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Land Development Code

Council approves code amendments to allow for future Butler Trail improvements

City Council passed a resolution last week to initiate a set of Land Development Code amendments that will allow for safety and mobility improvements to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. The item passed on the consent…

Council votes to make it easier to build along highways

City Council voted Thursday to eliminate a section of the Land Development Code that governs development along highways, hoping the change will help add housing units in the city and “eliminate barriers to the creation of income-restricted units under established…

Neighborhood groups warn of bill to limit, kill city regulations

Members of two neighborhood coalitions have been contacting members of the Texas House to alert them to what they perceive as an especially dangerous bill, one that could strip cities throughout the state, as well as counties and special districts,…

City to calculate housing gains possible with new building height compatibility rules

City staff members are moving ahead with analyzing how a change to area building height compatibility requirements could disrupt the local housing market. The analysis, which was called for as part of a December resolution by City Council that was…

Council aims to make subdividing property easier

In a move aimed at increasing housing supply, City Council on Thursday passed a resolution to make it easier and cheaper to subdivide properties. Council Member Ryan Alter, the sponsor of the resolution, said that splitting land into multiple lots…

Council votes to get rid of parking requirements

City Council on Thursday directed city staff to eliminate parking requirements from the city’s land use regulations outside the central business district. The city eliminated downtown parking requirements, except for spaces for those with disabilities, in 2013. Thursday’s resolution would…

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City staffers provide ADU, "site plan lite" updates

City staffers updated the Planning Commission last week on efforts to make accessory dwelling units easier to build and to create a “site plan lite” to streamline permitting for small multifamily developments. City Council initiated the efforts through multiple resolutions…

A one-bedroom apartment comes with 1.5 parking spots. Austin could change that.

City Council members will decide Thursday whether to stop requiring developers to build parking. With some exceptions, city rules require most residential and commercial developers to build a minimum amount of parking spots. The number depends on several factors, including…

Mandatory parking spots for Austin bars could soon go away

As the owner of two popular honky-tonk bars – the White Horse in East Austin and Sagebrush in South Austin – Denis O’Donnell knows that safe rides are key to a flourishing nightlife. And he would love to see more efforts…

Planning Commission proposes changes to compatibility

The Planning Commission Tuesday launched a proposal that would let single-family homeowners decide to allow taller buildings near them. The change to city code would let individual owners waive compatibility, a rule that limits the height of buildings near single-family homes…

City Council to consider reducing parking spots for bars

At today’s meeting, City Council will consider directing staff to amend the city’s land use regulations to reduce the parking requirements for bars and cocktail lounges. According to the resolution, Texas has seen an increase in arrests for driving while…

Austin tried and failed to rewrite its land code. Republican lawmakers might do it for them.

In Austin, 5,750 square feet is a magic number. It’s one-tenth of a football field. Half of an Olympic standard swimming pool. And precisely the size of the American dream. “If you’re driving around urban Austin, through Hyde Park, Clarksville,…

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