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Environmental Board backs controversial variance on Lake Austin lot

Despite fervent opposition from neighbors, a “comedy of errors” by city staff and an eyebrow-raising sequence of events, the Environmental Board last week recommended approval of a request for a variance to the city’s Land Development Code for a landowner looking to build a home on Lake Austin.

Planning Commission mulls zoning category for ‘outdoor entertainment’

Travis Commissioners debate how to manage Lavaca office project

Whispers 8-7-10

County eyes suspending new subdivisions to develop groundwater rules

Travis County officials, with an eye toward future population growth, are looking to address issues of groundwater availability, particularly in the western part of the county.

Austin’s first Net Zero Energy subdivision featured on DIY Channel

Whispers 9-3-10

Zilker Neighborhood continues appeal of café’s outdoor music permit

Lost in the shuffle of last week’s long and testy Council meeting was the postponement of an appeal regarding an Outdoor Music Venue permit for South Austin café Opa! But the postponement does not signal successful negotiations between the Zilker Neighborhood Association and a new café on South Lamar.

Hays County reconfigures award process for 2007 parks bonds

Whispers 9-2-10

Planning Commission puts off discussion of eastside urban renewal

Eastside neighborhoods are looking for their chance to weigh in, again, on the tri-party agreement and the urban renewal process along East 12^th Street.

Longtime county employee Joe Gieselman to retire

Austin begins public portion of its solid waste master plan

Whispers 9-1-10

Get Austin Moving PAC kicks off effort to pass 2010 Transportation Bonds

Seems like everyone gripes about the transportations problems in Austin, but now some familiar names are lining up to try and do something about it.

Oak Hill homeowners try to rally behind town center

West End group wants traffic to run slower through its business district

Whispers 8-31-10

Lakeside residents make waves as board backs bulkhead ordinance

To the dismay of some Lake Austin residents, new regulations for building bulkheads on the shoreline sailed through the Austin Parks and Recreation Board last week. The board voted 6-0 to recommend approval of a proposed ordinance that changes the city’s development code dealing with docks, bulkheads and shoreline access.

Council seeks to ease cable viewers’ conversion to digital channels

Whispers 8-30-10

Council up late for heated public hearing on water rates, WTP4

City Council settled in for a late night last night, as community concern over proposed water rate hikes and the construction of the controversial Water Treatment Plant 4 took over a public hearing on the FY2010-2011 proposed budget, a hearing that was still ongoing at press time. 

Council splits over historic zoning for UT area cottage

Whispers 8-27-10

Tempers flare over the future of South Congress

In a heated meeting Tuesday night hosted by the city's planning, transportation, and public works departments, residents, area merchants, and city staff seemed to agree on just one thing: That parking problems on South Congress Avenue need to be addressed. How that should happen, however, is a matter of intense debate.

Commissions tackle contentious 909 Congress development

Whispers 8-26-10

City Hall hosts opposing viewpoints on proposed water rate hike

Two simultaneous presentations at City Hall yesterday shed light on the debate over a proposed residential rate hike for water use in next year’s budget. In one corner stood David Anders, assistant director of the Austin Water Utility, who was presenting the utility’s quarterly financial report to the Council’s Audit and Finance Committee. In the other, a collection of city environmental activists, led by the Save Our Springs Alliance, who were holding a press conference calling on City Council to vote against any rate hikes in the FY 2011 budget.

Historic Landmark Commission OKs historic district for Hyde Park

Travis commissioner proposes to delete historic tax exemption

Whispers 8-25-10