City Council approved planned unit development (PUD) zoning on second reading for the Sun Chase development in southeast Travis County, also known as the Southeast Travis County Municipal Utility District, on Thursday, with a new provision for 3 percent of single-family lots to be set aside for affordable housing. The developer’s attorney, Richard Suttle, told […]
Planned Unit Development
A zoning classification designated by the city to allow greater flexibility for projects within its boundaries.
Posted inDevelopment
Potential Shoal Creek development sparks debate among neighbors
In Austin’s Shoal Creek neighborhood, residents are divided over the prospect of a massive new mixed-use development. While some welcome the growth, others say the proposal hasn’t been properly vetted. But taking a walk around the Shoal Creek neighborhood, one can clearly see that, for or against, the residents are all concerned. Along a quiet […]
Posted inDevelopment
Activists upset about Grove transportation review
Members of the Bull Creek Road Coalition are expressing alarm about what they consider an abrupt end to the transportation review process for Milestone Community Builder’s planned unit development called the Grove at Shoal Creek. Architect Chris Allen sent out a lengthy email to the media on Monday saying that members of the city’s transportation […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: You should see the other guy
CodeNEXT, now… Though in the background (for some people), the CodeNEXT Land Development Code rewrite continues to chug along. And this month: a new milestone! The city has released its draft “Natural and Built Environment Code Prescription” (found in its entirety here). The prescription is the first of four such drafts that, according to a […]
Posted inCourts
City strikes back on Pilot Knob lawsuit
Though downtown has been almost completely colonized by South by Southwest, a development in the Pilot Knob lawsuit filed by Brian Rodgers last month managed to break through the tech fog Monday. Taking into account the March 22 settlement deadline from Rodgers, it was almost a given that the city would not be settling the […]
Posted inCity Council
Council starts Pilot Knob amendments
City Council voted 10-1 Thursday to start the amendment process on the affordable housing portion of the zoning ordinance that created the Pilot Knob planned unit development in Southeast Travis County. Council Member Don Zimmerman voted no. Council initiated the amendments, which relate only to affordable housing and waiver of city development and water utility […]
Posted inCity Council
The nitty-gritty of a Pilot Knob reconsideration
City Council members will decide today whether to revisit an affordable housing deal approved by vote in December. And how they might re-table the deal is a bit mystifying. Council Member Ellen Troxclair is proposing an amendment that would initiate a second look at the deal. (Council members Leslie Pool, Ora Houston and Don Zimmerman […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council dilemma: Make growth pay for itself?
When City Council takes up the question of whether to reconsider the zoning case for the Pilot Knob/Brookfield planned unit development on Thursday, it will be threading its way through two competing policies as well as zoning laws. Those competing policies can generally be labeled “making growth pay for itself” and “helping solve the affordable […]
Posted inPlanning
After Austin Oaks charrette, strong divisions remain
Despite some hope that a charrette process would lead to smooth(er) sailing for the Austin Oaks planned unit development, conflict persists. In late January, developers and neighborhood representatives spent five days working on the details of the PUD, which is proposed for the southwest corner of MoPac Expressway and Spicewood Springs Road. The idea was […]
Posted inCourts
Rodgers offers to settle Pilot Knob suit with city
Bill Aleshire, who represents civic activist Brian Rodgers in his open meetings lawsuit against the city over the handling of the Pilot Knob case, has offered to settle the suit. Rodgers is asking the city to rescind its action or to sign a final judgment declaring the City Council action void. On Dec. 17, Council […]
Posted inCity Council
Council postpones Pilot Knob decision
City Council voted 9-2 early Friday morning to postpone consideration of changes to the controversial Pilot Knob zoning and fee transfer deal. At the same time, Council directed city staff to provide a financial analysis and briefing on the impact of the fee transfer portion of the deal, which would move up to $81.4 million […]
Posted inCourts
Updated: Rodgers sues city to stop Pilot Knob deal
Civic activist Brian Rodgers has filed suit against the city of Austin over the Pilot Knob deal, claiming violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act when City Council voted to approve the agreement on Dec. 17. In the lawsuit, filed Wednesday by attorney Bill Aleshire, Rodgers asks the court to void Council’s adoption of the […]