinance went fully into effect this year, and Austin Energy staff say they are happy with the program’s progress and optimistic about its future. City Council adopted the ordinance in 2008 to keep property owners and potential buyers aware of how their buildings stack up with similar ones […]
Posted inAustin, Development
Commission questions Coronado Hills condos
A condominium project at the intersection of two of Austin’s busiest roads failed to win the approval of the Planning Commission last week. Currently, the 22.48 acres at US 290 and US 183 are zoned General Office (GO). Developers Cozy Living, LLC, AAA Fire & Safety, and Sayed Miri were asking to add Mixed Use […]
Posted inAustin, City Hall, Resources, Water
Water/Wastewater recommends rate changes, again
The Water and Wastewater Commission has recommended that Council amend Austin Water Utility’s residential rates for 2015 in a way that staff says will cut an average user’s rates while raising them for more intensive users. Austin Water Assistant Director David Anders said the amendment would lower the impact of the 2015 rate increases for […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, The Code, Zoning
Downtown hotel zoning shifts to code amendment
After almost a year of going through the zoning change process, including trips to four different commissions and winning initial approval from City Council, developers of the Aloft Austin & Element Hotel are now seeking an amendment to the Land Development Code and giving up on their zoning case. Conventus Corporation and the Finley Company, […]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Transit, Transportation
Martinez to pitch bus rapid transit investments
City Council Member and Austin mayoral candidate Mike Martinez is looking to pitch multiple bus rapid transit lines as the next major transportation investment for the area. In an interview with the Monitor, Martinez nodded to the work done by Project Connect – efforts that led to a $600 million rail bond question that was […]
Posted inAustin, City Hall, Development, Local Politics
Seaholm Power Plant sign rejected by review board
Despite being owned by the city, the Seaholm Power Plant got no breaks at the Sign Review Board this week, where members unanimously shot down a request for a variance from the city’s scenic roadway sign district regulations. Board Member Sallie Burchett explained her reasoning for voting against the variance. “I think that it’s important […]