A bundle of subtle planning changes around two Capital Metro park-and-rides in North and South Austin may lay the groundwork for a major redevelopment on the sites, and some residents still aren’t happy about it. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve nearly a dozen related items during their regular meeting on April 22, as […]
Imagine Austin
The city’s comprehensive plan, adopted in June 2012.
Posted inPlanning
Neighbors push back on city plan to direct future land use around Cap Metro sites
A hearing at the Planning Commission on a proposal by city staff to change land use plans around two Capital Metro park-and-ride sites in North and South Austin was postponed during a March 25 meeting after neighborhood advocates raised alarm. The postponed plan revolves around the North Lamar and South Congress transit centers, which Capital […]
Posted inDevelopment
ZAP Commission forwards recommendation allowing some commercial uses in residential zones
The Zoning and Platting Commission voted to move forward a recommendation on allowing some commercial uses in residential zones to the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee and Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee. The proposed recommendation allows limited commercial uses in residential zones, aiming to enhance neighborhood accessibility and walkability. Currently, residential zones are separated from commercial […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Department announces update of Imagine Austin, due by late 2026
Austin’s Planning Department has announced its plans to update Imagine Austin, the city’s 30-year strategic plan, over the next two-and-a-half years. The department plans to begin six months of community engagement that will end in December and provide the initial topic areas of most importance for assessing how the city will look 30 years into […]
Posted inPlanning
New EV station will not charge forward in East Austin
Plans for an electric-vehicle charging lot spanning Pleasant Valley Road were thwarted by Planning Commission members who objected to its auto-centric nature at their last meeting. The project would have created two electric-vehicle charging parking lots flanking Pleasant Valley at Cesar Chavez Street. The easternmost lot is currently home to a vacant building and a […]
Posted inDevelopment, Zoning
Imagine Austin series looks at prospects for equitable development amid rapid growth
Austin’s combination of intense population and income growth and state laws that limit inclusionary zoning might make it difficult to institute equitable housing policies, but a national land use leader advises there are still ways for the city to adapt to the demands of being a growth center. At the recent Imagine Austin Speaker Series […]
Posted inDevelopment
Brodie Oaks redevelopment wins final approval
City Council gave final approval Thursday to the redevelopment of the Brodie Oaks shopping center, which developers envision as a vibrant mixed-use center with retail space, restaurants, offices and residential towers, as well as green space and a hotel. Attorney David Armbrust told the Austin Monitor that developers Barshop & Oles and Lionstone Investments of […]
Posted inDevelopment
East 12th Street rezoning wins first-round approval
At last week’s meeting, City Council voted unanimously to approve greater height and a zoning change for a property at 3117 and 3121 E. 12th Street for construction of 80 dwelling units, 10 percent of which would be affordable. The property is currently zoned Commercial but would become Mixed Use, allowing for construction of apartments […]
Posted inAustin
Homelessness roundtable calls for coordinated programs to provide relief
With homelessness one of the top concerns for city leaders, the most recent Imagine Austin speaker series brought together a trio of specialists who have spent years looking for ways to help those who lack a permanent home. Among the things they agreed upon was that it takes a combination of programs and efforts from […]
Posted inZoning
Commission tries in vain to add affordability requirements to commercial rezone
The legal constraints of Vertical Mixed Use zoning stalled efforts to add income-restricted affordable housing to a rezoning request at the Zoning and Platting Commission’s Dec. 19 meeting. The 2-acre property at 9829 1/2 North Lake Creek Parkway is currently zoned Multifamily Residence-Highest Density (MF-6) and is located at the corner of a commercial intersection. […]
Posted inPlanning
Five years later, Imagine Austin gets progress report but no update
Despite a long road ahead, the progress report on Imagine Austin presented at the Nov. 7 joint land use commission meeting indicated that the city was on track in its implementation of the comprehensive plan. Still, some commissioners expressed frustration that staff had forgone an update to the plan in spite of new reports and […]
Posted inPlanning
In lieu of Imagine Austin update, Planning Commission recommends mixed-use project
The city’s comprehensive plan is starting to show its age. On Tuesday, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a mixed-use zoning request, against staff’s recommendation, for three commercially zoned properties on the border of one of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan’s “Job Center” nodes in Montopolis. Applicant John Stratton is requesting that 2507, 2509 […]