The SOS Ordinance Turns 20

Remembrances of an election that changed Austin's political environment

"...8, 1992, voters overwhelmingly passed the Save Our Springs Ordinance – a voter-driven initiative to protect Barton Springs against..."

Aug. 3, 2012 News Feature by Amy Smith

Serious Concerns Over Amending SOS Ordinance

"...Leffingwell’s proposed amendment to the voter-approved Save Our Springs Ordinance would make it easier for redevelopment of existing buildings..."

Nov. 6, 2007 Postmarks

SOS Dooms City, Part II

Ordinance Swallows City, Millions Perish

"...vu all over again. When the Save Our Springs Ordinance was being debated, pro-growth forces said the ordinance would..."

Aug. 9, 1996 News Feature by Robert Bryce

Did SOS Matter?

The battle for Barton Springs has been a struggle over the soul of the city.

"...City Council -- voted for the Save Our Springs Ordinance and, it can be fairly said, changed history, at..."

Aug. 9, 2002 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Austin @ Large: Time to Repeal SOS?

What's really at stake in the proposed Temple-Inland deal

"...and its citizens should repeal the Save Our Springs Ordinance and pursue other strategies for managing growth and protecting..."

Jan. 16, 2004 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison

An S-O-S for SOS

What will the Stratus deal mean for the Springs?

"...Properties, the 10th anniversary of the Save Our Springs Ordinance might have come and gone with barely a ripple...."

Aug. 9, 2002 News Feature by Amy Smith

SOS Sues Over Stratus Plan

Stratus Properties plans to develop 1,253 acres in the Barton Springs watershed, but the Save Our Springs Alliance believes state law prohibits their lofty plans.

"...The Circle C Neighborhood Association has joined SOS in the suit. The Save Barton Creek Association voted..."

June 28, 2002 News Feature by Amy Smith

SOS Supports Propositions

"...different path. The Town Hall citizen rallies and subsequent SOS Ordinance of the early Nineties pointed toward a different..."

April 12, 2006 Postmarks

What's Next for Bankrupt SOS?

Staff says life will go on, but tactics may change

"...history, when the Texas Supreme Court refused to hear SOS' appeal of its lawsuit against the Lazy 9 Municipal..."

April 20, 2007 News Feature by Wells Dunbar

A Redevelopment Amendment to SOS Requires Much Thought and Study

"...approvals and how to amend the Save Our Springs Ordinance without spurring a building boom over our ecologically fragile..."

July 17, 2007 Postmarks

SOS, Stratus Split in Court

"...the deal Stratus made with the city last summer. SOS says that deal was brokered from a starting point..."

Jan. 31, 2003 News Feature by Amy Smith

SOS Coverage One-Sided

"...Save Our Springs retrospective in this week's edition [“The SOS Ordinance Turns 20,” News, Aug. 3]. As someone who..."

Aug. 7, 2012 Postmarks

Mayor Wynn Responds on SOS

"...Temple-Inland (not quite yet official) proposal ["Time to Repeal SOS?," News, Jan. 16], but you overlook a major component:..."

Jan. 21, 2004 Postmarks

SOS Alliance Parsing Words, Twisting Facts

"...can be. Surely Mr. Bunch is not arguing that SOSA are the only ones that care about the environment...."

July 13, 2005 Postmarks

Strengthening the Ordinance

"...the Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the proposed ordinance, the Environ­ment­al Board did so on Oct. 3 with..."

Nov. 2, 2007 News Feature

An SOS Editorial

"...enacted a No Big Box Over the Aquifer zoning ordinance, the council at the 11th hour approved a special..."

April 20, 2004 Postmarks

SOS' Clark Responds

"...the Barton Springs Watershed and the Save Our Springs Ordinance, and without abandoning East Austin for the western suburbs...."

Aug. 8, 2005 Postmarks

Green Events: July 26-Aug. 2

The usual opportunities for local food and brew continue this week, plus TreeFolks launches its new carbon-offset program, and more.

"...week, plus TreeFolks launches its new carbon-offset program, the SOS Ordinance turns 15, and architect Mark Webber (who worked..."

July 25, 2007 Columns Post

Back ~ In Black?

SOS Is Arisen: Let the Confetti Rain Down

"...Hays County court that invalidated the Save Our Springs (SOS) water quality ordinance. The original lawsuit against the city..."

Aug. 9, 1996 News Feature by Louisa C. Brinsmade

Then There's This: Urban (Watershed) Legend

In reversal, city says new development must comply with SOS

"...must comply with regulations under the Save Our Springs Ordinance. City staff made the determination this month, reversing a..."

March 14, 2014 News Column by Amy Smith

Y Not?

The battle over AMD's move to Lantana is a one-tract skirmish in a larger war over the uncertain future of Central Texas

"..."The problem I see," he laments, "is that [the SOS ordinance] is so anti-everything."..."

June 24, 2005 News Feature by Rachel Proctor May

Austin @ Large: Austin at Large

Sending Out an SOS: Can the Fractured Austin Polis Find a Common Future?

"...alone here, Bill Bunch finally did this week what SOS should have done years ago, back when it was..."

July 5, 2002 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison

Down to the Wire

SOS, Bradley, and the city try to work out their differences and come to an agreement they all can live with on the Bradley Settlement.

"...of the biggest sticking points in the deal for SOS: the need for a third-party guarantor for the conservation..."

March 10, 2000 News Column by Jenny Staff Johnson

The Whole Truce

Gary Bradley ponders the significance of his proposed settlement agreement with the city of Austin.

"...than $2.4 million to defend the Save Our Springs Ordinance and fight the various Austin-bashing bills passed by the..."

Feb. 25, 2000 News Feature by Robert Bryce

Naked City

The company, the alliance, the mayor, and the Statesman read each other's e-mail.

"...build over the aquifer in compliance with the 1992 SOS Ordinance, now wants to break from those regulatory constraints..."

Jan. 2, 2004 News Feature by Amy Smith

Covering New Ground

Robin Rather talks about Austin's future, and her own, after stepping down as chair of the Save Our Springs Alliance.

"...deal with developer Gary Bradley, and then departed the SOS board for good to begin work with the high-tech..."

May 12, 2000 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Page Two: When Does 'Open' Mean 'Closed'?

The open-government charter amendment is a special-interest wolf in populist sheep's clothing

"...but a fierce insistence on representative government. Eventually, the SOS ordinance passed and SOS was organized (later dividing into..."

April 7, 2006 Column by Louis Black

Wildflower Commons

The Politics of Postponement

"...chance.) After the council action without a public hearing, SOS’ Bill Bunch yelled angrily at the council, followed by..."

Feb. 13, 2009 News Post by Katherine Gregor

The Battle for the Springs: A Chronology

"...with a timeline detailing Barton Springs development and the SOS movement...."

Aug. 9, 2002 News Feature

Watershed Redo

How redevelopment can save the springs ... or not

"...by Council Mem­ber Lee Leffingwell – a newly designed ordinance that would amend the 1992 Save Our Springs Ordinance...."

Nov. 2, 2007 News Feature by Katherine Gregor

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