The Environmental Board has taken the unusual step of weighing in on a case not formally before them, letting the city know exactly what its members think about a subdivision planned to sit on Little Zilker Creek. The board, though not officially included in the process, was so concerned about a proposed subdivision on Robert […]
Development
Posted inDevelopment, Elections, Local Politics, Resources, Transportation
Looking back at 2013
No doubt one of the most significant events over the past year was the drawing of Austin’s first geographically-based single-member City Council districts. In November 2012, Austin voters approved a charter amendment to create 10 single-member districts in the city. Those Council members will be elected this upcoming November and, as of last November, we […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Cole cites affordable housing bonds’ approval as major event of 2013
Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole lists a set of familiar responses as milestones for her 2013 Council year. And though she clearly sees the importance of such items as the start of the Land Development Code rewrite, wage floors, and the potential coming of Urban Rail, she quickly focuses on what to her was the […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Austin’s continuing success biggest story for Leffingwell
Mayor Lee Leffingwell likes to point out that Austin, by most measures, has an extremely successful economy, gets high marks for job creation and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation—4.7 percent, according to numbers released late last month. In December it was rated the top performing city in the United States […]
Posted inDevelopment
Previously denied fence variance back before Board of Adjustment
A contentious request for a variance on an East Cesar Chavez fence is back before the Board of Adjustment, even though the board had denied the same variance a year ago. Agent Phil Moncada last represented Michael Kleinman a year ago in his pursuit of a variance for a 12-foot fence at 3107 East […]
Posted inDevelopment, Uncategorized
Board of Adjustment does remedial work on Lake Austin regulations
Continuing to grapple with being thrown into the deep end of Lake Austin regulations, the Board of Adjustment took a closer look at their new responsibilities at a specially-called meeting last week. Changes in process flummoxed the board at a previous meeting, where they were surprised to be reviewing a variance for fill on […]
Posted inDevelopment
Planning Commission opposes ending covenant to allow condos
Prospective developers of an East Austin tract might have to come up with another plan after the Planning Commission declined to recommend terminating a restrictive covenant on the property. Paul Saustraup asked to terminate the restrictive covenant at 1120 Tillery Street. The covenant rolls back zoning from the existing CS-MU-CO-NP to SF-4A-NP on the […]
Posted inDevelopment
ZAP approves multifamily zoning despite Rob Roy opposition
A gamble on a reduced Zoning and Platting Commission paid off for developers of a controversial West Austin project. The property is currently undeveloped and located at 800 North Capital of Texas Highway, also known as Loop 360. The land is part of the Davenport West Ranch Planned Unit Development, and currently designated as “office.” […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council approves metered parking plan at Butler Shores park
After a City Council vote last week, plans to meter parking at the Butler Shores Ball Field parking lot in South Austin are moving forward. Council approved the plan in a 6-1 vote, with Council Member Kathie Tovo voting no. Tovo argued that there were reasonable alternatives to installing the meters, including enforcing […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
Council postpones hearing, vote on Holly Shores Park to Jan. 30
City Council members postponed a planned public hearing and vote last Thursday on the redevelopment of Festival Beach on Lady Bird Lake into the Holly Shores/Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach. The hearing and vote were postponed until Jan. 30 after neighbors of the planned park complained loudly that they were only given […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council moves ahead on plans to overhaul Auditorium Shores
Despite talk of postponing their decision in the face of public scrutiny, City Council members moved forward with plans to rehabilitate Auditorium Shores Thursday night. “Delays into January, when work is supposed to start this month, it triggers a domino event for all of those events where we have specifically timed them in the […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Local Politics
City buys Hays County land to block development over aquifer
Austin City Council members Thursday unanimously approved the $18 million acquisition of land in Hays County that might otherwise have been developed as the Jeremiah Ventures project. With the move, Council members eliminated a long-running fight over grandfathering rules, environmental protections, and the regulatory reach of city government. Though this specific issue appears settled, […]