As part of a protracted effort to smooth out the development process, the city’s Development Services Department unveiled a new website on Thursday to track improvements to the site plan process. The site comes out of an independent assessment of the current site plan review process that found a convoluted process involving 1,470 steps and more than 250 staff members for each plan. Now, implementation of recommendations found in the report are underway. “The website launched today lays out the initiatives the City will be focused on, and as each individual initiative is worked on, more detailed information will be added. The page will be updated regularly and will also provide opportunities for questions and comments along the way. Monthly updates will also be provided in the Building Connections newsletter and every opportunity will be taken to celebrate critical milestones,” according to the press release.

Cement is a major source of global carbon emissions, and a city pilot program is using eco-friendly concrete technology for sidewalks on Burleson Road between Ben White Boulevard and Chapman Lane, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and improve the sidewalk network. Crews began work last week on new sidewalks, curb ramps and driveways. How does green concrete technology work? As concrete is being mixed, captured carbon dioxide is injected into it. Then carbon dioxide is sequestered forever in the hardened concrete, even if the project is torn down. The process also increases the concrete strength and uses less cement. A lower carbon footprint cement (Type 1L) in this mix design will effectively create a twofold reduction in CO2. According to CarbonCure, each cubic yard of concrete made with this technology can save an average of 25 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Austin’s sidewalk pilot project will prevent about 2,500 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. The Office of the City Engineer has proposed the project to test out and start using this technology that benefits both the environment and the community.

The Seismic Dance Event planned in November has a few minor issues to resolve before the county can issue the necessary mass gathering permit, Fire Marshal Tony Callaway told the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. Described as a “boutique music festival” for house, techno and underground music enthusiasts, Seismic Dance Event is scheduled Nov. 10-12 at the Concourse Project event site on Burleson Road. “I’ve sent you over a copy of approval from Austin Public Health, (Transportation and Natural Resources) has issued a report approving the concept of the traffic plan, they are wanting a few miscellaneous items to be addressed,” Callaway said.  The Travis County Sheriff’s Office has approved the security plan except for a few details, Callaway said. Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Travillion was the only commissioner to comment on the permit. He said the name of the event concerns him. “It just makes me a little nervous that it is a ‘seismic dance event,’” Travillion said. “It just kind of suggests it will be loud and disruptive.” The permit and public hearing are required by state law. Commissioners will bring the permit up for a vote in a future meeting.

Construction starts Monday, Oct. 30, along West Gate Boulevard at South Lamar Boulevard to reduce crashes in the area, which the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department’s Vision Zero team identified as a high-crash intersection. Enhancing sidewalk corners would lower cars’ turning speeds and reduce the distance pedestrians must cross, and other plans include raising the curb median and improving signage and striping for better visibility. Construction, which is funded by the 2020 mobility bond, is expected to last three months.

In addition to the upcoming public meetings that will focus on changes to the Land Development Code, the city will also be holding an open house to inform residents about proposed changes to building and occupancy regulations. The open house, which will be held at the Austin Central Library on Monday, Nov. 6, will be a chance for the public to talk with city staff after this Thursday’s meeting, but before the changes go back to Council for a final vote. (Currently, that vote is scheduled for Dec. 7.) Unlike the other meetings, attendees can visit for as long (or short) as they want between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. Spanish interpretation will be available on-site, and other translation services are available on-demand by calling 311 at least five days prior to the open house. More information about the amendments, meetings and open house can be found here.

After some much-needed rain, with more on the horizon this week, Travis County has lifted its burn ban, effective Oct. 24. Despite the improving conditions that led to Travis County Chief Fire Marshal Tony Callaway’s declaration, the county continues to urge caution when burning things outdoors and advised residents to call 911 if a fire gets out of control. Residents are also advised to call their local fire department before burning things outdoors and to follow state regulations when doing so.

If you’d like to join thousands of Austinites coming together to help improve and transform over 80 parks, trails and greenbelts throughout the city, now’s the time to volunteer for It’s My Park Day. Volunteer registration is now open for Austin Parks Foundation’s biannual citywide volunteer event, now in its 20th year. On Saturday, Nov. 4, volunteer projects will include city-approved tree mulching, root collar clearing, habitat restoration and trail maintenance at Rosewood Neighborhood Park, Ponciana Neighborhood Park, Georgian Acres Neighborhood Park and more. The event results in an average of $650,000 in volunteer labor each year, saving Austin’s underfunded Parks & Recreation Department time and money. Preregistered volunteers will get a special 20th anniversary T-shirt that provides access to discounts or freebies at giveback partner locations. Click here for more information on this event and for a full list of park projects and hours.

This Saturday, Oct. 28, Travis County Constables and the Drug Enforcement Administration will collect expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs from the public for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The day is a way for people to remove drugs from their home for safe disposal and to help prevent misuse and contamination of the local water supply. Residents can drop off medications at any of the five locations below from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. anonymously and with no questions asked. No needles will be accepted. The Travis County Constable precincts below, in fact, collect unwanted prescription drugs year-round as authorized DEA collection sites through collection boxes in their lobbies, which are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week.

Adan Ballesteros
Constable Pct. 2
10409 Burnet Rd. Ste. 150
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 854-9697

Stacy Suits
Constable Pct. 3
8656-B W. Highway 71 Ste. 132
Austin, TX 78735
(512) 854-7245

George Morales
Constable Pct. 4
4011 McKinney Falls Pkwy. Ste. 1100
Austin, TX 78744
(512) 854-9488

Carlos Lopez
Constable Pct. 5
1003 Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 854-9100

Early voting for the Nov. 7 election starts today. Registered Travis County voters can cast ballots at any of the polling stations in the county. More information on polling locations, ballots and voter requirements can be found at the Austin Area League of Women Voters. For Travis County voters, this election features a county bond proposition and a number of constitutional amendments.

Early voting will run from Monday, Oct. 23, to Friday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. In addition, the four voting mega-centers at Ben Hur Shrine Center, Austin Permitting & Development Center, Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex and Southpark Meadows will be open until 10 p.m. on the first and last day of early voting. And if you miss early voting, the polls will open once again on election day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

This Thursday at 2 p.m., Austin City Council and the Planning Commission will combine to form City Hall’s most anticipated supergroup in an attempt to shepherd changes to the Land Development Code through the normal process with an abnormal amount of haste. A post from Mayor Kirk Watson lays out what the meeting will look like. “We have worked with City Staff and we will bring in infrastructure to create a second temporary dais that will be set up in front of the permanent dais. The Planning Commission will be seated on the newly constructed temporary dais and Council Members will sit in their current seats on the permanent dais,” he writes. In information more germane to the general public, Watson also notes that anyone wanting to speak at the meeting can sign up online until noon Wednesday – or in person at City Hall until 1:15. “Each speaker will have two minutes to speak. People signed up to speak will be able to donate time. Time may be donated to a person so that the speaker will have up to 6 minutes total time to address the joint bodies. People wishing to donate time must coordinate with the city clerk prior to being called. All parties (speakers and donors) must be present in person to be eligible for donation of time,” Watson continues. At the meeting, Planning commissioners and City Council members will hear public comment on proposed amendments to the city code that would allow up to three housing units on single-family lots, remove occupancy-limit restrictions and revise regulations that apply to properties with two housing units. Though all of these resolutions were easily approved by City Council previously, Austin Neighborhoods Council, GAVA and Community Not Commodity are holding a press conference Tuesday to protest the “HOME” initiative, which would allow multiple housing units on properties.

Reunir: Historia del Día de los Muertos makes its debut online with an in-person event and ceremony entitled Alma Y Corazón at 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. It’s a digital history exhibit about the history and traditions of the holiday as celebrated in Austin, Texas, Mexico and Latin America. The event will include music, food, speakers and a tour of the graves of Tejano ancestors at Oakwood Cemetery Chapel, 1601 Navasota St. The Reunir exhibit and accompanying events are made possible through a partnership between Austin Parks and Recreation’s Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, Oakwood Cemetery Chapel, Brush Square Museums and Cemetery Operations. RSVP online for the free event.  Two days later is the 16th annual Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Day of the Dead festival and MexAmericon from 1-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Pan American Recreation Center, 2100 E. Third St., where guests can enjoy hands-on children’s activities, art activations, vendors, food trucks and a collective community altar. For more information, visit AustinTexas.gov/DayoftheDead.

City Council on Thursday approved modifications to the city’s Land Development Code that will allow child care facilities as well as adult day care in areas previously off-limits to such facilities. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes sponsored a resolution earlier this year urging the zoning staff to move forward with changes to regulations limiting child care and adult day care facilities. The new regulation will eliminate the requirement for nonaccessible parking for child care services and allow such services as an accessory use in residential areas. The number of children allowed in child care services will also be increased, as will the number of spaces for adults needing day care. According to a staff report, “childcare prices as a share of median family income range from 7.6 percent to 16 percent depending on the type of care.” Fuentes said that in order to make child care more affordable in Austin, it was necessary to change the rules to allow more properties to be available for child care. Council Member Chito Vela offered his wholehearted support for the item, thanking everyone involved. He said in his district, “child care is probably one issue that we hear about” most often that families struggle with.