Tag Archives: City of Austin Environmental Commission
Walnut Creek trail progresses, despite concerns
Despite some pushback from neighborhoods, phase two of the Walnut Creek Hike and Bike Trail marches on. Public Works Department project manager Richard Duane gave the Environmental Board an update on the project at the last meeting, after the board…
Environment • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 23, 2014
South Austin development threatens Heritage Trees
Though still in the early stages, a proposed South Austin development continues to draw fire from the city’s various boards and commissions. Last week, concerned citizens asked the city to take a closer look at its compliance with the Heritage…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 9, 2014
Panel rejects tram, but hopes for creative solutions
The Environmental Board continued to take a hard line against allowing Lake Austin homeowners more than one path of access to the lake from their ridgetop homes last week. This time, William and Kathryn Darling were requesting a variance for…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 8, 2014
The return of the Great Disc Golf Debate
The Pease Park Master Plan has opened old wounds in Austin’s disc golf community. In 2010, the city shut down the park’s disc golf course. Four years later, outrage over its closing persists. A recommendation to keep the course closed…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 25, 2014
Environmental Board nixes variance for tram
Though there was some debate, Environmental Board members in the end voted against granting a variance that would have allowed building a tram along Lake Austin. The board had already rejected a request at its previous meeting for a variance…
Environment • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 19, 2014
Environmental Board rejects fee hike for buyouts
A plan to finance Onion Creek home buyouts through an increase in the city’s drainage utility fee found no support at the Environmental Board last week. Board members asked City Council members to find another way. In a resolution passed…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 11, 2014
Subscribe to our newsletter
Council backs amended Vested Rights Ordinance on first reading
The rocky road to approving a new Vested Rights Ordinance didn’t get much smoother at Thursday night’s City Council meeting, where the discussion to approve the ordinance on first reading managed to be both hopelessly detailed and strangely abstract all…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 2, 2014
Environmental Board OKs affordable housing project despite concerns
The Environmental Board was the scene of a showdown last week when a proposed affordable housing project faced environmental concerns from city staff. Developers of the Windy Ridge Apartment Homes at 10910 FM 620 were requesting water and…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 9, 2014
Water, wastewater service approved despite objections
Austin City Council members Thursday found themselves boxed into approving water and wastewater service for a development in the drinking water protection zone along FM 620. The extension passed on a 7-0 vote after staff impressed upon Council members the…
Development • By Michael Kanin • Mar 21, 2014
Critics say city’s new Urban Forest Plan lacks substance
Last week, the Austin City Council unanimously approved a resolution adopting the Austin Urban Forest Plan: A Master Plan for Public Properties. However, critics say it falls short of a comprehensive plan, addressing only public property, which accounts for just…
