For those wondering why building affordable housing in Austin is going so slowly, the Elysium Park development has been a case study of many of the tensions City Council is facing in its attempts to keep low-income people from fleeing the city. On Thursday, Council unanimously approved a rezoning for the hard-fought development on first […]
Zoning
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission recommends drive-through at Oltorf intersection
Overruling objections from the East Riverside/Oltorf Neighborhood, the Planning Commission voted during its Jan. 24 meeting to move forward with a change that could bring a drive-through to the area. Applicant 1616 E Oltorf Street, LTD. requested to upzone the eponymous property from community commercial-conditional overlay to general commercial services, which would remove current prohibitive […]
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Planning Commission denies request for bank drive-in services on 38th
At the urging of two Zoning and Platting commissioners, the Planning Commission unanimously denied a rezoning request for a conditional overlay for drive-in services at 623 West 38th St. during its Jan. 24 meeting. City staff had supported Pioneer Bank’s request to remove the current prohibition on drive-in services from the current zoning, in part […]
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North Austin zoning case clears ZAP
At its meeting on Tuesday, the Zoning and Platting Commission approved a request to rezone a Northwest Austin property for Community Commercial (GR) use. Ron Thrower, the agent representing owner and applicant Douglas Reynolds, said his client intends to have an automobile parts store on the site at 6914 McNeil Drive. “We’re trying to get […]
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Planning Commission approves South Austin rezoning despite traffic, flooding concerns
Despite opposition from neighbors, the Planning Commission last week voted to support the rezoning of a South Austin property to allow condominiums and townhouses. At its Dec. 13 meeting, the commission unanimously approved the rezoning of 4507 and 4511 Vinson Drive from Family Residence (SF-3) to Townhouse & Condominium (SF-6) in the South Manchaca Neighborhood […]
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Casar pushes for alternative to neighborhood deal on Grove PUD
The fight over the Grove at Shoal Creek, a massive mixed-use development that has sparked fierce debate in surrounding neighborhoods, may not be over after all. A number of City Council members signaled Tuesday that they are not committed to supporting an agreement announced earlier this month between the developer, ARG Bull Creek Ltd., and […]
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Testifying on zoning cases can mean waiting for hours – but is that fair?
Last week, when the contentious case for the Grove at Shoal Creek returned yet again to City Hall, City Council made welcome progress – but not quite when people expected it. Council was supposed to start its discussion at 9 a.m. But as with many high-profile zoning cases, the discussion started hours later and lasted […]
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Musical infill: ZAP passes ‘spot zoning’ case
The Zoning and Platting Commission heard a rezoning case during its Nov. 15 meeting that drew criticism from neighborhood representatives who saw it as an example of “spot zoning.” The property is located in Northwest Austin at 7901 Ranch Road 2222. The request was to change the zoning from Limited Office with a Conditional Overlay […]
Posted inPlanning
Austin Oaks PUD wins ZAP recommendation
After hours of heated testimony and intense deliberation, the Zoning and Platting Commission passed a motion during its Nov. 1 meeting recommending the Austin Oaks planned unit development rezoning request with conditions. The project has been in the works since mid-2014, although the application submitted for review Tuesday night bears little resemblance to the original […]
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Despite protest, commission OKs liquor rezoning
The Planning Commission has endorsed a rezoning case that will result in a Twin Liquors store opening near the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. Despite opposition from Austin Neighborhoods Council President David King, lack of objection from the school itself resulted in a unanimous decision by the commission at its Oct. 27 meeting. […]
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Planning Commission debates connectivity over rezoning application
Following a CodeNEXT presentation advocating for greater connectivity in Austin, the Planning Commission had an opportunity to emulate that theme in considering a rezoning application at its Oct. 11 meeting. Applicant Brown & Gay Engineering, represented at the meeting by Steven Buffum, had filed a request that the zoning for 5016-½ E. Ben White Blvd. […]
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Council inches closer to action on Grove at Shoal Creek PUD
For several months now, City Council’s decision about whether to approve the zoning for the Grove at Shoal Creek, a proposed 75-acre mixed-use development, has driven hours of debate and faced numerous delays. Why is it taking so long? When we’re not hearing about the Grove at Council meetings, behind-the-scenes discussions on the case can […]