What initially seemed like a small mistake could ultimately prove costly for one East Austin homeowner. Eastside resident Cayce Weems returned to the Board of Adjustment Monday asking for rear and side street setback for his house at 403 San Saba Street. Weems had previously gotten a variance for the house in December 2013, […]
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 inDevelopment
Board of Adjustment rules staff incorrectly determined address
Common sense prevailed at a specially called meeting of the Board of Adjustment Tuesday night. The board met to interpret whether staff had acted in error in issuing a building permit at 3110 Grandview Street, which is located in the Heritage Neighborhood. The lot is a “through lot” with frontage on two streets, and […]
Posted inDevelopment
BOA balks at mandating design standards for Bouldin Creek project
Bouldin Creek Neighborhood’s bid to require compliance with its design standards found a receptive audience at the Board of Adjustment last week. However, the board balked at requiring new construction to comply with the neighborhood’s voluntary standards. Owners Eustolio Vasquez and Jose Castro were seeking variances to decrease minimum lot width requirements for their […]
Posted inDevelopment
BoA wrangles over short-term rentals in North University
Undeterred by a lack of neighborhood concern, the Board of Adjustment continued its fight against short-term rentals in the North University Neighborhood Monday night. Though the board approved a variance at 204 West 33rd St., they attached a condition that the house would not be used as a Type II Short-Term Rental. The variance […]
Posted inDevelopment
Board of Adjustment postpones request to ease setbacks on lot
A variance request for an empty lot in South Austin was met with questions from the Board of Adjustment at a recent meeting. Jennifer Garcia of Kimball Bruehl Garcia Estes was representing property owner Robert Lee, requesting a variance for a project slated at 2002 Glen Allen Street. In order to complete the project, […]
Posted inDevelopment
Board of Adjustment gets its feet wet with first Lake Austin ruling
The Board of Adjustment embraced its new role and made its first Lake Austin ruling last week, though some of the members continue to struggle with the practicalities. The board voted in favor of a variance at 2921 Westlake Cove, which is owned by Jay and Martha Gamble. The Gambles were asking for a […]
Posted inDevelopment
Previously denied fence variance back before Board of Adjustment
A contentious request for a variance on an East Cesar Chavez fence is back before the Board of Adjustment, even though the board had denied the same variance a year ago. Agent Phil Moncada last represented Michael Kleinman a year ago in his pursuit of a variance for a 12-foot fence at 3107 East […]
Posted inDevelopment, Uncategorized
Board of Adjustment does remedial work on Lake Austin regulations
Continuing to grapple with being thrown into the deep end of Lake Austin regulations, the Board of Adjustment took a closer look at their new responsibilities at a specially-called meeting last week. Changes in process flummoxed the board at a previous meeting, where they were surprised to be reviewing a variance for fill on […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Board of Adjustment seeks guidance on new Lake Austin rules
New Lake Austin rules hit members of the Board of Adjustment at their November meeting, causing general befuddlement. After expressing confusion about why they were hearing the case, the board decided on a postponement until Jan. 13 for the variance for existing backfill behind a bulkhead at 3600, 3602 and 3604 Rivercrest Drive. “We’re getting […]
Posted inDevelopment
Owners await Board of Adjustment ruling to build second dwelling
Two Austinites hoping to build another dwelling on their land will have to wait a bit longer to find out whether they have the required variance from the Board of Adjustment. Gregory Brooks and Neal B. Kassanoff are seeking a variance to build a second dwelling on their 4201 Wilshire Parkway property, which is located […]
Posted inDevelopment
Board of Adjustment denies variance to illegally built apartment
The Board of Adjustment took a hard line last week, voting that an illegally built apartment building will have to come down. Board members didn’t pull any punches, as they unanimously rejected a variance that would have allowed the apartment building to remain standing on Duval Street. Despite the fact that the structure has […]