Tag Archives: City of Austin Board of Adjustment
City Hall
Board of Adjustment considers a fee change
After more than a year of discussion and drafting, the Board of Adjustment continues to move forward with a request to change its fees.Board Member Bryan King read his proposal for a change to the fees charged for interpretation cases…
Land Development Code
BoA maintains high standard for high fence
Those wanting a taller fence in the city better have a good reason in hand when they come to the Board of Adjustment for a variance, as two northeast Austinites learned Monday.Josh Washman told the board that he and his…
Land Development Code
BoA backs city in ‘structural trellis’ case
A bid to change the way the city allows homes to be attached to each other fell short at the Board of Adjustment’s most recent meeting, despite widespread skepticism toward the central idea that an arbor is a “structural element.”The…
Preservation
Historic zoning debate reaches new heights at BoA
Are brand-new houses just as eligible for historic zoning as older homes? The answer may not surprise you: No, they are not.The fact that this question was the subject of a half-hour discussion at the Board of Adjustment, however, is…
The Code
BoA postpones interpretation case, disappoints developer
During a special called meeting on Nov. 21, the Board of Adjustment voted to postpone an interpretation case to its next meeting on Dec. 12. Leah Bojo, a senior manager at Drenner Group representing PSW Real Estate, cried “No!” from…
Planning
BoA votes to protect ‘compatibility to nothing’
A recent Board of Adjustment variance case proved that sometimes rules are rules, even absent the reasons they were put in place.William Faust, representing applicant Greg Smith before the board, explained that a small, vacant tract of residentially zoned land…
Land Development Code
BoA shoots down East Austin variance cluster
At the Board of Adjustment’s most recent meeting, the specters of short-term rentals and the Jumpolin piñata store did no favors for a group seeking variances in East Austin.Chris French, who identified himself as the homeowner’s brother, explained that they…
Land Development Code
Two-year permit puzzle continued at the BoA
It’s back to the drawing board for some Lake Austin homeowners who have yet to move into the home they purchased in 2014.Armbrust & Brown’s Eric DeYoung represented the owners, Stone Park Trust, at the Board of Adjustment meeting earlier…
Land Development Code
No special exceptions for East Austin special exception
Angry neighbors were no match for strange coincidences at the Board of Adjustment earlier this month.Nanette DiNunzio was seeking a special exception that would allow her to retain her garage, which – because it is in the 5-foot setback –…
Zoning
Playground plan stalls at BoA
Although those hoping for a playground at Club Creek Apartments will get another shot at a variance next month, it’s not looking promising.Laura Klein spoke on behalf of the apartment complex’s owner, PPA Group, at the Board of Adjustment meeting…
Development
New plan fails to impress in the wake of unapproved East Austin demolition
Almost two years later, one East Austin homeowner is back at the Board of Adjustment asking for a variance redo, with a promise to reconstruct the demolished home it had promised to preserve.At this point, owner 2100 E. 14 Ventures…
Planning
East Seventh bar plan goes south at BoA
It appears that the dream of another east side bar may be over, after Board of Adjustment members definitively shot down a request at their last meeting for reduced parking.Currently, the building at 1309 E. Seventh St. has room for…
Planning
Board of Adjustment opts not to consider neighbor’s belated complaints
Given unclear rules, misgivings about precedent and a huge stack of papers to wade through, the Board of Adjustment voted to reject a neighbor’s appeal of someone else’s variance at its last meeting.Lotte Vehko John Mayes was asking for a…
Land Development Code
BoA shoots down affordable housing variance in East Austin
An affordable housing project in Central East Austin had clear support from the Board of Adjustment. But, given the similarity to a case down the street that was rejected just hours before, board members struggled to articulate their support in…
Development
“Grandiose” East Austin remodel stalls at BoA
Fast-paced change in Central East Austin has helped contribute a boon of cases to the city’s planning commissions, where it has become clear that prosperity has been a mixed bag.At their most recent meeting, Board of Adjustment members took up…
Land Development Code
Tanks tank in Old West Austin variance case
To find proof that the opinions of neighbors hold sway at the city’s boards and commissions, look no further than the Board of Adjustment. At its recent meeting, board members voted unanimously to deny a variance that may have looked…
Land Development Code
BoA awaits better hardship for east side development
A project that could bring three-story homes to the east side may be on track for getting some of the variances it needs – but developers are going to have to strengthen their hardship claim first.At their most recent meeting,…
Planning
Montessori school on narrow road remains in limbo
The Mariposa Montessori school may have found its ideal location, but without a variance that will allow it to build on the narrow Paisano Trail, plans are stalled.Currently, Mariposa Montessori is located on Brodie Lane, but it is now looking…
Planning
Parking and character battle at BoA case
Is a lack of parking a neighborhood characteristic? In East Austin, maybe it is.At the most recent meeting of the Board of Adjustment, George Rodenbusch was seeking a variance to reduce the number of required parking spaces from four to…