As the current drought deepens – despite recent rains – city officials may be forced to take steps to install tougher conservation measures as water levels in the Highland Lakes continue to fall. But, as Austin Water Utility Assistant Director Daryl Slusher told the Environmental Board last week, using less water could mean higher water […]
Environment
Posted inResources
French solar power company eyes Austin for US headquarters
The leading French solar power producer is looking for a North American headquarters and Austin seems to be on its list of possible destinations. Though representatives of the company, Solairedirect, have visited Council offices in recent weeks, it remains unclear whether it will apply for any relocation incentives. When asked Thursday afternoon if she […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
PUC staff urges dismissal of latest rate challenge
A document filed Tuesday by staff of the Texas Public Utility Commission hints strongly that the commission will reject an appeal by Homeowners United for Rate Fairness of Austin City Council members’ action to assess legal costs from the Austin Energy rate case to out-of-city ratepayers. In a 12-page filing, commission staff conclude that […]
Posted inEnvironment
City studies changes to allow aggregates in commercial projects
Changes to commercial landscaping requirements that previously prohibited the use of aggregate materials in commercial projects are on the way. Though the process is still in the early stages, the city is taking a serious look at how it treats aggregate in commercial projects. Environmental Officer Chuck Lesniak predicts that a code change could […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government, Local Politics
Leffingwell votes against climate protection clause in CAMPO plan
Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell found himself Wednesday defending a controversial vote to take references to climate protection and greenhouse gas emissions out of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2040 plan. Leffingwell told In Fact Daily that he cast his vote with an eye toward preserving regional harmony. An original supporter of Austin’s Climate […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Environmental Board denies variance, orders fill removed from lot
Though it has been in place for years, the Environmental Board definitively shut down a variance request that would have allowed a huge amount of fill to remain in northeast Austin. Instead, the board recommended that that fill be removed, despite protests from the owner. The board voted 5-1 to deny the variance, with […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Council votes to raise water impact fees to near maximum rate
Austin City Council members Thursday approved an immediate increase of impact fees for public infrastructure to just below the maximum allowable rate. Those are the fees that the Austin Water Utility assesses to help offset the cost of extending water and wastewater utility lines. The move, which came by unanimous vote, sets the fees to […]
Posted inResources, Uncategorized
Consultant says doubling city’s solar goal do-able but expensive
Should Austin double its already ambitious solar energy goal? It’s a question that has begun to get renewed attention from solar advocates, environmentalists, utility officials and others following a year-old recommendation by the City Council-appointed Local Solar Advisory Committee that the city increase its 2020 solar goal from 200 megawatts to 400 megawatts. […]
Posted inEnvironment
Downtown tree canopy only 14 percent according to city survey
The long-awaited results of a downtown tree survey prompted by the city’s Heritage Tree Ordinance are in. Last week, Environmental Board members got their first view of the completed survey, which will be used to help the city’s boards and commissions get a more complete picture of the urban canopy to aid them in […]
Posted inEnvironment, Resources
Watershed Protection Ordinance gets first rewrite in 28 years
City Council members took something of a strange path getting there but in the end, they approved the first major changes to the city’s Watershed Protection Ordinance since 1986 on a 7-0 vote. Because the ordinance rewrite also involved changes to the Save Our Springs Ordinance, it required a super-majority of City Council to […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
Fledging coalition making long-term water plans for Central Texas
Travis County is part of a fledgling effort to form a regional coalition that could identify and reserve future water supplies and eventually facilitate infrastructure to deliver water from aquifers in counties outside of Central Texas.With a resolution, Travis joins Hays, Comal and other counties in finding and in some cases securing backup supplies should […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Watershed Ordinance rewrite still has some hurdles to overcome
The massive Watershed Protection Ordinance passed its first official hurdle at City Council earlier this month, though a few bones of contention remain and much more discussion is likely on the horizon. After unanimously approving the new ordinance on first reading at its last meeting, Council is expected to take up the ordinance again […]