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Land use policy is driving mobility discussion

As the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan has made its rounds to various city boards and commissions over the previous month, conversations about transportation goals have consistently gravitated toward the great unknown question of land use code reform. Now that the…

Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Apr 1, 2019

A big problem for low-income homeowners: septic tanks

For the most part, living in rural Travis County is cheaper than living in the city of Austin. Land values, property taxes and rents are all significantly lower. Sewage, however, often costs significantly more. The problems and costs associated with…

Housing • By Jack Craver • Apr 1, 2019

Reporter's Notebook: Beach Boy Blues

Elvis has left the building and gone onto the water… In short order, there will be a new old way to get around on Lady Bird Lake. Many moons ago, Glastron, the No. 1 fiberglass boat producer in 20th-century America,…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Apr 1, 2019

Austin Monitor Radio: Council Member Paige Ellis

This week, Council Member Paige Ellis joins Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver to talk about serving District 8, transportation, land use, the convention center and more. The full show is embedded below, for your listening pleasure. Austin Monitor Radio is…

Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Apr 1, 2019

Here are 3 ways state lawmakers could disrupt (or shore up) short-term rentals in Texas this session

For years, short-term rentals – the rooms, cottages, condos and homes on apps like Airbnb and HomeAway – have been the subject of lawsuits and hand-wringing on the part of regulators and people looking to rent out properties. Texas lawmakers…

Texas State Legislature • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 29, 2019

Ethics commission loses some duties

Austin’s Ethics Review Commission will no longer be looking at allegations of ethics violations related to most city employees. On Thursday, City Council approved changes to the ordinance governing the commission’s authority after ensuring that reports about such allegations would…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Mar 29, 2019

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Capital Metro to meet its own bus stop standards by 2020

The Capital Area Metropolitan Transportation Authority is wrapping up construction on the last of 16 MetroRapid stops approved in a contract with Muñiz Concrete and Contracting Inc. in May 2018. This year the agency is turning its attention to its…

Transit • By Ryan Thornton • Mar 29, 2019

Music venues could see liquor tax relief under proposed state laws

An Austin-based live music advocacy group has helped with the creation of two bills up for consideration in the Texas Legislature that would provide rebates on liquor tax payments to music venues across the state. House Bill 2806 was presented…

Texas State Legislature • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 29, 2019

Seven protesters arrested, public expresses opposition at community meeting for Project Catalyst

Anticipating a situation similar to last month’s Planning Commission meeting, Assistant Planning and Zoning Director Jerry Rusthoven opened the March 27 community meeting to discuss Project Catalyst with a word of caution. “It’s important to us that this meeting be conducted…

Development • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 28, 2019

Council: TxDOT should pay for underpass cleanup

Several members of the Austin City Council expressed anger at the Texas Department of Transportation after learning at Tuesday’s work session that the city would have to pick up the cost of cleaning up the state’s property at city underpasses.…

Roads • By Jo Clifton • Mar 28, 2019

Travis County bush

Travis County already has a public defender's office – for juveniles

Amid the contentious public debate over the creation of a public defender’s office in Travis County is an oft-neglected fact: Travis County already has a public defender’s office. It just doesn’t serve adults. The Travis County Juvenile Public Defender, founded…

Travis County • By Jack Craver • Mar 28, 2019

HLC accepts demolition of West Lynn home for 'Tudor mansion'

After last month’s revelation of the design plans for 1602 West Lynn St. left members of the Historic Landmark Commission reeling, the four weeks between then and now allowed the commissioners to begrudgingly accept the previously presented plans and comments from…

Preservation • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 28, 2019

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