Welcome to Ultraground. We give you a look at zoning meetings.

October 26

Citywide

October 19

District: 3

District: 4

Tiny homes in Tarrytown? Duplexes in Deep Eddy? Triplexes in Travis Heights? Austin's single-family neighborhoods could soon see a development shakeup not witnessed since Leslie Cochran danced in a thong down Congress Avenue.

The meeting lasted over 7 hours and included presentations from city staff, as well as public testimony from over 100 Austin residents, organizations, and stakeholders. The "HOME Initiative" aims to increase increase housing supply, provide more options for middle-income families, enable multigenerational living, and reduce sprawl. All achieveable by allowing up to 3 housing units on lots zoned for single-family residences.

The code changes would specifically allow:

Several Council Members, including Alison Alter and Kelly, raised concerns about potential unintended consequences of the changes.

They asked questions about issues like infrastructure capacity, fire safety, flooding, and whether the changes would actually result in more affordable housing. Council Member Alter pointed out that removing restrictions on unit sizes could allow for expensive units rather than affordable ones.

Members of the public who spoke against the changes cited common concerns. Problems with parking, traffic, strain on infrastructure, and damage to the tree canopy and environment.

However, there was also support voiced for the changes. Representatives of groups like transit advocates, labor unions, and housing nonprofits argued the changes were necessary to increase housing supply and provide more affordable options.

Key points on neighborhood feedback:

Key points on City Council feedback:

More Info

This proposed mixed-use development has been through a zoning approval marathon. The rezoning at 400 Vargas Road and 6520 Lynch Lane has been postponed multiple times over the course of more than a year.

The applicant originally submitted the zoning case back in July 2022, seeking to rezone the two vacant tracts totaling 4.31 acres near US-183 Highway from commercial zoning to mixed-use zoning. The goal is to deliver up to 149 multifamily units along with commercial uses. However, the surrounding Montopolis neighborhood had concerns.

So began the postponement process. The case was pushed from the Planning Commission in January 2023 to February to March and finally April 2023. The City Council also postponed their first reading from July to September 2023. In total, the case has been delayed around 9 months in hopes of allowing greater dialogue between the applicant and residents.

Saxon Acres | Cuellar Rezoning

Conor Kenny of Capital A Housing is transforming an empty 1.18-acre lot, currently having no road access, into housing for former foster youth.

The property, landlocked on all sides, has sat vacant and unusable for years. Capital A Housing rezoned it from SF-3-NP to CS-MU-CO-NP so they can join it with the adjacent commercially zoned parcel that has access to Tillery Street. Their plan is to build affordable housing for young adults transitioning out of foster care, partnering with YouthWorks Austin.

CS-MU-CO-NP to CS-MU-V-CO-NP for 1.79 acres 501 Pedernales Street and 2503, 2505, 2507, 2511 East 6th Street. The site currently contains has 70,000 square feet of building area used as an event venue and workspaces. The applicant proposes 200 multifamily units with the Vertical Mixed Use combining district.

Like falling density dominoes, this rezoning matches the property's zoning to its multifamily neighbor.

The duplex at 7009 Guadalupe Street was rezoned from SF-6-NP to MF-2-NP, allowing housing more compatible with adjacent apartments and triplexes. Tucked between higher densities, bus service, and Highland Park, the property looks to be ripe for residential infill.

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