Public Safety Commission pushes for an independent investigation into 'endemic' racism and homophobia in APD

Last month, City Manager Spencer Cronk announced that attorney Lisa Tatum would investigate allegations of racism among the executive staff of the Austin Police Department. The investigation follows complaints that APD Assistant Chief Justin Newsom used the N-word to refer…

Police • By Jessi Devenyns • Dec 3, 2019

CAMPO 2040 plan, Stassney Lane overpass highlight common failures of multimodal projects

A recent brief from the Center for American Progress suggests the Austin region’s transportation efforts may ultimately work against its own stated priorities. Kevin DeGood, CAP’s director of Infrastructure Policy and author of the Nov. 13 brief, examined the Capital…

Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Dec 3, 2019

South Austin zoning could be a game-changer

“This is going to be a game-changer for South Austin,” Council Member Pio Renteria told his colleagues, as they voted to allow a developer to turn an industrial site near the intersection of Interstate 35 and Ben White Boulevard into…

Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Dec 3, 2019

Austin Monitor Radio: Project Connect

This week, we talk about Project Connect, the joint effort of Capital Metro and the city of Austin to expand transit connectivity in the greater Austin area. Jackie Nirenberg, the community engagement manager with Capital Metro, and Anna Martin, an…

Radio • By Austin Monitor • Dec 3, 2019

Austin Humane Society moves forward with 15-year expansion plan

The Austin Humane Society has been in its current facilities for 25 years. However, as Austin continues to grow, the shelter finds itself in need of an expansion to accommodate its own increasing populations. “We’ve outgrown our space,” said Frances…

Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Dec 2, 2019

Neighbors win Open Meetings suit again

Once again, the city of Austin finds itself on the losing end of a legal battle over public information. Last week, the 14th Court of Appeals sided with the Lake Austin Collective, which sued the city for failing to give…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Dec 2, 2019

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ULI sees progress on affordability, with drawbacks, in latest LDC draft

Urban Land Institute Austin has weighed in on the draft Land Development Code, with a white paper that asserts the city’s proposed changes in housing types, design standards and affordable housing programs won’t go far enough to add enough new…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 2, 2019

Commissioners approve exemptions for RV development

The Travis County Commissioners Court said yes last week to a proposed RV park that was facilitated by an exemption to certain development regulations county staffers believe are not necessary for homes on wheels. “What we’re trying to recognize is…

Development • By Jack Craver • Dec 2, 2019

State appeals court strikes down Austin rules on short-term rentals

A state appeals court has declared some elements of Austin’s rules governing short-term rentals unconstitutional, including provisions banning non-owner-occupied rentals and occupancy limits. In 2016, the City Council passed sweeping new regulations of short-term rentals, like those you find through…

Courts • By Matt Largey • Nov 27, 2019

Human Rights Commission seeks apology from AISD

Last week the Austin Independent School District’s chief equity officer, Stephanie Hawley, called the board of trustees’ vote to close four elementary schools racist and inequitable. In an effort to improve the district’s financial situation, the board was faced with…

AISD • By Jessi Devenyns • Nov 27, 2019

Paxton files suit against planning commissioners

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is once again challenging the makeup of Austin’s Planning Commission. In a suit filed Tuesday, Paxton asks to remove Fayez Kazi, James Shieh, Greg Anderson, Claire Hempel and/or Patrick Howard from the Planning Commission “because…

City Charter • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 27, 2019

Demolition permitting revision to get going in 2020

The Development Services Department is behind schedule in its effort to revise the city’s demolition permitting process. The department issued a report with nine recommendations for a new process in October 2018. At the time, the department expected to bring…

City Hall • By Ryan Thornton • Nov 27, 2019

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