More housing coming to North Shoal Creek neighborhood, pending rezoning

The Planning Commission Feb. 28 recommended rezoning a 3-acre site along Shoal Creek Boulevard to allow a 330-unit multifamily housing project. 

The request would change the zoning for properties at 8640 and 8700 Shoal Creek Blvd. from Limited Industrial (LI) to Limited Industrial-Planned Development Area (LI-PDA) – a zoning category that allows multifamily housing, despite its name. The request would also prohibit all the industrial uses allowed in LI-PDA zoning. The site is currently home to vacant offices. 

With the zoning change, the project could rise up to 75 feet, or about seven stories. David Hartman, representing developer OHT Partners, said the height is similar to multifamily projects that are planned or underway nearby. Ten percent of the project’s units will be set aside for affordable housing. 

The North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan Contact Team supports the rezoning request. “It’s basically one of the stronger support letters I’ve ever received from a neighborhood,” Hartman said, adding that the group generally supports larger buildings around the edge of the neighborhood. 

Hartman also touted the project’s location along the Shoal Creek urban trail – in his estimation one of the city’s best protected bikeways. 

Commissioner Carmen Llanes Pulido wondered how the increased car traffic from the development would impact cyclists and pedestrians. Hartman responded that the neighbors are looking forward to no longer having large truck traffic going in and out of the offices on the site. 

Llanes Pulido expressed excitement about the project, particularly its voluntary affordable units, and others echoed her sentiments.

“I’d love to see more of this – the right project in the right place with the right considerations,” Commissioner Jennifer Mushtaler said. 

Commissioner Greg Anderson expressed excitement about the project’s location in West Austin – an area where it is often harder to build multifamily projects. “I’d like to thank the developers for bringing these housing units … and I want to encourage you to do more,” he said.

The commission voted unanimously to recommend City Council approve the rezoning. Council is scheduled to vote on the case on April 13.

The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers donors from time to time, we are careful to keep business and editorial efforts separate while maintaining transparency. A complete list of donors is available here, and our code of ethics is explained here. This story has been changed since publication to correct a statement that the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Association supports the rezoning. In fact, it is the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan Contact Team as the neighborhood association has not taken a position.