Planning and Zoning

What has the Neighborhood Association Ever Done for ME

Allandale’s Neighborhood Plan
by Allan McMurtry

When Allandale was being formed, subdivision by subdivision, starting in the far south along 45^th   Street after WWII and the far east south of Northland in the late 1930s, the City of Austin had rudimentary zoning laws. On occasion, the City would be uncertain as to what zoning was appropriate for an area and it would identify it as Interim Zoning. This meant that the zoning was there as an indication only. That zoning could be changed over owner’s or the surrounding neighbors’ objections much easier than permanent zoning. Interim zoning only required a majority vote of the Council to change it rather than a super majority vote of 75%. The result for Austin wasn’t particularly ominous as Austin was growing slowly and from a smaller base. As Allandale grew west, but mostly north, the number of lots of Interim Zoning grew. Back then, residential zoning would allow both duplex and single family dwellings. This was actually much more permissive than the predominant single family residential use found in deed restrictions.

The 1981 Zoning Rollback

Here's one of the entries in Phyllis Brinkley's "History of Allandale Neighborhood Association" that is relevant to the discussion of our joining the City of Austin's Neighborhood Planning process:

"1981........................... Achieved a zoning rollback for 99% of all single-family residences within the neighborhood to permanent "SF-2, Single Family Residence." This was the largest rollback in the city and has prevented residences from being rezoned as duplexes, apartments, and commercial establishments."

This rollback was largely due to the efforts of our current ANA Executive Committeee member, Allan McMurtry.

Neighborhood Planning - Now or Later?

As the Allandale Neighborhood Association considers whether to join the City of Austin's neighborhood planning process, a couple of us on the ANA Executive Committee sent out inquiries to other neighborhoods who have gone through the process for their input. I sent out the following query to the Austin Neighborhood Council's listserv:

Subject: [ANCtalk] neighborhood planning process - what would you do different

VMU Meeting Notes

submitted by Kay Newell

These are some very rough notes from last night's VMU meeting taken by a friend of mine.  She said you are welcome to share them.  The handouts mentioned in the notes will be available on ANC's website http://www.ancweb.org/index.htm

Kay
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Brewster is the only speaker present/  staff sitting in audience,  at least 100 folks showed up ,  went to standing room only... at beginning:  these are very rough notes,  BM =s Brewster McCracken LM='s Laura Morrison   ?'s +  question from unidentified person in
audience ... NA='s Neighborhood Association  NP ='s neighborhood
planning....ah=affordable housing

DryDock Late Night Permit Denied

Drydock Seafood (formerly Asian Buffet/Romeo's/Pancho's) went before the Zoning and Platting Commitee on 10/17/06 seeking a permit to allow it to remain open until 2 am. The request for a late night permit was opposed by the Allandale Neighborhood Association. What follows is a message posted to the Allandale listserv responding to a question regarding the outcome by sherahjr@aol.com on 10/18/06:

Report on March 18 meeting with Development Task Force Members

submitted by John Keohane

Report on Meeting on March 18 with members of task force on SF and Duplex Development

About thirty people, including residents of Brentwood, Rosedale, and Allandale, plus Brykerwoods, North Loop, Oakmont Heights, and Ridgelea attended the session Saturday from 1pm at Yarborough branch library on single family and duplex development. Chris Allen with Danette Chimenti and Noah Kennedy, all members of the city council task force currently meeting on this subject, were there to field questions.

Interim Regulations Pass Council on 2nd/3rd Reading--Working Group Named

I rode the #3 bus, down Burnet Road, to the City Council meeting yesterday. I am pleased to report that the interim regulations on residential construction, adjusted to include duplexes, as well as single family homes, passed on 2nd and 3rd readings. The city council vote was 7-0.

More on the Interim Restrictions - McMansion Ordinance

from Felicia Adams, RNA Co-president

Neighbors,
As most of you now know, last Thursday the Austin City Council voted 6-0 to pass the interim regulations only on 1st reading only.  At the meeting this Thursday, they will continue the public hearing and finalize the ordinance (2nd and 3rd readings).

Here is a graphic that explains the new interim restrictions (McMansion Ordinance) done by the Pemberton Heights NA.

Public Hearing on Interim Standards

Allandale neighbors,
   
At 6pm, this Thursday, at city hall in downtown Austin, is a public hearing on proposed interim standards for building in residential areas of Austin.
   
In my opinion, this is an important hearing, and I hope some of you will join me in being there to either testify, or simply lend your support of those who do.

Why of permits, zoning, and neighborhood real estate watch!

Officer Crowder promotes a neighborhood crime watch. Good idea, IMO. This is on a different kind of neighborhood watch. A neighborhood real estate watch. Zoning exists in Austin. According to the 1953 edition of Government in Action, by 1948 all except one of American cities over 250,000 population had zoning (Austin was not yet that large). Austin is now about 660,000 population.