West Austin Neighborhood Group » City of Austin

Helpful Links List

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:27:46 +0000

Neighborhood Planning Information
Central West Austin Combined Neighborhood Planning Area Website	West Austin Neighborhood Group “Neighborhood Plan” (Adopted May, 1986)
Survey Results re Proposed Development of Austin State School Property (January, 2005)	Survey Results of West Austin Neighborhood re Residential Compatibility Standards (aka “McMansion Ordinance Survey”) (April, 2006)
Brackenridge Tract Development Agreement	Neighborhood Planning Library and Resources (information about neighborhood planning, land use, zoning, neighborhood plan special uses and design tools, front yard parking, mapping, and other Austin city plans)
Old West Austin Neighborhood Plan (June 29, 2000)	Visit the WANG Neighborhood Planning page for more info

Zoning & Code Information
City of Austin Interactive Building Plans, Permits & Inspection Request (search for building plans and permits by address) Travis Central Appraisal District Neighborhood Association Web sites City of Austin Zoning & Planning Dept (Neighborhood Planning and Zoning issues)	Summary of Residential Zoning Requirements Austin Zoning “101″ Presentation Download Neighborhood Resource Guide (.rtf format) Austin Neighborhoods Council (ANC) Services for Austin Neighborhoods Smart Growth Initiative

Links to City ServicesAustin Police Dept. Neighborhood Crime Stats Animal Shelter (708-6000)Animal Control for loose or dangerous animals, (708-6000), or call 911. Dead Animal Pickup: (494-9400) Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. For Saturday pickup, call (848-8838) between 8 a.m. and noon. Solid Waste Services will remove dead animals if they are on public streets or placed on the curbside.Bicycling Information (505-5606) City of Austin Directory (Start with the Public Information Office, (499-2220) if you need help figuring out whom to call.) Calendars City, AISD, UT and more. Construction Awareness Information System To obtain information about on-going construction projects that may affect your travel through Central Austin, click here. Electric Utility (322-9100) Graffiti Hot Line (473-4125) Hazardous Waste (499-2111) (batteries, pesticides, paints, solvents, cleansers, etc.) Health & Human Services Dept.(469-2188) Oak Wilt information Parks Department (call 974-6700 to express concerns about park grounds and facilities; Park Police 974-7707) Potholes (440-8444) Solid Waste (trash pickup and the reporting of brush piles in public spaces) Street light problem reporting (505-7617) Traffic Calming (and the reporting of neighborhood traffic problems) Utility locator (472-2822) ONE CALL marks your property for underground utility lines you might damage by digging. Tree Permits and Protection (what are protected trees and permit requirements from Austin’s Green Building Program) (974-1876 Jim Rhoades e-mail) Trees – Grow Green Program (Native and adapted plant guide) (974-2446 or Kathy Shay e-mail) Water Conservation (974-2199) Water and Wastewater (emergency number 972-1000)	Austin Police Department – Web Links (Emergencies: 911, Non-emergencies: 311)The following links are to assist you in keeping up with recent Austin Police Department news releases and other information. You can periodically check them for updated information. Crimes reported within the boundaries of neighborhood associations News/ Press Releases on Events Making the News: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/apd_news.htm V.I.N. Etching Dates: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/vinetch.htm APD District Representative for West Austin, Senior Police Officer Nicole Gray #3466 CWNAC District Representative Austin Police Department Central West, North Area Command 512-974-5241 nicole.gray@ci.austin.tx.us
	Austin History Heritage Society of Austin History of Austin – Austin History Center History of Austin – Convention & Visitors Bureau
	Helpful Information Austin City Connection Austin Chamber of Commerce
	Neighborhood Restaurants Holiday House 2425 Exposition (478-2652) (RIP) Abel’s On The Lake, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. (904-0572) (no menu) Maudie’s Cafe, 2608 W. 7th (473-3740) (menu) Mangia’s Pizza, 2401 Lake Austin (478-6600) (menu) Magnolia Cafe, 2304 Lake Austin Blvd. (478-8645) (menu) Fabi and Rosi, 509 Hearn (236-0642) (menu) Original David’s Brick Oven, 1608 W. 35th (453-4330) (Lunch Menu and Dinner Menu) Food!Food!, 2727 Exposition Blvd. (474-8515) (sandwich menu) Mozart’s, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd (477-2900) Hula Hut, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd (476-4852) (menu) Téo Espresso, Gelato & Bella Vita 26 Doors Shopping Center (451-9555) ThunderCloud Subs, 2308 L. Austin Blvd. (479-6504 FAX: 479-0440 ORDER ON-LINE!) (menu)

Governmental Contacts
Austin City CouncilComplete Detailed Information Here Mayor Will Wynn Phone: (512) 974-2250 Fax: (512) 974-2337 E-mail: Will.Wynn@ci.austin.tx.us Place 1 – Council Member Lee Leffingwell Phone: (512) 974-2260 Fax: (512) 974-3212 E-mail: Lee.Leffingwell@ci.austin.tx.us Place 2 – Council Member Mike Martinez Phone: (512) 974-2264 Fax: (512) 974-1887 E-mail: Mike.Martinez@ci.austin.tx.us Place 3 – Council Member Randi Shade Phone: (512) 974-2255 Fax: (512) 974-1888 E-mail: Randi.Shade@ci.austin.tx.us Place 4 – Laura Morrison Phone: (512) 974-2258 Fax: (512) 974-1886 E-mail: Laura.Morrison@ci.austin.tx.us Place 5 – Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken Phone: (512) 974-2256 Fax: (512) 974-1884 E-mail: Brewster.McCracken@ci.austin.tx.us Place 6 – Council Member Sheryl Cole Phone: (512) 974-2266 Fax: (512) 974-1890 E-mail: Sheryl.Cole@ci.austin.tx.us	Regional, State and Federal Gov’t Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO)Texas State Senators Senate District 14 – Senator Kirk Watson (463-0114 or kirk.watson@senate.state.tx.us) Senate District 25: Senator Jeff Wentworth (463-0125 or jeff.wentworth@senate.state.tx) Texas State Representatives House District 46: State Representative Dawnna Dukes (463-0506 or dawnna.dukes@house.state.tx.us) House District 47: State Representative Valinda Bolton (463-0652 or valinda.bolton@house.state.tx.us House District 48: State Representative Donna Howard (463-0631 or donna.howard@house.state.tx.us) House District 49: State Representative Elliott Naishtat (463-0668 or elliot.naishtat@house.state.tx.us) House District 50: State Representative Mark Strama (463-0821 or mark.strama@house.state.tx.us) House District 51: State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (463-0674 or eddie.rodriguez@house.state.tx.us) Texas U.S. Representatives Congressional District 10 -Michael T. McCaul ((202) 225-2401 or michael.mccaul@mail.house.gov) Congressional District 21 – Congressman Lamar Smith (202-225-4236) Congressional District 25 – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (202-225-4865 or doggett@hr.house.gov) Texas U.S. Senators U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (202-224-5922 or senator@hutchison.senate.gov) U.S. Senator John Cornyn (202-224-2934 or senator@cornyn.senate.gov) U.S. President President Barack H. Obama (202-456-1414 or president@whitehouse.gov) United Nations Secretary-General Of The United Nations – The Honorable Ban Ki-moon (Fax: (212) 963 2155 or sg@un.org or ecu@un.org)

Local Historic Districts to be Established

admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:14:12 +0000

New Historic Preservation Ordinance Allows Local Historic Districts To Be Established: On June 22, 2006, the Austin City Council passed an ordinance allowing for the establishment of local historic districts (“LHDs”) by providing rehabilitation incentives for properties in such districts. The stated purpose of these LHDs is to preserve the areas. The neighbors in a LHD will devise a “preservation plan” and the city will grant some tax abatements for preservation efforts. Austin will be joining other major Texas cities that establish these districts to protect areas of historic significance. The City has worked out the application process, and estimates that the first district will take about 18 months to create.

To qualify for a local historic district designation, the ordinance requires that:

1. a petition be filed requesting local historic district designation by the owners of at least 60% of the land within a proposed local historic district to initiate rezoning of the property;

2. 51% of the structures within a local historic district must be contributing at the time the nomination is placed on the agenda of the Historic Landmark Commission, but not at the time the case is heard by Council;

3. at least 25% of the contributing buildings within a local historic district must be documented with ownership and occupancy histories in no less than 5 year intervals);

4. Section 25-2-355(A) clarifying the criteria for designation of a historic landmark and a historic area combining district;

5. the Historic Landmark Commission to review applications for remodel permits which affect the exterior of a building within a National Register Historic District

The Historic Task Force Recommendations are available by clicking here, the Task Force Report is available by clicking here, and the actual Ordinance is available by clicking here.

On August 24, 2005, the Heritage Society sponsored a seminar on the upcoming local historic districts. You can download the presentation by Steve Sadowsky, City of Austin Preservation Officer, and the draft application, which is soon to be finalized. A summary of the new ordinance that was sent out to landmark owners may be obtained by clicking here. Another summary from the City of Austin Preservation Officer, entitled “LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN AUSTIN,” may be obtained by clicking here. See also, Revisions to Historic Landmark Ordinance that established local historic Districts.

According to the summary, “owner-occupied residential properties would be eligible for a seven-year abatement on the added value of the rehabilitation with the re-investment of 25% of the pre-improvement value of the structure in qualified rehabilitation expenditures, including at least 5% of the pre-improvement value of the structure re-invested in exterior restoration or rehabilitation.” That’s a mouthful, but essentially, the City won’t tax the increase in value from any improvement/rehabilitation for seven years if (1) at least 25% of the pre-improvement value of the structure is used for “qualified rehabilitation expenditures” and (2) at least 5% of the pre-improvement value of the structure is used for “exterior restoration or rehabilitation.” Different rules apply for income producing properties.

THIS IS BIG NEWS BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE MAY BE AN EXTREMELY USEFUL TOOL FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Construction Awareness Information System

admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:34:36 +0000

The City of Austin Construction Awareness Information System is available to provide information about on-going construction projects that may affect your travel through the City. At the City’s web site: www.cityofaustin.org/ca, click on the map to get project information and the latest news and meeting dates. You can obtain construction information about Central Austin Projects by clicking here.

Code Enforcement Concerns?

admin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:52:50 +0000

Are The City’s Land Use and Zoning Requirements Not Being Enforced? Are there new construction projects on your street where the City is not enforcing its land use and zoning requirements relating to impervious cover, setback requirements, tree protection? If so, please send us an email to let us know by clicking here. This information will be forwarded to the Austin Neighborhood Council (ANC) which is compiling a database of code enforcement “failures” across the city which will be presented to the City in an effort to obtain better enforcement. Alternatively, you can contact the City code enforcement directly at Zoning.Enforcement@ci.austin.tx.us or 974-6576.