Austinist: Bill Could Increase Austin's Power Over SH130 Corridor

shilli

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:52:58 -0600

I don't think the post indicates that SH130 is anything but a sprawl generator or that SH130 might relieve I-35. SH130 will certainly generate a substantial amount of sprawl (it has already started). The point is that the bill will allow the city to exert some level of control over that sprawl instead of leaving developers to build the worst kind of sprawl (segregated swaths of single-family homes, office parks, and big box stores). With this bill, the city might be able (if it is so inclined) to generate enough density to create some plausible MetroRail connections. Even if that happens, traffic, especially on I-35, will get much worse, because no one around here has the guts to develop in a way that is not predominantly car-centric. SH130 was a bad idea and will have a negative impact on Austin. This bill will mitigate the harm, but not reverse it.

Tarvin

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 22:29:04 -0600

Extend infrastructure means more sprawl. SH 130 is simply a sprawl generator. It wont' do squat for relieving !H 35.

sandra ramos

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:48:55 -0600

There were two companion bills to SB 1688 (namely 1689 and 1690) that conveniently didn't get the same treatment as the city's bill. SB 1690 would have given the County of Travis limited zoning authority to assist in the oversite of this growth hot spot, and insure that developers didn't continue their sprawl at taxpayers expense, but alas, the City wins the day...