By JACK CRAVER, Austin Monitor

By a one-vote margin, City Council on Thursday gave its blessing to the controversial Champion development. By voting in favor of the amendment, Council is allowing a 300-unit residential development to go forward, to the chagrin of many nearby residents who have vehemently opposed the project, which they say threatens an environmentally sensitive area.

Mayor Steve Adler, along with Council members Greg Casar, Pio Renteria, Delia Garza, Jimmy Flannigan and Ellen Troxclair, voted to approve an amendment to a 20-year-old settlement agreement involving a large tract of land in Northwest Austin.

The amendment was approved by Council in late 2016, but opponents of the project sued, arguing that the city had not properly notified the public of the Council vote. A judge agreed and struck down the vote, forcing Council to take up the matter again. Earlier this month, Council voted to postpone action on the matter.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

After two and a half months, the new Steiner Ranch community manager resigned and is expected to leave her post sometime in March. This news comes on the heels of the community’s executive director’s recent resignation and the previous community manager’s resignation.

Heather Hood reportedly gave notice on Feb. 9, former executive director Randy Schmaltz’s resignation was effective Jan. 5, he was with the community nearly three years, and Mackal Taylor resigned in mid-December, after eight years with the community.

The Steiner Ranch Master Association Board of Directors hires the staff who runs Steiner Ranch.

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