Judge strikes down Austin’s Pilot Knob development dealindytexans.org/wp-content/uploads/Judge-strikes... · Business Insider | MeUndies - Ad Rare Photos of The Early Days of The

Judge strikes down Austin’s PilotKnob development dealElizabeth Findell - Elizabeth Findell12:09 p.m Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 | Filed in Local News

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A judge struck down fee waivers of $50 million to $80 million for the Pilot Knobdevelopment in South Austin on Friday, saying Austin city leaders violated the TexasOpen Meetings Act when they passed them.

A Brohn Homes sign sits across the street from a home under construction in the Pilot Knob housing project offMcKinney Falls Parkway on Monday, October 03, 2016.

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Judge strikes down Austin’s Pilot Knob development deal http://www.statesman.com/news/local-govt--politics/judge-strik...

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The City Council voted in December2015 to waive all fees for thedevelopment — a total of 6,500 singlefamily houses and 1,500 apartments —in exchange for the developer puttingthat money into a fund to make 650homes permanently affordable. Butsome council members realized onlyafter the vote that city utilities wouldtake a hit of at least $50 million over 30years as a result of the deal.

Friday’s ruling voids that council decision.

Civic activist Brian Rodgers sued the city in February, arguing the council did not givethe public advance notice of the deal.

Judge Stephen Yelenosky agreed, noting that the agenda item city leaders posted atthe time spoke only of an ordinance to amend the property’s zoning.

“The subject matter of zoning a development does not, without more, alert a reader toan approval of water impact fee waivers,” Yelenosky wrote.

His decision adds that the actions taken were particularly important to the public.

“The dollar amount of the waivers is very large and the effect will be felt for 30 years,”his decision says.

Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Delia Garza, the architects of the deal, didnot immediately return messages Saturday to say if they planned to bring it back foranother vote. All the council members approved the fee waivers except for CouncilMember Don Zimmerman, who abstained from the vote.

For the full story, click here.

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2 of 6 10/15/16, 5:40 PM

ABitSkeptical 1 minute ago

Tom Brown 4 hours ago

Why is the Mayor "proud" of violating the law?

Why doesn't he just say straight to our face "FU" (pardon my"French") because he plans to continue violating the law?

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This is yet another egregious abuse of power and underhandeddealings by the social agenda driven giveaway-everything counciland it's liberal minded members. They don't mind stiffing theworking stiff in order to provide free social services to theunderclass. Thank goodness there are still a few alert member ofthe public and judiciary to stop them in their lying tracks.

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Judge strikes down Austin’s Pilot Knob development dealindytexans.org/wp-content/uploads/Judge-strikes... · Business Insider | MeUndies - Ad Rare Photos of The Early Days of The