The Zoning and Platting Commission on March 21 recommended a rezoning that would allow a 330-unit apartment project on Dessau Road to move forward, with a majority of the commission dismissing concerns from neighbors that the apartments would “destroy” the character of their single-family neighborhood.
The case concerns a 12-acre tract at 10701 Dessau Road zoned Single-Family – Standard Lot (SF-2). David Hartman, an attorney representing developer OHT partners, requests Multifamily – Moderate Density (MF-4) zoning for the site.
Hartman said the proposed development is appropriate for the area and would not be too dense, given the large tract of land.
“This is exactly the type of area that a city in a housing crisis should be placing a reasonably-sized multifamily development,” he said.
Eight residents from the neighborhood spoke against the request, airing a lengthy list of concerns related to neighborhood character, property values, traffic, safety and the environment.
“Our neighborhood understands the need for housing in Austin,” Kathryn Horton said. “So this is not an opposition to increasing housing, but it’s specifically about this piece of property – where it’s located and how it impacts not only the neighborhood, but the safety within Dessau.”
“A multifamily development would destroy the characteristics of this neighborhood,” said Natalie Johnson, another neighbor. “This is a quiet and serene neighborhood.”
Johnson and Laura Croteau said they feared that the apartments would lower their property values.
“I’m asking that the developers should maybe compensate the owners whose values are devastated, out of the millions of dollars of profits they stand to make,” Croteau said.
Neighbors also lamented the loss of vegetation on the site, especially after seeing other large developments nearby wipe out swaths of greenery in recent years. “We decry deforestation in the Amazon, but when it happens here, we don’t care,” Matt Horton said.
Neighbors have gathered enough signatures for a valid petition, which means nine out of 11 City Council members must vote in favor for the rezoning to be approved.
Most commissioners didn’t appear to agree with the contention that the character of the neighborhood would be destroyed by apartments.
“It seems like there’s a really wonderful community there,” Commissioner David Fouts said. “I don’t think that a case has been made that that will be destroyed or damaged irreparably with this change in zoning.”
“MF-4 is not fundamentally incompatible with other residential zoning districts,” Commissioner Ryan Johnson said.
But some commissioners still expressed concern. Commissioner Jolene Kiolbassa said she would have preferred a less intense zoning category than MF-4, but motioned to approve MF-4 with a maximum of 330 units.
When Kiolbassa’s motion failed, the commission then voted 7-2 in favor of MF-4 zoning with no unit cap. Kiolbassa and Commissioner Betsy Greenberg voted in opposition.
The large margin in favor of new multifamily development – compared to tighter margins in recent similar cases – reflects the commission’s changing membership. All newly appointed members who were present supported the rezoning.
New appointments include: Dave Floyd, an attorney and realtor appointed by Mayor Kirk Watson; David Fouts, an education consultant appointed by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes; Alejandra Flores, a civil engineer appointed by Council Member Ryan Alter; Ryan Johnson, an urban designer appointed by Council Member Leslie Pool; and Kendra Garrett, a housing development consultant appointed by Council Member Zo Qadri (Garrett was not present on Tuesday).
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City of Austin Zoning and Platting Commission: The City of Austin's Zoning and Platting Commission addresses issues of land use as assigned to it by Austin's City Code. It has sovereign authority, or the right to make final decisions on certain cases.
