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Stories by Jack Craver

Legal fight over Planning Commission likely to continue

The city of Austin does not appear any closer to resolving a legal challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton over the composition of its Planning Commission. So far, nobody on City Council has proposed removing any members in response to…

Casar makes small changes to affordable housing resolution

City Council appears poised to approve a resolution aimed at easing regulations on affordable housing developers. At a Tuesday work session, Council members offered suggestions, but not significant criticism, of the measure drafted by Council Member Greg Casar. The proposal,…

Council members agree: Cars are not the solution

If the Thursday meeting was any indication, every member of City Council believes that the key to fixing Austin’s transportation problems is reducing the population’s reliance on automobiles. Council members peppered city transportation staff with questions and critiques in response…

City has tough decisions on affordable housing bond

The city’s affordable housing challenges were thrown into sharp relief during a presentation Tuesday morning by the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department to members of City Council. The presentation was before Council’s Housing and Planning Committee, but the chair,…

Council weighs mixed messages from staff on car dealership

City Council approved a request Thursday to provide water and wastewater service to a car dealership in northwest Travis County over the objections of the city’s Watershed Protection Department. The car lot, 620 Volvo Dealership, is going to be built…

City Council approves settlement with Austin Country Club

City Council endorsed a settlement Thursday aimed at ending litigation between the city and the Austin Country Club. At issue is whether the club – which is expanding its clubhouse and adding a new dining facility, and likely plans to…

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Casar seeks to reduce parking, compatibility requirements for subsidized housing

City Council Member Greg Casar is proposing a measure aimed at maximizing the impact of low-income housing developments in Austin. The measure, which was unveiled Tuesday and will be on Council’s agenda Feb. 21, directs city staff to craft an…

City to boost lighting for West Campus

In response to concerns about student safety, the city plans to increase spending to repair and upgrade street lights in the West Campus neighborhood. In a memo released last week, City Manager Spencer Cronk outlined short-term, mid-term and long-term plans…

Council kicks off new year with measures aimed at affordability

In its first official meeting since the election, City Council unanimously approved several measures aimed at Austin’s growing affordability crisis. In an attempt to increase funding for affordable housing in a rapidly gentrifying part of East Austin, Council approved a…

City proposes ditching Recycled Reads

Some City Council members are alarmed at a proposal from city staff to phase out Recycled Reads, a service operated by the library system that repurposes, recycles or sells books that are discarded by the library or donated by residents.…

Commission divided on whether home of architecture icon should be a landmark

The Planning Commission declined to recommend historic zoning for a 70-year-old home in Old West Austin due to recent changes the property owner made to the house. The case demonstrated the tenuous standards that shape the city’s efforts to preserve…

Austin Energy considers scams, rising home values in changes to assistance programs

The city-owned electric utility Austin Energy has been a national leader over the past 30 years in helping customers lower their electric bills through energy efficiency programs. In addition to helping customers of all income levels cut costs by reducing…

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