Stories by Miles Wall
Planning Commission settles on recommendation in controversial doggy daycare zoning case
A rezoning case for an out-of-compliance doggy daycare in South Austin’s Sweetbriar neighborhood earned the recommendation of Austin’s Planning Commission (and the scorn of some of neighbors) last week. Planning commissioners heard the case for the second time during their…
Zoning • By Miles Wall • Jun 17, 2025
Planning Commission OKs removal of east side pecan tree
In a case that may tug at the heartwood of tree-hugging Austinites, the Planning Commission approved an variance allowing the cutting of one individual pecan tree during its May 27 meeting. The variance was granted at the request of nonprofit…
Planning • By Miles Wall • Jun 16, 2025
A multi-family rezoning at the rugged edge of Northwest Austin
Way out in Austin’s northwest corner, where the city bleeds into undeveloped wildland, two people are trying to build a homestead. To do that, they’re asking the city of Austin for an upzoning to a district type meant for building…
Zoning • By Miles Wall • Jun 11, 2025
Planning Commissioners and public weigh in on West Campus zoning updates with support... and some reservations
Planning Commissioners and the public weighed in on planned changes to a West Campus zoning plan during a marathon public comment session on May 13. Conducted as part of a hearing at the Planning Commission about the updates, the comments…
Planning • By Miles Wall • May 20, 2025
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Changes on the way for Austin's scooters
New rules — and a new focus on equity — have arrived for Austin’s scooter rentals. Transportation and Public Works posted a new set of draft director’s rules governing the city’s shared micromobility program on May 12, which like a…
Transportation • By Miles Wall • May 14, 2025
Facing overwhelmingly negative feedback, city drafts refinements to residential permit parking program
Transportation and Public Works officials presented draft changes to the director’s rules governing the department’s Residential Permit Parking program to the Urban Transportation Commission on May 6, teasing a set of tweaks and formalizations rather than an overhaul of the…
Transportation • By Miles Wall • May 13, 2025
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SMART housing to see changes in “phase two” of City Council-initiated review
A city incentive program intended to produce “Safe, Mixed-use, Accessible, Reasonably-priced and Transit-oriented” housing may be getting a little smarter with changes working their way towards City Council. The Housing Department is proposing four amendments to improve the “operation and…
Housing • By Miles Wall • May 6, 2025
Geology takes center stage in Judge’s Hill zoning case
Some Judges’ Hill neighbors are spooked about a proposed redevelopment near 15th and Lamar and very near a geologic feature implicated in several landslides along Shoal Creek in recent years. But so far, the city seems to think they’re just…
Zoning • By Miles Wall • Apr 30, 2025
Future land use plans for CapMetro sites pick up a recommendation from Planning Commission
A bundle of subtle planning changes around two Capital Metro park-and-rides in North and South Austin may lay the groundwork for a major redevelopment on the sites, and some residents still aren’t happy about it. The Planning Commission voted unanimously…
Planning • By Miles Wall • Apr 29, 2025
City touts ongoing success in one-year update on micromobility program tweaks
Last April, Austin made changes to its micromobility program, cutting the number of scooters on the street by 2,000 and reducing speed limits among other things. In a one-year update, city staff say those changes have worked out as well…
Transportation • By Miles Wall • Apr 22, 2025
Austin Resource Recovery to formally amend cart collection rules
Austin Resource Recovery, the city department that handles Austin’s waste, wants to clarify some things about how residents put out recycling, trash and compost carts. In a presentation to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission during a meeting on April 10,…
Resources • By Miles Wall • Apr 16, 2025
West Campus zoning program set for changes as city plans density-focused upgrade
Austin’s West Campus neighborhood may be about to enter a new era of development, as city staff plan to update a special zoning overlay that has guided new building in the area since the early aughts, according to a presentation…
