On Tuesday, City Council heard a briefing on the progress of CodeNEXT, the costly and time-consuming rewrite of the city’s land development code, and in the process started down the path to some of the hardest questions the city faces in deciding the rules for development. Those include: What does affordability mean and how can […]
Planning
Posted inPlanning
Montessori school on narrow road remains in limbo
The Mariposa Montessori school may have found its ideal location, but without a variance that will allow it to build on the narrow Paisano Trail, plans are stalled. Currently, Mariposa Montessori is located on Brodie Lane, but it is now looking for a new location that will allow for more space, upgraded facilities and less […]
Posted inPlanning
City looks to change neighborhood plan process
The Planning Commission has unanimously endorsed a new approach to the development of neighborhood plans that could shrink the process to six months, down from two to three years. Mark Walters, who is with the city’s Planning and Zoning Department, explained to the commission on Tuesday that the new approach is intended to address Zucker […]
Posted inPlanning
Parking and character battle at BoA case
Is a lack of parking a neighborhood characteristic? In East Austin, maybe it is. At the most recent meeting of the Board of Adjustment, George Rodenbusch was seeking a variance to reduce the number of required parking spaces from four to zero and change the use from single-family to triplex at 1014 E. Eighth St., […]
Posted inPlanning
After Austin Oaks charrette, strong divisions remain
Despite some hope that a charrette process would lead to smooth(er) sailing for the Austin Oaks planned unit development, conflict persists. In late January, developers and neighborhood representatives spent five days working on the details of the PUD, which is proposed for the southwest corner of MoPac Expressway and Spicewood Springs Road. The idea was […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
Boys & Girls Club gets nod from Planning Commission
A major new Boys & Girls Club will likely be coming to Northeast Austin, thanks to action taken by the Planning Commission at its Jan. 26 meeting last week. Despite objections from some nearby residents and opposition from the University Hills Neighborhood Association, the panel unanimously adopted a recommendation from city staff to change the […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
Planning and Neighborhoods Committee approves contact-team changes
City Council’s Planning and Neighborhoods Committee has voted unanimously to move forward on staff-proposed changes that would add oversight and compliance requirements to neighborhood-plan contact teams. The ordinance, which on Jan. 12 was also approved by the Planning Commission, would change the city’s Land Development Code to clarify that a neighborhood-plan contact team’s bylaws must […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
Planning Commission recommends major PUD east of Austin
The Planning Commission recommended last week that City Council members approve a planned unit development for a massive mixed-use project in an unincorporated area of Travis County, about 10 miles east of the airport – where, if approved, the effort could span both sides of Pearce Lane. The panel unanimously gave the nod to the recommendation […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
South Lamar zoning error may have fix on the way
A costly mistake by the city may soon be fixed for one South Lamar business owner, but if the most recent Planning Commission meeting is any indication, the rezoning might not go down without a fight. Planning and Zoning Department senior planner Andy Moore explained that in 2014, WhichCraft Beer Store applied for a site […]
Posted inPlanning
Contact-team changes sail toward Council
This past fall, City Council asked for some uniformity and oversight for the city’s neighborhood-planning contact teams. And now, after hearing from stakeholders, those proposed changes are refined and on the way to becoming a reality. The Planning and Zoning Department is now recommending that the city clarify the role of the contact-team bylaws template […]
Posted inPlanning
Commissioners Court discusses PID policy
The Travis County Commissioners Court waded deep into the weeds of a policy marsh on Tuesday and emerged on the other side a little closer to an agreement that could have significant rewards for construction workers and the affordable housing stock in the county. The lengthy — and at times contentious — discussion came during […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commission OKs removal of one, maybe two, downtown heritage trees
At its recent meeting, the Planning Commission approved a variance that could save or destroy a downtown heritage live oak. The would-be developer of 504 East Eighth St. was seeking a variance to remove two heritage trees that have a diameter of more than 30 inches. Such removal is allowed under city code, albeit through […]