Tag Archives: City of Austin Board of Adjustment
Land use commissions face uphill battle to stay at City Hall
When City Council approved plans for a new Permitting and Development Center in 2017, the idea was that all land use commissions would eventually hold meetings there as part of a “one-stop shop” for all things development. But now that…
City Hall • By Jonathan Lee • Nov 16, 2021
Board of Adjustment fee assistance moves forward
At last Thursday’s meeting, City Council unanimously approved a resolution designed to alleviate economic barriers to participating in the Board of Adjustment process. The resolution, sponsored by Mayor Pro-Tem Natasha Harper-Madison, outlines the development of a BoA applicant assistance program…
City Hall • By Kali Bramble • Oct 22, 2021
West Campus sign variance remains on hold after illuminating discussion
Once again, an accidental ban on illuminated signs has forced developers to seek a variance from an unintentional city statute. Current city code prohibits illuminated signs in the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO). While the prohibition was made in error, it…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 12, 2021
BoA postpones parking variance for want of a better hardship
Parking requirements could threaten the affordability of a North Central Austin apartment complex. But finding no hardship – aside from the Land Development Code itself – Board of Adjustment members have asked for more information to better consider a variance…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 12, 2021
City mistakes and heritage tree pave the way for East Austin variance
Unaware that it was prohibited by city code, Daniel Salazar carefully nestled his new home against his back property line. The project was approved by the city and the mistake was not identified until after the structure was built. As…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 9, 2021
More height for Lamar Beach property means more access for all
With the help of a variance from the city’s Board of Adjustment, a new development on a puzzle of a downtown parcel will be moving forward, connecting a neighborhood to the lake in the process. Nikelle Meade, representing Pressler RRI,…
Planning • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 8, 2021
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With state change, Board of Adjustment could consider new hardships
A move by the Texas Legislature could change the way the city grants variances to the Land Development Code. The bill, House Bill 1475, would add another type of hardship for the Board of Adjustment to consider – the financial…
Texas State Legislature • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 13, 2021
A 'modest' proposal: Lake Austin lot seeks variance
Citing excessive constraints on their land, one Lake Austin property owner went to the Board of Adjustment Nov. 9 seeking a break that would allow them to move forward with building a home. Eric Gomez, representing owner Malia Muir, said…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 18, 2020
Shocking none, BoA OKs illuminated sign on the Drag
The Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a variance that will allow a new lighted sign on Guadalupe Street. Most of the questions at the meeting Monday were directed at the city code itself, which apparently prohibits illuminated signs despite their…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 12, 2020
Board of Adjustment raises renovation cap in Rosedale
Generally speaking, Austin’s Board of Adjustment isn’t wild about granting variances from the Land Development Code to those who have bought their way into a preexisting situation. Luckily for one family in the Rosedale neighborhood, that’s not always the case;…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 10, 2020
BoA consciously postpones Galindo variances
A request for two variances in the Galindo neighborhood forced Board of Adjustment members to think realistically about their future actions last month, and determine whether a postponement was really fair to the applicant. Lauren Jones, speaking on behalf of…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 2, 2020
BoA holds off on approval for 'flipped' ADU plan
While a request to build an accessory dwelling unit larger than the existing home was not a sticking point, the lack of a preservation plan for a variance that hinged on preservation did present a problem for the Board of…
