In an effort to assist residents dealing with the aftereffects of prolonged freezing temperatures, heavy snow and freezing rain, City Council approved an ordinance Thursday waiving residential permitting and development fees for repairing or rebuilding structures and removing downed trees. Fees covered by the waiver include permitting, plan review, inspection, demolition and variance fees for […]
Development Services Department
A city department that reviews development and inspection services.
Posted inCity Council
Demolition permitting process redesign delayed again
City Council was scheduled to vote on two separate items Thursday as part of a multi-year effort to update the city’s demolition permitting process, but a number of potential flaws surfaced during Council’s discussions over the resolution and ordinance last week. Among the concerns, Council Member Jimmy Flannigan said the resolution, which directs the city […]
Posted inDevelopment
Springdale Farm project earns variance from Planning Commission
At its Tuesday meeting, the Planning Commission passed an environmental variance for 755 Springdale Road. The applicant, StoryBuilt, has sought the change for more than a year, but the case failed to clear the Environmental Commission earlier this summer due to concerns about building in a critical water quality zone. StoryBuilt is hoping to construct a mixed-use […]
Posted inDevelopment
City clocks for zoning applications stopped ticking, state deadlines still in effect
A mayoral order issued March 17 effectively paused all deadlines outlined in city code until May 1; however, state deadlines remain in effect. For zoning cases, that means conventional rules are suspended – such as applications appearing before a land use commission within 180 days after submittal, or placing a preliminary plan or plat on […]
Posted inDevelopment
City clarifies new construction rules
As promised, the city has clarified its new rules for the construction industry under orders asking Austinites to stay home unless necessary. Since Mayor Steve Adler issued shelter-in-place guidelines March 25, the question of which construction is considered essential has been a topic of debate and some confusion. As of Monday, the city has implemented […]
Posted inCity Hall
Planning, Development Services still operating
Despite the unprecedented challenge presented by the COVID-19 outbreak, the city is attempting to conduct its land use and development services business to keep those processes moving forward. Jerry Rusthoven, leader of the Planning and Zoning Department, told the Austin Monitor on Wednesday that all members of his 55-person staff are doing their jobs from […]
Posted inCity Hall
Former city employee misused computer, email
Last January, members of the city auditor’s investigative team received an allegation that Richard Anderson, a division manager in the Development Services Department, was using his city computer to help him with his other job as an instructor for what the auditors called a “professional organization.” Anderson’s job as a division manager over commercial building […]
Posted inCity Hall
Demolition permitting revision to get going in 2020
The Development Services Department is behind schedule in its effort to revise the city’s demolition permitting process. The department issued a report with nine recommendations for a new process in October 2018. At the time, the department expected to bring its proposed amendments to City Council for implementation in spring 2019, but that timeline has […]
Posted inCity Hall
Audit finds ongoing delays, data problems for Development Services Department
The Office of the City Auditor has found that the city’s Development Services Department is still failing to meet on-time and customer satisfaction goals in its permitting process, even after making changes suggested in a 2015 report that found profound problems with local planning and development processes. The audit also found that Development Services still […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
City releases road map for ‘agent of change,’ sound compatibility issues
The city’s Economic Development and Development Services departments will spend much of the next 12 months implementing a variety of measures to reduce noise complaints and other issues that arise between residents and nearby entertainment businesses. On Wednesday, EDD released a summary of the steps that will need to be taken at the administrative level […]
Posted inCity Hall
Audit says employee misused city computer
Investigators in the Office of the City Auditor have released a report showing that a staff member in the Development Services Department used his city computer to operate his personal online business. Auditors released a report Monday stating they had found evidence that Mauricio Ramos, who works as a site and subdivision inspector, accessed websites […]
Posted inThe Code
City proposes new demolition rules
In response to an audit last year that identified a number of problems in the city’s demolition permitting process, the Development Services Department has recommended a number of changes aimed at streamlining the process and ensuring safety. The recommendations were included in a report published by the department in October. The report followed extensive engagement […]