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Stories by Jessi Devenyns

Lake setbacks threaten construction of family home in West Lake

Paris Schindler, owner of the lot at 1901 Westlake Drive, came to the Board of Adjustment seeking a variance to construct a 6,354-square-foot family home. While normally a 2.26-acre property would easily accommodate such a structure, 44,000 square feet of…

Hays and Travis counties prioritize aquifer conservation

The Trinity Aquifer is the primary groundwater supply for Hill Country residents in both Hays and Travis counties. But as a natural resource, its freshwater supply is limited, even as populations continue to grow. Already, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation…

Parks board member 'completely opposed' to meters in parks

Last week, the city of Austin changed the prices on its parking meters for the first time in nearly 30 years. Prices jumped from $1.20 inside the city’s downtown core – $1 outside of that core – to $2 an…

Commission calls air quality motion a 'vague statement,' fails to pass it

Despite the philosophical support of commissioners, a motion to improve air quality at construction sites failed at the Oct. 16 meeting of the Environmental Commission. Commissioner Pam Thompson prepared a motion on the fly during a presentation by the Office…

Board of Adjustment waits for new code to make a decision on a fence

Slow and steady wins the race, and sometimes that requires a case postponement – or two, or three – to successfully acquire a variance. Such was the case at the Oct. 14 meeting of the Board of Adjustment, where Corey…

Developer turns variance process upside-down, asks Environmental Commission for 'feedback'

In an unusual request, development lawyer Richard Suttle with Armbrust & Brown appeared before the Environmental Commission on Oct. 16 to ask not for a site plan variance, but for feedback on a possible upcoming one. “I’m anticipating needing to…

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Board of Adjustment debates how far is too far to read a sign

The Hill Country Roadway Ordinance mandates that any sign along Highway 360 be less than 12 feet high, smaller than 64 square feet and conceal exterior lighting. However, Ben Robinson, who was representing the applicant for the Nalle Woods apartments…

Board of Adjustment wants to participate more fully in LDC review

The Land Development Code draft continues to make its way through the city’s boards and commissions, making its latest stop at the Board of Adjustment on Monday night. The Board of Adjustment is tasked with sending feedback to the Planning…

Planning Commission begins tackling the new LDC draft

Friday, Oct. 4, was a big day for the city of Austin. That afternoon ushered in the draft of the city’s most recent attempt to rewrite its Land Development Code, kicking off months of discussions about the topic. The Planning…

At Robinson Ranch, the apple may fall far from the tree

When Apple Inc. announced its plans to build a $1 billion campus late last year, there was a wave of speculation about what the company’s expansion would mean for Austin in terms of traffic congestion and employment opportunities. However, there…

Planning Commission recommends food truck in Tarrytown

Tarrytown may be a centrally located neighborhood, but it is not very walkable. To give neighbors at least one option that is accessible on foot, David Kanne, a resident and local developer, purchased the 11-unit multifamily complex at 2401 Winsted…

Public Safety Commission talks homelessness with APD

Last week brought a new level of scrutiny to the way the city polices individuals experiencing homelessness. The governor declared he would “unleash” state resources if Austin doesn’t address its homelessness issues by Nov. 1. Police Chief Brian Manley suggested…

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