#NEWS // BG Reads | January 20, 2023
[BINGHAM GROUP]
[AUSTIN COUNCIL]
[AUSTIN METRO]
Report: ADU expansion, tax relief among city’s options to promote preservation (austin Monitor)
Preservation advocates want the city to simplify the process for building accessory dwelling units, and use an ombudsman position to help navigate city processes as some of the steps needed to save existing housing stock while helping to address affordability.
Those were some of the conclusions in a recent paper from Urban Land Institute Austin that looked at the programs and problems involved in the preservation movement while demand for local housing continues to surge.
The technical assistance report brought together more than 40 experts including city preservation staff, local business and property owners, planners and developers to make recommendations based on the findings that Austin loses its local character when long-standing homes are torn down.
The report also found demolition and new construction is often an easier and more lucrative option than preservation, noting: “At present, it is often an easier permitting path and more profitable for developers to tear down existing older homes, making way for new construction. The development process would benefit from the intentional alignment and comprehensive cooperation of the various city departments involved in preservation work, ensuring that the reviews and paperwork needed to support preservation efforts are as easy – if not easier – than demolition.”…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
City to look at electric vehicle building code updates (Austin Monitor)
Austin’s building code may soon include updated provisions concerning electric vehicles and electric readiness for new construction.
The city’s Resource Management Commission voted at its Jan. 17 meeting to recommend City Council initiate a public stakeholder process to develop rules for the vehicles and the electrical infrastructure needed to charge them.
Increasing electric vehicle use has been identified by the city as a way of reducing carbon emissions, and Austin Energy?encourages residents?to buy EVs.
The?resolution recommends?City Council direct Development Services and Austin Energy to initiate the required stakeholder process to update Austin’s Energy Conservation Code to include an Electric Ready amendment to the residential code, as well as an Electric Vehicle Ready amendment to the residential and commercial codes.
Electric Ready includes outfitting a property with the proper wiring and electric service to accommodate future electric vehicle charging…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
Here's a map of 3M Half Marathon route road closures in Austin on Sunday (Austin American-Statesman)
If you're planning to drive through North Austin or near the Capitol on Sunday morning, be prepared for delays. Road closures will be in effect as thousands of runners begin the?3M Half Marathon.
The race begins at Stonelake Blvd. and Capital of Texas Highway, running south before ending on San Jacinto Boulevard near the state Capitol. The half marathon uses rolling road closures, which means crossings at major intersections will remain open until runners arrive.?Closures begin at 6 a.m.?and are scheduled to end by noon.
San Jacinto Blvd. between E. 15th St. and E 12th St. will be closed starting Saturday. Check out the full 3M Half Marathon route map below…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
Billion-dollar remake of Brodie Oaks retail center site moves closer to reality (Austin American-Statesman)
The transformation of the Brodie Oaks shopping center into a billion-dollar, mixed-use development could get closer to becoming reality when the project comes up for a rezoning vote this month before the Austin City Council.
The American-Statesman wrote about the plans for Brodie Oaks in late 2020. Some things have changed since then about the plans for redeveloping the shopping center, which is at the convergence of three major roads — South Lamar Boulevard, U.S. 290 and Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway).
But the overall goal remains the same: to morph the development from a series of mostly one-story buildings and a sea of asphalt into a project that will add more height, density and walkability in a high-traffic area that is served by mass transit. Developers say their plans for the project also call for publicly accessible parkland and open space along with pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths.
Built in 1981, the 365,000-square-foot shopping center sits on 38 acres just east of the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The site consists of mostly single-story retail spaces, with a two-story office building on its back side.
Barshop & Oles, the Austin company that owns and manages Brodie Oaks, still envisions 3.1 million square feet of new construction on the site, including residential, office, hotel and retail and restaurant uses…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
State regulators approve controversial Texas electricity market Reform (Texas Tribune)
The Public Utility Commission voted Thursday to make a substantial change to the state’s electricity market in a controversial effort to get the whole system to be more reliable. The agency said it will let the Legislature review its plan before moving forward with putting it in place.
The idea, known as the “performance credit mechanism,” is a first-of-its-kind proposal. It’s meant to help produce enough power when extreme heat or cold drives up demand and electricity production drops for various reasons — such as a lack of sun or wind to produce renewable energy or equipment breakdowns at gas- or coal-fired power plants.
Under the new concept, which still has many details to work out, companies such as NRG Energy would commit to being available to produce more energy during those tight times. The companies would sell credits to electricity retailers such as Gexa Energy, municipal utilities and co-ops that sell power to homes and businesses…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
‘Keeping the door open:’ Ex-Land Commissioner George P. Bush on his political future (Dallas Morning News)
The Southwest Airlines pilot union is calling for its members to vote on a potential strike in the wake of last month's disruptions that caused hundreds of thousands of people to miss flights during the holiday travel season.
In a statement to union members Wednesday, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association wrote the action was motivated by failed contract negotiations as well as scheduling system issues that affected pilots and led to the airline's widespread operational failures.
Casey Murray, president of the union, said pilots have put pressure on the airline to make changes, but there's been little progress.
"We've seen meltdown after meltdown, and as we move forward, we think that we can partner and really try to correct some of these inefficiencies," Murray said…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney responds to concerns about Universal (Dallas Morning News)
With the announcement that Universal Parks & Resorts bought a site for a theme park in Frisco along the Dallas North Tollway, some residents are apprehensive. Last week residents who attended a meeting held by city officials at nearby Trent Middle School voiced concerns about traffic. Discussions continued this week during the Frisco City Council meeting. In response to traffic concerns, Mayor Jeff Cheney announced new data he learned of a few hours prior to the meeting. “The number one reaction without question has been about traffic,” Cheney said. “This is a 97-acre site. The anticipated traffic impact is actually less than what H-E-B does on 14.6 acres. As proposed, it will actually be one of the lowest, if not the lowest traffic generator projects on our entire stretch of the tollway.” Residents were also concerned about crime, human trafficking, the park’s business model, what type of employees the park will attract, city transparency on the deal, Frisco turning into “Arlington 2.0,” and environmental impacts.
Some who spoke, including Laura and Zachary Countryman, referenced a peer-reviewed journal article about a case study of crime concentration in Orlando because of Universal Studios. “From 2015 to 2017, surrounding neighborhoods experienced a 198% increase in crime around the park which resulted in a crime rate more than double the state and national average,” Zachary Countryman said. “Crime goes up around theme parks. My wife and I chose to live in Frisco in part because of its excellent safety record. We would hate to see that change in the wrong direction.” Laura Countryman said Frisco’s superb quality of life is endangered by “bringing in theme parks to encroach on what’s essentially a bedroom community.” “I don’t think that Universal’s incentives can offset the peace of mind that people sought when they chose to work and raise a family in Frisco,” she said. “Our city identity is really not one of being a tourist trap, especially not for the sake of making a quick buck or a sensational headline.” Cheney said council read the study and crime statistics were the first thing brought up during initial discussions. He said this park, because the age is geared toward children, will see different results. “The commitment to Frisco is to make sure it’s for the younger population which wouldn’t bear that same fruit as far as crime goes,” Cheney said…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
[NATION]
As egg prices rise, so do seizures at US border (BBC)
Attempts to smuggle eggs from Mexico or Canada can result in fines of up to $10,000 (￡8,140), officials warn. And yet, soaring egg prices in the US have tempted many to cross the border, where they can be bought for half the price, to bring back the delicate cargo, Seizures at border posts have spiked by more than 100%. US egg prices were up 60% in December compared to the previous year. Between 1 October and 31 December alone, egg and poultry seizures rose 108%, according to Department of Agriculture statistics…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
FAA contractors deleted files — and inadvertently grounded thousands of flights (NPR)
Contractors unintentionally?grounded thousands of flights last week?when they deleted files while working on the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system, the Federal Aviation Administration says.
The agency?said in a statement?Thursday that a preliminary review found the shutdown happened as the contractors worked to "correct synchronization between the live primary database and a backup database." Investigators so far found no evidence of malicious intent or a cyberattack…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
Mayors: Affordable housing demand is crushing us (POLITICO)
Red states, blue states, big cities, small towns — mayors from across the country this week are venting about their struggles to address a housing affordability crisis and increase in homelessness.
Leaders spanning places like Richmond, Va., and Albuquerque, N.M., aired concerns about establishing affordable housing and strengthening community development during the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors this week in Washington, D.C. They also voiced frustrations in dealing with investors, housing density and racial disparities while federal funding is often channeled to them indirectly through their state government…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
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[BG PODCAST]
Bingham Group Associate Hannah Garcia and CEO A.J. discuss the Austin swearing-in ceremony, new Council staff picks and policy insight, and the 88th Legislative Session.
Episode 180
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