Plans for yet another downtown hotel took a step forward at this week’s Planning Commission meeting. Conventus Corporation and Finley Company, represented by Armbrust and Brown, were seeking a change from Central Business District (CBD) to CBD-CURE (Central Urban Redevelopment District) for the property at 619 Congress Avenue. Developers hope to construct the 32-story, 409-room […]
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, Transportation
Short-handed Planning Commission fails to endorse bicycle, trails plans
A depleted city Planning Commission was unable to approve either a new city Bicycle Master Plan or an Urban Trails Master Plan last month. Though a majority of commissioners present (four) voted to approve the Bicycle Master Plan, a no vote from Commissioner Brian Roark sank the idea. Because the Planning Commission consists of nine […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council gives go ahead to develop North Central Corridor Plan
The Austin City Council voted unanimously last week to let city staff begin planning updates to portions of Burnet Road and Anderson Lane in a venture unlike any the city has never embarked on before. Under the North Central Austin Corridor Plan, the city’s Planning Commission would first research the area surrounding Burnet Road […]
Posted inDevelopment, Transportation
Residents say redevelopment project doesn’t have enough parking
Rapid redevelopment projects are starting to stack up in parts of East Austin, where even pro-growth residents are beginning to ask for a little breathing room. What they got was a little more time from the Planning Commission. At last Tuesday’s commission meeting, developer Mike McHone spoke on behalf of MX3 Homes LLC, which […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council removes covenant but postpones Lake Austin zoning case
Council members dispensed with at least one aspect of the 2208 Lake Austin Boulevard zoning case Thursday. While members postponed the main zoning case indefinitely, Council unanimously voted to remove a restrictive covenant on the property. Alice Glasco, representing the property owners, asked for the postponement in order to talk to the neighborhood, in […]
Posted inDevelopment
Despite criticism, Planning Commission reviews CodeNEXT rewrite
Though the process continues to draw criticism, the CodeNEXT code rewrite moves forward, and the Planning Commission looked at its latest benchmark last week. Planning and Development ReviewUrban Planner George Zapalac presented the Planning Commission with a draft of CodeNEXT’s Code Diagnosis Report. The final report, which will also detail major issues found in […]
Posted inDevelopment
Developers disagree over projects planned along South First Street
What started out as a dispute between neighbors at the Planning Commission Tuesday turned out to be a disagreement between developers in South Austin. PSW Homes is planning to build more than 47,000 square feet of condominiums at 900 South First Street. In addition to a proposed 34 residential units, they will also be […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council makes progress on Vested Rights Ordinance, with work to go
City Council members made some progress on the city’s new Vested Rights Ordinance Thursday, though it seems they are not close to completing their work on the full ordinance. Council members conditionally passed part of the ordinance unanimously in a fairly efficient manner, though they only agreed to do so on second reading. That […]
Posted inUncategorized
Planning Commission allows beleaguered B&B to finish construction
After months of limbo, the Adams Park Bed and Breakfast is finally on the verge of some relief from a months-long process of staff error and commission meetings that has left them stranded. Owners Liz and Sidney Lock returned to the Planning Commission last week for a second time, after a trip to the […]
Posted inDevelopment
Planning Commission nixes request for more impervious cover
Despite claims of staff error, the Planning Commission was unsympathetic to an East Austin homeowner in search of a zoning fix last week. Blake and Toria English, the owners of 1307 Waller Street, were seeking a change from SF-3 zoning to SF-4a zoning. The change would allow for more impervious cover on the lot, […]
Posted inTransportation
Planning Commission OKs permit for Megabus to use Whitis terminal
After a successful trip to the Planning Commission Tuesday, it looks like Megabus will be making its scheduled arrivals and departures in Austin. The Planning Commission voted 6-2 to grant the Conditional Use Permit that will allow Megabus NE, LLC. to use the parking lot at 2002 Whitis Avenue as a transportation terminal. Commissioners […]
Posted inDevelopment
BoA bounces Hyde Park B&B case back to Planning Commission
The owners of the Adams House Bed-and-Breakfast might be feeling a bit like a pinball, being bounced back and forth between two city boards, neither of which appears to want to deal with their issue. The innkeepers, already dealing with a procedural error by city staff, are looking for someone who will allow them to […]