Though it has been in the works for years, a plan to require more construction-site recycling and reuse of materials hit a small road bump at the Planning Commission last week. Commissioners voted unanimously to send the proposed code amendments back to their Codes and Ordinances Committee, where they hope to get more input on […]
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 inDevelopment
Planning commissioners explore development options for East Austin
Will there be a development moratorium on the east side? Probably not, but the Planning Commission is taking a closer look at its options for slowing development in the East Cesar Chavez corridor. Commissioners examined the tools available for dealing with the extreme development pressures currently facing the corridor at their most recent meeting Tuesday. […]
Posted inDevelopment
Planning Commission delays action on new Crestview church redevelopment proposal
It’s Round 2 in the fight between Crestview neighborhood activists and developer David Kahn. The neighborhood won the first round in May, when City Council declined to endorse Kahn’s request for a zoning change to build a 70,000-square-foot office complex and 10 apartment units on a property formerly occupied by the Korean United Presbyterian Church […]
Posted inAustin
Reporter’s Notebook: Wild Wild West Sixth
Point taken… A briefing about the proposed Austin Police Department budget took an unusual turn Wednesday when City Council Member Don Zimmerman and APD Chief Art Acevedo got into a philosophical exchange about crime on Sixth Street. The debate took place during a discussion about the APD’s request to add 82 new patrol officers to […]
Posted inThe Code
Planning Commission to take a closer look at neighborhood infill tools
Most members of the Planning Commission appear to believe that something should change about city infill tools attached to neighborhood plans, but none appear certain about what specifically should change. After a half-hour discussion with city staff about how neighborhoods dealing with unwanted infill tools could remove them from their neighborhood plans and how the […]
Posted inPreservation
Planning Commission OKs landmark status for former home of legendary businesswoman
Celebrating female entrepreneurship, racial harmony and, of course, beautiful architecture, the Planning Commission voted to recommend historic zoning for an 85-year-old house at 113 West 33rd St. last week. After hearing Steve Sadowsky, the Historic Preservation Officer for the city, argue that the house represented a significant place in Austin’s history because it had been […]
Posted inCity Hall
Land Use Commissions look for more cooperation
What does the overhaul of municipal commissions mean for the future of city planning in Austin? Those involved in development policy at City Hall hope that a larger City Council, which has led to more appointees to both the Planning Commission and the Zoning and Platting Commission, will ease the burden on individual commissioners by […]
Posted inPlanning
Commission reverses Mt. Zion church decision
Confronted with new information about zoning regulations related to the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church at 1801 Pennsylvania Ave., the Planning Commission voted Tuesday night to reverse a decision it had made in June aimed at helping the church sell the property. Commissioners also voted on 7-3 on Tuesday to recommend denial of Greater Mount […]
Posted inPlanning
Classical School faces new problems (corrected)
The city of Austin’s Planning Commission postponed a decision on a Conditional Use Permit for the Austin Classical School as commissioners look for a compromise between the school and its neighbors. The school was seeking a Conditional Use Permit in order to open and operate a primary school with 99 students at 6301 Woodrow Ave. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning, Zoning
ZAP also suffers from lack of legal input, says commissioner
Planning Commissioners aren’t the only people at City Hall grumbling about the city law department. Jackie Goodman, a former mayoral candidate and former longtime Austin City Council member who is now vice chair of the Zoning and Platting Commission, said she is also frustrated by her panel’s lack of access to city attorneys, who she […]
Posted inPlanning
Mistakes add more twists to East Austin church case
Most of the Planning Commissioners were attending their first meeting last week. After initial introductions, they quickly found themselves in the deep end, when they were asked to consider the fate of East Austin’s Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The case is fairly complicated on its own, and staff errors on church properties at both […]
Posted inDevelopment, Monitor News & Media, Planning, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Planning Commissioners look ahead
City of Austin Planing Commissioners Stephen Oliver and Jean Stevens join Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about the future of the commission. Show is embedded below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/215442147″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]