In a vote of 7-4, City Council on Thursday approved granting water and wastewater service for a proposed multi-family project outside the city limits and within the Drinking Water Protection Zone. The property at 10656 North FM 620 is in the North Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, upstream from habitat for the Jollyville Plateau salamander, which […]
extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ)
The unincorporated land within the five miles of the city limits that is not within the city limits or ETJ of another city. Austin is the only municipality authorized to annex land within its ETJ.
Posted inPlanning
City and county to invest in historically underserved Northeast Austin area
At its Tuesday meeting, the Travis County Commissioners Court heard an update on what Commissioner Jeff Travillion called a “Marshall Plan” for the rapidly developing Northeast Austin area, referring to the 1948 plan for the U.S. to help in Western Europe’s economic recovery after World War II. The Northeast Austin District Plan began in 2023 […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental report points to the city limits and parkland challenges ahead
The 2023 “State of Our Environment” report from the Austin Watershed Protection Department presents a mix of positive and negative findings, but optimistically underscores the city’s proactive efforts in addressing the impacts of urban development and climate change. As in previous years, the annual report tracks Austin’s air, land, water and tree canopy to gauge […]
Posted inPlanning
Council delays considering wastewater service in Bull Creek watershed
City Council put off a decision on whether to grant a wastewater service extension request to CWS Capital Partners in the environmentally sensitive Bull Creek Watershed at Thursday’s meeting. The postponement came after Council Member Leslie Pool announced that there was an agreement to put off the matter until July 29, the next Council meeting. […]
Posted inCity Council
Boundary change puts landfill site under Travis County’s watch
City Council voted Thursday to change the boundaries of its extraterritorial jurisdiction, in essence giving up regulation of more than 800 acres that includes the controversial Austin Community Landfill property. By a unanimous vote, Council approved an ordinance change amending the ETJ boundaries to put the property, which sits between Giles Lane and Springdale Road […]
Posted inPlanning
New medical office moves forward with no recommendation from Environmental Commission
Trees are such an essential resource in Central Texas that even the thought of razing them to the ground can rattle the branches of the Environmental Commission. The city of Austin does not have the authority to mandate the preservation of heritage trees within the extraterritorial jurisdiction. Despite that, the Environmental Commission was uncomfortable approving […]
Posted inPlanning
Debate over rezone gets in the way of voluntary annexation deal
A decision by the Zoning and Platting Commission Tuesday to push a zoning case hearing back to April could jeopardize an opportunity for the city to annex a 42-acre lot south of FM 2222. The heavily wooded property, east of Lake Travis at the end of Milky Way Drive, is located within the boundary of […]
Posted inDevelopment
City of Austin adds 136 acres south of Onion Creek
On Thursday, City Council voted to have the city of Austin annex the Cascades Municipal Utility District, 136 acres of undeveloped land south of Onion Creek. The landowner, Onion Associates Ltd., entered into an agreement with the city in 2014 to create the MUD as part of its plans to develop the land. Original plans […]
Posted inDevelopment
Commissioners Court considers controversial variance request
A platoon of concerned residents showed up to Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday to try to put the brakes on a proposed development near their homes. Live Oak Springs would deliver 85 new homes near FM 1826 and Zyle Road southwest of Austin. However, the developer is seeking two variances that would allow him […]
Posted inDevelopment
ZAP grudgingly OKs subdivision variance for gated community
Members of the Zoning and Platting Commission railed against the traffic flow planned for a gated community in the city’s two-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction, but finally approved the subdivision Tuesday night. Developers were asking for a variance in order to make the subdivision streets private streets. Travis County Commissioners approved that request June 10. Because the […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
ZAP denies fill variance for property in city’s northwest ETJ
The Zoning and Platting Commission, following the Environmental Board‘s lead and staff’s counsel, denied a variance Tuesday for a north Austin property that has been in violation of city regulations for years. The site, at 15101 Debba Drive, is in the far northwest portion of the city‘s extraterritorial jurisdiction. Owner Marc Pate Construction was […]