[00:00:01]
WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS THING STARTED.
IT IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023.
I'M GONNA BRING THIS MEETING IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ORDER AT, UH, SIX 11, RUN A LITTLE BIT LATE.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE PLENTY OF FOLKS HERE.
UM, AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A, UH, A ROLL CALL TO KICK THINGS OFF AND I'LL START, UM, OVER ON MY LEFT AND MOVE TO THE RIGHT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE ONLINE JOINING US TOO.
AND I THINK WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY THIS EVENING.
UM, SO STARTING OVER HERE ON THE LEFT, WE'VE GOT COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS.
AND THEN I SEE COMMISSIONER HAYNES HERE, AND COMMISSIONER WOODS HERE.
UH, AND THEN MOVING DOWN THE ROAD, WE GOT COMMISSIONER, UH, AZAR HERE, AND THEN, UH, COMMISSIONER CONLEY HERE.
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON HERE, COMMISSIONER COX HERE.
AND, UH, VIRTUALLY WE HAVE COMMISSIONER RAM MUTAL HERE, AND WE'VE GOT COMMISSIONER HOWARD.
AND SO THE ONLY ONE WE DON'T HAVE, UM, THIS EVENING WHO I THINK WILL SHOW UP A LITTLE LATER IS COMMISSIONER, UH, VEDO RAMIREZ, BUT I THINK SHE SAID, UH, PROBABLY AN HOUR OUT.
UM, SO I'M LOOKING AROUND EXOFFICIO MEMBERS.
COMMISSIONER COHEN IS JUST ALL RIGHT.
UH, COMMISSIONER COHEN IS JUST WALKING UP.
AND THEN WITH THAT, UM, WE'LL KIND OF MOVING THROUGH THE AGENDA, UM, OH, FOR THOSE ONLINE, WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF VOTING ACTIVITY LATER IF WE GET AROUND TO, UH, OUR AMENDMENT ON THE HOME INITIATIVE.
BUT, UH, HAVE YOUR GREEN, UH, YELLOW AND RED CARDS READY FOR ME.
WE'VE, UM, WE'VE GOT FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE OF COURSE, AND WE HAVE FOLKS, UH, PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY.
UM, SO THAT'S THE HYBRID ELEMENT TODAY.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
WE HAVE NONE, UH, ON THE MINUTES.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
WE'VE GOT TWO SETS OF MINUTES.UM, WE'RE GONNA ROLL THOSE INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, UH, CHAIR COMMISSIONER LEES ON ANDREW, IF WE COULD POSTPONE THOSE TO YOUR NOVEMBER 28TH MEETING.
WE'RE POSTPONING APPROVAL OF MINUTES TO THE SECOND MEETING IN NOVEMBER.
[Consent Agenda]
HELP, UH, WELL FOR A LARGE PART OF THE EVENING FROM MY PARLIAMENTARIAN AND THE VICE CHAIR, HEMPEL VICE CHAIR HEMPEL IS GONNA START OFF BY READING THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING, AND WE'LL DECIDE ON WHICH ITEMS TO GET, UH, APPROVED ON CONSENT.ITEM NUMBER TWO, CODE AMENDMENTS C 20 DASH 2023 DASH 24 CHANGES TO RESIDENTIAL USES AND STANDARDS.
UH, HOME AMENDMENTS IS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM THREE, PLAN AMENDMENT NPA A DASH 2022 DASH 0 0 2 2000 EAST SIXTH STREET AND 2007 EAST SEVENTH STREET PULLED FOR OUR ON APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR NPA DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 1 3 0 1 200 WEST MARY STREET.
THAT IS UP FOR APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER 12TH.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, REZONING C 14 DASH 20 20 20 23 DASH 0 21 200 WEST MARY STREET.
THAT IS UP FOR APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER 12TH.
ITEM SIX, PLAN AMENDMENT NPA DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 2 5 0 1 57 25 WEST US HIGHWAY TWO 90 EASTBOUND.
THAT IS UP FOR STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO JANUARY 9TH.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, PLAN AMENDMENT NPA DASH 2022 DASH 0 0 1 5 0 1 TRAER LANE, MPA THAT IS UP FOR APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, PLAN AMENDMENT NPA DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 2 2 1 0 6 AND ONE 18 REDBIRD LANE.
THAT IS UP FOR PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
ITEM NINE, REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH 0 3 4 54 0 2 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE.
THAT IS UP FOR PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
ITEM 10, REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 4 0 1 0 3 1 7 TO 1 0 4 2 3 MACAL PLACE IS UP FOR STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
ITEM 11, REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH 0 1 0 1 4 10 PRESLER IS UP FOR NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER 12TH.
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AMENDMENT NPA DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 1 15 0 1 FM 9 69.THAT IS UP FOR PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONEMENT NOVEMBER 28TH.
NUMBER 13, REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 8 7 FM 9 69 IS UP FOR PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
NUMBER 14, PLAN AMENDMENT NPA DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 2 0 3 300 TO 400 INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD, MPA UP FOR PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
NUMBER 15, REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 4 4 300 TO FOUR 40 INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD IS UP FOR PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
NUMBER 16, REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH 0 1 0 4 NORTH BURNETT GATEWAY, CMU MIDWAY REZONING IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
NUMBER 17 REZONING C 14 DASH 0 2 1 9 5 RCT WATERLINE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
NUMBER 18 REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH 0 4 6 600 INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT NUMBER 19 REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 5 6 WEST US HIGHWAY TWO 90 IS OFFERED FOR STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER 12TH, NUMBER 20, SITE PLAN SPC DASH 20 22 4 8 4 A 1505, AND 1209 MULTIFAMILY OFFERED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER 12TH.
NUMBER 21 SITE PLAN, SP 2023 DASH 0 2 4 D LONGHORN DAM, MULTIMODAL IMPROVEMENTS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT NUMBER 22 SITE PLAN SPC DASH 2023 DASH 0 2 4 7 C.
LITTLE WALNUT CREEK GREENBELT PARK IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT 23 SITE PLAN SP DASH 2022 DASH 1 3 8 7 C.
THE EDDIE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT AND NUMBER 24 CODE AMENDMENT C 20 DASH 2023 DASH 0 27 PARKLAND, DEDICATION, REPEAT AND REPLACE, SORRY, REPEAL AND REPLACE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT AND THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, UM, I THINK WE HAD A FEW FOLKS THAT WANT US TO SPEAK ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS NOW.
I THOUGHT WE WERE ENTERTAINING PEOPLE TALKING ON THE
SO COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? CHAIR, COMMISSIONER, LADIES ON ANDREW THERE IF WE COULD JUST, UH, MAKE NOTE, UM, THAT ON ITEMS 1415 AND 18, THOSE ARE PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONEMENTS TO NOVEMBER 28TH.
1415 AND ITEM 18 ARE NOT CONSENT, THEY ARE PLAN PLANNING COMMISSION, POSTPONEMENT, POSTPONEMENT TO THE 28TH, CORRECT.
UH, SO ANY QUESTIONS ON THE COMMISSIONER? MAX HAD HER HAND UP? NO, IT'S VERY GOOD.
SO WITH NO QUESTIONS OR UH, COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, DO I HAVE A MOTION CHAIR? COMMISSIONER LAVER, APOLOGIES FOR THE INTERRUPTION.
UH, DO YOU WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR 2024 CALENDAR? THAT'S ITEM 25.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CALENDAR? OKAY, WE'LL ROLL THAT IN.
I WAS JUST GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE INCLUSION OF ITEM 25, OUR 2024 MEETING CALENDAR.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND ON THAT MOTION? UH, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL.
UH, ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL SEEING NONE, UH, CLEARED THAT ONE.
UH, OUR FIRST ITEM
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN ADAM? OH, YES.
UH, SORRY, MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE, UM, BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, AND I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS AT THE OUTSET OF THE, AT THE HEARING, UM, LITTLE BIT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, BUT A ASK OF THIS COMMISSION AND THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE, WE ARE HERE ON IMPORTANT MATTERS TONIGHT AND, AND IT'S GOING TO SHED A A LONG COURSE AND, AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT, BUT I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE AND EVERYBODY HERE THAT THIS WEEKEND WE HAD REALLY IMPORTANT MATTERS AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S GONNA DIE TONIGHT, BUT
[00:10:01]
WE HAD AN OFFICER, TWO OFFICERS GIVE THEIR LIVES FOR US.AND SO I WOULD ASK FOR A MOMENT, JUST A MOMENT, A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE JUST TO REMEMBER AND PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE OF, THERE'S, THERE'S IMPORTANT BUSINESS TONIGHT AND THERE'S REALLY SERIOUS BUSINESS THAT THIS CITY DOES.
AND SO JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
I THINK THAT WAS, UM, VERY APPROPRIATE.
[2. Code Amendments: C20-2023-024 Changes to Residential Uses and Standards (HOME Amendments)]
ITEM, WHICH IS I THINK THE ITEM MOST FOLKS ARE HERE FOR, UM, ITEM TWO, THE PUBLIC HEARING.UM, WHAT I WANNA KIND OF GO OVER IS, UH, WE'RE GONNA OF COURSE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
UH, WE'RE GONNA START WITH THOSE WHO SIGNED UP TO BE HERE IN PERSON.
UH, THEN WE'LL TAKE A MOMENT, UH, AS A PRIVILEGE.
I WILL THEN, FOR THOSE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO SIGN UP AND YOU'RE HERE STILL, UH, WE'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO THOSE THAT ARE VIRTUALLY ONLINE.
UM, BASED ON THE NUMBERS, THIS COULD, UH, IF YOU JUST DO THE MATH AND EVERYBODY DOES SPEAK, WE'RE GONNA BE HERE FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS.
UM, SOMETIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HANG IN THERE AND AT THAT TIME GETS COMPRESSED, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A PRETTY LONG STRETCH HERE.
UH, IS, UH, ANDREW, AS FAR AS HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROCEED AS FAR, ARE WE GONNA CALL MORE THAN ONE UP AT A TIME? WHAT'S KIND OF THE PROCESS HERE TO GET PEOPLE A FEEL FOR HOW WE'RE GONNA CALL SPEAKERS? THANK YOU, CHAIR.
COMMISSIONER LADIES ON ANDREW RIVERA.
SO YES, I WILL CALL FIVE SPEAKERS AT A TIME.
WE HAVE TWO PODIUMS. UM, SO IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY TO, UM, UH, IF ONE PERSON'S AT THE, UM, FIRST PODIUM, MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SECOND PODIUM AND, UH, WE CAN WORK THAT WAY.
DO SPEAKERS KNOW WHERE THEY ARE IN THE ORDER? IS THAT INFORMATION CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION? UH, THE, UH, SPEAKER LIST IS POSTED ON THE AGENDA.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE IT, UH, PRINTED SHORTLY.
JUST TO GAUGE YOUR, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE OR OUTSIDE, JUST TO KNOW KIND OF ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE.
BUT YEAH, WE DON'T WANNA MISS YOUR, UH, PLEASE, UH, PAY ATTENTION TO THE MONSTERS SO YOU DON'T MISS YOUR PLACE IN LINE.
AND WITH THAT, UH, IS THERE ANY BUSINESS WE NEED TO, UH, DISCUSS BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH OUR FIRST SPEAKER CHAIR, COMMISSIONER LAZARA? SO ACTUALLY WE WILL BEGIN WITH STAFF PRESENTATION FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC TESTIMONY, THEN YOUR Q AND A DELIBERATION.
I'M ANDREA BATES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
I'LL BE GIVING A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO RESIDENTIAL USES AND STANDARDS IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, INCLUDING THE CODE AMENDMENTS REFERRED TO AS THE HOME INITIATIVE.
THE PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WOULD DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS.
THEY WOULD ALLOW UP TO THREE HOMES ON PROPERTIES ZONED SSF ONE, SF TWO, AND SF THREE.
THEY WOULD SIMPLIFY SOME OF THE EXISTING REGULATIONS FOR BUILDING TWO HOMES.
THEY WOULD REMOVE DUPLICATIVE ACCESSORY, APARTMENT, GUEST HOUSE, AND ONSITE WORKER HOME PROVISIONS THAT ARE IN THE CODE TODAY.
THEY WOULD LIMIT THE APPLICABILITY OF THE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN AND COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS OR MCMANSION STANDARDS TO LOTS WITH ONE HOME.
THEY WOULD ALLOW TINY HOMES THAT MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS TO BE CONSIDERED A DWELLING UNIT AND THEY WOULD REMOVE THE LIMITATION ON THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS ALLOWED TO LIVE TOGETHER.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECEIVED A FULL BRIEFING ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS DURING YOUR JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 26TH.
STAFF HAS MADE SOME MINOR CHANGES TO THE PROPOSALS SINCE THAT TIME.
THESE CHANGES ARE REFLECTED IN THE UPDATED BACKUP THAT YOU RECEIVED FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
FIRST, THE TEXT CLARIFYING THAT TINY HOMES ARE ALLOWED AS A DWELLING UNIT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE DEFINITION SECTION OF THE CODE.
NEXT, THE PROPOSAL TO EXEMPT DUPLEX TWO UNIT AND THREE UNIT USES FROM THE MCMANSION STANDARDS WAS, UH, PUT IN SUBCHAPTER F, WHERE THOSE STANDARDS ARE LOCATED BY ACTUALLY AMENDING SUBCHAPTER F.
THE FAMILY HOME AND GROUP HOME USES WERE ALSO DELETED FROM THE MCMANSION STANDARDS IN SUBCHAPTER F.
AND THEN THERE WAS A CLARIFICATION MADE TO SUBSTITUTE THE SUBSTANDARD LOT LIMITATION FOR THE THREE UNIT RESIDENTIAL USE WITH
[00:15:01]
A, THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE LOT BE AT LEAST 5,750 SQUARE FEET.WE REMOVED TO REFERENCE TO SUBSTANDARD LOTS AND CLARIFIED THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
THIS BRINGS US TO THE CODE AMENDMENT PROCESS THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS TOTAL ON THESE CODE AMENDMENTS.
THE FIRST WAS THE JOINT MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 26TH.
AFTER THAT LAST MONDAY ON NOVEMBER 6TH, THERE WAS AN OPEN HOUSE FOR THE PUBLIC TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSAL.
THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING IS TONIGHT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
THE COMMISSION COULD VOTE TONIGHT TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ON THIS PROPOSAL.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSAL ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7TH, WHICH IS A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING STARTING AT 10:00 AM HERE AT CITY HALL.
AT THAT TIME, THE COUNCIL COULD CHOOSE TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS.
THIS IS A SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESS.
TO DATE, 387 COMMUNITY MEMBERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK OR REGISTERED FOR OR AGAINST THE PROPOSAL AT THE OCTOBER 26TH JOINT MEETING.
AS OF YESTERDAY, STAFF HAVE RECEIVED 55 EMAILS, 118 PHONE CALLS, AND 386 COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED VIA THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN WEBSITE.
THAT WEBSITE HAS HAD ABOUT 10,500 VISITORS TOTAL.
WE ALSO HAD APPROXIMATELY 70 PEOPLE ATTEND THE OPEN HOUSE LAST WEEK.
WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO VISIT THE WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AND TO STAY UP TO DATE ON THE PROPOSAL AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THE WEBSITE INCLUDES A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND THE DRAFT CODE LANGUAGE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A VIDEO OF STAFFS PRESENTATION FROM THE OCTOBER 26TH MEETING, WHICH WENT INTO FAR MORE DETAIL EXPLAINING WHAT IS ALLOWED UNDER TODAY'S CODE AND WHAT WOULD BE CHANGED BY THE PROPOSAL.
THERE IS A QUESTION AND ANSWER SECTION WITH ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROVIDE INPUT AND HOW TO PROTEST THE CHANGES.
UH, THE PUBLIC CAN EMAIL STAFF WITH QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THE ADDRESS ON THE SCREEN OR ALSO CALL AND RECEIVE A CALLBACK.
STAFF IS RESPONDING TO COMMENTS OR TO QUESTIONS, UH, SUBMITTED IN THESE FASHIONS.
AND ALL OF THE COMMENTS ARE BEING COLLECTED.
THE ONES RECEIVED TO DATE WERE SHARED WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND EVERYTHING WILL BE COLLECTED AND SHARED WITH CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
ALRIGHT, JUST, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, JUST POINT OF PROCEDURE AND ANDREW, HELP ME OUT HERE WHERE A DONATION OF TIME IS ALLOWED UP TO TWO.
SO, UH, YOUR, THOSE DONATING TIME NEED TO BE PRESENT AND RECOGNIZED, UH, BEFORE YOU COME ON AND SPEAK.
SO WE WILL ALLOW DONATION AND TIME WITH UP TO TWO PERSONS.
SO YOU HAVE, IF YOU MAX IT OUT, YOU GET SIX MINUTES TOTAL.
WE'LL, UH, BEGIN, UH, OUR, UM, PUBLIC TESTIMONY PORTION AND I HAVE, UH, MS. BEGG, UH, PRESENTING WITH, UM, DONATION A TIME OF UP TO, SO SHE'LL HAVE A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS LUCY BEGG AND I'M AN ARCHITECT HERE ON BEHALF OF A I A AUSTIN'S HOUSING ADVOCACY COMMITTEE.
WE ARE A GROUP OF PRACTICING ARCHITECTS WORKING ON HOUSING AT ALL SCALES AND INCOME LEVELS IN THE CITY.
WITH DEEP EXPERIENCE OF HOW AUSTIN ZONING IMPACT, WHAT TYPES AND SIZES OF HOMES GET BUILT.
WE HAVE SPENT MANY HOURS MODELING POTENTIAL OUTCOMES OF THE HOME PHASE ONE DRAFT AND ARE HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE EMERGED FROM THOSE EFFORTS.
OUR GROUP IS MOTIVATED BY OUR CONCERNS WITH HOW OUR CURRENT RESIDENTIAL ZONING LIMITS HOUSING CHOICES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SMALLER HOMES.
WE APPLAUD THE INTENT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND ARE EAGER TO MAKE SURE THE DETAILS OF THE POLICY WORK IN SUPPORT OF ITS GOALS.
PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF OUR CURRENT ZONING STANDARDS, IN 1984, HOMES IN AUSTIN AVERAGED AROUND 1500 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE, AND ALMOST
[00:20:01]
ONE IN FIVE OF THOSE WERE PART OF A DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, OR FOURPLEX.AFTER OUR CURRENT ZONING WAS PUT IN PLACE, RESTRICTING LARGE AREAS OF THE CITY TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON LARGE LOTS, THOSE UNIT SIZES BEGAN TO INCREASE.
THIS CHART SHOWS HOW THE AVERAGE HOME BUILT SINCE 1990 IS ALMOST 50% LARGER THAN THE AVERAGE BUILT PRIOR.
AND HOW JUST A FRACTION OF THOSE LESS THAN 3% HAVE BEEN WITHIN TWO, THREE OR FOUR UNIT BUILDINGS.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE NUMBER AND SIZE OF HOUSES PERMITTED IN THE LAST DECADE.
IN AUSTIN, OVER 75% OF THE NEW HOMES BUILT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THAT TIME EXCEEDED 2000 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE.
WE ARE ACTUALLY ADDING HOMES GREATER THAN 5,000 SQUARE FEET TO OUR HOUSING STOCK AT A FASTER RATE THAN HOMES UNDER 1000 SQUARE FEET.
THIS PHENOMENON IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE COLLISION OF OUR 1980S ZONING STANDARDS WITH TODAY'S HIGH LAND COSTS, WHILE OUR MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL LOT SIZE IS 57 50 SQUARE FEET, OUR MEDIAN LOT SIZE IS MUCH LARGER AT ALMOST 8,000 SQUARE FEET, WITH ENTITLEMENTS LIMITED TO TWO DWELLING UNITS ON MOST RESIDENTIAL LOTS, AND WITH MANY RESTRICTIONS ON THE SIZE AND CONFIGURATION OF THE SECOND UNIT.
THE MOST COMMON DEVELOPMENT OUTCOME TODAY IS A SINGLE HOUSE THAT'S AS LARGE AS POSSIBLE, UP TO 40% OF THE LOT SIZE TO MAKE THE ECONOMICS WORK.
PUT SIMPLY OUR CURRENT RESIDENTIAL ZONING HAS A BIG HOUSE BIAS AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT HOUSING OPTIONS HAVE WE BEEN EDITING OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? OUR UNIT RESTRICTIONS AND SETBACKS MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THIS ONE THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF EAST CESAR CHAVEZ IN 1926 AND RENOVATED A FEW YEARS AGO.
THESE THREE LIVABLE SMALL HOUSES ON A 9,600 SQUARE FOOT LOT EACH HAVE A FRONT PORCH, A SMALL PRIVATE BACKYARD, AND AN OFF STREET PARKING SPACE.
THEY'RE OWNED BY A YOUNG COUPLE, A SINGLE DAD AND AN ELDERLY RETIREE WHO ALL ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF OUR HIGH QUALITY NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE IN AREA.
THEY TOTALED THE SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT TODAY YOU WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO BUILD AS ONE OR TWO HOUSES TO MEET THE HOME INITIATIVE'S GOAL OF GIVING SMALLER HOMES LIKE THESE A BIGGER CHANCE.
IN AUSTIN, WE BELIEVE THE DETAILS ARE CRITICAL.
THE FOLLOWING ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE HOW THE HOME ORDINANCE SHOULD BE FINE TUNED TO BETTER MEET ITS GOALS.
RECOMMENDATION ONE IS TO FURTHER INCREASE FLEXIBILITY WITHIN THE TWO UNIT USE.
THE REDUCTION OF LOT SIZES FOR DUPLEXES.
REMOVAL OF THE COMMON WALL MANDATE AND LOOSENING OF ADU REQUIREMENTS ARE ALL GREAT STEPS.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE 1100 SQUARE FOOT CAP THAT APPLIES TO DETACHED SECOND UNITS ALSO BE REMOVED.
THIS WILL FURTHER INCREASE FLEXIBILITY FOR ADDING A SECOND UNIT TO EXISTING PROPERTIES, INCREASING LIKELIHOOD OF UPTAKE.
OUR SECOND RECOMMENDATION IS TO CREATE A NEW FLOOR AREA RATIO TOOL FOR TWO AND THREE UNIT U USE.
AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE, REMOVING SUBCHAPTER F FOR TWO AND THREE UNITS TAKES AWAY THE CURRENT FLOOR AREA CAP FOR RESIDENTIAL USE TO MITIGATE AGAINST THE HOME ORDINANCE PRODUCING EQUALLY LARGE UNITS AS OUR CURRENT CODE, WE RECOMMEND A FOUR-PART APPROACH.
THE FIRST PART IS TO CREATE AN FAR CAP FOR TWO AND THREE FAMILY USES.
THE SECOND IS TO INCENTIVIZE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO AND THREE UNITS BY MODESTLY INCREASING THIS TOTAL ALLOWABLE FAR CAP AS YOU GET MORE UNITS.
THE THIRD PART IS TO SET A MAXIMUM SIZE LIMIT FOR A SINGLE UNIT, AND THE FOURTH PART IS TO INCLUDE GARAGES AND CARPORTS IN THE FLOOR AREA DEFINITION.
OUR THIRD RECOMMENDATION IS TO REDUCE FRONT YARD AND STREET SIDE YARD SETBACKS TO HELP WITH FLEXIBILITY IN HOW MULTIPLE UNITS ARE PLACED ON A LOT, WHICH WILL BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL WHEN WORKING AROUND PROTECTED TREES AND WILL ALIGN WITH TYPICAL SETBACKS IN OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND FINALLY, OUR FOURTH RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADOPT A PRESERVATION INCENTIVE TO MITIGATE AGAINST THE DEMOLITION OF OLDER, SMALLER, AND MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT THE INDI THAT THE ADDITIONAL ENTITLEMENTS OF HOME COULD ACCELERATE.
WE DEFER TO PRESERVATION AUSTIN'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THIS PIECE.
AND AT THIS POINT I'LL BE PASSING, UH, THE MICROPHONE TO MY COLLEAGUE CHRIS GANNON TO EXPAND ON THE DETAILS OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND IF I COULD JUST CONFIRM THAT MS. ANDREA FREIBERGER IS PRESENT.
UM, MR. AND THEN, UM, LET'S SEE,
[00:25:05]
SALINAS, JOHN SALINAS.ALRIGHT, UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE INCOMING CO-CHAIR OF A'S HOUSING GROUP.
UH, WE LOOKED AT PORTLAND'S RESIDENTIAL INFILL PROJECT, UM, AS PRECEDENT.
THIS IS A VERY SIMILAR INITIATIVE PORTLAND UNDER, UH, UNDERTOOK IN 2021.
UM, THE PROJECT ALLOWS NEW MIDDLE HOUSING TYPOLOGIES, THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN IN, IN DECLINE SINCE THE NINETIES IN SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THEY'RE ALLOWING ADUS ALL THE WAY TO SIX PLEXES IN THIS PROGRAM.
UH, THE YEAR FOLLOWING THE ADAPTATION OF THIS POLICY SAW A DRAMATIC UPTICK IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS MIDDLE HOUSING WITH NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF ALL NEW UNITS IN FOURPLEXES.
UH, PORTLAND ADDED AN FAR CAP TO THEIR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND STEPPED THAT FAR AN ADDITIONAL 0.10 FOR UNIT.
WE LOOKED MOST CLOSELY AT THE R SEVEN LOTS AS THEY'RE MOST ALIGNED WITH AUSTIN'S LOT SIZE.
SO UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THEY FOUND THAT BY INCREASING THE FAR 0.10 PER ADDED UNIT, THEY WERE ABLE TO BOTH ENCOURAGE MORE UNITS AND THOSE UNITS ON AVERAGE WERE SMALLER.
SO OUR MODELING, WHICH WE DID COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF PORTLAND'S REPORT, FOUND A VERY SIMILAR THING, UH, THAT AN FAR CAP WITH A GRADIENT WOULD INCENTIVIZE MORE UNITS AND THAT WOULD ON AVERAGE BE SMALLER.
SO WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL GRADIENT INCREASES AND BELIEVE THAT 0.10 WORKS FOR AUSTIN AS WELL.
UM, OURS STARTS AT 0.55 FOR TWO UNITS AND GOES TO 0.65 FOR THREE.
UM, THIS IS A CRUCIAL DETAIL TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS.
OUR SINGLE FAMILY UNITS CURRENTLY BEING BUILT UNDER MCMANSION ARE CAPPED AT AN FAR OF 0.4, BUT THROUGH THE SET OF EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE BAKED INTO MCMANSION OR THE SUBCHAPTER F THE AVERAGE SINGLE FAMILY HOME IS ACTUALLY CLOSE TO 0.45 FAR.
UM, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, SOME ARE EVEN GETTING UP TO 0.57 OR HIGHER.
UM, SO WHAT ARE THESE EXEMPTIONS? THERE'S ONE FOR ATTICS FOR GARAGES AND BASEMENTS.
UM, AND THIS IS ALL BUILT INTO THE DEFINITION OF FAR UNDER MCMANSION, SUB CHAPTER F.
SO OUTSIDE MCMANSION, UH, FAR IS DEFINED DIFFERENTLY AND THE EXEMPTIONS WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE.
ALL PARKING STRUCTURES ARE ALREADY EXEMPT IN THE BASE CODE.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATION HERE IS, UH, OR OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TAKE THIS DISPARITY INTO ACCOUNT AND WE'VE ADDED A 0.05 FAR BUMP TO OUR STARTING POINT TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THESE EX UH, OF THESE EXEMPTIONS.
THAT'S WHY, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 0.55 AND A 0.65, UH, BUT TO, TO MAKE THIS WORK, IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE INCLUDE PARKING STRUCTURES IN THE DEFINITION OF FAR.
SO WE MODELED WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE ON AN AVERAGE 7,500 SQUARE FOOT MIDLOCK MID-BLOCK LOT.
UH, YOU'LL HEAR THAT THE STEPPED FAR GENERALLY ENCOURAGES MORE SMALLER UNITS.
UH, SO IN THIS FIRST ONE YOU'LL SEE IT'S SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND IT'S SUBJECT TO THE F TO THE SUBCHAPTER F TENT AND IT'S CAPPED AT FAR.
BUT WITH THE EXEMPTIONS WE'RE GETTING TO 0.45.
AND THEN, UH, THE NEXT TWO MODELS SHOW TWO UNITS AND THREE UNITS.
UM, SO WE SUPPORT CAPPING THE FAR OF A SINGLE UNIT IN MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS THE, UH, THE GUARDRAIL THAT KEEPS THE STEALTH MCMANSIONS AT BAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD IMAGINE A VERY SMALL POOL CABANA WITH A GIGANTIC HOUSE ATTACK THAT POOL CABANA COULD BE A UNIT.
UM, SO BY LIMITING ONE, ANY ONE UNIT OF A MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN FAR, UH, THAT'LL PREVENT THAT.
WE SUPPORT, UH, PRESERVATION AUSTIN'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PRESERVATION INCENTIVE, AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT BOLSTERED AND EXPANDED TO TREES AS WELL.
IN PHASE TWO, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT A PROJECT HERE, UM, BY, UH, THOUGHT BARN AND DELINEATE STUDIO.
UM, THIS IS TWO EXISTING HOMES THAT WERE PRESERVED AND THERE WERE TWO NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE BUILT IN BACK.
EACH ONE OF THESE IS A FOURPLEX.
UM, WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THIS KIND OF STUFF.
WE SUPPORT REDUCING OUR SETBACKS AND ENCOURAGE THIS RESOLUTION TO GO FURTHER THAN THE FRONT YARD AVERAGING, UM,
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WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, BUILT IN UNDER SUB CHAPTER F UH, BUT WE'D LIKE TO GO FURTHER.UM, FRONT YARD AVERAGING, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING.
UH, IT ALSO RELIES ON THE LUCK OF THE DRAW.
IF YOUR HOME IS IN AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN MAYBE YOU'LL GET FRONT YARD AVERAGING AND YOU GET UP TO, UH, 15 FOOT.
IF IT'S NOT, THEN YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK.
AND, UH, WE DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS FAIR FOR A CITY CODE.
UM, WE ALSO SUPPORT, UH, UH, REDUCING THE SIDE YARD, THE STREET SIDE YARD DOWN TO FIVE FEET.
THIS WOULD PERMIT TWO AND THREE UNITS TO GET CLOSER TO THE STREET, AND IT JUST MAKES IT WORK EASIER.
THERE'S MORE FLEXIBILITY, UH, BUILT IN LIKE WE SAW IN LUCY'S SLIDE WITH THOSE THREE UNITS.
UM, AND FINALLY, WE DO NEED TO INCLUDE PARKING STRUCTURES IN THE DEFINITION OF FAR.
UH, CURRENTLY YOU COULD BUILD A LARGE GARAGE WITH A HOME ON TOP AND YOU EXCLUDE ALL THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE GARAGE FROM THE FAR CALCULATIONS.
UM, AND I GOT 10 SECONDS LEFT.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM MS. AGUIRE RE WITH DONATED TIME FROM JULIA WOODS.
MS. WOODS PRESENT, SPECIFICALLY MARY
UH, WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE DONATOR OF, UM, MS. INGLE AND, UM, MS. MACARTHUR.
GOOD EVENING CHAIR SHAW AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS ANA GIRE AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.
THE ANC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REACHED OUT TO YOU IN ORDER TO HA FOR US TO HAVE SOME DIALOGUE REGARDING THE HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT RESOLUTION.
WE WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER SHAW, HAMPEL PHILLIPS, AZAR, HAYNES WOODS BARR, RAMIREZ, MUCH TALLER AND COX FOR TAKING THE TIME TO, FROM THEIR VERY BUSY SCHEDULE TO MEET WITH US.
WE ALSO THANK COMMISSIONERS ANDERSON AND CONNELLY FOR SPEAKING WITH ME.
RIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO OPPOSE THE HOME RESOLUTION AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
THIS PLAN IS NOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IT IS NOT ABOUT EQUITY.
THIS PLAN WILL GENTRIFY THE REMAINING AFRICAN-AMERICAN BLACK, HISPANIC, AND LATINO RESIDENTS THAT ARE HOMEOWNERS OR RENTERS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
THIS KIND IS ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE DIRT AND IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON IT.
THE COMMITTEE ARE JUST MAYOR WATSON AND THE COUNCIL TO FOLLOW THE MAYOR'S MAYOR WATSON'S CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO STEP BACK AND INITIATE A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN EACH DISTRICT APPOINTED TO A TASK FORCE AND CHARGED WITH CONSENSUS ON FINDING REALISTIC DENSITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS IN EACH DISTRICT, AND ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS WE ASK FOR CO A TRUE COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS REGARDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS SUMMER, WE WERE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES TO LIMIT OUR ELECTRICITY USE AND AVOID TO AVOID A BLACKOUT.
WE LOSE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER DUE TO LEAKING PIPES, AND WE HAVE A LOSS OF OUR TREE CANOPY DUE TO EXTREME CLIMATE, UH, CLIMATE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE, THE COUNCIL SHOULD NEEDS TO FUND AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF THESE ZONING CHANGES.
WE SHOULD MAINTAIN SUBCHAPTER F AND EXISTING FAR REQUIREMENTS AND REEVALUATE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
OCCUPANCY LIMITS SHOULD FOLLOW NATIONAL AND STATE LAWS, AND ONCE ADOPTED, MUST BE ENFORCED SO AS NOT TO RESULT IN HARM FOR THE VULNERABLE POPULATION.
THOSE THAT ARE SU SUSCEPTIBLE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SEX TRAFFICKING, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
AUSTIN IS NATIONALLY KNOWN AS SLASH FLOOD ALLEY.
I LIVE IN THE SPRINGS ONION CREEK, WHERE ONION CREEK AND WILLIAMSON CREEK CONVERGE.
IN 2015 AND 2013, WE SUSTAINED SERIOUS LOSS OF HOMES AND LIFE.
FOR THIS REASON, WE RECOMMEND YOU PROHIBIT ANY DUE DENSITY IN AREA SUSCEPTIBLE TO CREEK FLOODING, LOCALIZED FLOODING, STREAM BANK EROSION, OR DESIGNATED TO BE WITHIN THE ATLAS 14 PLANE FLOODPLAIN.
THERE SHOULD BE NO INCREASING IMPERVIOUS COVER ALLOWANCES OVER THE CURRENTLY ASSIGNED LIMITS SITE PLAN AREA, EVALUATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN CASES OF EXPANSION TO MEET THOSE LIMITS MODIFIED TO INCREASE DENSITY, THERE SHOULD BE A PROHIBITION OF BEING IN LIEU OF STORM WATER CONTROL OPTIONS TO, TO NEW DENSITY.
AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, YOU, WE SHOULD COMPLY WITH THE FEMA REGULATIONS SO AS NOT TO COMPROMISE ANY PROPERTY OWNER'S ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FEDERAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.
WE SHOULD ADDRESS THE IMPACT THAT ADDITIONAL DENSITY WILL HAVE ON SANITATION RELATED SERVICES, SUCH AS, UH, STREET ACCESS FOR PICKUP, FOR TRASH RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING.
WE SHOULD ENSURE BASIC PUBLIC SERVICES ARE PROVIDED WHEN HOUSING, HOUSING DENSITIES INTRODUCED, INTRODUCED UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE,
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HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.WE SHOULD COMPLY WITH ALL NATIONAL HOUSING STANDARDS.
WE SHOULD MAINTAIN RESPECT AND NOT UNDERMINE EXISTING HOMEOWNER DEED AND COVENANT RESTRICTIONS.
WE SHOULD INCENTIVIZE HOMEOWNERS SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE IN PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THEIR LOT AND THAT MEET PROTECTIVE AND FUNCTIONAL CODE COMPLIANCE.
AND WE SHOULD EXPLORE HOUSING OPTIONS ON CITY OWNED AND VACANT PROPERTIES.
SO GOING BACK TO WHY DOES FLOODING MATTER IN 2013, THIS IS WHO WE LOST.
EDWARD JACKSON, 72 ONION CREEK, JOSEFINA RODRIGUEZ AND HER EIGHT MONTH OLD SON.
THERE WERE TWO UNIDENTIFIED MALES IN ONION CREEK.
THERE WERE 200 STUDENTS THAT BECAME HOMELESS IN 2015.
WE LOST JORGE AGUILAR TORRES 50 FROM DEL VALLEY, EDWARD HERNANDEZ JR.
HE WAS WITH TWO OTHER MALES AND THEY WERE RESCUED IN ORTIZ GARZA, 67 FROM SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY.
SHE WAS WITH HER HUSBAND WHO WAS RESCUED.
AGAIN, THIS SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT THE VALUE OF DIRT.
THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM MS. BETSY GREENBERG.
DONATED TIME FROM MS. ANN DANGLER AND MS. HELEN PVI.
MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG AND I LIVE IN THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD, JESS NORTH OF THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF OCCUPANCY LIMITS, THE CHANGE TO THE DEFINITION OF GROUP RESIDENTIAL AND THE PROPOSED REMOVAL OF DEFINITIONS FOR FAMILY AND GROUP HOMES.
THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF GROUP RESIDENTIAL IS THE USE OF A SITE FOR OCCUPANCY BY A GROUP OF MORE THAN SIX PERSONS WHO ARE NOT A FAMILY ON A WEEKLY OR LONGER BASIS.
GROUP RESIDENTIAL IS CURRENTLY PROHIBITED IN SSF ZONES AND IS ONLY ALLOWED IN MF ZONING.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, IN 2004 THERE WAS A CODE CHANGE TO SPECIFY THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS IN EACH DWELLING UNIT OF A DUPLEX OR SECONDARY APARTMENT.
THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO SUPER DUPLEXES IN 2014 IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS ABOUT NEW HIGH RENT SIX BEDROOM HOUSES IN THE ASSOCIATED DEMOLITIONS.
A TWO YEAR TRIAL WAS PASSED, REDUCING OCCUPANCY LIMITS ON NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES TO FOUR.
EACH TIME A CHANGE WAS MADE, LARGE FAMILIES WERE PROTECTED, EXISTING USES WERE GRANDFATHERED AND NOBODY WAS DISPLACED.
CONCERNS WITH OCCUPANCY LIMITS HAVE PERSISTED.
THE FIRST ISSUE IS ALWAYS AFFORDABILITY.
THE REALITY IS THAT THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS EXISTING HOUSING.
NEW HOUSING IS ALWAYS MORE EXPENSIVE.
AFTER CONSIDERING THE DATA THE COUNCIL MADE THE 2014 REDUCTION PERMANENT IN 2016, THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN CONCERNS THAT OCCUPANCY LIMITS VIOLATE FAIR HOUSING LAWS THAT PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING BASED ON FAMILIAL STATUS.
THIS CONCERN IS EASILY ADDRESSED BY ADDING AN EXCEPTION THAT PERMITS A HIGHER OCCUPANCY AS NEEDED TO ALLOW FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING LAW GROUP RESIDENTIAL HAS BEEN REDEFINED OR A NEW, THE STAFF HAS PROVIDED A NEW DEFINITION FOR GROUP RESIDENTIAL AS THE USE OF A SITE FOR OCCUPANCY BY A GROUP OF MORE THAN 16 ADULTS WHEN A THIRD PARTY PREPARES OR PROVIDES FOOD WITH THIS DEFINITION, IF THERE ARE 17 OR MORE ADULTS AND A THIRD PARTY PREPARES OR PROVIDES FOOD, THEN THE USE IS GROUP RESIDENTIAL AND ONLY ALLOWED IN MF ZONES.
IF THERE'S ISN'T A THIRD PARTY PREPARING FOOD, AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF ADULTS ARE ALLOWED IN SSF ZONES.
I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHY HAVING A THIRD PARTY PREPARING FOOD MATTERS AND SUGGEST THOSE WORDS BE DELETED ON JUNE 1ST.
COUNCIL RESOLUTION MENTIONED THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE HAS OCCUPANCY LIMITS THAT ARE EASIER TO ENFORCE.
THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE SAYS A BEDROOM FOR THREE ADULTS MUST BE AT LEAST 120 SQUARE FEET, UM, WITH APOLOGIES TO THE ARCHITECTS IN THE ROOM.
UM, THIS ILLUSTRATION SHOWS A 2300 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE WITH 11 BEDROOMS THAT ARE EACH 120 SQUARE FEET.
TEXAS PROPERTY CODE SPECIFIES THAT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ADULTS ALLOWED TO OCCUPY A DWELLING UNIT IS THREE
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TIMES THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS. SO THIS HOUSE COULD BE RENTED TO 33 ADULTS.I DON'T THINK THIS IS WHAT COUNCIL INTENDED WITH THEIR RESOLUTION.
16, 17 33 OR MORE IN ONE RESIDENTIAL UNIT WITHOUT MULTIFAMILY HEALTH SAFETY AND FIRE CODES ALONG WITH INSPECTIONS IS A BAD IDEA.
THE PROPOSED CODE CHANGE WILL SUBJECT DISADVANTAGED PERSONS TO SUBSTANDARD OR DANGEROUS HOUSING.
THE STAFF ALSO PROPOSED THAT FAMILY AND GROUP HOME DEFINITIONS ALSO BE REMOVED FROM THE CODE WHEN THE DEFINITIONS ARE REMOVED.
THESE USES WILL EITHER FIT THE GROUP RESIDENTIAL DEFINITION MORE THAN 16 RESIDENTS, AND THE THIRD PARTY PROVIDES FOOD, WHICH IS ALLOWED ONLY IN MF ZONES OR THEY'RE ALLOWED IN SSF WITH NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS.
UM, I HAVE THESE USED DEFINITIONS, BUT TO SAVE TIME, I'LL GO RIGHT TO THE SUMMARY
OKAY, SO FAMILY HOME AND GROUP.
HOME TYPE ONE LIMITED BOTH ALLOW SIX RESIDENTS AND TWO SUPERVISORS.
THE RESIDENTS ARE PEOPLE WITH ILLNESSES OR DISABILITIES, AND THESE USES ARE CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN SSF ZONES GROUP.
HOME GENERAL ALLOWS UP TO 15 RESIDENTS AND THREE SUPERVISORS, AND IS CURRENTLY A CONDITIONAL USE IN SF ZONES GROUP HOME TWO ALSO ALLOWS ONLY 15 RESIDENTS AND THREE SUPERVISORS, THE RESIDENTS OR INDIVIDUALS NEEDING CORRECTIONAL OR MENTAL INSTITUTIONALIZATION, INCLUDING JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.
THIS USES CURRENTLY PROHIBITED IN SSF.
REMOVING THESE DEFINITIONS AND THE LINES IN THE TABLE MEANS THAT THEY ARE ALL PERMITTED IN SSF WITH NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AND LESS THE MORE THAN 16 AND A THIRD PARTY PROVIDES FOOD.
JUVENILE DELINQUENTS NEVER FIT THE DEFINITION FOR GROUP RESIDENTIAL AS THEY ARE NOT ADULTS.
FAMILY AND GROUP HOMES ARE OFTEN RUN BY FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES.
HOWEVER, LOCAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSING AND INSPECTION WILL ONLY BE REQUIRED FOR PROPERTIES THAT MEET THE NEW DEFINITION FOR GROUP RESIDENTIAL.
THESE CODE CHANGES WILL SUBJECT THE SICK, THE POOR, THE ELDERLY, EX-OFFENDERS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
AND POSSIBLE ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION CODE THAT IS ALTERED WITHOUT CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DETAIL CAN RESULT IN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM MR. SCOTT TURNER.
DO I HAVE CODY CARR PRESENT? DO I HAVE OD MUDHAL PRESENT? YES.
DO I HAVE SEAN KIRKPATRICK PRESENT? DO I HAVE NANCY ROEDER PRESENT? MR. TURNER, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
I BROUGHT A, UH, COUPLE OF SLIDES TO SHOW YOU WHY I THINK THE HOME INITIATIVE IS SO IMPORTANT.
UM, THIS FIRST ONE HERE JUST SHOWS THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND THE RELATED HOME PRICES THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.
MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS, THIS DATA BEFORE, BUT FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T, FOR THE MEDIAN INCOME EARNER IN AUSTIN, YOU CAN AFFORD A $311,000 HOME ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S STANDARD CALCULATIONS.
UH, THE STATS BELOW ARE MEDIAN HOME PRICES FOR AUSTIN AND FOR BASTROP COUNTY.
AND YOU'LL SEE THE ONE THERE FOR BASTROP, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR MORE AFFORDABLE SURROUNDING MARKETS, UM, $349,000.
SO TODAY THE MEDIAN INCOME EARNER IN AUSTIN CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY THE MEDIAN HOME IN BASTROP, MUCH LESS IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT TODAY.
SO THIS SLIDE IS, UH, UH, CENSUS DATA FROM THE CITY DEMOGRAPHER.
UH, IT SHOWS, UH, POPULATION DENSITY.
I KNOW I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY THE D WORD DENSITY, BUT, BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS SHOWS.
UM, YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE IT ON THE SCREEN THERE, BUT, UH, THE, THE TWO LIGHTEST COLORS ARE, UH, RURAL AND SUBURBAN LEVEL OF DENSITY, FOUR TO 10 PEOPLE, UH, PER ACRE.
UH, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT COVERS MOST OF THE CITY.
UM, THAT IS SSF THREE ZONING IN A NUTSHELL,
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AND FOR THE 10TH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, UM, THAT, THAT THAT IS ONE REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING.AND THAT'S COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT 30% OF OUR JOBS ARE WITHIN THREE MILES OF DOWNTOWN.
UH, THAT STATS FROM TERRY MITCHELL, UM, I'M SURE HE HAS A SOURCE FOR IT.
BUT, UH, UH, SO THAT'S 200,000 JOBS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, EVEN THAT AREA DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING, UH, BEYOND A, A SUBURBAN LEVEL OF DENSITY.
UM, AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE THIS IN THE PERMIT DATA.
SO, UH, WE ASSEMBLED THE ADU PERMITS, UH, SINCE THEY BECAME LEGAL ON EVERY LOT IN 2015.
UM, SO THIS SHOWS ADU AND DUPLEX PERMITS BY YEAR.
UH, FROM 2015 TO DATE, UM, ONLY 12% OF NEW PERMITS WERE FOR TWO.
THE SECOND UNIT, YOU KNOW, UM, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE MAP IN TERMS OF POPULATION DENSITY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE CODE HERE.
OUR CODE FAVORS, AND I KNOW A, I A TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER, OUR CODE FAVORS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND, AND THE DATA REALLY SHOWS THAT.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE OUR, OUR APPROACH TO HOUSING.
I I IF, IF THE AVERAGE AUSTINITE IS GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANYTHING, UH, UM, IN, IN THE CITY LIMITS.
UM, WE JUST NEED MORE HOUSING.
UH, OTHERWISE, AND I'M GOT GOT ONE MORE SLIDE HERE.
OTHERWISE, UH, WE END UP WITH THIS.
THIS IS POPULATION GROWTH FROM 2010 TO 2020.
UM, THE, THE BLUE COLORS ARE, ARE THE MOST RAPID GROWTH OVER THE 10 YEARS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THERE'S ALMOST A CIRCLE THERE, UH, CENTERED ON CENTRAL AUSTIN, UH, WHERE WHITE IS ALMOST, ALMOST NO GROWTH.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW SOME AREAS OF AUSTIN DIDN'T GAIN ANY POPULATION, BUT THEY DIDN'T.
APPARENTLY THOSE ARE THE ORANGE FIELDS.
SO, SO THAT, THAT BLUE AREA, THAT'S THE WAVE OF DISPLACEMENT THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT.
UM, THAT IS, THAT IS FAMILIES BEING FORCED TO MOVE FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM AUSTIN, FROM THEIR HOMES IN ORDER TO FIND A PLACE THAT WILL FIT THEIR FAMILY AND THEY CAN AFFORD TO BUY.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD THAT DRIVE UNTIL YOU QUALIFY, UH, YOU KNOW, SORT OF NOM IN THE PAST.
BUT, UM, THAT'S A, A VERY REAL REPRESENTATION OF IT HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO, UM, EVERYTHING YOU DO TONIGHT REALLY, I THINK IS, IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF, OF THE FOLKS WHO, WHO PERHAPS CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
UH, BUT WHO, UH, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER, UM, IN, IN TERMS OF, OF WHAT WE DO AS A CITY BECAUSE, UH, WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
NOT EVERY HOUSE IN AUSTIN IS AFFORDABLE CERTAINLY, BUT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN, IN MORE NEIGHBORHOODS OR, OR THIS PATTERN IS JUST GONNA CONTINUE.
LAY, DO I HAVE MR. DAN KENNEDY PRESENT? DO I HAVE KEVIN BRODERICK PRESENT? UH, MR. LEE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE HOLD, HOLD.
DO I HAVE ALSO KATHY GATTUSO PRESENT IS JASON HASKINS PRESENT.
AT THIS TIME I'LL START CALLING FIVE SPEAKERS AT A TIME.
IF YOU'RE PRESENT, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO A PODIUM.
MR. PAUL ZOSS, MR. RON THROWER, MS. VICTORIA HASI, MS. BILL, MR. BILL MCCOLLY AND MS. HOLLY REED SWITCH.
WHERE, JUST ON THAT SO PEOPLE CAN SEE.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE PERMISSION RON THROWER? UM, MANY OF Y'ALL HEARD ME TALK ABOUT HOW OVER THE LAST 38
[00:50:01]
YEARS THERE'S BEEN HUNDREDS OF CODE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE WHITTLED AWAY AT DEVELOPABLE LAND.AND WHAT'S BEFORE YOU DENIED IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND CAPTURE SOME OF THAT BACK SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GET HOUSING AS A PRIORITY.
AND FOR THAT, I SUPPORT IT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT COUNCIL HAD PASSED THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT SHOULD BE RUNNING PARALLEL WITH THIS.
AND THAT IS FOR THE ABILITY TO CREATE LOTS IN A MUCH SIMPLER WAY.
RIGHT NOW TO TAKE A 12,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT, DIVIDE IT INTO TWO, SO YOU CAN HAVE TWO 6,000 SQUARE FOOT LOTS, TAKES SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR, TAKES ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS RIGHT NOW TO DO AN AMENDED PLATT, YOU CAN ONLY REMOVE A LOT LINE OR SHIFT A LOT LINE.
BUT THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE STATE CODE AND COUNCIL HAS RECOGNIZED THAT AND IT HAS INITIATED A CODE AMENDMENT THAT HAS KIND OF STALLED OUT.
BUT IT'S THE ABILITY TO CREATE LOTS THROUGH THIS AMENDED PLATT PROCESS.
IT GOES FASTER, IT IS A LOT CHEAPER, AND IT HAS THE ABILITY TO CREATE LOTS MUCH EASIER SO THAT WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL UNITS ON THE GROUND AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU MS. VICTORIA HASSEY, FOLLOWED BY BILL MCCOLLY AND HOLLY RE.
VICTORIA HASI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF US AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO SAY.
UM, SO I'M BECOMING A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED WITH, SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A SENTIMENT OF I GOT MINE IN THE HELL WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
SOMETIMES THESE AMENDMENTS HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR CITY AND SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE AGING IN PLACE RATHER THAN GENTRIFICATION.
ANOTHER, UH, THESE AMENDMENTS ALLOW MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSING AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK THE FAMILY VILLAGE THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN LONG FOR THESE AMENDMENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADD ADDITIONAL UNITS AND AREAS OF OUR CITY THAT CAN SUPPORT DENSITY OR CAN SUPPORT TRANSIT.
SO I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT THESE AMENDMENTS AND, AND TAKE THEM VERY SERIOUSLY.
A LOT OF THE LOVELY HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE THAT PUT AUSTIN ON THE MAP, THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL DISRUPTORS OF THE CITY.
AND TRUTH BE TOLD, WE'RE ALL DISRUPTORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE ALL CAME HERE WHAT WAS ONCE GREEN OPEN LANDS ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER.
WE'VE ALL COME HERE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE.
WE NEED MORE HOUSING AND IT ONLY MAKES SENSE IF WE'RE GONNA BRING MORE HOUSING, BRING IT TO THE AREAS WHERE WE'VE ALREADY DISRUPTED LAND.
LET'S NOT DISRUPT MORE LAND IN SPRAWLING OUTSIDE OUR CITY AND LET'S GAIN MORE HOUSING, MORE UNITS, MORE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO LIVE CLOSER AND CREATE BETTER COMMUNITY INSIDE OUR CORE.
THIS CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS BILL MCKINLEY, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT FORWARD.
WE'RE AN AWESOME BASE 5 0 1 C THREE THAT WORKS ON EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT REGARDING PROJECT CONNECT AND TRANSIT AS A WHOLE.
REALLY LIKE TO THANK, UH, COMMISSIONERS ANDERSON, CONNOLLY AND MAXWELL FOR ATTENDING A TALK WE HAD LAST WEEK.
UH, WITH PETER PARKS, WHO IS A CONSULTANT BEING EMPLOYED BY THE CITY'S PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE.
IT IS REALLY VITAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF PROJECT CONNECT THAT WE HAVE MORE DENSITY AROUND TRANSIT CORRIDORS AND MR. PARKS ACTUALLY ACTUALLY HAD A REALLY WONDERFUL INTERACTIVE MAP AROUND THE HALF MILE, AROUND THE PROPOSED LIGHT RAIL LINE SHOWING HOW THE DIFFERENT OVERLAYS UNIVERSITY OVERLAY THE RIVERSIDE OVERLAY AND IT INCLUDED THE HOME INITIATIVE WOULD ADD DENSITY.
THIS IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE SYSTEM IN GENERAL, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP HAS THESE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SHOW MORE DENSITY AROUND THESE TRANSIT CORRIDORS WHEN THEY APPLY FOR THEIR TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN A COMPETITIVE GRANT.
SO THIS INITIATIVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PROJECT CONNECT DIRECTLY, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR TRANSIT MORE GENERALLY AT A CITYWIDE LEVEL.
AND LEMME GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.
LAST YEAR WE HAD A PANEL DISCUSSION WHERE WE HAD THE HR DIRECTOR FROM CAT METRO WHO SAID THAT I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY, I BELIEVE THE NUMBER SHE SAID WAS ABOUT 80% OF THEIR MECHANICS DO NOT LIVE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
WE WERE PART OF A, UH, RECENT PROGRAM WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WHERE THEY ESTIMATED THAT ALL OF THE TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS BEING BUILT IN THE IN TOWN WILL REQUIRE 10,000 WORKERS PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT 17 YEARS.
IF WORKERS CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO WORK HERE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS DISCUSSION.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS SAID, THIS SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT DIRT, THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT PEOPLE.
AND I AGREE OUR WORKERS SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE NEAR THE JOBS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED THEM FOR AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THIS TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE REST OF YOUR EVENING, MS. HOLLY REED PRESENTATION
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MS. OR BLA BLAZE CROSSLEY AND KYLE VANEK, IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.MY NAME IS HOLLY REED AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP.
IN OPPOSITION TO THE HOME DRAFT ORDINANCE AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, THE LACK OF SIZE RESTRICTIONS IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT OF OCTOBER 23RD STATES THE LACK OF SIZE RESTRICTIONS, LACK OF PRESERVATION INCENTIVE, AND EXCUSE ME, DELAYING MINIMUM LOT SIZE REDUCTIONS TO PHASE TWO SEVERELY LIMITS THE PROPOSAL'S EFFICACY.
IT ALSO STATES THAT UNITS MAY NEARLY TRIPLE THEIR ALLOWABLE SIZE WITHOUT SUBCHAPTER F FLOOR AREA RATIO RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT UNIT SIZE RESTRICTIONS EITHER BY SUBCHAPTER F OR ANOTHER FAR LIMITATION, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS MAY RESULT IN UNITS WITH SIMILAR SIZE AND PRICE TO CURRENT SINGLE UNIT USES.
WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT IF THE ORDINANCE PASSES AS WRITTEN, IT COULD RESULT IN MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSING THAN CURRENTLY EXISTS.
DEMOLITION OF OLDER, MORE AFFORDABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND DUPLEXES, DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LOWER LAND VALUES, INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES, MORE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND LESS PERMANENT HOMES FOR FAMILIES TO PURCHASE IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
REMOVAL OF TREES WITH ADDED IMPERVIOUS COVER FLOODING, INADEQUATE CITY UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY ISSUES WITH ADDED STREET PARKING, VIOLATION OF DEEDED RESTRICTIONS, RESTRICTED COVENANTS AND DISREGARD FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL HAS STATED THAT, SORRY, NEXT SLIDE.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL STATED THAT SHE SUPPORTS LIMITING SIZE FOR TWO AND THREE UNIT BUILDINGS AND SHE ALSO SUPPORTS ADDING A PRESERVATION INCENTIVE TO THE DRAFT ORDINANCE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
WE ASK THAT YOU RET RETAIN SUBCHAPTER F FLOOR AREA RATIO TO 0.4 FOR TWO AND THREE UNITS AND WE HAD SOME OTHER ONES THAT I WANTED TO TELL YOU AS WELL.
PLEASE MAKE THE CHANGES IN ONE PHASE.
NOW HEAR FROM KYLE SEK, REYA, ISAAC COHEN AND IRENE, IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
UM, HI, MY NAME'S JAY CROSSLEY AND HOPEFULLY I HAVE A SLIDE AND I WAS JUST HOPING TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS ONE POINT.
UM, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF US HERE.
UM, AND SO MY POINT IS THAT THE, THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT, UM, HAD US A LINE IN IT THAT SAID UPZONING CAUSES DISPLACEMENT.
UM, AND THAT'S A VERY RADICAL CLAIM, UH, TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED CAUSALITY BETWEEN UPZONING AND DISPLACEMENT.
AND I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY ACADEMIC LITERATURE THAT SHOWS THAT TO BE TRUE.
HOWEVER, IF WE LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN AUSTIN, THERE ARE PLACES THAT HAVE NOT GONE UP IN HOUSING COSTS.
UH, THERE'S REALLY TWO SIGNIFICANT PLACES AND THAT IS WHERE UNO WAS IN WEST CAMPUS AND THEN A LONG EAST RIVERSIDE THAT HAD PLANS A WHILE AGO THAT ALLOWED MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE THERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS SLIDE IS SHOWING YOU.
WHEREAS IN SAY, HYDE PARK, UH, YOU KNOW, IF I WANNA LIVE IN HYDE PARK, IT COSTS $682 MORE A MONTH TO LIVE IN HYDE PARK IN 2021 THAN IT DID IN 2011.
UM, THAT STORY IS NOT THE SAME IN THE PLACES WHERE WE DID UPZONING AND ALLOWED MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE THERE.
AND SO WE NEED EQUITABLE GROWTH AND IF YOU CARE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, THE THINGS LIKE HOME WILL ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, THANKS FOR HAVING US THIS EVENING.
WE'RE GONNA TAG TEAM THIS ONE.
UM, WE'RE TWO CO-FOUNDERS OF A A LITTLE STARTUP WE'RE BUILDING HERE IN AUSTIN CALLED CEDAR.
UM, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON HELPING THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE, MORE WALKABLE, DENSER, MORE BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, AND WE'RE HERE IN, YOU KNOW, FIRM SUPPORT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE, WHICH WE BELIEVE IS AN, AN IMPORTANT STEP IN.
WELL WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE REALLY FUN ANIMATIONS TONIGHT.
[01:00:01]
UH, YEAH, I'LL JUST REITERATE THAT WE'RE, UM, VERY MUCH HERE STANDING IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE AS WE BELIEVE IT'LL BRING MORE LIVABILITY, WALKABILITY, AND AFFORDABILITY TO AUSTIN BY UNLOCKING A REAL DIVERSITY OF HOUSING OPTIONS THAT SUPPORT THE DESIRE OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE TO LIVE CLOSE TO WORK, TO LIVE CLOSE TO THEIR FRIENDS AND TO LIVE CLOSE TO CULTURAL AMENITIES, THE THINGS THAT THEY FIND BEAUTIFUL ABOUT LIVING IN THE CITY.UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T SHARE, UH, WHAT WE'VE BUILT WITH YOU, BUT WE ESSENTIALLY BUILT A, AN AN OPEN SOURCED CATALOG OF, UH, HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT'S ON THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER, IT'S JUST CALLED THE CATALOG.
AND YOU CAN REALLY SEE HOW BEFORE AND AFTER WITH THE HOME INITIATIVE, UH, THE CHANGES THAT, UM, WILL BE UNLOCKED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF UNITS AND REALLY THE, THE DIVERSITY OF HOUSING OPTIONS THAT'LL BECOME AVAILABLE.
SOMETHING LIKE FOUR OR FIVE HOUSING TYPES ARE NOW AVAILABLE WILL GO TO SOMETHING LIKE 30 PLUS HOUSING UNITS OR HOUSING TYPES THAT'LL BE AVAILABLE POST THE HOME INITIATIVE.
IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE LIVING IN A REALLY FAST GROWING VERY DIVERSE CITY, WE NEED A DIVERSE ARRAY OF OPTIONS TO, TO MEET THAT DEMAND.
UM, SO
WE'LL, UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS ISAAC COHEN.
I AM A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT NINE IN A BOULDER CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR TREE CANOPY, IT'S GOT NOTHING ON THE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF RANCH LAND BEING TURNED INTO SUBDIVISIONS.
OFFSETTING THE CARBON MONOXIDE FROM THE MILLIONS OF EXTRA DRIVEN MILES AND REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE UNNECESSARY SUBURBS.
70% OF YOUR WATER IS WATERING, YOUR LAWN LAWNS AREN'T GREAT FOR WATER.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT THAT SORT OF THING, YOU COULD BRING OUT LOCALIZED HEAT.
BUT TALKING ABOUT IT WITHOUT SPRAWL IS DISINGENUOUS.
OUR SEWER PLANTS OPERATE AT 55% CAPACITY WITH A $78 MILLION UPGRADE UNDERWAY.
HIGHLY DENSE CITIES SUPPORT HIGHLY DENSE, HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PUBLIC TRANSIT, WHICH LOWERS COST OF LIVING AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE MOBILE AS THEY AGE IN PLACE.
HOME PRICES AND TAXES HAVE RISEN, HAVE RISEN THROUGH 40 YEARS OF CONTINUOUSLY TIGHTENING LAND USE REGULATION IN SINGLE FAMILY AREAS.
MEANWHILE, RENTS HAVE DECREASED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS DUE TO RECORD BREAKING CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RENTAL UNITS.
UM, I HEAR THAT HOME IS A HANDOUT FOR DEVELOPERS THAT THE OPPONENTS OF HOME BUILD THEIR OWN HOUSES.
THERE ARE, THE DEVELOPERS NOT ONLY BUILD THE HOMES AND WRITE THE RACIST RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, THEY HOLD SO VALUABLE IF HOMES ARE NEEDED AND SOMEBODY'S GONNA BUILD IT.
WHO ELSE BUT DEVELOPERS? I MEAN, SERIOUSLY.
UM, I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT STAFFING LEVELS AND NOT ENOUGH EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND THEN I HEAR ABOUT THE ALLENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION REJECTING DENSITY AT THE SITE OF THE ROSEDALE SCHOOL BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC.
'CAUSE APPARENTLY THE SCHOOL THAT WAS THERE BEFORE DIDN'T CAUSE TRAFFIC.
I HEAR ABOUT HOW SMALLER HOUSES DON'T GET BUILT ANYMORE, BUT THEN ZNA AND BREER WOODS ARE READY TO DIE ON SMALL LOT SIZES.
OUR CITY CODE MADE YOUR AFFORDABLE 1930 BUNGALOW IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD AT A PRICE TO MARKET WILL BEAR BECAUSE OF THE ANC.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM IRENE PICARD, JAMES VALDEZ.
GO RIGHT TO THE SECOND SLIDE IF YOU WOULD.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE TONIGHT.
AND I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR TREE CANOPY.
UM, IN FACT, TONIGHT IN THE CAR COMING OVER HERE, I HEARD A FEDERAL REPORT WAS JUST RELEASED TODAY ABOUT THE, THE COST, THE FINANCIAL COSTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS THE EFFECT ON NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE LINED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND LACK A TREE CANOPY.
AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE HAVING MORE HEALTH EFFECTS, FLOODING EFFECTS AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS BE BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT TREE PLANTING WAS CRITICAL.
UH, WE HAVE SOMETHING IN AUSTIN THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF, AND IT'S OUR TREE ORDINANCE.
THIS TREE ORDINANCE PROTECTS TREES THAT ARE FOUR AND A HALF FEET OFF THE, THE,
[01:05:01]
THE, UH, THE LAND, 19 INCHES IN DIAMETER.I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON HOW MANY TREES IN AUSTIN ARE PROTECTED AND HOW MANY TREES WE WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE THEY LIKELY WILL REMAIN WHERE THEY ARE.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART, YOU WILL SEE THE DIAMETER CLASS ACROSS THE BOTTOM AND YOU WILL SEE THE PERCENT COMING UP THE SIDE.
AND YOU SEE FOR THOSE TREES THAT MEET THE PROTECTED STATUS IN OUR CITY, UM, ONLY 3.4% OF THOSE TREES IN AUSTIN ARE PROTECTED.
THAT MEANS THAT OVER 96% OF THE TREES ARE NOT AND ARE EXPENDABLE.
AND THIS IS A, AN AUSTIN, DOES THAT MEAN I'M WARNED OR DONE? GO AND FINISH YOUR THOUGHTS.
GO AND FINISH THIS SLIDE AND WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE TO MOVE ON.
UM, I, I JUST HAVE A REQUEST THAT WE STRENGTHEN THE TREE ORDINANCE TO, TO PROTECT TREES THAT ARE 14 INCHES IN DIAMETER.
PATRICK LAUREN, JEFFREY BOWEN.
MR. GEORGE FER, RITA THOMPSON.
NEVER HAVE I BEEN SO CONFLICTED AND AMBIVALENT WHERE OTHER PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE CLARITY.
WELL, I'VE BEEN HERE 45 PLUS YEARS.
CO-OPS WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH AS A, UM, EVEN WORKING FOR NONPROFITS AS A SOCIAL WORKER, MY HUSBAND BEING A TEACHER AT ACC, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME.
AND I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE IN THOSE PROFESSIONS TODAY OR OTHERS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO SO.
AND SO I KNOW WE NEED ZONING REFORM.
AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW THAT, UM, NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MORE THAN SOMEONE SAID IS DIRT.
THEY'RE MORE THAN BUILDINGS AND THEY'RE LOTS.
I'VE LEARNED FROM THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT THEIR CONNECTIONS, THEIR RELATIONSHIPS, THEIR RESOURCES, THEIR INFORMAL THINGS THAT WE CAN'T EVEN DEFINE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT FRAMING THE DISCUSSION IS ONE AS EITHER BEING A NIMBY OR PRO-DEVELOPMENT IS NOT HELPFUL.
AND IN MY MIND IT'S A FALSE NARRATIVE.
IF ANYTHING COULD JUST BE SO SIMPLE.
I BELIEVE WE NEED ZONING REFORM, AND I SUPPORT THIS AND I NEED KNOW THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE CHANGING.
BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS HOW BROAD THIS REFORM IS BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT WITH SUCH A BLANKET ZONING CHANGE THAT COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BASED ON ONE ZONING CATEGORY WITH SUCH A DRAMATIC CHANGE, IF WE DON'T LOOK AT THINGS LIKE CODES AND ORDINANCES AND VARIANCES, THAT WE COULD RUN INTO SOME DIFFICULTY.
AND I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE, FLOODING IN AN AREA THAT'S BEEN ZONED, I'M THINKING, AND THE ROADS COME UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON SUBSTANDARD ROADS.
HOW ARE THEY GOING TO SUSTAIN WITH TWO OR THREE MORE HOUSES? SO I'M FOR THIS ON SOME LEVEL, BUT WE SURE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW TO INTEGRATE OUR CODES AND ORDINANCES AND WATCH OUT FOR THOSE VARIANCES OR WE WILL RUN INTO A PROBLEM.
LEE ZIEGLER SPEAKING FOR MYSELF.
UM, A MEMBER OF ANC TIME AND FOCUS ARE NEEDED TO BETTER EVALUATE AREAS DISTRICT BY DISTRICT, WHERE ADDITIONAL MIDDLE INCOME, AFFORDABLE HOUSING MIGHT BE ADDED TO CREATE COMPACT AND CONNECTED LIVING RELATIVE TO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
LIMITATIONS INDUCED BY DENSITY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
[01:10:01]
INITIATIVE FAILS TO CONSIDER SUSTAINABLE LIVING CONDITIONS AND FAILS TO RESPECT COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELFARE.IT IGNORES STRUCTURAL AND LAND LIMITATION AT THE OUTSET.
REVISION SHOULD INCLUDE PROTECTIONS LIKE PLANNED FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS TO UNITS IN THE BACK OF THE LOT LIKE DRAINAGE AND SEWAGE, WHICH CALLS FOR UPDATED STANDARDS BEFORE WHICH THERE SHOULD BE NO INCREASE IN UNITS, ANYWHERE THAT'S NOT DEEDED, AND NO INCREASE IN ONSITE IMPERVIOUS COVER NOR INCREASE FAR.
WHERE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NECESSARY INCLUDE PROTECTIONS LIKE REVISION OF OUR TREE ORDINANCE FOR GREATER PROTECTION SINCE RAPID GROWTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE ALREADY INCREASED.
HEAT ISLANDS SEVERELY THREATENING AUSTIN'S REMAINING TREES LIKE DATA FOR EXISTING UNITS IN SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING ACROSS AUSTIN.
CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE INFORMATION LIKE PLANNED CITY OF AUSTIN SERVICES, INCLUDING TRASH COLLECTION, ACKNOWLEDGING NO REQUIRED OFF STREET PARKING THAT PUSHES CARS AND BIKE LANES AND PEOPLE ON MISSING SIDEWALKS.
DO YOU REALLY WANNA SEE THE EFFECTS OF EIGHT ADDITIONAL UNITS ON A 280 ACRE LOT? WITHOUT ADDRESSING ALL OF THESE ISSUES DO NOT DESTROY EXISTING ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS.
FOR MANY YOUNG AND OLDER HOMEOWNERS CURRENTLY IN SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES, THE EXISTING MODEL HAS BECOME THE MOST AFFORDABLE OPTION AND BENEFICIAL COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE, WHICH IN MANY CASES WOULD BE DESTROYED BY THIS INITIATIVE AND RESULT IN DISPLACEMENT.
DO NOT APPROVE THIS, BUT GIVE ADDITIONAL FOCUS UPON LAND LIMITATION PER DISTRICT AND SIMULTANEOUS REVIEW OF PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO.
GEORGE FER, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE.
UH, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.
I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND FLIPPANT, BUT SEVEN HOURS AND NOW WHATEVER THIS IS GONNA BE, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
I THINK MR. TURNER HAD ALL THE RIGHT DATA.
I'M ONE OF THE PRIVILEGED FEW, VERY FEW.
WE'VE DEBATED THIS FOR 25 YEARS, SO THANK YOU FOR MOVING US FORWARD.
I'M FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND BUTTS RIGHT UP TO WESTLAKE HILLS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY A VERY CONVENIENT AREA AND IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT ONLY A NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT'S A COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE CHILDREN OR NOT, BUT I DON'T ALLOW MY CHILD TO PLAY IN THE STREETS, AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.
THAT'S WHERE YOU DEVELOP A LOT OF SKILLS FROM A TACTICAL STANDPOINT, FROM THE ABILITY OF DISCERNING HOW TO CATCH, HOW TO PLAY, HOW TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS.
YOU STACK A BUNCH OF UNITS UP ON TOP OF A BLOCK LIKE WE HAVE AROUND US RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S NOT AN ENVIRONMENT FOR A CHILD.
IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE BY ANY MEANS.
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT'S NOT GONNA BE ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE STILL CAN'T AFFORD RIGHT NOW.
YOU GOTTA LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND THINK ABOUT IT FROM A LARGER PERSPECTIVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR SOCIETY THAT WE'VE LOST, AND THE FAMILY IS PROBABLY ONE WE SHOULD NOT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE EVERYONE'S HEART IS AND WHERE EVERYONE'S FOCUS IS.
WE CAN BUILD THINGS, WE CAN TEAR THINGS DOWN, WE CAN TAKE AWAY HISTORY, WE CAN PLAY ALL SORTS OF GAMES, BUT REALITY IS YOU'RE TAKING AWAY YOU, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY YOUR FAMILY, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY HISTORY.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GAVE A LOT OF BLOOD FOR THIS COUNTRY.
AND I THINK YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO THOSE THINGS AND PAY THE PRICE LIKE BACK IN THE TWENTIES AND THE THIRTIES AND THE FORTIES.
IT'S DISGUSTING WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR HISTORY.
AT THE SAME TIME THOUGH, IT'S REAL AND WE'RE LIVING IN A VERY OPULENT TIME.
AND I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A COMMUNITY.
AND IF EVERYONE NEEDS A HOME, LET'S FIND A WAY TO DO THAT.
BUT LET'S DO IT IN A SMART MANNER.
WE HAVE LIMITED ASSETS, WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.
YOU BRING TOO MANY PEOPLE INTO ONE AREA THAT DOESN'T WORK.
MAYBE WE NEED TO CONTROL ISSUE.
MAYBE WE NEED LOOK AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE REALLY DECIMATING OUR VERY PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE KNOWS OR IF THEY'VE DONE THEIR RESEARCH ON IT, BUT THEY NEED TO.
EVERYTHING COMES FROM SOMETHING.
AND I TELL YOU, WE ALL SHOULD RESPECT THAT IN EVERY WAY, SHAPE AND FORM, BUT ALWAYS, ALWAYS FOCUS ON TAKING CARE OF THE CHILDREN.
[01:15:02]
GOOD EVENING.I'M MONICA GOSMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN.
MY OCTOBER 26TH TALKING POINT SHOULD BE IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS.
THAT NIGHT I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM A PROPERTY OWNER WHO SAID, AND I QUOTE, I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, SINGLE FAMILY LANDLORD, AND OWNER OF LAND IN AUSTIN THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PASSING OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
HOWEVER, YOU ARE 100% CORRECT THAT LAND PRICES WILL INCREASE AND AFFORDABILITY WILL BE UNLIKELY.
PROPERTY TAXES WILL INCREASE DUE TO RISING LAND VALUE FROM ENTITLEMENTS.
I BELIEVE A LARGE PART OF UNAFFORDABILITY IS FROM THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN AND DIFFICULTY FIGHTING THE APPRAISAL PROCESS.
LAST FRIDAY, A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT REACHED OUT TO ME, ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING NEW THEY SHOULD KNOW.
I ASKED IF THEY RECEIVED THE PURPLE POSTCARDS.
THEY SAID YES AND BEYOND THAT HAD LIMITED INFORMATION.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEY LIVE IN IS OVER 70% SPANISH SPEAKERS AND IS IN A COMMUNITY IN THE RUNDBERG AREA WHERE 50 OVER 50 LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS ARE SPOKEN.
WHILE IT WAS NICE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, MANY WERE STILL LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.
WE RECOMMEND AT MINIMUM ANOTHER LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE OPEN HOUSE, A VIRTUAL ONE WHERE PEOPLE CAN VISIT STAFF IN A BREAKOUT ROOM.
A BETTER RECOMMENDATION IS SCHEDULING OPEN HOUSES IN EACH DISTRICT WITH INTERPRETATION SERVICES NEEDED FOR THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS SUCH AS DISTRICT FOUR.
URBAN FORESTRY IN A MODERN CITY SAYS IN AUSTIN, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE RESIDENCES ARE THE SECOND LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO CANOPY COVERAGE.
THE URBAN CANOPY IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL TO DISTRICT FOUR IN THE, ESPECIALLY THE BERG AREA.
SINCE IT HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF URBAN CANOPY IN AUSTIN AND WHILE ALREADY APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, THE ELIMINATION OF MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS IS NOT GOOD.
CERTAINLY NOT FOR THE BERG AREA OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
IT IS THE MOST DENSIFIED AREA WITH PLENTY OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES AS WELL AS SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS WHERE CARS LINED BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
INCREASING RISK OF AUTO PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS HIT AND RUNS SOME LACKING ACCOUNTABILITY AS WELL AS MAKING IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMMS TO NAVIGATE THE STREETS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF.
UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THOSE COMMISSIONERS THAT ACTUALLY MET WITH SEVERAL OF US FROM FROM ANC WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION.
THERE WAS AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY DISCUSSION, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ACTUAL DISCUSSION OVER THESE ISSUES.
NOW, I, I HEAR, AND I'VE, AND I'VE TOLD SEVERAL OF YOU ON THE COMMISSION THAT MET WITH US, THERE'S A US AND A THEM MENTALITY, AND THAT REALLY NEEDS TO GO AWAY.
WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THIS.
YES, I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THOSE THAT, THAT HAVE ALSO STRUGGLED IN OUR YOUNGER DAYS.
I CAME HERE AS A YOUNG MILITARY GUY AND STRUGGLING ON THAT TYPE OF PAY TO LIVE, TO, TO BUY A HOUSE AND LIVE HERE.
AND AS I GET OLDER ON AND START GOING INTO FIXED INCOME, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE SOME OF THE SAME STRUGGLES WE HAD BACK THEN.
THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, NOT SEPARATELY OR, OR ON OUR OWN AGENDAS OR WITH OUR OWN BIASES.
THIS IS AN ISSUE YOU'VE HEARD FROM THESE PEOPLE AND YOU'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT THE TREE CANOPY AND CURTEOUS COVER, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
WE ALL KNOW THOSE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES, WHETHER YOU'RE ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.
IT'S JUST, IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE WE GET INTO AN US VERSUS THEM SITUATION, AND THAT BECOMES THE DIVIDING LINE VERSUS BEING ABLE TO WORK IN A COOPERATIVE COORDINATED METHOD AND WAY.
WE ARE NOT AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
LOOK AT WHAT GOES ON AND MAKES THIS AREA UNAFFORDABLE.
OUR TAXES, OUR FEES THAT THE CITY PUTS ON US.
WE, I KNOW OF ONE PERSON HERE THAT HER INSURANCE WENT UP 150% JUST BECAUSE SHE LIVES CLOSE TO THE GREEN BELT.
THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED TO BRING AFFORDABILITY DOWN AND MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE TO BUILD.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM MS. SARITA THOMPSON.
[01:20:08]
GREETINGS COMMISSIONERS.UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
AND I HAVE TO ADMIT, THIS IS MY FIRST RODEO.
KAREN CLARY, AND I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST AND AN EXPERT ON THE ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON PROPOSED PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS.
I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY TO ADDRESS WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC IMPACTS TO BOTH THE NATURAL AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT OF OUR CITY.
BASED ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO SSF ONE ZONING, SPECIFICALLY LOSS OF PERMEABLE COVER, AKE TREES AND DIRT.
I URGE YOU TO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLAN AS WRITTEN.
WE KNOW THAT THE ZONING CHANGE WILL IMPACT 150,000 PROPERTIES AND 130 SQUARE MILES OF SSF LAND.
MUCH OF IT PRECIOUS URBAN FOREST, WHICH I CALL THE LUNGS OF THE CITY.
WITH THIS PLAN, OUR FORESTS ARE AT GREAT RISK.
SO I HAVE AN EXAMPLE, UM, I HAVE TWO EXAMPLES.
THE FIRST SLIDE, UM, SHOWS A SECTION.
THIS IS A, A NEIGHBORHOOD IN TRANSITION AND THAT'S THE POINT I WANNA MAKE.
THIS IS A SECTION OF THE HIGHLAND HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ZIP CODE 7 8 7 5 2 BUILT AROUND 1946.
MANY OF THE TREES AND YARDS HERE ARE AT LEAST 50 YEARS OLD AND MANY ARE OLDER.
THIS FORMER SSF ONE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS REZONED SSF THREE NP AND T-O-D-N-P.
AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE MARKED AS SUCH.
AND THE YELLOW LINE DOWN, UM, THE MIDDLE IS THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE TWO.
UM, ALL RIGHT, IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THIS SLIDE, LOOK AT THE LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
TREE COVER AND PERMEABLE GROUND COVER ARE GONE.
YOU CAN SEE THE TRANSITION FROM SSF ONE TO SSF THREE, THE OLD SINGLE FAMILY HOME LOTS WITH THEIR SMALL FOOTPRINTS, STILL SUSTAIN HEALTHY TREE CORRIDORS AND BACKYARDS WITH 30 TO 50% GREEN COVER.
NOW LET'S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT SECTION TWO SINCE I'M OUT OF TIME.
THIS DETAILS THE LOSS OF PERMEABLE COVER.
SLIDE TWO SHOWS A CLOSEUP OF LOTS THAT HAVE ALREADY TRANSITIONED TO SSF THREE, THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH LOTS ON EAST GUADALUPE ON CROSS EAST OF GUADALUPE ON CROSMAN STREET ARE BUILT AS PERMITTED UNDER SF THREE.
THE BUILDINGS ON LOTS TWO AND THREE OCCUPY FIVE, SIX OF THE LOTS ARE 83%.
THE BUILDING ON LOT FOUR TAKES UP 80%.
WHEN YOU ADD THE SLAB DRIVEWAY, WHERE ARE THE TREES? SO, SO I, I DON'T WANNA A FIRST TIMER DISCOURAGE YOU.
THIS IS, UH, I LIKE THAT YOU BROUGHT YOUR OWN SLIDES.
WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
I LOVE YOUR GRAPHICS, BUT WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
UH, CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING? SURE.
YOU CAN'T IN SUM, YOU CAN'T PLANT A TREE BACK WHERE THERE IS NO GROUND LEFT TO PUT IT IN.
UH, CHRISTOPHER, YOU GOT IT? YEAH.
UH, CHRISTOPHER PAGE, DISTRICT ONE.
UM, AS RECENTLY AS THIS LAST WEDNESDAY, THE AUTHORS OF THIS POLICY WERE LITERALLY RECOMMENDING IN A MEETING THAT OUR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING GETS LOADED ONTO FLATBED TRUCKS AND DRIVEN OUT TO THE EDGE OF THE CITY THAT WAS PRESUMABLY FOR PRESERVATION, BUT THIS IS LITERALLY UPROOTING EXISTING COMMUNITIES.
YOU WANNA HAUL 'EM OFF TO THE EDGE OF THE CITY SO THAT THREE NEW UNAFFORDABLE UNITS CAN REPLACE IT.
OR IF THEY WAIT UNTIL NEXT SPRING, THEY CAN DO MAYBE SIX OR NINE UNITS.
UM, THIS IS PHYSICAL DISPLACEMENT.
I OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE I SUPPORT AFFORDABILITY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ACTUAL AFFORDABILITY THAT THE MARKET NEVER PROVIDES TO THE PEOPLE ON THE CUSP OF FINANCIAL DISPLACEMENT.
THE CITY IS RECOMMENDING THAT THEY BUILD TWO OR SIX OR WHATEVER CRAZY NUMBER OF HOUSES THAT OBVIOUSLY THEY CAN'T.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A POLICY WRITTEN BY MARIA ANTOINETTE.
NOW, LET'S PRETEND FOR A MOMENT THAT THAT'S A REALISTIC OPTION.
YOU'RE ENCOURAGING AMATEURS TO GO INTO THE MOST HOSTILE FINANCIAL MARKET LENDING MARKET THAT HAS EXISTED IN DECADES.
IT'S SO BAD THAT SEASONED PROFESSIONALS ARE BUCKLING OUT THERE, AND THE PEOPLE THAT GO INTO THAT MARKET ARE GONNA LOSE THE HOUSE AND THE YARD THAT THEY STARTED WITH.
YOU RECOMMEND WE DO THIS TO SOLVE OUR AFFORDABLE, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
[01:25:01]
WE DEREGULATE, HAS THAT EVER MADE SENSE IN THIS CITY? AS YOU TRY TO PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, EMS, MUSICIANS, SOCIAL WORKERS, UH, CONSTRUCTION, POLICE, LIKE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH THEIR HANDS AND MAKE THE CITY GO.YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS GONNA BENEFIT THEM, BUT REALLY WHAT THIS IS, IS FREE MARKET, UNRESTRICTED PRICE, NEW HOUSING, AND AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY LAID OUT, YOU'RE NOT EVEN LIMITING THE SIZE FOR IT TO BE SMALL AND AFFORDABLE.
AND THE LAST THING I COULD GO ON FOR DAYS, BUT THE LAST THING, SOMEBODY FROM A I A SUGGESTED THAT THERE IS NO CORRELATION BETWEEN UPZONING AND UNAFFORDABILITY.
YOU SHOULD LOOK UP YUNA FREEMARK.
HE'S AN MIT PHD AND HE'S PROVEN IT.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM RITA THOMPSON.
I'VE LIVED IN COUNCIL MEMBER POOLS DISTRICT SINCE 1992.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU ON THE COMMISSION, OTHERS OF YOU, I DO NOT KNOW.
I DO APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU DEVOTE TO THIS, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT GIVE THIS PROPOSAL, UM, A FAIR LOOK AT ALL SIDES, NOT JUST ONE SIDE.
BECAUSE THIS PROPOSAL UNDERMINES OUR WORKING POOR, OUR LOW INCOME, AND OUR MIDDLE INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
BECAUSE IT PROVOKES PROMOTES SPECULATION AND GENTRIFICATION.
THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE FACTS OR THE LAW.
IT IS A ONE-SIDED POLICY THAT HAS LEFT OUT THE VOICES OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
THE COUNCIL COULD AND SHOULD HAVE URGED EARLY COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION STAKEHOLDERS AND DEVELOPMENT ADVOCATES.
I DO THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH SOME OF THE ANC REPRESENTATIVES TODAY TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HEARING THE LATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WILLIAM O. DOUGLAS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, AND HE URGED VIGILANCE IN PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AN ORDINARY FROG THAT COULD SWIM HAPPILY IN A WARM POT OF WATER AND NOT JUMP OUT, BUT TURNING UP THE HEATED NOTCH WOULD MAKE THE FROG MOVE SLOWER.
ANOTHER NOTCH WOULD MAKE THE FROG UNCONSCIOUS, AND SOON THERE WOULD BE FROG LEGS FOR DINNER.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS ALWAYS GUARD YOUR RIGHTS AND NOT LET THEM BE TAKEN AWAY INCREMENTALLY STEP BY STEP.
THAT IS WHAT THIS PROPOSAL DOES INCREMENTALLY.
IT SEPARATES PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO.
DOES THAT SET UP TWO PHASES OF PROTEST AND NOTICE DOES IT? IF IT DOES, THEN YOU GET TO START OVER WITH ALL OF THAT.
THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND AND RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL TAKE A TRANSPARENT APPROACH AND NOT TAKE INCREMENTAL STEPS FOR UPSELLING, HOPING THE VOTERS WON'T NOTICE THEY'RE BEING COOKED FOR FROG LEGS.
THE CITY'S AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT DEMONSTRATES THAT PHASE ONE IS A LOSS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND NOT A WIN.
UH, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ADVOCATES.
MY NAME IS JEFF DICKERSON, REPRESENTATIVE OF MATTHEWS LANE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
BUT TONIGHT I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE MISLEADING COS CONCEPT PROPOSED BY UPZONING IT THEY WILL COME, DOES NOT WORK.
THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION BY NOT PUTTING TOGETHER PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO ARE BEING DISHONEST AND DISINGENUOUS TO THE HOMEOWNERS AND THE TAXPAYERS.
[01:30:01]
LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE ZONING IS MISSING.NOBODY EVER TALKED ABOUT NEEDING TO UPGRADE THE STREETS.
NOBODY EVER TALKED ABOUT NEEDING TO UPGRADE THE SEWER, THE DRAINAGE.
AND TO PARAPHRASE THAT PREVIOUS SPEAKER, WE HAD DEVELOPERS AND YOU GUYS APPROVED OF 1109 MATTHEWS, 1501 DAMON, ALBERT ROAD.
THERE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPERS PUT THERE, HOUSE PRICES ARE HALF A MILLION TO $700,000.
WE PUT MORE HOUSES AND UNITS ON THE STREET, AND NONE OF 'EM ARE AFFORDABLE AND NONE OF THE PRICES HAVE GONE DOWN.
THESE ARE REAL LIFE STATISTICS, NOT NUMBERS, NOT THINGS YOU SEE ON STATISTICS.
YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAYING, NO MATTER HOW MUCH LIPSTICK YOU PUT ON A PIG, IT'S STILL A PIG.
PRESENT, OKAY, IS MS. SUSAN'S PRESENT.
BRITA WALLACE L ALLEN WITH MS. SUSAN SPIT PRESENT MSS SHARON B OR I'M SORRY, SHARON BLYTHE.
MS. RO, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
UM, SUSAN SPIRO, I LIVE IN IN SECTION, UH, DISTRICT EIGHT.
AND I DON'T WANNA REPEAT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS, IF YOU'RE, IF WRIGLEY THE GOAL HERE IS AFFORDABILITY, THEN YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ADEQUATE FACTS AND THE FISCAL NOTES TO DETERMINE IF THAT'S TRUE.
I DID A HANDOUT THAT I THINK ALL OF YOU GOT.
AND, AND WHAT IT SAYS IS BASICALLY WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU'RE SAYING NOW LET'S EXPAND IT BY THREE.
WHERE THERE'S ONE DWELLING, YOU CAN NOW HAVE THREE.
OKAY? INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ONE DOESN'T SERVE THREE.
SO THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DETERMINE IS, IS THERE ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE? AND THE ANSWER OF COURSE IS NO.
TWO, WHAT WILL IT COST TO BUILD THAT INFRASTRUCTURE? AND THREE, WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR IT? DOES THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER PAY FOR IT? IS IT YOUR ELECTRIC BILL GOES UP? YOUR TAXES GO UP? I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND, IF YOU PUT AN ANALYSIS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND WHAT IT COSTS, THIS PLAN DOES NOT INCREASE AFFORDABILITY.
THE OTHER THING I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, WHICH BOTHERS ME EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT THIS, IS WE REALLY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF HOUSING.
AND THAT IS, DO WE WANT HOMES WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE CHILDREN? I, THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT, ANOTHER GENTLEMAN BROUGHT THAT UP, AND THAT IS, WHY DO WE WANNA SCRUNCH EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND ELIMINATE YARDS FOR CHILDREN? AUSTIN RIGHT NOW IS LOSING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.
ASD ENROLLMENT THIS YEAR IS PROJECTED AT 73,000 STUDENTS IN FOUR YEARS.
SO THE TRUTH IS, IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF SMASHING EVERYTHING AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU IS GO OUT AND LOOK YOURSELF AT A LOT.
THAT'S 5,000 OR 6,000 SQUARE FEET.
AND THEN LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, NOW WHAT IF THERE'S THREE DWELLINGS ON THERE AND IN JANUARY, WHAT IF THERE'S SIX ON THERE? AND BY THE WAY, NOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOUBLES.
AGAIN, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT BECAUSE THESE PICTURES AND AND DEPICTIONS REALLY DON'T SHOW THE REALITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MASSIVE GROWTH.
BUT THE TRUTH IS THIS, THIS IS AN ARTICLE 11, 2 23 AUSTIN'S MEDIAN HOME PRICE IS DOWN ABOUT 5% YEAR OVER YEAR.
THE BIGGEST DECLINE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FIRST TIME ON RECORD AUSTIN IS LOSING HOME BUYERS TO OTHER CITIES.
AUSTIN WAS THE NUMBER ONE DES, UH, DESTINATION FOR HOME OWNERS IN 21.
BUT NOW MORE PEOPLE ARE PACKING THEIR BAGS.
SO I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD ASSUME WE ARE GONNA CONSTANTLY GET THIS MASSIVE GROWTH.
[01:35:01]
SECOND ARTICLE FROM JANUARY TO MAY THIS YEAR, AUSTIN SAW THE FIFTH LARGEST NET OUTWARD MIGRATION AMONG MAJOR UNITED STATES CITIES.SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE ARE FORCING PEOPLE OUT IF YOU HAVE A HOME OR IF YOU'RE RENTING.
NOW, THE REASON YOU CAN'T STAY HERE IS THE TAXES ARE TOO HIGH, THE ELECTRIC BILLS ARE TOO HIGH, THE WATER BILLS ARE TOO HIGH, AND THE FEES ARE TOO HIGH.
RENTERS SOMETIMES THINK THEY, THEY DON'T PAY TAXES, BUT OF COURSE THEY DO BECAUSE THE OWNER PASSES THAT ON TO THE RENTER.
SO THE TRUTH IS, IF WE REALLY WANNA LOOK AT AFFORDABILITY, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
AND BEFORE WE EMBARK ON A PLAN LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THERE HAS TO BE A FACTUAL ANALYSIS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THEN THERE'S THE MATTER OF STREETS.
AND THAT IS, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE BROUGHT THAT UP.
UM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU DO TO STREETS WHEN YOU'VE GOT THREE STRUCTURES WHERE THERE WAS ONE AND NO PARKING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
WE HAVE BRITTA WALLACE, ELLEN ALLEN, DAVID GLENN, EDWARD HENDERSON.
HI, GOOD EVENING, UH, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
I WORK FOR THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, AND I'M ALSO A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT FIVE.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND THIS COMMISSION FOR TAKING UP THIS ITEM.
WE THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.
UH, WE SENT IN COMMENTS YESTERDAY, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
UM, OTHER CITIES HAVE ADOPTED SIMILAR, SIMILAR INITIATIVES AND HAVE SEEN SUCCESS.
WE'VE SEEN HOME PRICES MITIGATED, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT CAUSE HOMES TO GO UP, LIKE THE COST OF LABOR, COST OF MATERIALS.
UM, BUT THIS ITEM RIGHT HERE INTRODUCES GENTLE DENSITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE FROM ONE TO THREE, BUT A VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CITY IS ZONED SSF THREE AND ALREADY ALLOWS FOR TWO UNITS.
SO THIS IS ONLY ONE MORE UNIT THAN WHAT'S TYPICALLY ALLOWED TODAY ON A, ON A TYPICAL LOT.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ENSURE THAT THESE, THESE HOMES ARE SIZED FOR FAMILIES.
I HEAR SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LIMITING THE SIZE OF THE UNITS, BUT, UH, WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT ISDS STRUGGLING TO KEEP, UH, FAMILIES AND, AND SCHOOL, UH, KIDS IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
I THINK IF WE CREATE HOMES AND A, AN ADDITIONAL DENSITY THAT ALLOWS THOSE FAMILIES TO LIVE IN THE CORE OF THE CITY WHERE THERE ARE JOBS, WHERE THERE'S TRANSPORTATION, AND WHERE THERE ARE, WHERE THERE ARE MORE SCHOOLS, UM, WE MIGHT SEE SOME OF THOSE ATTENDANCE RATES INCREASE.
UH, AS SCOTT MENTIONED, THOSE FAMILIES, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LEAVING AUSTIN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
SO THEY'RE GONNA DRIVE UNTIL THEY QUALIFY AND MOVE INTO A, UH, SOUTHERN, SUBURBAN COMMUNITY.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CODE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT, IT, UM, IT JIVES WELL WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE CODE.
WE'VE GOT A, A VERY OLD AND VERY OUTDATED FRANKENSTEIN CODE.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE POTENTIAL PITFALLS FOR THIS ITEM.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY STAFF AND THE POLICYMAKERS CONSULT WITH THE EXPERTS.
UM, I KNOW IT'S VERY EASY TO, UM, TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY OR, UM, CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFORDABILITY, BUT IF THOSE PROJECTS DON'T PENCIL, THEY'LL NEVER GET BUILT.
UM, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER IS OFFERED UP AND FINALLY APPROVED, UM, THAT THE PRACTITIONERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY USE THE CODE GET TO WEIGH IN ON IT.
UH, AND I, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE, IF I COULD FINISH MY THOUGHT HERE.
UH, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THIS.
70% OF AUSTIN EMS WORKERS DON'T LIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
THE AUSTIN EMS ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THIS ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS, THE LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL VOICE FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THEY SUPPORT THIS 'CAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF DENSITY AND THE AARP WHO TALKING ABOUT AGING IN PLACE, HAS THEIR OWN MISSING MIDDLE, UM, PACKAGE THAT THEY GIVE TO THEIR MEMBERS SO THAT THEY CAN AGE IN PLACE.
WANNA HEAR FROM JARED, HANS, HANS MANON, MARIO CANTU, PARKER WELCH,
I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF AND I'M FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE IS A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.
UH, WHAT I SEE IS GONNA HAPPEN WITH THIS, UH, UH, PROPOSAL IS THAT, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE MCMANSIONS TO BE MEGA MANSIONS AS THE ARCHITECTS HAVE PRESENTED EARLIER TODAY.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING WE'RE GONNA HAVE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF, UM, SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
NOTHING OF THIS WILL HELP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
[01:40:02]
GOOD EVENING, COMMERS.I'M A NATIVE TEXAN HERE FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, SO MY THING IS THE VALUE OF DIRT VERSUS THE VALUE OF LIFE.
UH, WHAT'S THE INTENT FOR THIS? IS THERE GONNA BE ANY AFFORDABILITY? AND I TALK ABOUT REAL AFFORDABILITY WHERE AEMS WORKER COULD POTENTIALLY RENT AAAA PLACE FOR 800 TO 1200.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT EMS WORKERS AND WE'RE IN A CRISIS RIGHT NOW WITH THEM.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS 15 YEARS AGO, AND WE'RE STILL AT THE SAME POINT WITH 9 1 1 DISPATCHERS, FIVE MINUTE, 10 MINUTE WAIT TIMES.
GOOD THING THERE'S NO CARDIAC ARREST.
LAST TIME I CALLED, GOOD THING THERE WAS NO HOUSES ON FIRE.
SO, SO NONE OF THAT WAS, WAS EVEN CONSIDERED.
BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PARAMEDICS, EMTS AND THE DISPATCHERS WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THAT, I HADN'T HEARD ONE PERSON UP HERE THAT'S WALKED UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A WAY THAT WE CAN RETAIN 'EM HERE IN OUR CITY AND WE CAN GET 'EM SUPREME RENTAL UNITS.
AND IT, IT'S, IT'S ONGOING ALL THE TIME AND WE'RE LOSING THOSE GUYS.
JUST THINK ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND.
IF I TOOK HALF OF THIS ROOM RIGHT HERE, THESE INDIVIDUALS UP HERE AND THESE OTHER, OTHER HALF HAD TO DO CPR ON AN EIGHT MONTH, 13 YEAR OLD OVERDOSE CHILD, TEENAGER, HOW DO YOU GONNA FEEL WHEN YOU GO BACK HOME TONIGHT? AND THEN YOU GOTTA WORRY ABOUT YOUR RENT AND THEN YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID AS MUCH AND IT'S OVER AND OVER AND OVER, BUT YOU LOVE DOING YOUR JOB AND YOU'RE GOOD AT IT, YOU'RE GOOD AT RESUSCITATING, BUT YOU CAN'T LIVE IN THE CITY BECAUSE NO ONE IS, IS IS ADDRESSING THAT ONE PARTICULAR CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
SO THIS WHOLE THING IS, THIS WHOLE SCHEME IS GREAT, AND I KNOW OMS IS A PORT, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE PERSON UP HERE IN THE FRONT OR IN THE BACK WITH DEVELOPERS, ARCHITECTS, ANYBODY THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT? I GUARANTEE THAT WE CAN GET THOSE EMS WORKERS AT 800 BUCKS OR 500 BUCKS A MONTH.
MY NAME IS PARKER WELCH AS A TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT ABOUT THE UNFOUNDED ASSUMPTIONS OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS FROM HOME ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT EVEN WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL CYCLING, WALKING, OR TRANSIT TRIPS, THE HOME AMENDMENTS WOULD STILL RESULT IN REDUCED VEHICLE MILES AND REDUCED CARBON EMISSIONS SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD BE A CLOSER DRIVE TO WORK TO SCHOOL INTO THE GROCERY STORE.
TAKE THE FORMER ROSEDALE SCHOOL, FOR INSTANCE, WITH HOME AISD CAN ADD 25 MORE HOUSES FOR TEACHERS TO THAT PROJECT EASILY 50 PEOPLE IN THE CENTRAL CITY NEIGHBORHOOD OF ROSEDALE.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN THERE ARE MULTIPLE COFFEE SHOPS, CHURCHES, BARBER BARBERSHOPS, A BAKERY, ACVS, A HIGH SCHOOL AND MORE.
ALL WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OR A TWO MINUTE DRIVE, THERE'S EVEN A CLOCK REPAIR STORE HOME WILL REDUCE THE LOAD ON OUR MOST EXPENSIVE CONGESTED AND POLLUTED ROADWAYS.
IF WE BRING ORIGINS AND DESTINATIONS CLOSER TOGETHER THAN THE 10 LANES FITS ALL APPROACH OF HIGHWAYS WILL NO LONGER BE THE ONLY OPTION FOR PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH THEIR DAY.
FINALLY, A LOT OF MY JOB IS DRAINAGE MODELING.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN DRAINAGE TO UNDERSTAND YOUR FRAME OF ANALYSIS.
CONTRARY TO OPPONENT'S CLAIMS, HOME IS LIKELY TO REDUCE FLOODING BY REDUCING THE DEMAND FOR IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF AUSTIN.
AND YOU NEED NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
IT IS IN THE BENEFITS OF INFILL ARE IN THE EPAS GUIDANCE FOR URBAN WATERSHEDS, AND YOU CAN FIND THAT ON THEIR WEBSITE EPA.GOV.
IF WE CAN HAVE JAY DY PHILLIP WILEY, ZACH FED, MEGAN S. DAVID SULLIVAN.
UH, HOW DO PLANNING COMMISSIONER, HOW DO PLANNING COMMISSIONERS? MY NAME IS ZACH FADDIS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE PRESIDENT OF AURA ME.
ME AND A GOOD NUMBER OF MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS HAVE COME DOWN HERE TODAY TO SHOW Y'ALL OUR SINCERE EXCITEMENT AND GRATITUDE FOR THE HOME ORDINANCE OR IS COMMITTING, IS COMMITTED TO MAKING AUSTIN, AUSTIN THE FRIENDLIEST GOSH DARN CITY IN TEXAS.
AND FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, WE HAVE TO END THE LAWS THAT KEEP US EXCLUSIVE, SEGREGATED, AND UNWELCOMING TO ALL BUT THE RICHEST.
WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO TO MAKE THAT DREAM A REALITY.
BUT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL'S HOME INITIATIVE IS A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE WHENEVER NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT NOT JUST THE CHANGES BEFORE YOU GET PASSED, BUT THE FULL VISION LAID OUT IN THE HOME RESOLUTION.
[01:45:04]
UM, HELLO FRIENDS.I SERVED ON THIS AUGUST BODY FOR 16 YEARS IN THE LAST CENTURY.
UM, SO ACTUALLY IT WAS EARLIER IN THIS CENTURY.
LET ME, I STARTED IN THE LAST CENTURY.
I DID SPEAK BEFORE YOU DURING THE JOINT COUNCIL IN PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, AND I READ YOU THE LETTER FROM THE CONGRESS FOR NEW URBANISM.
SO I WON'T GO INTO THAT AGAIN.
I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO ONE ISSUE.
AND THAT'S THE FACT THAT HIGHER DENSITY LEADS TO LOWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
I REFER TO YOU, REFER YOU TO THE CALIFORNIA, UH, THE CAL UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY'S COOL CLIMATE WEBPAGE.
AND IT WILL SHOW YOU THAT THE GREENEST PART OF THIS CITY IS DOWNTOWN.
AND THEN AS YOU GO INTO THE SUBURBS, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS PER HOUSEHOLD GO UP BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE.
BUT IF WE CAN DENSIFY THE CITY, AND THIS IS JUST A SMALL STEP IN THAT DIRECTION, IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR MASS TRANSIT.
UH, PEOPLE WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK TO, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES BECAUSE THE MORE ROOFTOPS WILL ATTRACT THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES TO CORNERS ON ARTERIALS AND MAYBE SOME COLLECTOR STREETS.
AND THEN YOU HAVE FEWER PEOPLE DRIVING.
AND THEN IF WE HAVE, UH, I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL'S IDEA WAS TO CONNECT SOME OF THESE SMALL, UH, TRIPLEXES SO THAT THEY SHARE WALLS AND THAT WAY THEY WILL SAVE ENERGY AND COOLING, UH, ENERGY, UH, AND HAVE LOWER BILLS SO THAT THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT THEY CAN SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
SO ANYWAY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE MOVE HOME ONE FORWARD AND THE OTHER, UH, RESOLUTIONS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS PASSED RECENTLY.
AND I HEAR FROM CYRUS ANI, HEATHER HUBS, KIRK PHILLIPS, KIM LIER, MATTHEW ATKINSON.
WE WILL HEAR FROM MICHAEL WATSON.
BOB BARONE, RYAN NELL, BENJAMIN KELLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND I FIND THE WHOLE PROCESS EXTREMELY FASCINATING IN A GOOD WAY.
UH, I'M AN ENGINEER AND I'M A GRADUATE OF UT.
MY WIFE DONNA AND I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN IN THE SAME HOUSE FOR 38 YEARS.
WE ARE, AS YOU CAN TELL, OR I CAN, YOU CAN TELL THAT I'M VERY NEAR RETIREMENT.
UM, FOR MANY YEARS WE'VE EXPENDED MUCH EFFORT, BOTH PHYSICAL AND FINANCIALLY INTO OUR CURRENT HOME TO CREATE A PLACE TO ENJOY AND LIVE OUT OUR RETIREMENT YEARS.
I'M HERE TONIGHT JUST TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE HOME RESOLUTION WITH THE IN, UH, IN INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF THE RESTRICTION ON THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS LIVING IN A HOUSING UNIT.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, UH, WITH THE HOME INITIATIVE IN PLACE, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO IMAGINE WHAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT LOOK LIKE WHEN THAT IS HAPPENING WITH ONE EXCEPTION.
AND THAT WOULD BE, UH, THE PERSPECTIVE I HAVE BASED ON THE FACT THAT I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM A SHORT TERM RENTAL
UM, WITH JUST THAT ONE PROPERTY, I HAVE EXPERIENCED AS MANY AS 14 VEHICLES PARKED UP AND DOWN THE STREET.
A LOT OF NOISE AND A LOT OF TOTAL STRANGERS AS NEIGHBORS.
I THINK THAT GIVES ME A BIT OF A GLIMPSE OF WHAT A NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT LOOK LIKE IF IT WAS FULL OF TINY HOMES, LOSS OF TREES, LOTS OF DISTURBING CONSTRUCTION, LOTS OF PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW, LOSS OF PRIVACY, A STREET LINED WITH CARS ON BOTH SIDES, UP FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER, A POTENTIAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES MOST CONCERNING THE POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED CRIME.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS RYAN MILL AND I REPRESENT THE AUSTIN COOPERATIVE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
UH, Y'ALL HAVE HEARD HEARD MY TESTIMONY BEFORE TWICE, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT.
SO I WANNA RESPOND TO A POINT THAT BETSY
[01:50:01]
GREENBERG MADE IN HER PRESENTATION EARLIER, UM, ABOUT THE DISCRIMINATORY NATURE OF THE CURRENT OCCUPANCY LIMITS, WHICH DISCRIMINATE BASED ON FAMILIAL STATUS.AND I WILL CONFIRM THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO LAWSUITS, AT LEAST THAT I'M AWARE OF, BROUGHT TO CHALLENGE THAT, AND I CAN GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO WHY.
UM, I'VE WORKED WITH AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT CO-OPS THAT HAVE, UM, BEEN IN VIOLATION OF THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS.
UH, ONE OF THEM DID SO BECAUSE THEIR REALTOR GUARANTEED THEM THAT THEY HAD THE RIGHT AND THAT WAS INCORRECT.
AND THEY WENT THROUGH A THREE YEAR LONG LEGAL, UH, STRUGGLE TO GAIN THE ENTITLEMENTS THAT WAS SONO CO-OP IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.
UH, THE OTHER THREE, I WON'T GO INTO MORE DETAILS BECAUSE THEY STILL VIOLATE OCCUPANCY LIMITS AND THEY ARE AFRAID TO ENGAGE IN A LAWSUIT BECAUSE THEY FEAR THEY WILL LOSE THEIR HOUSING.
SO THAT IS WHY YOU DON'T SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS VULNERABLE POSITION BRINGING LAWSUITS, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL SUPPORT THEM AND HELP THEM FIGHT THAT DISCRIMINATORY, UM, STATUTE, BUT THEY'RE TOO AFRAID TO DO SO.
UM, SO IF ANYONE KNOWS SOMEONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE IN THIS, IF IT'S NECESSARY, I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO TRY TO SUPPORT THAT.
UM, BUT THAT IS THE SITUATION AS WE SEE IT, WE'D LOVE TO CHALLENGE IT, BUT THIS IS JUST A MUCH BETTER WAY THAT'S GONNA RISK LESS PEOPLE'S HOMES TO PASS IT TONIGHT.
SO I URGE JOEL TO PASS THESE INITIATIVES AND THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR NIGHT.
NOW HERE FROM BENJAMIN, JONATHAN LEE, JENNY GRAYSON, MR. MARISSA BARRETO, CHER, NICK HANNO.
UM, I WAS, I'VE BEEN DEVELOPING REAL ESTATE IN AUSTIN FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS, AND JUST RECENTLY IN THE LAST YEAR BEGAN, UH, MANUFACTURING TINY HOMES.
UM, WE BUILD REALLY HIGH END TINY HOMES THAT CAN SLEEP UP TO FOUR PEOPLE.
THAT'S ALL IN EVERYTHING INCLUDED, NO EXTRAS.
UM, SO ANYONE WHO'S SAYING THAT THIS CANNOT CREATE AFFORDABILITY HAS NOT LOOKED AT THE OPTIONS THAT WE ARE OFFERING.
UH, OUR TINY HOMES CAN BE MOVED INTO SOMEONE'S YARD, UH, AND HOOKED UP IN A MATTER OF HOURS.
UM, THEY USE THE SAME CONNECTION THAT A TESLA CHARGER USES.
UM, AND, UH, WE RECENTLY DID AN ENERGY AUDIT ON ONE OF THEM.
AND DURING THE HOTTEST MONTH OF AUGUST OF THE HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD, UH, USED A TOTAL OF $26 OF ELECTRICITY MAINTAINING A TEMPERATURE INSIDE OF 74 DEGREES FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH.
UM, SO, UH, NOT ONLY WOULD THIS CREATE REAL AFFORDABLE OPTIONS, I I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I'VE SEEN A HOUSE THAT YOU COULD BUY IN AUSTIN FOR $125,000.
UM, BUT ALSO THE SPEED AT WHICH IT COULD ACTUALLY PROVIDE REAL AFFORDABILITY.
BECAUSE MOST OF THE DEVELOPMENT STUFF, EVEN THE ORDINANCES THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN PASSED RECENTLY, WHICH THE PARKING REDUCTION IN SOME OF THOSE THINGS WILL ADD REALLY SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO, TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN AUSTIN.
BUT THEY WILL STILL TAKE MANY YEARS TO, TO ACTUALLY HAVE THAT ROLL OUT.
YOU KNOW, DEVELOPING A APARTMENT COMPLEX MIGHT TAKE A YEAR OR TWO JUST TO FIND LAND AND DO DUE DILIGENCE, AND THEN ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO TO DESIGN, AND THEN ANOTHER TWO OR THREE YEARS TO DO CONSTRUCTION AND LEASE UP.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AFTER DEVELOPERS HAVE DECIDED TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE INTO TO AN AREA.
UM, TINY HOMES CAN BE MANUFACTURED BY ANY NUMBER OF COMPANIES.
THEY CAN BE BUILT IN DAYS AND, AND BROUGHT IN IN WEEKS.
YOU COULD HAVE 150,000 OR MORE TINY HOMES, UH, BRINGING AFFORDABILITY INTO THIS CITY VERY QUICKLY.
JENNY GRAYSON, DISTRICT ONE, THE HOME INITIATIVE IS NAMED FOR HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT.
HOWEVER, THERE'S NOTHING IN HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT AMENDMENT TO EMPOWER MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS TO BUY, LIVE OR AFFORD THE HOMES IN AUSTIN.
IF OUR CITY'S CONCERNED WITH PRESERVING THE MIDDLE CLASS, WHY ARE WE MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN THESE AMENDMENTS.
THE HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT AMENDMENTS ACTUALLY DO NOTHING TO EMPOWER US OR HELP US BUILD ON OUR PROPERTIES, QUALIFY FOR A LOAN, OR HELP KEEP THE HOME IN WHICH WE LIVE.
MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS, THE VULNERABLE HOMEOWNERS AND THE FIXED INCOME HOMEOWNERS ARE NOT EMPOWERED AGAINST SPECULATORS BUYING UP SUBDIVIDED PARCELS.
[01:55:01]
WE'RE NOT EMPOWERED TO KEEP THE HOMES IN WHICH WE LIVE.A I A SHOWED YOU TODAY THE MODELS THEY'VE COME UP WITH FOR THESE SUBDIVIDED PARCELS, AND ALL OF THEM SEEM TO START WITH A BLANK SLATE AS IF OUR HOMES DIDN'T ALREADY EXIST ON OUR PROPERTIES.
WE'RE NOT EMPOWERED AGAINST INVESTORS WHO WILL PURCHASE PROPERTIES TO PUT THEM ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL MARKET.
WE'RE NOT EMPOWERED AGAINST HIGHER INCOME HOME, HIGHER HOME PRICES.
AFFORDABILITY IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN THE HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT AMENDMENTS.
WHY WOULD WE EXPECT THESE NEW HOMES TO COST ANY LESS THAN THE NEARLY MILLION DOLLAR HOMES AS SEEN ON SMALLER LOTS IN MUELLER? WE'RE NOT EMPOWERED AGAINST THE UTILITY COMPANIES OR OUR CITY AND THEIR CAPACITY TO SUPPLY MORE WATER, MORE ENERGY, MORE SERVICES, MORE NEEDS.
WE'RE NOT EMPOWERED AGAINST TAX INCREASES AND THERE'S NO CLEAR PATH FORWARD FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION REGULATIONS.
MY POINT IS THERE'S SO MUCH MORE CON MORE TO CONSIDER THAN JUST ADDING HOMES ON LOTS.
CONSIDER THE DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS AND UNINTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCES BEFORE PROCEEDING.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THE SOLUTIONS, BUT AS BUT AS IT STANDS, I AND MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS DO NOT SUPPORT THE HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EMPOWER MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS.
PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS ZONING AMENDMENT.
AND I LIKE HOW THERE'S ALREADY SOMEONE ADVERTISING OUTSIDE THAT THEY CAN BUILD A TINY HOME ON YOUR LOT JUST OUT THERE.
UM, I'M MARISA BARREDA LIPER AND I LIVE IN SHEPHERD MOUNTAIN DISTRICT 10.
SHEPHERD MOUNTAIN IS NEAR 360 AND 2222.
I'M GONNA KEEP IT REAL SHORT BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S ALREADY SAID WHAT I WANNA SAY, BUT ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.
PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT PASS A SWEEPING ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HARM OUR MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY VULNERABLE WILDLAND NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY AT THE MERCY OF THE NEXT WILDFIRE.
THIS VIOLATES OUR DEEDED RESTRICTIONS.
AND WHO HAS TO PAY TO ENFORCE THOSE HOMEOWNERS? WE DO.
AND I CAN ALREADY HEAR THE SOUNDS OF LAND DEVELOPER ATTORNEYS RUBBING THEIR HANDS TOGETHER IN ANTICIPATION THAT WON'T BE CHEAP FOR US.
PLEASE CONSIDER OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY, SUCH AS WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS TO DEVELOP SMALL AREA REGULATORY PLANS.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH US.
UH, WE HAVE NICK QUIN HANO, MARK KIRK, DR.
OKAY, WE HAVE MEG DAVIS, DAVID FELS, JOE SUE HOWARD, TREY FARMER, JUSTIN LUMIER, JOHN FOXWORTH.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR SPENDING ALL OF YOUR TIME OUT HERE AND LISTENING TO US, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, GOING ON AND ON.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO AND I, WHICH I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING ON THE ZONING AND CLADDING COMMISSION WHERE I SEE A LOT OF THESE ISSUES, UH, TWICE A MONTH, UH, IF NOT A LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN.
UM, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF AND THEN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME ABSTRACT NERDY STUFF.
UM, I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT CALLED GOODNIGHT RANCH, WHERE THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE HOUSING TYPOLOGIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE.
I COULDN'T HAVE AFFORDED THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES ON THE LARGE LOTS THAT WERE ALSO TOWN HOMES THAT I COULD HAVE LIVED IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF RENTALS.
BUT IT WAS APUD, IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE.
IT HAS, YOU KNOW, MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THE THINGS THAT THE REST OF THE CITY CANNOT DO.
AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE ON OCTOBER 26TH, PLEASE ALLOW THE REST OF AUSTIN TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO PROVIDE THOSE DIFFERENT, UM, HOUSING TYPOLOGIES THAT ALLOWED ME TO BECOME A HOME NOTE RUNNER.
UH, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE AS ME.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, A NUMBER OF THE TEACHERS AT BLAZER ELEMENTARY WHERE MY SON ATTENDS HAVE HAD TO LEAVE SOME QUITE SUDDENLY.
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UM, IT'S A SCHOOL THAT DOES PRETTY WELL, BUT THEY'RE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH STAFF BECAUSE PE TEACHERS ARE JUST LEAVING.AND THEN THE O THERE ARE TEACHING THE KIDS OF OTHER FAMILIES THAT GOT DISPLACED, UH, OUT IN BUTTA AND, UH, BASTROP AND ELSEWHERE.
SO THIS HAS REAL CONSEQUENCES.
I ALSO WANNA ADDRESS VERY BRIEFLY, AND THIS IS A SOMEWHAT NERDY THING, UH, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE ADD MORE PROPERTIES TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT THE OTHER, THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO BUILD NEW INFRASTRUCTURE.
SUBURBAN INFRASTRUCTURE IS A MONEY PIT.
IT'S BEEN REFERRED TO AS A GROWTH PONZI SCHEME.
'CAUSE IT CAN'T SUPPORT OURSELF.
IT IS MUCH MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO USE OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
I OWN A 1952 HOME WITH A CRUMBLING FOUNDATION HERE IN AUSTIN.
I DESPERATELY WANT TO REMAIN IN IT, BUT I'M WORRIED BECAUSE OF THE LAND VALUE INCREASE THAT HOME AMENDMENT COULD CAUSE AS IT'S WRITTEN THAT I'LL BE DISPLACED ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER EXISTING AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
WE ALL WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT IT'S CLEAR THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE IT CONTAINS NO GUARDRAILS TO ENSURE IT DEREG DEREGULATION WILL ALWAYS BE EXPLOITED BY A FREE MARKET.
WE'VE SEEN THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN AUSTIN.
IT WILL RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF TREES AND PERMEABLE LAND, MAKING AUSTIN HOTTER AND INCREASING OUR FLOOD RISKS.
IT WILL RAISE LAND VALUES AND PROPERTY TAXES TO LEVELS THAT WILL DISPLACE AUSTIN HOMEOWNERS, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES LIKE MINE.
A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT COULD HAVE 12 UNITS.
THAT'S PROBABLY AN AVERAGE OF 24 CARS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT MEANS CHILDREN WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO RIDE THEIR BIKES UP AND DOWN THE STREET BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE AT RISK OF BEING DOORED.
REMEMBER, WITHOUT A PREEXISTING HIGH QUALITY MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM, CARS ARE GOING TO REMAIN THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IN THIS CITY.
OTHERWISE, THOSE 12 UNITS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE PURCHASED BY REAL ESTATE INVESTORS.
THAT'S ALSO THE TREND IN AUSTIN.
THEY WON'T BE PURCHASED BY FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS MORE THAN LIKELY BASED ON PAST HISTORY.
THAT'S NOT THE PATH TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR HOME OWNERSHIP FOR AUSTINITES.
LASTLY, IT'S BEEN REPORTED RECENTLY THAT A NUMBER OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTING THEIR MEETINGS WITH LOBBYISTS AS REQUIRED BY CITY CODE.
IF THOSE ALLEGATIONS HAVE MERIT, THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION AND IT SHOULD DEEPEN EVERY AUSTINITE SUSPICION OF THIS ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY WITH LUSH NEIGHBORHOODS.
LET'S PLEASE DON'T THROW IT AWAY WITH AN UNTHOUGHTFUL ORDINANCE.
HELLO, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS JOHN FOXWORTH AND I'M AGAINST THE HOME INITIATIVE THAT AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, UH, I WANT TO KIND OF REITERATE THINGS.
I WAS GONNA READ A STATEMENT, BUT I'M JUST GONNA GO CONTEMPORANEOUS ON YOU GUYS.
Y'ALL ARE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I HAVE NOT SEEN ENOUGH PLANNING WHERE WE'RE REALLY DEALING WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TODAY THAT, THAT, THAT WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE THAT SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT TO TURN A BLIND EYE ON.
I DO BELIEVE THAT, UH, THIS WILL BENEFIT DEVELOPERS AND NOT FAMILIES, BUT ALSO WE ALL WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I LIVE AND HAVE LIVED IN WEST CAMPUS AREA FOR 40 YEARS.
I WORKED ON THE PLANNING TEAM, THE PLANNING TEAM MADE UP OF NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO BROUGHT YOU UNO UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY.
AND YOU GOT, WE HAVE A NEW DOWNTOWN IN WEST CAMPUS.
OKAY, BUT THAT DID NOT AFFECT AFFORDABILITY.
HOW, HOW I I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU THE ANSWER FOR AFFORDABILITY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU MOST OF THE AFFORDABLE PLACES THAT THOSE BIG BUILDINGS REPLACED, THOSE WERE THE AFFORDABLE, THE EXISTING ONES.
AND NO, I'M HAPPY THOSE BIG BUILDINGS ARE THERE.
I LOOK AT THAT AND GO, HOLY POOP, I HELPED GET THAT DONE.
BUT WHEN YOU PUT A BLANKET WIDE THING COVERING THE ENTIRE CITY AND SAY, WELL, YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO ALL THIS EVERYWHERE AT ONCE WITHOUT REGARDS TO INFRASTRUCTURE WITH INCREASED OCCUPANCY WITH NO LIMITS.
I MEAN, WHO ATE THE YOGURT? IF THERE'S 10 PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE, YOUR YOGURT'S GONE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO TOOK IT.
WHO WANTS TO LIVE LIKE THAT? SERIOUSLY, WHO TOOK
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MY YOGURT? I'VE HAD ROOMMATES FOR YEARS.I'M NEVER GONNA FIGURE OUT WHERE MY YOGURT WENT.
SO YES, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS, BUT THIS BLANKET WHITE EFFORT IS GONNA REALLY CAUSE BAD PROBLEMS. IT'S, AND IT'S GONNA MAKE INVESTORS HAPPY.
AND IT, IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS, I ALREADY HAVE CARS ALL THE TIME PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
IT'S REAL HARD FOR, UH, FIRETRUCKS TO GET DOWN IT.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM BARBARA ELLI, LUKE WALFORD, THOMAS ADDIS KAI GRAY.
I'M HERE, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN INFILL COALITION.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE IN AUSTIN INFILL COALITION AND WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF HOME.
IN ADDITION, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH PRESERVATION AUSTIN ON A PRESERVATION BONUS FOR ACTUALLY LIKE THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
SO IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR ONE IN, YOU KNOW, ONCE A YEAR AWARD CEREMONY.
UM, BUT THEY SENT ME A STATEMENT TO, TO READ ON BEHALF OF THEM.
AND ALSO I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT AUSTIN AND PHIL COALITION SUPPORTS, UH, THE POSITION OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN, UM, PRES AND THE, SO THIS IS THE STATEMENT PRESERVATION AUSTIN STRONGLY SUPPORTS AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION BONUS FOR PROJECTS THAT PRESERVE HOMES CONSTRUCTED PRIOR TO 1960, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BONUS WOULD EXEMPT THESE HOMES FROM FAR IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS TO ENCOURAGE SUBSTANTIAL PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC HOUSING AND KEEP DEMOLITION AND WASTE OUT OF LANDFILLS AND RETAIN THE NATURAL OCCURRING AFFORDABILITY OF OLDER, SMALLER HOMES WHILE SUPPORTING INCREASED DENSITY IN CENTRAL AUSTIN PRESERVATION.
AUSTIN FURTHER SUPPORTS AMENDMENT SIX A FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY PRESERVATION BONUS FOR BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED AFTER 1960.
PRESERVATION AUSTIN IS STRONGLY AGAINST OPTION SIX B FOR WATERED DOWN SUSTAINABILITY PRESERVATION BONUS EXEMPTING ALL EXISTING HOMES FROM FAR WITH MINIMAL PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY UNDERMINE THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BONUS AND THE GOOD THAT CAN DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, UNLESS I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, I WANNA THANK ALL OF Y'ALL FOR WORKING ON THIS.
UM, WE'VE HAD A, A LACK OF, YOU KNOW, MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING FOR A LONG TIME AND I KNOW EVERYONE ON THIS PANEL'S STAYING UP HERE LATE TO WORK ON THIS STUFF STUFF.
AND WE JUST WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR, FOR WORKING ON THIS TO MAKE YOU KNOW, AUSTIN A BETTER CITY.
UM, I'M ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND I ALSO LIVE IN THE HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I'M HERE REPRESENTING FRIENDS OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS FAN, A COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND RESIDENTS EXPANDING NEIGHBORHOOD CONVERSATIONS TO INCLUDE THE FULL DIVERSITY OF VOICES MOVING BEYOND NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTIONISM.
WE BELIEVE MORE NEIGHBORS AND A GREATER DIVERSITY OF NEIGHBORS ENRICH OUR LIVES AND MAKE FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE CITY.
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS CAN'T WELCOME AN ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF NEW NEIGHBORS AS LONG AS IT MAY REMAINS ILLEGAL TO BUILD A GREATER ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF HOMES WHERE THEY CAN LIVE ACCORDINGLY, OUR MEMBERSHIP HAS CALLED FOR ALLOWING ALL FORMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE HOUSING THROUGHOUT ALL OF AUSTIN'S NEIGHBORHOODS.
IMAGINE AUSTIN SAYS, THE RANGE OF AVAILABLE HOUSING CHOICES MUST EXPAND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IN 2019, CITY COUNCIL CALLED FOR A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT PRIORITIZES ALL TYPES OF HOMES FOR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE IN ALL PARTS OF TOWN.
FRIENDS OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTS THE HOME ACT AS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS LEGALIZING THE FULL DIVERSITY OF HOUSING TYPES.
GOOD EVENING PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HOME, UM, THE HOME RESOLUTION AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON IT.
I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT ALL THESE NUMBERS IN THE FAR AND THE 25 DASH ONE DASH 1 21 BEFORE YOUR EYES GLAZE GLAZE OVER.
UH, I WANT TO HELP YOU OUT WITH THAT.
WE ACTUALLY BUILT SOME HOMES BACK IN 2013 THROUGH 2016 UNDER SMALL LOT AMNESTY WHERE WE WERE DOING THREE LOTS ON THREE SEPARATE, UH, 25 FOOT WIDE LOT HOMES.
AND I JUST PULLED THAT UP DURING THIS MEETING AND LOOKED AT IT.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, FOR THREE HOMES ON 93 75
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SQUARE FOOT, UH, THE FAR WAS 63%, WHICH IS WHAT, UH, THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AMENDMENT IS.AND, BUT WHEN WE DID IT, WE WERE ABLE TO GO UP TO 52% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REIGNED IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
WE WERE ALLOWED 65%, BUT WE ONLY DID 52.
BUT IF YOU GOOGLE MAP 52 0 4 MARTIN AVENUE OR LOOK AT THE PLANNING, UH, PERMIT APPLICATION, YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE FAMILY HOMES, MODERATELY SIZED, UM, THAT FIT WELL WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD NOW.
IT GOT, UH, DISALLOWED, THE CITY COUNCIL TURNED IT OVER AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S BEEN TOO LONG SINCE THAT HAPPENED.
UM, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD NOW SUPPORTS THEM AND WANTS THEM BACK.
THAT'S WHY, UM, VELAS, UH, SMALL LOT AMNESTY, UH, RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY ON CONSENT.
AND THAT'S BEEN KIND OF PUSHED BACK WHILE WE WORK ON ALL THIS STUFF.
BUT IN, IN THE REAL WORLD, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THREE HOMES ON A 9,300 SQUARE FOOT LOT THAT ARE ABOUT, UH, ABOUT 1700 SQUARE FOOT EACH.
WE WERE SELLING THEM AT 65% OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AVERAGE HOME PRICE AT THE TIME, IT WAS THE SIX HUNDREDS WAS THE AVERAGE PRICE WE WERE SELLING IN THE FOUR HUNDREDS.
AND UM, I JUST THINK IT'S A POSITIVE REAL WORLD EXAMPLE THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I UNDERSTAND MR. JASON HASKINS IS PRESENT.
I'D JUST LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY ASPECT OF THIS FOR A SECOND.
UM, I'M IN THE TRENCHES DAY IN AND DAY OUT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, ON A RANGE OF DIFFERENT, UM, PROJECT TYPES AND DIFFERENT SCALES OF AFFORDABILITY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, WHAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IS NOT WHETHER A HOUSE IS AFFORDABLE, WHETHER NOT HIRED GASPS AT $400,000 ON FIRST 17 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE.
THE QUESTION IS FOR WHOM IS THE HOUSE AFFORDABLE? AND TO DO THAT, WE LOOK AT AMI, SO A HUNDRED PERCENT AMI YOU'RE RIGHT AT THE MEDIAN INCOME.
IN THEORY, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE MEDIAN HOUSE IN AUSTIN.
IT REQUIRES ANYWHERE FROM 160 TO 240% MFI TO ABOUT TO PURCHASE THE AVERAGE HOUSE IN AUSTIN, DEPENDING ON YOUR, UM, CREDIT SCORES AND OTHER ISSUES AS WELL.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT, WHAT IS THIS GONNA DO? SO WE, AS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING THROUGH IT, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THREE USE CASES, THE THREE USE CASES THAT I HAVE DIRECT, UM, CLIENTS AND FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES WHO ARE IN THESE POSITIONS.
ONE IS FOR THE EXISTING HOMEOWNER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN INCOME GENERATING PROPERTY ON THEIR LOT.
OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE A BACKLOG OF ADUS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWED UNDER THE REGULATIONS BECAUSE OF THE SPACING, BECAUSE THEY WANNA SAVE THEIR TREE.
AND IF THEY COULD DO A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VERSION OF A DUPLEX OR AN ADU, THEY, THEY'RE READY TO GO.
TODAY I'VE GOT ANOTHER FAMILY WHO'S TRYING TO HOLD ONTO THEIR ROBERTSON HILL, UH, PROPERTY AND ARE, WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO IF THEY COULD HAVE A THIRD, A THIRD LOT ON TWO EXISTING ON A PRESERVATION PROJECT.
UH, THE SECOND GROUP, UM, THOSE ARE GONNA HELP PEOPLE ALL OVER THE SPECTRUM.
UM, MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN FOLKS WHO ARE IN THEIR HOUSES.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE 80 TO 160% MFI, THAT IS THE MIDDLE INCOME.
UM, I ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF CLIENTS WHO ARE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS WHO I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO AND SAID THEY'VE ALREADY GOT ADUS AND IF THEY COULD DO A THIRD, THEY COULD DO IT, THEY WOULD DO IT TODAY.
AND THOSE ARE GONNA BE RESTRICTED TO 60% FOR RENTAL AND 80% MFI FOR, UM, FOR PURCHASE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO GO TO TODAY.
THEY DON'T NEED, THERE ARE OTHER BARRIERS, ESPECIALLY FOR, FOR EXISTING HOMEOWNERS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS FUTURE.
BUT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE READY TO GO TODAY TO PROVIDE REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH THESE METHODS.
CHAIR CODE, MISSION LIAISON, ANDA, SO THAT'S YOUR, UM, LAST REGISTERED SPEAKER IN PERSON.
I THINK WE, YEAH, WE HAD A FEW FOLKS THAT, UH, WE WERE GONNA HAVE 'EM COME UP BEFORE WE GO TO VIRTUAL.
I AM THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
AND WE ARE NEUTRAL ON THIS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND.
WHAT WE WANT IS TO SEE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT COMES FIRST.
THAT'S WHAT THE CODE NEXT, UH, CONSULTANT SAID IN 2013.
PUT THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST AND BUILD EVERYTHING AROUND IT.
WE HAVE COME TO SEE THAT DENSITY IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE
[02:15:01]
AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AFFORDABILITY.TO BE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IS, IS MISLEADING BECAUSE IT'S SLIGHTLY LESS EXPENSIVE.
HOUSING IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS A CITY REAL AFFORDABILITY, BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
WE DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR TREE CANOPY IS PROTECTED SO THAT WE HAVE THE CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND UH, THE HEAT ISLAND PROTECTION, UH, THAT TREES PROVIDE.
PLUS JUST THE GOOD MENTAL HEALTH THAT TREES PROVIDE.
WE WANT TO ADDRESS STORM WATER RUNOFF, HOPEFULLY STORM WATER CAPTURE AND REUSE.
BUT WITH MORE ROOFTOPS, WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE RUNOFF.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED PLACES FOR THIS WATER TO GO.
THAT MEANS POCKET PARKS THAT DOUBLE AS WATER, UH, CATCHMENT AREAS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A FLOOD OF PEOPLE STEPPING FORWARD TO DO THIS.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN CERTAIN AREAS.
SO WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THOSE AREAS ARE GOING TO BE.
WE CAN'T HAVE THEM IN FLOOD PRONE PRONE AREAS.
WE CAN'T HAVE THIS IN AREAS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THOSE, TO THE, THE RUNOFF WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THIS, BUT WE, I REALLY WANT TO STRESS THAT IT IS NOT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.
THIS IS SLIGHTLY LESS EXPENSIVE HOUSING.
RUBY ROA IS WORKING ON AN AFFORDABILITY PROJECT RIGHT NOW, AND I HOPE THAT WILL COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION.
AND YOU WILL LISTEN TO RUBY ROA, WHO HAS A LONG TIME ACTIVIST FOR THE NEEDY.
MY NAME IS GRACE RIVERA, AND I LIVE IN WHAT WE LIKE TO REFER AFFECTIONATELY AS FAR EAST AUSTIN, WHICH IS USED TO BE THE DELL VALLEY AREA.
UH, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE OUT HERE OUT THERE TODAY YET.
UM, AND WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR THE ONE BUS LINE THAT CLOSES IN THE EVENING.
UM, HOWEVER, WHAT I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT IS THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF CHANGING 25 DASH TWO, UM, REGARDING IN PUTTING MORE PEOPLE IN HOUSES, UH, AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF HOUSES ON A PARTICULAR PLOT OF LAND.
I'M ONLY HERE TO ASK YOU TO REALLY LOOK FAIRLY TO LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE.
I'VE HEARD SOMEBODY CALL IT A PONZI SCHEME.
I'VE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, A FROG IN A POT.
WELL, THERE'D BE 33 POSSIBLE FROGS IN THAT POT.
UH, SO IT IS SOMETHING YOU REALLY HAVE TO BALANCE OUT, AND I COMPLETELY RESPECT YOUR ABILITY TO DO SO.
PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER THAT MENTAL HEALTH DECREASES WITH LESS SPACE AND MORE PEOPLE.
FAMILY VIOLENCE INCREASES, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, INCREASES, WASTE, PRODUCTION INCREASES, AND YOU HAVE THE DECREASED ABILITY FOR THE UTILITY REQUIREMENTS.
AND HOW ABOUT THE REDUCED ABILITY OF AUSTIN TO COMPLY WITH ITS CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN ON CLIMATE RESILIENCY? SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
MORE HOUSING UNITS WITH SMALLER PROPERTY, LESS PERIAL, GROUND LESS TREE COVER.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SIMILAR ARGUMENTS AGAIN WHEN THIS COMES UP.
AGAIN, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER THIS ALL IN ONE PHASE.
I JUST WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS, UM, THAT REALLY AFFECTED US OUT IN THE FAR EAST.
AND THAT WAS, UH, THE HALLOWEEN FLOODS.
IT'S RURAL, AND YET WE WERE STILL FLOODED, AND THEN A FEW YEARS LATER, AGAIN FLOODED.
OKAY? SO PLEASE CONSIDER THOSE.
AND ALSO THAT THE CENSUS BUREAU, UH, STATES THAT MORE THAN ONE PERSON, POOR ROOM IS OVERCROWDING, AND 1.5 PEOPLE IS SEVERELY OVERCROWDED.
AND, UH, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION STATES MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH DECREASE WITH OVERCROWDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONSIDER THIS WISELY.
MY NAME IS GREG UNDERWOOD AND I LIVE IN BRECKER WOODS.
AND I'LL JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION AND THEN ONE STATEMENT.
MY NEIGHBORS AND MYSELF, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A HOUSING PROBLEM.
[02:20:01]
WE DO.WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A DIRE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
I MEAN, MY QUESTION IS, I GUESS IS WHY HAVEN'T NEIGHBORHOODS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER THIS CODE? HAD, I MEAN, IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER ON BOTH OF US IF WE WOULD JUST GET INVITED TO THE TABLE AND BE ABLE TO INPUT INTO THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU LIVE IN.
UH, AND MY OTHER STATEMENT IS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE LISTEN TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND PLEASE SLOW DOWN.
THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT 'EM TONIGHT THAT NEED TO BE IRONED OUT TO BRING THIS TO THE CITY SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO TRANSITION TO THE, UH, TELECONFERENCE TEST POINTS.
YEAH, LEMME JUST, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I WAS, UH, TRYING TO PICK A GOOD PLACE FOR A BREAK.
WE COULD START WITH SOME, OR WE COULD USE THIS AS A TRANSITION POINT.
ANY, ANY SHARE? I, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF WE WENT THROUGH ALL SPEAKERS.
I UNDERSTAND SOME OF US WOULD LIKE A BREAK, BUT I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF WE WENT THROUGH SPEAKERS FIRST.
UM, THEN IF YOU NEED A BREAK, JUST, UH, LET'S MAKE SURE WE HAVE QUORUM.
I THINK WE GOT PLENTY OF PEOPLE HERE.
JUST REAL QUICK, UH, WE HAD A BOARD OF TRUSTEE, UM, UH, REPRESENTATIVE HERE, CANDACE, UM, HUNTER.
AND THEN ALSO WE'VE GOT OUR LAST COMMISSIONER HERE, UH, COMMISSIONER BETA RAMIREZ.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP.
PARTICIPANTS ON TELECONFERENCE.
UH, JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER WHEN IT'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, SELECT STAR SIX AND THEN PROCEED WITH YOUR REMARKS.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH MS. ABIGAIL TAKO, SELECT STAR SIX.
COMMISSIONER, UH, THANK YOU COMMISSION ZA FOR PUSHING THROUGH.
UM, MY NAME IS ABBY TAKO, AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN FAVOR OF ITEM TWO ON YOUR AGENDA AS THE CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT COALITION OF THOSE DEVELOPING AND ADVOCATING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
UH, SINCE MOVING TO AUSTIN IN 2012, I HAVE WORKED IN MANY ROLES THAT FALL ALONG THE FULL SPECTRUM HOUSING WORK.
FIRST, I WORKED FOR A COMBINED SIX YEARS AT CARITAS OF BOSTON AND AT ECHO, THE ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION, WORKING TO CONNECT UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH EXISTING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
AFTER TWO OR SO YEARS OF STRUGGLING TO WADE THROUGH THE MANY GATEKEEPERS INVOLVED IN HOUSING OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, I ELECTED TO ATTAIN MY REAL ESTATE LICENSE, SOMETHING THAT I WILL COME BACK TO, UH, TO ALLOW FOR MORE STREAMLINED ACCESS TO HOUSING UNITS.
AFTER, UH, SIX YEARS OF PAINSTAKINGLY SEEKING HOUSING IN OUR LIMITED STOCK OF NATURALLY AFFORDABLE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, I DECIDED TO TRANSITION TO A SMALL COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPER BUILDING INCOME RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP UNITS, AND THEN TO TAX CREDIT, AFFORDABLE MULTI HH, MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPER TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE SUPPLY ISSUE.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS LONG, EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT WITHOUT DEEP SUBSIDIES FROM THE CITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE SOURCES, AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME USING THESE PROGRAMS AND ADVOCATING FOR MORE OF THEM.
BUT THE REASON I'M SPEAKING WITH YOU THIS EVENING IS TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE IMPACT OF CONTINUING WITH OUR CURRENT RESTRICTIVE CODE, WHERE EVEN A DECADE AGO WHEN I MOVED TO AUSTIN, THE MARKET PROVIDED FOR THE HOUSING NEEDS OF MANY LOWER INCOME EARNERS AND MOST MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS.
WITH THE MARKET CONDITIONS THAT HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, EVEN THE WELL COMPENSATED PROFESSIONALS I HAVE SERVED AS A REALTOR HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE, NOR CAN WE SUBSIDIZE EVERY SINGLE HOUSING UNIT THAT GETS BUILT IN ORDER TO HOUSE OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT IF WE DO NOT REFORM OUR CODE THROUGH EFFORTS LIKE THE HOME INITIATIVE, WE WILL HAVE TO ALLOWING UP TO THREE UNITS AND SMALLER UNITS ON A SINGLE FAMILY LOT AND REMOVING RESTRICTIONS ON THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS LIVING IN HOUSING UNIT.
OUR CODE REFORMS THAT INDISPUTABLY WILL ALLOW FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.
AND IF WE DO DO NOT APPROVE THEM, WE ARE ENSURING THAT LIMITED HOUSING BOND DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT TO
[02:25:01]
SUBSIDIZE HOUSING FOR MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS INSTEAD OF ON DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN CREATE THE DIVERSE HOUSING STOCK THAT ALLOWS HOUSEHOLDS OF ALL KINDS TO THRIVE IN OUR CITY.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM CATHERINE CHAMBLEE, MS. CHAMBLEE, SALT LAKE STAR SIX, PROCEED WITH YOUR REMARKS.
UH, I'M OPPOSED TO THE HOME AMENDMENT ALLOWING THREE, ALLOWING THREE HOMES ON, UH, EACH LOT.
I THINK, UH, MOST OF WHAT MY ARGUMENTS ARE HAVE ALREADY BEEN STATED, SO I'M NOT GONNA GO OVER THOSE OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT AS FAR AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE OR LACK OF IN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE CITY, IT'S, IT'S NOT A HYPOTHETICAL THAT WE WILL HAVE DRAINAGE ISSUES, THAT WE'LL HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND SEWER ISSUES IN PRESS VIEW, WHERE WE CAN ALREADY HAVE ADUS ON LOTS AND IN FACT DO IN MOST AREAS.
OUR ELECTRICITY GOES OUT ALL THE TIME, EVERY STORM.
WE'VE HAD DRAINAGE ISSUES, I HAVE DRAINAGE ISSUES.
I'VE HAD TO INSTALL ADDITIONAL, UM, BASICALLY DRAINS ALONG THE SIDE OF MY PROPERTY.
ALL OF THIS CURRENT HOMEOWNERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL TAXES AND FEES TO, TO UPDATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE A WAY FOR ALL OF THESE ADDITIONAL HOMES.
AND SO BASICALLY WHAT I'M SEEING IS THAT WHAT CURRENT HOMEOWNERS ARE GETTING IS ONE ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, FUNDING ADDITIONAL FEES, ADDITIONAL TAXES TO MAKE WAY FOR PROPERTIES THAT WE DON'T WANT.
WE'VE ALREADY VOTED AGAINST THIS, AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN.
SO IN THE END, I'M JUST ADVOCATING THAT EITHER WE COME UP, Y'ALL COME UP WITH A BETTER WAY OR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL HOMES FIRST OR VOTE NO VOTE AGAINST THIS.
WHEN I'LL HEAR FROM MS. THERESE CROCKER, MS. CROCKER, I'LL LIKE STAR SIX, PROCEED WITH YOUR REMARKS.
UH, I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TEXAS FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUB HISTORICAL FOUNDATION.
UM, WE OWN THE MANSION, WHICH IS 2312 SAN GABRIEL, AND I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE REASONS FOR OUR OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED LAND CODE AMENDMENTS AND POPULATION DENSITY INCREASES.
UM, HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE MY STUFF UP, UP ABOVE, UNDER NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO REDUCE QUALITY OF LIFE DUE TO OVERPOPULATION, THE DEGRADATION OF HISTORICAL LANDMARKS AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
STRESS OF THE AQUIFER, STRESS TO MAN, ANIMAL AND REMAINING TREE LIFE.
DESTRUCTION OF TREES AND VEGETATION TO ACCOMMODATE BUILDINGS AND DRIVEWAYS WILL GREATLY REDUCE AIR QUALITY, CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT, WATER CONSERVATION, SALT PRESERVATION, AND WILDLIFE HABITATS, AND GREATLY REDUCE SHADE THAT NATURALLY INSULATES HOMES THAT'S CAUSING INCREASED COST TO HOMEOWNERS AND UNNECESSARY EXTRA ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
UNDER DE DECREASED SAFETY AND SECURITY ADVERSE EFFECTS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AS PERSONS, IF, IF THEY STILL HAVE THE RVS AND MOBILE, TINY HOMES CAN QUICKLY CHANGE THEIR PERMANENT RESIDENT ADDRESS.
A GREAT PLUS FOR TERRORIST SEX TRAFFICKERS, MOBILE METH LABS, AND OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.
THERE'LL BE A BURDEN ON POLICE FORCE, FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES, TRASH COLLECTION SERVICES.
THE GREATLY INCREASED PARKING ALONG STREETS WILL INHABIT AUSTIN CITY SERVICES, THUS CAUSING ADDED DANGER TO CITIZENS UNDER STRESS AND OVERLOAD TO EXISTING UTILITIES.
MAJOR STRESS WHEN THE EXISTING UTILITIES OF WATER, GAS, ELECTRICAL, AND INTERNET CAPABILITIES WILL BE CAUSED.
COST OF IMPROVING UTILITIES TO MEET THE INCREASED NEED, WILL NEED TO BE BUDGETED AND PAID FOR COST TO CITIZENS OF THEIR TIME, MONEY, AND CONVENIENCE TO LIVE WITH THE WORKS NEEDED FOR UPGRADES.
IT'S UNFAIR TO EXISTING RESIDENTS.
MULTIPLE RESIDENCES WILL INCLUDE THE AMOUNT OF CARS ON ALREADY VERY CROWDED STREETS, CAUSING MORE HAVOC TO TRAVEL AND TIME MANAGEMENT.
UM, AND THERE ARE TREMENDOUS COST TO RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS.
POSSIBLE TAX DECREASES TO COVER COSTS OF NON-PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES NEEDED LOSS OF INCOME FOR BUSINESSES THAT REQUIRE AUTO TRAVEL AND PARKING LOSS FOR QUALITY OF LIFE, FOR EXISTING TAX PAYING CITIZENS, LOSS OF THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ITS NEIGHBORHOODS.
PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE PHASE ONE OR PHASE TWO.
NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM MS. KIMBERLY LEVISON.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES, SELECT STAR SIX, PROCEED WITH YOUR REMARKS.
[02:30:06]
HELLO, MY NAME IS KIMBERLY LEVINSON, AND I AM IN, UH, DISTRICT NINE, AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME ACT.I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE MOST AFFORDABLE WAY AND THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE WAY TO EXPAND OUR HOUSING SUPPLY IS TO DO IT IN AREAS WHERE WE HAVE ALREADY EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE RATHER THAN BUILDING OUT OVER THE AQUIFER.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A LOT EASIER AND CHEAPER TO UPGRADE ALREADY EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAN IT IS TO BUILD ENTIRELY NEW SECTIONS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRYING TO CONNECT THEM UP WITH LONG PIPELINES AND SUCH LIKE THAT, THAT IS ALWAYS MORE EXPENSIVE AND IT ALWAYS CAUSES MORE LEAKAGE, WHICH CAUSES A PROBLEM WITH WATER QUALITY.
AND THIS IS WE DRAW OUR WATER FROM THE WATER FROM THE AQUIFER.
IT IS ALSO THE BEST WAY TO HAVE WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE CLOSER TO THEIR JOBS, LIKE POLICE OFFICERS AND TEACHERS AND FIREFIGHTERS.
SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO PLEASE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT AND TO GIVE US, UH, A MORE DENSE, WALKABLE, AND AFFORDABLE CITY.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM MR. MICHAEL TI UH, SIX, PROCEED WITH EARMARKS.
MR. TI, ARE YOU PRESENT? SELEK SIX PROCEEDED WITH THE REMARKS GOING FORWARD TO MS. JOYCE ABANO.
MS. BASCIANO SEK SIX, PROCEED WITH YOUR REMARKS.
I'M OPPOSED TO BOTH PHASES OF THE HOME RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S A GROSS OVERREACH BY CITY GOVERNMENT.
AUSTIN PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING PROGRESSIVE, BUT THE HOME INITIATIVE AND THE PROCESS THAT CREATED IT IS NOT AT ALL PROGRESSIVE.
IT'S DOWNRIGHT UNDEMOCRATIC, AND THAT'S UNDEMOCRATIC WITH BOTH A LOWERCASE D AND A CAPITAL D.
DEMOCRACY WORKS BEST WHEN AN INFORMED PUBLIC IS INVOLVED IN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT BRINGS ALL OF THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS TO THE TABLE AS EQUALS AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS TO FIND CONSENSUS, THE LOCAL MEDIA AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT HAVE DONE A VERY POOR JOB OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HOME INITIATIVE.
PEOPLE ARE ASKING, WHERE DID THIS HOME IDEA COME FROM? WHY DOES IT HAVE TWO PHASES? AND WHY ARE WE MAKING THE CITYWIDE RADICAL CHANGES TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONING? NOW DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, IT SEEMS HOME IS BEING DONE BACKWARDS.
THAT IS THE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS CALLED OUT FOR, FOR PHASE TWO SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE THE UPZONING IN PHASE ONE WAS PROPOSED.
THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S AFFORDABILITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT MAKES THE FOLLOWING POINTS ABOUT THE HOME INITIATIVE.
IT MAY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON HOMEOWNERS EXPERIENCING PRECARITY, AND SOME RENTERS INCREASING ENTITLEMENTS MAY INCENTIVIZE RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO REDEVELOP SINGLE FAMILY UNITS.
UPZONING HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED NEIGHBORHOODS HAS LED TO DISPLACEMENT.
DISPLACEMENT PRESSURE FROM TAX, PROPERTY TAX MAY INCREASE AS WELL.
THE BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT WILL BE THE MOST NEGATIVELY IMPACTED EXACERBATING AUSTIN'S SYSTEMIC RACISM.
MS. CAROLINE CRUM, SELECT STAR SIX.
MR. DAVID KRAMER, SELECT STAR SIX.
I APPRECIATE VERY INFORMATIVE.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS HOW RUSH FINISHED THIS PLAN.
EVEN SOME OF THOSE WHO SPEAK IN SUPPORT, THE PROPOSAL KNOWLEDGE NEEDS WORK ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BOTH A ON MY PROPERTY YEARS AGO.
[02:35:01]
UH, HELLO, THIS IS CAROLYN CRUM.I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE HOME AMENDMENTS, PARTLY BECAUSE CHANGE, I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE HOME AMENDMENTS, PARTLY BECAUSE CHANGES WOULD BE IN TWO PHASES.
SO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO EVALUATE THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME FROM THE, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS FIRST PHASE ALONE.
CAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I, I DON'T SEE.
UH, PHASE ONE WITH SPREAD DENSITY ALL OVER THE CITY, RATHER THAN CONCENTRATING IT IN THE CORRIDORS, PHASE TWO WOULD ADD EVEN MORE DENSITY, AND THERE'D BE CHANGES TO IMPERVIOUS COVER, SETBACKS AND TREE REGULATIONS.
SO THAT PHASE COULD BE VERY DAMAGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT WOULD MEAN HIGHER IMPERVIOUS COVER, INCREASED LOCALIZED FLOODING AND INCREASED URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, AND A REDUCTION IN OUR TREE CANOPY.
IN AUSTIN, SINGLE FAMILY LOTS ARE THE SECOND LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO CANOPY COVERAGE.
TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE URBAN FOREST, REDUCING FLOODING, REDUCING HEAT, REDUCING WATER POLLUTION, AND COMBATING, UH, CLIMATE CHANGE.
BOTH PHASES WOULD ALSO PUT PRESSURE ON AUSTIN'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND FIRE SAFETY.
THERE ARE NO AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS OR SUBSIDIES, SO THE AMENDMENTS WOULD INCREASE GENTRIFICATION.
THESE AMENDMENTS AREN'T FRIENDLY TO HOMEOWNERS OF MODERATE INCOME, BUT WOULD INCREASE PROFITS TO DEVELOPERS IN COMPARISON TO THE PRESENT CODE BECAUSE MORE COULD BE BUILT IN A GIVEN SPACE.
SPREADING OUT DENSITY TO EVERYWHERE IS A SUPREMELY BAD IDEA FOR MANY REASONS.
DENSITY SHOULD BE ALONG THE BIG CORRIDORS, CORRIDORS WHERE THERE, THERE'S ALREADY HIGHER IMPERVIOUS COVER WHERE MASS TRANSIT IS MOST EFFECTIVE, AND WHERE IT'S EASIER TO IMPLEMENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AND FLOOD CONTROL MEASURES.
PLEASE DO NOT RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THESE AMENDMENTS BY THE CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE'LL PROCEED TO MS. ANGELO, BEN GARZA.
MR. GARZA, UH, UHS STAR SIX, PROCEED WITH YOUR REMARKS.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I DO WANNA THANK ANDREW FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND ALLOWING US TO SPEAK, UM, OVER TELECONFERENCE AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WHO DO ALL THIS, UH, TITLEIST WORK AND, AND LONG HOURS.
UM, I'M SPEAKING ON, I, I HAVE TO ECHO WHAT, UM, GAVA STATED ABOUT HAVING ADDITIONAL OPEN HOUSES, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR BILINGUAL, UM, FOLKS THAT COULD NOT GET TO THE OPEN HOUSE, THAT LESLIE POOL IS GOOD ENOUGH TO HAVE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
UM, I, UH, I DO BELIEVE, I WANNA KNOW MORE PERSONALLY ON HOW WE CAN BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING GENTRIFIED LEFT AND RIGHT, WHETHER WE'RE EXTREME RIGHT OR EXTREME LEFT.
AND IF WE HAVE NO MIDDLE GROUND AND DON'T WORK TOGETHER, WE'RE GONNA LOSE FAMILIES IN THE MIDDLE EITHER WAY.
SO IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND OUR WORKING FAMILIES, OUR HARDWORKING FAMILIES, HOW WE CAN BE, UM, CONTRIBUTORS AS WELL AND ASSIST IN WORKING PARTNERSHIP, UH, WHATEVER, WHATEVER, WHATEVER ANYONE DECIDES, AND HOW WE CAN WORK EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER.
UM, ALSO, CALIFORNIA HAS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY HAVE ENCOURAGED, UM, FAMILIES AND, UM, IN CALIFORNIA WITH A $50,000 GRANT GIFT TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN BUILDING, UM, UH, THESE, UM, ADUS THAT ARE OUTTA REACH FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE EXPLORE THOSE KIND OF IDEAS WITH, UM, UH, FOLKS HERE, BUT NOT THE EXTREME LEFT OR EXTREME RIGHT SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON COMMON GROUND.
UM, REASON BLANKET, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE IMPORTANT THAN DOING IT IN PIECES.
UM, DOING IT IN PIECES DOESN'T WORK OUT FOR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.
SO WORKING TOGETHER ON, UM, AN OVERRIDE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE TOGETHER, UM, SO THAT WE'RE NOT FLOODING EACH OTHER OUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.
UM, ANDREW, IS MY TIME UP? YES.
OKAY, WE'LL, I'LL HEAR FROM JOHNNY LOVE MARKS, MR. LOVE MARKS.
IF YOU'LL SELECT, UH, STAR SIX, PROCEEDED WITH REMARKS.
THIS IS JOHNNY LOVE MARKS, AND I WAS INITIALLY IN FAVOR OF THIS NEW PROPOSAL.
UH, HOWEVER, LISTENING TO THE MANY COMMENTS, I THINK
[02:40:01]
IT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO DO PLACES LIKE THE DOMAIN OVER ON EAST EAST RIVER SIDE, THE DISTRICT THAT I'M IN, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE LIVING, WORKING, SHOPPING, SHOPPING, ALL IN ONE AREA.UH, IF THE DEVELOPER COULD COME IN AND DO MORE PLACES LIKE THAT, MAKE IT, THAT WOULD BE MORE IDEAL, AND LEAVE ALL THE OTHER SUBDIVISIONS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ALONE, LEAVE OUR TREES ALONE, LEAVE OUR WILDLIFE ALONE.
UH, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE, YOU HAVE LINES.
UH, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL AND MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO, UM, TO GO WITH THAT ROUTE.
AND I HEAR FROM ALEXANDRA ANDERSON.
MS. ANDERSON, SELECT STAR SIX.
WE'RE, THE SOUND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HEAR THE CALLERS ON, UM, THE REMOTE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN OPTION.
I CAN READ THE TELEPROMPT, BUT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE VERBAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A WAY TO ADJUST THE SOUND.
SO COMMISSIONER HOWARD, ARE YOU HAVING THE SAME ISSUE? I AM, YES.
UM, IT'S JUST HARD TO UNDERSTAND THE WORDS.
IT'S, WE'RE WE'RE KIND OF GETTING THE CHARLIE BROWN VERSION
I JUST SAID I'VE BEEN ABLE TO READ THE, THE, UM, TELEPROMPT, SO THAT'S HELPFUL.
BUT IF, IF WE NEED TO ADJUST HOW THAT'S COMING, THAT'D THAT'D BE GREAT.
COMMISSIONER ALEXANDRIA WILL, UM, WORK ON, UM, HAVING THAT RESOLVED.
I WILL NOW HEAR FROM MS. ALEXANDRA ANDERSON.
MS. ANDERSON, SELECT STAR SIX.
MY NAME IS ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON.
I'M SPEAKING ON MY BEHALF AND AS CHAIR OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND OPPOSITION OF THE ITEM TWO HOME AMENDMENTS.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE HOME AMENDMENTS AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
WE SUPPORT INTENTIONAL, WELL THOUGHT OUT, COMPREHENSIVE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BASED ON EACH DISTRICT SOLELY.
THE PROPOSED HOME RESOLUTION DOES NOT ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, ESPECIALLY DISTRICT ONE EAST AUSTIN, ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE DECADES OF INEQUITABLE DISPARITIES.
SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF FORCED URBAN RENEWAL, AND SO FAR REVITALIZATION THAT HAVE LED TO MARKET DRIVEN GENTRIFICATION OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LOWER LAND VALUES.
LET'S BE HONEST AND REAL OF WHERE AND WHO THIS IS TRULY GOING TO IMPACT.
AS IT STANDS, THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT ADDRESS THE MATRIX AND REQUIREMENTS OF AFFORDABILITY.
THIS IS NOT GENTLE DENSITY BASED ON PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO LENDING OPTIONS.
GENERALLY, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY OR THE PERSONAL CAPITAL TO GET THE BIG LOANS TO BILL SAFETY ISSUES WITH ADDED STREET PARKING.
EAST AUSTIN ALREADY HAVE SMALLER STREETS WITH DOUBLE-SIDED PARKING, AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES, ISSUES AND LACK OF IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A FACTUAL ANALYSIS.
DISTRICT ONE IS IN DIRE NEED OF INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PLUGGING OUR AREA, SUCH AS LACK OF TREE CANOPY, JUSTIFYING THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS WHILE COMPROMISING THE IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION, EXCUSE ME, OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SPECULATION AND PREY ON HOMEOWNERS IN OUR AREA, WHICH WE'RE ALREADY EXPERIENCED.
THE FIRST INITIAL LDC WAVE, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE STANDING UP, WE ARE USING OUR VOICE TO DETERMINE A VIBRANT, SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO LOOK AT THE HOLISTIC PICTURE.
WE SHOULD POSTPONE THIS RESOLUTION FOR A DEEPER COMMUNITY OUTREACH SIMILAR TO THAT SUGGESTED BY MANA GUZMAN OF GAVA.
WILL NOW HEAR MS FROM MS. TAMMY EASTON.
MOVING ON TO, UH, MR. DAN KETTE,
[02:45:01]
SELECT STAR SIX.THIS IS, UH, DAN KETTE FROM DISTRICT SIX.
UM, I AM, UH, CALLING IN FAVOR OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
UH, ITEM TWO, I WANNA ADDRESS, UH, DIRECTLY THE ISSUE OF TIMING THAT WE'VE HEARD NOW, UH, FROM, FROM MANY SPEAKERS.
AND I WANNA SAY, I AGREE WITH PEOPLE THAT NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THIS.
THE TIME FOR THIS WAS 10 YEARS AGO.
10 YEARS AGO, A HOUSE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, COST ONE QUARTER.
WHAT IT DOES TODAY, 10 YEARS AGO, A NUMBER OF MY FRIENDS HADN'T ALREADY BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF AUSTIN AND MOVED TO OTHER CITIES BECAUSE THEY REALIZED ON THEIR MIDDLE CLASS SALARIES, THEY WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME IN AUSTIN 10 YEARS AGO, THE IDEA OF AUSTIN AS A WELCOMING CITY, THAT PEOPLE COULD, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE, IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T HAVE A TON OF MONEY COULD COME TO AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THEIR OWN WAY, WAS LEGITIMATE.
UM, WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS DEBATE FOR AT LEAST ABOUT 10 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN PERSONALLY HERE AND KNOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED IN SAYING, THIS IS ALL GOING TOO FAST.
AND HERE HEARD A LOT OF THEM AT HOUSING HEARINGS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE DEBATE HAS BEEN GOING ON.
WE HAVE A, UH, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A CITY COUNCIL THAT'S BEEN ELECTED THAT ON, YOU KNOW, LARGELY ON PLATFORMS OF ADDRESSING THE NUMBER ONE PUBLIC POLICY ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, YOU KNOW, CITED BY VOTERS.
THE TIME WAS YESTERDAY, THE TIME WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.
THE TIME IS 10 YEARS AGO, AND IT BETTER NOT BE TWO YEARS FROM NOW OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
'CAUSE NOW IS THE BEST WE CAN DO.
I HAVE AN SSF THREE IN DISTRICT EIGHT RIGHT ON THE BORDER OF ROLLINGWOOD.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE INTENT FOR THIS CODE, I VEHEMENT VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE IT.
WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED TO AUSTIN, WE TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF CARE AS TO WHERE WE'D LIVE.
WE HAVE TWO KIDS THAT ARE ON THE SPECTRUM AND LOOKED EVERYWHERE FOR A SPATIAL AND QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN PEACEFULLY LIVING AT FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
BY CHANGING THE ZONING AND THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO LIVE ON THE PROPERTY, IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR CONDOS, CROWDS, NOISE, SAFETY ISSUES TO SAY THE LEAST.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT SOMEONE ON THE SPECTRUM FIND DISTURBING AND CHALLENGING.
THE FACT THAT YOU CAN MAKE THIS CHANGE WITHOUT HAVING GIVEN THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION BEFORE WE BOUGHT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS MIND BOGGLING TO ME AND PUTS OUR KIDS IN HARM'S WAY.
SO I ASK YOU, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED HOW THIS DECISION WILL AFFECT DISABLED PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY? AS AN AUSTIN RESIDENT, WE'VE HAD WATER SHORTAGES AND AIR CUT HAS BEEN PUSHING IT, IT PUSHED TO THE LIMIT SO MUCH THAT WE GET REGULAR MESSAGES FROM AUSTIN UTILITY PLEADING FOR US TO TURN OFF THE POWER SO THE GRID DOESN'T COLLAPSE.
HOW CAN YOU ACCOUNT FOR ALL THESE THINGS GOING FORWARD IF WE'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING AT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW? ALSO, WHERE WOULD ALL THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE PARK? THERE'D BE CONGESTED PARKING ALL ALONG BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, AND THIS CAUSES A SAFETY PROBLEM.
WHAT CHANGES TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE YOU MADE IN ADVANCE TO PREPARE FOR A CODE LIKE THIS? LASTLY, CODE NEXT FAILED.
AND THIS FEELS LIKE A SLICK WAY OF TRYING TO GET AROUND IT, WHICH I DON'T FEEL IS VERY ETHICAL.
THERE SHOULD BE A VOTE DONE BY THE PEOPLE.
THERE SHOULD BE MORE THOUGHT AND COLLABORATIVE WORK DONE BY THE COMMUNITY.
THESE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A SOLUTION FOR DEVELOPERS, NOT FOR MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE LOOKING FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS WHEN MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, WHEN CODE NEXT, WHEN CODE NEXT WAS PASSED, DEVELOPERS WHO ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED PLANS AND WERE DENIED, RESUBMITTED ON THE VERY DAY CODE NEXT WAS IMPLEMENTED AND GOT THEM APPROVED.
AS A RESULT, 25 TREES WERE DESTROYED AND A MONSTROUS HOME WAS BUILT IN ITS PLACE.
THAT IS NOT WHAT I CALL SUSTAINABILITY, NOR DOES DID IT INCREASE HOUSING FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.
SO, I PLEAD YOU TO THINK THAT, I PLEAD YOU TO THINK, NOT THINK THAT DEVELOPERS WILL NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I HONESTLY DO BELIEVE THEY WILL.
OKAY, WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM MS. BARBARA EPSTEIN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
YOUR LATEST REZONING PLAN SEEMS LESS ABOUT FINALLY ALLOWING A SINGLE STORY DETACHED GARAGE OR A GUEST COTTAGE ON A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT.
[02:50:01]
USED AS LEGALLY TO USE AND MORE ABOUT OPENING THE ZONING FLOODGATES AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN ZONING ISSUES NORTH OF UT FOR 36 YEARS, I PREDICT IT WILL RESULT IN A HAPHAZARD DEVELOPMENT MESS.
HERE ARE THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS I POSED TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
NUMBER ONE, WHY IS AN AUSTIN REDEVELOPING RUNDOWN AREAS OF THE CITY BEFORE PROPOSING GENERAL REZONING? NUMBER TWO, WHY ISN'T AUSTIN USING ITS LAND TRUST PROGRAM TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD? FIRST, NUMBER THREE, WHY ISN'T AUSTIN PREPARING ITS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER, SEWER, ROADS, SIDEWALKS, ESPECIALLY IN A HUNDRED YEAR OLD NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE BEFORE ADDING MUCH GREATER DENSITY? NUMBER FOUR, WHY DON'T WE KNOW HOW MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE BUILT ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS? NUMBER FIVE, WILL AFFORDABILITY RESULTS FROM SHEER NUMBERS OF UNITS BUILT OR THROUGH A REQUIRED NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS? NUMBER SIX, HOW MUCH BUILDING OUT WILL IT TAKE TO LOWER AUSTIN HOUSING PRICES? OR WILL THAT DEPEND ON HOW MANY PEOPLE KEEP MOVING HERE? AFFORDABILITY THROUGH DENSITY WAS THE PITCH WITH THE 22 ACRE CONCORDIA PUTT IN 2007, AND WITH THE 22 ACRE, SORRY, WITH THE 75 ACRES AT THE GROVE IN 2019.
NUMBER SEVEN, WILL DEVELOPERS STILL BE ALLOWED TO PAY INTO A FUND INSTEAD OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING? IF SO, WHY? NUMBER EIGHT? IF AFFORDABILITY IS THE OBJECTIVE, WHY ARE THE PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENTS ALLOWING MCMANSIONS TO BE BUILT? NUMBER NINE, WILL SHORT TERM RENTALS BE ALLOWED INSTEAD OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING? AND HOW WILL THAT BE ENFORCED? ARE RVS STILL IN THE PROPOSAL? AND LASTLY, NUMBER 10, WHY HAVE WE HEARD SO LITTLE ABOUT HOUSING FOR THE CITY AND STATE WORKERS WHO HAVE TO COMMUTE? IF YOU ELIMINATE YARDS, YOU ELIMINATE FAMILIES.
IF YOU DON'T ELIMINATE THE COMMUTERS, YOU WON'T ELIMINATE PEOPLE USING CARS.
I THINK THE 15 MINUTE CITY IS A MUCH BETTER MODEL TO LOOK AT FOR DENSITY AND AFFORDABILITY AND A LIVABLE CITY.
AND I'LL HEAR FROM MS. BE SCHREIBER.
MS. SCHREIBER, SELECT STAR SIX.
I, UH, HELLO, THIS IS BETH REGER.
I'M AGAINST THE HOME CODE AMENDMENT.
I'VE, I'VE HEARD SOME VERY INTELLIGENT RESPONSES, BOTH SIDES, BUT, BUT STILL FEEL REALLY STRONGLY EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID TONIGHT.
SOCIAL JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, TREES, STREET CROWDING, PARKING.
I REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS MORE ABOUT DEVELOPERS BEING ABLE TO PUT A LOT OF HOMES IN A VERY DENSE AREA.
I DO NOT THINK IT'S REALLY GONNA HELP, UM, AFFORDABILITY AT ALL.
UH, I CONCUR WITH, WITH, WITH EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT DISPLACEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, STRESS NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I DON'T ENVY YOUR JOBS AT ALL.
UM, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING BOTH SIDES.
MR. KATI, ARE YOU PRESENT? SEK STAR SIX CHAIR, COMMISSIONER LEELAND.
THAT CONCLUDES YOUR SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
UM, IF YOU'LL, UH, STATE YOUR NAME, THEN PROCEED WITH YOUR REMARKS.
I'M A RESIDENT AND RENTER LIVING IN A DUPLEX IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN OPPOSITION OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
THERE IS NO DENYING THAT WE HAVE A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS HERE,
[02:55:01]
BUT THE HOME INITIATIVE IS DRIVEN BY GREED AND PROFIT, NOT WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEST FOR THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.IT'S SHORTSIGHTED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS INITIATIVE WILL DRIVE DOWN HOUSING COSTS FOR MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME HOME HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS.
AND IT IS IGNORANT TO SAY THAT THIS INITIATIVE GIVES HOMEOWNERS THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME.
HOMEOWNERS CANNOT AFFORD TO DEMOLISH AND REDEVELOP THEIR HOME OR BUILD AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.
ONLY HIGH INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND INVESTORS CAN DO THIS.
THIS MEANS INVESTORS WILL BUY UP HOUSING FROM LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME HOMEOWNERS AND HOMEOWNERS WILL FEEL THE PRESSURE TO SELL BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES WILL NOT INCREASE.
THIS IS GENTRIFICATION BECAUSE HOME IS INVESTOR DRIVEN.
THERE ARE NO AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS.
MONEY IS WHAT'S FUELING THIS INITIATIVE.
INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING ONLY CAUSES HOUSING COSTS TO GO DOWN WHEN THERE IS A SUPPLY OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOME IS MISSING THIS KEY INGREDIENT.
WE NEED AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL REQUIRE THE BUILDING OF ACTUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE NEED COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT.
WE NEED AFFORDABLE DENSITY, NOT MARKET RATE DENSITY.
AND WE NEED THESE PLANS TO ALIGN WITH OUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN GOAL.
HOME IS NOT WHERE THE HEART IS.
WITH THAT, YOU CAN CONSIDER CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING CHAIR? I MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? ANY OPPOSITION? UH, SECOND VICE CHAIR, HEMPEL, SEEING NO OPPOSITION.
AND, UH, LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM, SO KINDA LOOKING AT THE TIME, UM, WE, I WOULD LOVE TO GET THROUGH Q AND A BEFORE THE 10 O'CLOCK HOUR, AND THEN WE WILL MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT WE DO NEXT.
UH, IF WE PUSH ON, WE WOULD GO THROUGH OUR, UM, WORKING GROUP AMENDMENT.
AND, UH, BOY, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THIS DONE TONIGHT.
UM, IT'S VERY LIKELY AND WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TOMORROW.
SO, UH, DO WE NEED A QUICK FIVE MINUTE BREAK? UM, ALL RIGHT.
FIVE MINUTES AND WE'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL START THE Q AND A.
SO WE'RE BRINGING THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER HERE.
IT'S, UH, NINE 20, UM, CONTINUING WITH OUR ITEM TWO Q AND A.
SO, UM, THIS IS WHERE COMMISSIONERS HAVE, UM, FIVE MINUTES EACH, INCLUDING OUR EX OFFICIOS CAN HAVE SOME Q AND A TIME.
UH, BUT WE WANTED TO DO IS, UH, START WITH THE FOLKS THAT WEREN'T ON THE WORKING GROUP.
'CAUSE WE HAVE HAD SOME, UH, STAFF AVAILABLE TO US TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.
SO IF YOU DON'T, I'M JUST GOING TO, UM, I'M GOING TO START WITH THE VICE CHAIR IF YOU'RE READY, OR YOU CAN PASS AND I CAN PICK YOU UP LATER ON.
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR OTHERS, OR YOU CAN PASS AND WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU LATER.
VICE CHAIR IS GONNA TAKE A PASS.
WE'LL SEE IF SHE HAS QUESTIONS LATER.
SO, UM, JUST LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM.
COMMISSIONER, UH, HOWARD, DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? UM, IT CAN BE FOR STAFF OR SPEAKERS.
UM, JUST TRYING TO SEE WHO IS READY WITH THEIR QUESTIONS.
MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE THE QUESTION I ASK.
SO YOU WANNA, COMMISSIONER HOWARD, ARE YOU READY? YOU WANNA PASS? I CAN PICK YOU UP LATER.
COMMISSIONER M TOLER, ARE YOU READY WITH QUESTIONS? NO.
SOMEBODY'S GOTTA ASK SOME QUESTIONS HERE.
LET'S GIVE FOLKS A FEW MINUTES TO COME BACK AND WE'LL SEE WHO HAS QUESTIONS.
UM, SO COMM, AND WE'RE INCLUDING EX OFFICIO, SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW.
WE'RE, WHO HAS QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AND WANTS TO KICK US OFF.
SO VICE CHAIR HAS HER HAND UP.
YOU WANNA START US OFF? YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
UH, VICE CHAIR HEMP WILL, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE, WE'RE GIVING FIVE MINUTES TO EVERYBODY.
SO, UH, WE'LL START WITH THE VICE CHAIR.
UH, SO MY QUESTION, UM, I'M NOT SURE WHO THIS WOULD BE DIRECTED TO IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEING READY FOR THE INCREASE OF UNITS ON LOTS, UM, THAT BEING SEWER, WATER, ELECTRIC, UM,
[03:00:01]
THE ROADWAYS.AND I REMEMBER THIS QUESTION WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE Q AND A, UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SEE IF THERE WAS ANY MORE DETAIL OR RESPONSE ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD BE HANDLED AS THESE, UH, THE NEW APPLICATIONS COME IN.
ERIC LEAK WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE MEMBERS FROM THE UTILITIES HERE THIS EVENING, BUT WE HAVE ANSWERED A NUMBER OF THOSE QUESTIONS IN THE ONLINE, UH, PORTAL.
UM, SO, SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST RESOURCE FOR THOSE ANSWERS AT THIS POINT.
I'LL GO BACK AND REVIEW THOSE.
BUT, UM, ABOUT THE, THE FLOODING CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP AS WELL, I KNOW THAT, THAT, I THINK THAT WAS ANSWERED IN THE Q AND A, BUT NOT VERY CLEARLY, AT LEAST TO ME.
UM, THE ATLAS 14 AREAS AND, AND SOME OF THE AREAS THAT HAVE LOCALIZED FLOODING.
HOW, HOW WOULD THAT BE INVESTIGATED AS, UM, UH, APPLICATIONS FOR NEW UNITS COME INTO THESE AREAS THAT HAVE THOSE KIND OF ISSUES? WE DON'T HAVE WATERSHED STAFF HERE, BUT WE COULD ADD THAT TO THE, UH, A RESPONSE TO THAT, TO THE, THE PORTAL, AND WE CAN CAPTURE THAT QUESTION.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR NOW.
COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS, UH, GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE NEXT SLOT.
SO I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THIS IS, UH, A STATEMENT WITH A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS WRAPPED UP IN IT.
SO JUST WANNA START OUT BY SAYING, THIS IS A PROCESS THAT I WANT TO BRING MY LIVED EXPERIENCE TO.
AND SO I LOVE WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT THE VALUE OF DIRT VERSUS THE VALUE OF PEOPLE.
AND I BELIEVE IN DENSITY FURTHER, HAVING GROWN UP IN NEW YORK.
AND FURTHERMORE, I BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN MUST HAVE MORE DENSITY TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF ALL ITS RESIDENTS.
I WELCOME COMMENTS ABOUT DENSITY, BUT THEY LEAVE OUT THE HISTORY, THE FACTS, AND THE REALITIES OF THIS CITY.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW BASED ON THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY AND THE FACTS THAT THE HOME INITIATIVE WILL RESULT.
THE FACT IS THAT IT WILL RESULT IN THE THIRD RELOCATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LATINOS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BECAUSE DENSITY WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS HAS ALWAYS EQUALED MARKET PRICE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
THAT IS OUR HISTORY, AND THOSE ARE THE FACTS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE HOME INITIATIVE CAN BE FIXED TO ADDRESS THE FACTS IN HISTORY OF AUSTIN, BECAUSE DENSITY WITH AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS EQUALS EQUITY AND NO FURTHER RELOCATION, FORCED RELOCATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LATINOS.
THIS IS OUR HISTORY, AND THOSE ARE THE FACTS.
SO IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE FACTS AND THE HISTORY IN THE CITY.
THE FIRST RELOCATION WAS IN 1928 UNDER THE CITY PLAN THAT CREATED THE NEGRO DISTRICT.
AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE FORCED TO MOVE TO CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN.
BLACK PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN FREEDMAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS AUSTIN IN CLARKSVILLE, WHEATVILLE, BOLDING CREEK, WHAT IS NOW BOLDING CREEK, AND MANY OTHER PLACES WERE FORCED TO RELOCATE UNDER THE THREAT OF BEING DENIED CITY SERVICES, INCLUDING UTILITIES AND PICKING UP TRASH.
SO THEY MOVED EAST OFTENTIMES HAVING TO SELL THEIR HOMES FOR LESS THAN MARKET VALUE.
CITY LEADERS PROCLAIMED TO SOLVE THE CHALLENGES THAT CONFRONTED THE CITY BECAUSE OF STRICTLY AND SEGREGATION AND JIM CROW.
SO BY PUTTING BLACK PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR AFRICAN AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES IN THE NEGRO DISTRICT, THEY COULD PLACE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER ENTERPRISES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
SO THE CITY WOULD NOT SPEND MONEY DUPLICATING THOSE SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY.
LATINOS AND PARTICULARLY MEXICAN AMERICANS WERE SIMILARLY PUSHED TO THE MARGINS OF THE CITY
[03:05:01]
INTO EAST AUSTIN, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS NOT CONSIDERED A PORTION OF THE CENTRAL CITY.SO THEY WERE PUSHED TO THE MARGINS, AND THEY SUFFERED IN SIMILAR TERMS OF REDLINING AND LACK OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL, LACK OF ACCESS TO CREDIT, AND THE CHALLENGES OF GETTING TO THEIR JOBS ON THE WEST SIDE.
SO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN THE FIRST RELOCATION WERE SACRIFICED TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN COULD IMPLEMENT ITS JIM CROW SEGREGATION POLICIES.
THE SECOND FORCE, LO RELOCATION OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE CAME IN THE 1990S ALSO TO SOLVE ANOTHER PROBLEM FACING THE CITY.
THE DECADE OLD WAR BETWEEN DEVELOPERS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY LED BY SOS THAT KEPT THE CITY IN CONSTANT CHAOS.
PEACE WAS BROKERED IN A DEAL THAT STOPPED OR SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWED DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION IN WEST AUSTIN TO PROTECT BARTON SPRINGS AND THE EDWARDS AQUA RECHARGE ZONE.
EAST AUSTIN WAS THE SACRIFICE.
IT WAS DESIGNATED THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE WITH FAVORABLE REGULATIONS AND INCENTIVES TO DEVELOPERS.
THE VOICES AND INPUT OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND LATINOS LARGELY WERE LEFT OUT OF THAT DEAL.
AND I LIVED THERE AT THE TIME AS A WAY OF CORRECTING URBAN BLIGHT.
BEAUTIFYING, TRASHED OUT LOTS REVIVING BUSINESSES AND CONSTRUCTION OF ABANDONED HOMES.
BUILDING AND HOUSING DENSITY AND ZONING RULES WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS RESULTED IN THE MASS RELOCATION AND DISPLACEMENT THE SECOND TIME OF BLACK PEOPLE.
OVERWHELMINGLY AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES AND LATINOS, PRIMARILY MEXICAN AMERICANS.
RENTERS COULD NOT AFFORD THE NEW COST OF HOUSING.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND CREDIT STILL WERE IMPACTED BY THE POLICIES OF REDLINING.
AS A RESULT, THE VOTING STRENGTH OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WAS DRASTICALLY DIMINISHED.
AND WE SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT TODAY IN WHICH DU ONE DISTRICT, ONE DESIGNATED AS THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT THAT WOULD MAINTAIN BLACK REPRESENTATION, NO LONGER HAS A PLURALITY OF BLACK RESIDENTS, THOUGH STILL IT IS THE AREA OF AUSTIN WITH THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION OF BLACK PEOPLE.
WELL, WENDY, I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, CHAIR COHEN.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, BUT I'M WILLING TO DONATE THE MAJORITY OF MY TIME TO THE FELLOW COMMISSIONER IF I CAN DO THAT.
WELL, WE WEREN'T, THAT'S NOT IN OUR RULES.
WE WEREN'T DONATING TIME, QUESTION, TIME.
SO I, UH, VERY POWERFUL COMMENTS.
CAN YOU WRAP UP IN 30 SECONDS? UM, YEAH.
UH, WELL, I, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW THIS PROCESS WORKED.
'CAUSE I COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY EDITED MYSELF, BUT NO, GO AHEAD.
BUT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE SPEAKING ON THESE TOPICS WITH MISINFORMATION AND ERRONEOUS INFORMATION.
AND I THINK IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE CORRECT FACTS, THE CORRECT HISTORY, AND THE CORRECT CONTEXT.
SO, WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL TOOLS THAT RECOGNIZE AUSTIN'S PAST REDLINING PRACTICES THAT LEFT MANY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE TODAY, FAR LESS RESOURCED THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS, WITHOUT THE RIGHT TO RETURN AND WITHOUT INCENTIVES WITH DEVELOPERS DEDICATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SUCH AS FOUNDATION, COMMUNITIES, HABITAT, THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHERS, WITHOUT A DISCUSSION OR ANALYSIS OF THE VOTING STRENGTH AND POLITICAL IMPACT OF NEW LAND USE PLANS, WE WILL NO DOUBT ENABLE THE THIRD MASSIVE RELOCATION OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
UH, WE NEED TO STOP THERE, BUT THANK YOU.
UM, OKAY, SO YES, COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE NOT DONATING TIME, DONATING TIME ON THE Q AND A, UM, THAT, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE NEXT.
SO, ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WEREN'T ON THE WORKING GROUP, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO FIRST 'CAUSE YOU DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO STAFF.
SO, COMMISSIONER VETA RAMIREZ, DO YOU HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS READY? OKAY.
WE'LL GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT I NEED FIVE MINUTES.
MY QUESTION IS VERY SIMILAR TO MY SHEER HEMPEL, UM, ABOUT UTILITIES, BUT MINE IS MORE ABOUT THE, AND THE WILDFIRE INTERFACE THAT, AND THAT WAS ALSO IN THE Q AND A, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT ANSWERED FROM FIRE.
AND I SEE SOMEBODY THAT LOOKS LIKE THEY REPRESENT FIRE BACK THERE.
[03:10:01]
THE FIRE MARSHAL.UH, SORRY, MY QUESTION IS ABOUT, UH, THE IMPACTS THAT YOU WOULD FORESEE FROM THIS, FROM, YOU KNOW, THE AMENDMENT AND, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED WITHIN IT, AND ANY, YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK YOU HAVE OR SPECIFICALLY TO THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE OR YES.
OR ANY, UM, CHALLENGES, CHALLENGES YOU FORESEE WITH PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GET OUT IN CASE OF A FIRE OR, 'CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS IS THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND, AND THIS MIGHT, YOU KNOW, ENDANGER THEM IN SOME WAY.
SO, UH, A LOT OF WHAT'S BEING CONTEMPLATED WOULD NOT BE PERMISSIBLE IN THE WWE, IN THE, UH, IN THE WWE ZONES BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION LIMITATIONS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THE, THE INTENT OF THE, UH, CODE IS TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRE, PARTICULARLY STRUCTURE TO STRUCTURE.
SO IF YOU'RE GONNA PUT STRUCTURES CLOSER TOGETHER, THAT RUNS CONTRARY TO THE INTENT OF, OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE UI CODE.
UH, AS FAR AS IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT CLASSIFIED AS THE WE, WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS, UH, THAT I THINK MANY OF WHICH CAN BE ADDRESSED.
BUT IT'S JUST THE TYPICAL, UM, ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS, ACCESS, UH, TO, UM, STRUCTURES.
AND WE DEAL THAT WITH, WITH THAT ON IN OUR CURRENT PLANNING PROCESS.
AND, AND WE SEEK ALTERNATIVES OF HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE.
UH, WE HAVE ALTERNATIVES THAT ALLOW FOR RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS THAT WILL OFFSET A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE.
I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT THAT WAS ALL I HAD.
CHIEF, CAN YOU IDENTIFY WHAT WWE IS? THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE.
I SHOULD'VE SAID IT AGAIN AND I MENTIONED IT TOO, BUT, YEP.
AND ACTUALLY, I REMEMBERED ONE MORE QUESTION I HAVE FOR STAFF IF I STILL HAVE TIME.
AND THIS IS FOR YOU, MS. LEAK, AND IT'S ABOUT DEEDED RESTRICTIONS AND HOA, AND I'D READ THIS IN THE Q AND A, BUT JUST WANTED TO KIND OF SAY IT OUT LOUD THAT THESE AMENDMENTS WOULDN'T NECESSARILY IMPACT DEEDED RESTRICTIONS OR HOAS THAT THOSE KIND OF SUPERSEDE BECAUSE THEY RUN WITH THE LAND OR THEY HAVE THEIR PRIVATE AGREEMENTS.
SO CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? SURE.
UM, SO DEEDED RESTRICTIONS ARE PRIVATE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN PARTIES.
UM, AND THE, THE CITY IS NOT INVOLVED IN, UM, REGULATING THOSE, UM, AGREEMENTS, BUT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO, TO HOLD.
AND ON OUR DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, WE DO HAVE QUESTION.
WE DO HAVE A QUESTION THAT SAYS, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT ANY RESTRICTIONS THAT MAY APPLY TO THIS PROPERTY? UM, AND KNOW THAT, UH, THAT, THAT THEY MAY IMPACT WHAT YOU CAN BUILD ON YOUR PROPERTY.
SORRY, ONE MORE QUESTION ABOUT, SO HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, THEY HAVE SIMILAR TYPES OF REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY ALSO SUPERSEDE THE ZONING OR THE WAY THAT YOU CAN BUILD ON YOUR PROPERTY.
TRISH LINK WITH THE LAW, THE LAW DEPARTMENT, IF AN HOA HAS PROVISIONS THAT LIMIT HOW MANY UNITS THEY CAN HAVE ON A PROPERTY, THEN THAT WOULD CONTROL OVER OUR ZONING REGULATIONS.
UH, LET ME, I'M LOOKING AT, UH, THE VIRTUAL COMMISSIONERS.
EITHER OF YOU READY? COMMISSIONER MUSH? TAYLOR, YOU? NO, NOT YET.
COMMISSIONER COHEN HAD A QUESTION.
WHY DON'T WE JUST GO OVER COMMISSIONER COHEN, DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR I I I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION, UH, FOR FIRE PREVENTION, IF YOU WANNA COME BACK UP.
I'M SAD WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE FROM EMS HERE, SO TO, NOT TO GET TOO DEEP IN THE WEEDS, BUT IS THERE ANY CONCERN ABOUT, LIKE, SAY, GETTING A 75 FOOT QUINT DOWN A FLAG LOT DRIVE TO AN EDU, THAT'S THE THIRD UNIT ON THE BACKSIDE OF A BIG HOUSE? WELL, SO WE'RE TYPICALLY NOT GONNA PULL A FIRETRUCK DOWN A NARROW DRIVEWAY.
IT'S MORE ABOUT THE HOSE, UH, LENGTH.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DEAL ON THIS, DEAL WITH THIS RIGHT NOW, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BUILD A REALLY LARGE HOUSE IN AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT MIGHT TRIGGER A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO SPRINKLE, PUT, UH, RESIDENTIAL
[03:15:01]
SPRINKLERS, FIRE SPRINKLERS IN THAT HOUSE.AND SIMILARLY, IF THERE ARE ACCESS ISSUES OR OTHER THINGS THAT CAN'T BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE OF THE LOT CONFIGURATION, THAT MIGHT ALSO TRIGGER, UH, A REQUIREMENT THAT THE ONE OF THE D ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNITS BE, UH,
BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS THE LENGTH THAT WE WOULD STRETCH A HOSE FROM THE STREET A A ARE THERE ANY PROVISIONS THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD HELP ADDRESS THIS? OR IS THAT MAYBE SOMETHING THIS BOARD COULD HELP WRITE IN? THERE ARE PROVISIONS IN THE CODE, YES.
WHEN THERE'S THREE OR MORE STRUCTURES ON A SINGLE LOT.
MM-HMM,
UM, ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS? SURE.
IT'S REALLY A QUESTION FOR THE MARSHALL.
AND THEN A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
SO MY QUESTION IS, YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT MINIMUM DISTANCE IN WHICH, UM, STRUCTURES CAN BE SEPARATED BY THE MINIMUM? THAT ACTUALLY IS PROBABLY, AND THAT, WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S A BETTER QUESTION, UH, FOR THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL, BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON VARIABLES.
BUT, UM, 10 FEET IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, IN MOST CASES.
AND THAT IF, IF IT'S LESS THAN 10 FEET, THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONSIDER THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF ALL THE UNITS IN THE AGGREGATE.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WOULD CONSIDER TO BE ONE LARGE STRUCTURE IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SEPARATION BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL UNITS.
AND THEN I GUESS IF THERE'S MORE, UM, WE'RE GOOD.
AND THEN FOR STAFF IN THE, UM, IN HOME, ARE THE PROVISIONS MADE FOR THAT? ARE THERE ANY ADJUSTMENTS MADE FOR THAT? LIKE IF THERE'S SOMETHING FOR TINY HOUSE, SOMETHING FOR DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, FOURPLEXES, IS THERE LIKE A SLIDING SCALE ON THAT? SO THE STRUCTURES WOULD BASICALLY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE BUILDING CODE REGULATIONS.
SO, UM, SO THEY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE ZONING REGULATIONS AND ALSO THE BUILDING CODE REGULATIONS.
SO IT WOULD SPECIFY THE BUILDING CODE REGULATIONS WOULD SPECIFY THE, THE, AND MAYBE, AND MAYBE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS, UM, WOULD SPECIFY THE POTENTIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN UNITS.
SO I GUESS WHAT, UM, I'M, I'M TRYING TO GET TO JUST GO AHEAD AND SAY THIS.
THERE'S NOT AN IN RUN AROUND IT.
LIKE WE WON'T HAVE STRUCTURES FOUR FEET APART, LIKE THERE'S NO LOOPHOLE.
'CAUSE I HAVEN'T READ A WHOLE CODE AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IF YOU BUILD IT WITH THIS DOOR, NO CLOSET, NO WINDOW, THEN YOU CAN FILL IN THE BLANK.
WELL, I'M GONNA LET THEM SPEAK TO THAT.
I'M THE, UH, BUILDING OFFICIAL, UH, NO, THERE'S NO LOOPHOLES.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO SACRIFICE WINDOWS OR SOMETHING ELSE IF YOU WENT INSIDE SIX FEET.
UH, SO IT'S, IT WOULD BE BASED ON THE EXTERIOR WALLS, FIRE RESISTANCE RATED CONSTRUCTION ON HOW FAR THEY GOTTA BE SEPARATED, WHICH IS MANDATED IN CHAPTER THREE OF THE IRC.
YOU HAVE, ARE YOU READY? I, I, UM, SORRY, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I WANNA MAKE JUST A VERY QUICK COMMENT, WHICH IS, UM, I THINK IT WAS, UH, UM, NOTED THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD IF EMS COULD BE HERE AS WELL TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
AND I JUST WANNA, UM, REMIND THE COMMISSIONERS THAT I THINK SOME OF THEM HAVE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM EMS AND EMS SENT A VERY SPECIFIC ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES.
AND IF ANYONE DIDN'T GET IT, UM, I'LL HAPPILY FORWARD, UM, THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M ALSO HAPPY TO, UM, SHARE IT WITH ANYONE THAT NEEDS IT.
BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR THAT EMS HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO ANSWER ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS IN THAT REGARD.
OH, COMMISSIONER COHEN, CHAIR COHEN C CAN I JUST QUICK FOLLOW UP FOR, FOR TRUSTEE HUNTER? UH, NO.
AREN'T I THE LOOP POLL? SO, NO, I'M SORRY.
UH, COMMISSIONER COHEN, I'LL JUST BE HONEST BECAUSE WE LAID OUT THE RULES FOR THIS MEETING EARLIER ON.
JUST TO BE FAIR TO EVERYBODY, WE DO NEED TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THEM.
YEAH, IT'S, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTE BLOCK.
UH, HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS READY, ASK THEM.
AND WE NEED, WE NEED TO GET, UH, WE NEED TO GET OVER TO THE AMENDMENTS.
IS THERE, IS THERE ANY INTEREST ON THIS COMMISSION TO VOTE TO CHANGE THAT? JUST BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T READY AND THEY MIGHT WANNA COME BACK TO QUESTIONS.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN CHANGING THAT.
SO YOU DEFINITELY SOME SOMEBODY CAN MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE.
[03:20:01]
CHANGE THAT.BUT LET ME JUST, AS THE CHAIR, I'M GONNA COMMENT THAT
UM, SO PREPAREDNESS IS IMPORTANT AND, UM, I WOULD'VE REALLY LIKED IF PEOPLE HAD THEIR QUESTIONS READY, UM, TO GO, UH, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WE'RE SITTING HERE IN DEAD AIRSPACE WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, THAT KIND OF BOTHERS ME A LITTLE.
INDICATED THAT I WAS READY FOR QUESTIONS,
LET'S LET THE F 'CAUSE IF WE BURN AN HOUR, UH, WITH THIS, UH, BUT I, I HEAR PEOPLE ARE READY.
BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS, LET'S LET THE PEOPLE THAT ARE READY TO GO AND THEN LET'S ENTERTAIN AND CHANGE OUR RULES.
COMMISSIONER HAYNES, THEY'RE SPEAKING.
ALRIGHT, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, AS YOU KNOW, I WAS ON THE WORK GROUP SIDE, THE, THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING, UM, SOME OF MY QUESTION ANSWERED.
SO I'M GONNA, UH, SINCE WE'RE NOT DONATING TIME, I AM, UH, IT'S A POOR, IT'S A POOR REPRESENTATION.
BUT PRETEND MY VOICE IS COMMISSIONER PHILLIPS'S VOICE.
UM, AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT, I'M LOOKING FOR THE GOOD.
THE HOME INITIATIVE IS NEITHER PERFECT NOR GOOD, NOR FAIR, NOR EQUITABLE.
THE COMPONENT, UH, THE HOME INITIATIVE HAS NO AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS OR COMPONENTS.
WHAT'S TO BECOME OF COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT HOA ARE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, WHICH THE VAST MAJORITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE, UH, EASTERN CRESCENT LACK, WILL THIS LIKE OTHER LAND USE, UH, PLANS STARTING IN 1928 ALSO BE CARRIED ON THE BACKS OF, OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.
HOW IS IT THAT THE CITY HAS COME TO THE POINT IN CRAFTING A NEW LAND USE PLAN WITHOUT PRIORITIZING ISSUES OF FORCED DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMATIC RACISM IN EXCESS TO CAPITAL AND CREDIT VOTING RIGHTS, THE RIGHT OF RETURN AND, AND OUR OWN HISTORY.
SOME IN THE CITY ARE SAYING THAT AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER TOOLS AIMED AT, UH, INFUSING EQUITY ACROSS RACIAL AND INCOME LINES WILL HAPPEN ON THE BACK END.
THAT CANNOT BE THE CASE, NOT THIS TIME.
THESE DISCUSSIONS NEED TO BE ON THE FRONT END.
SO WE WON'T FACE ANOTHER FUTURE IN AUSTIN, WHICH DENSITY, WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS EQUALS, UH, EQUALS MARKET PRICED HOUSING WHERE DENSITY WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS LEADS TO, UH, THE INTENDED OR, OR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF A THIRD RELOCATION OF BRACKEN BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.
MR. HAYNES, DO YOU WANNA USE YOUR REMAINING TIME FOR ANY Q AND A? UH, I'LL, I, UH, OH, I CAN'T RESERVE THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME.
UM, UH, SINCE MS. LEAK IS THERE, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION.
UM, AND, AND IT, IT MAY BE A QUESTION FOR LAW.
UM, SO, UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED, UM, I GOT A, A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANSWER IN, BUT, UM, UH, IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, UM, CHAPTER 5 12, 1 55, I BELIEVE, UH, THERE ARE PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW CERTAIN CITIES, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THE, THE BILL WAS DRAFTED AND IT WAS, IT'S A LOCAL BILL AND IT, SO IT ALLOWS CITY OF HOUSTON AND CITY OF DALLAS TO, UH, ENFORCE DEEDED RESTRICTIONS.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE LOCAL DEVELOP OR IN THE, UM, UH, IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE LGC THAT PREVENTS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, FROM ADOPTING SOME OF THOSE SAME PROVISIONS BY RESOLUTION FOR, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN? UH, TRISH LINK.
TRISH LINK AGAIN, WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
SO THE WAY THE STATE LAW IS WRITTEN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN POPULATION OR YOU DON'T HAVE ZONING ORDINANCES.
SO IN ORDER TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE UNDER THAT PARTICULAR SUBCHAPTER OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE ZONING ORDINANCES.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOESN'T FIT IN THE BRACKET FOR THAT PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
[03:25:01]
THERE ANYTHING IN SUB CHAPTER F OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE? UM, I THINK IT'S TWO 12, UH, THAT PREVENTS THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM ADOPTING SIMILAR REGULATIONS AT THE ORDINANCE LEVEL.THE SUB CHAPTER THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING IN TOTAL DOES NOT APPLY TO THE CITY.
SO THE CITY'S OPTIONS ARE, I'M GONNA TAKE BACK MY TIME.
I'M GONNA ASK, UH, UH, I'M TRYING TO ASK A VERY SPECIFIC, IS THERE ANYTHING, OKAY, LET ME, LET ME BROADEN IT OUT.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN CHAPTER TWO 12 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE THAT PREVENTS THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE THAT HAS SIMILAR LANGUAGE AND ENFORCING DEED RESTRICTIONS? THIS ONE MOMENT, I'M NOT ASKING WHETHER THAT PROVISION OF THE LOCAL DEVELOP OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE APPLIES TO AUSTIN.
I'M ASKING IF AUSTIN CAN'T ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT DOES SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.
I GUESS I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.
DEED RESTRICTIONS ENFORCE DEEDED RESTRICTIONS.
THE STATE LAW SAYS THAT CITIES HAVE ZONING POWERS, AND HERE'S HOW YOU IMPLEMENT THAT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ZONING POWERS OR YOU HAVE A CERTAIN POPULATION THRESHOLD, THEN YOU CAN ENFORCE DEEDED RESTRICTIONS.
THERE WOULD BE LEGAL ISSUES THAT I CANNOT GET INTO IN THIS SPACE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WOULD, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE ZONING ORDINANCES, WE DON'T FIT INTO THAT SUBCHAPTER.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME IS, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT SAYS THAT WE CAN'T DO IT AND THERE ARE OTHER LEGAL ISSUES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE THAT WOULD LIKELY PREVENT US FROM DOING THAT.
UM, WHO'S NEXT? COMMISSIONER WOODS.
MR. MAXWELL? UH, YEAH, I HAVE A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS ABOUT FROM STAFF ABOUT TINY HOMES IF ANYBODY WANTS TO
UM, SO I THINK, UH, PROBABLY THE BEST THING FOR US TO JUST REVIEW, 'CAUSE I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON IT, UM, BRIEFLY, MS. LEAK IS JUST REGARDING THE USE AND HOW THAT'S GONNA LOOK IN TERMS OF TINY HOMES IN TWO AND THREE UNITS.
AND IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE, THE, UM, USE OF THAT AND I CAN ASK A MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION IF THAT'S HELPFUL.
SO, UM, ESSENTIALLY WHEN THE, I THINK THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THIS ORDINANCE, WHICH MOST PEOPLE MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH OR WHAT THEY SAW IN THEIR NICE LITTLE PURPLE SHEETS, UM, INDICATED THE TINY HOMES WERE A SPECIFIC SIZE, BUT MAYBE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW TINY HOMES WOULD BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE HOME ACT.
AND I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CLARIFICATION REGARD THAT, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD SHARE SOME OF THOSE DETAILS.
UM, SO WHAT I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS, UH, A TINY HOME IS CONSIDERED A UNIT, UM, PER THIS, THIS ORDINANCE.
SO BASICALLY, UM, WHEN IT SAYS YOU COULD HAVE TWO UNITS ON A LOT OR THREE UNITS ON A LOT, IF, IF YOU HAD A TINY HOME, THEY WOULD COUNT AS ONE OF THOSE UNITS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? YES.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, HOW WOULD THEY INTERACT WITH OTHER THINGS LIKE TRUE ORDINANCES, PREVIOUS COVER, FAR, ALL OF THAT? UH, THEY, THEY WOULD COUNT TOWARDS THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, UM, TOWARD THE FAR, ET CETERA.
SO THEY WOULD JUST, THEY WOULD COUNT LIKE ANY OTHER DWELLING UNIT.
UM, THEY JUST HAVE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CODE BUILDING CODE REGULATIONS.
AND PERHAPS IF OUR BUILDING INSPECTOR WOULD CARE TO SPEAK TO THE, THE CODE RELATED TO TINY HOMES, THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
UH, THERE'S A SPECIFIC APPENDIX IN THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE THAT GIVES THEM ALLOWANCES FOR TINY HOMES, 400 SQUARE FEET.
IT ALLOWS 'EM TO HAVE A LOFT AS LONG AS THEY HAVE EGRESS, UH, ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS STILL APPLY.
THE REST OF THE RESIDENTIAL CODE STILL APPLIES TO A TINY HOME, BUT IT JUST ALLOWS YOU TO BASICALLY SHRINK IT WITH, WITH SOME CONCESSIONS.
AND JUST ONE MORE CLARIFICATION.
WE'RE EXPECTING THAT THAT TINY HOMES IN THE FINAL ORDINANCE WILL BE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE UNITS JUST TO CONFIRM, SO THAT IF WE SAY HAD TWO UNITS, THE THIRD UNIT COULD BE ASSIGNED AT HOME AND IT WOULD COUNT TO ALL OF THE NEW REGULATIONS WE'RE CONSIDERING.
MR. CHAIR, POINT OF INFORMATION PLEASE, UH, POINT OF INFORMATION.
IS THE TINY HOME GOING TO BE DEFINED IN THE 25 1 21 DEFINITIONS OR, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME REFERENCE TO THAT DURING
[03:30:01]
THE INITIAL BRIEFING.I'LL LET IT SEEMS, UH, RELATED TO WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL IS ASKING.
SO DO YOU HAVE, DO WE HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT ONE WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC? YES, WE WE'RE FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT'S WHERE THE DEFINITION WILL GO, BUT, BUT WE'RE STILL DRAFTING THE FINAL ORDINANCE.
SO COMMISSIONER, UH, HOWARD HAD HIS HEAD.
COMMISSIONER HOWARD, ARE YOU READY? YES.
SO THIS IS FOR MS. LEAK AS WELL, MAYBE OTHER STAFF.
SO I MEAN, OTHER THAN OBVIOUSLY THE IDEA OF CREATING MORE DENSITY, WHICH OBVIOUSLY I IDEALLY WOULD LEAD TO MORE, GREATER AFFORDABILITY, UM, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THAT LIKELY, THAT THAT MAY IN FACT BE THE CASE.
ARE THERE, IS THE CITY CONTEMPLATING OTHER WAYS OF TRYING TO LAYER THIS ORDINANCE WITH OTHER TYPES OF INCENTIVES MAYBE THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONTEMPLATED OR NOT, OR IN, OR THAT ARE NOT IN PLACE TO HELP SORT OF FURTHER THE GOAL OF TRYING TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABILITY AS PROPOSED.
THERE ARE NOT ANY, UH, AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS OR INCENTIVES IN, IN THE CURRENTLY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
ARE YOU ALL WORKING ON ANYTHING OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN SORT OF TOSSED AROUND OR, UH, THE, THE, I I GUESS THE ONLY THING THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED HERE TONIGHT IS, UH, A PRESERVATION INCENTIVE, BUT, UM, BUT OTHERWISE THERE IS, THERE ARE NOT ANY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ALONG THOSE LINES.
UM, THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.
I THINK I HEARD THAT'S, YOU'RE, YOU'RE FINISHED FOR NOW? YES.
UH, AND COMMISSIONER AL, DID YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? YES.
UM, I, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER, UH, PHILLIPS FOR HER COMMENTS AND ALSO COMMISSIONER HAYNES FOR SUPPORTING THOSE COMMENTS AND, AND, UM, COHEN FOR SUPPORTING THOSE COMMENTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIVISION IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW AND IT WOULD BE A LOT NICER TO SEE, UH, WE CAN DO IT VERSUS IN US VERSUS THEM MENTALITY.
I TOOK A LOT OF NOTES FROM OUR OCTOBER 26TH HEARING AND THERE WERE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT.
UM, THERE WERE SOME TONIGHT AS WELL, AND I MIGHT PROPOSE SOME THINGS LATER WHEN WE GET INTO OUR AMENDMENTS.
BUT LET ME, LET ME ASK FEW QUESTIONS HERE, UM, ABOUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ORGANIZE THIS START, SORRY.
ON, I GUESS WHEN WE HAVE, UM, SOMEBODY FROM FIRE HERE, I, I'M HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING HOW, AND THIS MAY BE A CITY STAFF QUESTION VERSUS FIRE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE OPTION TO HAVE UNITS.
THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS HOME THING, I CAN'T UNPACK IT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT GROUP HOUSING.
AND SO HOW DOES FIRE AND SAFETY COME INTO THAT? WE'VE GOT POSSIBLE ATTACHED ADUS ADJACENT LIVING STRUCTURES AND THAT'S GONNA BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES.
AND THEN WE HAVE COMPLETELY STRUCTURALLY SEPARATE UNITS AND THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES.
I AM HAVING TROUBLE GETTING MY HEAD AROUND THAT AND HOW ALL OF THAT SEPARATES AND WORKS
AND I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SO
I'LL TAKE THAT
I THINK THAT THE SIMPLEST ANSWER IS THAT THE SPECIFIC APPLICABILITY WOULD BE TRIGGERED BY WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCE IS.
SO IF IT WERE A GROUP HOME OR IF THERE WERE MINIMAL SEPARATION DISTANCES OR WHATEVER, WE WOULD JUST REFER BACK TO THE SAME CODES THAT WE USE TODAY.
UM, AND, AND THOSE WOULD STILL BE APPLICABLE EVEN THOUGH IT'S JUST A, A DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENT OF HOUSING ON A SINGLE LOT.
UH, ANY OF THE TRIGGERS THAT WOULD NORMALLY, UM, APPLY WOULD STILL APPLY.
AND SO, 'CAUSE THAT'S GONNA COME INTO THINGS ABOUT SHARED WALLS AND WHERE KITCHENS ARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO BUILD UNDER ONE, LET'S SAY YOU'RE TRYING TO SPLIT YOUR HOUSE INTO TWO TOWN HOMES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
[03:35:01]
THAT SHARE A WALL, RIGHT? SO IF YOU, IF YOU BUILD A, A SEPARATION WALL AND IT HAS A A, A FIRE RATING, A ONE HOUR OR TWO HOUR, THREE HOUR, THEN THAT BASICALLY GIVES YOU CREDIT TO DO OTHER THINGS.SO IF YOU HAVE, UM, A REINFORCED WALL HERE, THEN YOU, UM, ADJACENT TO IT, YOU CAN HAVE SOMETHING CLOSER BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT, UH, REINFORCEMENT SO TO SPEAK.
I, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS CAME UP ON THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS AND SO IF WE CHANGE THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF, UM, FOLKS RENTING, LEASING BY THE BEDROOM IN A HOME, ARE WE GONNA GET THE SAME FIRE PROTECTIONS THAT YOU GET IN MULTIFAMILY OR A WHAT, WHAT WOULD NOW BE A REGISTERED CO-OP GROUP HOUSING HOME? LIKE DO WE HAVE SOME PITFALLS HERE THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT CAREFULLY ENOUGH FOR SAFETY, UM, WITH THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS? UM, CHAIR, I'M SORRY.
COULD WE PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND EXTEND THE TIME TO MIDNIGHT? THAT'S
UH, ANY OPPOSITION TO THE MIDNIGHT? SO JUST RAISE YOUR HAND, WE'LL COUNT YOU.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER AND THANK YOU STAFF.
UH, WITH THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS, IT WOULD BRING IN OTHER QUESTIONS AS FAR AS THE TECHNICAL CODES ARE CONCERNED IF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WAS CHANGED AND ALLOWED MORE UNRELATED PEOPLE TO LIVE TOGETHER, THAT'S ONE THING.
THE TECHNICAL CODE HAS CERTAIN STANDARDS IN IT AS WELL.
SO THE IRC IS DEVELOPED FOR SINK ONE IN TWO FAMILY DWELLINGS