At Tuesday’s work session, Council Member Bill Spelman dove back into the issue of confidentiality in relation to a pending sale of land by the city’s Urban Renewal Board. Council members, who have limited options other than a straight thumbs-up or down over the purchase, postponed a vote on the matter last Thursday pending more […]
Development
Posted inDevelopment, Elections
ANC wants Land Development Code rewrite held for 10-1 Council
The Austin Neighborhoods Council and others are calling for the ongoing rewrite of the city’s Land Development Code to be put on hold until the new 10-1 City Council is seated in January 2015. At their Monday afternoon meeting, members of the Land Development Code Advisory Group heard from several citizens, all of whom […]
Posted inDevelopment
Planning committee backs code change to limit small lot amnesty
The city could soon change how it treats substandard lots, and though it’s still in the early process, some people are already concerned about what that change might mean. A proposed change backed by the Planning Commission Codes and Ordinances Committee would amend the City Code so that houses currently built on two or […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Environmental Board rejects variance request despite threat of lawsuit
Go ahead, go to court. That was the message from the Environmental Board last Wednesday night, after its members refused to be spooked by the threat of a vested rights lawsuit over a southwest Austin property. The Vineyard Business Center, 2009 North FM 620, was seeking a variance that would allow construction within the 40 percent […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Council approves economic incentive deals for Websense, Dropbox
Austin City Council members Thursday approved nearly $700,000 in non-property tax based incentives in an attempt to lure two new tech firms, Websense and Dropbox, to Austin. The deal came on a 5-2 tally with Council Members Laura Morrison and Kathie Tovo voting against the measure. But the real money in these equations comes […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Resources
LCRA raises permit fees for developers to recover 100 percent of cost
Developers along the Highland Lakes will be paying more for construction permits as part of the Lower Colorado River Authority’s effort to keep what’s left of its water supply as clean as possible. The LCRA Board of Directors approved the increase in permit fees in areas under the Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance Wednesday. It is […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council efforts to block plan to move historic house could fall short
City Council members did what they could last week to thwart plans to move the historic Dabney-Horne House, but only time will tell whether it will be enough to keep the structure in place. The University Co-op has owned the property at 507 West 23rd Street since the mid-1970s, and the 1883 house was […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Council members OK Websense, Dropbox incentive deals
Austin City Council members today approved nearly $700,000 in economic development incentives designed to lure Dropbox and Websense to the capital region. The agreements will come with stipulations for the creation of 540 new jobs and millions of dollars worth of leasehold and other expenditures. Of late, some Council members have expressed serious reservations […]
Posted inDevelopment
Planning Commission nixes plans for Montopolis condo project
Montopolis Neighborhood residents’ fears of gentrification were convincing enough to sway the Planning Commission from endorsing a condominium project last week. Kemp Street Properties LLC was seeking the change from SF-3 zoning to SF-6 zoning on 5.38 acres at 600 Kemp Street in the Montopolis neighborhood. The change would allow construction of 45 condominiums. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Resources
LCRA to consider shifting watershed ordinance fees to developers
For the first time ever, the Lower Colorado River Authority may raise fees to develop within the Highland Lakes watershed. The only question seems to be how much of those fees will be passed on to developers. The measure – up for a vote Wednesday at the LCRA’s February board of directors meeting – […]
Posted inDevelopment
BOA balks at mandating design standards for Bouldin Creek project
Bouldin Creek Neighborhood’s bid to require compliance with its design standards found a receptive audience at the Board of Adjustment last week. However, the board balked at requiring new construction to comply with the neighborhood’s voluntary standards. Owners Eustolio Vasquez and Jose Castro were seeking variances to decrease minimum lot width requirements for their […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
City Council approves limits on occupancy rates on first reading
After a very long night at its last meeting, the Austin City Council had taken definitive steps toward a reduction of maximum occupancy rates in single-family dwellings. Council voted on first reading to reduce the maximum occupancy from six unrelated persons to four in a vote of 6-1. Council Member Bill Spelman cast the […]