The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Hays County takes the fight to Kinder Morgan with lawsuit over proposed pipeline

After months of community protests, a group of more than 20 landowners and city leaders gathered Monday to announce that Hays County and the city of Kyle had officially joined a lawsuit to oppose a natural gas pipeline proposed to…

Environment • By DaLyah Jones • Apr 23, 2019

In line with state law, D6 project moves forward without traffic analysis

The Zoning and Platting Commission threw its full support behind development plans for about 100 acres near Highway 183 North and Ranch Road 620 at its most recent meeting. But an unusual state law – that could soon change –…

Uncategorized • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 23, 2019

Should natural gas be a required secondary fuel source?

Even as the city strives to reach net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the Energy Code for Austin still, with some exceptions, requires the use of natural gas for water heating when a residential building is constructed adjacent to…

Energy • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 23, 2019

Austin Energy updates multifamily weatherization program

Despite spending less than ever on multifamily weatherization and tightening restrictions on its multifamily weatherization rebate program, Austin Energy claims to be on track to meet the city’s energy efficiency goals while continuing to lower energy bills for its customers.…

Energy • By Ryan Thornton • Apr 22, 2019

Tourism Commission asks Council to pursue hotel tax collection on STRs

The Tourism Commission wants City Council to revisit and possibly make changes to its ordinance covering short-term rentals, with the goal of increasing the amount of Hotel Occupancy Tax coming into city coffers. The commission voted unanimously at this month’s…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 22, 2019

West Austin housing development claims vested rights, compromises on development regulations

Even if a property remains undeveloped for years, the property’s vested rights can, in some cases, allow a project to be grandfathered into another era’s development regulations. In the case of a project at FM 620 at Storm Drive, that era…

Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 22, 2019

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

Reporter's Notebook: Politics, resurrected

The return of Zimmerman… After a few years of (relative) silence from Don Zimmerman, it appears that the former District 6 Council member is once again ready to enter the fray. In an Easter Facebook post, Zimmerman announced he was…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Apr 22, 2019

Yep. A lot more people have moved to Austin, the Census Bureau confirms.

New numbers out today from the U.S. Census Bureau confirm something you’ve definitely noticed or complained about in the last eight years: Austin is growing. But that growth isn’t confined to the Austin area. The data put Texas counties and…

Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 19, 2019

Austin Energy buys biomass plant for $460M

Austin Energy will, in fact, be purchasing the Nacogdoches Generating Facility for $460 million. Buying the East Texas biomass power plant is the city-owned utility’s way out of a controversial $2.3 billion contract that has been under intense scrutiny over…

Energy • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 19, 2019

Access to health care, transit among top budget priorities for Austin seniors

With the city paying closer attention to the needs of its fast-growing senior population, staff and commissions involved in issues for the aging are hearing a lot of familiar concerns heading into the early stages of budget talks. An emphasis…

Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 19, 2019

Tree protection outweighs density concerns for Environmental Commission

There are only four reasons a heritage tree can be removed in the city of Austin: it must be dead, diseased, an imminent hazard, or prevent reasonable use of a property. Even if a tree meets one or more of…

Development • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 19, 2019

Adler says Texas has 'declared war' on Austin: 'We must be prepared to defend ourselves'

Austin Mayor Steve Adler opened the annual State of the City address Wednesday with a quote from Charles Dickens: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Adler said Austin is experiencing a “golden moment” and…

Austin • By Stephanie Federico • Apr 18, 2019

« Previous Page — Next Page »