About the Author
Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor.
Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Most Popular Stories
- For the first time in 20 years, more people are leaving Travis County than moving in
- Austin’s giant troll is finally finished. Here’s where you can find her.
- Travis County approves ambitious ‘Marshall Plan’ for northeast planning district
- Environmental commissioners air concerns about waterfront district plan
- Council hears plan for another South Congress PUD
-
Discover News By District
Stories by Elizabeth Pagano
Planning Commission OKs Pease Park Plan
Though protests over the exclusion of a disc golf course in the Pease Park Master Plan continued to ring out at the Planning Commission last week, the plan is moving on to City Council with unanimous support from commissioners. Commissioners voted…
Environment • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 16, 2014
Cherrywood casita gets BoA approval
Despite a squabble over parking that split the Board of Adjustment last week, plans for a Cherrywood casita will move forward. Homeowner Holly Kincannon was asking for two variances in order to build a casita behind her house at 3102 Lafayette…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 16, 2014
Regulating Plan changes split Planning Commission
Citing process concerns, the Planning Commission had no recommendations for amendments to the East Riverside Corridor Regulating Plan last week. Because the 4 acres at 1500 South Pleasant Valley Road are within the ERC regulating plan, developers were asking for…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 15, 2014
Urban Trails Master Plan continues to face opposition
The city’s Urban Trails Master Plan continued to come under fire at City Council’s last meeting. The plan, which comes out of a 2008 Council resolution, proposes a network of paved “urban trails” that will allow residents, particularly bicyclists and those…
Environment • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 15, 2014
Commissioner calls water rate increase misleading
As if there weren’t enough questions swirling around the tenuous adoption of new water rates for the city, one member of the Water and Wastewater Commission has struck out against what she calls a “years-long pattern of obscuring utility rate…
Resources • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 12, 2014
SXSW reports $315M economic impact on Austin
It probably comes as no surprise to anyone who has lived in Austin for any length of time, but the South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Festival is bigger than ever. That goes for the festival’s economic impact as…
Local Government • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 12, 2014
Subscribe to our newsletter
Board grants variance for novel preservation plan
The Board of Adjustment gave the go-ahead for a novel preservation strategy at its Monday night meeting. Newcastle Homes’ Lex Zwarum’s proposal, which he describes as a “win-win,” will zone the existing house at 2100 East 14th St. as a…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 11, 2014
Last-minute info can't save West Austin home
Plans to demolish a house in West Austin divided neighbors at the most recent Historic Landmark Commission meeting, but it did not split the commission, which voted unanimously to approve the demolition. The new owners of the house at 4604…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 11, 2014
Council approves new water rates, for now
A last-ditch proposal to change the structure of Austin Water Utility rates didn’t gain enough traction to pass at City Council’s budget session Tuesday. But the proposal may have an impact soon. Council members voted 6-1 to approve what they…
Resources • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 10, 2014
South Austin development threatens Heritage Trees
Though still in the early stages, a proposed South Austin development continues to draw fire from the city’s various boards and commissions. Last week, concerned citizens asked the city to take a closer look at its compliance with the Heritage…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 9, 2014
South Lamar development problems get closer look
Development in the city’s South Lamar neighborhood may be approaching a tipping point. A recent report could have the city scrambling to make sure it doesn’t capsize. “Are we just going to give up on this neighborhood, or are we…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 8, 2014
Panel rejects tram, but hopes for creative solutions
The Environmental Board continued to take a hard line against allowing Lake Austin homeowners more than one path of access to the lake from their ridgetop homes last week. This time, William and Kathryn Darling were requesting a variance for…