As more than one City Council member noted, the conclusion to a 5-acre farm’s appeal for more outdoor entertainment allowances had been a long time in the making. And on Thursday it ended in favor of the farm owners. With a vote of 10-1 (with Council Member Ora Houston opposing), Council members granted an appeal […]
Urban Farm Ordinance
Austin’s Urban Farm Ordinance controls how farms within the city can be used, limiting the types of activities that can take place on farms, and defining what constitutes an urban farm.
Posted inAustin
Springdale Farm conflict moves to AISD
A dispute that was seemingly settled by the Planning Commission made its way to the Austin Independent School District on Monday night after residents surrounding Springdale Farm proactively reached out to trustees during public comment. Springdale Farm, a 5-acre farm located in East Austin at 755 Springdale Road, filed an appeal June 19 after commissioners denied […]
Posted inPlanning, Uncategorized
Springdale Farm loses event fight
The question of how an urban farm should be used got heated at a meeting of the Planning Commission on Tuesday when a motion to grant a conditional use permit for outdoor entertainment and off-site parking at East Austin’s Springdale Farm failed. Owners of the 5-acre farm at 755 Springdale Road sought a permit allowing a […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
After long debate, Council OKs changes to Urban Farm Ordinance
After hours of discussion, the City Council approved changes to the Urban Farm Ordinance Thursday night, giving East Austin neighborhoods a victory in the battle to stop or prevent slaughtering of fowl and rabbits in single-family neighborhoods—the most important of their demands. The final vote was unanimous. Farmers in single-family neighborhoods were also […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Urban Farm stakeholders try to cut deal on chicken slaughtering
With Council members set to vote on an ordinance that would memorialize city policy in regard to urban farms, at least two stakeholders were pitching a compromise over the hotly contested issue Wednesday afternoon. It remained unclear, however, whether their efforts would win Council approval. Planning Commissioner Richard Hatfield and HausBar Farms owner Dorsey […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
City Council to take up battle over Urban Farms Ordinance
A fight over revisions to the city’s Urban Farm Ordinance has made its way to City Council, but with a postponement looming, that fight may not be over quite yet. Opponents to ordinance changes are calling for a postponement, which they are likely to get, unless City Council breaks from the long-standing understanding that […]