The Board of Adjustment heard a presentation on Tuesday from David Webber, of the Webber + Studio architectural design firm, who requested two variances for increased impervious coverage and floor area ratio at a property in Old West Austin. The property, located at 705 Brownlee Circle, is owned by Brad Hoskins. Currently, there is a […]
City of Austin Board of Adjustment
The city’s Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial body that decides on variances, special exceptions and can issue interpretations of code.
Posted inLand Development Code
Board of Adjustment fee assistance program will launch Oct. 1
A long-awaited assistance program granting low-income homeowners waivers when seeking zoning variances will launch Oct. 1. The yearlong Board of Adjustment Applicant Assistant Program pilot will fund up to nine waivers – or $10,000 – for eligible applicants, according to a July 20 memo from Development Services Department Director José Roig to City Council. Modeled […]
Posted inThe Code
Board of Adjustment struggling with vacancies
Vacancies on the Board of Adjustment, coupled with a strict requirement for a supermajority vote in order to approve variances, are causing consternation among the members who have tried to address the problem. But one fix proposed by longtime Board Member Michael Von Ohlen conflicted with other city regulations. Austinites go before the Board of […]
Posted inPlanning
Mixed-use project in Bouldin Creek clears final hurdle
The Board of Adjustment granted a height increase March 13 that will allow a mixed-use project in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood to move forward. Plans for the Copeland at 1000 S. First St. include two condominium buildings with a total of 120 units, a 95-room hotel and 65,000 square feet of offices, all with underground […]
Posted inLand Development Code
BoA approves variance for illuminated sign on the Drag
The Board of Adjustment granted the Church of Scientology a variance request for a change to the church’s logo on its sign facing the street. Mike McHone, who represented the Church of Scientology at the BoA meeting that took place Feb. 13, said in an interview that the approval was among the last technical hurdles […]
Posted inCity Council
Council to make zoning variances more accessible to low-income homeowners
City Council passed a resolution Thursday to make it easier for low-income Austinites to seek zoning variances from the Board of Adjustment. The proposed program would help low-income and other qualifying residents put together an application and pay application fees. Jessica Cohen, chair of the Board of Adjustment, said low-income homeowners rarely seek variances. “I […]
Posted inCity Hall
BoA ponders term limit enforcement for boards and commissions
As the new mayor and City Council members settle into their roles, one task is appointing dozens of volunteers to serve on boards and commissions. A discussion earlier this month at the Board of Adjustment highlighted some challenges involved in appointing and retaining volunteer members. At the board’s Jan. 9 meeting, members discussed how enforcement […]
Posted inLand Development Code
City reverses decision, granting variance from compatibility in storage unit case
City Council is set to consider the topic of compatibility on a larger scale Thursday. Meanwhile, the Board of Adjustment took a second swing at the issue on a more granular level, voting at its last meeting to overturn a previous denial of a compatibility variance in South Austin. The applicants were seeking a variance […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Because of compatibility, mini storage units block 10 homes in South Austin
The Board of Adjustment failed last Monday to approve a compatibility waiver that would have allowed 10 townhomes at 1609 Matthews Lane in South Austin. In order to build the units, the owner of the half-acre property requested a variance to compatibility, which limits the height of buildings near single-family homes and requires additional setbacks. Though […]
Posted inThe Code
Divided Board of Adjustment rejects site plan appeal
A divided Board of Adjustment on Wednesday rejected a site plan appeal organized by the Windsor Park Neighborhood Association related to the redevelopment of the Windsor Village shopping center at 5900 Westminster Drive. What was once a small shopping center offering neighbors a chance to walk to shops and restaurants will now be transformed into […]
Posted inCity Hall
Committee sends ‘meeting place question’ to full Council
Although they rejected the idea of changing the bylaws of three land use commissions to designate a specific meeting place, members of the City Council Audit & Finance Committee on Wednesday expressed their willingness to consider directing staff to hold the meetings at City Hall instead of at the new Permitting and Development Center (PDC) […]
Posted inCity Hall
Land use commissions worry move from City Hall will hurt public participation
In a rare joint meeting, three land use commissions frustrated by an unwelcome move from City Hall grilled city staff last Monday about why meetings will soon be held in the new Permitting and Development Center. The staffers, after hearing a litany of questions and concerns, did not budge. “This was an administrative decision going […]