There’s a building on South Lamar that looks like a stepladder. Well, maybe a stepladder if you laid it on the ground. Or, maybe just a set of stairs – for a giant. “As you move across Lamar, you’re literally seeing the diagram of the zoning,” said Maija Kreishman, a principal with Michael Hsu Office […]
City of Austin Land Development Code
The city’s Land Development Code regulates building and development in the city of Austin.
Posted inCity Council
Public divided over proposed development rules
Members of the public weighed in Thursday on changes to Vertical Mixed-Use (VMU) zoning and the potential for relaxed development rules along busy streets as City Council continued discussions on the proposals. Opinions were split among those who spoke at the Council meeting. Some showed support for the proposals while others opposed any changes that […]
Posted inEnvironment
Council puts off fixing environmental rules for east side
At the urging of Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Paige Ellis, City Council postponed voting on a resolution Thursday that would begin to equalize environmental regulations in Central and East Austin with protections that have long been standard in the Drinking Water Protection Zone of West Austin. The resolution is now scheduled to come […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council lays out compromise for more density along major streets
As Austin’s housing crisis deepens, City Council is pushing to relax two major constraints on development – compatibility and parking requirements – for properties along busy streets, in hopes of increasing the supply of housing. “We believe there is consensus on this Council to increase housing capacity on our corridors to meet our housing goals […]
Posted inLand Development Code
City loses Land Development Code lawsuit appeal
On Thursday, the Texas 14th Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer invalidating two votes by Austin City Council rewriting the city’s Land Development code. Soifer ruled that the city had violated property owners’ procedural rights by failing to notify the owners of their right to protest and holding hearings […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council to allow ADUs in more places
In response to rising housing costs, last Thursday City Council proposed several changes to allow accessory dwelling units in more neighborhoods and to make them easier to build. ADUs are set to become legal in Single Family Residence-Large Lot (SF-1) and Single Family Residence-Standard Lot (SF-2) zones – but only if the existing home is […]
Posted inHousing
To boost housing supply, Council to allow residential use in commercial zones
Of all the policies to arise from City Council’s decreed Austin Housing Affordability and Supply Week, the most substantial is allowing residential use in commercial zones, a move that could open up capacity for tens of thousands of new homes. “Allowing residential in commercial I think can be very impactful,” said Council Member Ann Kitchen, one […]
Posted inHousing
Officials are brainstorming solutions to Austin’s booming housing costs. Here are 4 of their ideas.
Tenants bidding on a rental home. Potential homebuyers offering $200,000 more than the listed price. Nearly 90 prospective buyers angling for one home. While these are just anecdotes, the data bears it out: The median sales price of a home rose more than $100,000 earlier this year, and rents have been climbing at the fastest rate ever […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council looks to increase height allowed under VMU zoning
City Council last Thursday took a step toward addressing housing affordability, passing a resolution to allow greater building height in areas zoned Vertical Mixed-Use (VMU). The code change would create VMU2, a new zoning category that allows 90 feet of height in exchange for on-site affordable housing. The current VMU zoning, which allows 60 feet […]
Posted inLand Development Code
An appeals court will hear arguments over Austin’s land code rewrite. Here’s what the case is about.
I can understand if your eyes glaze over at the mention of a “land code rewrite.” But whether you asked for it or not (and likely you didn’t), if you live in Austin, a case being heard this week in a Houston appeals court affects you. On Wednesday, the city of Austin is scheduled to […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Green infrastructure pushed as remedy to stormwater pollution threats
An Austin-based environmental group is pushing City Council to approve a plan to protect area waterways from pollution through changes in building requirements that would promote stormwater retention. On Wednesday, Environment Texas delivered petitions with roughly 1,000 signatures to Council offices. The petitions call for a move to include nature-based infrastructure such as rain gardens, […]
Posted inCourts
Suit over land use rules set for argument at Court of Appeals
More than a year and a half after Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer ruled in favor of neighborhood plaintiffs and overturned Austin’s efforts to enact a new Land Development Code, the case will be heard by the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston. Lawyers for the city of Austin, plaintiff Frances Acuña and 18 […]