District 4
Planning Commission recommends rezoning of Anderson Square
The Planning Commission voted to rezone Anderson Square in Tuesday’s meeting against staff’s recommendation. The property is a 16-acre retail center near the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and U.S. Highway 183 – currently home to businesses such as Hobby…
Zoning • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Nov 25, 2024
Planning Commission postpones decision on Anderson Square rezoning
The Planning Commission unanimously voted to postpone a rezoning request for Anderson Square in North Austin after the property owner requested an amendment to the application, seeking to increase the maximum height limits. A 16-acre retail center near the intersection…
Zoning • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Nov 14, 2024
Vela and Fuentes hold on to City Council seats
Two of the least-competitive City Council races played out exactly as most people anticipated they would, with Council members Vanessa Fuentes and Chito Vela easily holding on to their City Council seats Tuesday. Vela, who squared off against four challengers,…
Elections • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 5, 2024
Vela, Guzmán and Herrin raise quality-of-life concerns in race for District 4
In the race for the District 4 seat on City Council, incumbent Chito Vela is facing four candidates, with the two most visible challengers – Monica Guzmán and Louis Herrin – notching their third and fourth races for City Council,…
Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 21, 2024
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City candidates’ financial filings are in for the latest fundraising period
Monday was the deadline to file campaign finance reports for members of City Council and other candidates in the November election. No one was surprised last week when the Austin Monitor reported that Mayor Kirk Watson had raised more than…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jul 16, 2024
Affordable housing complex competes for space with a church in Payton Gin zoning change
Planning Commission members have embraced an affordable housing project in North Austin despite concerns from the church it will replace. Developers plan to build a 100 percent affordable, six-story, 192-unit apartment complex at 1706 Payton Gin Road using the city’s…
Housing • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 22, 2024
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Vela: Austin may have country's most progressive housing policy
Chito Vela has had no sophomore slump in 2023. In his second year, the District 4 City Council member has ushered in a new regimen of land use policies tackling Austin’s housing crisis at breakneck speed. “We were in a…
City Hall • By Kali Bramble • Dec 27, 2023
Parks and Recreation Board backs calls for expanded senior center facility in North Austin
The Parks and Recreation Board on Monday recommended the city find funding to create a senior activity center to serve District 4 and areas north of Highway 183 – and consider the Gus Garcia Recreation Center as a possible location.…
Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Nov 30, 2023
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Council approves commercial zoning for foundation company site
Austin City Council gave its initial approval last week to change the zoning for four North Austin lots that host a foundation repair business on Georgian Drive to bring it into compliance with city regulations. If approved on second and…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Sep 19, 2023
NOAA heat impact study puts faces to local effects of 2023 heat wave
Community organizations have been advocating for the city to direct more resources toward heat relief and climate emergency response. A 2021 study examining how extreme heat affects East Austin residents is giving more weight to that work. The study, titled…
Environment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 22, 2023
Planning Commission says no to more mini storage units near future light rail station
The Planning Commission on Tuesday denied a request to expand a mini storage facility near a future light rail station, holding out for the possibility of mixed-use, transit-oriented development over what they deemed a suburban, car-oriented use. The owner of…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Jul 17, 2023
Berkman zoning change wins City Council approval
City Council approved a major increase in zoning for a less than 1-acre site at 6305 Berkman Drive last week. The move will allow the developer to build about 34 one- and two-bedroom units, compared to the 10 units that…
