At least four members of City Council expressed an interest Tuesday in sending the question of whether the city should enter into the contract for a developer to create two PGA-class golf courses at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park to a Council committee, making it less likely that Council will actually vote on the item […]
Planning
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, Planning
Council takes small step in Garza case
Though they were only deciding one small detail of a decades-long fight over what was once the Garza Ranch, City Council members took hours to contemplate how many trips per day should be allowed on the last piece of land. In the end, it was a chaotic finish, with motions, suggestions and compromises flying across […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Planning, Preservation
Planning Commission OKs Red Bluff Hotel variance
The Planning Commission approved a variance Tuesday that allows the developer of a proposed hotel on Red Bluff Road to build within the primary setbacks of the property, much to the dismay of neighboring residents. Commissioners had previously approved two of the three variances requested by the property owner, Red Bluff Partners LLC, at a […]
Posted inCity Council, Planning, The Code
Stealth dorm regulations head back to Council
The stealth dorm issue has lived to see another City Council. The Planning Commission took the next step to combat occupancy limit violations at its regular meeting last week. Commissioners voted unanimously to forward a recommendation from the Stealth Dorm Working Group to Council. Those recommendations address code compliance, development and nuisance management, and even […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, Planning, Preservation, Zoning
Council limits Spicewood Springs project footprint
City Council voted Thursday to approve a zoning change that would allow a new professional office building on Spicewood Springs Road. Council limited the size of the structure to 12,000 square feet, despite protests from the applicants. The vote was 10-0, as Mayor Steve Adler recused himself, saying his law firm had dealings with one […]
Posted inCity Council, Planning, Zoning
Angry neighbors welcome Council to zoning
City Council heard its first zoning case on Thursday night. The hours-long battle between neighborhood and development interests on Burnet Road was, most likely, an accurate welcome to the process. In the end, plans for a multifamily project at 8528 Burnet Road continue to crawl forward. The developer, C.J. Sackman of Sackman Enterprises, is asking […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
Red Bluff Hotel project will get a second chance
At their most recent meeting, Planning Commissioners took the unusual step of rescinding their previous vote on the planned Red Bluff Hotel. The vote to rescind was unanimous, though commissioners made it clear that they may not support the variance upon reconsideration. Red Bluff Partners LLC was asking for three variances in order to construct […]
Posted inCity Hall, Planning
No-show is a no-go at the Board of Adjustment
The Board of Adjustment extended no favors to an East Cesar Chavez homeowner who failed to appear at its Monday night meeting. Instead, the board quickly voted against her request for a greater floor-to-area ratio than the McMansion Ordinance allows. Homeowner Amanda Ferrier was seeking a variance from Subchapter F of the city code for […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Land Development Code, Planning, Zoning
Subcommittee seeks help for ADU changes
The Planning Commission Codes and Ordinances Subcommittee met Thursday to discuss amendments to a city ordinance regarding accessory dwelling units — apartments located on the same property as a house. But city staffer Ming-ru Chu could barely read through the proposed changes before members of the public and committee members were up in arms over […]
Posted inCity Council, Development, Planning
Council discusses future of Imagine Austin
Since its launch, Imagine Austin has inspired debates about affordability, growth, neighborhood autonomy and more. City Council continued this tradition Thursday in a special meeting with city staff and housing stakeholders about the comprehensive plan. The discussion touched on several major issues, including the relationship between the plan and the city’s many official neighborhood plans, […]
Posted inCity Council, Development, Local Politics, Planning, Zoning
Zoning lesson raises questions for new Council
With single-member districts up and running, myriad changes are on the horizon at City Hall. Tuesday, some clues about how city staff will tackle the nuts-and-bolts of the transition emerged in what was a largely uneventful mock City Council meeting. As part of Council’s ongoing orientation, Planning and Development Review Department director Greg Guernsey explained […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Planning
South Austin case closed, garage remains open
A South Austin homeowner’s plea to retain a garage door ended this week at the Board of Adjustment. Ginny Catania, who is the owner of 903 Ethel St., won her latest variance request. Though Catania had initially sought to retain the garage door that she added after buying the house, the amended request allows her […]