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Tag Archives: City of Austin Land Development Code

Council puts off fixing environmental rules for east side

At the urging of Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Paige Ellis, City Council postponed voting on a resolution Thursday that would begin to equalize environmental regulations in Central and East Austin with protections that have long been standard in…

Council lays out compromise for more density along major streets

As Austin’s housing crisis deepens, City Council is pushing to relax two major constraints on development – compatibility and parking requirements – for properties along busy streets, in hopes of increasing the supply of housing. “We believe there is consensus…

City loses Land Development Code lawsuit appeal

On Thursday, the Texas 14th Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer invalidating two votes by Austin City Council rewriting the city’s Land Development code. Soifer ruled that the city had violated property owners’ procedural…

Council to allow ADUs in more places

In response to rising housing costs, last Thursday City Council proposed several changes to allow accessory dwelling units in more neighborhoods and to make them easier to build.  ADUs are set to become legal in Single Family Residence-Large Lot (SF-1)…

To boost housing supply, Council to allow residential use in commercial zones

Of all the policies to arise from City Council’s decreed Austin Housing Affordability and Supply Week, the most substantial is allowing residential use in commercial zones, a move that could open up capacity for tens of thousands of new homes. “Allowing…

Officials are brainstorming solutions to Austin's booming housing costs. Here are 4 of their ideas.

Tenants bidding on a rental home. Potential homebuyers offering $200,000 more than the listed price. Nearly 90 prospective buyers angling for one home. While these are just anecdotes, the data bears it out: The median sales price of a home…

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Council looks to increase height allowed under VMU zoning

City Council last Thursday took a step toward addressing housing affordability, passing a resolution to allow greater building height in areas zoned Vertical Mixed-Use (VMU). The code change would create VMU2, a new zoning category that allows 90 feet of…

An appeals court will hear arguments over Austin's land code rewrite. Here's what the case is about.

I can understand if your eyes glaze over at the mention of a “land code rewrite.” But whether you asked for it or not (and likely you didn’t), if you live in Austin, a case being heard this week in…

Green infrastructure pushed as remedy to stormwater pollution threats

An Austin-based environmental group is pushing City Council to approve a plan to protect area waterways from pollution through changes in building requirements that would promote stormwater retention. On Wednesday, Environment Texas delivered petitions with roughly 1,000 signatures to Council…

Suit over land use rules set for argument at Court of Appeals

More than a year and a half after Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer ruled in favor of neighborhood plaintiffs and overturned Austin’s efforts to enact a new Land Development Code, the case will be heard by the 14th Court…

Music, arts proponents renew push in land use code for creative spaces

Music and creative proponents are renewing a push to change the city land use code to make it easier for live music venues and other creative spaces to open throughout the city. The Music Commission voted unanimously last Monday in…

Canyon rimrock complicates reconstruction of Lake Austin boat dock

On July 7, the Environmental Commission approved a variance request to deconstruct and rebuild the Norris boat dock located at 1874 Westlake Drive. Scott Hiers, program manager for the Watershed Protection Department, presented pertinent details to the commission, including site…

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