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.

I was prepared to ride the bus back home, but instead was given a lift by a neighbor. The bus does run from Brazos and 6th, on weekdays, every half hour up to 24th street 11:30 pm. Many of us do live in an area accessible by public transportation. By the way, by the time the #3 going south was at, almost 3/4 of all the seats were taken, and before we got to city hall, it was standing room only. I've been told that "nobody rides the bus". That certainly was not true yesterday, or Tuesday night when I took it to the Planning Commission meeting, or Thursday of last week when I took it to and from the City Council meeting.

On the City www site is a FAR calculator, and more detail on the interim regulations. Basically, even under the interim regulations, lots of building is allowed. It is by no means a "moritorium". All permits drawn before Friday of last week are allowed, plus, permits are issued for the LARGEST of three choices. I'll detail that here, if you wish.

We are not completely complete with this. There is a 14 member working group, to propose permanent regulations to the City Council. Betty Dunkerly, one of the members of the city council, stated that she hoped this group would address the issue of occupancy. I am very pleased to mention that Chris Allen from

Rosedale, Laura Morrison from Old West Austin, and Karen McGraw from Hyde Park are on that working group. It is supposed to operate by consensus, and given that some of the members are representatives of groups strongly opposed to the new ordinances, my fingers are crossed about whether there will be attempts to undermine what the council passed last night. We'll have to see. The working group's first meeting from 1-3pm today at council chambers in City Hall. Visitors welcome. Also, predicted by me, that Brewster McCracken, who is up for re-election this May, will face some as yet unannounced opponent, strongly financed by developer and real estate groups.

Thanks to you from Allandale who wrote letters, who came to the meeting, and who testified in support of the interim regulations.

Best regards,

John Keohane
5702 Wynona Avenue
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 371-3853