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Tag Archives: Development Services Department

Tree ordinances continue to take root in Austin

Since 2020, Austin’s tree regulations and protections have preserved a total of 1,397,678 inches of trees within city limits. Thus far in Fiscal Year 2025, 4,670 inches of trees have been surveyed and 4,250 inches have been preserved, with 91…

Environment • By Hunter Simmons • Nov 14, 2024

Report finds slashed site plan review times, with further improvements on tap

An analysis of the city’s ongoing work to improve its widely criticized permitting process for building within the city shows substantial improvements in turnaround times for the main types of reviews, with further gains expected as the city moves forward…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 30, 2024

Benefits of urban trees justify projected price tag for city’s tree inventory plan

Funding to conduct an inventory of Austin’s public trees did not make it into this year’s budget as a City Council-approved resolution called for, but city officials say cost recommendations should be ready for the next budget cycle. An Oct.…

Environment • By Amy Smith • Oct 18, 2024

Planning Commission calls for reorganization at City Hall

Planning Commission members have unanimously approved a series of budget requests aimed at reforming and streamlining the way their commission is run. Most significantly, the recommendations would establish an Office of the Land Use Commissions that would work with the…

City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 8, 2024

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City will promote relocation of homes as alternative to demolition

The city has identified a number of ways to increase the relocation and deconstruction of homes as an alternative to demolition that could take place amid the push for more housing on smaller parcels of land. A memo issued last…

Preservation • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 5, 2024

Will Austin really be the next single-staircase city?

City staff is pushing back on a proposal to allow single stairways for multifamily buildings. City Council unanimously approved a resolution to amend the code and allow multifamily projects up to six stories to have a single staircase in May.…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 2, 2024

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City’s historic preservation commission and code enforcement look to get in sync

After several recent cases that illustrated a divide between the city’s code enforcement policies and historic preservation aims, Historic Landmark Commission members are working to make sure things are more aligned and less hopelessly complicated for property owners who find…

Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jun 12, 2024

Downtown Commission suggests tweaks to 'agent of change' noise requirements

The Downtown Commission wants the city to take a more proactive role in a proposed new measure that seeks to address friction over noise levels between new residential developments and existing music venues. Last week’s meeting included a presentation on…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 23, 2024

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Audit shows changes needed at Development Services Department

Nearly a decade after a damning evaluation of the city’s planning and development processes resulted in more than 460 recommended changes, a recent audit of two smaller components of the Development Services Department found some steps left incomplete from a…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 8, 2023

Council approves development changes as required by state law

With several new state laws going into effect on Friday, Sept. 1, Austin City Council approved some significant changes to the rules governing the city’s Development Services Department this past Thursday. Most of those changes are aimed at making it…

Development • By Jo Clifton • Sep 7, 2023

Council hears plan to overhaul site plan review process

Few who have dealt with the city of Austin’s site plan review process would dispute that it’s cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive. But consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which analyzed the process and then outlined improvements for City Council at Tuesday’s…

Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Aug 30, 2023

Planning Commission recommends airport master development plan update

The Planning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend an update to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s Master Development Plan Ordinance. The airport’s Master Development Plan Ordinance must be updated every 10 years. It allows the city to look at the site comprehensively,…

Planning • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 24, 2023

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