H2Oh no… Like country rubes dazzled by the mystic arts of the boardwalk illusionist, sometimes we journalists are so awestruck by an apparent attempt at math that we lose all professional incredulity and report it with gushing deference. Such it was then that when Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea recently told a gaggle of reporters […]
neighborhood planning contact team
A neighborhood plan contact team is a group of individuals designated to be the stewards or advocates of their adopted neighborhood plan. They work with city staff towards the implementation of the plan recommendations, review and initiate plan amendments, serve as community points of contact, and work on behalf of other neighborhood stakeholders.
Posted inCity Hall, Uncategorized
Audit critical of city, neighborhood contact teams
The city’s neighborhood planning processes “are inequitable, lack transparency, and may constitute a risk to fair housing choice,” according to an audit conducted by the Office of the City Auditor. Auditors presented their findings to the City Council Audit and Finance Committee on Monday. The audit also concluded that the planning process does not have […]
Posted inAustin
As East Austin changes, what power do neighbors have to stop it?
Recently, residents of the city’s East Cesar Chavez neighborhood asked a city of Austin committee to put in place interim controls potentially limiting the influx of new bars, restaurants and breweries. The decision was delayed – and then eventually denied. Had the action gone through, it would have been a rare decision. As things stand […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
Planning and Neighborhoods Committee approves contact-team changes
City Council’s Planning and Neighborhoods Committee has voted unanimously to move forward on staff-proposed changes that would add oversight and compliance requirements to neighborhood-plan contact teams. The ordinance, which on Jan. 12 was also approved by the Planning Commission, would change the city’s Land Development Code to clarify that a neighborhood-plan contact team’s bylaws must […]
Posted inPlanning
Contact-team changes sail toward Council
This past fall, City Council asked for some uniformity and oversight for the city’s neighborhood-planning contact teams. And now, after hearing from stakeholders, those proposed changes are refined and on the way to becoming a reality. The Planning and Zoning Department is now recommending that the city clarify the role of the contact-team bylaws template […]
Posted inAustin
Neighborhood team scrutiny moves forward
With City Council Member Pio Renteria in the lead and several other Council members offering amendments, Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday that will start the process for reining in any neighborhood teams – also known as contact teams – that might be failing transparency tests or discouraging participation by newcomers. Renteria gave the longest […]
Posted inThe Code
City looks to strengthen contact team rules
The way that the city’s neighborhood-plan contact teams do business may be changing. City Council Member Pio Renteria is pushing for code amendments that will create clearer guidelines and more city oversight for Austin’s contact teams. On Monday, his resolution was at the Planning and Neighborhoods Committee. Neighborhood-plan contact teams manage adopted neighborhood plans in […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council denies East Cesar Chavez restaurant a late-hours permit
East Austin’s Weather Up Restaurant will have to weather at least another year without late night hours, after an unsuccessful trip to City Council last week. In February, the Planning Commission rejected the request for the conditional use permit for Weather Up in an even split. The owners took the case to Council as […]
Posted inDevelopment
Planning Commission nixes plans for Montopolis condo project
Montopolis Neighborhood residents’ fears of gentrification were convincing enough to sway the Planning Commission from endorsing a condominium project last week. Kemp Street Properties LLC was seeking the change from SF-3 zoning to SF-6 zoning on 5.38 acres at 600 Kemp Street in the Montopolis neighborhood. The change would allow construction of 45 condominiums. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council rejects bid to remove restrictive covenant on east side lot
City Council members shot down a bid to remove a restrictive covenant on an east side property last week, sending developers back to the drawing board. Hector Avilia was asking for termination of a restrictive covenant at 1120 Tillery Street. Currently, the 3.5 acre lot is home to Ted’s Trees, and zoned for that […]
Posted inDevelopment
Planning Commission opposes church’s expansion of parking lot
Though there were hopes that it could help alleviate parking troubles on South Congress Avenue, the Planning Commission shot down a zoning change request by the Congress Avenue Baptist Church at the commission’s most recent meeting. The next stop for the request is the City Council. The church at 1511 South Congress Avenue was […]
Posted inDevelopment
Previously denied fence variance back before Board of Adjustment
A contentious request for a variance on an East Cesar Chavez fence is back before the Board of Adjustment, even though the board had denied the same variance a year ago. Agent Phil Moncada last represented Michael Kleinman a year ago in his pursuit of a variance for a 12-foot fence at 3107 East […]