On July 9, the Board of Adjustment approved the construction of a small university dormitory in the South Lamar neighborhood, despite the concerns of some neighbors that the proposed facility could create parking shortages on a narrow neighborhood street. The dorm would be located at 4004 Valley View Road and situated directly behind the Texas […]
Planning
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Critical water quality zone crossing approved for the second time
Sometimes for development projects, it’s the second time that’s the charm. Over a decade ago, developers of a 42-acre tract of land at 1322 W. Dittmar Road received a variance to construct a private drive across a critical water quality zone to develop the northern portion of the property. However, due to the project never […]
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Views along scenic RM 2222 to remain unspoiled
At the July 9 Board of Adjustment meeting, the board rejected a variance request to adorn a scenic roadway with a monument. Park Centre, an office park located at 8601 RM 2222, sought to construct an additional “monument sign” for a second driveway to the property. Because that stretch of RM 2222 is a scenic roadway, […]
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Board of Adjustment fights over North Loop parking space
Parking was a major sticking point at the July 9 Board of Adjustment meeting, where board members tackled the lack of parking at one particular North Loop property, exposing a rift in Austin’s current transportation thinking. Lauren and Joe Cunningham are seeking to turn a derelict building at 101 E. North Loop into a cooperative […]
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Winnebago tract could blossom with Urban Roots agreement
The city is exploring a possible deal that would see the 9-acre East Austin parcel widely known as the Winnebago tract used as a site for urban farming, job training and possible collaboration with Austin’s arts community. Council approved a resolution on June 14 that directs the city manager to explore the feasibility of a […]
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Environmental Commission fails to approve variance based on traffic concerns
In a subdivision, how much density is too dense? Although not typically a question the Environmental Commission considers, it is one that became the crux of the discussion around a variance request at its June 20 meeting due to the traffic concerns that new development would create. Although the city limits street crossings across critical […]
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East side subdivision evokes legacy of racist deed restrictions
There wasn’t much the Planning Commission could do about the subdivision sought by the the owner of an acre of land at 4520 Rimrock Trail, near the Morris Williams Golf Course. The commission was legally required to approve the owner’s request to subdivide the lots, which complied with existing zoning. That detail didn’t stop neighbors […]
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Board of Adjustment determines the price of a view is a variance
Given fierce opposition from a neighbor and unclear stories from an architect, a homeowner and an agent about how a home along the shores of Lake Austin was designed, 6705 Pixie Cove was once again shuffled back into the deck and postponed for another month. After six months of postponements at the Board of Adjustment, […]
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South Central Waterfront’s environmental standards approved by Environmental Commission
After years of planning on paper, the South Central Waterfront Regulating Plan is finally one step closer to reality after the Environmental Commission recommended the associated environmental development standards to City Council. Along the shores of Lady Bird Lake, there is a 118-acre area of land comprising 32 private properties next to Auditorium Shores, from […]
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City planners picture fewer cars on Congress
Imagine if the main street of Texas had wider sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes and no pull-in parking spaces. That’s one potential outcome of the city of Austin’s Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative. Last week, the Public Works and Planning and Zoning departments debuted renderings of what they have dubbed as “alternatives” for the stretch of […]
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North Shoal Creek plan put on hold
Despite an overwhelming workload courtesy of CodeNEXT, Planning Commissioners managed to spend more than three hours discussing a plan centered on just one neighborhood at its most recent regular meeting. Neighbors have been pushing for a North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan for about a decade and actively working on the current plan for two years. […]
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Planning Commission skeptical of apartment complex in Southeast Austin
Things aren’t looking good for a landowner in Southeast Austin hoping to turn a 10-acre tract into a 125-unit apartment community. At its latest meeting, few members of the Planning Commission voiced support for the request by the property owners, Angelos Angelou and John Sasaridis, to change the zoning on 4500 Nuckols Crossing Road from […]