At Tuesday’s work session, City Council heard from the city’s planning staff as well as two architects from the local American Institute of Architects housing committee on various aspects of the HOME initiative, a proposal to make changes to the city’s Land Development Code. Council is scheduled to hold its last hearing on Dec. 7 […]
City of Austin Land Development Code
The city’s Land Development Code regulates building and development in the city of Austin.
Posted inCourts
City, plaintiffs at odds over court order on development rules
After the city of Austin lost a lawsuit that claimed City Council had violated the law in approving three ordinances designed to make it easier to develop housing, Judge Jessica Mangrum told the two sides to draw up an order reflecting her decisions, including any fines the city would be required to pay as a […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Planning Commission wants more teeth in HOME proposal
After 12 hours of listening to citizens’ suggestions and complaints about the proposed changes to the Land Development Code, known as the HOME initiative, the Planning Commission last week came up with a number of technical recommendations for City Council to consider when adopting the new regulations. Council and the commission held a joint hearing […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Environmental Commission ponders HOME initiative
Dave Sullivan, a longtime advocate for environmental causes and a member of the city’s Environmental Commission, offered his colleagues a motion supporting City Council’s proposed HOME initiative at this week’s meeting. According to Sullivan’s motion, last month the commission heard that in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support Project Connect, Austin needs to […]
Posted inCourts
City loses second suit over development rules
A group of citizens who sued the city over four ordinances designed to make it easier to develop new housing projects have apparently prevailed on three of the four laws. That means the city will have to go back to the drawing board on Vertical Mixed-Use 2 zoning and ordinances on compatibility on corridors and […]
Posted inHousing
Panelists debate potential housing supply impacts from HOME initiative
Advocates for more housing options in Austin see hope in recently passed changes in city land use policy intended to increase density, but still hope for more progress in increasing the overall supply of housing available for middle- and lower-income residents. Last week’s A Home for Everyone panel discussion brought together leaders from a variety […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council votes to eliminate off-street parking requirements
City Council voted Thursday to eliminate requirements for minimum amounts of off-street parking on new construction projects, marking a shift in the city’s push to increase the amount of housing stock while decreasing development costs. The amendments to the city’s building code passed 8-2, with Council members Alison Alter and Mackenzie Kelly voting against. The […]
Posted inLand Development Code
HOME proposal draws a crowd of speakers, both pro and con
A total of 297 interested citizens signed up to address a joint meeting of City Council and the Planning Commission on Thursday about proposed changes to the city’s zoning regulations intended to increase the amount of housing available to middle-income residents. Although opponents of the HOME initiative have been loudest in their concerns about what […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council’s plans to change housing rules upset some neighborhood advocates
Austin’s “single-family neighborhoods are in jeopardy of losing big” with the proposed changes to the city’s zoning regulations, according to Ana Aguirre, president of the Austin Neighborhoods Council. While housing advocates have praised City Council Member Leslie Pool’s HOME initiative, the Austin Neighborhoods Council and Go Austin/Vamos Austin are among those decrying the proposals. Aguirre […]
Posted inHousing
Developer of parking-free downtown apartments surrenders building to lender
A parking-free, 30-unit apartment building that gained attention as one of the first attempts to bring “missing middle” housing downtown has been turned over to its lender after failing to generate enough occupancy to operate successfully. Weaver Buildings, the company that created the Capitol Quarters project on Nueces Street near 12th Street, announced this week […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council to consider joint hearing with Planning Commission on code amendments
Mayor Kirk Watson wants everyone in Austin to know that City Council will be holding a hearing on changes to the Land Development Code. Specifically, Council will be considering comments on proposals to allow three units per lot in single-family residential districts, allowing tiny homes and RVs to serve as accessory dwelling units and eliminating […]
Posted inPlanning
Council approves ordinance change making music venues easier to open
Music venues and some other creative spaces will have an easier time opening in all parts of the city as a result of City Council approving an update to the building code that lowers planning and zoning restrictions on those businesses. The code amendment passed on consent, ending a nearly decadelong push by live music […]