[00:00:01]
EVERYBODY, IT'S OCTOBER 26TH, 2023,
[Call to Order]
AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR THIS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TO BE HELD JOINTLY WITH THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION.IT IS 2:00 PM WE ARE MEETING IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS THAT ARE LOCATED IN AUSTIN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS PRESENT.
AS I INDICATED, THIS IS A JOINT MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO I'M PLEASED TO NOW RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION, CHAIRMAN SHAW, UH, TO CALL TO ORDER THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, YES, TIME IS TWO O'CLOCK AND, UH, I, THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION BRING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO ORDER.
AND, UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE WE DO HAVE QUORUM.
IN FACT, THIS IS A VERY GOOD TURNOUT FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THANK YOU ALL PLANNING COMMISSIONERS
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS, AND I WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE ON BEHALF OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, IT'S BELIEVED THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THERE'S BEEN A JOINT MEETING OF THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, I'M SURE THAT THERE WILL BE AN HISTORIAN OUT THERE THAT WILL REMIND US IF THAT'S INCORRECT, BUT IT'S UNIQUE IN ANY EVENT, AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO BE DOING THIS.
PART OF THE REASON WE'RE DOING THIS IS AN EFFORT TO ALLOW FOR THERE TO BE ROBUST PUBLIC INPUT AND ALLOW THOSE THAT ARE RECOMMENDING POLICY AND THOSE MAKING THE POLICY TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR COMMENTS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023.
AT THAT TIME, THERE WILL BE THE CHANCE FOR FURTHER PO PUBLIC COMMENT AND INPUT, AND IF THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS READY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET AT A SPECIAL MEETING ON DECEMBER 7TH.
WE WILL BE POSTED TO VOTE AT THAT TIME IF WE'RE READY.
PRIOR TO THAT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THIS ITEM.
THAT WILL BE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH.
UH, NOT ONLY WILL WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THIS AND ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF STAFF, BUT I'M RECOMMENDING THAT WE USE THAT DATE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO LAY OUT ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT THE MEMBERS MIGHT HAVE.
UH, PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON THE BUDGET.
WE HAD A DAY SET ASIDE IN ADVANCE OF THE ACTUAL MEETING WHERE EACH MEMBER COULD LAY OUT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
IT ALLOWED FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION BY THE COUNCIL, AND IT PROVIDED GREATER TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC.
THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS ARE ABLE FOR, FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND FOR THE, AND THE PLANNING.
COMMISSIONERS ALREADY KNOW THIS, BUT, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS ARE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET AN ANSWERS FROM STAFF BY CONTACTING ANDREW RIVERA VIA EMAIL.
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE ABLE TO DO THE SAME BY EMAILING QUESTIONS TO KATIE POWERS IN THE AGENDA OFFICE.
RESPONSES TO THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS SOON AS THEY ARE FINALIZED FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
YOU CAN ACCESS SUBMITTED QUESTIONS AND STAFF RESPONSES, AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN, AN ADDRESS, A WEBSITE, PUBLIC INPUT, P-U-B-L-I-C-I-N-P-U-T PUBLIC INPUT.COM/LDC UPDATES L SO PUBLIC INPUT.COM/LDC UPDATES THAT WILL HELP THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHAT'S BEING THOUGHT AND CONSIDERED, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE WHERE AUSTINITES CAN MEET WITH CITY STAFF AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT PROPOSALS.
THAT PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE WILL BE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.
THAT ADDRESS IS 7 1 0 7 1 0 WEST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL STAFF, UH, OUT IN THE LOBBY AREA.
IF SOME PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, PART OF OUR EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS A PRODUCTIVE MEETING WHERE QUESTIONS COULD ALSO BE ANSWERED.
WE HAVE A, A PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT ARE THERE AS WELL.
FIRST WE'LL HEAR A PRESENTATION
[00:05:01]
FROM CITY STAFF ON THE AGENDA ITEM.IF THE COMMISSIONERS OR COUNCIL HAVE BRIEF CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, THEY'LL ASK THEM AFTERWARDS.
BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WISHING TO BE HEARD, UH, ANY OF OUR DEBATE, OUR DISCUSSION OR MORE THAN JUST CLARIFYING QUESTIONS WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH STAFF WILL BE AT THE FUTURE MEETINGS I JUST TALKED ABOUT OR THROUGH THE Q AND A PROCESS THAT I MENTIONED.
WE WILL THEN HEAR FROM THOSE WISHING TO SPEAK.
EACH PERSON WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
PEOPLE MAY DONATE TIME, TIME TO SOMEONE SO THAT A SINGLE SPEAKER CAN SPEAK UP TO SIX MINUTES.
IF YOU'RE DONATING TIME, PLEASE SEE THE CITY CLERK OVER HERE TO MY RIGHT, YOUR LEFT TO, TO COMPLETE A TIME DONATION FORM IN ADVANCE.
THE DONORS MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THE TIME THE PERSON TO WHOM THEY'RE DONATING TIME IS SPEAKING IN PERSON DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE ANYWAY HERE, UH, THAT WILL BE USED AS AN OVERFLOW ROOM.
ATXN WILL BE STREAMING THE MEETING IN THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN FOLLOW ALONG.
SPEAKERS WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK ON THE ORDER OF UPCOMING SPEAKERS AT THE KIOSKS THAT ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU, PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH THE SYSTEM.
DUE TO THE LARGE VOLUME OF SPEAKERS, THERE MAY BE SOME LAG TIME, UH, IN THAT TECHNOLOGY.
PLEASE, WE ASK THAT YOU STAY WITHIN THE TWO MINUTES OUT OF RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK AND WILL BE FOLLOWING YOU.
THEY MAY BE FOLLOWING YOU MAYBE EVEN MUCH LATER TONIGHT.
WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THINGS EFFICIENT AND RESPECTFUL.
UH, SO WHERE WE CAN TAKE, WE CAN BE RESPECTFUL OF, OF SPEAKERS IN THEIR TIME.
AND ONE EFFORT WE HAVE INSTITUTED IS WE'VE PUT UP TWO PODIUMS FOR SPEAKERS TO USE.
WHAT I WOULD REQUEST IS THAT YOU PLEASE ALTERNATE THE USE OF EACH PODIUM SO THAT WHEN ONE SPEAKER IS FINISHED, WE CAN IMMEDIATELY MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
THERE ARE RESERVE SEATS UP FRONT.
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND COME UP FRONT.
SO ONCE YOUR NAME IS CALLED AGAIN, YOU'LL BE READY TO MOVE TO ONE OF THE PODIUMS. THERE WILL BE NO VOTE TONIGHT.
THIS WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING.
ONLY REMEMBER AGAIN THAT THE PUB PLANNING COMMISSION WILL BE MEETING ON NOVEMBER 14TH.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND IF READY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL VOTE THEN.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 7TH.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT RIGHT NOW IN OUR COUNTRY, WITH EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT SEEMING TO HAVE AS A BACKDROP OF EXTREME PARTISANSHIP AND SORT OF THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF WINNING, I HAVE BEEN PLEASED TO SEE THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AT LEAST A RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF OUR COMMON PURPOSE AS A CITY, OUR UNITY OF PURPOSE, IF YOU WILL.
EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TODAY, THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS, THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE GIVING THEIR POINT OF VIEW OR WATCHING ON TV OR WRITING US BY EMAIL OR OTHERWISE, WE ALL HAVE A COMMON PURPOSE OR A UNITY OF PURPOSE.
AND THAT IS THAT WE LOVE AUSTIN, WE LOVE OUR HOME.
WE RECOGNIZE IT AS AN EXCEPTIONAL PLACE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PARTICIPATING.
WE MIGHT DISAGREE ON HOW WE ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.
WE MAY HAVE GOALS OR EVEN FEARS THAT AREN'T FULLY SHARED, BUT I HOPE THAT'S NOT WHAT WE FOCUS ON.
I DON'T THINK IT IS WHAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON.
WE OUGHT TO FOCUS ON THAT COMMON PURPOSE AND THAT THAT UNITY OF PURPOSE.
WE LOVE AUSTIN AND WE WANT TO MAKE AUSTIN A HOME WE CAN PASS ON TO OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, AND THE PEOPLE WE LOVE.
UH, I FEEL IT IN MY HEART THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SQUARELY IN OUR POWER.
THIS UNIQUE GATHERING IS A PART OF THAT, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO PLEASE USE IT IN THAT WAY.
[1. Conduct a public hearing to receive public comment on proposed amendments to City Code Chapter 25-2 (Zoning) that would allow up to three housing units, including tiny homes and recreational vehicles, on a single-family (SF) zoned property; revise regulations that apply to a property with two housing units; and remove restrictions on the number of unrelated adults living in a housing unit.]
WITHOUT OBJECTION, I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS JOINT MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION.[00:10:01]
I WILL NOW CALL UPON LAURA LAUREN MIDDLETON PRATT, THE PLAN, OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR FOR A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.
PROPOSED CHANGES TO HOUSING REGULATIONS IN OUR GREAT CITY OF AUSTIN.
IN THE RECENT MONTHS, CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO ANALYZE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS THAT COULD ALLOW UP TO THREE HOUSING UNITS ON A SINGLE FAMILY ZONE PROPERTY, REVISE REGULATIONS FOR PROPERTIES WITH TWO HOUSING UNITS AND REMOVE REGULATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS LIVING IN A HOME.
THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE INTENDED TO ENABLE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BY INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY, AS WELL AS PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY WITHIN OUR EXISTING LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
TODAY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A POLICY DELIBERATION FOR YOU AS A COLLECTIVE BODY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE WITH EACH OF YOUR RESPECTIVE BODIES.
IN SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS THIS AFTERNOON, WE HAVE STAFF AND THE ATRIUM WHO ARE THERE TO COLLECT COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SHARE FUTURE MEETING SCHEDULES, AS WELL AS INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ACCESS OUR LDC UPDATES WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN FIND REAL TIME CURRENT INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
AT THIS TIME, ANDREA BATES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL INTRODUCE STAFF'S PROPOSAL BASED ON COUNCIL'S RECENT ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS.
SHE'LL ALSO OUTLINE HOW THESE AMENDMENTS COULD IMPACT AND SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
I WILL BE DESCRIBING THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO RESIDENTIAL USES AND STANDARDS IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THIS PROPOSAL INCLUDES AMENDMENTS IN RESPONSE TO SOMETHING CALLED THE HOME INITIATIVE, WHERE HOME STANDS FOR HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT.
I'LL BEGIN WITH SOME OF THE REASONS BEHIND THESE CODE AMENDMENTS.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS RESPOND TO POLICY GOALS SET BY CITY COUNCIL THROUGH PLANS AND RESOLUTIONS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
FIRST, THEY ARE INTENDED TO EXPAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES BY CREATING MORE HOUSING OPTIONS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS.
THEY ARE INTENDED TO GIVE HOMEOWNERS OPTIONS TO HOUSE A FAMILY MEMBER OR A CAREGIVER ON THEIR PROPERTY OR TO EARN A PASSIVE INCOME.
THEY ARE INTENDED TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY.
THEY CAN HELP CREATE WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A VARIETY OF HOUSING TYPES, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH OUR CITY'S IMAGINE AUSTIN GOALS.
THEY COULD HELP SUPPORT PROJECT CONNECT TRANSIT INVESTMENT BY ALLOWING ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO LIVE NEAR TRANSIT STATIONS.
AND THEN FINALLY, THEY COULD HELP RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE BY REDUCING TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS, SLOWING SPRAWL, AND CREATING INCENTIVES FOR SMALLER, MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES.
MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE AUSTIN METRO AREA IS THE FASTEST GROWING LARGE METRO REGION IN THE COUNTRY, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS A MAJOR DRIVER OF THAT GROWTH.
AUSTIN IS NOW THE 10TH LARGEST US CITY.
ONE FACTOR DRIVING THAT POPULATION GROWTH IS JOB GROWTH.
HOWEVER, AUSTIN'S HOUSING PRODUCTION IS NOT KEEPING PACE WITH JOB GROWTH.
WE CAN SEE THIS IN AN INDICATOR CALLED THE JOBS HOUSING BALANCE.
SINCE 2010, OVER 66,000 MORE JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED IN AUSTIN THAN HOUSING UNITS PRODUCED.
SO THE JOBS HOUSING BALANCE HAS INCREASED FROM 1.24 JOBS FOR EVERY HOUSING UNIT IN 2010 TO 1.31 IN 2022.
WHEN NEW JOBS OUTPACE THE HOUSING SUPPLY, A GREATER SHARE OF THE POPULATION MUST DRIVE IN TO AUSTIN, LIVE OUTSIDE AND COMMUTE IN FOR WORK.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HIGHER COST METRO AREAS GENERALLY HAVE HIGHER RATIOS OR A LARGER JOBS HOUSING IMBALANCE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, AMONG CITIES WITH HIGH JOB GROWTH, EXPENSIVE METRO AREAS LIKE NEW YORK, BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN JOSE HAVE RATIOS THAT ARE TWO OR GREATER LESS EXPENSIVE.
METROS LIKE HOUSTON AND RALEIGH HAVE RATIOS THAT ARE CLOSE TO ONE.
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THE NEW HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE BEING PRODUCED ARE FREQUENTLY IN LARGE MULTI-FAMILY COMPLEXES, BUT ONE OF THE CITY'S GOALS IS TO ALLOW FOR VARIETY OF HOUSING TYPES, INCLUDING LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL HOUSING.BUT THE TREND WE SEE SINCE 2010 IS MOVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
THE PERCENTAGE OF TWO, THREE, AND FOUR UNIT HOUSING TYPES HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED SINCE 2010 FROM 9.3% TO 6.6% OF THE TOTAL HOUSING STOCK.
AND THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF DUPLEXES, NOT JUST THE PERCENT, HAS ALSO DECREASED SINCE 2010.
I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED POLICY DIRECTION TO TACKLE THESE CHALLENGES, AND WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THREE RECENT COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.
THIS JUNE COUNCIL ASKED STAFF TO WORK ON CODE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD ELIMINATE SOMETHING CALLED THE OCCUPANCY LIMIT OR LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS WHO CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN A HOME.
IN JULY, COUNCIL ASKED STAFF TO PREPARE CODE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SMALLER, MORE DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES AND ADDITIONAL UNITS ON SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTIES.
THIS IS THE RESOLUTION CALLED THE HOME INITIATIVE.
THE DIRECTION IN THAT RESOLUTION WILL ACTUALLY BE SPLIT INTO TWO PHASES, SO SOME IS UNDER CONSIDERATION TODAY AND SOME OF THE DIRECTION IN THE RESOLUTION WILL BE TAKEN UP LATER.
AS A PHASE TWO IN SEPTEMBER, COUNCIL PROVIDED DIRECTION TO PREPARE CODE AMENDMENTS THAT ALLOW TINY HOMES AND RVS TO BE USED AS DWELLING UNITS.
IN ADDITION TO RESPONDING TO THESE THREE RECENT RESOLUTIONS, THE PROPOSAL ALSO INCORPORATES DIRECTION FROM TWO PRIOR RESOLUTIONS IN DECEMBER, 2021 AND JUNE, 2022, THAT WERE ABOUT EXPANDING ACCESS TO AND INCREASING FLEXIBILITY FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS OR ADUS.
THAT'S THE POLICY CONTEXT AND THE COUNCIL DIRECTION.
NOW I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE THE REGULATIONS IN THE CURRENT CODE.
I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THE RULES FOR THREE ZONING DISTRICTS CALLED SSF ONE, SSF TWO, AND SSF THREE, WHERE THE SSF STANDS FOR SINGLE FAMILY IN SSF ONE AND SSF TWO.
YOU CAN GENERALLY BUILD ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME WITH A COUPLE OF VERY SPECIFIC EXCEPTIONS.
YOU COULD BUILD AN INTERIOR APARTMENT FOR SOMEONE WHO IS DISABLED OR OVER 60 YEARS OLD, OR YOU COULD BUILD A SEPARATE HOME ON THE PROPERTY FOR GUESTS OR FOR AN ONSITE WORKER IF THE LOT SIZE IS LARGE ENOUGH.
IN ADDITION TO ALLOWING FOR A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF UNITS, A ZONING DISTRICT HAS RULES FOR THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF DEVELOPMENT ON A PARTICULAR PROPERTY BUILDING COVER LIMITS THE SIZE OF A BUILDING'S FOOTPRINT COMPARED TO THE PROPERTY SIZE.
OVERALL, THE BUILDING COVER LIMITS AN SSF ONE IS 35% AND AN SF TWO IS 40%.
IMPERVIOUS COVER APPLIES NOT ONLY TO THE BUILDING FOOTPRINT, BUT TO DRIVEWAYS AND PATIOS AND ANY OTHER SURFACE THAT PREVENTS THE INFILTRATION OF RAINWATER INTO THE GROUND.
IN SSF ONE, THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT IS 40% AND AN SSF TWO IT'S 45.
DISTRICTS ALSO REGULATE THE HEIGHT OF STRUCTURES ON THE PROPERTY, AND THE HEIGHT LIMIT IN BOTH DISTRICTS IS 35 FEET.
YOU MAY NOTICE THE DRAWING ON THIS SLIDE, AND YOU WILL SEE DRAWINGS LIKE THIS THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION.
THESE ARE SIMPLE EXAMPLES OF THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN OCCUR UNDER TODAY'S CODE OR COULD OCCUR UNDER THE PROPOSAL.
THE BUILDINGS AND THE DRAWINGS FOLLOW THE EXISTING OR THE PROPOSED CODE REQUIREMENTS BASED ON THE ZONE AND THE HYPOTHETICAL LOT SIZE.
THE DETAILS FOR EACH DRAWING ARE IN THE GRAY TEXT.
SO WHAT CAN BE BUILT IN SSF THREE TODAY? THE SF THREE ZONE INCLUDES THE SAME USES ALLOWED AN SSF ONE AND TWO, ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME, AN INTERIOR APARTMENT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS DISABLED OR OVER 60 SEPARATE HOME FOR GUESTS OR AN ON-SITE WORKER.
OR IN SSF THREE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SOMETHING CALLED AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT OR ADU.
AN ADU IS A SECOND HOME THAT IS GENERALLY INTENDED TO BE SMALLER AND LOCATED TO THE BACK OR TO THE SIDE OF THE PRIMARY HOME ON THE LOT.
OR IN SF THREE, YOU CAN BUILD A DUPLEX IF YOU HAVE A LARGER LOT.
THE LOT SIZE FOR A DUPLEX TODAY IS 7,000 SQUARE FEET, AND A DUPLEX IS TWO ATTACHED UNITS.
BUILDING COVERAGE LIMIT IS 40% AND PREVIOUS COVER IS 45% AND THE HEIGHT LIMIT IS 35 FEET.
[00:20:01]
IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARDS OF THE BASE ZONES THAT I JUST DESCRIBED, SOME RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IS SUBJECT TO SOMETHING CALLED THE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN AND COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, WHICH ARE MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY CALLED THE MCMANSION STANDARDS.THE MCMANSION STANDARDS ARE ADDITIONAL LIMITS ON THE SIZE OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF HOMES THAT ARE BUILT IN A CERTAIN AREA OF AUSTIN.
THE AREA IN BROWN ON THAT MAP, WHICH IS GENERALLY THE MORE CENTRAL PART OF THE CITY, THE MCMANSION STANDARDS LIMIT SOMETHING CALLED THE FLOOR AREA RATIO OF DEVELOPMENT, WHICH SETS A MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT CAN BE BUILT ON THE LOT.
THEY ALSO CREATE A BUILDING ENVELOPE COMMONLY CALLED TENT, WHICH CREATES SOME ADDITIONAL HEIGHT LIMITS AND HAVE SOME OTHER DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT WITH THE INTENTION OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL REGULATION OF THE SCALE.
SO THAT'S WHAT CAN BE BUILT TODAY, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WOULD DO THE FOLLOWING.
THEY WOULD ALLOW UP TO THREE HOMES ON PROPERTY ZONED SF ONE, SSF TWO, OR SSF THREE.
THEY WOULD SIMPLIFY THE CURRENT REGULATIONS FOR BUILDING TWO HOMES.
THEY WOULD REMOVE USES THAT ARE IN THE CODE TODAY.
THAT WOULDN'T BE NECESSARY WITH THE OTHER CHANGES, THE ACCESSORY APARTMENT, THE GUEST HOUSE, AND THE ONSITE WORKER PROVISIONS, THEY WOULD LIMIT THE APPLICABILITY OF THE MCMANSION STANDARDS TO LOTS WITH ONE HOME AND THEY WOULD ALLOW TINY HOMES THAT MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS TO BE CONSIDERED A PERMANENT DWELLING UNIT.
THESE DRAWINGS ARE EXAMPLES OF THE HOUSING TYPES THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED ON LOTS THAT ARE AT LEAST 5,750 SQUARE FEET IN THE SSF ONE, SF TWO, AND SSF THREE ZONES UNDER THE PROPOSAL.
THE SIZE OF THE HOMES THAT COULD BE BUILT DEPENDS ON THE LOT SIZE AND THE UNDERLYING REGULATIONS OF THE ZONING DISTRICT.
SO ONE OF THE FIRST CHANGES IN THE PROPOSAL IS THE CREATION OF A NEW THREE UNIT USE.
THIS IS WHAT WOULD ALLOW THREE HOMES TO BE BUILT ON SSF ONE, SSF TWO, AND SF THREE ZONED PROPERTIES.
THE THREE HOMES COULD BE ATTACHED DETACHED OR A MIX.
THEY WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE MCMANSION STANDARDS IF THEY WERE INSIDE THE AREA.
THEY WOULD HAVE A BUILDING COVERAGE LIMIT OF 40% IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT OF 45% HEIGHT LIMIT OF 35 FEET, AND A MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 5,750 SQUARE FEET.
THEY WOULD ALSO BE EXEMPT FROM MCMANSION OUTSIDE OF THE MCMANSION AREA.
HERE ARE EXAMPLES OF HYPOTHETICAL THREE UNIT USES.
THERE ARE THREE DETACHED UNITS ON A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT ON THE LEFT.
THERE ARE THREE DETACHED UNITS ON AN 8,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT IN THE CENTER, AND THERE ARE THREE ATTACHED UNITS ON A 5,750 SQUARE FOOT LOT ON THE RIGHT.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WOULD ALSO CHANGE THE EXISTING STANDARDS FOR TWO UNIT USES.
THIS IS A USE ALLOWED IN THE CODE TODAY.
IT'S ALLOWED IN THE SSF THREE ZONES, UH, AND TODAY, AS IN THE PROPOSAL, A TWO UNIT USE IS INTENDED FOR DETACHED UNITS.
AND SO THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW TWO DETACHED HOMES ON SSF ONE, SSF TWO, AND SF THREE ZONED PROPERTIES.
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, ONE OF THE TWO HOMES WOULD BE LIMITED TO 1100 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE.
THEY WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM MCMANSION.
THEIR BUILDING COVER WOULD BE 40% IMPERVIOUS COVER OF 45 IN THE HEIGHT LIMIT OF 35.
WITH THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 5,750 SQUARE FEET.
SOME OF THE EXISTING RESTRICTIONS ON TWO UNIT USE WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE CODE TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WOULD BE NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF STORIES.
THERE'D SIMPLY BE THE 35 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT.
THERE'D BE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE AMOUNT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS IN THE ZONING CODE ITSELF.
THE FIRE CODE SEPARATION RULES WOULD STILL APPLY AND THERE'D BE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE SIZE OF THE SECOND STORY.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ALSO CHANGED THE EXISTING DUPLEX USE TODAY, AND UNDER THE PROPOSAL, DUPLEX MEANS TWO ATTACHED HOMES AND DUPLEXES WOULD BE ALLOWED ON SF ONE, SSF TWO AND SF THREE, THEY WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM MCMANSION BUILDING COVERAGE OF 40% AND PREVIOUS COVER OF 45 HEIGHT LIMIT OF 35 FEET MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 5,750 SQUARE FEET.
THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE THAT APPLIES TO DUPLEXES TODAY, WHICH IS 7,000 SQUARE FEET.
OTHER RESTRICTIONS WOULD ALSO BE REMOVED.
THERE'D BE NO SPECIFIC LIMIT ON THE GROSS FLOOR AREA.
THERE'D BE NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF STORIES, JUST THE HEIGHT LIMIT,
[00:25:01]
AND THERE'D BE NO SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR SHARED FLOORS, CEILINGS, OR WALLS.THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO ALLOW TINY HOMES TO BE USED AND TO COUNT AS HOUSING UNITS, TINY HOMES OR STRUCTURES THAT ARE SMALLER THAN 400 SQUARE FEET AND MEET VERY SPECIFIC STANDARDS IN THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE.
SO A TINY HOME THAT MEETS THESE STANDARDS COULD BE USED AS A PERMANENT DWELLING UNIT IN ALL RESIDENTIAL ZONES.
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SOME OF THE EXISTING ACCESSORY USES WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE CODE UNDER THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER NECESSARY.
THE ACCESSORY APARTMENT, THE GUEST HOUSE, AND THE HOUSE FOR ONSITE WORKER USES COULD BE ACCOMMODATED BY THE ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY FOR THE TWO UNIT DUPLEX AND THREE UNIT USES UNDER THE PROPOSAL.
ONE OF THE MAIN TAKEAWAYS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT IT CHANGES THE PROCESS TO ALLOW THREE UNITS IN THESE ZONES TODAY.
THREE UNITS ARE GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED ON AN SSF ONE, SF TWO, OR SSF THREE ZONED PROPERTY.
THE PROPERTY WOULD LIKELY NEED TO BE REZONED.
SITE CONSTRAINTS OR OTHER LIMITATIONS WOULD POTENTIALLY RESTRICT THE PROPERTY EVEN IF REZONED.
BUT REZONING WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GET TO THREE UNITS.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES APPLY TO THE BASE ZONE.
THEY WOULD ALLOW UP TO THREE UNITS TO BE BUILT IN THOSE ZONES WITH NO PROPERTY SPECIFIC ZONING CHANGE.
OF COURSE, THOSE SITE CONSTRAINTS AND OTHER LIMITATIONS LIKE TREE PROTECTIONS, UH, OR OTHER THINGS LIKE DEEDED RESTRICTIONS MAY RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO BE BUILT ON THOSE PROPERTIES.
SO THREE UNITS WOULD BE ALLOWED IN THE ZONES, BUT THEY WOULD NOT BE GUARANTEED BECAUSE A PROPERTY WOULD NEED TO MEET OTHER REQUIREMENTS AND NOT HAVE OTHER RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.
THOSE ARE THE CHANGES TO THE RESIDENTIAL USES AND STANDARDS THAT ARE THE BULK OF THIS PROPOSAL.
BUT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE PROPOSAL ALSO RESPONDS TO COUNCIL DIRECTION TO CHANGE THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS, THE PROPOSAL WOULD REMOVE THE EXISTING LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS WHO ARE ALLOWED TO LIVE TOGETHER TODAY.
THAT LIMIT IS FOUR UNRELATED ADULTS WHO CAN LIVE TOGETHER WITHIN THE MCMANSION AREA, AND SIX, UH, WHO COULD DO SO OUTSIDE OF THE MCMANSION AREA.
THESE SPECIFIC LIMITS IN THE ZONING CODE ARE PROPOSED TO BE REMOVED, AND INSTEAD OCCUPANCY WOULD BE ENFORCED THROUGH THE PROVISIONS OF THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, WHICH SETS A MINIMUM BEDROOM SIZE TIED TO THE NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS IN THAT BEDROOM.
THIS IS A LIST OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE REVIEWING TODAY.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE CODE AMENDMENTS CALLED FOR IN THE HOME INITIATIVE ARE BEING SPLIT INTO PHASES, AND SO SOME OF THE DIRECTION IN THE RESOLUTION WILL COME BACK AT A LATER TIME.
THIS INCLUDES DIRECTION TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR SINGLE FAMILY ZONED LOTS TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL TYPES OF HOUSING IN SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS, TO FURTHER ADJUST REGULATIONS, TO CREATE INCENTIVES FOR SMALLER HOMES ON SINGLE FAMILY, LOTS TO CREATE INNOVATIVE DRAINAGE AND UTILITY SOLUTIONS.
THE RESOLUTIONS ALSO ASK STAFF TO EVALUATE CRITERIA FOR ALLOWING RECREATIONAL VEHICLES ON SINGLE FAMILIES OWNED PROPERTIES.
STAFF HAS BEGUN LOOKING INTO THAT AND THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT GIVEN HOW THESE VEHICLES ARE CONSTRUCTED AND REGULATED.
AND SO STAFF IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH COUNCIL AND WHETHER THAT ELEMENT OF THE PROPOSAL NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD AT ALL IN PHASE TWO.
SO THIS BRINGS US BACK TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
THERE WILL BE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THESE PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS.
THE FIRST IS TODAY'S JOINT MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THIS IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO OUR KNOWLEDGE.
WE'VE NEVER HELD A JOINT MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL FOR CODE AMENDMENTS, BUT TODAY IS FOCUSED ON HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC.
NEITHER BODY WILL BE TAKING ACTION TODAY.
NEXT, THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH AT 6:00 PM RIGHT HERE IN CITY HALL.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION COULD, AT THAT TIME VOTE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL ON THIS PROPOSAL.
THEY WOULD BE POSTED FOR ACTION AS WE SAY.
FINALLY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING IN A THIRD PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS PROPOSAL ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7TH AT 10:00 AM AGAIN, RIGHT HERE,
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THE COUNCIL COULD CHOOSE TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSAL THAT DAY.THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ELEMENTS OF THIS PROPOSAL.
AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WE ARE HOLDING AN OPEN HOUSE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.
THERE'S ALSO A WEBSITE WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSAL, PUBLIC INPUT.COM/LDC UPDATES.
YOU CAN SUBMIT A QUESTION OR A COMMENT VIA THAT WEBSITE, OR YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL STAFF AT THE EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER AVAILABLE ON THE SCREEN.
WE ARE RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL, PHONE, AND THROUGH THE WEBSITE, ALTHOUGH IT MAY TAKE US SEVERAL DAYS DURING THE BUSIEST TIMES, SO PLEASE HAVE PATIENTS WITH US.
ANY COMMENTS SUBMITTED THROUGH THOSE METHODS WILL BE COLLECTED AND PROVIDED TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSAL.
UM, I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR COUNCIL THAT HAS SOME FORM OF A BRIEF CLARIFYING QUESTION OR SHOULD WE JUST GO STRAIGHT TO HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
THANK YOU, UH, APPRECIATE FIRST OF ALL EVERYONE COMING OUT TODAY.
UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT AND I WANNA THANK STAFF FOR PROVIDING US WITH THE MODELS AND THE DETAILS OF THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
UM, AND IF ANYONE IN IN THE CHAMBERS HASN'T SEEN, IF YOU GO TO THE COUNCIL, UM, AGENDA FOR TODAY, YOU CAN CLICK AND SEE THOSE DOCUMENTS.
UM, I THINK I MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT I THINK THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE FOR THIS, UH, INITIATIVE LEFT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR UNATTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM SOME ATTENTIVENESS FROM OUR STAFF AND HOW WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT STAFF HAVE LANDED ON A, A KEY CONCERN I HAVE, WHICH IS THE IMPACT OF ELIMINATING MCMANSION STANDARDS AND FAR LIMITS, AND HOW THAT WILL NOT HELP US ACHIEVE OUR STATED GOALS OF WANTING SMALLER HOUSING UNITS.
SO I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS RELATED TO DUPLEXES, UM, IN THESE MODELS, UM, THAT I WANNA ASK.
SO FIRST I WANT TO ASK SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ABOUT PAGE 14.
UM, THE MODELING THAT WAS DONE FOR THE DUPLEX USE.
SO I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS MODEL IS MEANT TO REPRESENT A MAXIMUM BUILD OUT OF THE ENTITLEMENTS THAT WE ARE GRANTING OR WHETHER YOU'VE LEFT DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENTS ON THE TABLE.
LIK WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UM, THE MODELS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION ARE NOT NECESSARILY MAXIMUMS. THEY ARE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, SO I, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK CAREFULLY TO SEE IF, IF THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS A MAX, BUT IN GENERAL, THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION, NOT NECESSARILY SHOWING THE MAXIMUM.
I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND JUST WANNA FLAG WHAT, WHAT I SEE IN THIS MODEL AT THIS POINT WITH WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROPOSALS.
SO WHEN I READ THE MODEL, IT SAYS EACH UNIT OF THE DUPLEX WOULD BE ABOUT 1400 SQUARE FEET.
UM, BUT THIS BUILDING, AS YOU NOTED, DOESN'T SEEM TO MAX OUT ON THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, NOR DOES IT BUILD OUT TO ITS MAXIMUM HEIGHT.
SO BY MY MATH, A LOT LIKE THIS OF 57 50 COULD HAVE A FOOTPRINT BETWEEN TWENTY THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, WHICH WHEN DIVIDED BETWEEN THE TWO UNITS LEADS A FOOTPRINT OF 1200 SQUARE FOOT FEET ON EACH FLOOR.
UM, WITH A HEIGHT LIMIT OF 35 FEET, THEY COULD HAVE A THREE STORY UNIT WITH A ROOFTOP DECK AND ABOUT 3000 FOR EACH UNIT OR A 6,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.
UM, SO THAT'S A SCENARIO THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I'D LIKE YOU TO EXPLORE.
YOU'VE INDICATED THIS DOESN'T REPRESENT THE MAX, AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT THIS IS SOME OF THE, THE, THE MORE USEFUL MODELING THAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MODEL THAT MAXES IT OUT FOR DUPLEX.
UM, MY SECOND QUESTION RELATES TO SOME STATEMENTS THAT WERE IN THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
UM, AND AGAIN, I WANNA THANK STAFF AND THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT FOR RAISING THAT HAVING A FAR LIMIT DOES INDEED PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING US TO ACHIEVE OUR STATED GOALS OF HAVING SMALLER HOUSING UNITS.
UM, MY QUESTION RELATES TO THE BOTTOM OF PAGE THREE AND THE TOP OF PAGE FOUR, WHERE YOU WRITE THAT WITHOUT UNIT SIZE RESTRICTIONS, EITHER BY SUB-CHAPTER, FIE, THE MCMANSION STANDARDS OR ANOTHER FLOOR AREA RATIO LIMITATION, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS MAY RESULT IN UNITS WITH SIMILAR SIZE AND PRICE TO CURRENT SINGLE FAMILY UNITS, WHICH WOULD NOT ACHIEVE THE RESOLUTION'S GOAL OF FACILITATING
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THE AVAILABILITY OF SMALLER, MORE DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES FOR MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.I APPRECIATE THAT STAFF ARE NAMING THIS AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES RECOGNITION ON THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE FAR LIMITS IN THIS PROPOSAL.
MY QUESTION, UM, IS THAT THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT SPECIFIES THAT THE THREE UNIT TYPOLOGY WOULD ALLOW UNITS TO TRIPLE IN SIZE, AND THEN IT STATES THAT THE TWO UNIT OPTION, UM, IS LIMITED BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LIMIT FOR ONE OF THE UNITS TO BE 1100 SQUARE FEET.
AND WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT HAPPENS TO DUPLEXES BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THE CODE THAT LIMITS ONE OF THOSE UNITS TO 1100 SQUARE FEET.
UM, AND THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT ISSUE WITH DUPLEXES.
SO YOU CAN HAVE THESE VERY, VERY LARGE DUPLEXES THAT I JUST MENTIONED COULD HAPPEN IN THE PRIOR QUESTION.
SO, UM, CAN YOU, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH DUPLEXES AND WHETHER DUPLEXES HAVE THE SAME LIMIT ON SIZE? SO MAN, DEMAYO FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS ONLINE AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER COUNCIL MEMBER ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE WANTED THE Q THE Q AND A PROCESS TO BE USED.
UH, 'CAUSE THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND THEY REQUIRE THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS.
AND TO TRY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, UH, UH, WITH THESE, UH, ASSUMPTIONS THAT YOU'VE JUST ARTICULATED MAY GIVE YOU WRONG INFORMATION VERBALLY TODAY ONLY TO BE CORRECTED LATER.
I WOULD HATE FOR THE STAFF TO, UH, TO, TO STEP, TO STEP OUT AND NOT FIRST COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT WHAT IS BEING ASKED.
AND SO THAT WHEN WE PROVIDE THE INFORMATION, IT'S DONE IN ITS MOST COMPLETE FASHION.
THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO USE THE Q AND A PROCESS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THE SEVERAL FILTERS TO LOOK THROUGH THAT.
AND I WOULD APPRECIATE THE INDULGENCE, NOT JUST OF YOU AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ALLOW US THAT TIME.
'CAUSE WHAT WE WOULD HATE TO DO IS TO BE VERBALLY GIVING YOU AN ANSWER ONLY TO BE LATER CORRECTING IT ON THE, ON THE WRITTEN RECORD.
SO I, I WOULD MAKE THAT REQUEST.
UM, THAT'S FINE IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ANSWER IT, BUT I WILL POINT OUT, UM, FOR THOSE IN THE CHAMBERS AND MY COLLEAGUES AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ANSWER THIS IN THE Q AND A, BUT AS I READ THE ORDINANCE, THERE IS NO LIMIT ON SIZE FOR THE DUPLEXES THAT MATCHES THE TWO UNITS SO THAT THE CONCLUSIONS THAT ARE THERE FOR WHAT HAPPENS ON THE SIZE FOR TWO UNIT DO NOT APPLY IN THE DUPLEX CASE.
AND AGAIN, IF OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE SMALLER HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS AND WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.
AND I THINK PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE THESE HEARINGS IS SO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN RAISE THESE ISSUES AND HELP US UNDERSTAND THEM WITH THE MODELING AND MY RAISING.
THIS IS NOT TO MEAN TO SAY THAT THAT STAFF HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE AS A, AS A BODY NEED TO ADDRESS IF WE ARE GONNA GET THIS RIGHT AND ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH OUR STATED GOALS.
UM, AND I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AS WE'RE, AS WE'RE, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE MODELS AND HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS TODAY THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS NOT MAXED OUT.
UM, AND SO I THINK THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND, UM, YOU CAN PROVIDE ME MORE SPECIFIC ANSWERS, UM, IN THE HEARING.
WE, WE, WE'VE ASKED THE, UH, STAFF, PLEASE DO THAT.
I, I, UH, JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE THAT HAVE JOINED US VIRTUALLY.
UH, I'M ASSUMING MD IS, UH, MS. DE MAYO CAN, UH, CAN THE PERSON THAT'S, SINCE I CAN'T SEE YOUR FACES, MAYBE I'D RECOGNIZE YOU, MAYBE I WOULDN'T.
BUT WHO, WHO IS CH AND WHO IS RC? THIS IS RACHEL TEPPER, UH, WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
JUST HERE TO SUPPORT ON THE QUESTIONS AROUND AFFORDABILITY IMPACT.
WHO IS CH OH, ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS.
CANDACE, HUNTER AUSTIN, ISD IN THE SEAT.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S HARD TO KNOW.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN CALLED, YOUR HONOR.
THAT'S IT,
WE'LL SEE IF YOU'RE DOING THAT BY THE END OF THE DAY.
UH, ALL WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S GO TO, UH, THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK TO US.
UM, I, I DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANNA READ THEM IN AND THOSE ANSWERS CAN COME BACK THROUGH THE PROPER Q AND A PROCESS, BUT I AT LEAST WANTED TO GET THEM ON FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR STAFF MAYBE TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION EITHER AT THE PUBLIC INFORMATION
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SESSIONS OR THROUGH Q AND A TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW DIVIDING UP THE PROPERTY AND CREATING ADDITIONAL UNITS ON THE PROPERTY WILL IN WILL AFFECT THE PROPERTY, BOTH FOR THE EXISTING PROPERTY OWNER AND FOR FUTURE TENANTS.THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP ON WHETHER OR NOT THESE WOULD FALL UNDER CONDO REQUIREMENTS OR REGULATIONS.
WHO'S GONNA OWE THE OWN THE LAND, WHERE DO THE TAXES GO AND WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS? I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT MAYBE SOME OF OUR POPULATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY BEING SOLICITED TO GIVE UP PORTIONS OF THEIR PROPERTY FOR AN INITIATIVE THAT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL, AND THAT THAT MAY BE OPPORTUNISTIC.
AND SO I, I KIND OF WANT THE PUBLIC TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION AND TO HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE.
SORRY, THIS IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UM, WE RECEIVED A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION TODAY, SO THAT SHORTENED MY LIST OF QUESTIONS.
UM, I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT'S COMING UP THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER PERHAPS THROUGH AUSTIN WATER, IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH WATER, SEWAGE AND UTILITY LINES.
WILL SEPARATE PERMITS BE REQUIRED FOR EACH OF THESE DWELLINGS? WILL SEPARATE PERMIT COSTS, I THINK THEY'RE AT 10 OR 15 OR $16,000 BE REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH THESE LINES? OR WILL THEY BE SUBSERVIENT TO THE MAIN DWELLING LINE? AND THEN TO THAT EFFECT, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS.
SO IF WE TAKE ONE LINE AND SPLIT IT OUT TO THREE TO ACCOMMODATE THREE NEW FAMILY UNITS, CAN THOSE EXISTING LINES DO THAT? OR IF WE SAY NO, EACH ONE NEEDS ITS OWN TAP, CAN OUR MAIN SYSTEMS HANDLE THAT AS WE GROW THAT? UM, MY OTHER QUESTION IS REGARDING TRAFFIC.
UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THIS REQUIRES ANY KIND OF NTA OR TRAFFIC ANALYSIS AS WE CREATE MORE, UM, UNITS.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT WHETHER OUR ROADS CAN ACCOMMODATE INGRESS AND EGRESS AND AT WHAT POINT IF EACH PROPERTY HAS THE INHERENT RIGHT TO DO THIS, AT WHAT POINT DOES IT TRIGGER THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SECONDARY INGRESS AND EGRESS, AND HOW WILL THAT WORK? I'M, I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY
SO TO THAT EFFECT, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FIREWISE.
UM, WE KNOW THAT OUR CITY IS WOEFULLY UNPREPARED FOR A CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL VERY AT RISK AREAS OF OUR CITY.
AND IN PREVIOUS ZONING HEARINGS, AFD HAS ALREADY TESTIFIED THAT OUR FIRE HYDRANTS IN SOME AREAS ARE TESTED AND VETTED AND COULDN'T PUT OUT A FIRE IN A SINGLE DWELLING STRUCTURE, BUT NOT FOR LARGER STRUCTURES.
UM, THIS IS GETTING SO BAD THAT ACTUALLY SOME OF US MIGHT BE SPEAKING PERSONALLY, CANNOT GET UNDERWRITING FOR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE BECAUSE OF THE FIRE RISKS.
NO, HOME INSURANCE MEANS YOU CAN'T CARRY A MORTGAGE.
SO I'D LIKE FOR A STAFF AND AFD TO DISCUSS OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PUTTING OUT FIRES AND TO KNOW WHETHER OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CAN HANDLE WHAT WE HAVE EXISTING AND HOW THAT, AND THEN CAN IT HANDLE THESE ADDITIONAL UNITS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UH, EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER MUTAL, I'M, I'M JUST AFRAID THAT IF WE ALL TAKE THIS MUCH TIME, WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE VERY VALUABLE TIME FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS HERE.
CAN I PLEASE ASK YOU TO EMAIL THESE TO STAFF? THESE ARE VERY COMPLICATED QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE WORDED VERY CAREFULLY.
I HAVE ONE LAST AND I'LL, AND I'LL YIELD BACK.
I, I JUST REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR WATERSHED TO DESCRIBE OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND HOW THEY WILL BE PREPARED TO CAPTURE THE ADDITIONAL RUNOFF WHEN WE SEE THESE IMPERVIOUS COVER CHANGES, UH, GO THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
WE HAVE ANOTHER COMMISSIONER WHO WOULD LIKE TO YES.
YEAH, I JUST, I JUST HAVE ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR STAFF RELATED TO THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AND I HOPE THE PUBLIC HAS A CHANCE TO READ IT.
YOU KNOW, IT BEGINS BY SAYING THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGES MAY HAVE SOME POSITIVE IMPACTS TO HOUSING COSTS, BUT THEN IT GOES INTO QUITE A LOT OF DETAIL AS TO WHY POTENTIALLY IT WON'T
AND THE THING THAT KINDA BLEW MY MIND WAS JUST THIS ONE SENTENCE THAT SAID, COMPARING THESE RESULTS WITH THE AVERAGE SIZE
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OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES PERMITTED IN 2023 SHOWS THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS COULD ALLOW UNITS IN THREE UNIT PROJECTS THAT EXCEED THE SIZE OF A SINGLE UNIT USE BEING BUILT TODAY.AND, AND THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT DOES QUITE A GOOD, UH, ANALYSIS OF HOW REMOVING THE MCMANSION SUBCHAPTER F REQUIREMENTS KIND OF BLOWS OUT THE IDEA OF GETTING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FROM THIS PROPOSAL.
SO MY QUESTION TO STAFF IS, IS IT SAFE TO INTERPRET THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE MAINTAIN THE SUBCHAPTER F MCMANSION ORDINANCE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HOME PROPOSAL? OR AM I READING THIS WRONG, VERONICA? YEAH.
UH, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, ER I CAN SPEAK TO THIS.
WE HAVE HOUSING STAFF ONLINE THAT CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
YES, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
THIS IS RACHEL TEPPER WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND, UM, I'M JUST GOING TO QUICKLY RESPOND TO THAT, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN ELABORATE FURTHER IN THE Q AND A.
UM, BUT HOUSING STAFF IS, IS VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF THESE AMENDMENTS, UH, WITH THE, WITH THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY DON'T COULD GO MUCH FURTHER, UM, IN, IN REACHING MIDDLE INCOME BUYERS, UH, BY, UM, CONSIDERING SOME KIND OF SIZE RESTRAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF, UM, SIZE LIMITATION, BUT WE DIDN'T, THE AIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, UH, FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
IT'S INTENDED TO BE AN ANALYSIS TOOL TO UNDERSTAND AFFORDABILITY IMPACTS.
SO, UH, WE'LL LEAVE IT TO THE POLICY MAKERS, UH, AS WELL AS PLANNING STAFF TO KIND OF WORK, WORK THROUGH WHAT THE BEST LIMITER MIGHT BE.
UH, HOWEVER, WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, A LIMITER IS NEEDED TO REACH, UH, MIDDLE INCOME, UH, HOMEOWNERS.
UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE GONNA GO TO HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC.
UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE, UH, PERSON THAT IS SEEKING TRANSLATION.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH THAT PERSON, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLING IN AND OFFERING THEIR POINT OF VIEW, UH, OVER THE TELEPHONE.
AND THEN WE WILL GO TO IN-PERSON, SPEAKERS SPEAKING WITH A SPANISH TRANSLATOR IS ANDREA PENA.
ANDREA PENA, IF YOU'LL PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE PRESENT TODAY.
I'VE COME TO SPEAK TODAY REGARDING A PROPOSAL.
UM, THERE'S A PHOTOGRAPH THAT'S BEEN, UM, IT'S ON THE SCREEN.
IT'S, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT C 14 2 0 2 3 0 1 0 0.
CAN YOU PLEASE RUN THE SHORT VIDEOS NOW BATTING FOR THE IRON CASE NUMBER ONE, COLE PULL.
DON'T THEY LOOK GREAT? IT, I HAVE A SECOND VIDEO.
THERE ARE, UH, FAMILIES, ENTIRE FAMILIES HERE COMING TO, UM, PLAY SPORTS, FOOTBALL, UH, SOCCER, FOOTBALL, AMERICANO
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BASKETBALL, LACROSSE.CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS FOUR YEARS OLD, COME AND PLAY SOCCER HERE.
THEY PLAY FOOTBALL, UH, BASKETBALL.
THEY PLAY LACROSSES, INCLUDING MY NEIGHBORS, MYSELF INCLUDED.
USE THIS PARK ALSO TO EXERCISE.
WE WALK AROUND THE PARK AND GET OUR EXERCISES AND, UM, I AM OPPOSED TO ANY CONSTRUCTION, UM, HAPPENING ON THIS PROPERTY.
THIS WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE FAMILIES, UM, IN AUSTIN.
A NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR FOLKS JUST WANTING TO, UM, USE THIS SPACE RECREATIONALLY.
SINCE I, SINCE, SINCE I CAN REMEMBER I HAVE LOVED GOING TO THAT PARK.
AND NOT ONLY ME, BUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE, KIDS AND ADULTS GO THERE TO PLAY AND HAVE FUN.
OTHER THAN THAT, THERE ARE DOZENS OF ANIMALS LIVING THERE LIKE DEER, TURTLES, FISH, MANY KINDS OF BIRDS, SKUNKS, RACCOONS, POSSUMS, COYOTES, AND MANY MORE.
AND IF YOU BUILD THERE, YOU WILL BE DESTROYING THEIR HOME AND THE, AND THE WILDLIFE.
UH, I PLEASE, I REQUEST THAT YOU DO SOMETHING, UH, TO AVOID, UM, BUILDING ON THIS, UH, RECREATIONAL, UH, SPACE.
WILL YOU PLEASE COMMUNICATE THAT AS YOU LEAVE THAT? UM, THIS IS A ZONING CASE THAT IS NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
IT WILL COME AT A FUTURE DATE AND THAT, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL, UH, HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL THROUGH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT THAT WILL VISIT WITH WITH HER.
WE WILL NOW SHIFT TO REMOTE, STARTING WITH LARRY AKERS.
LARRY AKERS, PLEASE UNMUTE MR. AKERS.
THIS, AND I AM ACTUALLY AGAINST THIS POLICY AS IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
THIS POLICY, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT BAD ON EXECUTION.
AND WHEN LOOKING INTO THE DETAILS, THERE'S MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN EAST AUSTIN.
THERE'S NO AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT BUILT INTO THE POLICY.
SO WHEN WE SAY HOUSING WILL BECOME CHEAPER ONCE THIS POLICY HAS PASSED, WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN USED TO HELP PEOPLE BY PASSING POLICIES WITH SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO ENSURE POLICY PASSED DOESN'T PUNISH THOSE THEY ARE TRYING TO PROTECT.
AND THE CAPITALIST BASED ECONOMY, THOUGH, LEAVING THEIR MARKET TO CORRECT ITSELF DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT THE RIGHT THING WILL BE DONE.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT GUARANTEES THE PEOPLE WITH THE MOST MONEY, ACCESS AND PRIVILEGE WILL BE THE ONES TO BENEFIT THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO PART OF THIS POLICY THAT PROHIBITS SHORT-TERM RENTALS GIVES WAY TO THIS AND IS VERY DISCOURAGING.
OUR CITY HAS BECOME EXTREMELY TRANSIENT AND AFFORDABLE, AND THE DATA SHOWS SHORT TERM RENTALS EXACERBATE THE, THESE TWO PROBLEMS. AND ON TOP OF ALL THIS, WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL UNIT ON THEIR HOUSE? UNLESS IF THERE IS POLICY TO HELP PEOPLE AND FAMILIES BUILD HOUSING ON, ON THEIR LAND WITH A FORGIVABLE AND NO INTEREST LOAN, THEN AGAIN, THE PEOPLE WITH THE MOST MONEY ACCESS AND PRIVILEGE WILL BENEFIT.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ABOUT THE NATURALLY OCCURRING STREAMS THAT LIVE IN OUR CITY AS WELL.
IF THESE STREAMS RECEIVE MORE DAMAGE, THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE WATER WE'VE ALREADY BEEN LOSING.
I APPLAUD THIS COUNCIL'S WILLINGNESS TO GET
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CREATIVE AND TRY TO ADD AN ASSORTED TYPE OF HOUSING UNITS IN THE ATTEMPT TO ADD MORE TO THE CITY.COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS NEED TO HAPPEN SO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY LEADERS AND CITIZENS IN AUSTIN ARE ABLE TO RAISE CONCERNS AND HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO START THE CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND START EDUCATING THE PEOPLE SO THAT FOR ONCE THE PEOPLE WITH THE MOST MONEY ACCESS AND PRIVILEGE AREN'T THE ONLY ONES THAT BENEFIT FROM THIS POLICY.
THANK YOU JAMES TR THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M ALSO SPEAKING AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGE.
ONE IS THE DESIRED EFFECT TO IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY WILL NOT HAPPEN BY INCREASING HOUSING DENSITY.
CHRIS HERBERT, THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HARVARD JOINT CENTER FOR HOUSING STUDIES IN THE NOVEMBER 22ND OR NOVEMBER, 2022 ISSUE OF THE ATLANTIC, STATED THAT FOR EVERY 10% INCREASE IN HOUSING, IT REDUCES COST BY ONLY 1% AND THAT'S ONLY WITHIN 500 FEET WHERE THEIR HOUSING OCCURS.
SO 20% DOESN'T GIVE YOU 2%, IT GIVES YOU ABOUT ONE AND A HALF PERCENT.
CONSIDERING THERE'S 430,000 HOMES IN AUSTIN, IF YOU ADDED 40,000 RESIDENCES THROUGH THIS, UH, THIS, UM, LAW CHANGE, THERE WOULD STILL BE NO NOTICEABLE REDUCTION OF COST FOR HOUSING.
SECONDLY, SAFETY PROFESSOR ABBY SMITH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.
SHE TEACHES A CLASS ON URBAN DESIGN THAT I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTEND AND EXPOSED TO HER LANDMARK STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF NATURE TO IMPROVE SOCIETAL HARMONY IS WIDELY FOLLOWED AROUND THE WORLD.
AND IT'S A REASON WHY A PICTURE OF NATURE SHOWS UP IN YOUR COMPUTER WHEN YOU START IT UP.
THIS NEW ZONING LAW WILL REDUCE EXPOSURE.
NATURE TAKEN AWAY VALUABLE GREEN SPACE THAT PROVIDES HARMONY TO CITY'S HABITANTS, MORE POPULATION DENSITY, LESS NATURE POTENTIAL FOR SQUATTERS TRANSIENTS ALONG WITH THE UNDERMANNED POLICE FORCE WILL CREATE MORE SAFETY ISSUES FOR THE TAX PAYING RESIDENTS.
AND FINALLY, THE HEART OF AUSTIN IS REALLY IN ITS NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THE ARTIST I WEIWEI THE CHINESE DISSIDENT FOR YEARS CRITICIZED CHINA FOR WIPING OUT SWATHS OF THE SHANGHAI NEIGHBORHOODS AND BEIJING HUTTONS.
AND HE SAID WHAT WE WANNA PRESERVE IS OUR MEMORY.
AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS CHANGING SO FAST THAT IT WE'RE GONNA LOSE THE INSPIRATION THAT BRINGS SO MANY MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, LARRY AKERS AGAIN.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
STATE LAW REQUIRES APPRAISAL DISTRICTS TO APPRAISE NON-HOMESTEAD LAND FOR HIGHEST AND BEST USE.
AND BY STEEPLY INCREASING THAT CAPACITY, YOU'LL VOICE STEEP INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES ONTO RENTERS.
THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF CREATING AFFORDABILITY, WHETHER REDEVELOPMENT OCCURS OR NOT.
THOSE INCREASES WILL ALSO TRICKLE INTO HOMESTEADS 'CAUSE THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WILL USE COMPS THAT ARE NOT HOMESTEADS AS, UH, FOR ASSESSING HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES AND THEIR APPRAISALS WILL ACCORDINGLY RISE.
MOREOVER, THE CITY JUST CONVINCED VOTERS TO PONY UP MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND A FOREVER TAX INCREASE TO FUND MASS TRANSIT WHEN A NECESSARY CONDITION FOR THAT ENDEAVOR TO SUCCEED IS TO CONCENTRATE POPULATION ALONG THE TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
YOUR SINGLE FAMILY PROPOSAL RUNS EXACTLY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, DISPERSING DENSITY ACROSS CORE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH ONLY REMOTE ACCESS TO TRANSIT.
I HAVE TO WONDER WHERE THE CLAMOR IS FROM PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE CORE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE THEIR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S LOTS REDEVELOPED WITH TOWERING MULTIFAMILY TOWNHOUSES.
WHO IS EXACTLY CLAMORING FOR THIS? ARE THEY THE LOBBYISTS WHO, UH, THE COUNCIL MAJORITY IS LEGALLY FAILING TO DISCLOSE? THE ONE COMPLAINT I HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CODE IS THE DIFFICULTY IN PLACING A TINY HOME IN THE BACKYARD.
THAT DIFFICULTY CAN BE FIXED, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DUPLEX REQUIREMENTS TO HAVE COMMON WALLS AND ROOF LINES, AND THOSE ARE OUTDATED AND THAT'S UNNECESSARY REQUIREMENTS.
AND JUST FIX THAT AND LEAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ALONE.
WE'RE HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME AS IT IS.
UM, I'M A PHD CANADA AT UT AUSTIN STUDYING SUSTAINABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY IN COOPERATIVE HOUSING.
HOUSING COOPERATIVES ARE SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE IN AUSTIN, AND THEY'RE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE CITY CODE HOUSING COOPERATIVES
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HAVE MADE LIVING IN AUSTIN AFFORDABLE FOR ME AT THE HOUSING COOPERATIVE.WHERE I LIVE NOW, RENT AVERAGES ABOUT $700 A MONTH.
IN CONTRAST, A ONE BEDROOM UNIT AT UT'S AFFORDABLE GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING COSTS, UH, $1,100 A MONTH.
AND HOUSING COOPERATIVES ARE ABLE TO KEEP PRICES DOWN THROUGH COLLECTIVIZING OUR RESOURCES AND LIVING MORE DENSELY.
SO REMOVING FAMILIAL OCCUPANCY LIMITS AND ALLOWING A DS WOULD GIVE US MORE OPTIONS TO CONTROL OUR RENT PRICES AND KEEP HOUSING AFFORDABLE.
FURTHERMORE, AN ABUNDANCE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, INCLUDING MY OWN SHOWS, THAT GROUP HOUSING IS MORE ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE THAN SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.
HAVING MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN FEWER UNITS MEAN THAT WE WILL ALL CONSUME LESS RESOURCES IN TERMS OF ENERGY APPLIANCES, TRANSPORTATION, BUILDING AND LAND COSTS.
AND LIVING TOGETHER ALSO MEANS WE CREATE STRONGER SOCIAL TIES THAT MAKE US MORE RESILIENT AND ALLOW US TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN DAILY LIFE AND TIMES OF CRISIS.
UH, DESPITE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HOUSING COOPERATIVES PROVIDE FOR THE CITY, CURRENT CITY POLICY MEANS THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY UNDER THREAT BECAUSE OF OCCUPANCY LIMITS.
THE FIRST HOUSING COOPERATIVE THAT I LIVED IN IN AUSTIN WAS FORCED OUT OF ITS 10 YEAR HOME BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF CODE VIOLATIONS FOR VIOLATING FAMILIAL OCCUPANCY LIMITS AND HAVING AUXILIARY DWELLING UNITS REMOVING OCCUPANCY LIMITS BASED ON FAMILIAL STATUS, WOULD NOT ONLY ALLEVIATE PRESSURES ON EXISTING HOUSING COOPERATIVES, BUT IT WOULD CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COOPERATIVE UNITS IN THE CITY.
UM, SO I'M SPEAKING IN, IN FAVOR OF THIS CODE CHANGE.
YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AIDEN ABRAHAM? UH, MY NAME IS AIDEN ABRAHAM.
I'M CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN IN DISTRICT NINE.
UH, I'M URGING THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE ZONING CHANGES.
UH, IN 2017, HURRICANE HARVEY STRUCK THE HOUSTON AREA AND CAUSED HEAVY FLOOD AND RAIN RELATED DAMAGE TO MANY PEOPLE'S HOMES.
ME AND MY FAMILY'S HOME IN KATY WAS NOT STARED.
WE HAD TO MOVE OUT AND STAY WITH MY GRANDPARENTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE WE SPENT SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON HOME REPAIRS.
ACCORDING TO SUN STUDIES, HURRICANE HARVEY COULD NOT HAVE PRODUCED AS MUCH RAINFALL AS IT DID WITHOUT HUMID INDUCED CLIMATE CHANGE.
BECAUSE OF OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, WE EXACERBATED THE EFFECTS OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS LIKE HURRICANE HARVEY.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE HOME RESOLUTION? WELL, ACCORDING TO A RECENT IPCC REPORT, EFFECTIVELY AT REDUCING THEIR TRANSPORTATION AND RESIDENTIAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IS THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF DENSE INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
BY PUTTING PEOPLE CLOSER TO JOBS, TRANSIT AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, WE REDUCE THE DISTANCE THEY TRAVEL BY CAR AND BY PUTTING THEM IN SMALLER AND MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES, WE LOWER THEIR HOME EMISSIONS.
THE HOME RESOLUTION MAKES IT EASIER TO BUILD DENSER DEVELOPMENT BY ALLOWING THREE HOMES ON EVERY LOT AS WELL AS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
AND THIS WILL LOWER THE CITY'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
THAT IS WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF HOME SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE SUCH AS HURRICANE HARVEY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF NORTHWEST AUSTIN, DISTRICT SIX AND HERE TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO ANY PROPOSALS WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE SF ONE ZONING AND ALLOW SUCH PROPERTIES TO BE SUBDIVIDED.
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED OUR HOME IN SPICEWOOD ESTATES OVER 30 YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS OUR AMERICAN DREAM.
IT WAS NOT PART OF THE CITY, BUT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ANNEXED WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC REFERENDUM OR INPUT.
WE PURCHASED HERE TO ENJOY A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH LAWNS, TREES, UNCONGESTED STREETS, SAFE AREAS FOR OUR KIDS TO PLAY AND RIDE BIKES NEAR PUBLIC SERVICES, NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, AND HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
IF THESE REZONING PROPOSALS ARE APPROVED, IT WOULD DESTROY THE CHARACTER OF NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.
GIVEN RECENT ACTIONS BY COUNCIL TO ELIMINATE REQUIREMENTS FOR ONSITE PARKING, OUR STREETS WOULD BECOME CONGESTED LIKE THOSE DOWNTOWN WE PURCHASED WHAT WE BELIEVED WOULD ALWAYS BE A SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF WE WANTED TO LIVE DOWNTOWN IN A HIGH RISE, WE WOULD'VE PURCHASED THERE.
WE LIVE IN A DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD OF MIDDLE INCOME, DUAL WORKING HOUSEHOLDS.
WHY WOULD ANY MAYOR OR COUNCIL MEMBER WANT TO DESTROY THE KIND OF
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NEIGHBORHOOD WE HAVE TODAY? SECOND, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ANALYSIS BY CITY STAFF THAT ASSESSES HOW THESE HIGHER DENSITY PROPOSALS WOULD IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS IN TERMS OF SCHOOL CAPACITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRAFFIC, PUBLIC SAFETY, VIKING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.I'M CONFIDENT THAT IF YOU ASK ANY HOMEOWNER IN AN SSF ONE SUBDIVISION, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEIR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED BY THREE OR MORE INDIVIDUAL UNITS, THEY WOULD RESPOND, HECK NO.
REQUIRE ALL MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PENTHOUSES TO BE SUBDIVIDED BEFORE RESALE SO THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY PENTHOUSE VIEWS.
SOUNDS RIDICULOUS, DOESN'T IT? BUT IT'S THE EXACT SAME RATIONALE BEING USED TO REZONE SSF ONE NEIGHBORHOODS.
ANAS DESTANI, MR. MAYOR AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M AN INTERNAL, UH, PHYSICIAN, INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND THE CEO OF AUSTIN REGIONAL CLINIC.
WE PROVIDE CARE TO OVER 650,000 AUSTINITE AND CENTRAL TEXANS AND EMPLOY OVER 2,500.
I APPRECIATE THE CITY AND THE MAYOR AND EVERYONE ON, ON THE CALL AND GIVING COMMENT, UH, UH, FOCUSED ON THIS.
I WANTED TO CALL TO SHARE, UH, SOME OF OUR CONCERN THAT THIS IS REALLY RISING FROM A CRISIS TO CATASTROPHE, UH, THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON SOLVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
UH, OUR CENTRALIZED CLINIC CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH STAFFING, AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE OF, UH, NECESSARILY STAFFING SHORTAGE IS MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE COST OF LIVING.
WE HAVE ONE OF OUR, UH, UH, CLINIC IN CENTRAL AUSTIN THAT HAVE EXCHANGED STAFF THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THEY DIDN'T LEAVE ARC, THEY ASKED TO BE MOVED TO MAINOR, HURO OR KYLE BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY.
WE HAVE THREE MAMMOGRAPHY UNITS, NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH, AND WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO STAFF THE CENTRAL ONE AND WE'VE HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN BECAUSE THE STAFF COULD NOT AFFORD LIVING IN THAT AREA.
UH, SO I APPRECIATE REALLY THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE, AND THE MAYOR AND EVERYONE TRYING TO HELP US SOLVE FOR THIS.
UH, THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS STARTING TO IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE ACCESS, UH, TO, TO HEALTHCARE.
MY NAME IS CATHERINE CHAMBLEE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN HERE IN AUSTIN.
I'M CALLING IN TO, UH, OPPOSE THE CHANGES
UH, IN PARTICULAR IF WHAT IS INTENDED IS TO REDUCE MINIMUM LOT SIZE BY HALF TO 2,500 SQUARE FEET.
DIVIDING A 2,500 SQUARE FOOT LOT BY THREE LEAVES, ONLY 833 SQUARE FOOT PER LOT, INCLUDING SETBACKS.
AND IT'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO ALLOW FOR WATER RUNOFF, WHICH MEANS BETWEEN HOMES, AMONGST OTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING THE STRAIN ON OUR OUTDATED INFRASTRUCTURE.
I LIVE IN CRESTVIEW, WHERE I STATED EARLIER TODAY, A HOMEOWNER IS ALLOWED TO DIVIDE THE LOT INTO TWO AND BUILD A SECOND, ADU, WHICH CAN BE OCCUPIED BY UNRELATED PERSON AND WHAT THEY CALL A CONDO REGIME.
THE LOTS DIVIDED INTO TWO, BUT NOT THREE, PROVIDE ENOUGH SPACE FOR FAMILY RESIDENCES.
THOUGH THERE IS VERY LITTLE YARD FOR CHILDREN OR PETS DIVIDING LOTS FURTHER INTO THREE WOULD LEAVE NO YARD AND OR WOULD HAVE TO ALTER IMPERVIOUS COVER, COVER REQUIREMENTS, WHICH ARE CRUCIAL TO MAINTAINING FLOOD CONTROL.
I WOULD SUGGEST THOSE LISTENING HERE DRIVE THROUGH CRESTVIEW AND LOOK AT THE NEW BUILDS.
THESE HOMES ARE BEING BUILT ON HILLS OR CONCRETE PILLARS, SPECIFICALLY DUE TO WATER RUNOFF ISSUES.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WATER RUNOFF CREATED BY THE ENCOURAGED CONCRETING OF LOTS WHEN THE HOMES NEXT TO MY 1952 BUILT HOMES WERE MAXED OUT TO IMPERVIOUS COVERED STANDARDS AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE.
IT REQUIRED ME TO INSTALL $7,000 WORTH OF WORTH OF DRAINAGE TO KEEP MY LOW LYING HOME FROM FLOODING.
ENCOURAGING FURTHER CONCRETING OF LOTS FOR ABSOLUTELY EXACERBATE THIS PROBLEM.
COMMISSIONER JENNIFER N WHO SPOKE EARLIER TODAY WAS EXCELLENT.
I WOULD ASK THAT ALL COUNSEL CONSIDER FOR POINTS AS THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY I'M OPPOSED TO CONSIDERATION OF A RECREATIONAL.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THE SONY CHANGE.
THREE MEETINGS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY
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INPUT AND FEEDBACK AND I'M ASHAMED YOU ALL TRIED TO SHUT DOWN JENNIFER MARSHAL FOR VOICING HER CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.AS HER CONCERNS REPRESENT MANY OF OUR VOICES IN AUSTIN.
MY MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS ARE IF LOWER FIXED INCOME HOME HOMEOWNERS CURRENTLY STRUGGLE TO AFFORD THEIR TAXES, HOW CAN THEY AFFORD TO BUILD ADDITIONAL UNITS ON THEIR LAND? THIS WILL LEAD TO A PREDATORY LENDING ENVIRONMENT AND PUSH VULNERABLE RESIDENTS OUT THEIR HOME.
IF I HAVE A HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LOT, HOW WILL I SUBDIVIDE MY PROPERTY WITHOUT DEMOLISHING MY PERFECTLY GOOD HOME? WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OUR URBAN CANOPY? IF SIX TO NINE HOMES WILL BE ALLOWED ON EACH CURRENTLY ZONED LOT, WHAT PROTECTION DOES THIS PROPOSAL HAVE TO PRESERVE? CURRENT CANOPY? DOES THIS PROPOSAL LIMIT RENTALS? CURRENTLY THERE ARE NEARLY 15 WHOLE HOME SHORTTERM RENTALS IN AUSTIN THAT ARE OCCUPIED ONLY 74 OUT OF 365 DAYS A YEAR.
MEANING THESE HOMES SIT VACANT FOR MOST OF THE YEAR.
WHAT PREVENTS OUTSIDE INVESTORS FROM PURCHASING THESE NEW PROPERTIES AS SHORT TERM RENTALS AND TAKING THEM OFF THE MARKET FOR LONG-TERM RENTALS? CAN OUR SEWAGE AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SIX TO NINE HOMES ON EACH LOT? THE PRESENTATION MENTIONED THE GOAL WAS TO COME UP WITH INNOVATIVE DRAINAGE AND SEWAGE SOLUTIONS.
YET I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THESE SOLUTIONS IN THE PRESENTATION.
EVERY SUMMER WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH WATER RESTRICTIONS.
WELL, WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER TO SUPPORT SIX TO NINE NEW HOMES ON EACH LOT.
WHAT'S THE AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT TO THIS PLAN? THE CITYWIDE MFI ISN'T AFFORDABLE FOR FINANCIALLY VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
WE ALREADY HAVE MANY VACANT LOTS IN AUSTIN PURCHASED BY SPECULATORS.
WHY CAN'T WE FORCE THEM TO BUILD ON THEIR VACANT LOTS BEFORE SUBDIVIDING PROPERTIES WHERE PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVE AND WE BOUGHT OUR HOMES UNDER THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE BOUGHT THIS LOT IN THIS HOUSE AND THOSE FACTORS WOULD REMAIN UNTIL WE PETITION TO SUBDIVIDE OUR SELL.
HOW CAN THE CITY CHANGE MY ZONING WITHOUT MY INPUT OR AGREEMENT? WHY ARE WE ONLY NOW BEING PARTICI, BEING ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS? AND WHY IS CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO PUSH THIS THROUGH AROUND THE HOLIDAYS WHEN PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO PAY, THEY USE SPEAKER TIME IS EXPIRED.
JEREMY HENDRICKS? YES, I'M HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M JEREMY HENDRICKS WITH THE LABOR'S INTERNATIONAL UNION REPRESENTING CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO BUILD THIS BOOMING CITY.
UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF D FOUR AND I'M ALSO SECRETARY OF THE WINDSOR HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE HOME ACT THAT WILL HELP CREATE MORE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TERRIBLY WITH RISING RENTS AND MORTGAGES.
I'M ALSO A LEADER WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS BUILDING TRADES.
ANY MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, WHICH HAVE BOTH ENDORSED THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE, EXCUSE ME, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS, BUT SADLY, OUR MEMBERS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
THEY PROUDLY WORK TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN.
THIS HOUSING CRISIS IS MAKING IT MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND THE SKILLED WORKERS NEEDED TO KEEP OUR BUILDING BOOM GOING.
SO THE NEED FOR PASSAGE OF THE HOME ACT IS CRITICAL AND URGENT TO ADDRESS THIS SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN THE LABOR COUNCIL, THE BUILDING AND TRADES AND VOTING FOR THIS IMPORTANT ACT.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DAVID FOUTS.
I LIVE IN D TWO, WHICH I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME INITIATIVES.
WHILE EARNING MY DEGREE IN URBAN PLANNING, I LEARNED THAT A HEALTHY SUSTAINABLY DEVELOPING COMMUNITY EVOLVES OVER TIME THROUGH THE KIND OF INCREMENTAL DEVELOPMENT THAT USED TO BE NORMAL THAT HAS SINCE BEEN REGULATED INTO NEW EXTINCTION.
WE HAVE REPLACED THIS DEVELOPMENT PATTERN WITH ENDLESS ENVIRONMENTALLY AND SOCIALLY DESTRUCTIVE URBAN SPRAWL.
I SUPPORT THE HOME INITIATIVE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO MOVE FURTHER BACK TOWARDS THAT INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND INCREMENTAL DEVELOPMENT PATTERN BY LETTING MORE PEOPLE LIVE CLOSER TO OPPORTUNITIES AND AMENITIES WHILE UTILIZING EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE INSTEAD OF ADDING EVERMORE ROADS, PIPES AND CABLES THAT WE WILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN.
ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, FLEXIBLE LAND USE POLICIES LIKE THE HOME INITIATIVE ARE THE REASON WHY I AM A HOMEOWNER.
I LIVE IN THE GOODNIGHT RANCH COMMUNITY, WHICH IS APUD THAT ALLOWS FOR HOUSING TYPOLOGIES THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE REST OF THE CITY.
A DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON A LARGE LOT WAS OUT OF REACH FROM MY FAMILY AND I, BUT THE DUPLEXES AND TOWNHOMES, UH, THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR
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TO WHAT THE HOME INITIATIVE WOULD ALLOW ALL OVER THIS OR MUCH OF THE CITY WERE WITHIN OUR REACH.SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE GIVE THE REST OF THE CITY THE OPPORTUNITY I HAD TO BECOME A HOMEOWNER.
I OPPOSE THE HOME RESOLUTION FOR SEVERAL REASONS, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING.
FIRST, THIS RESOLUTION IS BASED ON THE FAULTY PREMISE.
THE HOUSING DENSITY WILL LOWER HOUSING COSTS.
CREDIBLE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT INCREASED DENSITY INCREASES HOUSING COSTS.
WHY? BECAUSE REAL ESTATE DOES NOT FOLLOW THE LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND LIKE LOAVES OF BREAD IN THE STORE.
SECOND, ONLY DEVELOPERS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RESOLUTION.
WHY HOMEOWNERS THAT STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY SUCH AS THOSE THAT WANT TO AGE IN PLACE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HIGH INTEREST LOAN, INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES AND OTHER EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH BUILDING AN ADU OR SUBDIVIDING THEIR LOCK.
IF YOU'RE NOT CONVINCED, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER BASTROP RECENT ADOPTION OF SIMILAR UPZONING AND THE UNMITIGATED DISASTER IT HAS BECOME.
BASTROP CITY MANAGER HAS SPOKEN RECENTLY ABOUT THIS MATTER.
FINALLY, AS AN ATTORNEY, I BELIEVE THAT A RESOLUTION THAT ENCOURAGES HOMEOWNERS TO VIOLATE THEIR CONTRACTUAL DEED RESTRICTIONS MAY WELL CONSTITUTE TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH CONTRACTUAL RELATIONS BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN RESULTING IN EXORBITANT LEGAL FEES TO BE BORN BY AUSTIN TAXPAYERS.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS ROBERT SHEIKA.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
SO NINE YEARS AGO TOMORROW UPON GRADUATING COLLEGE, I MOVED TO AUSTIN AND I INSTANTLY FELT AN ERROR OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITY.
WHEN I ARRIVED HERE, I HAD A MIDDLE CLASS JOB OFFER IN HAND.
IT WAS WELL PAID ENOUGH TO LIVE IN A TRIANGLE IN A NEW APARTMENT ALL BY MYSELF.
AND I HAD MANY FRIENDS THAT WERE WORKING CLASS OR MIDDLE CLASS LIKE ME THAT LIVED IN AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS THAT WERE ALSO IN THIS AREA OR EVEN DOWNTOWN.
BUT BECAUSE THE CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD'S GETTING SO EXPENSIVE RECENTLY MOST LOCALS AND NEW ARRIVALS TO THIS CITY CAN NO LONGER HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD UNLESS THEY'RE ALREADY HAVING A HIGH PAID JOB OFFER IN HAND.
I WORKED IN LAND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS THAT I LIVED HERE AND I SAW FIRSTHAND HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE FOR THE CURRENT ZONING LAW TO CONSTRUCT HOUSING AT AN APPROPRIATE SCALE IN THIS CITY.
A SMALL MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING PROJECT, WHICH THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS PROFESS THE IMPORTANCE OF DURING THE ENTIRETY OF THIS TIMEFRAME HAS BEEN MERELY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONSTRUCT.
DUE TO SUCH A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S LOTS BEING AVAILABLE ONLY FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, THIS HAS CREATED A LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS NEEDED AND THE AMOUNT CONSTRUCTED WHERE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO LIVE SO OFTEN AND THAT GAP ONLY CONTINUES TO INCREASE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE HOME INITIATIVE CAN HELP REVERSE THIS SAD TREND AND BY ALLOWING THREE UNITS PER LOT ON SINGLE FAMILY LOTS, THE CITY AUSTIN HAS A CHANCE TO INCREASE THE POTENTIAL HOUSING SUPPLY IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS BY A LARGE FACTOR.
ALLOWING THE HOUSING CRISIS WE'RE TO GRADUALLY BE MITIGATED BY ALLOWING FOR THIS CHANGE.
WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE WHAT MADE AUSTIN SPECIAL TO SO, SO MANY OVER THE YEARS AND NEW ARRIVALS TO AUSTIN CAN BE BLESSED WITH THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT I, MY FRIENDS WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE UPON ARRIVAL.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS TOM SMITH AND I LIVE IN THE LONG CANYON NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG CANYON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF 2222 COALITION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES OVER 5,000 HOUSEHOLDS AND 10 MEMBER NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS 10 AND SIX.
I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE JULY 20TH HOME INITIATIVE RESOLUTION.
THIS RESOLUTION IS BASED ON A 2020 HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS REPORT, WHICH USED DATA NO MORE RECENT THAN 2017 MUCH HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS HERE IN AUSTIN AND MORE RECENT DATA SHOWS THAT INCREASING HOME SUPPLY AND DENSITY DOES NOT NECESSARILY RESULT IN MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AS AN EXAMPLE, A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR AUSTIN HOUSING MARKET MUELLER PULLS UP THE MUELLER OR MILLER DISTRICT AND SHOWS THAT TODAY IN ONE OF AUSTIN'S DENSE AND SMALL LOT SIZE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE AVERAGE HOME PRICE IS $860,000.
THE HOME INITIATIVE RESOLUTION HAS IT EXACTLY BACKWARDS, SUBDIVIDING LOTS AND ALLOWING MORE HOMES PER LOT IS DRIVING PRICES HIGHER.
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A WAY FOR DEVELOPERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO GUARANTEE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSES WILL BE BUILT BEFORE UNLOCKING THE ABILITY TO SUBDIVIDE EXISTING LOTS.ALSO, AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS TO BE LOCATED IN AREAS WITH SURROUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SUFFICIENT UTILITIES, AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBLE SERVICES SO THAT IT ATTRACTS THE INTENDED DEMOGRAPHIC.
SMALL RE AREA REGULATORY PLANS ARE ONE WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HELP IN THIS PROCESS OF FINDING THE RIGHT LOCATIONS FOR SUCCESS, I ENCOURAGE USING THIS PLANNING TOOL ENCLOSING I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I JUST OPPOSE IMPLEMENTING CITYWIDE DENSITY REZONING, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVEN BY THANK YOU SPEAKER.
EVERY TIME HAS EXPIRED NOT TO WORK.
AUTUMN BRENNER OR AUTUMN BRENNAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.
OKAY, SO I, WE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET A HOUSE IN 2020 IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET A HOUSE AND NOW PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S ESTABLISHED SINCE 1985 WILL THEN BE WHERE THERE'LL BE, UH, TOWNHOUSES OR RVS OR DUPLEXES.
IT'S VERY UPSETTING THAT THESE THINGS WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE HAVE CHOSEN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT IS SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CARS ARE ALREADY PARKED ON THE STREETS.
WHERE ARE THESE PEOPLE GONNA PARK? IF YOU HAVE THREE FAMILIES TO A LOT, YOU ALREADY HAVE LIKE, YOU'LL JUST BECOME THE NEIGHBORHOOD A PARKING LOT.
I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT ALL ANY OF THESE THINGS SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN.
AND IF YOU WANNA EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT SHOULD BE IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S ACTUAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GET HIT AND KILLED IN THIS, THIS, NOT THIS AREA, BUT ALL OF AUSTIN.
UM, THIS IS NOT AN AREA WHERE EVEN IF YOU HAVE DUPLEXES AND SEVERAL HOUSES TO A LOT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A WALKABLE AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK AROUND, BE ABLE TO HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, BE ABLE TO GO TO STORES.
IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE HERE AND THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.
UM, AND ALSO, UM, JOBS CREATED.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS CREATED, BUT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
A LOT OF THOSE JOBS COULD COME REMOTE INSTEAD SO THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE ANOTHER PLACE, THEY CAN STILL HAVE A JOB IN AUSTIN, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK LIKE LIVE IN AUSTIN.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS LOUIS SOMMERFELD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'M SPEAKING TO URGE THE COMMISSION AND THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE HOME INITIATIVE.
I'M A RECENT HOMEOWNER HAVING JUST PURCHASED A FEW MONTHS AGO.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT PURCHASE, I HAD TO BE MAKING SIX FIGURES AT MY WHITE COLLAR JOB AND PUT DOWN HALF A YEAR'S SALARY IN ORDER TO AFFORD THE MORTGAGE ON A TWO BEDROOM 850 SQUARE FOOT CONDO.
THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET JUST A SCRAP OF THE HOUSING MARKET IN CENTRAL AUSTIN TODAY.
THIS IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO NORMAL FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE MAKING A NORMAL SALARY.
EITHER HOME PRICES GO DOWN OR PEOPLE MOVE OUT OF AUSTIN IN ORDER TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS.
THE FUTURE I SEE FOR AUSTIN IS A RICHLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF ALL INCOME RANGES WITH BLUE AND WHITE COLLAR WORKERS ALIKE WITH THEIR FAMILIES ABLE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
THE HOME INITIATIVE IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO MAKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AN ACCESSIBLE AND REASONABLE CHOICE FOR MIDDLE INCOME PROSPECTIVE HOMEOWNERS.
HELLO BARBARA, PLEASE PROCEED.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE WILL CALL HER BACK.
[01:25:01]
OF WHAT I USED TO DESCRIBE AS BEAUTIFUL SOUTH AUSTIN, BUT WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT I CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.CODE NEXT WAS VOTED DOWN SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
RESIDENTS PAID FOR THAT ELECTION AND THE STAFF TIME INVESTED IN DOING THE RESEARCH.
NOW WE'RE HAVING THE SAME THING PRESENTED TO US AGAIN AND WE'RE PAYING FOR MULTIPLE POSTCARDS TO GO TO EVERY ADDRESS.
I GOT THREE AND MORE STAFF TIME FOR THIS HEARING.
MAYOR WATSON, WE ARE BEING PATIENT WITH THE SYSTEM.
OUR REPEAT WHAT VOTERS SAID YEARS AGO, WE DON'T NEED THIS NEW PROPOSAL.
THE HOUSE PRICES ARE GOING DOWN.
IT'S STILL AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS, BUT UM, SITUATION HAS CHANGED A LOT IN THE LAST YEAR.
LIKE OTHER CITIES WE'RE FACING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND THIS PROPOSAL DOESN'T SOLVE THAT.
IT WILL DISPLACE MORE LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND BENEFIT INVESTORS AND STR OPERATORS AND RESULT IN INCREASED WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ALREADY OVERSTRESS INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROADS.
I SUPPORT BUILDING ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS, LEAVE THE NEIGHBORS IMPERVIOUS COVER AND TREES ALONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON ALTER, I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS AND THOSE OF THE COMMISSIONER.
WE'RE GONNA TRY BARBARA AGAIN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? PLEASE PROCEED.
BARBARA, HOW DO I UNMUTE MY PHONE? WE CAN HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YOU CAN HEAR ME? WE WILL TRY HER ANOTHER TIME.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JIMMY DALEY.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL.
TODAY'S MY BIRTHDAY AND WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE FOR MY BIRTHDAY IS MORE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
ONE REASON WHY LIKE THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE NEIGHBORS.
I LIVE IN A HOUSE WITH TWO LOTS, UM, AND THE WOMAN IN THE OTHER LOT, UM, IS VERY KIND.
SHE'S DOING A PARTY AND BINDING US.
UM, I THINK MORE NEIGHBORS IS A GOOD THING.
UM, AND IT'S ALSO THE KIND OF NEIGHBORS.
YOU HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE IN YOUR, UM, SAME, UH, PROPERTY.
UM, I HAVEN'T HAD AS MUCH CONTACT WITH MY OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE.
UM, AND BACK IN GEORGIA, UH, I USED TO LIVE NEAR ATLANTA, NEAR A UNIVERSITY SIMILAR TO MY SITUATION NOW AND I LIVED IN THE FOURPLEX AND GOT TO KNOW THOSE NEIGHBORS IN THE FOURPLEX REALLY WELL.
UM, THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IS MODEST IN COMPARISON.
THEY, THEY'RE ONLY EXPANDING UP TO THREE UNITS.
UM, ANYWAY, UM, I UH, THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A NUMBERS SCHEME.
THE MORE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND YOU, THE BETTER CHANCES YOU HAVE OF GETTING TO KNOW SOME OF THEM TO HELP WITH THE LONELINESS EPIDEMIC, BUILD COMMUNITY.
UM, AN ADDITIONAL REASON OF COURSE IS RENT.
UM, HAVING MORE HOUSING WILL HELP, UH, LOWER PRICES.
UM, RENT HAS RISEN 25% AROUND HERE IN THE LAST, UH, COUPLE YEARS.
UM, AND IF IT'S STRESSING MY FINANCES, I WORRY FOR OTHERS WHO DON'T HAVE MAYBE A STABLE OF AN INCOME.
THE MISSING MIDDLE IS, UH, DIRELY NEEDED.
UM, IT WOULD HELP WITH MIGRATION, UM, HELP KEEP UC STUDENTS FROM LEAVING AFTER THEY GRADUATE AND ALSO MAKING IT EASIER FOR OTHERS TO COME.
UM, AND IT WOULD HELP WITH LIBERTY TOO, LETTING PEOPLE BUILD WHAT THEY WANT ON THEIR OWN LAND.
UM, ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS SAID THAT THE HEART OF AUSTIN AND IT IS IN ITS NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I DISAGREE.
I THINK THE HEART OF AUSTIN IS IN ITS PEOPLE.
UH, THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR BEING HERE AND FOR PUTTING FORWARD THE HOME PROPOSAL.
MY NAME IS ANTHONY AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I'M ABSOLUTELY UNEQUIVOCALLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS WONDERFUL PROPOSAL, BUT THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT WITHOUT ITS DETRACTORS.
FOR ALL THOSE LISTENING TO THE TESTIMONY TODAY, YOU'LL HEAR ARGUMENTS THAT HOME WILL INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES WHEN IT WON'T.
THIS PROPOSAL INCREASES HOUSING SUPPLY.
MORE SUPPLY MEANS HOUSING COSTS GO DOWN AND PROPERTY TAXES WILL GO DOWN AS TAXES ARE ONLY ASSESSED AGAINST COMPARABLE HOMES.
THE SAME THING JUST HAPPENED IN AUSTIN.
RENTALS, MORE SUPPLY, CHEAPER RENT.
IT'S DOWN 5% ON AVERAGE OVER THE PAST YEAR.
CONVERSELY, IF WE CONTINUE TO RESTRICT BUILDING HOMES AS WE DO TODAY, THAN HOUSING COSTS IN TAXES WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP.
WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING TO FIX THE EXPENSIVE AND UNSUSTAINABLE CONDITIONS THAT HIGHLY RESTRICTED ZONING HAS CREATED AND THE INEQUITY IT CONTINUES TO CREATE.
YOU'LL HEAR QUESTIONS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.
NO MEASURE ENCOMPASSES ALL SOLUTIONS.
AFFORDABILITY HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN ANOTHER WONDERFUL MEASURE THAT IS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE.
IT'S CALLED AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED AND ITS STANDS HEADING SHOULDERS AMONG THE BEST OF AFFORDABILITY INITIATIVES ACROSS THE US.
[01:30:01]
IT UP.YOU'LL HEAR RHETORICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WATER OR THE ELECTRICITY OR THE SCHOOLS OR THE ROADS.
HOW WILL WE GET AROUND? QUESTIONS LIKE THIS ARE DESIGNED TO IMPLY THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE AND THIS IS NOT TRUE.
THE ANSWER IS THAT NOTHING HAPPENS IN A VACUUM.
THE ADDITIONAL HOUSING PROPOSALS MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY THROUGH COOLING WATER ENERGY AND COMMUTING EFFICIENT ACROSS THE BOARD THAN ALL OF THE ENDLESSLY SPRAWLING ALTERNATIVES.
THIS PROPOSAL WILL BE ONE IMPORTANT PIECE OF SOLVING THIS PUZZLE BY BUILDING MORE RESOURCE EFFICIENT HOUSING.
LASTLY, YOU MAY HEAR OUTLANDISH CLAIMS ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NOT YET HASHED OUT, THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THE MEASURE BEING CONSIDERED TODAY, SUCH AS THE RV PROVISION OR CHANGES TO IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THESE ARE DISTRACTIONS INTENDED TO EMBROIL EMOTIONS AND HEART AND HEARTS AGAINST WHAT IS ULTIMATELY GOOD AND OVERWHELMINGLY POPULAR, PROVIDING MORE HOMES THAT CURRENT AND FUTURE AUSTINITES NEED.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR TIME AND ASK THAT YOU ALL VOTE FOR WHAT IS GOOD, RIGHT? JUST AND NEIGHBORLY SUPPORT HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR TEACHERS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS IN THE MIDDLE AND WORKING CLASS.
LET'S TURN STABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FROM A DREAM INTO REALITY.
RICH GREEN? YES, MY NAME IS RICH GREEN.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M A LONG, A LONG TERM AUSTIN RESIDENT AND UH, I'M GONNA GO WITH AN ANALOGY REAL QUICK.
LET'S SAY I WANNA OPEN A NEW RESTAURANT HERE'RE IN AUSTIN.
I FIND MY LOCATION, I CHECK MY ZONING.
I HIRE EMPLOYEES AND IT'S A RUNAWAY SUCCESS.
HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS, BUT THERE ARE OTHER RESTAURANTS OUT THERE THAT AREN'T DOING SO WELL.
THEY HAVE ONLY A FEW CUSTOMERS.
THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T LIKE THIS.
THEY WANT TO HELP THESE RESTAURANTS DESPITE LACKING ANY PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE IN THAT AREA.
HOW ARE THEY GONNA DO THAT? WELL, THEY COULDN'T PASS A NEW TAX THAT WOULD NEVER PASS THE VOTERS AND THEY CAN'T COMPLETELY REZONE ME.
'CAUSE IF THEY DID THAT, THEY'D HAVE TO PAY ME IN COMPENSATION FOR TAKING MY PROPERTY OR MY LIVELIHOOD.
SO THEY COME UP WITH A VERY GREAT IDEA, CLEVER, EVEN THEY'RE GONNA TWEAK THE ZONING CODE AND CHANGE IT TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS THAT A RESTAURANT CAN HAVE.
SO THIS NEW TWEAK TAKES MY CUSTOMERS AND SENDS THEM TO OTHER RESTAURANTS.
THAT'S PRETTY CLEVER, DON'T YOU THINK? IT IS.
THEY'RE NOT TAKING OUR PROPERTY, THEY'RE JUST TAKING THEIR VALUE OF MY PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
IT THIS, THIS IDEA PUNISHES THOSE WHO REASONABLY RELIED ON ZONING CATEGORIES THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED IN PLACE FOR A LONG, LONG, LONG TIME.
AND IN MY VIEW, THIS IS A DECISION THAT EVIDENCE IS BAD FAKE, AND IT CERTAINLY DESTROYS ANY CREDIBILITY IN WHATEVER ZONING CLASSIFICATIONS WILL EXIST AFTER THIS.
THIS HOUSING CHANGE IS MORE THAN JUST A CHANGE.
IT'S A RADICAL DEPARTURE, NOT JUST FROM AUSTIN'S ZONING.
IT'S A RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
AND IN LIGHT OF THESE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF HISTORY ABOUT OWNING PROPERTY, PRIVATE PROPERTY FREEDOM TO USE YOUR PROPERTY.
I URGE THE COUNSEL TO RECONSIDER THIS AND I URGE THEM TO WITHDRAW THESE ZONING CHANGES.
HELLO, MY NAME IS TRENTA HENDRICKSON.
I'M A LEADER WITH CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFAITH THROUGH ST.
ASIAS CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SOUTH AUSTIN, CTI HAS HELPED RAISE $250 MILLION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND LED EFFORTS TO RAISE 217 MILLION TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND 40 MILLION FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
CTI ALSO PUSHED US FOR SUPPORTIVE POLICIES FOR MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS.
WE ARE HERE TO RAISE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE.
NUMBER ONE, OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS RESIDENTS COULD BE DISPLACED.
WE QUESTION WHETHER THE HOMES INITIATIVE WOULD TRULY IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY OR JUST MAKE DEVELOPERS RICHER WITH THE POTENTIAL OF RISING PROPERTY TAXES AND VALUES.
HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE THE MONEY AND THE KNOWHOW WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS INITIATIVE, BUT PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS WILL BE UNABLE TO REAP THESE REWARDS.
NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE PUSHED FOR DENSITY BONUSES TO PROPOSE THAT THE PERMANENT SIZE OF ACCESSORY GOING UNITS NOT EXCEED THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 800 SQUARE FEET.
ANYTHING ABOVE THAT SHOULD HAVE PROVISIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THESE PROVISIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO GUARANTEE AFFORDABILITY.
WHAT MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THE HOME INITIATIVE ENSURES AFFORDABILITY? NUMBER THREE, THIS IS BEING PACKAGED AND SOLD IS BENEFITING TEACHERS EMS WORKERS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
IF THESE ARE TRULY THE BENEFICIARIES, WHY NOT SLACK IT FOCUS INSTEAD ON SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR TEACHER FAMILIES AND THESE PROFESSIONAL FAMILIES ARE CO-OP HOUSING PRIORITIZING AFFORDABILITY.
WE FEAR THIS INITIATIVE COULD TURN INTO SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITHOUT COMMUNITY BENEFIT.
WE BELIEVE MUL IN MULTI-FAMILY AND MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSING SHOULD BE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT AFFORDABILITY NEEDS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT.
IN SHORT, HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT THE HOMES INITIATIVE WILL HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVE
[01:35:01]
BETTER LIVES AND NOT JUST ENRICH THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY DOING WELL? THANK YOU.I HAVE FOR A LONG TIME ADVOCATED FOR INCREASED DENSITY AND I SUPPORT THE PROPOSALS TO ALLOW THREE UNITS ON SINGLE FAMILY ZONING.
HOWEVER, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE'S NO MENTION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE NEEDS, NEEDS OF RENTERS IN THIS PROPOSAL OR OTHER PROPOSALS BY CITY COUNCIL.
RENTERS MAKE UP HALF THE POPULATION IN AUSTIN AND A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF RENTERS NEED HELP REMAINING TO LIVE HERE.
I HAVE LIVED IN THREE ADUS, A HOUSE IN FRONT OF AN ADUA DUPLEX, A FOURPLEX, A LARGE OLD HOUSE CONVERTED TO APARTMENTS AND A SMALL HOUSE.
AND NOW I LIVE IN A LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FEW OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO RENT IN AUSTIN.
I WANNA LIVE ON A QUIET RESIDENTIAL STREET IN A SMALL HOUSE OR A DUPLEX.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADD TO THIS PROPOSAL SOME TYPE OF INCENTIVE FOR DEVELOPERS TO SELL PROPERTY TO MANAGEMENT COMPANIES THAT CAN MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR RENTERS.
WE NEED A LOT MORE OPTIONS FOR RENTERS IN THIS CITY, AND PEOPLE RENT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
ONE REASON IS, IS THE COST, BUT THERE'S ALSO REASONS LIKE THEY'RE DISABLED OR THEY'RE SENIOR AND THEY CAN'T MANAGE A HOUSE, THEY MOVE FREQUENTLY, THEY'RE SAVING FOR OTHER THINGS IN THEIR LIFE OR THEY LIVE ALONE.
THEY, THEY DON'T NEED A LARGE HOUSE.
RENTING IS JUST AS VALID A WAY OF LIVING AS AS AS OWNING A HOME.
A NEW ANALYSIS FINDS THAT LIBERALIZING ZONING RULES AND BUILDING MORE WON'T SOLVE THE URBAN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND COULD EXACERBATE IT.
THAT'S A QUOTE BY RICHARD FLORIDA, WHO'S THE WORLD'S LEADING URBANIST.
WE HEAR IF YOU ADD MORE SUPPLY, HOUSING PRICES WILL FALL MAKING HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE.
BUT ACADEMICS FIND A WEAK AND NON-EXISTENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOUSING SUPPLY AND PRICES.
THEY AGREED THAT HOUSING IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAY EMPLOYMENT WAGES AND SKILLS ARE THE MAIN DRIVER OF HOMING PRICES.
THEY SAY, AND I QUOTE UPZONING, IS FAR FROM THE PROGRESSIVE POLICY TOOL.
IT MAINLY LEADS TO BUILDING HIGH-END HOUSING AND DESIRABLE LOCATIONS.
THIS MEANS MAX UPZONING OF THE THREE UNITS PER LOT HAS NO BASIS THAT IT WILL PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S OCTOBER, 2023, AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT STUDY SAID IT'S MARKET FORCES THAT DRIVE PRICES.
PLUS, I CAN'T FIND WHERE THE DETAILED IMPACT ON SPECIFIC INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE FIRE MITIGATION, SEWER OR ROAD TRAFFIC ACCESS HAS BEEN ASSESSED.
IF THE GOAL IS REALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUT DENSE HOUSING ON THE CORRIDORS OR UP ZONE THE COMMERCIAL AREAS AND MAKE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS.
CITY COUNCIL, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, COMMISSION, BATMAN, EVERYONE THAT'S THERE BY GOD.
HEY, LISTEN GUYS, I I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE.
WELL, ACTUALLY I DECIDED TO LIVE HERE.
I HITCH TRACKED AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR A YEAR AND, UH, FOUND AUSTIN TO BE JUST A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
AND, UH, WENT HOME FOR A BRIEF PERIOD, CAME BACK, LIVED IN MY CAR FOR A A WEEK AND, UH, GOSH, I I KNOW, UH, MAYOR, I KNOW I RAN INTO YOU AT THE, AT THE RAW DEAL AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE BACK IN THE DAY.
AND SOME OF YOU FOLKS, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU MY AGE, BUT, UH, I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
MAKE IT A LONG STORY SHORT, UM, I, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME TO THE CITY BECAUSE THEY ENJOYED, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY MET, THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, EITHER MADE THE MUSIC
[01:40:01]
OR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WORKED WITH, THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE, THE PEOPLE THEY MARRIED.AND, UH, IT'S JUST, UH, DISCUSSING THIS AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S, THERE MUST BE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW OUR FUTURE IS GONNA BE PLANNED HERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S GONNA BE THROUGH EXPANDING HOMES OR MAKING A SHUTTLE TO A MOON.
I MEAN, THAT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT BACK WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
UH, I WOULD JUST WORK ALL DAY AND SLEEP AND, UH, YOU KNOW, GOSH, WITH, UH, WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE, UH, NEW IDEAS AND, AND, UH, INGENUITY, GOING TO THE MOON AND SPACEX, ET CETERA.
PERHAPS WE COULD JUST SEND FOLKS TO THE MOON DURING THEIR, THEIR WORKING HOURS AND BRING THEM BACK AND, AND, AND LET THEM LIVE IN NICE COLONIZED, UH, SKYSCRAPERS.
NOW THEN AGAIN, WHEN WE'RE GONNA GET MARRIED.
AND SO NOW THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING, RIGHT? WE COULD ALL LIVE IN OUR LITTLE APARTMENTS, OUR LITTLE ONE HOUSE, LITTLE UH, TINY HOME.
WHATEVER THE HECK YOU GUYS WANNA CALL, HE CAN'T SPEAKER.
WE, I WISH I COULD GIVE EVERYBODY, I WISH I COULD GIVE EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW A RAW DEAL.
WE THINK WE'VE GOT BARBARA EPSTEIN ON THE LINE.
UM, I AM SPEAKING TODAY PERSONALLY, NOT, NOT ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND SOMEBODY'S ALREADY MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT CREATING AFFORDABILITY, NOT BY JUST BUILDING MORE.
SO I'LL SKIP THAT PART OF MY PRESENTATION UNTIL NOW.
ORDINANCES HAVE MADE IT ILLEGAL FOR HOMEOWNERS TO CONVERT A DETACHED SINGLE STORY GARAGE OR A GUEST COTTAGE ON A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT INTO ADUS, THOUGH THAT WOULD'VE RAPIDLY DENSIFIED NEIGHBOR DENSIFIED NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT DISPLACING ANYONE.
CREATED AFFORDABLE UNITS, CREATED A POSITIVE INTERGENERATIONAL HOUSING, CREATED INCREASED USE OF NEARBY PUBLIC TRANSIT AND GIVEN HOMEOWNERS MONEY TO PAY THEIR TAXES UNDER YOUR PROPOSED PLAN.
NO MIDDLE CLASS HOMEOWNER IS GOING TO BE BUILDING THREE UNITS ON 2,500 SQUARE FEET.
ONLY PRIVATE EQUITY GROUPS HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT AND THEY WILL BE SCRAPING AND REDEVELOPING THE ENTIRE LOT AND NEITHER RENTING OR SELLING CONDOS.
I SUSPECT THAT UPZONING AND ENDING OCCUPANCY LIMITS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WILL ONLY RESULT IN MORE PEOPLE BEING CRAMMED INTO HOUSING, MORE OVERFLOWING GARBAGE AND MORE RATS NOT LOWER RENTS WHILE CODE ENFORCEMENT CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE NOW IN THE HANCOCK NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, WHAT WE NEED IS, IS UPGRADING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER, SEWER, ROADS, SIDEWALKS BEFORE BURDENING IT WITH, WITH INCREASED DENSITY.
AND WE NEED TO PLAN CAREFULLY TO AVOID INCREASED FLOODING.
BUT IN FACT, MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALREADY WHAT'S CONSIDERED THE CUTTING EDGE OF URBAN DESIGN, THE 15 MINUTE CITY, AN ATTRACTIVE, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS MIXED USE AND COMMERCIAL USE AND TREES.
SO IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WANNA SCRAPE EVERY REMAINING UNDERDEVELOPED LOT, REMOVING EVERY PROTECTED TREE AS CURRENT PROJECTS ARE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, ANDREW.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS PUBLIC INPUT SESSION.
I OWN A HOME IN THE OLD INFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT 10, AND I'M STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THIS HOME INITIATIVE WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS.
I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT AUSTIN IS THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE WITHOUT A CAR, I AM PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH TO DOWNTOWN SUCH THAT I RARELY EVER HAVE TO USE MY CAR AND GET DOWNTOWN.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS MANY BENEFITS.
I DON'T NEED TO WAIT IN TRAFFIC.
I GET OUTSIDE AND GET EXERCISE ON MY BIKE ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I GET TO ENJOY THE WALKABILITY OF COMMUNITY AROUND ME.
THE HOMES INITIATIVE, ESPECIALLY PHASE TWO, WILL ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO ENJOY THIS HEALTHY, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BY INCREASING DENSITY, ALLOWING MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AND KEEPING THE COST OF HOUSING REASONABLE AROUND AUSTIN.
UH, I'M, I HAVE LIVED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 FOR 36 YEARS AND I SUPPORT THE HOME ACT INITIATIVE.
THERE ARE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN THE DECLINE AUSTIN SCHOOL DISTRICT ENROLLMENT
[01:45:01]
AND THE INCREASE IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING.NOW THESE FAMILIES ARE MOVING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES IN, UH, SUBURBAN AREAS, UH, ADDING TO THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THAT OFTEN I CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN ABOUT.
NOW, A CITY CANNOT THRIVE WITHOUT CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS, THE TEACHERS, THE NURSES, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
UH, SOME PEOPLE OPPOSE THIS PROPOSAL TO PROTECT PROPERTY VALUES, BUT NO ONE'S BEING FORCED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES, BE CHANGES TO THE PROPERTY.
WHO ARE WE PROTECTING THOSE VALLEYS FOR? IF YOUNG FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY THESE HOMES WHEN WE KICK THE BUCKET? A NEIGHBOR OF MINE WITH THREE CHILDREN IN ELEMENTARY AND ONE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY HER HOUSE EVEN ON TWO INCOMES.
WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE, NOTHING COSTS MORE THAN $150,000.
WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY OUR HOUSE.
OUR ADULT CHILDREN CAN'T AFFORD TO BE HOMEOWNERS, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD BUILD A TINY HOUSE IN THE BACK AND ONE OF THEM COULD MOVE INTO OUR HOUSE.
WE CAN'T BECOME A CITY OF MILLIONAIRES WHO ARE ALREADY BUILDING THEIR OWN HOUSES AND OLD PEOPLE WHO CAN'T FIND BUYERS AMONG YOUNG FAMILIES.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND PLEASE PASS THIS.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I AM THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY FOR AARP TEXAS AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE CHANGES TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
AS WE BELIEVE THESE CHANGES ARE KEY TO LEGALIZING MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN, THE 2021 AARP HOME AND COMMUNITY PREFERENCE SURVEY OF ADULTS AGES 18 AND OLDER SHOWS THAT MOST AMERICANS, INCLUDING THE 50 PLUS, PREFER TO LIVE IN WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT OFFER A MIX OF HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT ARE CLOSE TO JOBS, SCHOOLS, SHOPPING, ENTERTAINMENT AND GREEN SPACES.
AARP BELIEVES THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS CAN MEET THESE NEEDS AS THE POPULATION OF OLDER AUSTINITES GROW.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING A VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS WILL ONLY INCREASE OLDER HOMEOWNERS WHO WANNA SELL THEIR RESIDENCE AND MOVE INTO SOMETHING NEARBY THAT'S MORE AFFORDABLE, COMPACT AND ACCESSIBLE.
ROUTINELY DISCOVER SUCH HOUSING DOESN'T EXIST, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO WANNA REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITY, CLOSE TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY BY ALLOWING MORE HOUSING TYPES.
DUPLEXES, PLEXES, TINY HOMES AS ADU FOLKS DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A LARGE DETACHED HOME OR A LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX, OR WORSE LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITY ALTOGETHER WITH PEOPLE LIVING LONGER, MORE AND MORE OLDER ADULTS WILL BE INCREASINGLY RELIANT ON FAMILY CAREGIVERS, MIDDLE HOUSING AND HOUSING FOR MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS CAN ENSURE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS CAN ALSO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
THE AVERAGE NURSING HOME IN TEXAS COSTS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS ARE CRITICAL TO KEEPING OLDER ADULTS IN THEIR HOME AND COMMUNITY.
SO WE BELIEVE THESE ADJUSTMENTS TO ZONING LAWS IS AN IMPORTANT AND VITAL STEP IN MAKING THIS HOUSING A REALITY IN AUSTIN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DEBORAH FAMA.
I LIVE IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT.
UM, I AM, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE.
FEMA WILL NOT ENSURE THE ENTIRE CITY IF THE CITY ENGAGES IN, UH, PROCEDURES THAT ALLOW RISK FOR ADDITIONAL FLOODING.
SO UNTIL WE HAVE DONE, UNTIL THE CITY HAS DONE STUDIES, WHICH WE ARE ALL AT RISK OF LOSING FLOOD COVERAGE, FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE, AND I HAVE THE DATA ON THAT ALSO.
I'M A 70 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO HAS RETIRED AND PROPERTY TAXES INCREASING WOULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO ME AND OTHER ELDERLY PEOPLE.
IF THE LAND AROUND US SUDDENLY STARTS INCREASING IN VALUE DUE TO THREE STORY UNITS THAT DEVELOPERS ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY ON AND THEY WILL MAKE MONEY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BUY THE LAND AT CURRENT LAND RATES AND THEY HAVE TO BUILD AT CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PRICES.
SO BUILDING MORE DOES NOT DECREASE COST.
[01:50:02]
BRUCE GRIER.HI, MY NAME IS, UH, HI NOW ALVAREZ.
I SIT ON THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION FOR DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'M A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.
I'M ALSO AN ARCHITECT WHO'S HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO WORK ON A FEW AUSTIN LANDMARKS, WHICH I'M COMMITTED TO PRESERVING.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES BECAUSE EVEN AS A PROFESSIONAL WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND DECENTLY PAID, I FOUND IT EXTREMELY CHALLENGING TO BECOME A HOMEOWNER.
I ALMOST GAVE UP BUT WAS ABLE TO DO IT BY BUYING A HOME THAT NEEDED WORK.
AN UGLY DUCKLING THAT I AS AN ARCHITECT SAW THE POTENTIAL IN AND OF COURSE HAD TO PAY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT MORE THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD.
SITTING ON THE COMMISSION I SEE DEMOLITION PERMIT REQUESTS REGULARLY, SOMETIMES FOR DUPLEX DUPLEXES OR THE OLDER SINGLE FAMILY LOT WITH THREE DWELLING UNITS ON IT.
TYP TYPICALLY BEING REPLACED BY LESS UNITS.
ONE LARGE HOME FOR ONE HOUSEHOLD, WEALTHY ENOUGH TO AFFORD IT, WHO MOST LIKELY NOT BE A TEACHER, FIRST RESPONDER MUSICIAN, UT GRAD STUDENT, CITY WORKER, OR MANY OTHER OCCUPATIONS THAT ARE NOT THE HIGHEST PAID.
THEY NOW HAVE TO COMMUTE FOR OVER AN HOUR FROM PLACES LIKE BASTROP, KYLE ELGIN, AND EVENTUALLY WAI.
I THINK IT'S TIME TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD MORE HOUSING, NOT JUST THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSING.
I ALSO ENCOURAGE THE INCLUSION OF LANGUAGE TO HELP EXISTING HOMEOWNERS STAY IN THEIR HOMES, PRESERVE THEM, MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO ADD ADDITIONAL BILLING UNITS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS RENTAL OR RETIREMENT INCOME.
AUSTIN IS AN ATTRACTIVE CITY WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN GROWING TO REALLY KEEP AUSTIN.
WE NEED TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GIVEN THE CITY ITS IDENTITY AND MAKE IT VIBRANT, NOT JUST FOR THOSE THAT CAN BUY THEIR WAY IN NOW.
HI, MY NAME IS COREY TOLAND AND I AM CURRENTLY A MASTER'S STUDENT AT UT ARLINGTON SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AND A CONSTITUENT IN COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR.
I WANT TO VOICE MY APPROVAL FOR THE HOME INITIATIVE RESOLUTION, SPECIFICALLY THE PROVISION TO REMOVE RESTRICTIONS ON THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS LIVING IN A HOUSING UNIT IN THE CITY'S PURSUIT OF EQUITABLE HOUSING FOR ALL.
WE MUST ADDRESS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY WANTING TO LIVE IN GROUP HOMES INSTEAD OF STATE RUN INSTITUTIONS.
EXCLUSIONARY ZONING POLICIES HAVE HISTORICALLY LIMITED OR PREVENTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GROUP HOMES BY RESTRICTING THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED PERSONS IN A UNIT.
WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITY SETTINGS ARE MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE OF THE FIXED COSTS RELATED TO MAINTAINING A LARGE FACILITY.
STUDENTS HAVE UH, STUDIES HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES LIVING IN A GROUP HOME REPORT, ACQUIRING NEW SKILLS, DEVELOPING EXISTING SKILLS, GAINING A FEELING OF COMPETENCE AND DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES, BETTER HEALTH AND HAVING A LARGER SOCIAL NETWORK NETWORK.
I THINK THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY ZONING CODE HELP CREATE IMPROVED LIFE CONDITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THESE AMENDMENTS TO INCREASE OCCUPANCY RATES SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE BARRIERS TO HOUSING FOR EVERYONE.
LET US WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL AUSTINITES.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL FOR SITTING AND LISTENING.
I'M JOYCE BASSANO AND I'M OPPOSED TO THE HOME RESOLUTION BOTH PHASES.
IT IS A GROSS OVERREACH BY CITY GOVERNMENT.
THE PROCESS IMPLEMENTED FOR THIS RESOLUTION IS SERIOUSLY FLAWED AND EVEN WORSE THAN THAT WAS, THAT WAS USED BY CODE NEXT WHEN IT WAS PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL JULY 20TH OF THIS YEAR.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE TOLD US QUOTE, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE CON CONVERSATION ON THESE IDEAS AND THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT IN THE COMING MONTHS.
I AM INSISTING ON FREQUENT AND REGULAR PUBLIC UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF HOME AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
GENUINE PUBLIC INPUT DID NOT HAPPEN AND BECAUSE OF THAT, MANY PEOPLE ARE JUST NOW BEGINNING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE RESOLUTION PROPOSES AND THEY ARE ANGRY.
THE CITY HAS DONE A POOR JOB OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE LOCAL MEDIA.
RECENT UPDATES SHOW THE RESOLUTION IS A MOVING TARGET,
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WHICH MAKES IT CONFUSING TO THE PUBLIC.THE HOME RESOLUTION PROCESS FAILS TO EXPLORE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT THAT ARE MANY UNIMPACTFUL WE TALKED ABOUT FLOODING, REDUCTION OF URBAN TREE CANOPY, THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, MONETIZING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, ET CETERA.
THE HOME RESOLUTION IS A CITYWIDE UPZONING OF ALL SINGLE FAMILY ZONE PROPERTIES BY RIGHT TO MULTI-FAMILY USE.
WITHOUT ANY DETAILS AS TO HOW IT WILL AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
IT WILL NOT BE GENTLE DENSITY.
RATHER IT WILL LEAD TO WHOLESALE DISPLACEMENT IN MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS ISN'T PLANNING IT'S PLUNDERING.
PEOPLE TEND TO SUPPORT WHAT THEY HELP CREATE AS A FIX FOR THE FLAWED PLANNING PROCESS THE CITY HAS BEEN USING SINCE CODE.
NEXT I RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY ADOPT A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS, A TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
BRING US ALL THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO THE TABLE TO CREATE A THANK YOU SPEAKER.
THAT WILL WORK AND THAT WILL SO PROXIES.
I GREW UP ALL OVER AUSTIN AND MY FAMILY WAS DISPLACED BY RISING RENTS MANY TIMES AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE WHERE I'VE SEEN MY RENT INCREASE $350 OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
I'M IN COMMUNITY WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED UNDOCUMENTED AND LOW INCOME BIPO RENTERS FACING RISING RENT AND DISPLACEMENT.
IT UNFORTUNATELY DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT COUNCIL HAS GOTTEN TO THIS POINT BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING CRISIS HAVE THE LEAST TIME AND ENERGY TO SPEAK UP AND ADVOCATE WHILE THOSE WHO PROMOTE FALSE SOLUTIONS LIKE UP ZONING HAVE A TRILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY ON THEIR SIDE.
BUT NOW WE'RE MOBILIZING TO STOP THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.
SO I HOPE THAT COUNCIL AND ANYONE LISTENING WHO IS OPEN TO CONSIDERING THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE FULL PICTURE OF THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WILL TRULY HEAR US LOW AND EVEN MIDDLE INCOME HOMEOWNERS CAN'T AFFORD TO BUILD EVEN ADUS, LET ALONE MULTIPLE UNITS.
SO WE KNOW THAT THIS IS INVESTOR DRIVEN REDEVELOPMENT.
THE UNITS PRODUCED WON'T BE AFFORDABLE TO MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES BECAUSE INVESTORS WILL SELL EVEN SMALLER UNITS TO THE WEALTHIEST BUYERS AND THE RICH WILL JUST KEEP BEING ATTRACTED TO AUSTIN IN A VICIOUS CYCLE.
THE UPROOTED REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT HIGH GROWTH AFFLUENT DEMAND-DRIVEN HOUSING MARKETS LIKE AUSTIN DEVELOPERS PRODUCE PRIMARILY HIGH-END HOUSING AND DEMOLISH EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE UPSELLING OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WILL HAVE RIPPLE EFFECT OF DISPLACEMENT ON LOW INCOME BIPO HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN CRESCENT, WHICH WILL BE TARGETED FOR REDEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE PROFIT MARGINS FOR INVESTORS ARE THE HIGHEST.
IF HOME WAS TRULY ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, IT WOULD REQUIRE IT.
IT'S INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT THE HOME INITIATIVE WOULD UP ZONE AUSTIN WITHOUT EVEN THE LOW BAR AFFORDABILITY REQUIRED BY CITY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. ISN'T IT STRANGE TO YOU THAT AUSTIN NEEDS MORE HOUSING IS EXACTLY WHAT REPRESENTATIVES FOR DEVELOPERS SAY WHEN THEY'RE JUSTIFYING THE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES CAUSING FURTHER LOSS OF FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY, THE AFFORDABILITY LEVEL OF THE HOUSING AUSTIN NEEDS MORE OF MATTERS.
WE SHOULD BE SAYING AUSTIN NEEDS MORE TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOME IS BASED ON A SIMPLISTIC SUPPLY SIDE ARGUMENT TO DEREGULATE OR UNLEASH THE MARKET AND IGNORES THAT THE KIND OF HOUSING HE NEED.
THANK YOU SPEAK IS AFFORDABLE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CAROL PHILLIPSON.
THE NEW ZONING PROPOSAL HAS MANY COMPLEX AND CONFUSING COMPONENTS, BUT ONE THAT IS PLAIN AS DAY IS THAT IT'S CUTTING THE SIZE OF BUILDING LOT BASICALLY IN HALF FROM 5,750 TO 2,500 SQUARE FOOT.
PLUS ALLOWING 45% OF THAT LOT TO BE COVERED WITH HOUSING WILL DRAMATICALLY CUT THE AMOUNT OF WATER NEEDED TO REFILL OUR EVER SHRINKING AQUIFER.
MAYBE ALL DECISION MAKERS FOR THIS PROPOSAL SHOULD LEARN ABOUT HOW AUSTIN GETS ITS WATER BESIDES THE HIGHLAND LAKE SYSTEM, WHICH IS AT 40% FULL AND LIKE TRAVIS AT ONLY 34.4% FULL EVEN AFTER A FEW DAYS OF RAIN.
THE THE EDWARDS AQUIFER SUPPORTING 2000, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, 2.5 MILLION TEXANS IS AN UNDERGROUND LAYER, POROUS ROCK, SAND DIRT THAT STORES OUR WATER.
AUSTIN'S LAND IS MADE UP OF AN ERODED HONEYCOMB PASSAGEWAYS FOR PRECIOUS WATER TO FLOW TO THE AQUIFER.
THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CITIES WHO SUPPORT HIGH DENSITIES.
THIS SUMMER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER DROPPED TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN NEARLY A DECADE.
AT THE END OF JULY, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY ENTERED STAGE FOUR RESTRICTIONS.
ACCORDING TO THE EAA 60% OF ALL TEXAS WATER IS GROUNDWATER PLUS 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER ON A 2005 FOOT SQUARE FOOT.
LOT WILL ALSO CAUSE FLOODING WHEN RAIN AS THE WHEN IT RAINS, AS THE WATER HAS NOWHERE TO GO.
I'VE READ ITS PROPOSED TO KEEP TREES.
WELL HOW WILL THAT WORK WITH THREE TIMES THE STRUCTURES ON HALF THE SIZE LOT? YES, THIS PLAN WILL GIVE US AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY
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CONTRIBUTING TO THE ED EDWARD AQUIFER AND OUR LEGS TO GO DRY WITH THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE UNCONTROLLED DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT WITH NO REGARDS TO HOW MUCH WATER WILL BE NEEDED FOR EACH PROJECT.AS THE METEOROLOGIST SAID AT A RECENT LCRA MEETING I ATTENDED, WE'RE HOPING FOR EL NINA TERRAIN TO BRING RAIN.
WE CANNOT MAKE DECISIONS ON HOPE.
WE MUST MAKE DECISIONS ON THE FACTS WE HAVE AT HAND.
WE MUST CONTROL THE DEVELOPMENT TO SAVE THE WATER FOR ALL OF US, US TONIGHT AND YOURSELVES.
SPEAK YOUR TIME AS THIS ZONING PROPOSAL NORA DEWART.
HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS NORA DEWART AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M ENROLLED AT UT AUSTIN AS A GOVERNMENT MAJOR.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY IN HOPES THAT YOU'LL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
MY DAD IS CURRENTLY PUTTING ME AND MY TWIN SISTER THROUGH COLLEGE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE OBVIOUSLY FINANCIALLY STRAINED AND THE PRICES OF HOUSING IS ONLY EXACERBATING THIS ISSUE.
FURTHERMORE, MY LITTLE BROTHER WHO'S A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL WANTS TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT MY SISTER AND I HAVE, BUT WITH THE PRICES WE'RE FACING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF HOUSING, IT'S LOOKING UNLIKELY.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS MY BEST FRIEND CAITLIN.
HER PARENTS ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF MEDICAL DEBT SO SHE HAS TO PAY FOR HOUSING ON HER OWN TO HOPEFULLY ALLEVIATE HER PARENTS' FINANCIAL STRUGGLES.
BASIC IS THAT HER STUDIES COME FIRST SO SHE CAN ONLY WORK PART-TIME.
THIS MEANS THAT WHEN SEARCHING FOR HOUSING IN HER PRICE RANGE, WE ONLY FOUND THAT THERE ARE MAYBE TWO HOUSING COMPLEXES NEAR CAMPUS THAT SHE CAN AFFORD.
SIMPLY PUT, AUSTIN IS NOT A CITY THAT STUDENTS ON THE BUDGET CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN.
UNDERSTAND THAT DESPITE THESE BEING ISOLATED EXAMPLES ARE EXPERIENCES ARE NOT EXCEPTIONS, BUT THE NORM CURRENTLY ALL UT AUSTIN DORMS COLLECTIVELY CAN'T EVEN HOUSE HALF OF THE FRESHMAN BODY OUTSOURCING OUT.
OUTSOURCING HOUSING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR MEANS THAT THERE ARE AROUND 40,000 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS THAT ARE RELYING ON LEGISLATION SUCH AS THIS ONE TO SURVIVE.
THAT'S 40,000 STUDENTS WORRYING ABOUT HAVING A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD THAT THEY CAN AFFORD RATHER THAN THEIR STUDIES.
I'M URGING YOU TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ARE INHERITING THE CITY STUDENTS LIKE ME.
I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERY COLLEGE STUDENT IN A SIMILAR POSITION THAT WE LOVE THIS CITY BUT IT'S NOT MAKING AN EFFORT TO KEEP US HERE.
VOTING YES FOR THE HOME INITIATIVE ENABLES MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES TO BE BUILT BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF LAND REQUIRED PER UNIT WILL BE SMALLER.
IT WILL PUT AUSTIN ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO HAVE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY OF YOUNG STUDENTS WHO AREN'T SPENDING OVER HALF THEIR INCOME ON RENT EVERY MONTH.
I'M ASKING YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL UT AUSTIN STUDENTS AND THE BROADER AUSTIN POPULATION TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE HOME INITIATIVE SUCH THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CALL THE CITY HOME.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL.
THANK YOU LISTENING TO ME, KAREN FERNANDEZ.
MY NAME IS KAREN FERNANDEZ AND I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MATTHEWS LANE NEIGHBORS ISSUES.
OUR MAJOR CONCERNS INCLUDE THE INCREASED IMPERVIOUS COVER AND THE FLOODING THAT WILL FOLLOW, AS WELL AS THE STRAIN ON OUR INADEQUATE ROADS, WATER, ELECTRICAL, AND SEWAGE SYSTEMS. THE CITY IS WELL AWARE OF OUR ISSUES BUT CONTINUE TO TELL US THAT THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
HOW IS THIS PROPOSAL GONNA MAKE THAT A DIFFERENCE? I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT IN THE PRESENTATION DEEDED RESTRICTIONS WERE MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE LIMITING FACTOR.
WILL THE CITY SET UP A NEW SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES? A NUMBER OF US ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN TAKING LEGAL ACTION TO ENFORCE OUR RESTRICTIONS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CITY HAS RECENTLY ALLOWED DEVELOPERS TO SUBDIVIDE TWO LOTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BEYOND THE UNIT NUMBER RESTRICTIONS, DESPITE MULTIPLE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS, REPORTING THE VIOLATION AND HIGHLIGHTING OUR DEEDS, CITY STAFF JUST REPEATED THEIR MANTRA THAT THEY DO NOT ENFORCE THE RESTRICTIONS THAT IT IS UP TO HOMEOWNERS TO LEGALLY ENFORCE THEM.
IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
ISN'T THIS PROPOSAL JUST ENCOURAGING MORE VIOLATIONS? WE DO NOT HAVE A HOUSE IN CRISIS IN AUSTIN.
WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
IF CITY REALLY CARED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY ISSUE, THEY WOULD STOP ODING THE MOBILE HOME LOTS THAT ARE JUST SOUTH OF US IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY COULD WAIVE THE FEES AND HELP HOMEOWNERS SECURE FINANCING TO BUILD THE GUEST HOMES WHICH ARE ALREADY ALLOWED IN THE CURRENT CODE.
INSTEAD, YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL THESE CODE CHANGES AS MEETING OUR NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN IN FACT IT WILL LEAD TO MORE DISPLACEMENT BUT MORE MONEY FOR THE CITY COFFERS AND DEVELOPERS.
WE ARE NOT FOR THAT AND WE WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO INCLUDE THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND LONGTIME RESIDENTS IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
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HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY,
UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MEASURE THAT WILL HELP BRING ADDITIONAL HOUSING INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW MENTIONED THE CONVERSATION IS FOCUSED ON HOW THIS WILL NOT HELP IMPROVE THE SITUATION FOR OUR LOW INCOME OR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT TO BE THE CASE AS WELL.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT DOESN'T MEAN THIS ISN'T AN IMPORTANT MEASURE.
OUR HOUSING POLICY AND THE CRISIS WE FACE IS MULTIFACETED AND WILL TAKE MANY DIFFERENT POLICIES TO SUPPORT IT.
THIS RULE ABOVE ALL ELSE, INCREASE THE HOUSING SUPPLY, WHICH WILL IN THE LONG TERM CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT UP.
THE MORE HOUSING, THE MORE PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN OUR CITY.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'LL DO IT ACROSS THE BOARD.
PART OF WHAT CAUSES THE DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION OF THE TEAM IS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE DEVELOPMENT WAS ALLOWED TO EXPAND AND THE DENSITY WAS FOCUSED.
THIS WILL ALLOW FOR BETTER HOUSING OF ALL TYPES FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS THE BOARD.
NOW THINGS LIKE IMPROVING LAND GRANTS SUPPORTING, UH, MORE STATE FUNDED HOUSING WILL HELP OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT, UH, MORE HOUSING FOR THOSE IN INDEED AFFORDABLE NEED.
AND I GUARANTEE ALL THE PEOPLE HERE SUPPORTING THE HOME INITIATIVE WOULD SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.
BUT THIS IS ABOUT TRYING TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR MORE HOUSING FOR ALL AUSTIN IN THE LONG TERM ACROSS, UH, MANY GENERATIONS BEYOND WHAT WE ARE TODAY.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE LIVING HERE AFTER US AND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS HOUSING AVAILABLE IN SMALL PARTS CITY, NOT JUST IN THOSE COMMUN THAT DON'T HAVE RESOURCES TO KEEP THEIR COMMUNITIES AS THEY WANT FOR FOREVER.
I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND COURAGE TO PUT THIS FORWARD.
HELLO, THIS IS DANIEL KESHET FROM DISTRICT SIX.
UH, I'M CALLING ASKING YOU TO UH, PASS THIS TRUTHFULLY.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION.
THE TIME TO PASS IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO, 15 YEARS AGO BEFORE WE HAD THE MASSIVE GROWTH IN PRICES THAT HAS DRIVEN OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM AUSTIN.
MY BEST FRIEND MOVED TO HOUSTON TO MOVE INTO A, UH, INTO A TOWNHOUSE.
THE KIND OF HOUSING THAT WE NEED HERE IN AUSTIN.
THE SORT OF, UH, DENSITY THAT WOULD ALLOW ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO WORK MIDDLE CLASS JOBS, WHO WORKS FOR THE STATE, UM, TO BUY A HOUSE.
EVENTUALLY, SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE REALIZED THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOUSE IN AUSTIN.
AUSTIN IS IS SORT OF NO LONGER A PART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND ACTIONS LIKE, UH, LIKE THE LEGISLATION YOU HAVE HERE WILL ALLOW OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE PEOPLE TO BE PART OF THAT.
HI, MY NAME IS BRIAN PETIT AND I LIVE IN THE NORTHFOLK NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LOVE LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I HEAR WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN 10 YEARS AS CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T DO SOMETHING TO MODERNIZE OUR ZONING CODE.
MILLION DOLLAR HOMES ARE BEING BUILT ALL THE TIME AND OLDER HOMES ARE SKYROCKETING VALUE TO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT LARGE LOTS ON LARGE, SORRY LARGE HOMES ON LARGE LOTS IN A DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE BECOMING SO EXPENSIVE.
WE NEED MORE HOUSING OPTIONS, WHICH IS WHY SUPPORT THE HOME INITIATIVE.
ALLOWING MORE UNITS ON SINGLE FAMILY LOT WILL ADDRESS OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE WHILE ADDING FAMILY FRIENDLY HOUSING TYPES.
ADDITIONALLY, MORE HOUSING IN OUR CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOODS WILL REDUCE SPRAWL, WHICH REDUCES STRAIN ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND LIMITS CARBON, WHICH IS EMISSIONS.
PLEASE PASS THE HOME INITIATIVE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL REMOTE SPEAKERS.
WHAT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW IS THE CLERK'S OFFICE WILL CALL A A, A FEW NAMES AND WHEN SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT THE NEXT SPEAKER.
BUT IF YOU'RE ON DECK OR, UH, I DON'T IN THE CIRCLE, WHATEVER, I MIGHT BE THE RIGHT, UH, SPORTING ANALOGY HERE.
MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN AND, AND FIND A PLACE TO SIT AND THEN PLEASE UTILIZE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TWO PODIUMS AND ALTERNATE ON THE PODIUMS SO THAT WE WILL BE MORE EFFICIENT AND, AND
[02:10:01]
HAVE RESPECT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SPEAKING AFTER YOU.SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
EMILY MEYER, CHRIS GANNON, LISA GRAY, AND ARLINGTON ING.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE PODIUMS AND STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU SPEAK FOR THE RECORD.
UH, I'M HERE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL.
THE JOINT CENTER FOR HOUSING STUDIES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY SAID, QUOTE, MERELY ELIMINATING SINGLE FAMILY ZONING HISTORY SUGGEST IS UNLIKELY TO INCREASE HOUSING STOCK SIGNIFICANTLY.
YOU HAVE TO ROLL BACK ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS.
I MOVED TO AUSTIN BECAUSE IT WAS GREEN AND I WOULD RECOMMEND WE KEEP OUR CITY VALUES IN PLACE.
I SAW IN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL YOU DON'T WANNA ROLL BACK IMPERVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENTS, BUT THAT CAN HAPPEN AND YOU GET ANY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN HOUSING, WHICH IS THE GOAL.
I'VE LIVED IN DUPLEX AND TRIPLEX NEIGHBORHOODS IN MY LIFE.
EVERY ONE 100% HAS MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER OFF STREET PARKING TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADDED RESIDENCE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT TRASH DAY
YOU NOW HAVE TRIPLE THE TRASH CANS YOU HAVE.
NOW I HAVE THREE, SO THAT'S NINE.
SO PARKED, THEY'RE PARKED ON THE STREETS.
HOW WILL YOU FIT ALL OF THAT ON A TRASH DAY? AND HOW WILL IT BE PICKED UP? YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER ON SITE PARKING TO PULL OFF THIS KIND OF THING.
THIS IS AN INVESTOR LAND GRAB I'VE READ A LOT ABOUT, ABOUT THIS.
MORE INCOME IS TO BE MADE FOR MULTIPLE UNITS.
SO MORE INVESTOR OWNED VERSUS OWNER OCCUPIED.
REAL ESTATE WILL OCCUR INCLUDING GENTRIFICATION.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO DECATUR, GEORGIA IN MODEST NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT MOVED PEOPLE OUT.
WHAT ABOUT THIS IDEA? OKAY, THANK YOU.
SO, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE Y'ALL HAVE TO SIT HERE FOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU'RE GONNA BE HERE,
I'M IN SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW, STAYING AFTER I GRADUAT FROM UT.
LIKE A LOT OF US, I'VE ALWAYS LIKED AUSTIN THAT HAS A COMMUNITY FEEL WITH A CORE STILL BEING DOWNTOWN AND HAS SPRAWL, HAS NOT SPRAWLED INTO HOUSTON OR DFDW.
BUT IN THE PAST 15 YEARS, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, AUSTIN CODE HAS NOT SUPPORTED DENSITY IN CENTRAL AREAS.
IT ACTUALLY WENT THE OTHER WAY AND ENCOURAGED ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON ONE LOT AND SECOND HOMES WERE CAPPED AT 1100 SQUARE FEET, WHICH CAN BARELY FIT TWO BEDROOMS IN A BATH IN TWO BATHS.
SO THE MISSING MIDDLE IS JUST NOT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S NOT GETTING BUILT 'CAUSE IT CAN'T, THE PROPOSED CODE WILL ALLOW MORE VARIED GROWTH IN CENTRAL AUSTIN AND MORE OPTIONS FOR BUYERS.
PEOPLE KEEP MOVING HERE AND THE CITY KEEPS GROWING.
WE'RE OVERDUE FOR CODE CHANGES TO ALLOW THE CITY TO CATCH UP WITH THAT GROWTH.
ANYWAY, I THANK THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PLANNING COMMISSION TO SIT THROUGH ALL THIS AND WHO ARE TAKING A STAND AND ADDRESSING HOUSING.
SO MY NEPHEW'S DAUGHTER AND NEW PEOPLE COMING TO THE CITY CAN STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE IN THE CITY AND SO WE CAN ALL GROW TOGETHER.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE.
UM, THE AUSTIN GEORGETOWN CORRIDOR HAS BEEN THE FASTEST GROWING IN THE NATION FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOMES.
THERE'S JUST NO WAY AROUND THAT.
UM, CURRENTLY THE LAND CODE IS OUT OF DATE.
UH, IN 1931, THE UH, MINIMUM MOD SIZE WAS 3000 SQUARE FEET.
UH, IT CHANGED TO THE CURRENT 57 50 IN 1948, SAME YEAR THAT THEY REMOVED THE UH, OR THAT THEY MADE RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ILLEGAL.
THAT'S NOT A LEGACY THAT I WANT TO HANG MY HAT ON.
UM, UH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PRECEDENT FOR HOW DO CITIES GROW, UH, EQU UH, EQUITABLY.
UM, SO I LOOK AT HISTORIC OR OLDER CITIES LIKE BOSTON AND BUFFALO,
[02:15:01]
AND THEY'RE FILLED WITH WONDERFUL LITTLE THREE PLEXES.UH, OR THE BOSTON TRIPLE DECKER.
THAT'S THE, THE TYPOLOGY THAT HELPED BUILD OUT BOSTON.
UM, SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE MIXED IN WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES.
THESE MAKE FOR REALLY NICE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, I WANNA APPLAUD YOU GUYS AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR DOING THIS IN A REALLY, UM, PIECE BY PIECE WAY.
I THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
UH, LET'S MAKE SURE WE GET EACH PIECE RIGHT AS WE BUILD UPON IT.
UM, THERE'S A FEW KEY THINGS THAT WE, UH, NEED TO GET RIGHT.
LIKE, UH, WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE BUILDING SMALLER, UM, AND MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE, UH, KEEPING THE HOMES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS THAT LOTS OF OUR EXISTING BUILDING STOCK IS BEING TORN DOWN, UH, IN FAVOR OF MUCH BIGGER, LARGER, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
THAT'S NOT A TREND THAT WE WANNA DO.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THIS HAS A REAL, UM, CHANCE AT GETTING THAT RIGHT.
I LIKE PEOPLE, AND I, AND I THINK THIS IS GONNA BRING MORE PEOPLE, SO THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN RO, AND SHE HAD TWO MINUTES DONATED BY SHARON BLYTHE.
SHARON BLYTHE, ARE YOU HERE? CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? SHE'S, SHE STEPPED OUT HER MINUTE FOR THE RESTROOM, BUT IT'S EASIER.
MS. RO, SHE HAS TO BE HERE FOR YOU TO TAKE THAT FOUR MINUTES.
LET ME WAIT THEN FOR HER TO COME BACK.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? FEEL LIKE, IS THERE SOMEBODY ALREADY BEEN CALLED? I'LL CALL THE NEXT BATCH OF PEOPLE.
DARLA EVANS, ROBIN SANDERS, AARON SCHMELZER, SEAN MCCARTHY, AND BILL MCCALLEY.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SOMEBODY START TALKING.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL AND, UH, PLANNING MEMBERS OF PLANNING COMMISSION FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
PLEASE DO NOT ELIMINATE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.
THESE CHANGES WILL INCREASE AUSTIN'S COST OF LIVING, ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF HOME OWNERSHIP FOR WORKING IN MIDDLE CLASS EARNERS.
DRIVE DENSITY OF A PERMANENT RENTER POPULATION THAT AUSTIN DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT EXACERBATE THE STR MARKET EROSION OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS, AND DRIVE OUT EXISTING AND ESPECIALLY DIVERSE, UH, COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES, ULTIMATELY BENEFITING ONLY REAL ESTATE INTERESTS.
THESE CHANGES ONLY ADVANTAGE THE WEALTHY PRIVATE EQUITY AND CORPORATE REAL ESTATE INTERESTS THAT HAVE THE CAPITAL AND WHEREWITHAL TO ACQUIRE EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND REDEVELOP THEM INTO MULTI-UNIT, FULL AND SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES AT EVER INCREASING LEVELS OF RENT.
THIS WILL DISPLACE EXISTING FAMILIES WHO DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF MOVING SOMEWHERE ELSE AND FINANCING TO REBUILD THEIR CURRENT HOME, SIMPLY TO AFFORD THE HOUSE THEY LIVE IN.
THIS PUSHES AUSTIN INTO A TOTALITARIAN RENTER STRAIT STATE, INCREASING HOME VALUES AND PROPERTY TAXES WHEREBY SINGLE INDIVIDUALS AND DUAL INCOME FAMILIES ARE UNABLE TO FINANCE OR AFFORD HOME OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OWN REDUCING EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
THAT VALUE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY ALLOWING FOR UP TO THREE UNITS WITH THE INTENTION OF FURTHER SUB SUBDIVIDING LOTS IN PHASE TWO, WHILE AVOIDING THE DISCUSSION OF INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING ELECTRICITY, WATER WASTE, EMERGENCY SERVICES IS A DERELICTION.
ELIMINATING STR AND OCCUPANCY RESTRICTIONS IS WILLFULLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
AND TO WHAT END IF MUELLER'S REDEVELOPMENT IS A TEMPLATE FOR SUCCESS, PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW TODAY'S MUELLER MEDIAN HOME VALUE OF 860,000 AT THE HIGHEST INTEREST RATE IN DECADES IS A PATH TO AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP.
DENSITY DOES NOT EQUAL AFFORDABILITY.
SOLUTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD BE PURSUED.
HOWEVER, THEY SHOULD NOT BE AS RUSHED AND SHORTSIGHTED AS THIS.
THERE SHOULD BE ADEQUATE DUE DILIGENCE.
IF THIS IS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, PLEASE PUT THIS TO A VOTE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS INPUT.
I'M A 42 YEAR RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND A 32 YEAR RESIDENT OF MY CURRENT HOME.
I HAVE GIVEN IT A LOT MORE ENERGY AND MONEY THAN A PIECE OF REAL ESTATE MIGHT ORDINARILY DESERVE, BUT I LOVE IT.
[02:20:01]
1891 AND AT THIS POINT, MY PROPERTY TAXES FOR MY HOME ARE A FACTOR OF SEVEN OF WHAT THEY WERE WHEN I FIRST OWNED THIS HOME.I'M A RETIRED CITY OF AUSTIN LAWYER.
I HAVE A GREAT STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN MY HOME, UH, AND TO MAKE THIS A LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN THOUGH, UH, I'VE BEEN THERE SO LONG.
I LOVE THE BENEFIT OF THE VALUE THAT, OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LIVE IN.
BUT MY PROPERTY TAXES PRORATED, THE TOTAL NUMBER DIVIDED BY 12 IS MORE THAN TWICE WHAT MY MORTGAGE EVER WAS.
SO IF THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF HOW WE ARE IMPACTED, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS PROPOSAL CANNOT INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A HATE ISSUE OR A STOKING FEAR ISSUE.
OUR PROPERTY TAXES INCREASED DRAMATICALLY ANYWAY.
AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT REALLY A DEVELOPER DRIVEN, I THINK IT HAS TO BE PROPOSAL.
PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA BUILD TINY HOUSES.
THEY'RE GONNA BE THE BUILD THE BIGGEST HOUSES THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH AND SELL 'EM FOR THE MOST MONEY THEY CAN.
AND SO NOW WE'RE GONNA BE COMPARABLE TO THESE HOUSES THAT ARE GOING TO REALLY DEEPLY AFFECT THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
I SO APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS ABOUT FIRE SAFETY AND RUNOFF, AND I WANNA KNOW HOW HISTORIC HOMES ARE GONNA BE PROTECTED UNDER THIS BECAUSE THE BEST ENVIRONMENTAL USE WE CAN MAKE IS USING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
MS. PETRO, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UH, SUSAN SPIRO AND I LIVE IN EIGHT.
I WISH TO EXPRESS MY VERY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE ELIMINATION OF SINGLE FAMILY ZONING AND THE DESTRUCTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE NAME OF AFFORDABILITY.
IF AFFORDABILITY IS YOUR TRUE MOTIVE, THE INCREASED COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE FACTORED IN.
AND I THANK YOU MS. MTEL FOR ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.
THAT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT QUESTION.
SO WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS WHAT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE'S GOING TO BE, WHAT IT'S GONNA COST, AND WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR IT.
AND YOU CAN'T JUST ELIMINATE OR CHANGE ZONING WITHOUT A PLAN FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THAT'S THE HARD INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ALSO HAVE A SOFT INFRA, WHAT I WOULD CALL A SOFT INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM HERE, AND THAT IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE EMERGENCY, UM, WORKERS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WE HAVE NOW.
AND YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THAT TO EXPLAIN THIS.
THIS PLAN TO ME, UM, LOOKS AND VALUES THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING INTO AUSTIN AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
IN OTHER WORDS, NEW PEOPLE WANNA MOVE IN.
SO YOU, IF YOU'VE OWNED A HOME FOR 30 YEARS OR WORKED TO GET HOME, WE NEED TO MOVE YOU OUT, OR WE NEED TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES THAT YOUR PLANNERS PUT UP THERE AND ASK YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, IS THAT THAT HOW YOU LIVED? OR DID YOU MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE HOUSE WITH A YARD WHERE THE CHILD COULD BE RAISED AND GO TO SCHOOL? TURNING THOSE DESCRIPTIONS INTO AUSTIN IS REALLY A VERY SAD SITUATION.
WHEN A DEVELOPER COMES IN TO TO DEVELOP AN AREA, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN FOR SEWER, WATER, DRAINAGE, IMPERVIOUS COVER, PAVING, ELECTRICAL DEMAND.
AND THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THAT.
AND FURTHERMORE, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR IT.
BUT NOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE WILL INCREASE THAT BY THREE TIMES.
AND IF YOU CUT THE LOTS IN HALF, SIX TIMES AND WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT? IS THAT GONNA BE A GENERAL TAX INCREASE? WILL JUST PART OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SUBDIVISION NEED IT? AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE COMING FROM THE STREET.
I'M CALLING CALL LOOKING AT THE STREET.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT A 50 HOME SUBDIVISION, JUST LOOK AT AT, AT SEWAGE FOR, FOR ONE, YOU KNOW, EXAMPLE.
UM, USUALLY THAT WOULD TAKE 10,000 GALLONS OF SEWAGE A DAY.
A DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT ONE BUILDING PLUS A 20%, UH, OVERAGE.
SO THAT'S 12,000 GALLONS OF SEWAGE FLOW FOR THOSE 50 HOUSES.
WITH NOW THREE TIMES AS MANY, YOU'VE GOT 36,000 GALLONS OF SEWAGE.
THOSE LINES ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO AND HOW IS IT GOING TO BE PAID FOR.
[02:25:01]
THE FISCAL ASPECT OF THIS PROPOSAL AND THE REALITY OF WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE WHOLLY INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE NEED TO BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD.WHEN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF 50 GROWS TO SIXTY, SEVENTY, NINETY, A HUNDRED AND TWENTY OR 150 EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE TAXPAYERS DIDN'T HAVE TO BE PAID BEFORE, AND NOW WE'LL BE REPLACING ALL OVER THE CITY WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT? THIS DOES NOT HELP AFFORDABILITY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THE OTHER THING YOU KNOW THAT YOU HEAR WHEN, WHEN YOU COME TO THESE HEARINGS IS THAT DENSITY INCREASE, DEC INCREASES AFFORDABILITY.
HOW MANY APARTMENTS DO WE HAVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS TODAY AS OPPOSED TO FIVE YEARS AGO? ARE THEY CHEAPER? I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS A FALLACY AND GENTRIFICATION, LET'S LOOK AT THAT.
WE WENT INTO EAST AUSTIN, SMALL HOMES, RAINY STREETS, AND OTHER EXAMPLE, SMALL HOMES.
MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR OWN THAT AND THEY WERE FORCED TO LEAVE.
HI, MY NAME IS ERIN SCHMELZER.
I SUPPORT THIS MEASURE WITH A VERY STRONG AND SPECIFIC CAVEAT.
INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN AFFORD TO BUILD AND RENT IT OUT WILL BE THE ONES TO GAIN THE EQUITY FROM THIS, THEY GET THE FINANCIAL BOON.
CURRENTLY, I DON'T SEE ANY PROTECTION, CLARIFIED PROTECTION FOR RENTERS OR A WAY TO ENSURE LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS ACTUALLY CAN BUY OR RENT THESE NEW HOMES.
I THINK COUNCIL NEEDS TO ADD AND ENFORCE A CLARIFICATION FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM.
HOME IS A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT STEP, AND I HOPE THIS INITIATIVE EVENTUALLY LEADS US TO, AS A CITY TO CREATE MIDDLE DENSITY MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOODS.
YOU'VE ALSO HEARD SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER.
THESE ARE NOT SERIOUS ARGUMENTS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER IS WHAT WE MAKE IT.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T LOOK THE WAY IT DOES NOW OR LIKELY DOESN'T.
ULTIMATELY, WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT? GIVING PEOPLE A PLACE TO LIVE OR PUSHING LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS TO THE PERIPHERY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND MAKING IT HARDER FOR THEM TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES.
I'VE ALSO HEARD COMPLAINTS ABOUT MUELLER.
THERE'S A REASON THAT THOSE COSTS, I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW IF THE, UH, THE NUMBERS THAT THEY'RE GIVING ARE, ARE REAL.
UH, THE AVERAGE HOME PRICES, I HAVEN'T CHECKED MYSELF.
BUT THE REASON THAT OSTENSIBLY IT COSTS SO MUCH IS THAT PEOPLE WANNA LIVE THERE.
AND IT'S NOT THE THE URBANIST UTOPIA.
MAYBE THEY LIKE TO PRETEND IT'S STILL A VERY CAR DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT.
YES, THE HOMES ARE CLOSED TOGETHER, BUT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY PROVIDING ALL BASIC ESSENTIAL NEEDS WITHIN A FIVE MINUTE OR 15 MINUTE WALK SLASH BIKE RIDE.
OKAY? SO THESE, THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT MOLAR BEING IN A A GRAND EXPERIMENT, THEY KIND OF FALL FLAT BECAUSE AS A CITY AS A WHOLE, WE'RE STILL NOT DOING THAT AT A BROAD LEVEL.
WE SEE THAT PEOPLE VACATION IN PLACES THAT HAVE THAT.
SO WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THAT HERE? THANK YOU.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND I RISE TO SUPPORT THIS BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY.
PROFESSIONALLY, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT FORWARD.
WE'RE AN AUSTIN 5 0 1 C THREE WITH A MISSION TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT.
WE ALL KNOW THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEMS DO BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE LIVING NEAR TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
AND WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THIS ACT, ALONG WITH REDUCING PARKING MINIMUMS, REDUCING COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND HOPEFULLY SOME FURTHER ZONING ISSUES, CAN ACTUALLY ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE NEAR ZONING CORRIDORS AND RIDE THE TRAINS AND BUSES THAT PROJECT CONNECT WILL BUILD OUT.
THAT'S NOT ONLY GOOD POLICY GENERALLY, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GONNA ASK FOR THOSE INCREASES WHEN THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP GOES FOR THEIR GRANT APPLICATION.
AND SO THE MORE WE CAN DO HERE, THE MORE AMMUNITION WE GIVE THEM TO GET AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE TO GREAT BUILD THIS GREAT NEW TRANSIT SYSTEM.
PERSONALLY, UH, I SPENT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AS A STATE SECRETARY OF LABOR, AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU LEARN THAT WORKERS NEED THREE THINGS TO BE NEAR THEIR JOBS.
THEY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE AND CHILDCARE.
WITHOUT THOSE THREE THINGS, PEOPLE CAN'T GO TO WORK.
YOU HEARD FROM THE ARP WHERE FOLKS ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING CAREGIVERS.
YOU HEARD FROM THE UNION SAYING THEIR FOLKS CAN'T FIND WORK.
YOU HEARD FROM, UH, A MEDICAL PROVIDER SAYING THEY CAN'T HIRE NURSES OR NURSING ASSISTANTS OR FOLKS TO RUN THEIR MEDICAL OPERATIONS HERE.
IF WE WANT OUR WORKERS TO LIVE NEAR US AND GIVE US THE SERVICES THAT YOU NEED, THEY SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE IN AUSTIN JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
[02:30:05]
NEXT BATCH OF FOLKS, IRENE PICKARD, EDGAR HANDEL, ANNU, REZA, SUSAN FOLIC, AND ICK AND ARAN REAN.PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND IF THERE'S NOBODY AT THE PODIUM, STEP UP THERE AND START TALKING.
ARE THEY UP? YES, MR. PICKHARDT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I HAVE SLIDES AND I ALSO HAVE A HANDOUT.
THE SLIDES SHOULD BE UP ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
AND I WILL BE BEGIN WHEN THEY GO UP.
UM, TO QUOTE SOMEONE WHO I REALLY ADMIRE AND APPRECIATE, WE DON'T WANT TO HURT SOMETHING THAT WE LOVE.
AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S OUR TREES IN OUR CITY, OUR TREES THAT PROVIDE FOR OUR HEALTH.
WE KNOW THAT OUR TREES ARE CRUCIAL FOR PROVIDING RUNOFF PROTECTION, ABSORPTION OF WATER.
THEY PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
THEY ABSORB SULFUR DIOXIDE, NOX NITROGEN DIOXIDES.
WE KNOW THAT THE HEART, CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE RATES GO UP IN PLACES WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TREES AS WELL AS, UM, HEART ATTACKS.
HOWEVER, WE CAN SAY WE HAVE A GREAT ORDINANCE, TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE IN AUSTIN.
BUT I FOUND OUT I LOOKED AT A TEXAS A AND M, UM, SURVEY AND FOUND OUT IN AUSTIN IN 2014.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TREES WERE PROTECTED BY OUR GREAT ORDINANCE? 3.4% OF THE TREES.
AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, IF YOU COULD GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THE REMOVAL OF ALMOST ALL THE TREES IN OUR CITY.
AND IF IT, I'M SORRY MA'AM, BUT YOUR TIME EXPIRES.
IT TAKES TREES FIVE YEARS TO DIE AFTER THEIR ROOTS HAVE BEEN DISTURBED.
SO WE CAN ALL HAVE GOOD CONSCIENCE.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE GO VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT THREE, AND I'VE COME HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
UM, ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, UH, MY WIFE AND I WERE ABLE TO BUY A HOME IN THE GO VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND PART OF WHAT ENABLED THAT WAS THAT THEY WERE, THAT IT WAS ALLOWED ON, ON THAT LOT, THAT THERE WOULD BE TWO HOMES ON THAT PROPERTY, UM, THAT REALLY HELPED US GET A LEG UP AND BE ABLE TO BUY A HOME AND START A FAMILY.
UM, I THINK THAT, UM, THE ISSUE NOW THOUGH IS THAT IF YOU LOOK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU SEE EVEN THE LOTS THAT ARE SPLIT INTO AB UNITS, THE PRICES ARE NOW PROBABLY DOUBLED IN WHAT WE HAD PAID BACK WHEN, UM, WE BOUGHT OUR HOME.
UM, AND EVEN WORSE, THE LOTS THAT ARE NOW DEVELOPED AS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE I I'VE SEEN LISTINGS AS HIGH AS ONE A HALF, $2 MILLION.
SO IT IS VERY, VERY CRAZY OUT THERE.
UM, I THINK THEN THAT THE NEXT NATURAL STEP AS IT MAKES SENSE TO ME, WOULD BE TO MOVE TO THREE UNITS PER LOT OR EVEN MORE AS, UM, MAYBE POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE I'M, I'M REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN AT LEAST GET BACK TO A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES LIKE MINE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT EVEN REALLY GO FURTHER BEYOND AND ACHIEVE LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY THAT ARE GREATER THAN WHAT WAS AVAILABLE EVEN WHEN, UH, MY, UM, ME AND MY WIFE BOUGHT FIVE YEARS AGO.
UM, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE MORE FAMILIES CAN AFFORD TO LIVE AND MORE HOUSEHOLDS IN GENERAL CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND A FUTURE WHERE OUR KIDS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THIS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE AND EVERYONE COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION, WHO HAS HELPED MOVE THIS FORWARD.
UM, I HOPE THAT WE CAN PASS THIS AND SEE EVEN, UH, MORE REFORMS IN THE FUTURE.
[02:35:02]
HI, MY NAME IS ANNU SHAZIAN.I LIVE IN THE MIGUEL VALLEY IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, MY FAMILY AND I LIVED WITH MY GRANDMOTHER FOR SOME TIME.
DURING THAT TIME, SHE SOLD HER DETACHED HOME AND USED THAT MONEY TOWARDS BUILDING A FOURPLEX.
SHE DOWNSIDES INTO ONE OF THE HOMES WITHIN THE FOURPLEX, AND SHE SHARED THE REST OF MY AUNTS AND UNCLES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THIS WAS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HER FAMILY TO HAVE SOME RENTAL INCOME WHERE I GREW UP.
THIS WAS NOT ONLY ALLOWED, BUT ALSO NOT UNCOMMON.
AUSTIN SHOULD ALLOW FAMILIES TO HAVE THE BENEFITS OF THIS KIND OF MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSING AND LIVING CLOSE IN A COMMUNITY.
THE HOME INITIATIVE WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO BUILD DI DIVERSE HOUSING ALL ACROSS AUSTIN, INCLUDING HOUSING THAT CAN BE USED FOR MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS.
I HOPE COUNCIL PROVES THESE CHANGES AS A STEP TOWARDS A DIVERSE AND HEALTHY AUSTIN.
I'M HERE IN THE SUPPORT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
UM, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PURCHASE A TOWNHOUSE IN DISTRICT ONE, UM, OVER 10 YEARS AGO, AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GIVE THAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE NOW IN AUSTIN AS WELL.
NEXT BATCH IS BENJAMIN CHEN, BRENNAN GRIFFIN, KAI GRAY, TOMMY VINEYARD, AND NICOLE NOZEK.
PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, AND IF NO ONE'S AT THE MICROPHONE, GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT.
STATE YOUR NAME AND PLEASE GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS.
IF THERE'S AN OPEN PODIUM, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THAT PODIUM AND BEGIN YOUR TWO MINUTES.
YEAH, MAKE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THEN YOU CAN BEGIN.
MY NAME IS KAI GRAY, I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN INFIELD COALITION, AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT WHY I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE ABOUT 10 YEARS WHEN I STARTED THIS, UM, WORKING BUILDING ADUS.
AND YOU'D GO TO THE CITY AND YOU'D HAVE A LOT, AND YOU'D SAY, WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS? AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, YOU CAN BUILD A BIG HOUSE ON A BIG LOT.
AND I'M LIKE, WELL, I DON'T WANNA DO THAT.
I WANNA BUILD LIKE MULTIPLE SMALL HOUSES THAT KINDA MAKES MORE SENSE.
AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S ILLEGAL.
WE DON'T ALLOW THIS, WHICH IS CONFUSING 'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAD A SHORTAGE, SHORTAGE OF LIKE TWO OR $3 MILLION HOUSES, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW WITH, WITH, UH, SINGLE FAMILY ZONING.
UM, AND, AND THIS IS ANOTHER THING TOO.
PEOPLE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT DEVELOPERS, AND I I WANNA BE CLEAR, DEVELOPERS ARE GONNA MAKE MONEY EITHER WAY.
IF, IF DEVELOPERS CAN ONLY BUILD SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, THEY'RE GONNA BUILD TWO OR $3 MILLION HOMES AND, AND MAKE MONEY.
LIKE, THAT'S NOT GONNA STOP DEVELOPERS.
THE QUESTION IS, WHAT KIND OF CITY DO WE WANT, I THINK IS WHAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON.
UM, AND, AND THE THING I'VE SEEN WHERE, YOU KNOW, MOSTLY WE'LL DO IS WE'LL TAKE A LOT AND WE'LL KEEP THE HOUSE AND BUILD AN ADU.
AND THE REASON WHY PERSONALLY FIND THAT, UM, IMPACTFUL IS THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING, BUT IF, IF WE JUST HAVE THE POPULATIONS GROWING AND WE DON'T BUILD THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING TO SUPPORT THAT, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS WE'RE GONNA FORCE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY.
AND, AND THAT HAS REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR PEOPLE.
IT IMPACTS THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
IT MEANS PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MORE TIME AND TRAFFIC HAVING THE DRIVE BACK AND FORTH FROM OUT THE OUTSKIRTS INTO THE CITY WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING LESS TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND WITH THEIR KIDS AND WITH THEIR LOVED ONES.
THAT MEANS PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR KIDS FIRST STEP OR THEIR FIRST WORDS BECAUSE THEY'RE SINCE SPENDING TIME IN TRAFFIC.
THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
IT ALSO, WHILE THEY'RE SPENDING THIS TIME GOING BACK AND FORTH, THEY'RE MAKING CLIMATE CHANGE WORSE BECAUSE WE'RE FORCING THEM TO DRIVE MORE AND MORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'D WANNA TAKE PEOPLE WHO WANNA LIVE CENTRALLY AND HAVE A MORE LOW CARBON, UM, LIFESTYLE AND FORCE THEM TO LIVE FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY.
UM, IT JUST, IT JUST HASN'T MADE ANY SENSE.
AND, AND THE OTHER THING I'VE ENJOYED IS WHEN WE DO THIS, WHEN WE, WE TAKE THE EXISTING HOUSE IN THE BACK HOUSE, THOSE ARE A LOT OF TIMES THE MOST AFFORDABLE, UM, MARKET RATE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR WATSON FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
UH, MY NAME IS NICOLE SEK AND I'M THE CHAIR OF TEXANS FOR REASONABLE SOLUTIONS.
UH, WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON MAKING THE AMERICAN DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP ATTAINABLE FOR AMERICANS AND TEXANS.
I'M ALSO THE CHAIR OF AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY POLICY ADVOCACY COMMITTEE AS WELL.
OVER HERE, WE ARE STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME PROPOSAL.
ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS HAVING A COMMUNITY WITH EMTS, TEACHERS AND NURSES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT THE HOME PROPOSAL.
I WOULD LOVE TO DISCUSS THE STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOME AND TAMING HOUSING PRICES FOR OUR MIDDLE CLASS CRITICAL WORKERS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, AND SENIORS IN PUBLIC POLICY.
AS Y'ALL KNOW, ONE OF THE STRONGEST PIECES OF EVIDENCE TO LOOK AT IS HISTORY.
DID SIMILAR POLICIES WORK IN OTHER CITIES IN THE PAST? THE ANSWER HERE IS A CLEAR AND RESOUNDING YES IN HOUSTON.
WHEN LOOKING AT, UH, WHEN LOOKING AT HOW MUCH HOME TOWN HOMES COST NEWLY BUILT
[02:40:01]
COMPARED TO NON TOWN HOMES, REGULAR HOMES, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT'S $345,000 MEDIAN HOME PRICE FOR A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED TOWN HOME.WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT A NON TOWN HOME OR AN MEDIAN HOME, IT ENDS UP BEING $540,000.
THIS IS ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY PEW IN 2019, DESPITE MIN MINNEAPOLIS GROWING IN POPULATION, AFTER PASSING A VERY SIMILAR PROPOSAL AS THE ONE BEFORE YOU TODAY, THE RENTS STABILIZED WHEN YOU ADJUST FOR INFLATION, FAR MORE THAN ITS COMPARABLE.
MIDWESTERN CITIES, DESPITE OTHER MIDWESTERN CITIES LOSING POPULATION, MOST OTHER CITIES RENTS INCREASED BY OVER 30% WHILE MINNEAPOLIS'S RENT HELD STEADY RELATIVE TO OTHER MIDWESTERN METROS.
WE HAVE TRIED THIS POLICY AND IT HAS WORKED IN OTHER CITIES LIKE MINNEAPOLIS AND HOUSTON.
HOME SERVED AS ONE OF THE KEY POLICIES TO TAME HOUSING PRICES IN MINNEAPOLIS.
AND IF HISTORY TELLS ANY STORY, IT WILL CONTRIBUTE GREATLY IN TAMING HOUSING PRICES HERE AS WELL.
A VOTE AGAINST HOME IS A VOTE AGAINST THE MIDDLE CLASS SHAW AND AUSTIN HOME.
THE NEXT BATCH IS JEFFREY BOWEN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD, BE READY TO TESTIFY.
AND I DON'T WANT TO CUT OFF ANYBODY'S ENTHUSIASM, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, AND IF WE ADD TIME, THEN SOMEBODY'S GONNA BE SPEAKING AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU'RE HOME IN BED, HAVING CLAPPED.
MY NAME IS BENJAMIN CHEN AND I'VE BEEN A NATIVE AUSTINITE FOR 26 YEARS, AND I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN DISTRICT ONE.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT TOWARDS UPZONING THREE UNITS AS WELL AS OTHER ZONING CHANGES.
I THINK OTHERS HAVE BROUGHT UP GREAT POINTS ON UPZONING LEADING TO DENSITY AND AFFORDABILITY, BUT I WANNA FOCUS MORE ON THE HOME INITIATIVE TOWARDS ALLOWING TINY HOMES AND RVS.
I BOUGHT MY HOME IN CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN FOUR YEARS AGO.
I PUT AN RV IN THE FRONT YARD AND I HOOKED IT UP TO ELECTRICITY AND WATER.
I I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA.
IN FACT, I TALKED TO MY DIRECT ADJACENT NEIGHBORS AND THEY HAD NO ISSUE WITH IT AT ALL.
I, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A GUEST SPACE FOR VISITING FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
IT'S, UH, I'VE INSPIRED MY ADJACENT NEIGHBOR TO PUT AN ART STUDIO IN HER FRONT YARD, I'M SORRY, HER BACKYARD.
AND I'VE EVEN USED MY RV TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR THE UNHOUSED.
LAST YEAR IN DECEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I KNOW Y'ALL REMEMBER THIS, IN 22, THERE WAS A WEEK OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES IN AUSTIN.
THERE IS A CAMP OF ABOUT 10 OR 20 INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S THE BOGGY CREEK GREEN BELT.
UM, I, I DON'T VISIT IT TOO MUCH, I JUST, I SEE, I SEE GUYS COMING IN AND OUTTA THERE.
AND THIS ONE DAY I TALKED TO JASON.
I JUST MAKE SMALL TALK WITH HIM FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND I OFFERED JASON, UM, JUST TO STAY IN MY RV FOR A WEEK, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
HE STAYED THERE FOR A WEEK WITHOUT ISSUE.
I WISH I COULD HAVE HELPED OUT MORE UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING.
THIS RV IN MY LOT IS NOT ALLOWED.
CODE COMPLIANCE CAME BY THE FIRST TIME TO TELL ME THE RV NEEDS TO BE SCREENED WITH A FENCE.
CODE COMPLIANCE CAME BY A SECOND TIME TO TELL ME THE RV WAS CONSIDERED A DWELLING UNIT.
I TOLD THEM THE STORY ABOUT JASON AND HOW IT WAS ILLEGAL.
CODE COMPLIANCE CAME BY THE THIRD TIME TO TELL ME I CANNOT USE MY RV AS AN OFFICE, AND THE ART STUDIO IS ALSO NOT IN CODE.
UH, I'M GONNA WRAP UP SOON, BUT I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THE ENCROACHMENT OF PROPERTY RIGHTS.
THAT IS INSTEAD, COUNSEL, I JUST WANT YOU TO CONSIDER HOW TINY HOMES AND RVS CAN BE PART OF A DIVERSE HOUSING SOLUTION.
HELLO, MY NAME IS TOMMY VINEYARD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE, AND I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE BEING TAKEN UP BY COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, UH, FOR YOUR SPONSORSHIP OF THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR DISTRICT.
UM, KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD, RIGHT? THAT'S A PHRASE THAT HAS BECOME EMBLEMATIC OF OUR CITY.
UH, LATELY THIS PHRASE HAS BEEN CO-OPTED BY HOUSING OPPOSITION GROUPS TO SAY BLUNTLY, THOSE WHO ARE MOVING HERE ARE RUINING OUR CITY.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WHAT ORIGINALLY MADE AUSTIN WEIRD WAS ITS ABILITY TO ALLOW A DIVERSE POPULATION, A CHIEF PLACE TO STAY AND TO CALL HOME.
AND IF WE DO NOT EMBRACE THAT CHANGE, AUSTIN WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME LESS AND LESS AFFORDABLE AND LESS AND LESS DIVERSE AS SHOWN IN PLACES LIKE MINNEAPOLIS AND HOUSTON, BUILDING MORE HOUSING STABILIZES RENT PRICES SPREADS THE CITY'S TAX BURDEN AMONG MORE PEOPLE, AND CRUCIALLY CREATES A MORE DIVERSE HOUSING STOCK THAT CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE TO THOSE THAT NEED IT.
OUR TEACHERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR MUSICIANS, OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, OUR ARTISTS,
[02:45:01]
OUR ELDERLY, THE FOLKS AROUND US WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THE CITY THAT THEY GREW UP IN, THEY ALL DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN OR RENT A HOME IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY GREW UP IN AND OR ARE SERVING.
LET'S STOP DIGGING IN OUR HEELS ON HOUSING AND LET'S START OPENING UP OUR ARMS TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE HERE.
AFTER ALL, IT'S THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WHO MAKE THIS CITY GREAT, AND WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE THIS CITY AFFORDABLE FOR ITS RESIDENTS.
PLEASE USE THIS ITEM AS A STEPPING STONE TO EMBRACE THE CHANGE THAT IS OCCURRING AROUND US AND MAKE OUR CITY BETTER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
I'M IN LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
UH, I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF.
UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THIS THAT WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH ON, AND I WAS HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN WE STARTED TALK ABOUT THIS.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK ALLISON ALTER AND ALSO CAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR THEIR STAND ON LISTENING TO THE REST OF US.
THEY'RE, WE HAVE A WHOLE GENERATION THAT HAS LIVED HERE AND THEY WANNA STAY HERE.
MY KIDS NO LONGER LIVE HERE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT I'M HERE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE FACT OF THOSE THAT ARE BEING DRIVEN OUT.
UM, I'M NOW 67, BUT I'M AT THAT POINT OF I'M SOMEWHERE, DEPENDING UPON WHAT YEAR IT IS AND THE 50 TO 60% MFI, AND I'M STILL WORKING ONLY BECAUSE I WANT TO, BUT I HATE TO SEE LONGTIME RESIDENTS BEING DRIVEN OUT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TAXES AND THE, AND THE EXTRAORDINARY COST.
I'M ALSO A PROPERTY RIGHTS ADVOCATE.
YOU SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS, BUT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE RED REDUCTION IN OUR CANOPY, OUR TREE CANOPY, WHICH RECENTLY WAS REPORTED AT 30%.
SO WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, OUR TREES ARE PUTTING IN A 400 SQUARE FOOT, UH, TINY HOME.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT AT LEAST THE IMPERVIOUS COVER IS STILL PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
SO HOW MANY ARE REALLY GOING TO BE AFFECTED WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THIS? THERE MAY BE SOME HOUSES, MINE PROBABLY WILL NOT ON MY 6,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT WITH MY HOUSE AND THOSE ISSUES.
THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS IN HERE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY.
BASTROP, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS NOW GOING AND GETTING RID OF WHAT THEY CURRENTLY STARTED OUT WITH THEIR CODE NECK FROM THREE YEARS AGO AND STARTING THE WHOLE PROCESS OVER BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF UN UN UH, THE, THE CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS WHEN THEY CHANGED OVER, THEY'RE HAVING A MEETING NEXT MONTH TO WHERE THEY'RE INVOLVING THE PUBLIC.
AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO INVOLVE THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THOSE THAT ARE INVOLVED.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HEARING THOSE THAT ARE INVOLVED AND LIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY TODAY.
UH, MY NAME IS KATRINA MILLER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT AND I WORK FOR FARM AND CITY.
UM, WE ARE A NONPROFIT THINK TANK, UM, DEDICATED TO HIGH QUALITY URBAN AND RURAL HABITAT FOR TEXANS IN PERPETUITY.
SO WHAT PART OF WHAT THAT MEANS IS ENSURING THAT BOTH THE URBAN LANDSCAPE AND THE RURAL LANDSCAPE CAN REMAIN, UM, INTACT AND, AND KIND OF, UH, MAINTAIN THE CHARACTER THAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING OF WHEN THEY THINK OF THAT.
SO PART OF THE ISSUE IN AUSTIN TODAY IS THAT PEOPLE ARE IMAGINING A RURAL HABITAT, BUT THEY LIVE IN A CITY, THEY LIVE IN AN URBAN AREA, AND THAT ISN'T, THAT ISN'T COMPATIBLE WITH REALITY.
SO, SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE TODAY IS THAT WE NEED DENSITY IN PART BECAUSE IT DOES ACTUALLY IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY.
INCLU IMPROVING THE, UM, AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING STOCK SIMPLY DOES IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY.
BUT ALSO THAT CURRENT LANDOWNERS, IF THEY'RE TAX BURDENED, THEY CAN BUILD A COUPLE OF ADUS AND RENT OUT THAT LAND AND POTENTIALLY BE ABLE TO STAY IN A WAY THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BEFORE.
THAT'S AN OPTION THAT WILL BE OPENED UP BY THIS BILL.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF IT.
UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT TRANSIT FORWARD AND I ARE VERY ALIGNED BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT DENSITY IS WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY AS WELL.
IT FACILITATES TRANSIT RIDERSHIP.
THE CURRENT CYCLE, EVEN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF MOSTLY APARTMENTS IS PRETTY LOW.
AND THE, UM, FREQUENCY OF THE ONLY BUS LINE THAT COMES BY ME IS 36 MINUTES ON AVERAGE.
IT REQUIRES THAT PEOPLE THINK AHEAD A LOT AND THAT IS AN EMBEDDED PRIVILEGE.
ALLOWING FOR ADDITIONAL DENSITY MEANS ADDITIONAL TRANSIT RIDERS, UM, WHO ARE NOT POLLUTING, USING THEIR VEHICLES TO GET WHEREVER THEY NEED TO GO.
UM, AND OVERALL, LIKE BUILDING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, WE'RE ALL, WE'RE ALL LIVING HERE NOW AND MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING.
UM, WE EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE 50 MILLION TEXANS BY 2050.
AND THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER WE CAN BUILD IN A WAY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND SMART TO CREATE ENOUGH HABITAT FOR EVERYONE THAT'S GONNA BE HERE.
THE NEXT BATCH OF FOLKS IS DEBORAH SIS TRUNK, RYAN PKY, LOGAN
[02:50:01]
SUGAR, ALEX CHOI, KAREN WOLF, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE OPEN PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS RYAN PKI AND I'M A SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT ONE.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS MEASURE SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE HOME RESOLUTION IN JULY.
MANY FOLKS HAVE BEEN DOING THOUGHTFUL WORK TO EXPLAIN WHAT THESE REFORMS WILL AND WON'T DO AND WHY THEY'RE SO NECESSARY FOR AUSTIN.
YET THE AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION WE'VE ALL HEARD ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON NEXTDOOR IN OUR INBOXES HAS BEEN STUNNING.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT THESE REFORMS WILL CAUSE GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT WHILE FOLKS GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT ARE ALREADY HAPPENING AND THEY'VE BEEN HAPPENING UNDER THE CURRENT CODE FOR DECADES.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT WE NEED THOUGHTFUL PLANNED GROWTH.
WELL, WE CAN ALL SEE WHAT THE PAST 40 YEARS OF THOUGHTFUL PLANNED GROWTH HAS DONE FOR AFFORDABILITY.
CAN AUSTIN SUSTAIN 40 MORE YEARS OF SUCH THOUGHTFULNESS? WE HAVE HEARD THAT THESE REFORMS ARE A VIOLATION OF HOMEOWNER PROPERTY RIGHTS.
WELL, THESE RESOLUTIONS EXPAND HOMEOWNER PROPERTY RIGHTS, GIVING THEM MORE OPTIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
WHAT OPPONENTS ACTUALLY MEAN IS THAT THESE REFORMS WILL SLIGHTLY DIMINISH THEIR POWER TO DICTATE WHAT THEIR NEIGHBORS CAN DO WITH THEIR OWN PROPERTIES.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT THESE REFORMS WILL CHANGE.
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER OPPONENTS HAVE SCREAMED BLOODY MURDER ABOUT TINY HOMES AS IF THEY'RE A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
WELL, I THINK WE COULD TAKE A LESSON FROM SESAME STREET.
IT'S ESSENTIAL TO THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR CITIES.
WE CAN EITHER ADAPT SENSIBLY TO CHANGE OR WE CAN CONTINUE ON AN UNTENABLE PATH THAT LEAVES OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS SHORTCHANGE.
CHANGE IS SCARY, BUT THE FEAR-MONGERING ABOUT THESE CHANGES IS TOTALLY OUT OF PROPORTION TO WHAT THEY REPRESENT, WHICH IS SIMPLY MORE ATTAINABLE OPTIONS FOR AUSTINITES TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN TO THOSE WHO HAVE, UH, USED MISINFORMATION AND FEAR TO KILL OR TO TRY TO KILL MODEST, UH, MEASURES TO ADDRESS AS AUSTIN'S HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
I ASK, WHERE IS THE SENSE OF NEIGHBORLINESS? WHERE IS THAT UNITY OF PURPOSE? WHERE IS THE ALL IN Y'ALL? UH, I APPLAUD Y'ALL FOR TAKING ON THESE MEASURES TODAY AND UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I THINK I SHOULD HAVE JUST GIVEN THAT DUDE MY TWO MINUTES, BUT I'LL TRY MY BEST.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE A BUNCH MORE TO ADD TO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY.
I GUESS THE TWO TAKEAWAYS WOULD BE WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPONENTS SAYING SOMETHING LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS.
WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
AND LIKE, IT KIND OF IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TAKE THAT STATEMENT SERIOUSLY WHEN IT'S ESPOUSED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO USE A FOUR, 540 FOOT COMPATIBILITY BUFFER TO MAKE SURE THAT APARTMENTS CAN'T GET BUILT NEAR THEIR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
STAFF HAS WORKED EXTREMELY DILIGENTLY TO SHOW THAT THIS WILL HELP AFFORDABILITY, HARD STOP.
THE SECOND THING I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRAFFIC.
AND TO BE REALLY, ALL AUSTIN DRIVERS ARE CRAZY.
THERE'S NOT REALLY A LOSS THERE.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH MORE TO ADD.
I THINK AS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T OWN A CAR, IF, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE TRAFFIC KEEPS Y'ALL FROM GOING LIKE 40 MILES AN HOUR IN A RESIDENTIAL STREET, THAT'S KIND OF A WIN-WIN WIN FOR ME.
AND BEFORE I START, I WANT TO THANK MS. JENNIFER FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS THAT EVERYBODY IN MY COMMUNITY IS ASKING.
I LIVE IN THE CORONA HILLS CREEKSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THAT'S 180 3 2 90 CAMERON ROAD.
WE HAVE 235 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, TWO CONDO COMPLEXES, TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES, A GROUP OF 80 A HOMES.
WE HAVE A ONE SENIOR HOUSING COMMUNITY, ONE HOUSING AUTHORITY COMMUNITY, ONE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE NELSON FIELD, ONE CLIFTON CAREER CENTER.
WE HAVE FOUR PLEXES AND DUPLEXES.
WE HAVE SOME OF EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
I CAN BUILD THREE OF THESE ADDITIONAL HOMES ON MY PROPERTY.
I WOULD HAVE TO CUT DOWN MY THREE TREES THAT I PLANTED FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN.
I'D HAVE TO GO TO THE BANK AND GET A LOAN TO GET ALL OF THESE SMALL HOUSES COMPLEXES BUILT.
I CAN GO TO STORY, BUT ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE DAUGHTERS.
MY NEXT NEIGHBOR HAS GRANDDAUGHTERS.
MY OTHER NEIGHBOR HAVE DAUGHTERS.
DO YOU, UH, TWO OF 'EM GOT SWIMMING POOLS, DO YOU THINK? I RAN OUT TO SOMEBODY? UM, AND FOR THIS LOAN, I'M GONNA HAVE TO PAY.
I'M NOT GOING TO, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT I'M NOT GONNA CHARGE NO $900 RENT.
[02:55:01]
I'M GONNA CHARGE $2,900 IF I CAN TO PAY FOR THE LOAN AND PUT SOME MONEY IN MY POCKET.AND I WOULDN'T DO THAT TO MY NEIGHBORS BECAUSE I RENTED SOMEBODY THAT JUST CROSSED.
HALEY COLE, STREETCAR, NALU PARKER SIWA CHRISTIAN FOGERTY AND ANTHONY V.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR PRESENCE FOR THIS POWERFUL, POWERFUL TOPIC AT HAND.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, TO SUPPORT THIS HOME RESOLUTION.
UM, I'VE PERSONALLY BEEN IMPACTED BY AFFORDABLE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
AND I WAS UNHOUSED LAST YEAR FOR ALMOST A YEAR.
I'M AN ARTIST AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF MY MOST VALUABLE FRIENDS AND COLLABORATORS BE DRIVEN OUT OF THE CITY DUE TO HOUSING PRICES AND LACK OF INNOVATIVE IDEAS.
I THINK MY MAIN CONCERN HERE TODAY IS JUST TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE LEAN INTO INNOVATION AND TO CHANGE.
UM, PLEASE LEAN AWAY FROM FEAR OF CHANGE.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME CONCERNS.
I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS THERE, BUT I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD, LIKE PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE, KEEP OUR ARTISTS, KEEP OUR MUSICIANS, AND KEEP THE CITY THRIVING.
IF I COULD, HELLO, MY NAME IS PARKER SEWELL.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I AM THE ADVOCACY DIRECTOR FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.
I'M, I'M TESTIFYING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF LESLIE POOLE'S HOME RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE AUSTIN MORE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYONE.
AND I'D BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL WHO DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE AUSTIN MORE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND INCLUSIVE.
I CAME TO AUSTIN TO GO TO UT AND I STAYED.
I COULDN'T LEAVE 'CAUSE IT'S A GREAT CITY, BUT IT'S AN EXPENSIVE CITY.
IT'S AN INCREASINGLY UNAFFORDABLE CITY.
WE HEAR ABOUT THIS ISSUE CONSTANTLY FROM FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRICE OF RENT AND THE PRICE OF OWNING A HOME.
BUT THIS ISN'T JUST AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS YOUNG PEOPLE.
THIS AFFECTS OUR RETIREES WORKING IN MIDDLE CLASS AUSTINITES STUDENTS, PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE, AND WHO ARE AT RISK OF BEING DISPLACED IN THEIR OWN CITY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING.
THIS LEGISLATION THOUGH, WILL TAKE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT'S A COMMON SENSE, VERY REASONABLE PROPOSAL TO GIVE US MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AND TO GIVE US MORE OPTIONS GENERALLY THAT HAVE NOT EXISTED PREVIOUSLY IN MOST PARTS OF THE CITY, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WE BELIEVE THAT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND I FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE ALL OF OUR HOUSING PROBLEMS AND IT'S NOT GOING TO DO SO OVERNIGHT.
BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY STEP TO ACHIEVING HOUSING ABUNDANCE AND AFFORDABILITY FOR EVERYONE.
THIS IS WHAT GREAT LEADERS DO.
WE NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP TODAY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE YES ON HOME.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN FOGARTY.
I AM A RESIDENT OF D NINE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
SINCE MOVING TO AUSTIN A FEW YEARS AGO, I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, HAVE SLOWLY GROWN TO LOVE THIS CITY MORE AND MORE IN THE COMMUNITY I HAVE BUILT WITHIN IT.
HOWEVER, ALSO, LIKE MANY OTHERS, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY REMAINS THE BIGGEST HURDLE TO MAKING THE FIRM DECISION TO PUT DOWN ROOTS AND CALL AUSTIN MY PERMANENT HOME.
FOR ME, IT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE OF MY PARTNER AND I'S ISSUES WITH AFFORDING RENT, DESPITE STILL HAVING EXPERIENCED THE SLOW SQUEEZE OF CONSISTENTLY STEEP RENT HIKES YEAR AFTER YEAR.
FOR ME, IT IS ALSO ABOUT FAMILY.
MY MOTHER AND SISTER ARE BOTH DISABLED AND LIVE ON FIXED INCOMES IN A MOBILE HOME UNIT IN A CHEAPER LOCATION OUT OF TOWN.
IF AS IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE, I WILL END UP HAVING TO CARE FOR EITHER OF THEM, THEN I WILL HAVE TO MAKE A HARD CHOICE.
I'LL HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MOVING AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY I'VE BUILT HERE OR NOT TAKING CARE OF THE ONES I LOVE.
SIMPLY PUT, IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO HOUSE THEM UNDER CURRENT HOME PRICES IN AUSTIN AND CURRENT CITY POLICIES.
IF PAST TO HOME ORDINANCES COULD HAVE ENORMOUS CONCRETE IMPLICATIONS FOR ME, IT COULD NOT ONLY PROVIDE FOR A BROADER SUPPLY OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING THAT I AND MY PARTNER COULD ACTUALLY AFFORD, BUT IT COULD ALSO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS LIKE TINY HOMES AND RVS ON SINGLE FAMILY LOTS THAT ARE CRUCIAL.
FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT NEED TO CARE FOR AGING PARENTS OR DISABLED RELATIVES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE HOME ORDINANCES SO THAT I AND LIKELY MANY OTHER YOUNG ADULTS OF MY GENERATION DO NOT HAVE TO EVENTUALLY CHOOSE BETWEEN CARING FOR THEIR LOVED ONES
[03:00:01]
OR BEING IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD AND LONG TO BUILD.THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THIS.
I'M NOT, COULD YOU TAKE, COULD YOU STATE YOUR FULL NAME PLEASE? ANTHONY VARGAS.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF.
I'M A LIFETIME AUSTIN RESIDENT, BORN AND RAISED HERE.
CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, HERE WITH MY GRANDMOTHER.
SHE WAS ABLE TO BUY A LOT IN EAST AUSTIN, WHAT WAS THIS, 30, 40 YEARS AGO.
AND, UH, WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO PUT A TINY HOME IN THE BACKYARD.
I I I, I DO SYMPATHIZE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I'VE SEEN MY NEIGHBORHOOD GO FROM A NEIGHBOR COMMUNITY TO, UM, AIRBNB.
SO I'M NOT FOR OR AGAINST IT, BUT I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANNA LEAVE AUSTIN, BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SELL THEIR HOME IN AUSTIN.
I KNOW IT MIGHT COME TO A SHOCK TO EVERYONE HERE, BUT NOT FOR US.
UH, SO THAT WAS MY TWO MINUTES AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, CURRENTLY RESIDING IN DISTRICT ONE.
UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK TODAY TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THE HOME INITIATIVE.
I'M A CIVIL ENGINEER, UH, BY TRADE SPECIALIZING IN TRANSPORTATION, ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SAFETY.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, IT'S MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT INCREASING DENSITY AND THE AVAILABILITY OF HOMES AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING OPTIONS TO THE AUSTIN RESIDENTS IS CRUCIAL TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S FUTURE.
UH, INCREASING DENSITY, EXCUSE ME, WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, BOTH BY REDUCING SPRAWL DIRECTLY AS WELL AS, UH, REDUCING RELIANCE ON DRIVING AS A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
UH, IT WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE SAFETY FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS BY AGAIN, REDUCING RELIANCE ON DRIVING OR AT AT THE LEAST, REDUCING THE, UH, TIME THAT PEOPLE SPEND DRIVING.
ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, UH, HAVING RESIDED IN AUSTIN FOR OVER A DECADE NOW, UH, I FIND MYSELF LABELED A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF AUSTIN BY OTHER PEOPLE MORE, MORE THAN ANYTHING.
UM, BUT IT IS, UH, INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO ENVISION A LONG-TERM FUTURE IN AUSTIN, GIVEN THE CURRENT HOUSING SITUATION.
UH, I, I BELIEVE THE HOME INITIATIVE IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD FOR ME AND OTHERS WHO HAVE COME TO CALL AUSTIN HOME.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS POOL AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS SUPPORTED ADVANCING THE RESOLUTION AS WELL AS ALL OTHER SUPPORTERS.
JC DWYER, CYRUS, TASHA, COREY, DAVID OTTINGER, LIZA WIMBERLEY, AND TINA BARRETT.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO AN OPEN PODIUM.
I'M A DISTRICT EIGHT HOMEOWNER AND FATHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN.
UH, I'M A CITIZEN WHO CARESS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND I AM PROFESSIONALLY AN ADVOCATE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES NEEDS.
FOR ALL THESE REASONS, I'M EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THESE PROPOSALS AS A HOMEOWNER.
UM, I ADMIT IT WOULD BE ANNOYING IF SOMEONE TORE DOWN THE HOME NEXT TO ME AND PUT UP A BUNCH OF DUPLEXES, BUT IT WOULD BE WORSE IF MY KIDS GREW UP AND COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO LIVE IN THE CITY NEAR ME.
UM, AS AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, IT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL SICK TO SEE SOME OF THE OLD TREES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND GREENERY GO AWAY.
BUT IF I KNEW THAT DEFENDING THOSE TREES MEANT THAT THERE WERE ACRES OF TREES BEING RAISED JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND MILES OF NEW CONCRETE BEING POURED, I COULDN'T LIVE WITH THAT.
AND FINALLY, AS AN ADVOCATE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, IT IS TRUE THAT WATCHING YOUR NEIGHBORS GET DISPLACED AND YOUR LOCAL CULTURE GET GENTRIFIED IS REALLY HARD.
IT'S ALSO REALLY HARD TO NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD ENOUGH TO EAT BECAUSE THE RENT GOES UP YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE TONS OF FAMILIES ARE TRYING TO COME INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY'RE TRYING TO BID ON THE SAME PROPERTIES.
UM, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE HARD CHOICES, BUT I THINK THEY ARE CLEAR CHOICES AND THEY ALL POINT TOWARDS MORE HOUSING AND DENSER HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
UM, JUST REAL QUICK ON A PROCESS NOTE, I'M NOTICING A REAL GENERATIONAL DIVIDE IN THE OPINIONS IN THE ROOM.
I THINK WE NEED TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE HERE TODAY, AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO DO THAT.
THESE DECISIONS ARE GONNA FALL HARDEST ON THE YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE, AND SO I THINK THEY DESERVE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.
UM, THERE ARE NO COMPELLING REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THESE PROPOSED REZONING PLANS ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE.
IT APPEARS THAT THE PRIMARY MOTIVATION AND
[03:05:01]
FOCUS FOR OF THESE PLANS ARE AIMED AT INCREASING CASH FLOW PER LOT FOR THE MEGA CORPORATIONS THAT OWN MANY PROPERTIES.AND THIS OBJECTIVE CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT THE REZONING.
THESE CHANGES CARRY ADVERSE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACTS.
THEIR EFFECTS CAN DISRUPT COMMUNITIES INDU, STRESS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, AND POTENTIALLY ACCELERATE FAILURE RATES.
FURTHERMORE, OVERCROWDING CAN WORSEN CRIME RATES.
THESE PLANS ARE BEING MARKETED TO US AS AFFORDABLE, WHICH MANIPULATES PERCEPTIONS TO SUGGEST THAT COSTS WILL BE LOWER.
HOWEVER, THERE IS LITTLE REASON TO BELIEVE THIS WILL BE THE CASE.
CONSIDER A SCENARIO WHERE THE CITY CHANGES PARKING LAWS TO DESIGNATE PARKING SPOTS EXCLUSIVELY FOR MOTORCYCLES.
THEY TAKE ALL EXISTING PARKING SPOTS AND REDUCE THEIR SIZE BY HALF WHILE ONLY DECREASING THE PRICE BY 20% PER SPOT.
THEY CLAIM THIS MAKES PARKING MORE AFFORDABLE.
HOWEVER, YOU STILL NEED TO OCCUPY TWO SPOTS FOR YOUR CAR AND CONSEQUENTLY, YOU'D BE CHARGED FOR TWO SPOTS SINCE THAT'S THEIR CURRENT VALUE.
IS IT GENERALLY MORE AFFORDABLE? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY A SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNER OR ASPIRE TO BECOME ONE, YOU WILL FACE HIGHER PROPERTY EXPENSES DUE TO, DUE TO THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES.
THIS ESSENTIALLY, THIS ESSENTIALLY PENALIZES INDIVIDUALS FOR OWNING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
ULTIMATELY, IT IS THE BOTTOM LINE OF BOTH CORPORATIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT THAT STANDS TO BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THIS REZONING, NOT THE PEOPLE.
I LIVE IN ROSEDALE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED, UM, HOME INITIATIVE.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MODERNIZE OUR CODE FOR YEARS NOW WHILE ENDURING BASELESS OPPOSITION AND FEAR MONGERING AT EVERY TURN.
ALL KINDS OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES GET THROWN AROUND LAWSUITS, ACCUSATIONS, AND MEANWHILE, WE GET NO CLOSER TO SOLVING OUR HOUSING PROBLEMS. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT PERHAPS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THE HOUSING OPPOSITION IS HAVING WITH UNDERSTANDING THESE PROPOSALS IS MATH, WHICH ISN'T THAT SURPRISING.
I COME FROM A MA FAMILY OF MATHEMATICIANS.
AND SO I HAVE A HARD TIME RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM.
SO WITH MATH IN MIND, LET ME JUST SAY PLAINLY, 2,500 SQUARE FOOT LOT WILL BE A LOT CHEAPER THAN A 5,700 SQUARE FOOT LOT.
A SMALLER HOUSE ON A SMALLER LOT WILL BE A LOT CHEAPER THAN A BIG HOUSE ON A BIG LOT.
THE SMALLER HOMES PROBABLY WON'T BE DEEP SUBSIDIZED LEVEL AFFORDABLE.
HOWEVER, RELATIVE AFFORDABILITY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS DEEP SUBSIDIZED AFFORDABILITY.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO SERVE PEOPLE WHO FALL BETWEEN THE HIGH-END EARNERS AND THE LOW INCOME EARNERS.
WE MUST SERVE THOSE WHO ARE PRICED OUT TODAY, BUT WILL NEVER QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
THERE'S REALLY NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT THAN TO PROVIDE MANY, MANY, MANY HOUSING OPTIONS THAN WHAT WE PROVIDE TODAY.
I'VE LIVED IN DISTRICT SEVEN FOR 24 YEARS AND IN AUSTIN FOR 30 YEARS.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
I'D LIKE TO PARAPHRASE, PARAPHRASE A STRONG TOWNS ARTICLE STARTING WITH A QUOTE FROM SHELTER FORCE QUOTE.
SO NO, THE PROBLEM IS NOT GREED.
THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY BEHAVING EXACTLY THE WAY WE WOULD EXPECT ANY INDUSTRY TO RESPOND TO AN ARTIFICIAL CAP ON THEIR PRODUCTION VOLUME.
THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY.
IF WE LIMITED TOYOTA TO ONLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND CARS PER YEAR, THEY MIGHT WELL CHOOSE TO KEEP THE LEXUS AND SCRAP THE CAMRY.
EVEN THOUGH AT VOLUME THE CAMRY IS MORE PROFITABLE.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS DEVELOPERS KEEP COSTS LOW.
ONE IS BY BUYING MARGINAL CHEAP LAND FAR OUTSIDE THE CITY CENTER IN THE GREENFIELD, OR BUYING EXPENSIVE URBAN LAND, BUT DISTRIBUTING ITS COST OVER A LARGE NUMBER OF HOMES.
IF LAND COSTS COULD BE KEPT LOW, DEVELOPERS MIGHT FIND IT PROFITABLE TO BUILD MIDDLE INCOME.
QUOTE TOYOTA CAMRY HOUSING AT SCALE.
THE FIRST OPTION EXPANSION ON THE SUBURBAN FRINGE IS RUINOUS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR TRAFFIC PATTERNS, AND MOST OF ALL OUR PLANET.
BUT THE SECOND OPTION, BUILDING MORE SMALLER AND BY DEFAULT, CHEAPER HOMES ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF LAND CAN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE CURRENT ZONING MAKES IT ILLEGAL.
SO WHAT DO DEVELOPERS BUILD? HUGE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT DON'T ADD ANY NET HOUSING TO THE CITY ARE OFTEN THE MOST PROFITABLE THING DEVELOPERS ARE ALLOWED TO BUILD ON THEIR LOTS.
MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES.
SMALL HOMES CAN BE A SWEET SPOT WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF AMERICANS EXISTING, NATURALLY OCCURRING THAT IS WITHOUT SUBSIDY.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAKES MISSING MIDDLE FORMS. NEIGHBORHOODS COMPOSED OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING LIKE ROSEDALE, MY NEIGHBORHOOD, ARE DECLARED ALMOST ENTIRELY OFF LIMITS TO DEVELOPMENT IN, EXCUSE ME, IN THE REMAINING AREAS.
WE THUS MAKE SURE THAT INTENSE PENT UP MARKET DEMAND IS CONCENTRATED LIKE A FIRE HOSE DESTROYING THE GREENFIELD AND GENTRIFYING NEIGHBORHOODS.
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VILIFY DEVELOPERS FOR ONLY BUILDING LUXURY HOUSING.WE'VE MADE IT PRETTY HARD TO AFFORD TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.
PLEASE PASS COUNCIL MEMBERS POOLS, HOME INITIATIVE AND LET'S MAKE CITY, AUSTIN CITY FOR ALL.
GRACE RIVERA, DANIEL YANES, DAVID SULLIVAN, SHIV MYSTERY, AND BRAD PARSONS.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN IF THERE'S AN OPEN PODIUM.
I AM A UUD STUDENT AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
UM, I'LL BE HONEST, I SHOULD BE STUDYING FOR MY MIDTERMS RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE WONDERFUL HOME INITIATIVE.
UM, MY ALSO, TO BE HONEST, MY MIDTERMS ARE A LOST CAUSE.
UM,
THE HOME INITIATIVE IS MORE THAN JUST THE HOME INITIATIVE FOR MYSELF AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER AWESOME NIGHTS.
IT IS THE HOPE THAT OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WON'T HAVE TO LEAVE AUSTIN IN SEARCH OF AFFORDABILITY.
IT IS THE HOPE THAT DREAMS WON'T HAVE TO BE SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO PUT A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS.
IT IS THE HOPE THAT THE AMERICAN DREAM IS STILL ALIVE.
THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS.
AND AS A NATIVE TEXANS, I AM SURE AS HELL PROUD OF THAT.
UH, BUT IT'S TIME TO REMEMBER THAT BIGGER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, COUPLES, SMALL FAMILIES DON'T NEED A MASSIVE HOME ON SOME GIGANTIC 5,700 SQUARE FOOT LOT.
WHAT WE NEED ARE PRACTICAL AND AFFORDABLE OPTIONS SUCH AS TOWN HOMES AND COTTAGES.
IT'S TIME TO BUILD HOME OWNERSHIP OF REALITY FOR THE MID, THE MISSING MIDDLE INCOME.
LET'S NOT FORGET OUR EXISTING HOMEOWNERS AND OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE SHAPED THE CITY.
BY ALLOWING THREE UNITS PER SINGLE FAMILY LOT, WE'RE GIVING THEM OPTIONS FOR MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO MONETIZE THEIR PROPERTY ALL BY HELPING THEM PAY THE BILLS.
IT'S A WIN FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS AND IT'S A WIN FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THE FACE OF SKYROCKETING HOUSING COSTS.
THE HOME INITIATIVE IS A LIFELINE FOR THOSE OF US WHO CALL US AND HOME.
IT'S A CHANCE FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME TO STAY HERE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THIS VIBRANT CITY.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO THRIVE WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMISSIONERS, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE HOME INITIATIVE.
LET'S MAKE OUR CITY MORE AFFORDABLE, MORE INCLUSIVE, AND MORE HOPEFUL.
AS A YOUNG AUSTINITE, I'M INVESTING MY FUTURE IN THIS CITY.
I BELIEVE THAT WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE CAN DO THAT.
AND I WANT, I WANNA WISH YOU GOOD LUCK, BUT I'M NOT SURE
UM, THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BEFORE ME, BUT I DON'T SEE THEM.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMM UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE FOR PUTTING THIS PROPOSAL FORWARD.
I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE CONGRESSMAN NEW URBANISM.
WE FORWARD YOU A LETTER, UH, SHOWING OUR SUPPORT.
I JUST WANNA GO OVER SOME OF THE POINTS IN THAT.
UM, AUSTIN FACES A HOUSING CRUNCH FOR LOWER PRICE LOTS RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY HOUSING WORKS AND THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS, AMONG OTHERS, SHOW THAT HIGH PROPERTY VALUES ARE HURTING HOMEOWNERS AND PAYING PROPERTY TAXES AND RENTERS WITH LEASES.
AND BY INCREASING THE HOUSING STOCK AND ALLOWING MORE SMALL HOUSES, WE CAN HOPE TO SEE HOUSING COSTS ESCALATION SLOW DOWN.
AND WITH LUCK LEVEL OFF THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, STATES THAT TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED DIVERSITY OF AUSTIN AREA HOUSEHOLDS, MORE HOUSING OPTIONS WILL BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS OUR DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES.
UM, THE, UM, THERE'S EVIDENCE PUT FORWARD BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY.
UH, THEIR, UH, COOL CLIMATE GROUP SHOWS THAT HIGHER DENSITY HOUSING REDUCES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS PER HOUSEHOLD.
THIS IS IN PART BECAUSE HOUSEHOLDS THAT SHARE WALLS CONSERVE HEAT AND, AND, UH, COLD DURING, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR UTILITIES, UH, DESTINATIONS SUCH AS SCHOOLS, SHOPPING JOBS, ET CETERA, TEND TO BE CLOSER WHEN YOU HAVE DENSER NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEY'RE VERY LIKELY, UH, A GREATER LIKELIHOOD THAT NEARBY MASS TRANSIT STOPS WILL, UH, BE AVAILABLE.
UM, THESE SAME FACTORS SHOULD LEAD TO REDUCED GREEN.
THAT THAT LEAD TO REDUCED GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS ALSO SHOULD LEAD TO LOWER COSTS FOR THE RESIDENTS.
INCREASED HOUSING DENSITY WILL BE NEEDED.
UH, YOU ALREADY HEARD THIS FROM BILL MCKINLEY ABOUT SUPPORTING THE FEDERAL GRANT FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
AND THEN FINALLY, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.
WHEN I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, CHAIRMAN SHAW TWICE WE HAD, UH, TCAD D COME AND EXPLAIN HOW, UH, HOUSING APPRAISALS ARE DONE.
THEY DO COMPARABLES A LOT WITH ONE HOUSE ON
[03:15:01]
IT IS NOT COMPARABLE TO A LOT WITH A, A DUPLEX OR WITH THREE HOUSES.AND EVEN IF, UH, MY OWN PROPERTY IS ZONED MF THREE, BUT MY VALUE IS THE SAME AS ACROSS THE STREET.
BRIAN MILLER, CYRUS ANI, EDWIN BATISTA.
PAUL SMITH, PLEASE FIND YOUR WAY TO AN OPEN PODIUM.
HELLO, MY NAME'S ROBERT CRUMP.
I'M A FIFTH GENERATION AUSTINITE, CURRENTLY RESIDING IN D ONE
I WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S WORKED SO HARD FOR SO MANY YEARS TO GET US TO THIS POINT TODAY WHERE WE CAN FINALLY HAVE THE CHANCE TO REVISE OUR TERRIBLY OUTDATED LAND USE DEVELOPMENT CODE.
IN THAT SAME MOMENT OF REFLECTION, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MADE TO SUFFER NEEDLESSLY BECAUSE OF OUR EXCLUSIONARY ZONING LAWS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO THE BRINK OF DESTITUTION AND BEYOND? HOW MANY LIFELONG AUSTINITES LIKE MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN FORCED OUTTA THE CITY SIMPLY BECAUSE WE COULD NOT MUSTER THE COMPASSION, COMMON SENSE AND POLITICAL WILL TO CHANGE SOME WORDS ON A PAGE.
CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT WHEN YOU PULL TOGETHER ALL THE INCREASED RENTS AND MORTGAGE PRICES OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS IN THIS TOWN, HOW MUCH WEALTH HAS BEEN SIPHONED OFF THE POOR AND WORKING CLASSES OF, OF, OF AUSTIN TO SERVE THE NARROW INTEREST OF THE PROPERTY CLASS? IT BAFFLES ME TO NO END TO HEAR MY FELLOW AUSTINITES DILUTED BY THE CONVICTION THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY CREATE A MAGICAL BARRIER WITHIN WHICH THE LAWS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND ARE SUSPENDED IN THEIR FAVOR TODAY.
AND OVER THE NEXT FEW, UH, WEEKS, WE CAN EXPOSE THAT ABSURDITY FOR WHAT IT IS.
I WANT TO EXPRESS A DEEP FELT GRATITUDE TO THE COUNCIL FOR TAKING THE PERHAPS POLITICALLY DIFFICULT DECISION TO WRITE WORDS ON A PAGE THAT SERVE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'D LIKE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR HOME PHASE ONE, AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE FOR INITIATING IT ALONG WITH THE CO-SPONSORS.
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS ABOUT ONE THING.
IF WE DON'T ALLOW NEW HOUSING TO BE BUILT, THAT INCREASES THE COMPETITION OF OUR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON HOW WE CAN MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOMES BUILT IN 19 70, 19 80 2010, AND STOP FOCUSING ON THE COST OF EVERY NEW HOME.
IF WE DON'T BUILD MORE HOUSING, THAT INCREASES THE COMPETITION ON EXISTING HOMES.
THE RESULT IS WHAT WE SEE IN THE BAY AREA.
50 YEAR OLD HOMES, HISTORICALLY KNOWN AS STARTER HOMES, ARE NOW SELLING FOR $2 MILLION BECAUSE THEY DON'T BUILD ANY NEW HOUSING.
THE RESULT IS THE MIDDLE CLASS IS LEFT COMPETING WITH RICH FOLKS, AND THE RESULT IS DISPLACEMENT.
THE MIDDLE CLASS WILL ALWAYS LOSE.
WE DON'T NEED TO GUESS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE DON'T CHANGE OUR ZONING.
IF THIS ISN'T CLEAR, I LIKE USING THE IPHONE ANALOGY.
WHENEVER A NEW IPHONE COMES OUT, SUCH AS THE IPHONE 15, THE IPHONE FOURTEEN, THIRTEEN, TWELVE GET CHEAPER.
IF APPLE STOPS MAKING NEW IPHONES, THE COST OF THE OLDER IPHONE VERSIONS WOULD REMAIN EXPENSIVE BECAUSE EVERYONE'S LEFT COMPETING FOR THE OLD IPHONES.
BUILDING MORE HOUSING WORKS IS WORKING RIGHT NOW IN AUSTIN, DESPITE HAVING ONE OF THE TOP TWO MARKETS IN APARTMENT DEMAND IN THE US.
ACCORDING TO REALPAGE, DATA, RENTS ARE GOING DOWN AND HOUSING COSTS ARE DECREASING, BUT ACCORDING TO ZILLOW, THEY'RE STILL UP 43% SINCE 2020.
THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE LIKE HOME.
AS A LIBERAL CITY, WE HAVE A DUTY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE AUSTIN WELCOMING PLACE FOR ALL.
WE CAN'T SAY WE'RE WELCOMING TO REFUGEES OR THOSE IN NEED IF THEY HAVE NO PLACE THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE.
WE CAN'T SAY THAT WE TAKE HOMELESSNESS SERIOUSLY IF WE'RE MORE CONCERNED WITH THE AESTHETICS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD THAN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEM.
THE CHOICE TODAY ISN'T BETWEEN KEEPING THINGS THE SAME OR CHANGING THEM.
CHANGE IS GONNA HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT.
THE CHANGE THAT I WANT IS TO MAKE AUSTIN A MORE WELCOMING, AFFORDABLE PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
AND I HOPE YOU DO TOO BY SUPPORTING HOME.
THE TEXAS TRIANGLE IS DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON.
EVERYONE HERE HAS BEEN TO ALL OF THOSE.
GPT IS DENSITY CORRELATED WITH CRIME CHAT.
AUSTIN'S MAYOR AND AUSTIN PD REQUESTED STATE TROOPERS.
I ASKED CHACHI, PT IS DENSITY CORRELATED WITH STDS.
RIGHT NOW, HOUSTON HAS AN OFFICIAL OUTBREAK, NOT THE 20TH CENTURY.
HOUSTON CAN'T MEDICATE FAST ENOUGH TO TAME IT.
GBT IS DENSITY CORRELATED WITH PUBLIC URINATION.
DENSITY CAUSES SMELLY PUDDLES.
WELL, WHO KNOWS? NOW FENTANYL HAS
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XYLAZINE.IS XYLAZINE A DEODORANT? 70% OF XYLAZINE IS PASSED IN URINE STILL AS XYLAZINE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SKEPTICAL SUPPORT FOR THE WHOLE INITIATIVE.
I SUPERFICIALLY SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE NOT BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL SOLVE THE HOU AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS OUR CITY'S EXPERIENCING, BUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT ONLY IF IT'S COUPLED WITH INNOVATIVE LOCAL POLICY.
AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE AS AUSTINITE ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF CRAFTING AND ENACTING EFFECTIVE LOCAL POLICY.
THE ONGOING CONVERSATION AROUND THE AROUND COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE REFORM HAS BEEN STATIC FOR MORE THAN A DEC MORE THAN A DECADE.
IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND UPHOLD OUR CITY'S LEGACY OF TAKING BOLD ACTION.
HOWEVER, I IMPLORE THAT WE KEEP SOCIAL EQUITY IN MIND.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THE HOME INITIATIVE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INADVERTENTLY INCREASE AND DISPLACE VULNERABLE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES IF, IF APP APPRO, IF AN INAPPROPRIATE, UH, LOCAL POLICIES ARE NOT ENACTED IN TANDEM.
I BELIEVE IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON CRAFTING LOCAL POLICIES WHO COUNTERACT THE ANTICIPATED EFFECTS OF HOME OF THE HOME INITIATIVES SUCH, SUCH AS SPECULATION AND GENTRIFICATION, AND ESPECIALLY SINCE IT DOES NOT SUPERSEDE HOME HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS AND OR DEEDED RESTRICTIONS.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF ALLENDALE IS LITTERED WITH RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS THAT VERY WIDELY BUT CAN ULTIMATELY RESTRICT HOW MANY HOMES SOMEONE CAN BUILD ON THEIR LAND, HOW TALL BUILDINGS CAN BE, AND THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF LAND NEEDED TO BUILD.
AUSTINITES NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN 3000 FON STREET IN DISTRICT 10 TO SEE HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT WRIT LARGE.
NONETHELESS, I WILL SUM IT UP SHORTLY.
WEALTHY HOMEOWNERS WILL BE PROTECTED AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE.
TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE HOME, I STRONGLY URGE A COUNCIL AND COMMISSION TO CONSIDER ALL MUNICIPAL TOOLS TO, TO MITIGATE THE DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES THAT ARE INEVITABLE WITH URBAN UPZONING.
TO THAT END, THE COUNCIL SHOULD REVISIT THE IDEA OF ESTABLISHING A HOMESTEAD PRESERVATION DISTRICT OR MULTIPLE IN PRIORITY AREAS SUCH AS THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
ADDITIONALLY, BOTH BODIES SHOULD CONSIDER CREATIVE LOCAL POLICIES THAT MITIGATE PRESSURE ON EXISTING HOUSING STOCK IN COMMUNITIES AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
LASTLY, LET US REMEMBER THAT CHANGE IS INEVITABLE.
OUR CITY IS GROWING, AND WITH THIS GROWTH, WE MUST ADAPT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC POPULATION.
AS WE CONSIDER THIS POLICY, LET US ALSO REMIND OURSELVES THAT OUR CITY ISN'T LIVING ORGANISM AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO NURTURE ITS GROWTH IN A MATTER THAT IS NOT ONLY REASONABLE, BUT ALSO SUSTAINABLE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
MY NAME'S PAUL KEVIN SMITH, AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN 40 YEARS, 11 DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY REPRESENTATIVE LESLIE POOLE, FOR BRINGING FORWARD THE HOME INITIATIVE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT HOUSING'S BECOMING UNAFFORDABLE HERE THROUGH THE LAWS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND.