Austin City Council members Thursday initiated a code amendment process that could end in the approval of the inclusion of source of income as a protected class for the purposes of determining rental housing discrimination complaints. Staff is set to bring any proposed code amendment back to Council by Aug. 1. The action came […]
Development
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council postpones decision on former Austin State School property
With only six City Council members on the dais, the vote on a contentious West Austin zoning case was a draw Thursday night, pushing off further a decision that has been years in the making. Developers are asking for Multifamily (MF-2) zoning on their parcel at 3215 Exposition Boulevard. Staff is recommending a lesser […]
Posted inDevelopment
Artz Rib House project shows difficulty with remodeling plans
Though there were strong indications that some Board of Adjustment members are among those missing a restaurant where Artz Rib House once stood, they will have to wait along with everyone else for a proposed remodel to get sorted with the city. Artz Rib House at 2330 South Lamar closed in spring 2012. The […]
Posted inDevelopment, Transportation
Capital Metro hears proposals to redevelop Plaza Saltillo area
It’s a familiar headline at this point, but more change is coming to East Austin. After years of planning and discussion, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is on the verge of selecting a development plan for the Plaza Saltillo area. Currently, the land is mostly vacant, but that’s set to change as soon as the […]
Posted inDevelopment
Planning Commission split over upzoning for West Austin office
Residents of a West Austin neighborhood want the Planning Commission to prevent a local business from changing the small office zoning on their residence to Mixed Use, which does not comply with the neighborhood plan. The owners of the property at 2208 Lake Austin LLC were asking to change the zoning of the lot […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Planning Commission backs amendments, new Lake Austin Overlay
Upcoming changes for Lake Austin may have gotten a unanimous nod from the Planning Commission, but beneath the placid surface of that recommendation was a lot of consternation. The Planning Commission had discussed the proposed Lake Austin Overlay amendments previously (See Austin Monitor, April 3), but given the magnitude of the changes, decided to […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council ponders changes to SMART Housing beyond mass transit
Austin City Council members Thursday approved the initiation of a code amendment that could result in changes to the city’s SMART Housing regulations. Initially, the proposed change would have only addressed whether the city could support housing not located next to mass transit routes. Council Member Chris Riley authored the original resolution. However, Council […]
Posted inDevelopment
Vested Rights Ordinance jumps final hurdle on way to Council vote
After several months delay, the latest version of the Vested Rights Ordinance is headed back to City Council. Members of the Planning Commission expressed reservations from the dais Tuesday about what effect it might or might not have on the city, though the ordinance ultimately passed. “It seems like now the Death Star […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council continues debate on Riley’s SMART housing proposal
Austin City Council members continued to struggle Tuesday with a proposal from Council Member Chris Riley to update the transit portion of the city’s SMART housing ordinance. Though some of their discussion revisited issues raised at Council’s most recent Thursday meeting – when Riley first tried to initiate a code amendment to change the SMART […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Environmental Board OKs affordable housing project despite concerns
The Environmental Board was the scene of a showdown last week when a proposed affordable housing project faced environmental concerns from city staff. Developers of the Windy Ridge Apartment Homes at 10910 FM 620 were requesting water and wastewater service from the city. The 12-acre property that is slated to be home to […]
Posted inDevelopment
Planning Commission punts Baylor House issue to City Council
City Council will soon be asked to consider whether or not to grant historic zoning for Clarksville’s Baylor House, but they will have to do it without input from a dividedPlanning Commission. A split Planning Commission was unable to offer a recommendation on the zoning change, which would be made against the current owners’ […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
Travis Commissioners again delay decision on condo project
Developers of a proposed condominium project on Lake Travis — and those who oppose it — are still waiting for a decision from Travis County Commissioners. For the second week in a row, commissioners heard from neighbors and developers, but delayed a decision to let the project move forward. The detached-condo project, currently called […]