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Planning Commission recommends historic zoning for Broken Spoke

The iconic Broken Spoke dance hall is headed for official historic status, ensuring the venue is preserved as the South Lamar corridor continues to develop.  The Planning Commission on Tuesday voted 8-0 to recommend approval of historic zoning for the…

Preservation • By Jonathan Lee • Apr 28, 2023

Audit shows growth of firefighters’ overtime spending

Firefighters continue to rack up overtime while the Austin Fire Department continues to recruit and train more firefighters as others retire. According to a report presented to the city’s Audit and Finance Committee on Wednesday, the department was on track…

Fire • By Jo Clifton • Apr 27, 2023

City and county join forces for mental health diversion center plan

The words of Travis County Judge Andy Brown reflect the disturbing reality that, right now, the county jail is the largest mental health facility in the county for people who have needs that would be better addressed with other resources,…

Public Safety • By Ava Garderet • Apr 27, 2023

Why aren’t there more tree-lined streets? Development professionals blame complicated city rules

Following the historic February ice storm that damaged over 10 million trees in Austin and knocked power out for 265,000 Austin Energy customers, city leaders are pushing to bury more power lines – a move aimed not only at protecting…

Planning • By Jonathan Lee • Apr 27, 2023

Austin in line for billions in tech, transportation, clean energy funds from feds

The message to local developers and real estate professionals on Wednesday was clear: Austin is in the mix for tens of billions of dollars in federal money that will continue to transform the area and attract newcomers for decades. Panelists…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 27, 2023

Last year, your property appraisal went way up. This year (maybe) it’s down. What does it all mean?

If you own property in the Austin area, chances are you recently received your latest property appraisal. This number, known as your appraised value, is an estimate from the Travis Central Appraisal District of what your home would sell for…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 26, 2023

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Watershed Protection wants code change to allow funding for floodplain restoration projects

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…

Environment • By Nina Hernandez • Apr 26, 2023

Planning Commission delay pushes Council action on Palm District until July

After a series of delays stretching back to November, the Planning Commission is now expected to consider and possibly approve the Palm District Plan at a special called meeting May 30. As a result of the new meeting time, City…

Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 26, 2023

Taxpayers sue City Council over funding plan for Statesman site

Taxpayers Against Giveaways, the Save Our Springs Alliance and three taxpayers – former state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, former City Council Member Ora Houston and Allandale neighborhood homeowner Faye Holland – have filed a lawsuit suit against City Council to stop…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Apr 25, 2023

Council OKs license-plate reader contract negotiations, amid community concerns

City Council is taking steps that will allow the Austin Police Department to reintroduce – on a much grander scale – its license-plate reader program, which was shelved as a result of major departmental budget cuts in 2020. Council authorized…

Police • By Emma Freer • Apr 25, 2023

Project Connect could be on the ballot again this November

Austin’s mayor is adopting a new strategy against a Texas bill that threatens to derail the city’s voter-approved transit expansion: Get the legislation passed as quickly as possible with overwhelming support in the Texas House and Senate. The approach seemed…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Apr 25, 2023

Restoration of wetland impacted by airport jet-fuel storage facility construction site leak nearing completion

Work to remediate a non-toxic mud spill on protected wetland near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will conclude at the end of this month. The spill occurred in September as crews bored a tunnel underneath the airport runway. The Environmental Commission reviewed…

Environment • By Nina Hernandez • Apr 25, 2023

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