Some call Type 2 short-term rentals miniature hotels in neighborhood homes, while others call them an honest way for residents to make money. Either way, they have become a major point of contention, and City Council is considering putting a moratorium on issuing new STR operating licenses while it tests out new regulations. There are […]
The Code
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Committee moves short-term rental discussion on to Council
Proposed regulations for short-term rentals will be on City Council’s agenda Thursday after a Council committee hearing displayed consensus from members and staff that the city needs to more strictly regulate the short-term rental market. The committee did not vote to recommend all of the proposals floated at the meeting, but it decided unanimously that […]
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Confusion reigns over Zoning and Platting Commission’s duties
The Zoning and Platting Commission’s attempts to work more closely with the Planning Commission continue to encounter confusion and pushback from commissioners, city staff and City Council. For starters, Chair Gabriel Rojas is still smarting over Council’s decision last month to abolish the Economic and Capital Budget Joint Committee, one of the two joint committees […]
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Ethics Commission begins to examine proposed lobbying changes
The Ethics Review Commission is under pressure to deal quickly with proposed changes to city lobbying rules. On Monday, City Council Member Leslie Pool, the chief backer of a resolution directing the city manager to draft a substantial revision to the city lobbying ordinance, urged the commission to set up a public hearing on the […]
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Council poised to revisit density bonus programs
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo is moving forward with a proposal to take a closer look at the city’s density bonus programs and at whether it’s a good idea to eliminate the fee-in-lieu option that allows developers to pay into a fund to construct affordable housing rather than build affordable housing on the site of […]
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Council committee will consider “parallel” changes to short-term rental ordinance
City staff has been whittling down an assortment of 123 suggested changes to the city’s ordinance on short-term rentals. The result, sent in a memo on Thursday to Mayor Steve Adler and City Council members, is a list of 13 recommendations, including a penalty for those operating with an expired short-term license and a requirement […]
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Planning Commission to take a closer look at neighborhood infill tools
Most members of the Planning Commission appear to believe that something should change about city infill tools attached to neighborhood plans, but none appear certain about what specifically should change. After a half-hour discussion with city staff about how neighborhoods dealing with unwanted infill tools could remove them from their neighborhood plans and how the […]
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Popular infill project stalls at BoA
Time invested, neighborhood support and a convoluted city code won’t get you a variance at the Board of Adjustment. But they might buy you a little time. James Schoenbaum is the owner and manager of the proposed development at 614 and 618 Blanco St. His company, Arbol Lindo, LLC, purchased the property in July 2013. […]
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Austin Monitor Radio: Accessory Dwelling Units
Council members Pio Renteria and Ann Kitchen join Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk Accessory Dwelling Units. Sponosored by Kerbey Lane Cafe. Show is embedded below: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/207317873″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
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Committee loosens requirements for ADUs
Members of the Committee on Codes and Ordinances voted Tuesday to make it easier for residents to build accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. The ordinance, approved on a unanimous vote, does away with many of the parking provisions some said were inhibitive. Committee members Stephen Oliver and Jean Stevens were absent. The ordinance eliminates a […]
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Neighbors lose fight against metal building
There was sympathy on the dais, but last week District 10 residents lost a City Council appeal against a building constructed without a permit. Though some Council members openly expressed regret about the decision, they voted 6-3-1 to deny the appeal. Council Members Leslie Pool, Ora Houston and Ann Kitchen voted in approval. Mayor Pro Tem […]
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Committee votes no on barbecue smoke ordinance
After hearing from several opponents of the proposed ordinance to require scrubbers on the smokestacks of restaurants that smoke meat, the City Council Committee on Economic Development voted unanimously Monday against supporting the ordinance. Council Member Ora Houston made the motion not to pursue an ordinance initially proposed by Council Member Pio Renteria. Houston moved […]