Callout: Today’s newsletter is supported by “Austin Parks Foundation’s Party for the Parks”
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Quote of the Day
“Those houses aren’t going away that are all around it to make more growth”
— Commissioner Betsy Greenberg, from “Undeveloped Milwood tract may see major upzoning“
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Council to vote on stricter licensing, platform rules for short-term rentals
From Chad Swiatecki:
If approved, the new rules will take effect in two stages, with most provisions implemented Oct. 1. New requirements for short-term rentals would take effect May 1, 2026.
Under the proposed ordinance, STR operators would face new density restrictions and ownership requirements, particularly for properties with three or fewer dwelling units. Individual owners, rather than corporations or partnerships, would be eligible to operate STRs at smaller sites, and no two rentals owned by the same person could be located within 1,000 feet of each other.
Undeveloped Milwood tract may see major upzoning
From Miles Wall:
In yet another Northwest Austin zoning case, the Zoning and Platting Commission recommended rezoning for an empty piece of land owned by the recently shuttered Austin White Lime company during their August 19 meeting.
The two tracts at 6101 and 6105 Melrose Trail, which represent a combined area of about 5 acres, are located in the Milwood neighborhood of Northwest Austin. They are currently zoned interim small lot residential. The company is seeking an upzoning to multifamily residence high-density zoning, or MF-5, which is the most intense of the conventional residential base districts.
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Today’s newsletter is supported by “Austin Parks Foundation’s Party for the Parks”
Join Austin Parks Foundation for the 11th Annual Party for the Parks, featuring Passion Pit! This beloved event is happening under the lights at ACL in Zilker Park on Wednesday, October 8th.
Partygoers will enjoy delicious dining options, libations from Austin’s premiere beverage brands, games, a live auction and an intimate concert—all while helping raise funds for our city’s nearly 400 parks, trails and green spaces. Click here to get your tickets and join the fun!
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City works to revamp at-risk dogs process
The city of Austin is changing how it deals with dogs that are in urgent need of placement, according to a September 4 memo. The Animal Services Office will publish a new notification list that identifies dogs that pose a threat to public safety if they aren’t placed in a home with specialized support. This new Rescue Placement List (RPL) will be published by the fifth business day of each month and “communicates that a dog’s only available outcome is either rescue or humane euthanasia.” Dogs on the RPL are only eligible for placement with qualified rescue partners, and the city will collaborate with rescue organizations to explore placement over the next week. After a week, “If no viable rescue option is confirmed, humane euthanasia will proceed,” explains the memo.
In addition, ASO has created an internal review process to determine bite severity and risk known as the “Dunbar Team” that will assess each bite incident. In addition, the city is in the process of developing two new behavior programs for animals that aim to increase live outcomes and safety in the shelter.
The Animal Services Office will continue to use its Urgent Placement List, and dogs will now be categorized into three groups: those that exhibit behavioral concerns, those that have a bite history that does not pose a public safety threat and those that are experiencing a poor quality of life.
Solar Flares
A plan to install more solar on city property is kicking into high gear as federal funds dry up, according to a recent memo from Office of Climate Action & Resilience Director Zach Baumer. In the memo, Baumer explains that 2021 saw “a dramatic” increase in solar deployment due to a number of factors, including “Cost efficiencies, technological advancements, a maturing market, and the passage of the 2021 Inflation Reduction Act” which expanded tax credits for clean energy technology and enabled better financing mechanisms for municipalities.
In 2025, that landscape looks much different and, with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, clean energy tax credits are on the way out and uncertainty is on the rise. In order to claim the credits, projects must have begun construction by July 4, 2026 or implemented by December 31, 2027.
As a result, notes Baumer, “Staff recommends planning to commence construction on all solar generation by July 4, 2026, to ensure that tax credits are available, as this project may not be financially viable without them. This approach requires alignment on priorities and expedited approval timelines from procurement, finance, management, and City Council… In the coming months, staff will finalize a prioritized portfolio of viable sites for solar generation and develop a procurement strategy. We plan on issuing a multi-site Request for Proposal that asks solar developers to propose a portfolio of solar projects (with flexibility around ownership/financial approach). Staff are working as quickly as possible to meet the new federal tax credit deadlines.”
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Elsewhere in the News
The Texas Tribune reports that, unsurprisingly, professors are increasingly keen on leaving the state.
Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off next week and City Cast Austin has compiled the best ways to celebrate.
Austin Free Press bids adieu to (the current location of) Recycled Reads.
And, the Statesman is celebrating Pease Park with a new series. Here’s their second story ($$).
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