As its first land use case, City Council heard an appeal of a conditional use permit for an affordable housing project Thursday. One thing Council members learned immediately is how difficult fulfilling all of their campaign promises might be, especially when they stand in direct opposition to each other. On one hand, there is 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 inDevelopment
Planners approve extended hours for Odd Duck
After postponing 12 other public hearings Tuesday, the Planning Commission approved a request for a late-night permit to serve alcohol from Odd Duck, a restaurant on South Lamar Boulevard. The conditional-use permit, which allows the eatery to stay open until 2 a.m., seven days a week, puts the Odd Duck in line with neighboring bars […]
Posted inPremium Types
Tip Sheet: Planning Commission 1-27
The City of Austin Planning Commission meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday. In the interest of saving space, we will not publish the entire agenda here. It is available on the City’s website. Items of interest include: D1. New Business: Discussion and possible action to rescind action taken on January 13, 2015, regarding case # SPC-2014-0175A […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Local Politics
Subcommittee meeting on ADUs canceled
A meeting of the Planning Commission Codes and Ordinances Subcommittee was canceled Tuesday because not enough members showed up. Voting members James Nortey, Jean Stevens and Nuria Zaragoza along with ex officio member Jeff Jack waited 30 minutes after the 6 p.m. start time before calling it quits. Nortey said he would try to organize […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Zoning
Planners back apartment complex on Burnet Road
An automotive repair shop on Burnet Road could become a 60-foot-tall apartment building, if City Council approves a zoning change for the property. At a Planning Commission meeting last week, Robert Crump and Charles Gordon, owners of the property at 8528 Burnet Road — where Gordon Automotive sits — sought the commission’s recommendation to change […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Environment, Zoning
Neighbors rally against eastside hotel proposal
Developers seeking a variance to turn an old warehouse on Red Bluff Road into a hotel were met with opposition from neighbors, who say the property owners should build within zoning laws to maintain the area along the Colorado River. At the Planning Commission on Tuesday night, Daniel Woodroffe, president of landscape architecture firm DWG, […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Land Development Code
Hyde Park rezoning tests process, patience
A plan for a new restaurant in Hyde Park revealed bigger problems than just zoning Tuesday night, when a code interpretation had Planning Commissioners calling for a change in procedure. Navid Hoomanrad is seeking a zoning change from single family (SF-3) to Neighborhood Office (NO). Hoomanrad is also asking to amend the Hyde Park Neighborhood […]
Posted inAustin, City Hall, Development
Planning Commission to revisit Lightsey 2
Despite still being in the early stages of development, PSW Real Estate’s Lightsey 2 project continues to provoke outrage in South Austin. And despite approving the preliminary plan at an earlier meeting, the Planning Commission will now take another look at it and consider reversing that decision. Last week, Planning Commissioners took the unusual step of […]
Posted inAustin, Development
Commission questions Coronado Hills condos
A condominium project at the intersection of two of Austin’s busiest roads failed to win the approval of the Planning Commission last week. Currently, the 22.48 acres at US 290 and US 183 are zoned General Office (GO). Developers Cozy Living, LLC, AAA Fire & Safety, and Sayed Miri were asking to add Mixed Use […]
Posted inDevelopment, Zoning
High-end Montopolis condos get planning approval
A proposal for high-priced condominiums in Montopolis is moving forward, despite concerns from the neighborhood that the project could be a harbinger of gentrification. PRJ Development was asking for a neighborhood plan amendment from Civic to Mixed Use and to add Mixed Use to the current Limited Office zoning on just under 5 acres at […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Housing
Housing, not retail, on the way for East Austin
A fight for more retail space proved unsuccessful at the Planning Commission last week, where commissioners unanimously approved a conditional use permit that will allow an affordable housing project to be built despite the neighborhood’s wishes. “It may not be perfect … But you can’t always get perfection, especially when you are trying to build […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
Neighbors lose fight against Lightsey plan
As an illustration of how heated the discussion about the South Austin Lightsey 2 project has become, Planning and Development Review Department Director Greg Guernsey opened the meeting by clarifying that his staff had not taken graft and that he found the suggestion “repulsive.” Typically, commissioners have little discretion when voting on preliminary plans that […]