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Close to agreement on bill Bradley promises Buda a new bill on Tuesday Developer Gary Bradley and Hays County Rep Rick Green (R-Dripping Springs) continue to move forward on HB3644, the bill to create a taxing district on the Spillar Ranch in Hays County. The original legislation provided for the district to use 25 percent […]

Non-attainment city for ozone Central Texas leders agree on ozone reduction strategies Austin will avoid federally mandated steps to reduce air pollution now that six cities and five counties in Central Texas have submitted a letter to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) and the Environmental Protection Agency. That letter details the cities’ and […]

Recommendation from commission Neighbors along FM 2222 unhappy about traffic The Planning Commission voted last night to modify the conditional-use overlay on one tract of land owned by the Champion sisters along FM 2222 west of Loop 360 and change the zoning on two others. The zoning for the site, approved by the City Council […]

SB 2 lacks language to protect waterways Environmentalists continue to voice concern over the effect SB 2—this year’s omnibus water bill—may have on the state’s rivers, bays and estuaries. In addition, the president of the board of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) is still watching the bill that may force the district […]

Court more options for repeat offenders Downtown property owners support bill Freshman lawmaker Rep. Ann Kitchen (D-Austin) is asking the state to add treatment and assessment options for repeat drug paraphernalia offenders to aid Austin’s Community Court to more successfully address their problems. Community Court Judge Elisabeth Earle brought House Bill 3384 to Kitchen. It […]

Fiscal notes for Council items Council approves new hurdle for agenda items Council Members Daryl Slusher and Beverly Griffith sparred politely once again Thursday. This time the disagreement was over requiring Council Members to put a pricetag on items before placing the items on the Council agenda. Griffith also adamantly opposed the fiscal note requirement […]

Court under new Religious Land Use Act Church seeks injunction to allow garage construction The Hyde Park Baptist Church (HPBC) yesterday filed suit in federal court against the City of Austin, alleging violations of the U.S. and Texas Constitutions, a federal civil rights act (42 USC 1983) and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons […]

District legislation dead Representative says he hopes for regional cooperation on new version Rep. Rick Green said Tuesday that he considers his bill to create a Hays County development district on Gary Bradley’s property to be dead as a result of Austin City Council opposition. Bradley requested that he withdraw the legislation, the Dripping Springs […]

District, says Watson Minorities lag behind in health care A new report from the Community Action Network (CAN) shows Travis County minority population lagging behind in health care. The study, titled “Prescription for Wellness,” calls for increased funding for community-based health clinics, boosting disease-prevention efforts, improving access to health care and reducing substance abuse. CAN […]

Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church By David Ansel Reverend Marvin Griffin, Ph.D., has led the Ebenezer Baptist Church on East 10th Street since 1969. He was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1923 and his family moved to Dallas in 1930. His call to the ministry was clear early on. He recalls preaching to his neighborhood pals […]

For now, by Council majority Goodman frustrated by slowness of Planning Commission “We need a Planning Commission that has time to plan,” declared Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman yesterday, as she tried to convince her City Council colleagues to move forward with her proposal to give most zoning and subdivision cases to a new Zoning […]

Environmental groups Filing of bill without city consent may violate settlement agreement Developer Gary Bradley’s decision to proceed with filing legislation for a development district in Hays County before the Austin City Council approves the measure has provoked strong reactions. Last night, the Austin Neighborhoods Council passed a resolution urging the City Council to reject […]