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Draft 2 of CodeNEXT is open for public comment until October 31st. This updated version of the City of Austin’s Land Development Code simplifies the many zone categories after feedback from Draft 1.

Other Updates include:

  • more allowances for residential development
  • removal of “transect” and “non-transect” corridors
  • simplified site plan requirements to help move along permitting for projects that are smaller, such as 3-9 unit residential developments

Since the new code aims to increase the total number of housing units, residents are concerned about the influx of traffic in areas likely to be redeveloped into higher-occupancy units. The City hopes to add 135,000 new housing units by 2025 with 65,000 of those for families earning less than the median family income.

The Austin City Council kicked off their Open House series last Wednesday at City Hall. Representatives from CodeNEXT were on hand to answer questions.

 

What’s Next:

Fall 2017 – Open Houses

November 2017 – Draft 3 (Final) to be released

January 2018 – Deadline for Zoning and Platting Commission to make their recommendation to City Council

April 2018 – City Council to approve final version

 

To review Draft 2 and make public comments, visit the City of Austin website.

Handouts from the Event: Building Height & Compatibility Triggers | Impervious Cover & Building Cover | Spectrum of Zones

Posted by: In: City of Austin 18 Apr 2017 0 comments

The City of Austin has released its zoning comparison maps for the proposed update of the Land Development Code. The new map designates areas of neighborhoods for more walkability, increased public transit, and automobile-dependent areas.

The new zoning map has added categories to provide more specifically regulated areas such as:

  • T3, T4, and T5 Neighborhood – large lot widths with varied setback distances
  • T3, T4, and T5 Main Street – including retail, service, and residential uses in compact, walkable urban forms
  • T5 and T6 Urban – compact, high-density walkable urban environment that provides urban housing choices as well as a wide range of regional-center appropriate uses such as employment, retail, services, entertainment, civic, and public uses

It also renames/redefines some existing categories:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information, review the proposed Land Development Code text, and comment here: httpss://codenext.civicomment.org/

The comparison maps can be found here: https://codenext.engagingplans.org/codenext-comparison-map

Austin Land Development CodeThe City of Austin introduced the first draft of the new Land Development Code at a CodeNEXT event. The city designed the new code to shape growth and development in the capitol city while focusing on five main pillars: Community, Environment, Housing, Mobility, and Permitting.

While they won’t finalize the details of the new code for another year, CodeNEXT boasts that they are creating a more simplified and cohesive plan for Austin.

More specifically, these are some highlights of the plan:

  • Alternative transportation
  • Green spaces & trail connection
  • Flood damage reduction
  • Water stewardship

Additionally, CodeNEXT is accepting community feedback through April. A draft map will be released on April 18, 2017. City Council will begin hearings and deliberations in September.

Furthermore, Mayor Steve Adler wrote in the Austin American-Statesman,”I want to propose a different way and to do it together, aiming for a resolution where we all win. We can all win if we focus on two goals: protecting our neighborhoods and delivering the increased housing supply we need to make Austin more affordable.”

 

For further information on the new Land Development Code updates, follow these helpful links:

CodeNEXT

Community Engagement

Public Comment

The City of Austin has updated the forms used to complete their Environmental Resource Inventories (ERIs).  This is the new terminology for what was formerly their Environmental Assessments (EAs).  In order to finalize the ERIs, coordination with the project engineer is necessary.  Also, variance forms have to be filled out in order to request buffers of less than 150 feet for Critical Environmental Features (CEFs).  These new ERIs went into effect on December 30, 2014.  Additionally, the City has created a redline version of edits they are making to their Environmental Criteria Manual (ECM) to update it in keeping with the various updated forms.  The finalized updated form is available for download here.