Preservation fight perseveres… Delivering complications once again, the ongoing struggle to create a local historic district in the Bluebonnet Hills section of Travis Heights has experienced another unique twist. This past week, opponents delivered to the city a second valid petition against the district and demanded that it be included in the case, despite a […]
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
Mt. Zion rezoning finally moves on to Council
It may have taken the most circuitous route imaginable to get there, but the the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church rezoning case is moving on to City Council after bouncing around the Planning Commission since June. This time, the church had the support of the neighborhood in seeking a zoning change from General Office (GO) […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Murky CodeNEXT process raises eyebrows at Planning Commission
This month, the city will hold events designed to test aspects of the ongoing CodeNEXT Land Development Code rewrite, and last week some Planning commissioners were concerned that they were unprepared for the exercise. The events, called “Sound Check,” will take place Nov. 16-21 and feature open studio hours, speakers and even live music, with […]
Posted inPlanning
East side Boys and Girls Club draws crowd at Planning Commission
City Hall was filled with children from the Boys and Girls Club of Austin – and its opponents – at the Tuesday night meeting of the Planning Commission. The students were there to support a zoning change from Single Family (SF-3) and Neighborhood Commercial (LR) zoning to Community Commercial (GR) zoning at 4717 Turner Lane, […]
Posted inThe Code
STR moratorium headed back to Council
Though the city continues to untangle City Council’s myriad proposed amendments to the Short Term Rental Ordinance, a proposed ordinance placing a moratorium on commercial short-term rentals sailed through the Planning Commission on Tuesday night. If approved by Council, the ordinance will change city regulations in order to suspend the issuance of Type 2 short-term […]
Posted inZoning
Strip club shot down by Planning Commission
Plans to build a strip club at Ben White and I-35 hit a bump at the Planning Commission, where a “morals clause” in a private restrictive covenant gave some commissioners pause. Commissioners denied the zoning change in a vote of 9-1-1, with Commissioner Jose Vela voting in opposition and Commissioner James Schissler abstaining. For 31 […]
Posted inDevelopment
City seeks to close charter school loophole
According to the city’s Land Development Code, organizations planning to build open-enrollment charter schools are exempt from various development regulations, including some intended to mitigate flood and traffic impacts. This revelation has grabbed the attention of community members as well as city leaders, who have asked staff to draft up possible ways to revise the […]
Posted inCity Hall
Former Planning commissioners give newbies a piece of their mind
It’s not easy serving on a city land-use commission. If sitting through meetings that often stretch into the early morning hours isn’t bad enough, those who submit to the task are mere volunteers and thus forced to study up on the issues during whatever spare time they have between their day jobs and personal commitments. […]
Posted inPlanning
Mt. Zion zoning turns a corner
After months of struggle and complications, it looks as though there may be compromise on the horizon for East Austin’s Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The new tack will have to go through the normal approval process in the future, but at their last meeting, Planning Commissioners voted unanimously to initiate zoning for 1801 and […]
Posted inPlanning
Tarrytown subdivision delayed over questions about area flooding
A planned subdivision in Tarrytown has been delayed to allow Planning Commissioners to take a closer look at neighborhood concerns about flooding and learn more about what the city has planned for the area. City staff has determined that the resubdivision at 3600 Meredith St. meets city criteria and is recommending its approval, as is […]
Posted inThe Code
Confusion reigns over Zoning and Platting Commission’s duties
The Zoning and Platting Commission’s attempts to work more closely with the Planning Commission continue to encounter confusion and pushback from commissioners, city staff and City Council. For starters, Chair Gabriel Rojas is still smarting over Council’s decision last month to abolish the Economic and Capital Budget Joint Committee, one of the two joint committees […]
Posted inDevelopment
Korean church rezoning inspires competing petitions
Last week, the Planning Commission gave its blessing to a new set of plans for redeveloping the former site of the Korean United Presbyterian Church in Crestview. The case will now head to City Council with neighborhood supporters, a list of conditions and a valid petition against it. Developer David Kahn is seeking a zoning […]