Tag Archives: City of Austin Environmental Commission
Downward oxygen trend a risk for salamanders
Barton Springs is the only known home to the endangered and federally protected Barton Springs and Austin Blind salamanders. Unfortunately, for these unique creatures, the level of life-sustaining dissolved oxygen in their ecosystem has dropped on average over the past…
Preservation • By Tyler Whitson • Apr 20, 2015
Concerns raised over 18-foot-wide trail design
A proposed urban trail that is as wide as a city street became an issue Wednesday, after residents voiced concern about the pathway’s design. During an April 1 meeting, Environmental Board members heard an update on the Upper Boggy Creek Trail…
Environment • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 8, 2015
Environmental Board gives nod to Lake Austin tram
A homeowner hoping to build a tram to Lake Austin continued his quest through the city’s boards and commissions last week. Chris Pacitti, who owns the home at 70 Pascal Lane, had more luck at the Environmental Board, which recommended…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 7, 2015
City says SH45 SW environmental study unsound
Austin’s Environmental Board is looking at its options after hearing from city staff that the approved environmental impact study, or EIS, for State Highway 45 Southwest is not based on sound science. The EIS was prepared by TxDOT and CTRMA, with…
Roads • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 6, 2015
Riverboat contract has a sewage problem
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and City Council Member Leslie Pool raised concerns last week about Lone Star Riverboat’s practices at the regular Council meeting Thursday, postponing the vote on a revenue contract until March 26. A memo to Council…
City Council • By Sunny Sone • Mar 9, 2015
Board may amend applications to protect city trees
On paper, Austin protects its trees. City code requires people to get approval from the city arborist before damaging or removing a tree. But representatives from the Austin Heritage Tree Foundation told the Environmental Board on Wednesday that these ordinances…
City Hall • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 20, 2015
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City plans to repair cyclo-cross damage at Zilker
City staff has revealed a one-year plan that they hope will remediate tree and turf damage related to a national cyclo-cross championship held in Zilker Park earlier this month. Watershed Protection Department Environmental Officer Chuck Lesniak told the Environmental Board…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 22, 2015
Watershed Protection touts wildfire plan progress
Watershed Protection Department staff told the Environmental Board on Wednesday that they have begun to implement an intergovernmental plan designed to help prevent catastrophic wildfires in the future. Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist Ryan Hebrink stressed that the Austin/Travis County Community…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 13, 2015
Watershed Protection outlines salamander plan
Watershed Protection Department staff dived into the details of the city’s Habitat Management Plan on Wednesday. The plan will protect the Barton Springs salamander and the Austin blind salamander, two federally endangered species known to live exclusively in Barton Springs.…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 12, 2015
City reveals new drainage fee structure
Austin Watershed Protection Department staff publicly presented its proposed restructure of the drainage fee for the first time Wednesday, saying that it is fairer and more equitable to customers than the current flat fee. Watershed Protection Director Victoria Li told…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Dec 4, 2014
Environmental Board hears Lightsey 2 project
Though it is still in the early stages, South Austin’s Lightsey 2 project made a detour to the Environmental Board last week, where developers were advised to be more creative with their plans. Citing “ongoing concerns” with drainage, off-site flooding,…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Oct 20, 2014
Development headed to Environmental Board
A controversial South Austin development is on hold for at least another month, after the Planning Commission opted to take the unusual tack of sending the development’s preliminary plan to the Environmental Board for comment. The PSW Real Estate development…
