[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6526868,"mediaKeyId","3684378-e70ac35145740027c2fade203af220fe","parentId",3684378,"title","Council approves Acacia Cliffs rezoning despite tenants' pleas; DB90 debate to continue","audioSeconds",8400,"startMs",19800000,"endMs",28200000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684378-e70ac35145740027c2fade203af220fe&start=19800&end=28200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684378-e70ac35145740027c2fade203af220fe/thumbnail_19800000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6526868/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Council-approves-Acacia-Cliffs-rezoning-despite-tenants-pleas-DB90-debate-to-continue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526868-4cc13ae52de3bad00983ec34fbfbc209/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448253&Signature=LrxN0mjIIegTFTyZ4ih~v1Z0wUDj1J4ILYHPSMXpoety4R-ssf-AU5MhnzmXi20I1xAP2viCB706~a-kqOlC9QqspkgD5UTiLXOgkGaCsNHcJhN44PrcgQsaP~NqT6F9bCU9JvSogl~9zGsaS4KM6t03lYGU-MVb9WH9cAXbfpxbMdJd4rMK4KTnO2tkCj3Jvvx8yiQ6pRPVS9bp0wUtJFCMRpEWjK1RMdALNus5i0Eokp98bPS9rLYwE4JU3-UhAV9JCRR0zWNCL72A1Wpstf3B8dwk-kiGhUpfC4MAxmtq31bOgrFwBh3Vry6ap7h2TZcg9htpXAk~w0s~w7ZeXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-06-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Austin City Council approved a rezoning for the Acacia Cliffs apartment complex (agenda item 103) on second and third reading after a lengthy public hearing and technical testimony on June 5.

The rezoning will allow the property owner to pursue redevelopment under the staff-recommended plan. Mayor Kirk Watson moved the motion to approve the staff recommendation on second and third reading; Council Member José Velásquez seconded it. The council adopted the motion (the final roll call was recorded as 10 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention; Council Member Paige Ellis was shown as abstaining).

The approval followed more than three hours of public testimony and a technical presentation about slope stability at the site. Dozens of Acacia Cliffs residents said the complex — home to about 290 units of naturally occurring affordable housing — should be protected from demolition and that the city should postpone approval until the city’s DB90 density-bonus program is amended to require stronger tenant protections and 1-for-1 replacement of affordable units. “This rezoning would mean the loss of the 290 naturally occurring affordable housing units,” tenant organizer Noe Elias said during public comments. Several tenants described the property as their only affordable option near jobs and transit.

Neighborhood leaders and engineers also testified. Jim Montgomery, president of the Judges’ Hill Neighborhood Association, and geotechnical experts raised slope and foundation concerns because the site sits below a Butte limestone rim and above Del Rio clay — a geology associated with past slope failures in the Shoal Creek corridor. Professor Robert Gilbert of the UT Austin Civil Engineering Department described earlier slope failures in the area and explained that a deep cut for a parking structure would require substantial geotechnical mitigation. Philip Bullock, a professional geologist, emphasized that the proposed development footprint encroached on the city-identified canyon rim feature and its buffer.

The applicant and its consultant said they will move forward with further geotechnical study and that they recorded a restrictive covenant committing to tenant-protection measures, including relocation assistance and notice. Michael Whalen, speaking for the applicant, said the team has committed in writing to provide a relocation specialist and relocation payments consistent with the city’s DB90 requirements; he said the applicant would pay a standardized moving/payment amount to all tenants and that no redevelopment is planned before 2027. “We recorded a restrictive covenant that binds the property to the same tenant protections that are provided under DB90,” Whalen said.

Tenants, advocacy groups and some council members said the recorded covenant and the DB90 protections did not go far enough. Tenants and organizers urged explicit, legally binding language requiring 1-for-1 replacement of affordable units at existing rents or at the same rental tiers, stronger relocation standards, and a preservation fund to let affordable developers make competitive purchase offers. Eric Gomez, a resident and tenants’ leader, told council that “the amendments of DB90 cannot be just a menu of options for real estate developers. It must set forth protections for the tenants.”

Council members debated risks both ways: some said denying or postponing the rezoning could make an affordable redevelopment by a nonprofit infeasible and risk loss of maintenance and tenant protections today; others said approving the rezoning under the current DB90 construct would make displacement more likely and would leave tenants with inadequate protections. Council discussion repeatedly returned to a core point: DB90 has produced “unintended consequences” and needs revision before it is used on existing multifamily properties. Council members agreed to pursue a package of follow-up work: Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes’ amendment to DB90 (to require stronger replacement and tenant protections) will be part of the DB90 review; Council Member Mark Duchin said he will pursue creation of a preservation fund for naturally occurring affordable housing; staff will return with technical analysis and next steps for codifying stronger tenant protections. Councilmembers also asked the applicant and neighborhood to complete a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to define the geotechnical study and community review steps before site-plan approval.

Ending: The council’s vote lets the owner pursue the staff-recommended redevelopment path, but the decision is not the last word. Tenants and housing advocates said they will press the council and staff to complete amendments to DB90 and to build a preservation fund. Several council members said they will continue work on DB90 changes and follow-up protections and that staff will return with additional policy and technical analysis. The developer and neighborhood indicated they will continue work on an MOU and on geotechnical design commitments.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - City Council Meetings - Jun 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Austin City Council approved a rezoning for the Acacia Cliffs apartment site on second and third readings on June 5 after hours of public testimony from tenants, neighborhood leaders and geotechnical experts.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6526859,"Public pushes Austin council to favor local artists for AUS airport art; multiple art contracts approved on consent",674,494000,1168000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684378-e70ac35145740027c2fade203af220fe&start=494&end=1168","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684378-e70ac35145740027c2fade203af220fe/thumbnail_494000.jpg","/articles/6526859/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Public-pushes-Austin-council-to-favor-local-artists-for-AUS-airport-art-multiple-art-contracts-approved-on-consent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526859-e4b4f6c3ca48cf12091b77077b7bb689/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448253&Signature=CcRy6ySQBQp85KwsbJz6T0ZoOYaq3lewW-K4RYxSYlbxPEbK6JNgwcRNi87Bt0Vrn-otBsDo~bV6NiQk75r0XrgCB36nGGyNYRwHjiNePfozRJ6oXAHSxY75xARqNi1cBl6-J45IOgzoWC5yqPCIOaDe5mv7ZcKPOQ4iLHzAxK26X46cEqmNeGJl9mC2cGHWgyOtMEIKJgbe3zGSf2SWlsLPK7PfCT7hhnVQwFkqoChpVOx2Bua0XokqhtHMldSc44LiKDb~WdDQeY~4pwtWXw4gBTAI2MYRYZdgJwKDSBCpW48E7XKcRn0Oru0F9dOVzzafV711MFn8s-3HaFBI-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents and arts advocates urged the Austin City Council on June 5 to prioritize Texas-based artists for a set of airport art contracts tied to the ABIA expansion. Public testimony focused on multiple consent items that award art contracts for the airport tunnel and pedestrian areas (agenda items 1–10 and related items).

Jennifer Robichow, who called in remotely, told council: “I speak for thousands of Austinites opposing the $5,800,000 contract to Saya Wolfolk, a New York–based artist, for the ABIA tunnel art project. I urge you to reject this contract and prioritize local artists to reflect our city’s values and keep taxpayer dollars here.” Robichow and several other speakers argued that selection panels used limited-entry procedures that produced out-of-state winners and that the city should follow the Art in Public Places master plan and prioritize Texas residents, especially for high-profile permanent installations that will greet millions of travelers.

Other speakers urged support for locally based artists in phase‑specific contracts: one commenter supported a Texas-based artist (Gil Rocha) for the $1,000,000 departures ticketing installation, while criticizing other selections. Speakers also raised process questions — suggesting more public input and transparency in open-call procedures for high-visibility public art.

Council action: the related art and contract items were part of the consent agenda and were approved as part of the council’s consent vote earlier in the meeting. No council member placed the items on the regular agenda for separate debate; several speakers urged the council to ask staff and the Arts Commission to prioritize local artists in future procurements.

Why it matters: The airport art program is a high-profile use of public funds that shapes visitors’ first impression of the city and distributes public-art contracting dollars. Commenters framed their request as both cultural (keeping “Austin’s identity” through local creators) and economic (keeping public dollars local to support Texas artists and arts jobs).

Ending: Council approved the airport art contract items on consent; several public commenters asked the council to revisit procurement rules and the Art in Public Places review process so future airport artwork better reflects and benefits Texas-based artists.","Public commenters urged the council to reject or rethink several art contracts for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport expansion, saying the selections favored out-of-state artists and failed to prioritize Texas-based creators; the council approved multiple airport art contracts on the consent agenda.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6526865,"Council approves wastewater-service extensions; environmental groups warn of harm to Jollyville Plateau salamander",1800,18600000,20400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684378-e70ac35145740027c2fade203af220fe&start=18600&end=20400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684378-e70ac35145740027c2fade203af220fe/thumbnail_18600000.jpg","/articles/6526865/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Council-approves-wastewater-service-extensions-environmental-groups-warn-of-harm-to-Jollyville-Plateau-salamander","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526865-a211d580be5b6131f700f575f513147d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448253&Signature=GVcTDHYmH6UxUOn3CVk3eNzqZP29wBk7N6gkqgDoAWGUGxOEQUgopvG5V9bz25Jp-VUJfvHOiiPTOA65NTLZYOSHtuNj-OyW8xkilh0GHJxdViN9al4-HzCNDSCWm3-eqUzGuiHEdrNgdXoF4rIZM8uwJ5AD8S~Wlfmhvzl3cyCWEtCqdi3ehYp9IjdbpbVXT8Tm6Rz5wlQX1A~JHZwfBEDo9UCAH4nCTPsifi9iZKnPsRp8kApdN6lcNoL51aQCWD-RyuyUPma75hCzTDjtIsbjd8I-4AEzG8g03pbpCx9VNPYmdVJe1rmL2FgdduiTuFcOrDvphShexeH-JuHBRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Austin City Council approved two wastewater service-extension requests on the consent agenda (agenda items 16 and 17) on June 5 after public comment that included conservation groups, scientists and developer representatives.

The requests concerned extensions for parcels near Farm-to-Market Road 620. Several speakers urged the council to deny the extensions, saying the approvals would permit development that exceeds the city’s impervious-cover rules and would harm downstream habitat for the federally listed Jollyville Plateau salamander. Azalea Rodriguez (Texas representative, Defenders of Wildlife) told council the proposal would “pave over 59% of the site, which is triple Austin’s 20% impervious-cover limit,” and said approval would “invite other developers to bypass environmental safeguards.” Craig Naser and Roy Whaley of the Sierra Club echoed that call; Naser described the developer’s position as “bullying” and noted the Environmental Commission recommended denial 10–0.

The developer and project proponents argued the extensions would enable workforce housing and that upsizing the utility lines would yield systemwide benefits. A project proponent told council the wastewater improvements would be about $2,000,000 and that the development would deliver a workforce-housing project that otherwise would not be feasible without service.

Councilmember amendments and the final consent tally: several council members registered No votes on these items during the consent vote (Council Members Ryan Alter, Michael Siegel, Tim Kaine [note: name placeholder as transcript uses different names], and Mark Duchin were recorded by the clerk as voting no on items 16 and 17). The consent agenda passed and the service extensions were approved despite the dissent; council directed staff to proceed consistent with the actions taken on the consent agenda.

Why it matters: the Environmental Commission had issued an emphatic, unanimous recommendation against these service extensions; local conservation groups warned approving them would set a precedent for other parcels released from the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction after state-level changes. Commenters also highlighted the tension between infrastructure-driven affordable-housing goals and local environmental protections.

Ending: Council approval clears the way for the requested wastewater service. Councilmembers who voted against the items said they were doing so to uphold watershed and endangered‑species protections; supporters said the decisions will enable workforce housing and infrastructure upgrades that will serve broader areas. As with other consent items, staff follow-up memos and project-level engineering reviews are the expected next steps.","The council approved two service-extension requests for properties near FM 620 despite unanimous Environmental Commission opposition and warnings from conservation groups that the projects would exceed the city's impervious-cover rules and threaten the federally listed Jollyville Plateau salamander.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Acacia Cliffs rezoning despite tenants' pleas; DB90 debate to continue

Public pushes Austin council to favor local artists for AUS airport art; multiple art contracts approved on consent

Council approves wastewater-service extensions; environmental groups warn of harm to Jollyville Plateau salamander