Land Development Code: Density and impervious cover

With the first reading of the new Land Development Code draft expected by Council in two short weeks, the Watershed Protection Department is working to finalize its recommendations. Despite the tight timeline, Environmental Officer Chris Herrington told the Environmental Commission…

Austin Monitor Radio: ABIA

Lyn Estabrook, who is with the Planning & Engineering Department at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns to answer all of your questions about Austin’s airport. Listen in below to hear about how the…

City on pace for goal of 330 electrified vehicles by close of 2020

The city is on pace to have 330 electric vehicles in its fleet by the end of 2020, meeting a 2016 goal set by City Council that will make nearly 5 percent of the city’s 6,700 vehicle fleet composed of…

BoA contemplates basements in Clarksville

There is an exception in city code that exempts homes with habitable basements from including the underground space in their overall square footage calculation. In order to claim that exception, however, a house must meet strict guidelines: The first story…

Austin reopens Red Bud Isle after dog-killing toxins from algae subside

Red Bud Isle has reopened after being closed for months because of toxins that attached to blue-green algae, city officials say. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department said at noon Friday it reopened the area on Lady Bird Lake, which…

Reporter's Notebook: Code warrior

Nineteenth-century home discovered in Northeast Austin… Homes dating prior to the 20th century are rare in Texas. Therefore, discovering one is a momentous event. Historic Landmark commissioners expressed excitement at the announcement from Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky that the…

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Austin Monitor Radio: Brian Kelsey, CoTMF

This week, a member of the Capital of Texas Media Foundation family joins us to talk about the latest branch of our nonprofit parent company. Brian Kelsey sits down to talk about his new research organization, how it’s related to…

Austin Monitor Radio: Jolt Texas

Jolt Texas is working to build a statewide movement of politically engaged and active Latinos. Maria Renee Morales, who is the Austin organizer at Jolt Texas, sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk…

County hopes to block new waste facility in Northeast Austin

County leaders are unanimous in their hope that the Austin Community Landfill closes as soon as possible. They are united in their opposition to the landfill operator, Waste Management, adding a transfer station to the existing facility. It’s not clear…

MLK crossing compromises Capitol Complex pedestrian concept

The Texas Capitol Complex is now well into the first phase of construction. Funding for the second of three phases was allocated during this year’s legislative session. The project lays out a grand vision of a “cultural gateway” linking the…

ZAP locked in impasse over introducing a charter school in a South Austin neighborhood

Faced with a neighborhood constrained by two exits and an uncertain increase in vehicle trips per day, the Zoning and Platting Commission debated how much density is too much for a South Austin neighborhood. The 27-acre tract, which spans the…

Central Health approves $10 million line of credit to facilitate capital purchases

On Wednesday evening, the Central Health Board of Managers unanimously approved a $10 million revolving line of credit through JP Morgan that Central Health can use for future capital purchases of information technology, furniture and equipment. Like a credit card,…