A proposal to construct a set of golf courses in Austin in the midst of a record drought has whipped up controversy over the past few months, but city staff has indicated that a plan the prospective developer floated last week may address some major environmental concerns. City Environmental Officer Chuck Lesniak told the Austin […]
Environment
Posted inResources, Water
LCRA says Central Texas drought worst on record
The Lower Colorado River Authority announced Wednesday that, based on preliminary data from last year, it now considers the drought that has been afflicting Central Texas since 2008 to be the worst on record. LCRA Executive Vice President of Water John Hoffman delivered the news to the public utility’s board of directors at a committee […]
Posted inAustin, City Hall, Development, Environment, Water, Zoning
ZAP shoots down variances for Far West parcel
The Zoning and Platting Commission took a hard stance against several requested environmental variances that would allow an Austin resident to build a 3,500-square-foot home on a steep slope at 4316 Far West Blvd. Property owner Ali Tabrizi sought to build a single-family home on the parcel located within the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and […]
Posted inCity Council, Parks
Council reopens debate on downtown park events
In the wake of public outcry related to a national cyclocross event at Zilker Park earlier this year, City Council has rekindled a long-running debate about the use of urban parks for special events. “I think it is incumbent on us to make sure that we’re not impacting the same places of work, the same […]
Posted inEnvironment, Land Development Code
Board rules tree-shielding carport must go
A Cherrywood resident who hoped to save both his cars and his trees found no fix at the Board of Adjustment. Adrian Young, who owns the house at 3216 Lafayette Ave., was seeking a variance to reduce the setback from 15 feet to zero feet in order to maintain a carport. Unfortunately, said Young, his […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Resources, Water
Developers propose brackish water for Decker Golf
In a major shift, Decker Lake Golf LLC representatives have proposed a new plan they say would not use reclaimed water to irrigate a PGA-class golf course proposed for Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. The company’s vice president, Warren Hayes, told the Water and Wastewater Commission on Wednesday that he and his associates would pump […]
Posted inCity Council, Water
Council discusses water scarcity
With the current central Texas drought showing no signs of abating, City Council sat down with staff and water experts on Monday to discuss the severity of the issue. Sharlene Leurig, who chaired the Austin Water Resource Planning Task Force, told Council at the policy workshop that the conversation about water scarcity is coming at […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
ZAP discusses Lake Austin accessibility
An uncontested request to allow a new residential boat dock on Lake Austin prompted the Zoning and Platting Commission to discuss the difficulty property owners face when making lake access ways more accessible. City staffer Liz Johnston said at the commission meeting Tuesday that the city enforces the same standard for all applicants seeking to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Resources
Austin Energy adds new language to gap study
In a move that could influence the city’s future energy portfolio, Austin Energy has added energy efficiency, water quality and emissions analysis to the scope of work for an upcoming gap study. The utility posted a revised request for proposal Wednesday soliciting applications from consultant firms to review the costs and benefits of constructing a 500 […]
Posted inResources
Robbins working to fix AE assistance program
Consumer advocate Paul Robbins is visiting City Council members this week in an attempt to explain to them the problems with the Austin Energy Customer Assistance Program, known as CAP. The program, which was designed to help economically disadvantaged electric customers with their bills, is currently helping the disadvantaged, but also perhaps as many as […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics
City’s 2013 sustainability goals hit 60 percent
Although sustainability efforts are notoriously difficult to measure, Austin’s Sustainability Office has outlined 10 targets and concluded that the city is making substantial progress within its operations, but has room for improvement. Chief Sustainability Officer Lucia Athens sent a memo to City Council and city staff on Friday concluding that, as of 2013, citywide combined […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government, Public Safety, Resources
BSEACD debates annexing unregulated wells
Water supply company Electro Purification is planning to pump 5 million gallons of water per day from an unregulated area just outside the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, causing neighbors to question whether EP could deplete water in the area. At a meeting Thursday, nearby residents asked the district’s board of directors to annex the […]