New rules approved by the Austin City Council require that neighbors be notified of proposed big-box development and that a public hearing be held for the project.
The Austin City Council took steps to allow more public comment into proposed big-box development, but stopped short of preventing the construction of a new local Wal-Mart in the Northcross district.
"Lincoln Property Company wants to redevelop part of Northcross into a 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter. A neighborhood coalition called Responsible Growth for Northcross is fighting the plan, saying it will bring unwanted traffic and hurt property values...More than 100 neighbors protested outside of City Hall midday Thursday, asking the council to void Lincoln's site plan for the mall, which the city approved in August."
"Council members didn't do that Thursday, perhaps to avoid getting sued by the retail giant. Instead, a few council members applied public pressure, urging Lincoln to change its vision into a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly project."
FULL STORY: Austin OKs new rules on big stores
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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