Welcome to Ultraground. We read through zoning meetings for you.

October 11, 25:

Mike Melson of Storybuilt rezoned for 120 for-sale condos in Boulding Creek. This project came with 3 different zoning cases, all approved by consent. Mixed-use and Single Family were rezoned to Commercial Services Vertical Mixed-use with a Conditional Overlay and Neighborhood Plan Amendment.

The plan for this area dates back to 2002. Since then, two decades have gone by and Austin has grown by 40% (almost a million residents). The growth caused a housing crisis, and that's why we're here - to help you build housing. But enough about us. This crisis means The City identified South First Street as an ASMP Transit Priority Network Corridor where density is encouraged.

This rezoning breaks the conditional overlay on the site, currently limiting building heights to 35'. It will, however, keep the prohibited uses for the site as well as adopt new ones for the CS zoning.

StoryBuilt is a developer based in Austin with projects in Dallas, Austin, Denver, and Seattle. They specialize in urban infill. See their other projects here.

Jonwood Way is a plan Amendment and a rezoning to build for rent, market rate Townhomes. The commission did not like the units being market rate, but they decided to approve housing even though they're rentals.

There was a talk about access to the site. The board was reminded that it is too premature to discuss site plan elements at the zoning level, and the argument was shut down.

A discussion about the alternative for this plot triggered the vote. The developer's representative described that if they didn't get this zoning, they would've built 3-4 subdivided, for-sale expensive homes.

"SF six is, is really a wonderful tool and it allows a site to be really customized to what the, what the situation allows."

This zoning case tore the board apart. It's zoned LO but there is SF3 surrounding the property. The rezoning is to add a SFR and an ADU to the property.

Katherine Weir, a neighbor, spoke in opposition. She called out short-term rentals for detracting from the community of Austin.

At the end of the day, the board did not want to continue zoning for single family or set a precedent for more SF3 on the block. But they could not deny the applicant the right to build the project, given it's already developed as SFR and non-conforming.

This project was discussed at both the October 11th and 25th meetings. The following diagram is what Thrower Design showed at the second meeting.

"4414 is already multiple properties. They built to Residence where there had been a home in the front yard. That's a short term rental.

They're so much fun. My favorite group was the group that showed up at 2 a.m. Multiple cars drunken people a boat on a trailer and they spent the rest of the night arguing about over how to get that trailer with a boat in the driveway that's located right by a power pole.

Just my block, 11 houses, four sets of people have moved out, have left that neighborhood, three of them out of total disgust for what is happening in the neighborhood. They move to Kyle, even Porter Ranches."

An ordinance to allow residential development on commercially zoned lots without going through the rezoning process. The catch is that 10% of the units need to be affordable.

It was amended to remove lots that are within 500 feet of highways. This was to discourage negative health impacts.

This was postponed by PC and will go before Council on December 1.

"We have a lot of properties where a lot of housing would be amazing to build, but it's illegal to do so because our code is as old as Abraham Lincoln."

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