Last night, the Planning Commission made clear its power in regard to connectivity and subdivisions. It opted to keep recently controversial code language as-is, and instead offered up a new interpretation of that code. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of an interpretation of 25-4-151 that will allow the commission discretion to depart from street connectivity in […]
The Code
Posted inDevelopment, The Code
BoA to interpret rule on attic dormers next month
For almost a year, the Zilker Neighborhood Association has been waiting for an explanation about McMansion dormers. This week, association members took their questions to the Board of Adjustment and asked for an interpretation. After a discussion of the issue, board members voted unanimously to postpone the item until their May 8 meeting to ensure […]
Posted inCity Council, The Code
Committee studies expanding CodeNEXT group
At its first meeting Tuesday, the Planning and Neighborhoods Committee dove into the ongoing rewrite of the Land Development Code and looked at a recent push to add more members to the CodeNEXT Advisory Group. Specifically, the committee considered a proposal from Mayor Steve Adler to add more members in order to increase representation. Whom […]
Posted inThe Code
Panel OKs parking cuts for some small apartments
In some parts of the city, accessory apartments on residential properties — called accessory dwelling units, or ADUs — may soon have fewer parking requirements. The Planning Commission Codes and Ordinances Subcommittee voted 2-1 in favor of easing parking requirements for ADUs in most of the city. A motion made by subcommittee member Stephen Oliver […]
Posted inLand Development Code, Planning, The Code
Commission drops secrecy, shares legal opinion
After some deliberation, the Planning Commission has released the legal interpretation that clarifies how much discretion it must deny subdivisions that include required connections to streets, if the commission disagrees with the connections. The city’s legal opinion, according to a memo written by Assistant City Attorney Brent Lloyd, is that the land use commission does […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, The Code
Zimmerman: Fine Code Compliance for losing case
City Council Member Don Zimmerman has proposed a unique punishment for the city’s Code Compliance Department when it loses a case in Municipal Court: It will have to pay. Zimmerman, who has made no secret of his disdain for the department’s involvement in minor matters, has distributed a resolution that calls on the city manager […]
Posted inThe Code
Commission powers to be revealed at next meeting
Although many left thinking they may never know whether Planning Commissioners can approve subdivisions without requiring connectivity, an 11th-hour save means the issue will be discussed, again, at the commission’s next meeting. Much to the disappointment of those who have doggedly pursued the issue, Planning Commissioners discussed the section of code and its interpretation in […]
Posted inDevelopment, The Code
City works to smooth out new concrete ordinance
A code amendment that promises to change how the city handles after-hours concrete installation is moving forward. The interim ordinance, passed by City Council in November, is set to expire March 31 without further Council intervention. The city held a third stakeholder meeting Feb. 11, where neighbors and construction representatives met with staff about the […]
Posted inCity Council, Planning, The Code
Stealth dorm regulations head back to Council
The stealth dorm issue has lived to see another City Council. The Planning Commission took the next step to combat occupancy limit violations at its regular meeting last week. Commissioners voted unanimously to forward a recommendation from the Stealth Dorm Working Group to Council. Those recommendations address code compliance, development and nuisance management, and even […]
Posted inThe Code
Commission powers remain unclear, residents remain agitated
On Tuesday, Planning Commissioners opted to postpone an item that should clarify whether they have the ability to approve a subdivision without requiring connectivity. But the sea of bright yellow t-shirts at the meeting made it clear that the issue wasn’t going anywhere. The shirts — and the people in them — were also on […]
Posted inCity Hall, The Code
Doomed commission awaits marching orders
Urging its own demise, the Residential Design and Compatibility Commission took some time during its most recent meeting to see whether its dissolution had made headway over the past couple of months. City Council passed a resolution to dissolve the RDCC in December and directed city staff to initiate code amendments that will ultimately return […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Local Politics, The Code
Audit finds short-term rental enforcement lacking
Members of the Council Audit and Finance Committee learned Monday that, though the city has had success in bringing illegal short-term rentals into compliance, those that do not come into compliance are falling through the cracks. On a positive note, a city audit found that the Code Department had been largely successful at bringing unlicensed […]