The Environmental Commission approved a resolution last week recommending a change to the city’s Watershed Protection Ordinance. The change is intended to clarify that the Riparian Zone Mitigation Fund may be used for floodplain restoration projects. Ana Gonzalez, manager of the Environmental Monitoring and Compliance Division for the Watershed Protection Department, explained the proposed changes […]
Watershed Protection Ordinance
The city law, overhauled in 2013, that dictates Austin’s water and environmental code.
Posted inEnvironment
Austin’s Blackland Prairie remains unexpectedly unrecovered
On Wednesday, graduate engineer Lindsay Olinde and Mateo Scoggins, a senior environmental scientist from the Watershed Protection Department, presented the Environmental Commission with the unexpected findings on Blackland Prairie riparian corridors. Contrary to the hypothesis that this historically less-urbanized and – protected watershed would be covered in woody wetland vegetation, it appeared that there is […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Service extension may signal city’s growth plans
In a move that may signal the city’s future growth plans, City Council has postponed decisions on whether to grant water and wastewater service extension requests for the Stokes Ranch development in the city’s Limited Purpose jurisdiction. Watershed Protection Department staff recommended Council deny the requests. Council voted 6-0 at its regular meeting last Thursday […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Environmental Board OKs affordable housing project despite concerns
The Environmental Board was the scene of a showdown last week when a proposed affordable housing project faced environmental concerns from city staff. Developers of the Windy Ridge Apartment Homes at 10910 FM 620 were requesting water and wastewater service from the city. The 12-acre property that is slated to be home to […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council approves zoning changes for Rob Roy multifamily project
Despite the opposition of neighborhood residents, the City Council voted unanimously on March 6 to approve changes to land use rules that would allow developers to build a multifamily project. Rob Roy residents were on hand at last week’s Council meeting to register their opposition to a zoning change that would advance the project. […]
Posted inEnvironment, Resources
Watershed Protection Ordinance gets first rewrite in 28 years
City Council members took something of a strange path getting there but in the end, they approved the first major changes to the city’s Watershed Protection Ordinance since 1986 on a 7-0 vote. Because the ordinance rewrite also involved changes to the Save Our Springs Ordinance, it required a super-majority of City Council to […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Watershed Ordinance rewrite still has some hurdles to overcome
The massive Watershed Protection Ordinance passed its first official hurdle at City Council earlier this month, though a few bones of contention remain and much more discussion is likely on the horizon. After unanimously approving the new ordinance on first reading at its last meeting, Council is expected to take up the ordinance again […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Politics
New Watershed Protection Ordinance up for Council consideration
Austin City Council members may offer only limited approval to a series of dramatic changes to the city’s Watershed Protection Ordinance. The rewrite, a document that exchanges small allowances of additional impervious cover for more protection of the city’s creek watersheds – among other items – is set for a vote and public hearing on […]