The city’s Environmental Commission voted on July 5 to recommend an amendment to the Save Our Springs Ordinance that will pave the way for the completion of the long-awaited Barton Springs Bathhouse rehabilitation. The motion passed 10-0, with Commissioner Peter Einhorn absent. At its regular meeting, the commission heard a presentation on the proposed site-specific […]
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 inEnvironment
Environmental Commission wants public engagement on airport development plan update
The Environmental Commission voted to recommend a proposed update to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Master Development Plan at its regular meeting July 5. The original master plan ordinance passed in 1994 was designed as a blueprint for redevelopment of the Bergstrom Air Force Base into the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, including a water quality compliance plan […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics commission dismisses complaints over Zilker Park votes
The Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan continues to generate controversy. This week, accusations about the motivations of two of the plan’s supporters came before the Ethics Review Commission. In April, Austinite Teri Adams filed two complaints with the Ethics Review Commission. One was against Hanna Cofer, a member of the Environmental Commission and chief operating […]
Posted inEnvironment
Joint Sustainability Committee endorses working relationship between commissions
The city’s Joint Sustainability Committee unanimously passed a recommendation last month that the Airport Advisory Commission and Environmental Commission form a working relationship. “The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends the Airport Advisory Commission, and Environmental Commission, and the Department of Aviation establish a collaborative relationship, which will allow the Environmental Commission to provide recommendations, advice and […]
Posted inTransportation
Updated: Airport Advisory Commission does not approve working relationship with Environmental Commission
Though it won the votes of the majority of Airport Advisory Commissioners in attendance, due to vacancies the group did not approve a resolution establishing a working relationship with the city’s Environmental Commission with regard to the environmental impacts of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport expansion projects. At the commission’s May 10 meeting, Chair Wendy Price Todd […]
Posted inEnvironment
Airport Advisory, Environmental commissions consider working relationship
The Airport Advisory Commission is considering a resolution this week that would establish a working relationship with the Environmental Commission. The change would allow the Environmental Commission to advise the Airport Advisory Commission on airport projects that may have impacts beyond the boundaries of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. According to the resolution the Airport Advisory Commission […]
Posted inEnvironment
Watershed Protection wants code change to allow funding for floodplain restoration projects
The Environmental Commission approved a resolution last week recommending a change to the city’s Watershed Protection Ordinance. The change is intended to clarify that the Riparian Zone Mitigation Fund may be used for floodplain restoration projects. Ana Gonzalez, manager of the Environmental Monitoring and Compliance Division for the Watershed Protection Department, explained the proposed changes […]
Posted inEnvironment
Restoration of wetland impacted by airport jet-fuel storage facility construction site leak nearing completion
Work to remediate a non-toxic mud spill on protected wetland near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will conclude at the end of this month. The spill occurred in September as crews bored a tunnel underneath the airport runway. The Environmental Commission reviewed the status of the cleanup during an April 19 update on the construction of the […]
Posted inParks
Environmental Commission recommends Zilker vision plan along with list of conditions
The city’s Environmental Commission voted last week to approve a resolution recommending the Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan – albeit with a lengthy list of recommendations that include further public engagement and environmental monitoring. The resolution notes that the vision plan includes environmental site analysis of the general ecology of the park, review of environmental […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental commissioners want to preserve Congress Avenue trees
At its regular meeting this month, members of the city’s Environmental Commission urged planners to prioritize saving as many trees as possible in the reimagining of Congress Avenue. The questions came after a staff briefing on the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative. This is the first time the commission had heard an update on the […]
Posted inEnvironment
Report: Austin needs to take action to mitigate impacts of watercraft overcrowding on Lady Bird Lake
Austin must take action to better manage watercraft on Lady Bird Lake, according to results from a comprehensive lake capacity study unveiled at the Environmental Commission on March 1. The Parks and Recreation Board commissioned the study in December 2021 to assess the impacts of high levels of traffic from watercraft on the lake, including […]
Posted inEnvironment
Floodplain variance case fails at Environmental Commission over process concerns
Two proposed drainage variances for a property in the West Bouldin Creek Watershed failed to win a recommendation from the Environmental Commission last week after a prolonged process disagreement between city staff and the applicant. Commissioners voted to recommend City Council deny the variances after raising concerns about approving variances before staffers have fully vetted […]