The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Land Development Code
BoA postpones parking variance for want of a better hardship
Parking requirements could threaten the affordability of a North Central Austin apartment complex. But finding no hardship – aside from the Land Development Code itself – Board of Adjustment members have asked for more information to better consider a variance…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 12, 2021
City mistakes and heritage tree pave the way for East Austin variance
Unaware that it was prohibited by city code, Daniel Salazar carefully nestled his new home against his back property line. The project was approved by the city and the mistake was not identified until after the structure was built. As…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 9, 2021
Bill that would have revived Land Development Code dies in session
It wasn’t on the city’s legislative agenda, but a bill that would have empowered City Council to move forward with a final vote on a revised Land Development Code died in a House committee, giving neighborhood advocates another victory over…
Land Development Code • By Amy Smith • Jun 3, 2021
A 'modest' proposal: Lake Austin lot seeks variance
Citing excessive constraints on their land, one Lake Austin property owner went to the Board of Adjustment Nov. 9 seeking a break that would allow them to move forward with building a home. Eric Gomez, representing owner Malia Muir, said…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 18, 2020
Shocking none, BoA OKs illuminated sign on the Drag
The Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a variance that will allow a new lighted sign on Guadalupe Street. Most of the questions at the meeting Monday were directed at the city code itself, which apparently prohibits illuminated signs despite their…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 12, 2020
Board of Adjustment raises renovation cap in Rosedale
Generally speaking, Austin’s Board of Adjustment isn’t wild about granting variances from the Land Development Code to those who have bought their way into a preexisting situation. Luckily for one family in the Rosedale neighborhood, that’s not always the case;…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 10, 2020
Subscribe to our newsletter
BoA consciously postpones Galindo variances
A request for two variances in the Galindo neighborhood forced Board of Adjustment members to think realistically about their future actions last month, and determine whether a postponement was really fair to the applicant. Lauren Jones, speaking on behalf of…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 2, 2020
Water-saving code amendments coming
Years after the city’s Water Forward Committee recommended changes to require on-site water reuse systems for commercial development, an item to put the matter into city regulations appears headed for a City Council agenda in December. Austin Water Assistant Director…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Oct 29, 2020
BoA holds off on approval for 'flipped' ADU plan
While a request to build an accessory dwelling unit larger than the existing home was not a sticking point, the lack of a preservation plan for a variance that hinged on preservation did present a problem for the Board of…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Oct 28, 2020
Environmental benefits fail to win Board of Adjustment dock variance
The Board of Adjustment has made it clear that “the greater good” isn’t enough when it comes to getting an exception from the city to build a boat dock. The requested variance would allow the owner of 3002 Scenic Drive…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Oct 22, 2020
Board of Adjustment offers free advice, grants lot size variance
Small lots are not uncommon in East Austin, so the Board of Adjustment regularly grants variances to allow homeowners to maximize such properties. On Sept. 14, the board once again unanimously granted a variance for small lot amnesty to allow…
Land Development Code • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 18, 2020
Planning Commission approves Ben White rezoning request despite staff concerns
At its meeting last week, the Planning Commission unanimously approved a request to rezone 7135 E. Ben White from Limited Industrial Services (LI) to Multifamily Residence – Moderate-High Density (MF-4). The commission approved the application despite staff concerns that the…
