Austin Board of Adjustment denies height variance for 601 Kinney Avenue

The City of Austin Board of Adjustment on June 9 denied a variance request that would have treated an addition at 601 Kinney Avenue as a separate structure so it could be measured under a different grade datum, a change that administrative reviewers said would raise the building—s measured height to 42 feet.

The denial follows a contested hearing in which nearby residents and the Zilker Neighborhood Association said the proposed work risks erosion, flooding and reduced privacy for the condominium community below. The board voted unanimously to deny the variance after hearing testimony from neighbors and the applicant—s representative.

The applicant, represented by Jay Hargrave, told the board the project would not physically increase the highest roofline on the property and that the planned addition would be about 10…