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Aquifer district expecting unprecedented drought declaration

The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District says that flow from Barton Springs is near the level that would require the district to declare it has reached Stage IV Exceptional Drought. As the district reports, “crossing into Stage IV drought status…

Water • By Jo Clifton • Jul 27, 2023

Bouldin Creek residents discourage development plans for hotels peering over their homes

Hotels could be coming to the Bouldin Creek neighborhood after the Planning Commission approved an extension for a site plan at Mattie’s at Green Pastures restaurant.  The proposed development would bring two hotels with about 100 rooms and renovations to…

Development • By Andrea Guzman • Jul 27, 2023

Travis County bush

Travis County still slated to spend millions in 2021 ARPA funding

Travis County has until the end of 2026 to spend $146 million of federal funding it received two years ago, according to the Planning and Budget Office. On Tuesday, Dashiell Daniels with the county’s Planning and Budget Office told the…

Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Jul 27, 2023

Board of Adjustment fee assistance program will launch Oct. 1

A long-awaited assistance program granting low-income homeowners waivers when seeking zoning variances will launch Oct. 1. The yearlong Board of Adjustment Applicant Assistant Program pilot will fund up to nine waivers – or $10,000 – for eligible applicants, according to…

Land Development Code • By Emma Freer • Jul 27, 2023

Audit finds inaccurate data on city portal

Unreliable data is a widespread problem for the city of Austin, according to an audit performed by the Office of the City Auditor. Francis Reilly, the auditor in charge, explained some of the city’s data problems to the City Council…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jul 26, 2023

Disability commission pushes city to pick up pace of sidewalk improvements

Improved access to public transit and bike-share programs – possibly including free service for all residents – is among the policy moves the Transportation and Public Works Department intends to ask City Council to consider later this year. During a…

Transportation • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 26, 2023

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A lot of that green sludge in Lady Bird Lake is actually a sign of a healthy waterway

If you’ve been near Austin’s Lady Bird Lake lately, you might have noticed a little less water is visible. Parts of the lake, especially along the shores and inlets, are covered in mats of green vegetation. It can look goopy,…

Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jul 26, 2023

Langmore appointed to Austin Transit Partnership board of directors

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors last week voted to appoint John Langmore to serve as the community expert director of finance on the Austin Transit Partnership’s board of directors. The Austin Transit Partnership is the entity tasked…

Transportation • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 26, 2023

Council gives final OK to Borden Dairy tract rezoning

City Council last week gave final approval for rezoning of the former Borden Dairy site in the Govalle neighborhood, allowing for its reconfiguration from an industrial site to a major mixed-use development. The vote was 8-1, with Council Member Alison…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jul 25, 2023

Austin launches education and outreach initiative targeting hate crimes

The city of Austin last week launched the We All Belong Anti-Hate Initiative, an education and outreach campaign intended as a response to a string of hate crime incidents reported across the city. A group of leaders from the city,…

Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 25, 2023

The Rainey Street Trailhead Project is expected to be completed in early 2024.

Downtown Commission hears plans to address Rainey Street safety

The Downtown Commission last week gave an unofficial thumbs-up to the city’s efforts to improve safety in the Rainey Street nightlife district, in an effort to prevent more drownings in the area. On July 19, representatives from the Parks and…

Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 25, 2023

Greg Casar calls for national standard to prevent heat-related illness, deaths on construction sites

Amid an oppressive summer, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar is calling on the federal government to enact stricter protections for workers to ensure they don’t suffer heat-related illness on the job. Casar, a former City Council member whose congressional district includes…

Public Health • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jul 25, 2023

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