The Downtown Commission is asking City Council to reject new height limits for downtown towers and, instead, replace the city’s Downtown Density Bonus Program with a funding system tied to future property-tax revenue. Their recommendation, which was approved last week, contrasts with the Planning Commission’s call a day earlier to set a 700-foot cap in […]
City of Austin Planning Commission
This commission addresses issues of land use as assigned to it by Austin’s City Code. These include the abilities “[t]o make and amend a master plan, recommend approval or disapproval of proposed zoning changes and control land subdivision within neighborhood planning areas and submit, annually, a list of recommended capital improvements.” It has sovereign authority, or the right to make final decisions on certain cases.
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission recommends multifamily upzoning in Hancock
A small parcel in the Hancock neighborhood may see more intense zoning in the future after winning an endorsement from the Planning Commission during their September 23 meeting. Property owners are seeking a change from multifamily residence-limited density, or MF-1, to multifamily residence-medium density, or MF-3, at 3305 and 3303 Duval Street and 501 and […]
Posted inPlanning
East 11th cocktail lounge plan met with opposition, no recommendation
The owner of a site in East Austin’s Rosewood neighborhood is asking for a zoning change that would allow future development to include a bar. So far, that request has been met with opposition from neighbors and city staff, over nine months of postponement and, most recently, ambivalence from the Planning Commission during their Sept. […]
Posted inUncategorized
Planning Commission asks Council to defend the HOME initiative
Austin’s HOME Initiative was supposed to make it easy for homeowners, landlords and developers to build more units per lot, and thus help swell the city’s supply of affordable housing. In a letter to Ctiy Council, the Planning Commission says it has “serious concerns” that HOME may not be delivering as many homes as it […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission recommends industrial rezoning in Govalle
Planning Commissioners have voted unanimously to recommend a rezoning for an industrial site in East Austin’s Govalle neighborhood that could lead to another tall housing development on the Colorado. The site, located at 20 Strandtman Cove near Airport Boulevard, is currently zoned LI, or light industrial, and houses a warehouse for foundation materials. The request […]
Posted inPlanning
Zoning and Platting recommends planning process west of Loop 360
As the Austin Monitor has previously reported, the Zoning and Platting Commission was considering recommending that the city initiate a planning process for the area west of Loop 360 on the north side of the Colorado River. Well, on August 5, the commission passed a motion making just such a recommendation by a 7-1 vote, […]
Posted inZoning
Some neighbors see progress, others see peril in South Lamar rezoning
The Planning Commission has approved yet another rezoning request involving the city’s controversial Density Bonus 90, or DB90, zoning during their July 22 meeting. Commissioners heard from both neighbors in support of a redevelopment that would offer relatively dense housing in a fast-growing neighborhood and neighbors who fear another tall building. This time around the […]
Posted inCity Hall
Zoning and Platting Commission may want duties swap with Planning Commission
Members of a Zoning and Platting Commission working group focused on its roles and responsibilities vis-à-vis the Planning Commission hinted at a plan that would move most simple zoning cases to their docket during their July 15 meeting. “(Generally), things that are site-specific would go to us, while things that are more planning-planning, more policy-based, […]
Posted inZoning
West Sixth Street neighbors endorse industrial zoning
Yet another developer brought yet another big downtown-ish project to the planning commission for a rezoning on July 8, this time at West 6th and Walsh streets in West Austin. The commission recommended this one, too. The proposed zoning change would see a cluster of addresses on that corner currently developed under commercial mixed-use zoning […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commission recommends Hudson Yards-esque development on South Congress
A rezoning to support a massive new development designed by the same firm that built NYC’s Hudson Yards picked up a recommendation from the Planning Commission during a meeting on July 8. If built, the 6.48 acre site at at 500 South Congress would encompass around 950 residential units, 225 hotel rooms, 600,000 square feet […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission settles on recommendation in controversial doggy daycare zoning case
A rezoning case for an out-of-compliance doggy daycare in South Austin’s Sweetbriar neighborhood earned the recommendation of Austin’s Planning Commission (and the scorn of some of neighbors) last week. Planning commissioners heard the case for the second time during their June 10 meeting and voted to recommend the rezoning to City Council. The change from […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commission OKs removal of east side pecan tree
In a case that may tug at the heartwood of tree-hugging Austinites, the Planning Commission approved an variance allowing the cutting of one individual pecan tree during its May 27 meeting. The variance was granted at the request of nonprofit LifeWorks, who owns the property at 819 Tillery Street that the tree sits on. Its […]