Sep 06, 2023 Housing and Planning Committee

[00:00:01]

IS NATASHA HARPER

[CALL TO ORDER]

I AM AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND I'M THE CHAIR FOR THIS HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.

UM, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH WE HAVE A QUORUM.

WE ARE MEETING IN CITY HALL TODAY, UH, AT, IN AUSTIN CITY HALL CHAMBERS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2023, WHICH BY THE WAY, SIDE NOTE, MY BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP.

ME, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, WE'RE ALL BORN ON THE SAME DAY.

SO ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY PARTY IN COUNCIL ATRIUM.

SO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOU'RE INVITED TO THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.

IT IS NOW 2:02 PM AND I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

BEFORE WE BEGIN DIVING INTO OUR

[Public Communication: General]

SO, CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE BEGIN CALLING UP SPEAKERS? CAROL KY.

SORRY.

CAROL TKI.

TKI.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN AFTER CAROL, WE HAVE KAREN POP.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CAROL TKI.

I AM HERE TODAY IN REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN ON YOUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE HEALTH SOUTH PROJECT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.

I WAS HOPING TO VIEW THE PRESENTATION OR VIEW THE STAFF PRESENTATION BEFORE I GOT TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT THAT, LIKE HASN'T HAPPENED.

SO I WILL, UM, BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I AM HERE BECAUSE I BELONG TO A GROUP CALLED AUSTIN WOMEN IN HOUSING.

UH, WE ARE A NETWORKING GROUP THAT'S MADE UP OF WOMEN IN AUSTIN AND THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA WHO ARE INTERESTED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

WE WORKED ON THIS HEALTH SOUTH PROJECT BACK IN 2018 AND 2019 AFTER THE CITY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN 2017.

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, WE WERE NOT REALLY HAPPY WITH THE CONTENT OF THE ASPEN HEIGHTS MASTER PLAN BECAUSE IT DIDN'T DO ENOUGH TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

SO AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, THE STAFF PRESENTATION IS 40 PAGES LONG.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I REALLY DIDN'T ABSORB ALL OF THAT CONTENT OR EVEN UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT A POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO YOU TODAY IS THAT AS YOU MOVE FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT, NUMBER ONE, WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REASSIGN THE LEAD OF THE PROJECT TO HOUSING FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS A SHORTCOMING OF THE ORIGINAL R F P AND, UH, WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT RECOMMENDATION.

SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE SOME MORE STEPS FROM THE STAFF PROPOSAL, AND THAT IS TO ACTUALLY IDENTIFY THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SET SPECIFIC GOALS FOR THE DEVELOPER TO MEET, TO PROVIDE THOSE HOUSING UNITS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T ALLOW THE MAR IF THE MARKET IS GOING TO DICTATE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR PEOPLE AT 50 AND 30% OF THE, UH, MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.

SO WE HAVE TO FORCE, WE HAVE TO FORCE WHERE THIS PROJECT GOES.

YOU CAN'T JUST EXPECT TO THROW A PROPOSAL OUT THERE AND MAGICALLY HAVE A SOLUTION COME BACK THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REFERENDUM FOR LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE OUTSTANDINGLY SUPPORTED THE VOTERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO COMPLETE YOUR STATEMENT, BUT YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.

YES, I, I UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU.

I UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU.

AND, UH, MY POINT IS, IS THAT PEOPLE IN THIS CITY SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THEY HAVE APPROVED AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS, AND IF IT TAKES CITY SUBSIDY IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS PROJECT

[00:05:01]

THEN THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD ROLL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

YOU'RE, THANK YOU.

BYE-BYE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT TODAY.

CLERK, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND CALLING UP THE NEXT SPEAKER, KAREN POP AND DAVID CARROLL.

MR. CARROLL, IF YOU'RE IN THE ROOM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND MAKING YOUR WAY FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON HEALTH SOUTH AND THE POINT THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS I'VE LOOKED THROUGH THE BACKUP MATERIAL AND I LOOKED AT THE SPEAK UP, UM, FEATURE THAT THE CITY HAD FOR GETTING, UM, THE CITIZENS' THOUGHTS ABOUT HEALTH SOUTH.

AND THE THING THAT REALLY STRUCK ME WAS THAT THREE QUARTERS OF THE RESPONDENTS, AND I UNDERSTAND FROM STAFF, IT WAS A GOOD RATE OF RESPONSE THAT THREE QUARTERS OF THOSE RESPONDENTS PICKED A CATEGORY THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF LOW PAID DOWNTOWN WORKERS, HOSPITALITY, HEALTHCARE, AND SERVICE INDUSTRIES.

THESE ARE JOBS THAT, THESE ARE AREAS OF WORK THAT, THAT HAVE A RANGE, BUT MANY PEOPLE IN THESE FIELDS ARE IN VERY LOW PAYING JOBS LIKE NURSING ASSISTANTS OR A LOT OF THE SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS, AND THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT 30% OF MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.

SO IF WE LOOK AT THAT, THAT SOMEBODY WHO CAN AFFORD A RENT ABOVE ABOUT $790 A MONTH, IF WE THINK ABOUT MAKING HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE AT 60% OF MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, THAT'S TWICE AS MUCH.

THAT'S DOUBLE THE COST OF RENT.

SO IF WE LEAVE IT TO THE, UH, RESPONDENTS TO AN R F P TO PICK THE MFIS, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THE HIGHEST M F I, THEY CAN LIKE 60% OR 80%, AND THAT'S WAY OFF THE MARK IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR LOW WAGE DOWNTOWN WORKFORCE CAN AFFORD.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO INCLUDE IN THE R F P LANGUAGE THAT EMPHASIZES GETTING A RESPONSE FOR HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE IN THOSE REALLY LOW WAGE DOWNTOWN JOBS.

THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY MR. CARROLL.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DAVID CARROLL AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING A I A AUSTIN SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER THREE AS LICENSED ARCHITECTS.

WE ARE ENTRUSTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH PROTECTING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF ALL BUILDING OCCUPANTS.

THIS RESPONSIBILITY INCLUDES PROMOTING THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING OF BUILDING OCCUPANTS BY ENABLING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ALL BUILDING FEATURES.

UNFORTUNATELY, AUSTIN'S BUILDING CODE, THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE ALLOWS FOR UNEQUITABLE DESIGN AND THAT IT ALLOWS FOR BEDROOMS TO BE BUILT WITHOUT WINDOWS.

AS RESEARCH HAS SHOWN, REDUCED ACCESS TO DAYLIGHT CAN CAUSE OCCUPANTS TO DEVELOP MANY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS, AND SLEEP DISORDERS.

SEVERAL OTHER CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES HAS ALREADY IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE AND AMENDED THE BUILDING CODE IN THEIR CITIES.

WE ARE ASKING THAT AUSTIN DO THE SAME.

A I A AUSTIN BELIEVES THE PROPOSED BUILDING CODE AMENDMENT ALIGNS WITH THE CITY'S ADOPTED HOUSING PRIORITIES, AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS FOR HIGHER QUALITY HOUSING FOR ALL AUSTINITES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

CLERK, ARE THERE MORE SPEAKERS? YES, WE HAVE TWO MORE.

MICHAEL WHEELAN AND STACEY ROHN.

MS. ROHN, IF WE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND MAKING YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM IF YOU'RE PRESENT.

NOT HERE YET.

NOT HERE YET.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF TEXAS GLOBAL EQUITY PARTNERS AND TEXAS GROWTH FUND, I'M GONNA REFER TO THEM TOGETHER AS T G E.

UH, WITH ME TODAY IS ALSO ROB GRITZ, THE C E O AND JARED MEUS, THE MANAGING DIRECTOR.

UH, STACY RON, I HOPE WE'LL BE HERE IN A SECOND.

TG IS THE INVESTMENT FUND THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH HEALTH SOUTH FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

THEY ARE PROVEN EXPERTS AT LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT FINANCING.

TG IS A LOCAL COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR DECADES AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED AND COMMITTED TO THIS PROJECT SINCE INCEPTION.

AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF NICE TO HAVES ON THE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS REDEVELOPMENT.

ONE PROJECT SIMPLY CANNOT SOLVE ALL THE CITY PROBLEMS THROUGH VARIOUS COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

IT JUST WEIGHS DOWN THE PROJECT UNTIL IT TIPS OVER AND ULTIMATELY DILUTES THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT.

ULTIMATELY, AT ITS CORE, HEALTH SOUTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ADDRESS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHALLENGES THAT FACE US WITHOUT WITHIN A MIXED USE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THE PROJECT IS A WAY TO INCLUDE NEARBY DOWNTOWN OFFSITE

[00:10:01]

FINANCING ON THE TERMS THAT TG CAN OFFER IS UNIQUE AND VALUABLE TO ENSURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING.

T G T G E IS OFFERING A NEW APPROACH TO HEALTH SOUTH UNDER THE EXISTING PARADIGM ACHIEVING ONSITE AFFORDABLE UNITS, DEVELOPING OVER 200 UNITS WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE SITE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CONTRIBUTING AT LEAST $10 MILLION OVER A SIX YEAR PERIOD TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

IN ADDITION, THE PROPERTY TAX BENEFITS OF A SUCCESSFUL LARGE SCALE MIXED USE PROJECT OF APPROXIMATELY $16 MILLION PER YEAR WITH 4 MILLION GOING DIRECTLY TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN EVERY YEAR, CAN BE OFFERED TO, TO CREATE HUNDREDS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES.

THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR TG AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE VALUE OF TGS APPROACH IS MULTI-LAYERED.

IN ADDITION TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND, THE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL FUND, TO THE PROPERTY TAX IN CONTRAST TO A SITE WITH ONLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IN ADDITION, MANY OF THE SITES WITHIN A MILE WOULD SERVE AS AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING, WHICH IS SORELY NEEDED.

TG IS ALSO ACTIVELY WORKING TO FINANCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS ON IMPORTANT CORRIDORS JUST NORTH OF CAMPUS THAT COULD SUPPORT STUDENT HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING, OR SENIOR HOUSING.

ALL OPTIONS AT THE AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP COULD REVIEW THESE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS ARE WITHIN TWO TO THREE MILE RADIUS OF THE SITE.

TG CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT WILL BE PRESENTED LATER TODAY, MAXIMIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND INCLUDE COMMUNITY BENEFITS DESPITE THE DIFFICULTY OF DEVELOPMENT TODAY.

AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT FROM YOUR PRESENTERS.

CONDITIONS AT LARGE HAVE CHANGED AND YET G E CAN PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBILITY GIVEN THE FINANCING IT UTILIZES.

WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH A E D C ON MAXIMIZING COMMUNITY BENEFITS, GIVEN THE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

A LOCAL PARTNER LIKE T G E CAN DO THIS QUICKLY.

WE REQUEST THAT IT BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH A E D C IN DELIVERING UPON THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS WITHIN A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DELAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

MAD CHAIR.

UM, I THINK WE HAD MORE, UM, OH, DID YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS? I DO.

JUST, JUST WANTED TO PLEASE GO AHEAD.

VICE CHAIR.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST HELP US UNDERSTAND, KIND OF LOOK BACK A LITTLE ON JUST HOW LONG IT HAS TAKEN US TO GET HERE.

I KNOW AS, AS WE TALK LATER TODAY ABOUT SOME OF OUR OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, IF WE DO GO START THE PROCESS OVER THROUGH AN R F P, UH, JUST HOW LONG FROM EVEN THE R F P TO TODAY ARE WE, UH, WITH YOUR CLIENT? WHAT, UM, THE, THE PROCESS I WAS LOOKING AT AN OLD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POSTING, UH, STARTED, THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY WAS DECEMBER, 2016, AND I THINK THE FIRST I F C WAS 2018, UM, I BELIEVE.

AND THEN THE R F P CAME OUT IN, UH, 2020.

OKAY.

SO IT'S BEEN ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS SINCE THE FIRST I F C, PROBABLY THREE AND A HALF YEARS, AND I'M SURE STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO BE MORE PRECISE, BUT IT'S BEEN OVER FOUR YEARS, CERTAINLY, UH, AND MORE THAN FIVE YEARS SINCE THE, UH, SEVEN YEARS, I GUESS SINCE THE PURCHASE OCCURRED.

AND JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, I, I THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY.

YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT EITHER IT'S A NEW PROPOSAL OR ADJUSTING THE CURRENT PROPOSAL THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, IN RECOGNITION OF SOME OF THE CHANGES, JUST I CAUGHT A GLANCING BIT OF THAT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD CORRECTLY WHAT, WHAT IT WAS THAT YOU WERE WELL, I, I THINK GIVEN WHERE THE MARKET IS, AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT THAT, I THINK C B R E HAS A PRESENTATION THAT WAS REFERENCED, UH, UH, A FEW MINUTES AGO.

THE, THE REALITY IS THERE ARE EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES WITH EXISTING PARTNERS LIKE STACY ROH AND OTHERS TO INVEST AND GET BUILT AT A MUCH FASTER RATE, UH, MEANINGFUL HOUSING, UM, QUICKLY, UH, WITHIN A MILE THE SITE OR WITHIN TWO TO THREE MILES, IF YOU WANT TO EVEN E E EXCEED YOUR, WHAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO ON ONSITE ALONG WITH SOME ONSITE, IT'S JUST A, A, A BALANCING ACT.

IF IT'S GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, UH, X NUMBER ON SITE, THEN IT MIGHT BE A BIGGER NUMBER OFFSITE AND VICE VERSA.

IF THE NUMBER ON SITE INCREASES, THE NUMBER OFFSITE MIGHT, UH, WOULD, WOULD OBVIOUSLY DECREASE.

BUT I, I THINK THE CONCERN IS IF YOU'RE GONNA DO A TAX CREDIT DEAL, UH, AND I SAW THE PROPOSAL WAS FOR A H F C TO LEAD, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA FIND NO PROPERTY TAX BENEFIT.

YOU'RE GONNA BE VACUUMING UP TAX CREDITS THAT COULD BE USED ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY RATHER THAN, UH, AT THIS ONE SITE.

UH, AND, UM, AND, AND MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A MIXED USE TA PROPERTY TAXED SITE HERE THAT COULD GENERATE,

[00:15:01]

SO I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND I THINK A E D C IS, UH, WELL EQUIPPED TO, WITH PROFESSIONAL HELP FROM OUTSIDE, WHICH EVERY ANYBODY WOULD WANT AND NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THE RIGHT DEAL AS FIDUCIARIES OF THIS PROPERTY, UM, UH, WOULD BE ABLE TO EVALUATE AND ASSESS IN TERMS OF OPTIONS.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

YOU BET.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM.

THANK YOU.

HI, I'M STACEY ROHN AND I'M WITH BIG AUSTIN AND BIG OP ZONE.

UH, I DO WANNA SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF TEXAS GROWTH FUND AS THEY MOVE FORWARD TO TRY TO, UH, PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.

BIG AUSTIN HAS BEEN A PART OF AUSTIN, UH, FOR ABOUT 27 YEARS.

WE STARTED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

WE HAVE GROWN INTO AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SOUGHT TO DEVELOP, DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE PURCHASED 38 ACRES IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN.

I AM BORN AND RAISED IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I'VE SEEN THE GROWTH IN THIS CITY AND THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR INTEREST IN ENSURING THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BUILT HERE.

AND AS A FOURTH GENERATION AUSTINITE AND STARTING THE EAST 11TH STREET PROJECT PARTICIPATING IN SEVEN YEARS FOR ROBERT MUELLER, I'VE SEEN HOW PROJECTS THAT ARE DEVELOPED TO ENSURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DO NOT PROVIDE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND PEOPLE WHO, UH, HAVE GROWN UP IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS, WE'VE BEEN FORCED OUT.

AND SO OUR EFFORTS AT BIG AUSTIN AND BIG OPS ZONE HAVE BEEN TO DEVELOP FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST AUSTIN.

WE HAVE BEEN DISPERSED AND PUSHED AWAY.

TEXAS GROWTH FUND HAS BEEN ONE OF THE ONLY CAPITAL INVESTORS WHO'S BEEN WILLING TO PARTNER WITH BIG AUSTIN AND BIG OPS ZONE.

AND SO THEIR ABILITY TO DO PROJECTS AND TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL EXPAND FAR BEYOND JUST THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, UM, WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR RECENT PLAN.

FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE HAD OUR VERY STRONG CHALLENGES WORKING WITH AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

AND SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT LIMITED ABILITIES FOR THE HEALTH SOUTH PROJECTS AND OTHER PROJECTS IF IT'S HELD WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS ENTITY.

AND SO I WANNA SAY THAT OUR ABILITY WORKING WITH TEXAS GROWTH FUND WILL BRING HUNDREDS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND WORKING WITH CHURCHES AND STUDENTS AND COLLEGES AND NONPROFITS TO UTILIZE THEIR PROPERTIES TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS KEY TO WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE FILLED THIS ROOMS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD CHALLENGES ATTAINING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HAVING THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

CAPITAL HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE.

THIS GROUP HAS BROUGHT IT TO THE TABLE.

THEY ARE WORKING TO BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTO THIS CITY WITH THE PEOPLE WHO SEEK IT THE MOST.

AND WITH OUR INABILITY TO GET THE CITY OF AUSTIN FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR THIS.

I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THEM IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS US AND IT CAN, IT SUPPORTS AN ENTITY AND A NONPROFIT THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME FIGHTING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO WITH THAT, I TURN THIS BACK OVER TO THE CITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

ARE THERE OTHER SPEAKERS? OH, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ONE.

DID YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK MR. ANDERSON? UH, THEN YOU SHOULD CHECK WITH THE CLERK BEFORE YOU APPROACH THAT PODIUM, .

OKAY.

SHOULD I? YES, PLEASE.

WE WANNA MAKE IT FAIR AND EQUITABLE.

YOU GOOD TO GO? YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.

THIS IS AN AMAZING SITE.

I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO PUT A TON OF HOUSING HERE WITH A LOT OF TAX BASE THAT COULD DO A WHOLE LOT FOR THE CITY.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE ALSO GONNA HEAR FROM FOLKS WHO MAYBE LOOK AT CITY FUNDING AS BEING INEXHAUSTIBLE, BUT IT'S NOT.

AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT.

AND SO IT'S A TOUGH CHOICE THAT YOU HAVE HERE.

BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN JUST FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TREAT DOWNTOWN LAND LIKE DOWNTOWN AND SEE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT HERE THAT THEN GOES AND MAYBE SUBSIDIZES A LOT OF HOUSING.

LIKE THE SPEAKER BEFORE ME WAS JUST SAYING HOUSING THAT COULD BE EVERYWHERE.

UM, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, UH, WORKING WITH HOME BASE AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, WHEN WE SEE CERTAIN TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION, THEY LEND THEIR, THEY'RE, THEY DON'T REALLY LEND THEMSELVES TO BE AFFORDABLE.

UM, AND SO WHEN YOU START TALKING

[00:20:01]

AND SO IF WE'RE TALKING A FIVE STORY BUILDING HERE, IT'D BE A GREAT LOCATION FOR THE LUCKY FEW WHO GIVE TO LIVE HERE, GET TO LIVE HERE, BUT THAT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THE DEBT THAT'S ON THIS PROPERTY OR THE HOUSING NEEDS OF THE CITY IN GENERAL.

SO HOPEFULLY THERE COULD BE A, A LOT OF LOOKING AT THIS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANGLES THAT REALLY GOES TO MAXIMIZING THIS SITE AND SEEING WHAT ALL YOU CAN DO.

SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO HERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

DOES THAT CONCLUDE OUR SPEAKERS? SO I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT THIS AFTERNOON TO PRESENT FOR US, UM, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THESE CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS.

UM, WE

[1. Approve the minutes of the June 13, 2023 Housing and Planning Committee meeting.]

IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS THE MINUTES? LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AND CO-CHAIR ALTER.

UM, THAT SAID, UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.

LOOKS LIKE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY, IT'S A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

UM, SECONDLY, UH, I WILL SAY THAT COLLEAGUES, I AM NOW GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE UP OUR REMAINING AGENDA ITEMS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER.

AND FOR CLARITY, I'VE ASKED MY STAFF TO SHARE THESE SUGGESTED SCHEDULED, UM, OPPORTUNITIES ON THE SCREEN.

NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

OKAY, SO .

HEY MAN, SOMETIMES YOU'RE JUST DOING IT ON THE FLY.

WE'RE JUST DOING OUR BEST EVERYBODY.

UM, SO ITEM NUMBER

[10. Amend the 2023 Housing and Planning committee meeting calendar.]

AND THAT SAID, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S STAFF THAT'S GONNA SPEAK TO OUR OPPORTUNITIES AROUND SCHEDULING THIS MEETING, OR ARE WE MAKING A SUGGESTION? I CAN CONFIRM THAT WE HAVE A, WE HAVE CHAMBERS, UH, SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 25TH AT 1:00 PM.

UM, CAN YOU CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT, AND THIS MIGHT NOT BE A QUESTION FOR YOU, BUT JUST FOR CLARITY AND TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT I'M BEING IN COMPLIANCE, DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT ITEM? YES, WE'D LIKE TO VOTE.

IN WHICH CASE CAN YOU REPEAT THE DATE? AND THEN THAT WAY MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I, UM, COMMITTEE COLLEAGUES AND I CAN TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THAT VOTE? YES.

WE'D LIKE TO VOTE ON THE MEETING FOR OCTOBER 25TH AT 1:00 PM.

UM, WOULD ANYBODY, UH, LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION FOR OCTOBER 25TH FOR OUR NEXT HOUSING AND PLANNING? SO IT LOOKS LIKE VICE CHAIR, UM, MAKES THE MOTION AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TIM AND BOARD MEMBER, UH, ELLIS, IN WHICH CASE, LET'S TAKE A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF, UM, OUR COMMITTEE MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UM, IT'S A UNANIMOUS VOTE, SO THANK YOU.

UM, THE NEXT

[3. Discuss regulations to applicable windowless apartments.]

THANK YOU CHAIR.

UM, WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KIND OF KICK THIS OFF, I, I JUST WANNA THANK THE ADVOCATES FROM A I A AUSTIN AND MANY STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ADVOCACY, UH, ON, ON, ON THE WINDOWLESS, UH, BEDROOMS, UH, ITEM.

UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY INSIGHTFUL FOR THOSE FOLKS TO BRING UP THIS ISSUE TO THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE ALL THE WAY BACK IN JUNE.

UH, AFFORDABILITY IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE IN OUR CITY, AND WE SHOULD CONSIDER AS MANY OPTIONS, UH, THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOOLBOX TO GET A HANDLE ON IT.

UH, HOWEVER, WE ALSO NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN AFFORDABILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

NATURAL LIFE SHOULD BE A NECE NECESSITY AND NOT A LUXURY.

UH, AND LIVING WITHOUT IT IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH AND INDUCES FEELINGS OF ISOLATION.

UH, AND AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE UT AREA AND WEST CAMPUS, UH, THE AMOUNT OF CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH STUDENTS, INCLUDING MY OWN SISTER, UH, WHO LIVES IN WEST CAMPUS, UH, SCHOOL IS TOUGH.

UH, BEING IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER IS, IS NOT SOMETHING, UH, THAT WE SHOULD EVER STRIVE TO, TO BE AS A CITY.

UH, STUDENTS ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH ON THEIR PLATES, UH, AND ADDING ANOTHER THING FOR THEM TO DEAL WITH JUST ISN'T NECESSARY.

AND IT'S JUST NOT

[00:25:01]

UH, I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE ALSO POPPING UP IN DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS AUSTIN.

THANKS TO A LOOPHOLE IN OUR BUILDING CODE, OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER.

PEOPLE OF AUSTIN DESERVE BETTER.

UH, AND THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING FORWARD A RESOLUTION ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, UH, THAT WILL KICK OFF THE PROCESS TO CLOSE THE WINDOWLESS BEDROOM LOOPHOLE.

MY HOPE IS A DRAFT CODE AMENDMENT THAT STAFF BRINGS BACK TO US WILL PROVIDE CREATIVE OPTIONS TO DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE NATURAL LIGHT, UH, IN A WAY THAT MINIMIZES IMPACT TO AFFORDABILITY AS A I A AUSTIN HAS RECOMMENDED.

SO, I WANNA THANK OUR EXPERT CITY STAFF, UH, IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR WORKING WITH A I AUSTIN AND OUR CO COUNCIL OFFICES ON THE, ON THIS ITEM.

UH, AND I WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, CHAIR HARPER MADISON, MAYOR PROAM ELLIS, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR WORKING ON THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LAYING THAT OUT FOR US.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE TWO OPPORTUNITIES.

NUMBER ONE, TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR, UH, ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE HAS JOINED US AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON.

COUNCIL MEMBER RA, UM, AS I POINTED OUT, WE'RE BIRTHDAY TWINS, SO THERE'S THAT.

UM, ALSO STAFF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE WINDOWLESS ITEM? PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AS YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM.

THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M TODD WILCOX.

I'M THE CITY'S BUILDING OFFICIAL.

UM, IT, AS FAR AS THE, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THAT RESOLUTION RESOLUTION IS PRESENTED, UH, THE, THE AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE WILL GO THROUGH THE NORMAL AMENDMENT PROCESS.

WE'LL HAVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING A I A, UH, BOARD ENGAGEMENT AND, AND THEN PRESENT A STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR ALL OF THE, UH, CHANGES.

CALI, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? VICE CHAIR, JUST ONE COMMENT.

I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL.

I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.

THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

AND WE'LL MAKE A NOTE OF THAT AND ADD YOU ON.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

SO, UM, I'LL SCOOT BACK UP IF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BA CADRE, UH, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS ITEM, UM, AFTER IT WAS RAISED TO THE COMMITTEE, I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT AND ABSOLUTELY FULL SUPPORT, UM, AT COUNCIL THIS MONTH.

UH, I'M GONNA MOVE BACK UP BECAUSE WHAT I DID WAS I WAS REMISS IN SORT OF LAYING OUT THE ITEMS, HOW THEY WERE GONNA GO.

UM, SO ITEM NUMBER 10, WHICH LAID OUT OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE AN OCTOBER MEETING DATE, AND THEN ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH WE JUST DISCUSSED.

UM, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON OUR L D C AMENDMENTS AND OUR PRIORITIZATION CHART AND UPDATES FROM STAFF ON HOW THE AMENDMENTS WILL FIT INTO THE TIMELINE THAT WE APPROVED IN AT OUR COUNCIL MEETING IN JUNE.

THEN ITEM NUMBER FIVE WILL BE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CHANGE TO OUR SMART HOUSING FEE WAIVER, UM, AND THE PROGRAM THAT WAS INITIATED BY OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

ITEM NUMBER SIX IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A REPORT FROM STAFF ON THE PROPOSED REFORMS TO OUR COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN WILL BE DISCUSSION.

I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL COULD TELL THIS IS A THICK ONE.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE HEALTH SOUTH PROPERTY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CITY STAFF ON NEXT STEPS.

ITEMS NUMBER TWO AND NINE ARE RELATED AS THEY DEAL WITH OUR EXISTING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS THE REQUESTED BRIEFING AND UPDATE ON REFORMS TO OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE BEING POSTPONED, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, UM, DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS.

AND THEN ITEM NUMBER NINE IS AN ITEM THAT VICE CHAIR ALTER BROUGHT FORWARD AND WOULD LIKE TO RAISE WITH THE COMMITTEE REGARDING ENHANCEMENTS TO OUR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL, UM, IN COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THEN FINALLY, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, THE FINAL AND MOST EXCITING PART OF OUR MEETING WHERE WE CAN DISCUSS FUTURE ITEMS AND OR INITIATIVES THAT THIS, I'M NOT BIASED AT ALL, BUT THIS FANTASTIC COMMITTEE, UM, CAN HAVE ALONGSIDE VISITING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND BIRTHDAY TWINS, UM, TO PROPOSE FOR FUTURE ADDENDS.

UM, SO WITH,

[00:30:01]

SO NEXT STEP WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER THREE TO DISCUSS REGULATION.

OH NO, WE DID THAT ONE ALREADY AS WELL.

MY APOLOGIES.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE NEXT UP,

[4. Discussion and possible action regarding the status and timeline of amendments to the Land Development Code]

IS THERE STAFF THAT'S PREPARED TO SPEAK TO THAT? I SAW A WAVE.

GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.

I'M STEVIE GREATHOUSE, I'M A DIVISION MANAGER, UM, IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

AND ONE OF THE ROLES THAT I PLAY, UM, IS THE KEEPER OF THE GANTT CHART.

SO I'M HERE TODAY.

WOULD IT BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO LAY IT OUT FOR YOU ? SO ITEM NUMBER FOUR FOR US TO DISCUSS COUNCIL PRIORITIES FOR PREVIOUSLY INITIATED CODE AMENDMENTS RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH THE CODE AMENDMENTS AND WHETHER OR NOT COUNCIL EFFORTS TO PRIORITIZE CODE AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE ONGOING OR RECURRING.

SO I'M, I'M PREPARED TO SPEAK TO THAT.

SO IN YOUR BACKUP TODAY, YOU'LL FIND THE AUGUST UPDATE OF THE CODE AMENDMENT TIMELINE GANTT CHART, WHICH PROVIDES A SNAPSHOT OF ACTIVE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT CASES THAT ARE CURRENTLY MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CODE DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW PROCESS.

UM, I WANTED TO START TODAY'S PRESENTATION BY TAKING A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK OF ALL OF THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY TO DEVELOP AND REVIEW CODE AMENDMENTS.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT RECEIVED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET THAT WILL ALLOW US TO KEEP THIS BODY OF WORK MOVING FORWARD AND TO DELIVER REAL SOLUTIONS TO AUSTINITES OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE A VILLAGE TO DO THIS WORK WELL AND WITH THE URGENCY THAT IS REQUIRED, AND I THINK WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY TOWARDS HAVING THAT VILLAGE, UM, IN PLACE AT THE STAFF LEVEL.

IN ADDITION, AS WE DESCRIBED, UM, BACK WHEN WE SPOKE TO YOU ALL LAST IN JUNE, THE CITY HAS CONVENED AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL CODE CABINET UNDER THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP OF ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER VERONICA ENO.

THAT INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PLANNING, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND PUBLIC WORKS, AS WELL AS WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENTS.

THE CODE CABINET WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPORTING CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION RELATED TO ALL LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS MOVING FORWARD, AND WILL ALSO INCLUDE PARTICIPATION FROM ADDITIONAL LEAD DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS COORDINATION ACROSS AMENDMENTS AND ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.

AS A REMINDER, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT SCANT CHART IS A LIVING DOCUMENT AND ADDITIONAL UPDATES WILL BE SHOWN ON THE VERSION OF THE TIMELINE THAT WE RELEASED LATER THIS MONTH.

MOVING FORWARD, COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMISSIONERS AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE LATEST SNAPSHOT OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS TIMELINE GANTT CHART ON A SPEAKUP PAGE, UM, AT SPEAKUP AUSTIN.ORG, UM, RELATED TO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS.

THIS WILL ALSO BE THE PLACE TO GO TO REVIEW INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS AS WELL AS TO SUBMIT, UM, COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AS THE VARIOUS ITEMS MOVE FORWARD.

SINCE WE PRESENTED, PRESENTED TO YOU ALL IN JUNE, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED A FEW CODE AMENDMENTS RELATED OR A FEW CODE AMENDMENT RELATED ITEMS ON COUNCIL AGENDAS.

IT HAS BEEN A BUSY SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE JUNE OF 20 OR JUNE 13TH.

CITY COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED SIX AMENDMENTS OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, INCLUDING AN AMENDMENT STREAMLINING REVIEW OF PROJECTS WITH FEWER THAN FOUR UNITS AND AMENDMENT, ALLOWING ADDITIONAL HEIGHT AND APPLYING DESIGN GUIDELINES ALONG A PORTION OF EAST SIXTH STREET AND AMENDMENT, IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF FENCES, A SITE SPECIFIC S O S AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE LITTLE BEAR AQUIFER, AN AMENDMENT ENHANCING TENANT NOTIFICATION AND EMERGENCY AMENDMENTS TO TITLES 25 AND 30 RELATED TO RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW.

IN ADDITION, SINCE JUNE, 2013, CITY COUNCILOR PLANNING COMMISSION HAVE INITIATED FIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH WILL BE ADDED TO THE GANT STAR, TO THE GANTT CHART AND SCHEDULED FOR DEVELOPMENT.

THESE FIVE NEWLY INITIATED AMENDMENTS INCLUDE A SITE SPECIFIC SS O S AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE, AN AMENDMENT TO NOTIFY OUR MODIF, MODIFY TO MODIFY OUR NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES AND AMENDMENT RELATED TO SINGLE FAMILY LOT AND USE MODIFICATIONS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HOME AMENDMENTS AMENDMENTS TO OUR SMART HOUSING PROGRAM, UM, AS WELL AS OTHER AMENDMENTS AS SHOWN IN COUNCIL BACKUP AND ONSCREEN.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY JUST OVER 40 ACTIVE CODE AMENDMENT CASES AND PROCESS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED THROUGH A LARGER CONSOLIDATED CODE AMENDMENT.

FOUR AMENDMENTS ARE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION BY COUNSEL ON SEPTEMBER 14TH

[00:35:01]

BY DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION HAVE REQUESTED THAT STAFF IDENTIFY WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY ON A RANGE OF URGENT PRIORITIES AND WE'LL BE DEPLOYING AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO MOVE WITH THIS URGENCY WHILE ALSO ENSURING EFFECTIVE SEQUENCING OF AMENDMENTS SO THAT THE AMENDMENTS ARE EFFECTIVE IN ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION PRIORITIES.

WE'LL ALSO BE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE AMENDMENTS WORK TOGETHER AND WHETHER THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

A FEW NOTES ON MAJOR PRIORITIES, PARKING REGULATIONS, UM, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WAS RECEIVED FROM CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE URGENCY OF ELIMINATING MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS, THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS RE-PRIORITIZED THEIR WORKLOAD TO DELIVER A PROPOSED SET OF AMENDMENTS BY THE END OF 2023.

STAFF BRIEFED PLANNING COMMISSION ON THIS AMENDMENT AT A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON AUGUST 29TH AND CURRENTLY EXPECT TO BRING FORWARD PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS TO PLANNING COMMISSION IN OCTOBER WITH CONSIDERATION AT A COUNCIL HEARING IN NOVEMBER RELATED TO THE LOT SIZES AND STANDARDS.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, COUNCIL RECENTLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION INITIATING CODE AMENDMENTS TO REDUCE MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND ALLOW UP TO THREE UNITS PER LOT IN SINGLE FAMILY ZONES.

THE CODE CABINET WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AS LEAD DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY ASSESSING NEXT STEPS FOR DEVELOPING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, RESPONDING TO THE RESOLUTION AMONG OTHER ISSUES, STAFF ARE ASSESSING POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON PREVIOUSLY INITIATED AMENDMENTS AS WELL AS APPROPRIATE MODELING TO CALIBRATE FLOOR AREA RATIO WITH LOT SIZE AND UNIT COUNTS.

WHILE THE WORK PLAN REMAINS UNDER REVIEW, STAFF ANTICIPATE BRINGING BACK A PHASED APPROACH TO BE PRESENTED IN MORE DETAIL LATER THIS YEAR.

COMPATIBILITY AS DIRECTED BY COUNCIL, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UM, STAFF HAVE ANALYZED CITY'S EXISTING COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS AND DRAFTED A STUDY THAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.

TODAY.

THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEVELOPING CODE AMENDMENTS, UM, BASED ON THE COUNCIL DIRECTION THAT WAS PROVIDED UNDER A PREVIOUS RESOLUTION AS WELL AS THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY.

THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ANTICIPATES ENGAGING COMMUNITY AND BRINGING FORWARD PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL BY MARCH OF 2024.

RELATED TO DENSITY BONUSES, THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS NU NUMEROUS DENSITY BONUS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS THAT APPLY IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN DIFFERENT AREAS, AND COUNCIL HAS RECENTLY TAKEN ACTION TO INITIATE THE CREATION OF NEW DENSITY BONUS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND TO INITIATE OTHER CHANGES INCLUDING A DENSITY BONUS COMPONENT BEFORE ENACTING NEW DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.

STAFF IS PROPOSING ANALYZING EXISTING PROGRAMS AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO STREAMLINE AND INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE PROGRAMS THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS.

WITH REGARD TO EQUITABLE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, WE'LL BE ASKED TO AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF AN E O OVERLAY AT THEIR SEPTEMBER 21ST MEETING.

AND STAFF ANTICIPATES KICKING OFF WORK TO DEVELOP THE EAU OVERLAY IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.

THE CONSULTANT TEAM WILL CONDUCT MARKET ANALYSIS ACTIVITIES AND ENGAGE COMMUNITY THROUGH SEVERAL ROUNDS OF ITERATIVE ENGAGEMENT IN 2024.

IN ADDITION, UM, TO WORKING TO DEVELOP THAT OVERLAY BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE OF 2024.

PLANNING IS WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT CAPITAL METRO AND THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP TO CONDUCT OTHER ACTIVITIES, UM, RELATED TO SUPPORTING PROJECT CONNECT AND THE UPCOMING GRANT APPLICATION FOR PROJECT CONNECT.

AND OUR PARTNERS ARE QUITE EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF ALL OF THE CO CITYWIDE CODE AMENDMENTS CURRENTLY IN THE HOPPER TO ENABLE MORE TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE LAND USES ALONG THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM.

SO A FEW ITEMS, UM, TO NOTE OF THE, ON THE GANTT CHART THAT IS IN BACKUP, UM, WE ARE PUSHING BACK THE PROCESS RELATED TO ZONING APPLICATION PROCESSES AND DEADLINE SLIGHTLY TO ALLOW RE NOTIFY FOR AN AMENDMENT THAT WILL BE INCLUDED AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT PROCESS WITH NEW MILESTONES BEING, UM, COMING FORWARD TO COUNCIL BY OCTOBER OF OCTOBER 19TH OF THIS YEAR.

UM, SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT REGULATING PLAN DISCUSSIONS ARE UNDERWAY REGARDING TIMING IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL REVIEW AND FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT PLAN BASED ON THE PHASING APPROACH THAT WILL BE USED TO DELIVER CHANGES TO REGULATIONS FOR LOT SIZE AND NUMBER OF UNITS PER LOT.

WE'LL ALSO BE WORKING WITH D S D TO LOOK AT UPDATING TIMELINES RELATED TO A CONSTELLATION OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT LED CHANGES SHOWN ON THE GANTT CHART.

UM, AND IN ADDITION, SEVERAL ITEMS SHOWN ON THE GANTT CHART AS SCHEDULED T B D NOW HAVE SPECIFIC TIMELINES, WHICH WILL BE SHOWN IN THE SEPTEMBER UPDATE OF THE GANTT CHART, UM, INCLUDING THE TIMELINE FOR MODIFYING NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS WITH THE GOAL OF BRINGING THOSE BACK TO COUNCIL BY DECEMBER, UM, 14TH OF THIS YEAR.

AND A TIMELINE RELATED TO ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING USE, UM, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN BRINGING A RECOMMENDATION BACK TO COUNCIL BY NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

WE APPRECIATE THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE'S CONTINUED SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT WE PROCESS THESE URGENT AMENDMENTS TO AUSTIN'S LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.

AND WITH THAT, WE ARE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE

[00:40:01]

UM, I'D LIKE JUST TO, AS A REMINDER TO OUR PUBLIC AND TO THE COMMITTEE, UH, CITY COUNCIL VOTED IN JUNE TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER STAFF AND OUR COMMITTEE TO PROCEED WITH COLLABORATING ON THIS PRIORITIZATION AND TIMING OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS AND ORGANIZE CURRENT AND FUTURE POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS FOR THE GREATEST IMPACT.

UH, GIVEN THAT DIRECTION, WE AGREED TO REQUEST THAT STAFF KEEP THIS ITEM ON, UH, FOR FUTURE AGENDAS FOR 2023 THAT WILL ALLOW FOR CONTINUED DISCUSSION AND ACTION RELATED TO PRIORITIZATION, UM, AND ORGANIZING OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, UH, AMENDMENTS.

SO AT THIS TIME, COLLEAGUES, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE APPEARING.

THERE ARE NONE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

UP NEXT IS A RELATED ITEM THAT

[5. Discussion and possible action regarding fee waivers under the S.M.A.R.T. Housing Program.]

SO I WILL INSTEAD AS STAFF TO LAY OUT ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND I WILL READ THE POSTING LANGUAGE.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING FEE WAIVERS UNDER THE SMART, THAT'S AN ACRONYM, SS M A R T HOUSING PROGRAM.

UM, AND IT APPEARS AS THOUGH WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A C M SENIO BEFORE US TODAY TO LAY THIS ITEM OUT.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE OUR LEAD STAFF PERSON PRESENT HERE TODAY.

UM, BUT I DID WANT TO REFERENCE THE MEMO THAT WE HAD SENT TO YOU THAT IS PART OF YOUR BACKUP THAT GAVE YOU AN UPDATE.

WE ARE WORKING ON THE CODE LANGUAGE CHANGES AND WE HOPE TO BRING SOMETHING, WE PLAN TO BRING SOMETHING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.

I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

I MIGHT NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS, SO IF I DON'T, WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AFTER THIS MEETING.

UM, BUT REALLY JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL WERE AWARE OF OUR, OUR WORK ON THIS, BUT NOT ONLY WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BUT OUR PLAN, OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND OUR LAW DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

SO MOVING FORWARD, WHO WOULD BE THE LEAD PERSON BECAUSE WE WERE INTENDED TO TAKE A MOTION AND A VOTE TODAY AND BRING THIS ITEM BEFORE THE FULL COUNSEL.

IN WHICH CASE IF THAT PERSON'S NOT HERE, I WONDER IF THAT CHANGES, UH, THE ORDER.

UH, IN WHICH CASE I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH MY STAFF TO SEE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR CHANGE.

UH, THE LEAD PERSON IS KEITH MARS, HE'S AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT, UH, D S D.

I THINK THIS, UH, COMMITTEE COULD RECOMMEND THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE AMENDMENTS TO THE FULL COUNCIL.

UM, AND THAT WOULD, THAT WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT THAT DIRECTION.

COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS? UM, IN WHICH CASE, I WOULD SAY IS THERE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THAT THESE CODE CHANGES BE ADOPTED BY THE FULL COUNCIL AND THAT CITY STAFF INITIATE THE BROADER WORKING GROUP ON SMART HOUSING? UM, I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION AND THEN A SECOND MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR RYAN ALTER.

UM, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

IT LOOKS LIKE WITH THE ABSENCE OF COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UM, UH, WE'RE, WELL, NO, WE'RE UNANIMOUS.

WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYBODY ELSE.

OKAY.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

SO IT'S A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO, ALL RIGHT, UP NEXT, ONE

[6. Discussion and possible action regarding the next steps for the Compatibility Study.]

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO SPEAK TO IT, THEY JUMPED UP FAST.

THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU.

WAIT, CAN STAFF PLEASE COME UP AND SHARE YOUR STUDY AND RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS WHILE I READ THE POSTING LANGUAGE? SO GIMME JUST A MOMENT.

SO THE POSTING LANGUAGE FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX SAYS, DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE COMPATIBILITY STUDY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, I'M ERIC LEAK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND JOINING ME IS RACHEL TEPPER, PRINCIPAL PLANNER IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO TODAY WE WILL PRESENT STAFF'S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A COUNCIL INITIATED STUDY ON COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS.

NEXT SLIDE.

UM, WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE BACKGROUND AND TIMELINE OF THE STUDY, AN OVERVIEW OF COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, A SUMMARY OF THE METHODS USED, KEY FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND NEXT STEPS.

NEXT SLIDE.

UM,

[00:45:01]

THE CITY'S COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS ARE YET ANOTHER LAYER OF REGULATIONS THAT CAN IMPACT THE LOCATION AND HEIGHT OF TALLER BUILDINGS THAT ARE WITHIN APPROXIMATELY TWO BLOCKS OF TRIGGERING PROPERTIES.

AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO RACHEL.

NEXT SLIDE.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS ERICA.

UM, AS ERICA SAID, MY NAME'S RACHEL TEPPER.

I'M A PRINCIPAL PLANNER IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

AND I'M GONNA START OFF JUST GIVING A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE HISTORY OF THIS ANALYSIS.

SO, UM, THIS ANALYSIS WAS INITIATED IN DECEMBER OF 2022.

UH, THE PREVIOUS COUN CITY COUNCIL, UH, ADOPTED ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 1 2 0 1 0 5 6, WHICH WAS A, AN ORDINANCE THAT RELAXED COMPATIBILITY AND PARKING ON CERTAIN CORRIDORS AND CALLED FOR A STAFF ANALYSIS OF CITYWIDE COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS AND THEIR IMPACTS TO THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT GOALS.

THE BLUEPRINT GOALS INCLUDE, UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, CREATING 60,000 NEW INCOME, LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS, AND THEN 75,000 NEW MODERATE TO HIGH INCOME UNITS WITHIN 10 YEARS, AND ENSURING THAT A QUARTER OF THOSE UNITS ARE IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS AND A QUARTER OF THOSE UNITS ARE WITHIN A HALF A QUARTER MILE OF TRANSIT STOPS ON MAY 5TH.

UH, STAFF RELEASED A JOINT MEMO MEMO FROM THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT SUMMARIZING OUR METHODOLOGY FOR THIS ANALYSIS.

AND THEN ON JUNE 8TH, UM, THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL PASSED RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 23 0 6 0 8 0 4 5, UM, WHICH INITIATES CHANGES TO CITYWIDE COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS AND ALSO ASKS FOR ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, FROM THIS STUDY.

SO THIS PRESENTATION SUMMARIZES THE, UH, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MEMO, UH, THAT WAS RELEASED TODAY, UH, THROUGH THE CITY'S OFFICIAL MEMO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

AS A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, THEY GENERALLY APPLY TO SITES LOCATED WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE PROPERTY LINE OF URBAN FAMILY RESIDENTS SSF FIVE OR MORE RESTRICTIVE ZONING.