After failing to get his 82-lot subdivision at 9406 Morninghill Drive approved last fall, David Knapp refiled a subdivision application for his 51-acre ranch late last year. But this time he requested the approval of a plan that would include only 30 homes and would not require a variance to forgo a second entrance to […]
Planning
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Planning Commission debates transportation corridors and density
Does an extra 0.05 miles from a transportation corridor make a difference when it comes to deciding the appropriate level of density for a property? The Planning Commission found itself pondering this question at its Aug. 13 meeting while deliberating on rezoning the properties at 4507 and 4511 Vinson Drive from single-family residential (SF-3) to […]
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Council likely to delay vote on street impact fees
City Council will likely allow two more weeks for dialogue before the Austin Transportation Department begins crafting details of its street impact fee program. With Council expected to adopt street impact fees in January 2020, Council Member Ann Kitchen said during Tuesday’s work session that she doesn’t believe the delay will disrupt the proposed schedule. […]
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Plans for city’s East Austin parcel show possibilities under affordability programs
A pair of development proposals created as an exercise for the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit research and education organization, shows what’s possible as the city looks to use its idle properties and a mix of new development and financing tools to expand affordable housing. In one, a community kitchen and food production incubator serve […]
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Commission proposes code change to get housing in opportunity zones
Federal opportunity zones were designed to spur growth in economically disadvantaged areas, but the Planning Commission says the incentives are driving commercial development to the detriment of the city’s housing supply. Economic Development Department staff will give an overview and update on opportunity zones at the commission’s next meeting on Aug. 13. The commission will […]
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Water drainage fears force postponement at ZAP
Drainage engineering studies are site-specific and don’t always capture the concerns of adjacent properties. However, without addressing those concerns, a study doesn’t always tell the whole story. At the July 16 meeting of the Zoning and Platting Commission, Commissioner David King said he has heard time and again that a city engineering study has OK’d […]
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Third time not the charm for River Place case at ZAP
At the end of Milky Way Drive there’s a 42-acre greenbelt buffering the River Place neighborhood from Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. Since 2015, there has been an ongoing debate over how best to develop that tract of land. The latest hearing on the development plan came before the Zoning and Platting Commission on July 16. Jeff […]
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Request to increase impervious cover for 12,000-square-foot home postponed by BoA
A couple building their dream home can find it disheartening to make it through the architectural design and site plan process, only to have an administrative hiccup put their plans on pause. John and Amy Porter, who own 1704 and 1706 Channel Road, found themselves in this position when they came before the Board of […]
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County approves new Steiner Ranch evacuation route over neighborhood opposition
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a new emergency route to help residents of Steiner Ranch escape the community in the event of wildfires. The 600-foot road, known as Route B, will connect Flat Top Ranch Road to Montview Drive and will be a gated road that first responders can open […]
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Board of Adjustment denies case in consideration of trees
On Monday night, trees became the centerpiece of a dock variance discussion at the Board of Adjustment. The property at 2710 Scenic Drive currently has a half-constructed boat dock, big enough for only one boat, that the new property owners were hoping to widen. They asked the board for a variance to reduce the interior […]
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Cultural center variance goes before Board of Adjustment for a third time
When the Board of Adjustment voted last month to deny the reconsideration of a case and let their original judgment for a variance at 810½ San Marcos St. stand, it turns out that the vote negated their original vote of approval. Board Chair William Burkhardt explained to the Austin Monitor that last month’s vote on […]
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City to get land for Shoal Creek bike bridge
As a result of two bills sponsored by Rep. Donna Howard and Sen. Kirk Watson, both Austin Democrats, the city of Austin will soon have an easement on state property that will allow for construction of a pedestrian-bicycle bridge connecting Shoal Creek Boulevard to the Grove. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bills – House Bill […]