Working with advocates for developers and construction workers, City Council Member Greg Casar carefully negotiated the details of an ordinance requiring developers of large commercial projects to pay a living wage and follow other rules set forth in the Better Builder Program in order to qualify for expedited permitting. The ordinance applies to commercial projects […]
Development Services Department
A city department that reviews development and inspection services.
Posted inCity Hall
Poll shows progress at Development Services
When Rodney Gonzales took over the Development Services Department in April 2015, the Zucker Report had reported customer survey results showing that 82 percent of respondents felt that the city’s development review and plan check processes were unnecessarily cumbersome or complex. In addition, the report said that 81 percent of customers felt that if the processing […]
Posted inCity Hall
Plan for new city facility faces questions
City Council members Ann Kitchen and Alison Alter along with Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo expressed skepticism at Tuesday’s work session about a staff plan to move the Development Services Department, the Planning and Zoning Department and some staff from other departments from One Texas Center to a new building to be constructed at Highland […]
Posted inEnvironment
Slow response to flood report frustrates some commissioners
The city does not have many options for supporting individuals who suffer loss or damages from flooding caused by a development upstream, based on an exchange at the Nov. 29 joint meeting of the Planning and the Zoning and Platting commissions. After a presentation on the Land Use Review Process by the Development Services Department […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic zoning debate reaches new heights at BoA
Are brand-new houses just as eligible for historic zoning as older homes? The answer may not surprise you: No, they are not. The fact that this question was the subject of a half-hour discussion at the Board of Adjustment, however, is worthy of notice. At the heart of the discussion was an unusual variance granted […]
Posted inThe Code, Uncategorized
BoA postpones interpretation case, disappoints developer
During a special called meeting on Nov. 21, the Board of Adjustment voted to postpone an interpretation case to its next meeting on Dec. 12. Leah Bojo, a senior manager at Drenner Group representing PSW Real Estate, cried “No!” from the audience as Chair William Burkhardt announced that there was time left only to make […]
Posted inCity Hall
Grove memos defend city process
A lengthy series of memos defending the city’s review of the Grove at Shoal Creek planned unit development emerged yesterday, and it could set the stage for the case returning to City Council later this month. Attorney Jeff Howard, who is representing developers ARG Bull Creek Ltd., said he was “glad the reality of the […]
Posted inBudget
Budget battle day two: Winners and losers
Two battles that played out at Tuesday’s budget session demonstrated that decisions City Council has made throughout the year have left it with few options for the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 budget. At one point, Council even voted to reduce the budget by just $5,000. The funds were intended to go toward tourism. The cut, proposed […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council OKs worker protections with expedited permit review
City Council acted to increase protections for construction workers and speed up the building permit process for some at last night’s meeting. Council members strongly supported a proposal that would allow developers to pay an extra fee in order to pass through Austin’s building permit process more quickly. In exchange, developers must agree to pay […]
Posted inCity Council
Who’s building Austin? As city grows, construction workers are getting left behind
At the end of the workday in downtown Austin, streams of construction workers start pouring out of the city. They spend their days building the condos and office buildings that will make up the new Austin, but they go home to surrounding suburbs and cities where they can afford to live. Much has been made […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Resubdivision reignites discussion at Planning Commission
A section of the city code that periodically causes brows to furrow on the Planning Commission reappeared at the commission’s last meeting. And, although commission members were bound by law in this latest reminder, a vow to take another look at the code emerged, again. It all restarted with a plan to resubdivide just over […]
Posted inThe Code
Charter school fight headed to City Hall
With an ordinance on the table that could mean an end for their current site plan exemptions, some Austin charter schools aren’t waiting for the fight to come to them. Austin Achieve Public Schools, Goodwill Central Texas, Harmony Public Schools, IDEA Public Schools, KIPP Austin Public Schools, Montessori for All, NYOS Charter School and Wayside […]