Activists sue city over zoning code rewrite

Nineteen local property owners filed suit against the city of Austin Thursday, alleging that the city has deprived them of their right to protest under state law as the city adopts changes to zoning classifications throughout the city. City Council…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Dec 13, 2019

Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison receives reprimand for campaign finance violations

Six months after midyear campaign finance reports revealed that Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison violated fundraising laws, the Ethics Review Commission voted to send the Council member a letter of admonition. Harper-Madison collected $3,695 in campaign funds between January and March…

City Hall • By Jessi Devenyns • Dec 13, 2019

Zebra mussels have infested lakes Marble Falls and Granger

Zebra mussels are continuing to spread through Texas lakes. Texas Parks and Wildlife said Thursday that both Granger Lake and Lake Marble Falls are infested with the invasive species. The mussels have infested 19 lakes in Texas since their first…

Environment • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 13, 2019

Austin cat advocates ask city to reevaluate shelter-neuter-release program

The stated goal of the Austin Animal Center is to place all adoptable animals in forever homes. However, even with this intention and a no-kill policy to back it up, not all animals are given the same chance to find…

Austin • By Jessi Devenyns • Dec 13, 2019

Draft Land Development Code approved on first reading

Wrapping up a three-day effort, City Council approved the draft Land Development Code text and map on first reading in a 7-4 vote Wednesday afternoon. In accordance with Council direction, the code revision team will now work to compile and…

Land Development Code • By Ryan Thornton • Dec 12, 2019

Audit: Social services contract rules need update

The city auditor’s team studying the city’s social services contracting process found that even though Austin spends millions of dollars on social services contracts, the city “does not have an explicit definition of ‘social services’ and lacks a formal social…

Public Health • By Jo Clifton • Dec 12, 2019

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Arts Commission renews concerns over new assistance for creative spaces

Members of the Arts Commission have stepped up their criticism of the Music and Entertainment Division and its handling of the Creative Space Assistance Program that recently announced grants totaling just over $750,000 to 26 arts and music groups around…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 12, 2019

Tarrytown food truck approved with change to neighborhood plan

City Council gave final approval to a Tarrytown zoning case on Thursday that also necessitated an amendment to the Central West Austin Combined Neighborhood Plan. Ideally, Council Member Alison Alter said, the applicant’s request – to make room for a…

Zoning • By Ryan Thornton • Dec 12, 2019

Council looks at legal options after appeals court throws out housing voucher challenge

Members of City Council have criticized a recent decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out the city’s lawsuit against state Attorney General Ken Paxton over a state law passed in 2015 that prevents cities from…

Courts • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 11, 2019

Austin unveils design for a new bridge on the southern end of Lady Bird Lake

The city of Austin is one step closer to taking down the “last major barrier” on the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake. And according to city street designer Nathan Wilkes, the idea came from the public. The…

Transportation • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Dec 11, 2019

Exception for RV park near Hamilton Pool put on hold

The Travis County Commissioners Court still hasn’t found the middle ground it’s looking for to grant a platting requirement exception for the Bentree RV Resort, a recreational vehicle park that would be developed less than a mile southwest of the…

Development • By Ryan Thornton • Dec 11, 2019

Industrial lot wins mixed-use zoning on second reading

Although Council Member Pio Renteria pushed for more affordable housing on a Southeast Austin site that is currently industrial, he made the motion to approve the compromise offered by attorney David Hartman at last week’s Council meeting. Before the vote,…

Planning • By Jo Clifton • Dec 11, 2019

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