City of Austin Housing and Planning Committee met April 23.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Committee Members Present:
1. CM Natasha Harper-Madison, Chair
2. CM Ryan Alter, Vice Chair
3. CM Paige Ellis
4. CM Zohaib “Zo” Qadri
Committee Members Absent:
1. Mayor Kirk Watson
Call to Order
Chair Harper-Madison called the committee meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
Public Communication: General
There was one speaker.
Approval of Minutes
1. Approve the minutes of the Housing and Planning Committee meeting on March 26, 2024. The minutes of the March 26, 2024, Housing and Planning Committee meeting were approved on Council Member Zo Qadri’s motion, and Council Member Ryan Alter’s second, on a 4-0 vote (Mayor Watson was off the dais).
Discussion and Possible Action
2. Discussion and possible action on the status and timeline of amendments to the Land Development Code.
The Committee received a briefing from Stevie Greathouse (Division Manager) Planning Department.
3. Discussion, invited testimony, and possible action on policies that support single-family, multifamily, or mixed-use communities built with a working farm or community garden as a focus (also known as an “agrihood”).
The Committee received information from a panel consisting of the following: Chris Jackson (Landscape Architect/Urban Designer Planner) TBG Partners; Erin Flynn (Co-Founder) Green Gate Farms; Michelle Akindiya (Education Director) Farm Share Austin; Vince Cantore (Vice President) The Core Companies; Lara Hermanson (Co-Founder) Farmscape; Cayce Hill (Food Systems Manager) County of Santa Clara, California.
Council Member Harper-Madison made the following motion: bring the item before the full Council at the May 2, 2024, Council meeting. Council Member Qadri seconded the motion.
The motion passed on a 3-0 vote; Council Member Ryan Alter and Mayor Kirk Watson were off the dais.
4. Briefing regarding proposed amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development) that would revise regulations that apply to lots with one housing unit (also known as HOME Phase 2); create regulations that allow properties to be used for charging electric vehicles; create regulations, including a density bonus program that modifies height and compatibility in exchange for community benefits, for properties that are located within a half mile of the planned Phase 1 Light Rail and Priority Extensions (also known as the Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) overlay); revise regulations that apply to flag lots and small lots; and revise height, building placement, and other related regulations that apply to property and are in addition to the base zoning regulations (also known as Compatibility Standards).
This item was taken up jointly with the Mobility committee.
The Committee received a briefing from Andrea Bates (Assistant Director) Eric Thomas (Division Manager) Warner Cook (Planner Principal) and Jonathan Lee (Senior Planner) Planning Department; Laura Keating (Case Manager-HOME Phase 2) Project Connect office.
5. Briefing regarding proposed amendments to create a new zoning district and modify related site development regulations and compatibility standards; create a new zoning district for density bonus that includes granting additional floor-to-area ratio in exchange for providing community benefits; and establish boundaries for the new zoning districts located in the vicinity commonly known as the South Central Waterfront.
This item was taken up jointly with the Mobility committee.
The committee received a briefing from April Geruso (Division Manager) Planning Department.
6. Briefing regarding proposed amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development) that would change the parking requirements applicable to the downtown area.
This item was taken up jointly with the Mobility committee.
The committee received a briefing from Cole Kitten (Case Manager-Downtown Parking Modifications Ph. 1) Transportation and Public Works Department.
Future Items
7. Identify items to discuss at future meetings.
No items were identified for a future meeting.
Chair Harper-Madison adjourned the meeting at 3:39 p.m.
https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=429042