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 Wednesday, Environmental Board members asked that Council “seriously consider utilizing the general bond option, rather […]
City of Austin Environmental Commission
An advisory board to members of the Austin City Council. Its purview includes “all projects and programs which affect the quality of life for the citizens of Austin.” In many cases, this includes development projects.
Posted inDevelopment
Board rejects request to construct tram at Lake Austin property
A Lake Austin tram plan stalled at last week’s Environmental Board meeting, where board members worried that their endorsement of the project could set a damaging precedent for the city. Consultant Bruce Aupperle spoke on behalf of the homeowners at 3961 Westlake Drive, who were seeking a variance to allow construction of a tram – […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
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 at once. In the end Council members did approve the ordinance on first reading, […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
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 wastewater service from the city. The 12-acre property that is slated to be home to […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Resources
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 reality of their legal status with regard to the case. Council Member Bill Spelman […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
New regulations are coming to Lake Austin, but not quickly.
Environmental Board members took a look at the proposed changes to the Lake Austin Ordinance last week and decided they needed a bit more time and information before they were ready to weigh in. The board voted to table any decision, and send the ordinance to its Water Quality Regulations committee. The panel plans vote […]
Posted inEnvironment
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 5 percent of the city’s trees. The plan was developed by Austin’s Urban Forestry […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Environmental Board rejects variance request despite threat of lawsuit
Go ahead, go to court. That was the message from the Environmental Board last Wednesday night, after its members refused to be spooked by the threat of a vested rights lawsuit over a southwest Austin property. The Vineyard Business Center, 2009 North FM 620, was seeking a variance that would allow construction within the 40 percent […]
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, Local Government
ZAP denies fill variance for property in city’s northwest ETJ
The Zoning and Platting Commission, following the Environmental Board‘s lead and staff’s counsel, denied a variance Tuesday for a north Austin property that has been in violation of city regulations for years. The site, at 15101 Debba Drive, is in the far northwest portion of the city‘s extraterritorial jurisdiction. Owner Marc Pate Construction was […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Environmental Board worries about subdivision above Barton Springs
The Environmental Board has taken the unusual step of weighing in on a case not formally before them, letting the city know exactly what its members think about a subdivision planned to sit on Little Zilker Creek. The board, though not officially included in the process, was so concerned about a proposed subdivision on Robert […]
Posted inResources
Conservation measures could hike rates for Austin Water users
As the current drought deepens – despite recent rains – city officials may be forced to take steps to install tougher conservation measures as water levels in the Highland Lakes continue to fall. But, as Austin Water Utility Assistant Director Daryl Slusher told the Environmental Board last week, using less water could mean higher water […]