Confronted with new information about zoning regulations related to the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church at 1801 Pennsylvania Ave., the Planning Commission voted Tuesday night to reverse a decision it had made in June aimed at helping the church sell the property. Commissioners also voted on 7-3 on Tuesday to recommend denial of Greater Mount […]
Planning
Posted inPlanning
Classical School faces new problems (corrected)
The city of Austin’s Planning Commission postponed a decision on a Conditional Use Permit for the Austin Classical School as commissioners look for a compromise between the school and its neighbors. The school was seeking a Conditional Use Permit in order to open and operate a primary school with 99 students at 6301 Woodrow Ave. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning, Zoning
ZAP also suffers from lack of legal input, says commissioner
Planning Commissioners aren’t the only people at City Hall grumbling about the city law department. Jackie Goodman, a former mayoral candidate and former longtime Austin City Council member who is now vice chair of the Zoning and Platting Commission, said she is also frustrated by her panel’s lack of access to city attorneys, who she […]
Posted inPlanning
Mistakes add more twists to East Austin church case
Most of the Planning Commissioners were attending their first meeting last week. After initial introductions, they quickly found themselves in the deep end, when they were asked to consider the fate of East Austin’s Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The case is fairly complicated on its own, and staff errors on church properties at both […]
Posted inDevelopment, Monitor News & Media, Planning, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Planning Commissioners look ahead
City of Austin Planing Commissioners Stephen Oliver and Jean Stevens join Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about the future of the commission. Show is embedded below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/215442147″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
Planning commissioners say they don’t have enough legal advice
The Planning Commission isn’t getting all of the legal advice it needs, according to Stephen Oliver, the newly elected commission chair. City attorneys, who are typically present at the beginning of meetings to give legal opinions on development issues, often depart well before the meetings conclude, leaving commissioners on their own to predict the legal […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning, Zoning
Neighborhood concerns too late to block Montopolis development at Planning Commission
Despite vociferous objections from a neighborhood association leader, the city of Austin’s Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a preliminary plan to construct a 12-home subdivision at 737 Montopolis Road. City staff had recommended approval of the plan – which was brought forward by developer Joe Stafford, owner of Stafford Development LLC – […]
Posted inPlanning
Commission approves Cebolla Creek plan
In spite of concerns about potential flooding, the Zoning and Platting Commission approved a preliminary plan July 7 for the proposed Cebolla Creek subdivision near both Onion and Bear creeks. The move came, however, after a failed motion and a tense discussion about the possible repercussions of not approving such a request when the proposed […]
Posted inPlanning
Crestview park could be on the way
Crestview Neighborhood activists may finally get the new park they’ve wanted for years. Austin Energy is currently in the process of finding a new storage site so that one of its current properties, at 6909 Ryan Drive, can be converted into parkland or a combination of parkland and housing. City Council Member Leslie Pool, who […]
Posted inPlanning
Austin Oaks PUD saga continues
It has been almost a year since developer Twelve Lakes LLC requested a zoning change for the proposed Austin Oaks Planned Unit Development, and it will likely be more than two months before the city is able to come to a decision on the issue. On Tuesday, residents asked that Zoning and Platting Commissioners recommend that […]
Posted inPlanning
East Austin church relocation shakes up neighbors
East Austin’s Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church is moving, and neighbors are concerned about who might be moving in. Church supporters and people concerned about what new development could mean for their neighborhood packed City Hall on Tuesday night. The existing zoning on the property is general office, and while the church doesn’t want to change […]
Posted inPlanning
Council OKs mixed-use zoning on E. Fifth St.
With the blessing of the neighborhood contact team, city staff and the Planning Commission, City Council unanimously approved a request for mixed-use zoning in East Austin last week, despite a valid petition from some neighbors. The property in question is located at 2901 East Fifth St. Though city staff describes East Fifth Street as primarily […]