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state capitol building at night

'Godfather of progressive politics in Austin' dies

Ken Wendler Jr., who has been described as the “godfather of progressive politics in Austin,” passed away on Aug. 13 at the age of 88. Wendler served as chairman of the Travis County Democratic Party from 1972 to 1980. Two…

Austin • By Jo Clifton • Aug 17, 2018

Norwood Park Boulevard

For grandfathered signs, the proof is in the permitting

Occasionally, despite one’s best intentions to provide the right board or commission with the proper permitting to ensure a smooth continuation of a project, a request is presented incorrectly. “I’m not sure that this item is properly before the board,” Assistant…

Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Aug 17, 2018

Stadium agreement approval clears the way for pro soccer in Austin

Wednesday’s 7-4 vote to have city staff finalize and execute an agreement that will result in the construction of a professional soccer stadium on the city’s McKalla Place property in North Austin broke along expected lines. The four City Council…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 16, 2018

CodeNEXT

Planning Commission wonders what to do after CodeNEXT

CodeNEXT might be dead, but most members of the Planning Commission seem to agree that they can’t give up on making big changes to the Land Development Code. For over a year, discussion of CodeNEXT has been a standing item…

Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Aug 16, 2018

board of adjustment

Should Board of Adjustment have outside counsel?

Two members of the city’s Board of Adjustment argued strenuously in favor of providing outside legal counsel for the board when it is interpreting city code, but the assistant city attorney who has been advising the board for several years…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Aug 16, 2018

Cellphone tower ruffles Board of Adjustment

Sometimes, if you don’t know what to do, you have to ask. Vincent Huebinger, representing Crown Castle International and Dean Davidov in a request to relocate a single-antenna cellphone tower to another location at 610 1/2 Kenniston Drive on the…

Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Aug 16, 2018

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Columbus Crew SC

Council vote on soccer stadium hinges on amendments – lots of them

After 10 months of discussion and roughly three months of often very public negotiations, the fate of Austin as the possible home of a professional sports franchise will come down to the fate of 28 amendments. Today’s special called City…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 15, 2018

red light

Traffic law enforcement still a hot topic

Even though traffic law enforcement and street safety is a top priority for the Austin Police Department, the majority of officers have little time to devote to such enforcement, given their other priorities, such as responding to citizens’ calls and…

Police • By Jo Clifton • Aug 15, 2018

How free ride-sharing could make it easier to catch the bus in Austin

The number of partnerships between public transit agencies and private ride-sharing companies like Uber has been booming. Since 2016, at least 27 such programs have sprung up across the country, including one in Central Austin. Joseph Schwieterman, director of the…

Transit • By Syeda Hasan • Aug 15, 2018

HealthSouth site gets top spot in ULI affordable housing study

An analysis of some of the city’s most-prized parcels of land has found that the former HealthSouth property downtown would have the biggest impact on the local housing shortage if the property were converted to affordable housing. The new white…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 15, 2018

blank billboard

Reagan going to court over sign rule secrecy

Billy Reagan, the owner of Reagan Signs, the best-known billboard company in the city of Austin, is looking forward to going to court later this month to try to find out why the city won’t let him see communications between…

Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Aug 14, 2018

Council Chambers window

English sues Austin over wording of ballot question for city audit

Ed English is suing the city over the wording of a November ballot measure about a citywide audit. Activists collected more than 30,000 signatures asking the city to hire a third party to conduct an efficiency audit of all its…

City Hall • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 14, 2018

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