Tag Archives: City of Austin Land Development Code
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…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Apr 13, 2023
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,…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 22, 2023
Zoning case at Planning Commission highlights ‘broken’ Land Development Code, prompts fixes from Council
A zoning case heard by the Planning Commission on Tuesday called attention to what commissioners called the city’s “broken” Land Development Code, which they said in effect forced them to recommend industrial zoning on an East Austin property in order…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Mar 17, 2023
Council approves rule to allow more use of small lots
In 2016, City Council voted to close a loophole that allowed houses to be built on smaller lots than intended when the Land Development Code was adopted. At the time, some North Austin neighbors were complaining that they had been…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Mar 15, 2023
Group again sues city over changes to development rules
A group that stopped the city’s rewrite of the Land Development Code has filed a motion in Travis County District Court to undo changes City Council made to the code after that ruling. Led by Francisca Acuña, the group contends…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Mar 7, 2023
Architects, builders suggest 'low-hanging fruit' land use code changes
The Planning Commission shared the findings Tuesday of a housing policy working group formed last summer to identify potential Land Development Code changes that could make housing more affordable. The working group gathered recommendations from three industry groups: American Institute…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 17, 2023
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Notley/Monitor Poll: Austinites divided on parking requirements, compatibility and other housing policies
Austinites remain divided on housing issues, including what the city should do to reach its affordable housing goals and whether to change compatibility and parking requirements, according to a January/February poll of 429 voters commissioned by Notley and conducted by…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 14, 2023
City stalled on land use changes intended to preserve creative spaces
Six months after a pair of unanimous City Council votes, the city has made little progress in adopting changes to the land use code intended to incentivize the creation of music venues and other creative spaces at risk for displacement…
Land Development Code • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 14, 2023
Council to make zoning variances more accessible to low-income homeowners
City Council passed a resolution Thursday to make it easier for low-income Austinites to seek zoning variances from the Board of Adjustment. The proposed program would help low-income and other qualifying residents put together an application and pay application fees.…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 10, 2023
Council relaxes compatibility requirements along selected corridors
City Council has approved changes to building compatibility standards that will allow for some increases in housing density along a handful of transit corridors. The ordinance amending City Code Title 25 was approved Friday, modifying parking requirements and allowing for…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 5, 2022
Lengthy delay predicted for some environmental rules
Environmentalists looking forward to changes in city regulations requiring new developments to include more green infrastructure may be disappointed to hear that the final piece in that project may be delayed until mid-2024. City Council adopted some of the rules…
Environment • By Jo Clifton • Nov 30, 2022
Planning Commission says Council’s compatibility reforms don’t go far enough
The Planning Commission last Tuesday recommended broader changes to compatibility standards than what City Council proposed earlier this year, setting the stage for a Council discussion on Dec. 1 over how much to relax the rule. Compatibility, a rule limiting…
