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Stories by Jonathan Lee
Former East Austin tank farm site could see more development
Additional sections of the former East Austin tank farm site at Airport Boulevard and Springdale Road may be redeveloped, according to a zoning change request heard by the Planning Commission Tuesday. Two pieces of the former tank farm totaling nearly…
Planning • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 27, 2023
BoA ponders term limit enforcement for boards and commissions
As the new mayor and City Council members settle into their roles, one task is appointing dozens of volunteers to serve on boards and commissions. A discussion earlier this month at the Board of Adjustment highlighted some challenges involved in…
City Hall • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 26, 2023
Bill to curb compatibility filed at the state Legislature
A bill filed last week at the Texas Legislature would significantly curtail compatibility, a rule in Austin that restricts the height of buildings near single-family homes. Senate Bill 491, filed by state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), would in effect allow…
Texas State Legislature • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 23, 2023
Request to build garage apartment for caretaker draws neighborhood opposition
A family’s request to allow an above-garage apartment for a caretaker of their special-needs son stoked controversy last Tuesday at the Planning Commission, when neighbors opposed a rezoning necessary to move the plans forward. The family – Danielle Skidmore, her…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 19, 2023
Featured Collection: police contract negotiations
City, police union resume labor contract negotiations
The city of Austin and the Austin Police Association returned to the bargaining table Wednesday after a brief hiatus stemming from an impasse on oversight provisions. The city initiated the pause early this month after the police union said it…
More Headlines for police contract negotiations
Amid flooding concerns, Planning Commission OKs rezoning off South Congress
The Planning Commission voted last Tuesday in favor of a rezoning that would allow construction of a 90-unit multifamily development near South Congress and U.S. Highway 290. The rezoning concerns a 2-acre tract at 406 and 428 E. Alpine Road.…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 17, 2023
Windsor Park multifamily rezoning fuels heated discussion at Planning Commission
After a controversial discussion, the Planning Commission recommended a rezoning in Windsor Park that would allow a 34-unit multifamily project to move forward. The project sits on a 0.86-acre vacant lot at 6305 Berkman Drive. The property owner requests a…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 13, 2023
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Zoning change to allow taller towers in the Domain
A proposed zoning change would allow buildings in and around the Domain to rise as high as many downtown towers, solidifying the area’s status as Austin’s unofficial second downtown. The zoning change, initiated in September by the Planning Commission, would…
Planning • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 10, 2023
Zoning changes show downtown northwest quadrant changing
With its collection of mostly historic homes-turned-offices, downtown’s northwest corner can often feel like a ghost town, at least compared to the rest of downtown. But a flurry of development activity over the past two years is set to make…
Development • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 6, 2023
Austin Police Department Budget, 2012-2022
During the 2020-21 budget process, City Council cut $31.5 million from APD’s budget, citing the protests and “community outcry against the disproportionate impact of police violence on Black Americans, Latinx Americans and other non-white ethnic communities,” according to the approved…
Alter highlights efforts to make Austin more resilient
After a tumultuous few years, Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter has focused this year on making sure the city is able to weather whatever future shocks may lie ahead, be they public health emergencies, natural disasters or economic distress. “I’ve…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 29, 2022
Ellis to push for more progress on housing in 2023
Fresh off the heels of a decisive reelection win, City Council Member Paige Ellis is ready to hit the ground running in 2023 with initiatives related to housing, transportation and workforce retention. Ellis won reelection with 58 percent of the…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 28, 2022
Mackenzie Kelly: ‘Hyper-focused on public safety’ in 2023
Over Mackenzie Kelly’s two years as City Council’s lone conservative, she has made a point of finding common ground with those she often disagrees with and avoiding the charged rhetoric employed by politicians at the state and national level. “That’s…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 27, 2022
Environmental groups, neighbors rally against proposed concert venue
A coalition of environmental groups last week announced its opposition to a proposed 5,000-seat concert venue at 14820 Fitzhugh Road, near Dripping Springs. The coalition, Stop Fitzhugh Concert Venue, says it’s concerned about negative impacts the venue might bring to…
