The Austin City Council is considering whether to endorse the application of the Circuit of the Americas for funding from the Texas Major Event Trust Fund for the summer X Games this year and in 2016 and 2017. The Major Event Trust Fund applies local and state gains in sales and other taxes generated by […]
Armbrust & Brown
law practice based in Austin. Armbrust & Brown has donated to the Capital of Texas Media Foundation.
Posted inDevelopment, Land Development Code
BOA denies variances for Lake Austin tram
The Board of Adjustment rejected a request last week from a Lake Austin homeowner seeking to build a tram to a boat dock. Chris Pacitti was seeking variances from the Land Development Code that would have allowed him to construct the tram to a proposed boat dock at his 70 Pascal Lane home. Board members […]
Posted inCity Council, Housing
Springdale apartment complex appeal denied
City Council has rejected an appeal by DeWayne Lofton, who was seeking to overturn a decision of the Planning Commission to grant a conditional use permit for an affordable housing complex at 5905 Springdale Road. Lofton, president of Pecan Springs/Springdale Neighborhood Association, told Council he felt that commissioners did not pay enough attention to his […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Planning, Preservation
Planning Commission OKs Red Bluff Hotel variance
The Planning Commission approved a variance Tuesday that allows the developer of a proposed hotel on Red Bluff Road to build within the primary setbacks of the property, much to the dismay of neighboring residents. Commissioners had previously approved two of the three variances requested by the property owner, Red Bluff Partners LLC, at a […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
Red Bluff Hotel project will get a second chance
At their most recent meeting, Planning Commissioners took the unusual step of rescinding their previous vote on the planned Red Bluff Hotel. The vote to rescind was unanimous, though commissioners made it clear that they may not support the variance upon reconsideration. Red Bluff Partners LLC was asking for three variances in order to construct […]
Posted inDevelopment
Tarrytown house will not be zoned historic
After getting more information, the Historic Landmark Commission reversed its decision to save a Tarrytown house through historic designation. Instead, the new owners will be able to move forward with their plans to tear the house down. Commissioners considered the residence at 3201 Bowman Ave. at their previous meeting, and voted to initiate historic zoning — […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council hears appeal of affordable housing case
As its first land use case, City Council heard an appeal of a conditional use permit for an affordable housing project Thursday. One thing Council members learned immediately is how difficult fulfilling all of their campaign promises might be, especially when they stand in direct opposition to each other. On one hand, there is a […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Parks, Water
Decker golf proposal likely going to next Council
Lobbyist Richard Suttle surprised most observers Tuesday by asking City Council to postpone a decision on whether to allow his client, Decker Lake Golf LLC, to create a PGA-style golf complex at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. The request came when Mayor Lee Leffingwell called upon Suttle to speak during Council’s work session. City staff […]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Local Politics
Two-page ad attacks political consultant Butts
A two-page color ad in Sunday’s Austin American-Statesman, headlined “Invisible man controls the Austin City Council,” attacks political consultant David Butts and calls on voters to reject some candidates Butts supports in the Dec. 16 runoff election. The ad says, “Did you ever wonder why, no matter how much we vote for change in the […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, The Code, Zoning
Downtown hotel zoning shifts to code amendment
After almost a year of going through the zoning change process, including trips to four different commissions and winning initial approval from City Council, developers of the Aloft Austin & Element Hotel are now seeking an amendment to the Land Development Code and giving up on their zoning case. Conventus Corporation and the Finley Company, […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Housing
Housing, not retail, on the way for East Austin
A fight for more retail space proved unsuccessful at the Planning Commission last week, where commissioners unanimously approved a conditional use permit that will allow an affordable housing project to be built despite the neighborhood’s wishes. “It may not be perfect … But you can’t always get perfection, especially when you are trying to build […]
Posted inDevelopment
Congress hotel closer to Council approval
It has been a long, slow road, but a proposed Congress Avenue hotel passed its first official City Council hurdle in October. Council members unanimously approved a rezoning that will allow for a change to the building’s street setback on first reading, with instructions to work on an agreement with the hotel’s neighbors. The case […]