Austin officials asked to revise new development rules enacted under the Home Ownership for Middle-income Empowerment, or HOME, initiative, more than two years after the residential housing policy first went into effect.

HOME's two phases, approved in 2023 and 2024, generally permitted up to three units of housing on most of Austin's residential lots and reduced the amount of land needed to build a house. While construction under HOME is taking place citywide, several city officials said edits to the development code are now needed to improve its "clarity and predictability" after some projects faced challenges. City Council passed a resolution for technical HOME code updates 9-1.

The vote came soon after a new report from the Austin Board of Realtors found HOME units have been selling for significantly less than their traditional counterparts in the housing market—but still well above levels affordable to the median Austin household.

Caleb and Morgan Williamson opened Neighbor Coffee & Friends in April 2021, bringing a simplified and approachable coffee selection to north Austin. 

Craving coffee? Neighbor Coffee & Friends serves classic cortados, cappuccinos, cold brew and drip coffee. The trailer also brews specialty lattes, including vanilla lavender, spiced cookie, hazelnut cream and bourbon caramel. 

Patrons can also order a selection of baked goods, including biscuits, banana bread and scones.

The backstory: The Williamsons opened their trailer half a decade ago to serve quality coffee while making new connections. The couple opened their second coffee trailer on Oltorf Street in south Austin in October, serving classic and specialty drinks and small bites. 

• 5000 Burnet Road, Austin; 1305 W. Oltorf St., Ste. 200, Austin

Check out some of the most read stories from the Austin area May 4-7. 

1. Road to relief: Drivers navigate construction along SH 71 as TxDOT continues $293M updates

2. Cedar Park unveils plan for major expansion of Lakeline Park

3. Thomas Ranch near Spicewood continues to progress on construction

4. Second HTeaO location opens in Georgetown

5. New playground, tennis, pickleball courts now open in Round Rock

6. Royal Blue Grocery moves closer to Mueller opening

Following pressure from summer camp operators, lawmakers and legislative leaders, Texas is suspending a requirement that all camps install “end-to-end” fiber-optic internet infrastructure before opening this summer.

The background: After catastrophic flooding in Central Texas killed more than 130 people—including 28 deaths at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp—last July, state lawmakers passed a pair of laws designed to strengthen safety and emergency preparedness requirements for all Texas summer camps. One provision of the laws requires that camps install two types of broadband internet, including a fiber-optic system.

Nineteen camp operators sued the state over the fiber-optic rule in April, citing million-dollar installation fees and limited access to fiber-optic services in rural parts of Texas.

What's happening: The Department of State Health Services, which licenses youth camps, said it reached an agreement with the camp operators May 7. Under the agreement, Texas camps that maintain “redundant” broadband internet services—such as cellular, microwave or satellite technology—will not have their license revoked or denied as long as they meet all other safety requirements.