Council affirms support for appraisal district suit

With seven members present at a special called meeting on Thursday, City Council unanimously affirmed its commitment to a lawsuit challenging the accuracy of the Travis Central Appraisal District’s appraised values for commercial properties and vacant land. In that lawsuit,…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Dec 4, 2015

Committee backs low-income energy savings ideas

Low-income Austin Energy customers may receive some additional help in lowering their bills in coming years, based on a recommendation that a City Council committee made on Thursday. The Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee, which consists of the full Council…

Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Dec 4, 2015

Committee recommends more home buyouts in floodplain

Property values are rising in Austin, even in areas at high risk of flooding. It’s a challenge that the Watershed Protection Department faces as it seeks to buy properties in the Middle Williamson Creek area threatened by flooding, city staff…

Austin • By Jack Craver • Dec 4, 2015

Designed to be neighborly, porch fuels animosity

A still-pending variance request may have seemed simple enough at first glance, but on Austin’s East Side, issues of gentrification are never far away. And at the Board of Adjustment, unhappy neighbors are usually on hand as well. At the…

Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 4, 2015

Talk with EUC chair ends consumer advocate bid

The city’s purchasing officer has disqualified the sole remaining bidder on a contract to act as the consumer advocate in Austin Energy’s upcoming rate review. City Purchasing Officer James Scarboro informed the mayor and City Council about the disqualification of…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Dec 3, 2015

MoPac South public comment results pour in

Comments from the MoPac South public input period and open house are being tallied, and based on their projected volume, the proposal appears to have galvanized the community. The City Council Mobility Committee discussed the project and preliminary results on…

Transportation • By Tyler Whitson • Dec 3, 2015

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STR prohibition proves popular in variance case

With new regulations for short-term rentals in the works, the topic of STRs has become subtext in any number of seemingly unrelated development cases in the city. This was certainly the case at the most recent Board of Adjustment meeting,…

Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 3, 2015

ZAP encourages heritage trees, connectivity

Before the Zoning and Platting Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a setback waiver for a new subdivision between Peaceful Hill Lane and Shallot Way, Vice Chair Jackie Goodman took a moment to express gratitude to Matthew Mitchell of Alm…

Development • By Jack Craver • Dec 3, 2015

Are digital billboards coming to Austin?

To date, Austin’s billboards have remained as static as the code that regulates them. But some are calling for changes that could allow digital billboards in the city. On Monday, members of the City Council Public Safety Committee voted to…

Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 2, 2015

County ponders first Public Improvement District

The Travis County Commissioners Court held a public hearing on Tuesday about a petition to create the Wildhorse Ranch Public Improvement District, which, if approved, would be the first development of its kind created by the county. Commissioners also provided…

Development • By Tyler Whitson • Dec 2, 2015

Fire official's objection may scuttle zoning change

With the Austin Fire Department objecting to the zoning change, City Council decided to postpone a decision on downzoning a limited industrial property to allow vertical mixed-use retail and residences on an East Austin tract located next to a facility…

Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Dec 2, 2015

County applies for police body camera grant

The Travis County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to approve an application submitted by the Sheriff’s Office for a new statewide police body camera grant for a county body camera pilot program. The measure passed on a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner…

Public Safety • By Tyler Whitson • Dec 2, 2015

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