Bowlin says small dams could also enhance aquifer Keeping the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer a viable water supply in the future may require use of "cutting edge" strategies, says Stovy Bowlin, the general manager of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD). “We may in the future have to adopt similar […]
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Triangle Advisory Group wants $5 million
Money would leverage developer's investment, advocates say The Triangle Square Project, a proposed mixed-use development on State land at 45th and Guadalupe Streets, will only succeed if the city pays nearly $5 million in "Smart Growth" dollars, according to Sabrina Burmeister, the head of Neighbors of Triangle Park. Under the current proposal, the city would […]
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SOS Ordinance compliance no guarantee of aquifer's health
Planning Commissioners could not agree Tuesday on whether a planned unit development (PUD) proposal for 120 acres on U.S. Hwy. 290 West, near the intersection of FM 1826, would be better or worse for the Barton Creek Watershed than what was approved for the property in 1994. Laura Toups Berland of Urban Design Group told […]
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The Historic Landmark Commission Monday sent a message that it won't support demolition of old houses, even ones with questionable historical value, after it recommended historic zoning to a dilapidated house at 4012 Duval Street in Hyde Park.
A new owner of the property, Daniel Day, is asking for a permit to demolish the house so that he can build a duplex on the spot and an additional duplex on the vacant lot next door. The historic zoning offers protection against demolition, but the zoning must still be considered by the Planning Commission, […]
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Max Woodfin, executive director of Earthshare of Texas, retired from his volunteer post as chair of the city’s Resource Management Commission last month. Woodfin, who served 13 years on the commission, said he’s enjoyed “having more direct access to the machinations of the conservation bureaucracy than I would have had, had I not been on the commission. It’s been, first of all, an incredible education for me…(like) a slow-moving melodrama. For someone who has an amateur interest in politics, the structure of bureaucracies, and conservation, it’s just been a wonderful ride.” The commission’s job is advising the City Council on water and energy conservation, alternative energy technologies, and renewable energy sources.
Woodfin says former Council Member George Humphrey“talked me into it (serving on the commission) in 1986, when I was at the Texas Water Commission. George took me to lunch and told me about this great commission.” The group had plenty of expertise in the energy conservation area, Humphrey said, but needed Woodfin’s knowledge about water. […]
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Foster reports sale of huge Hays County
LCRA spokesman denies agreement to serve new tracts Two large tracts of land in Northern Hays County have been sold for development of 900 homes and three golf courses, according to Erin Foster, Chair of the Hays County Water Planning Partnership. Foster told In Fact Daily Thursday night that she had received the information from […]
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City commission recommends
Adding third ambulance service EMS staff opposed Southerncross application The Urban Transportation Commission voted Monday night to recommend that the City Council award a franchise to Southerncross Ambulance, Inc. for non-emergency medical transportation within the City of Austin. The city’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff had recommended against granting the franchise. Currently, American Medical Response […]
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City commission recommends
Adding third ambulance service EMS staff opposed Southerncross application The Urban Transportation Commission voted Monday night to recommend that the City Council award a franchise to Southerncross Ambulance, Inc. for non-emergency medical transportation within the City of Austin. The city’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff had recommended against granting the franchise. Currently, American Medical Response […]
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City says cut back watering:
Stage II Mandatory rules in effect Water customers must comply or face $2,000 penalty If your swimming pool, wading pool or pond isn’t full now, you can’t fill it until the City of Austin’s water crisis is over. Likewise, no automatic irrigation of the lawn– except on your designated day between midnight and 10 a.m. […]
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President of the Austin Neighborhoods Council
By Nancy Love and Jo Clifton He’s one of the serious-looking people frequently found standing at the back of the City Council chambers—wherever they happen to be. He’s the one who comes forward to tell the Planning Commission what Austin’s neighborhoods, and their myriad associations, would like on zoning cases and changes to city land […]
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Water & Wastewater staff shortage means
Department one year behind in new service Only one crew working on breaks, overflows The City of Austin has only one crew to work on water and sewer line breaks and overflows, according to Jack Gatlin, acting assistant director of pipeline operations and maintenance for the Water and Wastewater Department. Gatlin said, “In the past, […]
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Planning Commission recommends approval of zoning changes, NCCD, for East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood
Plan to go to City Council in August Planning Commissioners voted 5-2 last night to recommend that the City Council adopt staff-recommended zoning changes for the East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood and make the area into a Neighborhood Conservation Combining District (NCCD). Commissioners Susana Almanza and Betty Baker voted against the recommendation, but for widely divergent […]