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IT'S APRIL 11TH, 2024, AND IT'S 9:00 AM UH, WE ARE MEETING IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN THE AUSTIN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS PRESENT.
THIS IS A JOINT MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I'M PLEASED, UH, AS TO WELCOME THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO BE WITH US, UH, DURING THIS JOINT MEETING.
[9:00 AM – City Council Convenes]
CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 9:00 AM AND I'M PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE VICE CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION OF ZAZA, UH, TO, UH, MAKE COMMENTS AND CALL TO ORDER THE PLANNING COMMISSION.[9:00 AM – Planning Commission Convenes]
THE QUORUM OF PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ORDER AT NINE 1:00 AM ON THURSDAY, APRIL 11TH, 2024 AT THE AUSTIN CITY, UH, COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 301 WEST SECOND STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS.UH, AND AGAIN, I WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE.
[Conduct a public hearing to receive public comment on proposed amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development) that would revise regulations that apply to lots with one housing unit; create regulations that allow properties to be used for charging electric vehicles; create regulations, including a density bonus program that modifies height and compatibility in exchange for community benefits, for properties that are located within a half mile of the planned Phase 1 Light Rail and Priority Extensions (also known as the Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) overlay); revise regulations that apply to flag lots and small lots; and revise height, building placement, and other related regulations that apply to property and are in addition to the base zoning regulations (also known as Compatibility Standards).]
A JOINT HEARING AND IT'S A JOINT HEARING TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING LAND USE AMENDMENTS THAT THAT CODE AMENDMENTS THAT THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED BY BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL.THIS IS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO ALLOW FOR BU ROBUST PUBLIC INPUT AND ALLOW THOSE RECOMMENDING POLICY AND THOSE MAKING THE POLICY TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO HEAR COMMENTS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET AGAIN ON APRIL 23RD AND APRIL 30TH.
AT THOSE TIMES, THERE WILL BE THE CHANCE FOR FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AND, AND INPUT THAT THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE.
IF THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS READY AT THAT TIME, IT WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON RECOMMENDATIONS THAT IT WILL MAKE TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
AT THAT TIME, THE CITY COUNCIL WE'RE SCHEDULED TO MEET ON MAY 16TH.
AGAIN, IF WE'RE READY, WE'LL BE POSTED TO VOTE AT THAT TIME.
PRIOR TO THAT, WE WILL HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THIS ITEM ON TUESDAY, MAY 14TH, NOT ONLY WILL WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO DISCUSS AND ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF STAFF, BUT THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE USE THAT DATE LIKE WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST TO LAY OUT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL MIGHT PROPOSE AT THE MAY 16TH COUNCIL MEETING.
IT, IT'LL BE LIKE WE, WE DID, LIKE I SAID, UH, LAST DECEMBER OR IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS ARE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ANSWERS FROM STAFF.
BY CONTACTING KATIE POWERS VIA EMAIL RESPONSES WILL BE SHARED WITH ALL OF THE COUNCIL AND ALL THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AS SOON AS THOSE RESPONSES ARE FINALIZED, THE PUBLIC, YOU'RE ABLE TO ACCESS SUBMITTED QUESTIONS AND THE STAFF RESPONSES BY GOING TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE THAT'S, UH, LISTED AT THE BOTTOM.
I'M, I'M TOLD IT'S GONNA BE LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, UH, BY A TXN, AND IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I, I ANNOUNCE IT TO EVERYBODY, UM, MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY.
THIS IS TO HELP US, UH, AND HELP THE PUBLIC BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS THOUGHT PROCESS AND CONSIDERATION TODAY.
THE RUN OF THE SHOW IS GOING TO BE THIS WAY.
FIRST, UH, WE WILL CALL TO ORDER, UH, THE HEARINGS, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, WE'LL HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM CITY STAFF ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
UH, IF THE COMMISSIONERS OR COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BRIEF CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, THEY'LL ASK THEM AFTER, AFTER THAT PRESENTATION, BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WISHING TO BE HEARD AND DISCUSS, UH, THIS ITEM, AND, AND THEN THEY'RE JUST GONNA BE ASKING CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL USE THE Q AND A PROCESS THAT I JUST MENTIONED AS A WAY TO GET, UH, MORE DETAILED ANSWERS.
WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE WISHING TO SPEAK.
EACH PERSON WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
PEOPLE MAY DONATE TIME TO SOMEONE SO THAT A SINGLE SPEAKER CAN SPEAK UP TO SIX MINUTES.
IF YOU'RE DONATING TIME, PLEASE SEE THE CITY CLERK SO THAT YOU CAN COMPLETE A TIME DONATION FORM IN ADVANCE, AND THE DONORS MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THE TIME THE, THE PERSON TO WHOM THEY'RE DONATING TIME IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING DUE TO THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY, WE MAY NEED AN OVERFLOW ROOM FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THAT.
A TXN WILL BE STREAMING FROM THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM RIGHT ACROSS THE ATRIUM HERE, AND PEOPLE CAN GO THERE AND, AND BE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALONG AS WELL.
SPEAKERS WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK THE ORDER OF UPCOMING SPEAKERS AT THE KIOSK OUTSIDE THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
UH, I'LL ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO BE PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH THE SYSTEM, UH, WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE,
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BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO, TO STAY UP TO SPEED AND, AND KNOW WHERE YOU ARE IN THE ROTATION BASED UPON THOSE KIOSKS.I ALSO ASK THAT PLEASE TRY TO STAY WITHIN THE TWO MINUTES, UH, THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN OUT OF RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO ARE WISHING TO SPEAK, BUT THEY MAY BE FOLLOWING YOU.
IN ORDER FOR US TO REMAIN EFFICIENT AND RESPECTFUL OF TIME, WE'VE SET UP TWO PODIUMS AND YOU CAN SEE THE TWO PODIUMS, UH, IN FRONT OF US HERE.
THOSE ARE FOR THE SPEAKERS TO USE.
WE'LL ASK YOU TO COME DOWN TOWARD THE FRONT SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY TO SPEAK, AND PLEASE JUST ALTERNATE, UH, BETWEEN THE TWO PODIUMS. WHEN A SPEAKER'S FINISHED, THEN THE OTHER SPEAKER WILL BE IN A POSITION TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN.
UM, AND LIKE I SAY, THE THERE ARE SEATS DOWN FRONT THAT WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL UTILIZE SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UM, UH, MOVE EFFICIENTLY AND AND RESPECT YOUR TIME.
THERE WILL NOT BE A VOTE, UH, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ONLY.
SO WITH THAT, UH, MEMBERS, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS JOINT MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO VERONICA CINIO, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION.
OH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
UM, MAYOR, DID I HEAR CORRECTLY THAT WE WON'T BE, UM, TAKING THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION AS A COUNCIL TILL MAY 14TH AND THEN BE VOTING ON MAY 16TH? WELL, THAT IS THE WAY THE CURRENT SCHEDULE, AS YOU KNOW, WAS ORIGINALLY SET OUT.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IT UP AT OTHER TIMES, BUT THAT'S THE CURRENT SCHEDULE.
I'LL JUST WANNA REGISTER THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT'S ENOUGH TIME FOR SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE TO AIR AMENDMENTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT, UM, PEOPLE MAY BE BRINGING FORWARD FOR THE COMMUNITY OR EVEN FOR US AS COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO, UM, DIGEST THE MATERIAL SO THAT, UM, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT HAVING SOME TIME WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS, UM, BEFORE MAY 14TH SO THAT THINGS CAN BE, UM, DAYLIGHTED.
UM, IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO SEE WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE OF SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE BRINGS FORWARD, UM, THAT QUICKLY.
AND, UM, THIS IS A SERIES OF LARGE STEPS AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, NUANCES ACROSS ALL OF THEM.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BUILD IN SOME TIME FOR US TO HAVE DISCUSSION AND TO AIR WHAT, WHAT MAY BE AMENDMENTS THAT PEOPLE MAY BE BRINGING.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME DEDICATED TIME ON A FUTURE COUNCIL WORK SESSION SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THIS, UM, PRIOR TO TAKING THAT VOTE, IF THAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT ROUTE TO TAKE.
WELL, HERE IN THE REQUEST, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK AT HOW, HOW WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO BE A ROBUST DISCUSSION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE BEGIN? THANK YOU BOTH, UH, MR. SENIO, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
MAYOR, PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, VERONICA SIO, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
WE'RE HOLDING A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT A PACKAGE OF CODE AMENDMENTS THAT SUPPORT TRANSIT, HOUSING CAPACITY, AND THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES ENABLE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE PROPOSED PROJECT CONNECT PHASE ONE LIGHT RAIL UPDATE, COMPATIBILITY, COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS CITYWIDE ALLOW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO BE BUILT ON SMALLER LOTS AND ALLOW PROPERTIES TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARGING ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
COLLECTIVELY, THEY WILL UNLOCK OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE HOUSING, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND ALONG OUR BUSIEST TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
THE REGULATIONS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES CHARGING SITES WILL HELP MAKE THIS GREEN MOBILITY OPTION MORE AVAILABLE TO ALL AUSTINITES, BUT IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTS THE COUNCILS OTHER MOBILITY AND LAND USE GOALS.
THESE CODE AMENDMENTS WILL ALSO HELP US MORE BE MORE COMPETITIVE WHEN APPLYING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROGRAM.
FINALLY, THESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY YEARS OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AND THEY WERE REQUESTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER CAREFUL DELIBERATION.
STAFF HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO DEVELOP THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND I THANK THEM FOR THAT.
WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT THEM TO YOU TODAY, TO YOU AND TO THE COMMUNITY TODAY.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO ANDREA BATES, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR, MAYOR PROM, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
I AM ANDREA BATES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND I'M JOINED BY FOUR COLLEAGUES WHO WILL BE PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, ERIC THOMAS, LAURA KEATING, JONATHAN LEE AND WARNER COOK.
THE FOUR CODE AMENDMENTS WE'LL BE DESCRIBING TODAY ARE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING USE HOME PHASE TWO, WHICH IS SMALLER LOT SIZES FOR ONE UNIT, CITYWIDE COMPATIBILITY CHANGES AND AN EQUITABLE TRANSIT TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT OR ETOD OVERLAY.
THE GOALS FOR THESE AMENDMENTS ARE TO UNLOCK OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL HOUSING AND TO MAKE OUR CITY MORE WALKABLE,
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TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FOR ALL RESIDENTS.THE TIMELINE FOR THESE AMENDMENTS INCLUDE, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
CAN WE GET THE MIC INCREASE PLEASE? THANK YOU.
THE TIMELINE FOR THESE CODE AMENDMENTS INCLUDES TODAY'S JOINT PUBLIC HEARING AND TWO SCHEDULED OPEN HOUSES, ONE IN PERSON ON APRIL 17TH AND ONE VIRTUAL ON APRIL 20TH FOR THE PUBLIC.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSALS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL THEN CONSIDER THE AMENDMENTS AT HEARINGS ON APRIL 23RD AND APRIL 30TH.
STAFF IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL OPEN HOUSES THAT WE ANTICIPATE IN LATE APRIL OR EARLY MAY BEFORE COUNCIL TAKES THIS ITEM UP AGAIN.
AND THEN FINALLY, CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE AMENDMENTS ON MAY 16TH AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
SENIO MENTIONED THESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY YEARS OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITY'S MOBILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND CLIMATE GOALS.
THESE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS WERE INITIATED BY CITY COUNCIL LAST SUMMER AND EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TODAY WAS DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE COUNCIL DIRECTION PROVIDED IN THE RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH A DESCRIPTION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING USE.
MAYOR PRO, TIM COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M ERIC THOMAS, ZONING DIVISION MANAGER WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND IT IS MY PRIVILEGE THIS MORNING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING LAND USE.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY TALKING A BIT ABOUT WHY WE'RE HERE.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS ESTABLISHED A NUMBER OF AMBITIOUS CLIMATE ORIENTED GOALS AND STRATEGIES, INCLUDING REACHING NET ZERO COMMUNITY-WIDE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2050, THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC EV CHARGING NETWORK, THE ELECTRIFICATION OF MOBILITY FLEETS AND SERVICES, AND A TARGET OF 40% OF TOTAL VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED IN AUSTIN BEING ELECTRIFIED BY 2030.
WITH THE RAPID TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR EV USE, THERE IS A NEED FOR A PRINCIPAL LAND USE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING THE BALANCES, ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS WITH LAND USE CONSIDERATIONS.
CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR THE NEW USE AND DRAFTED RESOLUTION 20 23 0 6 0 8 DASH 0 8 2 IN JUNE OF 2023.
COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO CREATE THE NEW USE WHILE PREVENTING IT FROM BECOMING CONCENTRATED IN ACTIVE OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AS WELL AS ALLOWING IT THROUGH THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT PROCESS AND LIMITING ITS PLACEMENT TO CS AND LESS RESTRICTIVE ZONING DISTRICTS.
THE PROPOSED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING USE IS DEFINED AS THE USE OF A SITE FOR THE CHARGING OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR EV, INCLUDING BATTERY CHARGING STATIONS AND RAPID CHARGING STATIONS EACH AS DEFINED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY WITH THE EV INDUSTRY AND ITS TECHNOLOGY PROGRESSING AND TRANSFORMING AT SUCH A RAPID RATE.
STAFF WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE USE DEFINITION DOES NOT UNINTENTIONALLY PROHIBIT A FUTURE CHARGING TECHNIQUE.
BY DEFERRING TO FEDERAL STANDARDS, THE DEFINITIONS MAY BE UPDATED TO REFLECT CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGY WHILE ALIGNING WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ELECT TO STRUCTURE DEFINITIONS.
SIMILARLY, STAFF FINDS IT NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE PROPOSED EV CHARGING USE FROM BECOMING CONCENTRATED AND ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE OR OTHER PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AREAS.
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE USE WILL NOT BE BROADLY PERMITTED IN A SET OF BASE ZONING DISTRICTS.
INSTEAD, THE USE WILL BE PERMITTED CONDITIONAL OR PROHIBITED DEPENDING ON THE FOLLOWING FACTORS EXISTING IN PREVIOUS LAND USE OF THE SITE, THE ZONING DISTRICT OF THE SITE, THE TYPE OF ROADWAY THAT THE SITE OF BUTTS AND THE SITE'S AREA AND LOCATION.
I'LL SPEAK IN A BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW EACH FACTOR MAY AFFECT THE ABILITY OF A SITE TO UTILIZE THE EV CHARGING USE.
FIRST, WE'LL CONSIDER THE EXISTING OR PREVIOUS LAND USE OF A SITE.
AN EV CHARGING USE IS PERMITTED AS THE PRINCIPLE USE WHEN THE EXISTING OR PREVIOUS USE OF THE SITE IS SERVICE STATION.
IF THE BASE OWNING DISTRICT IS COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL AND THE PREVIOUS USE WAS NOT ALREADY CONVERTED TO A RESIDENTIAL OR RESTAURANT USE, GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT COST ASSOCIATED WITH SITE REMEDIATION FOR SERVICE STATIONS, WE VIEW EV CHARGING AS AN APPROPRIATE TRANSITION USE, BUT THE PROPOSAL WOULD NOT PERMIT THE CONVERSION OF HOUSING OR RESTAURANTS UNDER THIS PROVISION.
ADDITIONALLY, AND THIS APPLIES BROADLY TO THE USE, NO MATTER WHERE IT'S PERMITTED, EV CHARGING IS PROHIBITED ON UNDERGROUND AND THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
NEXT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ZONING DISTRICT AND ROADWAY TYPE FACTORS WHICH DETERMINE WHERE THE USE MAY ALSO BE PERMITTED.
AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING USE WILL BE PERMITTED IF THE SITE IS LOCATED IN A CS OR LESS RESTRICTIVE ZONING DISTRICT AND ABUTTING CERTAIN ROADS FOR REFERENCE CS AND LESS RESTRICTIVE ZONING.
DISTRICTS ARE CS, CS ONE, CHIP, MILI, AND R AND D.
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A CS OR LESS RESTRICTIVE ZONING DISTRICT AND ABUTTING A HIGHWAY HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY, SUBURBAN ROADWAY, OR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ROUTE, THEN ELECTRIC FECAL CHARGING IS A PERMITTED USE.THESE REQUIREMENTS ENSURE THAT THE USE IS MAINLY PERMITTED IN AREAS THAT ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY OR RESIDENTIAL IN NATURE.
IF THE SITE IS LOCATED IN A CS OR LESS RESTRICTIVE ZONING DISTRICT, BUT ABUTTING A CORE TRANSIT CORRIDOR, FUTURE COURT, TRANSIT CORRIDOR, OR URBAN ROADWAY, IF AN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS APPLY, THE USE IS PERMITTED.
IF THE SITE DOES NOT EXCEED 25,000 SQUARE FEET AND IS LOCATED AT LEAST 1000 FEET FROM THE NEAREST EV CHARGING USE, IF THE SITE IS GREATER THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET OR LESS THAN 1000 FEET FROM THE NEAREST EV CHARGING USE, THEN THE USE IS CONDITIONAL.
IN WHICH CASE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND LAND USE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO SITE PLAN APPROVAL.
AS THESE ROADWAY TYPES ARE MORE LIKELY TO INCLUDE TRANSIT RICH AND WALKABLE AREAS, THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE STAFF AND THE LAND USE COMMISSION THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THE SPECIFIC LOCATION IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROPOSED USE.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING USE WHILE SITE PLAN APPLICATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED FOR EV CHARGING AND WITH AN URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS SERIOUS CLIMATE ORIENTED CITY GOALS.
THE PROPOSED NEW USE WILL BALANCE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS WITH LAND USE CONSIDERATIONS TO ALLOW RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE PLACES AROUND OUR GREAT CITY.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE MICROPHONE'S ON.
HELLO COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'M LA KEATING WITH THE PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE AND I'LL BE PRESENTING ON THIS PHASE OF THE HOME AMENDMENTS.
THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE HOME AMENDMENTS IS TO CREATE MORE HOUSING OPTIONS THAT ARE ATTAINABLE FOR MORE AUSTINITES.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS UNDER PHASE TWO EXPAND ON PREVIOUS CHANGES.
THIS PROVIDES MORE HOUSE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.
IN DECEMBER, COUNCIL ADOPTED CHANGES TO ALLOW UP TO THREE HOMES ON A SINGLE FAMILY LOT.
THE FOCUS OF PHASE TWO IS TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TO 2000 SQUARE FEET TO FACILITATE FEE.
SIMPLE OWNERSHIP MEANS THE HOMEOWNER OWNS THE HOUSE AND THE LAND UNDER IT OUTRIGHT
THE PROPOSED CHANGES FOR PHASE TWO WILL ALLOW SIMILAR TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT AS PHASE ONE, TWO, OR THREE UNITS ON AN EXISTING LOT, BUT GOES THE EXTRA STEP OF ALLOWING THESE LOTS TO SUBDIVIDE WITHOUT THESE CHANGES.
IF TWO OR THREE UNITS ARE BUILT ON A LOT AND SOLD SEPARATELY, THEY'RE OWNED AS CONDOMINIUMS. IN LINE WITH PHASE ONE, THE PROPOSED CHANGES ONLY APPLY TO SF ONE, TWO, AND THREE ZONING.
REDUCING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIRES THE ADJUSTMENT OF OTHER STANDARDS TO ALLOW FOR FEASIBLE DEVELOPMENT.
PHASE ONE REMOVED HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOR TWO TO THREE UNIT DEVELOPMENTS IMPOSED BY MCMANSION STANDARDS ALLOWING 35 FEET, WHICH EQUATES TO THREE STORIES STAFF IS RECOMMENDING CARRYING THIS FORWARD FOR SMALL LOTS.
A SMALL LOT IS ANYTHING BETWEEN THE NEW MINIMUM OF 2000 AND THE EXISTING MINIMUM OF 57 50 SQUARE FEET.
WITHIN THE MCMANSION BOUNDARY, WHICH COVERS THE CENTRAL CITY, THE SIZE OF ONE UNIT IS RESTRICTED.
PHASE ONE PROVIDED MORE ALLOWABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE ON A LOT IF MORE UNITS WERE BUILT.
PHASE TWO PROPOSES TO MIRROR THESE ENTITLEMENTS FOR ONE UNIT ON A SMALL LOT.
THESE UNIT SIZE MAXIMUMS ALLOW SLIGHTLY MORE AREA IN RELATION TO THE LOT SIZE FOR SMALLER LOTS GUARANTEEING EACH LOT 1,450 SQUARE FEET HOMES, WHICH PROVIDES FOR A COMFORTABLE THREE BEDROOM UNIT.
IN NO CASE DO THE PROPOSED STANDARDS ALLOW LARGER HOUSES THAN WHAT IS PERMITTED IN PHASE ONE AND OTHER PARTS OF CURRENT CODE OUTSIDE THE MCMANSION BOUNDARY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING A UNIT NO UNIT SIZE CAP.
THIS IS ALIGNED WITH CURRENT CODE AND WITH PHASE ONE.
THIS EXAMPLE SHOWS THREE LOTS ON A CORNER NEAR THE AT THE RECOMMENDED UNIT SIZE CAP FOR THE SMALLEST LOT PROPOSED SETBACKS ARE ALSO REDUCED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS TO ALLOW FOR UNITS ON SEPARATE LOTS TO BE ATTACHED.
THIS WILL ALLOW FOR DUPLEXES AND ROW HOMES TO BE
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BUILT ON SMALL LOCKS.THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ALSO INCLUDES DECIDE STANDARDS.
THE GOAL OF THESE ARE TO PROVIDE OPEN SPACE ALONG THE STREET, REDUCE THE IMPACT OF DRIVEWAYS, PRESERVE CURB SPACE FOR STREET PARKING AND TRASH COLLECTION, AND TO PROMOTE WALKABLE BUILDING DESIGN.
DESIGN STANDARDS INCLUDE REQUIRING A STREET FACING ENTRANCE LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF DRIVEWAY OR IMPERVIOUS COVER IN THE FRONT YARD AND RESTRICTING THE SIZE OF STREET FACING GARAGES OR CARPORTS.
LOT WITH MINIMUMS VARY BASED ON THE TYPE OF DRIVEWAY ACCESS NEEDED FOR EACH HOME TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE SPACE ALONG THE STREET FOR DRIVEWAYS AND UTILITIES.
SHOWN HERE ON THE LEFT, THE LOT WITH MINIMUM WITH A SINGLE DEDICATED DRIVEWAY IS 30 FEET.
THE MINIMUM FOR OTHER TYPES OF ACCESS IS 20 FEET.
ON THE RIGHT, WE SEE ATTACHED UNITS WITH A SHARED DRIVEWAY.
OTHER TYPES OF ACCESS INCLUDE ALLEY ACCESS SHOWN ON THE LEFT AND ACCESS FROM A SIDE STREET.
ON THE RIGHT WE SEE ROW HOUSES WITHOUT PARKING TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE MINIMUM LOT WIDTH OF 20 FEET.
WHILE, WHILE IT IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME THAT MOST NEW HOUSING WILL PROVIDE PARKING ON SITE, AUSTIN RECENTLY REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT TO DO SO, PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY IN THE FUTURE FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO TRANSIT OR DO NOT NEED PARKING.
DUE TO THE EXISTING REDUCTION TO DUE TO THE PROPOSED RE REDUCTION AND LAW LOT AND LOT WIDTH AND LOT SIZE, WE EXPECT THAT MORE FLAG LOTS WILL BE CREATED UNDER THIS PROPOSAL.
A FLAG LOT IS SHAPED LIKE A FLAG.
IT HAS A NARROW STRIP OF LAND, WHICH WE CALL THE FLAGPOLE THAT EXTENDS TO THE STREET, AND THE PURPOSE OF THE FLAGPOLE IS TO PROVIDE WATER UTILITY ACCESS TO EACH HOME.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES REDU REDUCE THE WIDTH OF THE FLAGPOLE TO ALLOW FOR MORE LOTS TO SUBDIVIDE WHILE MAINTAIN, WHILE MAINTAINING ENOUGH SPACE FOR UTILITIES.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ALSO INCLUDES A CHANGE TO CURRENT CODE TO ENSURE THAT ALL NEW IMPERVIOUS COVER IS ACCOUNTED FOR.
PREVIOUSLY, THE FLAGPOLE DID NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE LOT AREA AND THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ALONG IT WAS UNREGULATED.
THIS MEANT IT COULD EXCEED THE MAXIMUM STAFF RECOMMENDS INCLUDING THIS AREA IN THE FUTURE SO THAT THE OVERALL SITE DOES NOT EXCEED THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT.
THE CHANGES TO FLAG LOT REQUIREMENTS WILL ALLOW MORE EXISTING LOTS TO SUBDIVIDE INTO THREE SMALL LOTS AS SHOWN ABOVE.
FOR LOTS THAT ARE INTERIOR TO THE BLOCK, MEANING THEY ARE NOT A CORNER LOT, THE LIMITED STREET FRONTAGE PROVIDES THE MAIN CONSTRAINT FOR SUBDIVISION BECAUSE EACH LOT MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE STREET FOR UTILITIES.
THE ABOVE, THE ABOVE, EXAMPLE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOWS HOW EVEN THOUGH AN EXISTING LOT IS OVER 9,000 SQUARE FEET AND HAS ENOUGH LOT AREA FOR FOUR NEW SMALL LOTS, THE WIDTH ONLY ALLOWS FOR THREE NEW LOTS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO UTILITY REQUIREMENTS.
EXISTING CONDITIONS SUCH AS LOCATION OF UTILITIES OR ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES WILL REDUCE THE EXISTING LOTS ABILITY TO SUBDIVIDE.
FOR THESE REASONS, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AIMS TO PROVIDE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERING CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THE HOME RESOLUTION.
IN CLOSING, WE WANNA CLARIFY WHAT IS NOT CHANGING UNDER THIS AMENDMENT.
STAFF IS RE RECOMMENDING NO CHANGE TO 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER IN SF TWO AND SF THREE ZONING FOR SF ONE.
UNDER THE PROPOSED CHANGES, IMPERVIOUS COVER WILL INCREASE FROM 40 TO 45%.
THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE INCREASE IN PHASE ONE FOR MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENTS.
REGULATIONS FOR ONE UNIT ON A LOT OVER 57 50 SQUARE FEET ARE NOT CHANGING.
ADDITIONALLY, REGULATIONS FROM HOME PHASE ONE FOR TWO AND THREE UNITS REMAIN THE SAME, INCLUDING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 57 50.
I'M JONATHAN LEE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND I'LL BE PRESENTING ON PROPOSED CITYWIDE COMPATIBILITY CHANGES.
COMPATIBILITY IS A ZONING REGULATION CREATED IN THE 1980S TO PRESERVE SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROTECT THEM FROM TALLER BUILDINGS AND POTENTIALLY INCOMPATIBLE USES OF LAND COMPATIBILITY SETS HEIGHT LIMITS FOR PROPERTIES NEAR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
THESE HEIGHT LIMITS ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE HEIGHT LIMITS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY.
COMPATIBILITY ALSO REGULATES SCREENING, BUILDING DESIGN
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AND NOISE LEVELS FOR BUILDINGS NEAR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD REDUCE THE IMPACT OF COMPATIBILITY WHILE MAINTAINING A HEIGHT TRANSITION BETWEEN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND LARGER BUILDINGS.
THE CITY IS PROPOSING TO CHANGE COMPATIBILITY TO HELP ACHIEVE A FEW IMPORTANT GOALS.
THESE INCLUDE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT CAN BE BUILT ACROSS THE CITY, CREATING MORE WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR PUBLIC TRANSIT TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S CLIMATE AND MOBILITY GOALS AND SIMPLIFYING COMPLEX REGULATIONS AND BRINGING THESE REGULATIONS IN LINE WITH PEER CITIES.
AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD DO THE FOLLOWING, INCOMPATIBILITY AT 75 FEET IN DISTANCE FROM SINGLE FAMILY HOMES CHANGE THE APPLICABILITY SO THAT ONLY A SITE ZONED SINGLE FAMILY WITH ONE TO THREE HOMES TRIGGERS COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS.
SMALLER MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS ARE EXEMPT AND SIMPLIFY CURRENT REGULATIONS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND AND ADMINISTER.
CURRENT COMPATIBILITY HEIGHT LIMITS EXTEND 540 FEET OR NEARLY TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS FROM SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
THE HEIGHT LIMITS GRADUALLY INCREASE AS THE DISTANCE FROM A SINGLE FAMILY HOME INCREASES WITHIN 25 FEET OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
NOTHING IS ALLOWED TO BE BUILT.
THE CURRENT COMPATIBILITY HEIGHT LIMITS ARE FAR MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN SIMILAR KINDS OF HEIGHT LIMITS IN PURE CITIES AND AUSTIN.
TODAY, A BUILDING MUST BE 300 FEET AWAY FROM A SINGLE FAMILY HOME TO REACH 60 FEET IN HEIGHT OR FIVE STORIES AND 420 FEET AWAY TO REACH 90 FEET IN HEIGHT OR SEVEN TO EIGHT STORIES.
ON AVERAGE, PEER CITIES ALLOW 60 FEET OF HEIGHT AT ABOUT 50 FEET IN DISTANCE AND 90 FEET OF HEIGHT AT ABOUT 75 FEET IN DISTANCE.
THE PROPOSED HEIGHT LIMITS ARE LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN THE CURRENT LIMITS AND ARE ALIGNED WITH THE AVERAGE OF SIMILAR LIMITS IN PURE CITIES BETWEEN 25 AND 50 FEET OF DISTANCE FROM A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, A 40 FOOT TALL OR THREE STORY BUILDING WOULD BE ALLOWED AND BETWEEN 50 AND 75 FEET FROM DISTANCE, A 60 FOOT TALL OR FIVE STORY BUILDING WOULD BE ALLOWED WITHIN 25 FEET OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
A COMPATIBILITY BUFFER WITH VEGETATIVE SCREENING WOULD BE REQUIRED.
THIS IS HOW THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS WOULD LOOK ON A HYPOTHETICAL CITY BLOCK.
THE BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY TO THE RIGHT WOULD HAVE TO BUILD WITHIN THE HEIGHT LIMITS IN PINK AND PURPLE WITHIN 75 FEET OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, WHICH ARE LABELED HERE AS TRIGGERING PROPERTIES BEYOND 75 FEET IN DISTANCE.
THE HEIGHT LIMITS WOULD BE SET BY THE BASE ZONING DISTRICT IN MOST CASES.
THIS HEIGHT LIMIT WOULD BE 60 FEET AS SHOWN HERE, BUT IN SOME CASES THERE MAY BE TALLER HEIGHT LIMITS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BUILDINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS TALL AS THE HEIGHT LIMITS ALLOWED BY ZONING.
TO REDUCE THE VISUAL IMPACT OF TALLER BUILDINGS AND TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, THERE WILL BE A NEW REQUIREMENT FOR A COMPATIBILITY BUFFER.
THE BUFFER WILL INCLUDE TREES AND SHRUBS TO MAINTAIN PRIVACY, BOTH FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AS WELL AS THE OCCUPANTS OF NEW BUILDINGS.
THIS IS MORE OF A BUFFER THAN WHAT IS REQUIRED TODAY.
CURRENTLY ONLY A WALL FENCE OR HEDGE IS REQUIRED.
THE COMPATIBILITY BUFFER WILL INCLUDE TREES THAT REACH AT LEAST 20 FEET IN HEIGHT AT MATURITY AS WELL AS SMALL TREES AND LARGE DROPS.
A 15 FOOT WIDE RESTRICTED ZONE WILL ALLOW LOW INTENSITY USES IN THE BUFFER, SUCH AS TRAILS, DRIVEWAYS, AND FIRE LANES.
THE PROPOSED RESTRICTED ZONE IS MORE FLEXIBLE THAN THE CURRENT 25 FOOT.
NO BUILD SETBACK NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE OFFICE AND COMMERCIAL USES WILL NOT HAVE TO BUILD A COMPATIBILITY BUFFER.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WILL ALSO HELP MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF LARGER BUILDINGS.
THESE INCLUDE KEEPING EXISTING SCREENING REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLE LIGHTS, DUMPSTERS, MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, AND OUTDOOR STORAGE, AND ADDING YOUR REQUIREMENT TO SCREEN OUTDOOR COMMON SPACES.
EXISTING NOISE LIMITS FOR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND A REQUIREMENT TO SHIELD OUTDOOR LIGHTING WILL ALSO BE MAINTAINED.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD ALLOW MORE HOMES TO BE BUILT ACROSS THE CITY.
CURRENT COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS LIMIT HOUSING CAPACITY BY AROUND 82,000 UNITS.
HOUSING CAPACITY IS A PROJECTION OF HOW MANY UNITS COULD BE BUILT.
IF EVERY PROPERTY WERE TO DEVELOP OR REDEVELOP UNDER EXISTING ZONING REGULATIONS, THE PROPOSED CHANGES COULD UNLOCK 76% OR ABOUT 63,000 UNITS OF THAT LOST CAPACITY.
THESE CHANGES WOULD HELP ACHIEVE THE GOAL IN THE 2017 STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT OF CREATING 135,000 HOMES IN 10 YEARS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS WARNER COOK AND I'M A PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH THE CITY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE CASE MANAGER FOR THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT OR ETOD OVERLAY CODE AMENDMENT AND REZONING.
IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE ETOD POLICY PLAN, WHICH PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS WORK THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.
IN CONCERT WITH PROJECT CONNECT TRANSIT INVESTMENTS,
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THE PROPOSED ETOD OVERLAY CODE AMENDMENT AND REZONING HELPS IMPLEMENT OUR POLICY PLAN.THE OVERLAY AIMS TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY'S HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BY INCREASING HOUSING AND ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES NEAR TRANSIT, ENSURING THAT PEOPLE OF VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS CAN ALL ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF OUR NEW LIGHT RAIL LINE.
THIS PROPOSAL ALSO PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR CERTAIN EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PRIORITY BUSINESSES AND SERVICES.
LASTLY, THE OVERLAY RESTRICTS FUTURE EXPANSION OF LAND USES THAT ARE LESS COMPATIBLE WITH HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT.
ALL OF THIS HELPS MAXIMIZE OUR INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC DOLLARS IN TRANSIT AND CONTRIBUTES TO OUR FUTURE APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FOR GRANT FUNDING.
THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES THE CREATION OF TWO COMBINING DISTRICTS THAT WOULD APPLY IN ADDITION TO A PROPERTY'S OTHER ZONING REGULATIONS.
THE FIRST OF THOSE TWO DISTRICTS IS THE ETOD OVERLAY COMBINING DISTRICT, WHICH WOULD RESTRICT CERTAIN USES THAT ARE NOT TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE.
THE SECOND IS THE ETOD DENSITY BONUS DISTRICT OR D-B-E-T-O-D.
IN THIS PRESENTATION, IT WOULD CREATE A NEW DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS ADDITIONAL ENTITLEMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR PROVIDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
THE PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE TWO NEW COMBINING DISTRICTS, A PROPOSED REZONING COUNCIL HAS RECOMMENDED THAT STAFF APPLY OR REZONE CERTAIN NONS SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTIES WITHIN A HALF MILE RADIUS OF THE PHASE ONE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL AND PRIORITY EXTENSIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT A PROPERTY WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BONUS PROGRAM WITHOUT ALSO HAVING THE USE RESTRICTIONS APPLIED.
SO THE REZONING WOULD INCLUDE BOTH COMBINING DISTRICTS INTO THE ZONING STRING.
THE ITEMS BEFORE YOU TODAY INCLUDE THE CITY INITIATED REZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 1,118 ACRES OF LAND WITHIN THAT HALF MILE RADIUS PROPERTIES PROPOSED FOR REZONING AND THOSE WITHIN 500 FEET OF THOSE SUBJECT PROPERTIES RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED REZONING.
AND THERE WOULD BE WAYS IN THE FUTURE THAT ARE LISTED ON THE SLIDE THAT ARE NOT PART OF TODAY'S PROPOSAL.
SHOULD SOMEBODY WANT TO APPLY FOR THIS ZONING DISTRICT BASED ON COUNCIL DIRECTION, STAFF RECOMMENDED APPLYING THE ETOD OVERLAY TO NON SINGLE FAMILY PARCELS SHOWN IN BLUE ON THE MAP ON THE RIGHT OF THIS SLIDE.
THE TWO DISTRICTS WOULD NOT APPLY IN CERTAIN PLACES WITH EXISTING REGULATING PLANS AND OVERLAYS, WHICH ARE SHOWN IN A MEDIUM GRAY ON THE MAP.
IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONED PROPERTY, WHICH IS SHOWN IN LIGHT GRAY ON THE MAP AND OTHER SIMILAR RESIDENTIAL BASED ZONES.
IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO UN ZONE STATE OWNED LAND WHERE THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO REZONE THE PROPERTY, AND THERE ARE ADDITIONAL AREAS THAT STAFF RECOMMENDED IT WOULD NOT APPLY BASED ON ANALYSIS.
AND THAT IS DETAILED IN THE STAFF REPORT.
THOSE ARE THE PARCELS THAT HAVE NO COLOR ON THEM OTHER THAN THE THE BASE MAP UNDERNEATH, UM, INSIDE THE BUFFER BUT NOT SHOWN IN COLOR.
THE MAP DEMONSTRATES THAT A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF LAND WITHIN A HALF MILE THE CORRIDOR IS EITHER UN ZONED TODAY, SINGLE FAMILY ZONED ALREADY PART OF AN EXISTING OVERLAY, A REGULATING PLAN OR PART OF OUR ETOD REZONING PROPOSAL.
I'LL NOW DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO WHAT EACH OF THESE TWO NEW DISTRICTS DO.
STARTING WITH THE USE RESTRICTIONS OF THE ETOD OVERLAY COMBINING DISTRICT, THIS DISTRICT WOULD RESTRICT USES BY EITHER MAKING THEM PROHIBITED OR MAKING THEM CONDITIONAL.
PROHIBITED USES ARE THOSE THAT WOULD BE PREVENTED FROM LOCATING ON PARCELS IN THE FUTURE MOVING FORWARD.
CONDITIONAL USES ARE USES THAT WOULD REQUIRE PERMISSION FROM THE LAND USE COMMISSION THROUGH THE COMMI CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT PROCESS IN ORDER TO LOCATE ON A SITE ZONED ETOD.
THE ETOD OVERLAY DOES NOT RESTRICT ANY RESIDENTIAL USES AND IT DOES NOT IMPACT SINGLE FAMILY ZONED PROPERTIES WHILE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL USES WOULD BE RESTRICTED BY THIS PROPOSAL ONLY.
EXISTING USES WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO DISCONTINUE UNDER STAFF'S PROPOSAL.
NON-TRANS SUPPORTIVE USES HAVE A HISTORY OF USING LARGE AMOUNTS OF LAND FOR PARKING AND LOW DENSITY DEVELOPMENT OR CREATING UNINTERESTING AND UNSAFE ENVIRONMENTS THAT LACK PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY.
THIS SLIDE PROVIDES A LIST OF ALL OF THE USES IN THE PROPOSAL THAT THE WOULD BE FURTHER RESTRICTED.
SOME USES SUCH AS ALTERNATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES OR PAWN SHOPS MIGHT GENERATE TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE LEVELS OF ACTIVITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ACCESS THOSE USES COULD BENEFIT FROM THEM BEING CONVENIENTLY LOCATED NEAR TRANSIT SERVICE.
HOWEVER, THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN RESTRICTED IN MANY PLACES THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, LEADING TO AN UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF THEM TODAY WITH CONCENTRATIONS IN AREAS WITH MORE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
BECAUSE OF THESE EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS STAFF
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PROPOSES THESE USES BE CONDITIONAL, SO THERE CAN BE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION THROUGH THE LAND USE COMMISSION PERMIT PROCESS.JUST BECAUSE THE OVERLAY RESTRICTS A USE DOES NOT MEAN THAT AN EXISTING BUSINESS OR SERVICE WITH THAT USE WOULD HAVE TO DISCONTINUE.
AUSTIN'S CODE WOULD INSTEAD CONSIDER THAT TO BE A NON-CONFORMING USE IN MOVING FORWARD.
NON-CONFORMING USES WOULD GENERALLY BE PERMITTED FROM EXPANDING BEYOND A CERTAIN SIZE, BUT ARE ALLOWED TO REPAIR, RENOVATE, AND CONTINUE OPERATION AS THEY SEE FIT.
SWITCHING TRACKS, I'LL NOW TALK ABOUT THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM OR D-B-E-T-O-D DISTRICT.
TO ACCESS THIS BONUS PROGRAM, A DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE TO MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS ON THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF YOU.
THAT INCLUDES PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS OR FEES TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
THESE PROJECTS THAT PROPOSE REDEVELOPING A PROPERTY WITH EXISTING CERTAIN USES SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR SPECIFIC NON-RESIDENTIAL USES LIKE CHILDCARE CENTERS, CREATIVE SPACES, GROCERY, ET CETERA, WOULD ALSO NEED TO PROVIDE NOTIFICATION, RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, REPLACEMENT OF THAT, UM, SPACE AND A RIGHT TO RETURN FOR THE EXISTING TENANT.
AND FINALLY, DB EUD PROJECTS MUST COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING AND SITE DESIGN THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE EXISTING VERTICAL MIXED USE OR VMU TWO PROGRAM STANDARDS.
THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS IN STAFF'S PROPOSAL FOR THE DB EUD PROGRAM ARE BASED ON WHETHER A RESIDENTIAL UNIT IS BEING OFFERED FOR OWNERSHIP OR FOR LEASE OWNERSHIP.
DEVELOPMENTS WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE 12% OF THEIR TOTAL UNITS AS INCOME RESTRICTED TO HOUSEHOLDS AT 80% MFI MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND BELOW.
THEY COULD ALSO SATISFY THEIR REQUIREMENT BY PAYING A FEE IN LIEU TO THE CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
THIS OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT IS THE SAME AS WHAT WAS RECENTLY ADOPTED FOR THE DB 90 BONUS PROGRAM.
IN CONTRAST, FOR RENTAL DEVELOPMENTS, THEY WOULD HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR MEETING THEIR AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT.
THEY COULD CHOOSE TO PROVIDE EITHER 15% OF THEIR TOTAL UNITS AT 60% MFI OR 12% OF THEIR TOTAL UNITS AT THE DEEPER AFFORDABILITY LEVEL OF 50% MFI FOR PARENTAL DEVELOPMENTS, NO FEE AND LIE OPTION IS AVAILABLE UNDER THIS PROPOSAL.
THIS REQUIREMENT FOR RENTAL IS THE SAME AS THE REQUIREMENT FOR PROPERTIES THAT WERE NEAR LIGHT RAIL IN THE NOW INVALIDATED VM U2 BONUS PROGRAM.
IF A PROPERTY MET ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE JUST DETAILED, THEY COULD CHOOSE TO REDEVELOP UNDER THE DBE TODD BONUS PROPOSAL.
THEY COULD ALSO CHOOSE TO NOT USE THE BONUS PROGRAM IF THEY, IF THEY DO CHOOSE TO USE IT, A FEW THINGS WOULD APPLY.
FIRST, NON-RESIDENTIAL PRO PROPERTIES, THOSE WITH COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL ZONING TODAY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE RESIDENTIAL USES.
THAT MEANS THAT A PARCEL LIKE THIS COULD DEVELOP HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT WHERE IT COULDN'T TODAY.
UM, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE DBE TODD BONUS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO EXISTING MULTI-FAMILY BASED ZONES, UM, WHICH DON'T ALLOW THESE NON-RESIDENTIAL USES, AND THEY WOULD NOT BE GRANTED ANY NEW NON-RESIDENTIAL USES UNDER THE PROPOSAL.
SECOND, A PROPERTY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BUILD UP TO 60 ADDITIONAL FEET IN BONUS HEIGHT TALLER THAN THEIR BASE ZONING ALLOWS AT A MAXIMUM TOTAL HEIGHT OF 120 FEET.
THIRD, COMBINING COMPLYING PROJECTS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP WITH RELAXED SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, INCLUDING A VERSION OF COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS THAT IS LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN THE CITYWIDE CHANGES JONATHAN JUST TALKED ABOUT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE EXISTING IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS WOULD STILL APPLY TO A SITE ZONED DBE TODD, SO NOTHING CHANGES THERE.
AND LASTLY, COMPLYING PROJECTS THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO SUPERSEDE A HANDFUL OF MORE RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY TO THEM, INCLUDING SOME RESTRICTIONS WITHIN CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS, NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION, COMBINING DISTRICTS KNOWN AS CCDS AND SUB CHAPTER F, WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE MCMANSION ORDINANCE.
THESE ADDITIONAL ENTITLEMENTS OFFERED TO PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE THE REQUIRED COMMUNITY BENEFITS WILL INCREASE THE FLEXIBILITY OF SITES AND ALLOW OUR CAPACITY FOR HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND SERVICES NEAR TRANSIT TO GROW.
TO HELP US VISUALIZE WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE IN A FEW DIFFERENT EXAMPLES HERE AS A, IN A POSSIBLE EXISTING SITE NEXT TO A POSSIBLE PROJECT ON A TYPICAL HALF BLOCK, 300 FEET BY 150 FEET, LO STANDS FOR LIMITED OFFICE AND IS A MEDIUM INTENSITY OFFICE DISTRICT.
LO SITES TODAY ARE LIMITED TO EITHER THREE STORIES TALL OR 40 FEET IN HEIGHT.
UNDER THE DBE TODD PROPOSAL, THE LO SITE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO 60 ADDITIONAL FEET BRINGING THE TOTAL TO ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET OR EITHER, UH, OR ABOUT EIGHT STORIES TALL, WHICH WOULD MORE THAN DOUBLE THE HOUSING THAN IF WE JUST ALLOWED THEM THE RESIDENTIAL USES.
THE SAME IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS WOULD APPLY, MEANING
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THAT SOME OF THE SITE WOULD STILL BE RESERVED WITHOUT A STRUCTURE ON IT, AND THE BUILDING WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE CLOSER TO PROPERTY LINES THAN IT OTHERWISE WOULD, WHICH HELPS WITH AN ACTIVE, PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED PUBLIC REALM.IMPORTANTLY, THE NEW BUILDING ALSO INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 150 HOMES NEAR TRANSIT WITH 20 OR MORE OF THOSE BEING INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT BASE ZONE.
UM, HERE'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE WITH CS, WHICH IS GENERAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES.
ONE OF OUR MORE INTENSE COMMERCIAL ZONES.
TODAY, CS PROPERTIES TODAY ARE LIMITED TO 60 FEET IN HEIGHT WITH THE BONUSES OF THE DBE TODD COMBINING DISTRICT.
A NEW DEVELOPMENT COULD BE TWICE AS TALL AS IT WOULD BE TODAY, ADDING 60 FEET FOR A TOTAL OF 120 FEET IN HEIGHT, WHICH IS ABOUT 10 STORIES.
THIS MEANS AN ESTIMATED 250 HOMES COULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE NEW BUILDING WITH 30 OR MORE OF THOSE DESIGNATED AS INCOME RESTRICTED FOR LOWER INCOME FAMILIES.
THE LAST EXAMPLE IS ON A MULTIFAMILY SIX SITE.
MF SIX IS THE DENSEST MULTIFAMILY BASE ZONE OUR CURRENT CODE HAS, AND IT ALLOWS FOR 90 FOOT TALL BUILDINGS TODAY, BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTION OF 120 FEET IN TOTAL HEIGHT, ONLY 30 BONUS FEET WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO AN NMF SIX PROJECT UNDER THIS PROPOSAL.
THIS ALLOWS FOR MORE THAN AN ESTIMATED 275 HOMES TO BE BUILT CLOSE TO TRANSIT WITH 30 OR 40 OR MORE OF THOSE BEING INCOME RESTRICTED.
OF COURSE, INDIVIDUAL SITES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT LIMIT THEIR DEVELOPMENT BASED ON THEIR EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL AND TOPOGRAPHY FEATURES, DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS, ET CETERA.
BUT THESE EXAMPLES HELP SHOW THEORETICAL PROJECTS THAT COULD BE BUILT UNDER THE BONUS PROGRAM AND HOW THE OVERLAY MEETS THE DIRECTION GIVEN TO STAFF TO EQUITABLY SUPPORT OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM AND OUR COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION, THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO LEARN MORE AND PROVIDE INPUT ON THESE PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS AND TO PROVIDE COMMENTS DIRECTLY TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL.
STAFF WILL HOST OPEN HOUSES ON APRIL 17TH AND APRIL 20TH WITH TWO MORE POTENTIALLY IN THE WORKS PLANNING COMMISSION.
WILL HOLD HEARINGS ON ALL OF THE CODE AMENDMENTS ON TWO DATES ON APRIL 23RD.
PLANNING COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER HOME PHASE TWO COMPATIBILITY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING ON APRIL 30TH.
THE COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER THE ETOD OVERLAY, SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THE PACKAGE OF CODE AMENDMENTS WILL GO TO PLANNING COMMISSION ON TWO DAYS.
AND THEN FINALLY THE ENTIRE PACKAGE WILL RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 16TH.
FOLKS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OF THE PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS AND READ MATERIALS LIKE THE STAFF REPORTS AND THE DRAFT ORDINANCES THEMSELVES ON OUR WEBSITE@SPEAKUPAUSTIN.ORG SLASH LDC UPDATES.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ALSO SUBMIT COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO STAFF VIA THE EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBERS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN.
STAFF WILL BE COMPILING THESE COMMENTS FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL TO REVIEW, AND WE WILL RESPOND TO ALL QUESTIONS AS SOON AS WE CAN, USUALLY WITHIN A FEW DAYS.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE, UH, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, BUT COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE NEXT, THE LAST SLIDE JUST REAL QUICKLY BECAUSE I WANNA CALL ATTENTION TO THAT.
'CAUSE I, THAT WAS IN MY, THE ONE JUST BEFORE THAT, UH, THANK YOU AND I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING, BUT, BUT, UM, WHEN I WAS LAYING OUT WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO, THE, THE, WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN TODAY, THAT WEBSITE THAT SPEAK UP AUSTIN.ORG/LDC UPDATES WAS NOT YET UP ON THE SITE.
IF YOU LOOK AT, AT XN, IT IS NOW UP ON THE SITE SO THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION.
AND I JUST WANNA CALL ATTENTION TO THAT, THAT AND THE EMAIL ADDRESS LDC UPDATES@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV WHERE PEOPLE CAN SUBMIT COMMENTS AND WE HOPE THAT YOU, YOU'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
AND AS YOU LOOK AT IT, HOPE YOU DON'T DO WHAT I DO WHEN I FIRST GLANCE AT IT, I SEE CUPCAKES AND, UH, SO IT'S LDC UPDATES, NOT LD CUPCAKES.
SO THANK YOU FOR GOING BACK TO THAT, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THE WEBSITE TO BE CUPCAKES
WE WILL HAVE THE WEBSITE ON THE SCREEN FOR THE DURATION OF THE MEETING.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE.
UH, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.
WE ARE WORKING ON SOLIDIFYING A WORK SESSION DATE.
I'M WORKING WITH STAFF TO FIND A DATE BETWEEN NOW AND MAY 14TH.
AND, UH, I WANTED TO ECHO WHAT ANDREA SAID.
WE ARE LOOKING AT SCHEDULING TWO ADDITIONAL OPEN HOUSES, SO WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION, UH, AVAILABLE ON THOSE OPEN HOUSES AS THEY GET SCHEDULED.
THANK YOU, ANDREA, FOR THE PRESENTATION FOR
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ALL OUR STAFF.YES, THANKS TO ALL THE STAFF AND THANK YOU, UM, SINCE THE CITY MANAGER.
SO, UM, WE'RE GETTING READY TO START THE, THE, THE HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC.
UH, TWO THINGS I WANNA CALL OUT.
ONE IS REMEMBER THAT IF YOU'RE, IT'S TWO MINUTES AND IF YOU'RE DONATING TIME OR IF YOU'RE RECEIVING DONATED TIME, PLEASE CHECK WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET, UH, GET THAT FOR YOU AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
AND THE SECOND IS WE'VE NOT HAD ANY REQUESTS FOR INTERPRETATION.
UH, BUT WE DO HAVE AN INTERPRETER THAT IS PRESENT.
SO IF THERE'S SOMEONE HERE THAT WISHES TO HAVE, UH, AN INTERPRETER, PLEASE AGAIN, GO TO THE CITY CLERK AND WORK WITH THEM AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ACCOMMODATED IN THAT REGARD.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY REQUESTS FOR THAT, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ACCOMMODATED IF YOU NEED IT.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, THAT WE'VE ALREADY OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL TURN TO THE, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
UM, YEAH, I DID HAVE A, A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
IF I MIGHT TO CLARIFY, PLEASE COME UP SO SHE CAN ASK THE QUESTIONS.
SO AS, AS SOMEONE WHO RECEIVED BOTH NOTIFICATIONS, UM, I'D LIKE YOU TO CLARIFY THE INTERACTION.
IF YOU ARE IN THE E TODD AREA OR THE DB TODD, UM, YOU ARE NOT ACCESSING THE BONUS, HOW DO THE OTHER PHASES OF OR THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IMPACT YOUR PROPERTY? 'CAUSE I THINK IT IS CONFUSING BECAUSE THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT PARTS AND I THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THOSE E TODD AREAS, UM, MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THE HOME PHASE TWO AND COMPATIBILITY CHANGES IMPACT THEM AS WELL.
SO COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
SO IF WE ARE SPEAKING TO PROPERTIES WITHIN THE ETOD OVERLAY GENERAL AREA, WHICH IS THE HALF MILE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PROPOSED LIGHT RAIL CORRIDOR AND PLANNED EXPANSIONS, A SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY IN THAT AREA WOULD'VE RECEIVED THE ETOD OVERLAY NOTICE BECAUSE MULTI-FAMILY COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES IN THAT AREA ARE PROPOSED TO BE REZONED WITH THESE NEW COMBINING DISTRICTS.
SO PROPERTY NEAR THEM COULD BE REZONED AND HAVE ACCESS TO NEW DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, FOLKS SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A PURPLE POSTCARD WITH GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
SO THE PACKAGE OF AMENDMENTS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HAD TWO TYPES OF NOTICE, A PURPLE POSTCARD THAT WENT TO ALL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY, AND AN ETOD SPECIFIC NOTICE THAT WENT TO A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
SO IF YOU LIVE IN THE ETOD AREA, YOU WILL HAVE ALSO RECEIVED A PURPLE POSTCARD, AND THAT MEANS THAT SF ONE, SF TWO AND SF THREE PROPERTIES, EITHER PERSON'S OWN PROPERTY OR THOSE PROPERTIES NEAR THEM, ARE BEING PROPOSED TO HAVE A NEW MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 2000 SQUARE FEET FOR ONE UNIT AND ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO ENABLE THAT DEVELOPMENT.
SO THEY COULD BE ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THE HOME.
PHASE TWO PROPOSAL COMPATIBILITY CHANGES ARE ALSO CITYWIDE.
THOSE ARE RELATE, THOSE RELATE TO SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTIES NEAR MULTIFAMILY OR COMMERCIAL OR HIGHER DENSITY PROPERTIES.
AND SO IF YOU LIVE ON A SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY IN THE ETOD GENERAL AREA, YOU COULD ALSO BE IMPACTED BY THE COMPATIBILITY CHANGES THE COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES NEAR YOU COULD BE ALLOWED TO BE TALLER, CLOSER TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
AND THEN FINALLY, ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING IS ALSO A CITYWIDE PROPOSAL THAT IS ZONE BASED AND ROADWAY BASED.
AND SO YOU MAY HAVE ELIGIBLE, UM, COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING IN THE FUTURE AS ONE OF THEIR ALLOWED LAND USES.
DID THAT COVER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, I JUST, I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, PEOPLE BE CLEAR ON THAT IF THEY'RE NOT USED TO THE, THE JARGON OF ZONING.
IT CAN BE VERY, IT CAN BE VERY CONFUSING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE, THESE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS ARE, ARE INTER INTERPLAYING.
UM, THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO ASK IS, UM, WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FLAG LOTS, IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT THEY WERE DESIGNED TO BE, YOU KNOW, WIDE ENOUGH FOR UTILITIES.
UM, HOW ARE THEY ADDRESSING FIRE CONCERNS? I WOULD LIKE TO ASK LAURA TO COME UP AS THE CASE MANAGER WHO MAY HAVE HAD DIRECT INTERACTION WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE CODE DEVELOPMENT.
LAURA KEATING, PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE, UM, AT THE TIME OF SUBDIVISION, UM, EACH LOT HAS
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TO PROVE THAT IT MEETS UTILITY DRIVEWAY ACCESS AND FIRE ACCESS, UM, REQUIREMENTS.SO EVERY CASE WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT WHEN THEY COME IN FOR A SUBDIVISION, THAT'S WHEN FIRE CAN REVIEW.
BUT WE ARE CHANGING THE SUBDIVISION RULES.
WELL, I MEAN, I JUST MEAN LOOKING AT THE, THE DIAGRAMS, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A FIRETRUCK CAN FIT DOWN MILES, ROADS.
WE HAVE HIGH WILDFIRE RISK IN THE AREAS AND THAT I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M ASSUMING THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REVIEWED THIS, BUT I, BUT I AM GONNA GET QUESTIONS ON THIS AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME CLARITY ON HOW THIS PLAYS OUT, UM, AND THAT WE ARE NOT UNWITTINGLY CREATING ADDITIONAL FIRE DANGERS, WHICH I'M HOPING HAS ALREADY BEEN VETTED, BUT, BUT I WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE HAVING SOME ANSWERS.
YEAH, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT FIRE IS REPRESENTED, UM, AT THE NEXT MEETINGS TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
UM, WITH THAT I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO HELP US NAVIGATE, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OKAY, MAYOR, WE'LL BEGIN WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS.
HELLO? YES, HI, UH, MY NAME'S UH, CATALINA.
I'M PART OF DISTRICT NINE AND THIS IS CALLING TODAY, UM, TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT OF HOME SPACE TWO, UM, WITH THE, UH, EDIT OF IT BEING LOWERED FROM 2000 SQUARE FEET TO 1900 SQUARE FEET.
UM, I'M ALSO CALLING TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE CHANGES IN COMP COMPATIBILITY IN THE ECO.
UM, I'VE PERSONALLY MANAGED TO LIVE MY LIFE IN AUSTIN WITHOUT A CAR, AND THAT SAVED ME A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND THIS IS IN LARGE PART DUE TO CLOSE TO A TRANSIT STOP.
AND HAVING HIGHER DENSITY ALONG THE LIGHT RAIL CORRIDOR WOULD GIVE ME PERSONALLY MORE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO CONTINUE TO LIVE CAR FREE.
AND I THINK IT WOULD PROVIDE MORE OPTIONS FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE CAR FREE, EITHER THROUGH NEED OR WANT.
UM, HOWEVER, I DO THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE A LARGER EFFORT TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT, UH, WITHIN THE
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK ADDITIONAL BONUS INCENTIVES AND RESOURCES SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR UNITS THAT HOUSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXISTING IN HOMELESSNESS AND, UH, PREVENT INCENTIVES FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS CURRENTLY.
UM, HOUSING LOW INCOME TENANTS.
UM, ADDITIONALLY I THINK OTHER ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MEASURES SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE CITY IN ADDITION TO LAND USE REFORM, UM, SUCH AS, UH, SUSTAINABLE AND ONGOING RENTAL RELIEF PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE DIRECTLY TO TENANTS RATHER THAN TO THE LANDLORDS.
UM, LOANS FOR AUSTIN HOMEOWNERS AT THE RISK OF DISPLACEMENT, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOMEOWNERS TO BUILD A HOUSING UNIT ON THEIR HOMESTEAD, LIKE THE ONE PROPOSED BY CONGRESSMAN VASQUEZ FOR HOME.
PHASE ONE LEGAL COUNSEL AND ESTATE CLAIM FOR HOMEOWNERS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT, AFFIRMATIVE MARKETING PROGRAM AND RIGHT OF RETURN POLICIES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND, UM, AFFIRM CITY COMMITMENT TO COMPLETE THE PSH DEVELOPMENT CURRENTLY IN THE PIPELINE.
UM, AS WELL AS ENSURING THAT THE SPENDING OF ANTI DISPLACEMENT MONEY FOR PROJECT SHANETTE IS THOUGHTFUL IN, IN KEEPING WITH FEE COMMITMENT MADE TO VOTERS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I JUST WANNA THANK COMMUNITY GROUPS LIKE
THANK YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THEIR CHANGES.
UH, COUNSEL, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, YES.
OH, COUNSEL AT PREVIOUS HEARINGS, UH, THERE WERE SPEAKERS IN THEIR TWENTIES AND THIRTIES WHO SUPPORTED THE HOME ORDINANCE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST CHANCE AT AFFORDABILITY.
THE SENTIMENT I HEARD WAS WHERE IS MY PLACE IN THIS NEW AUSTIN? I HAVE RESEARCHED THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN'S DEVELOPMENT IN SOME DEPTH, WRITTEN ABOUT IT, AND LIVED HERE FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
I CAN AUTHORITATIVELY TELL YOU THE LARGEST REASON FOR AUSTIN'S HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH URBAN DENSITY.
IT IS THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ITS REGIONAL AFFILIATES WHO HAVE WORKED SINGLE-MINDEDLY AND OBSESSIVELY TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE REGION.
THE CHAMBER BEGAN TO INDUSTRIALIZE AUSTIN IN 1954 WHEN IT WAS A SLEEPY COLLEGE TOWN.
70 YEARS LATER, ACCORDING TO CENSUS, IT IS THE 10TH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT IS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF JOBS THEY
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ATTRACTED HERE.THE CHAMBER CHOSE TO MAKE AUSTIN A QUOTE, SILICON CITY UNQUOTE, IN THE IMAGE OF SILICON VALLEY.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH TECH CENTERS IS THEIR HIGH HOUSING COST, REFLECTING THE HIGH INCOME OF ITS WORKERS.
IF YOU HAVE HIGHLY PAID PROFESSIONALS COMPETING FOR A LIMITED SUPPLY OF HOMES, WHO'S GOING TO WIN THE BID ON A HOME SALE? A STANFORD SOFTWARE ENGINEER OR A CARPENTER'S APPRENTICE, THE OBVIOUS REACH TOWARD HIS SKEPTICS IS, WELL, ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BUILD A WALL? NO, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THINGS WORSE WITH AMPHETAMINE GROWTH.
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF E VGO, ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST PUBLIC SAAS CHARGING PROVIDERS.
UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF FOR, UM, THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
UM, PUTTING TOGETHER THE E EV CHARGING, UM, CODE AMENDMENT, UM, WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE THOUGHTFUL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SETH PUT FORWARD IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, UM, TO INCORPORATE, UM, CHARGING AS A PRIMARY USE WITHIN THE, UM, LDC, UM, WHILE STILL PROTECTING KEY TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
UM, THESE LARGER PRIMARY USE CHARGING CUPS, UH, ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO MEETING GROWING CHARGING DEMAND IN THE CITY.
UM, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE, UM, RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HOME CHARGING.
UM, WE WANT TO OFFER TWO MAIN SUGGESTIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE ORDINANCE.
UM, WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THE, THE RATIONALE BEHIND, UM, RESTRICTING THE USE TO CS OR LESS INTENSIVE, UM, THERE ARE SOME ZONING DISTRICTS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A NEW FOSSIL FUEL GAS STATION AND NOT A SURFACE, UM, NOT EV CHARGING.
SO, UM, WE'D RECOMMEND, UM, USING THE CRITERIA FOR PROXIMITY, UM, AN AREA OF PROJECTS, UM, UH, IN LIEU OF, UM, SOME OF THE BASE ZONING RESTRICTIONS, UM, AND EXPANDING THE CONVERSION PATHWAY FROM GAS STATIONS TO ALSO INCLUDE, UM, PARKING AND OTHER AUTO USES.
SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN TO STAFF FOR, UM, THEIR THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO THIS ORDINANCE AND, UM, WANNA OFFER OUR SUPPORT.
I'M HERE TO SHARE THE FOLLOWING COMMENT FROM THE BOARD OF THE BROCKER WOODS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
SIGNIFICANT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES ARE BEST FORMULATED BY INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT SEEKS A WORKING CONSENSUS.
WE REGRET THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS FOLLOWED A DIFFERENT PATH, EFFECTIVELY EXCLUDING THE COMMUNITY FROM A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN DECISION MAKING.
AS A RESULT, THE CITY'S PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS', LIVED EXPERIENCES, AND WILL PRODUCE REAL LIFE CONSEQUENCES THAT WILL ADVERSELY IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE BELIEVE THAT COMPATIBILITY AND LAND USE IS A VIRTUE, NOT A VICE.
THE DRASTIC REDUCTION DISTANCES BETWEEN TALL BUILDINGS AND HOMES CREATES INCOMPATIBILITY SO SIGNIFICANT THAT IT WILL DESTABILIZE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE UNILATERAL ACROSS THE BOARD CODE CHANGES TO LOT SIZE WILL ALLOW MORE THAN THREE UNITS ON SOME LARGER LOTS, WILL INCENTIVIZE REDEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTE INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES, DISPLACING THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEM.
THE TRANSIT DISTRICTS EXTEND WELL BEYOND WALKABLE DISTANCES AND WILL ARBITRARILY INCREASE DENSITY BUT NOT RIDERSHIP.
FOR THESE REASONS AND OTHERS, WE MUST SUPPOSE THE CODE CHANGES.
AS PROPOSED, WE ASK THAT YOU POSTPONE ACTION ON THE HOME INITIATIVE AND INSTEAD INCORPORATE PHASE ONE AND TWO ELEMENTS INTO A NEW ZONING DISTRICT SO THAT PROPOSED HIGHER DENSITY DEVELOPMENT CAN BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
WE SUGGEST CREATING A BALANCED AND INCLUSIVE CITIZEN TASK FORCE TO CONSIDER AND CREATE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS THAT HAVE BROAD SUPPORT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
FINALLY, WE ASK THAT YOU LIMIT THE SIZE OF PROPOSED EAD ON OUR EASTERN BORDER TO A DISTANCE OF A QUARTER MILE BY FOOT TO THE GUADALUPE AND 38TH STREET RAIL STATION.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BARBARA MACARTHUR.
HI, MY NAME IS BARBARA MACARTHUR.
I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO YOU DURING A WORKDAY.
FIRST, THE 2000 SQUARE FOOT WATSON HOME TWO, AUSTIN WILL BE THE ONLY LARGEST CITY IN THE US TO EFFECTIVELY REZONE MOST SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING IN THE TINY LOTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON INTERLOOP AREA WHERE IT ONLY IMPACTED AREAS WITHOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS ON LOT SIZES SINCE HOUSTON ENFORCES THEM.
THE KINDER INSTITUTE AT WRIGHTS DOCUMENTS LARGE REDUCTIONS OF LOW INCOME
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PEOPLE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, 40%.AND SAYS THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ALSO ILLUSTRATE HOW GENTRIFICATION IS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT IS BEING BUILT OR WHO IS MOVING IN.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT WHAT IS BEING TORN DOWN AND WHERE COMPATIBILITY IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL.
YOU HAVE A CHART IN YOUR MEMO SHOWING THAT DALLAS ALLOWS A 90 FOOT BUILDING AT 50 FEET.
HOWEVER, THE CITY OF DALLAS COMPATIBILITY ORDINANCE SAYS THAT IT ALLOWS A BUILDING OF 90 FEET TO 271 FEET OF DISTANCE, NOT 50 FEET.
E TODD, YOUR BULK OF ZONING OVER A THOUSAND PROPERTIES THAT STEPS SAY OR ENTER, TOUCHED BY THEIR HALF MILE RADIUS.
I GEO MAPPED A HALF MILE STATION RADIUS ON YOUR MAP AND FOUND A DISCREPANCY.
THE DISTANCE YOU HAVE MAPPED IS ACTUALLY 0.58 MILES ON EACH SIDE.
FDA REGULATIONS ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT STATIONARY, NOT DISTANCES ALONG THE WHOLE TRANSIT LINE.
ALSO, FOR YOUR INFORMATION I DID THE MAP AND ONLY LESS THAN 20% OF THE PROPERTIES YOU'RE PROPOSING TO UP ZONER WITHIN A QUARTER MILE RADIUS OF THE STATIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED.
THIS IS A RUSH JOB WITHOUT ADEQUATE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC AND RIDDLED WITH FACTUAL ERRORS.
IT IS FREE MARKED WITH DEREGULATION.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BRUCE GRAINER.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION REGARDING THE LATEST HOME TO PROPOSAL AND MY CONCERNS WITH ITS ADOPTION.
WHILE I HEAR THE INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE, I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WILL ACCOMPLISH THE STATED OBJECTIVES.
LIKE MANY OTHER TEXAS PROPERTY OWNERS LIVING IN AREAS DESIGNATED FOR SINGLE FAMILY, MY WIFE AND I MADE A DECISION TO PURCHASE OUR HOME IN THE SPICEWOOD ESTATE SUBDIVISION BECAUSE IT OFFERED HOUSES WITH BACKYARDS AND TREES, PROVIDED A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AND PLAY AND ACCESS TO EXCELLENT SCHOOLS.
AS AUSTIN HAS GROWN, SO HAS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE A DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE VALUES WHICH SPICEWOOD ESTATES OFFERED WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOME ARE THE SAME REASONS WHY OUR NEW NEIGHBORS PURCHASED HERE AS WELL.
IF WE WANTED TO LIVE IN A MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREA, WE WOULD'VE DONE SO.
THERE ARE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS AUSTIN, JUST LIKE OURS, WHETHER IN NORTH OR SOUTH AUSTIN.
THEY WERE BUILT FOR SUBURBAN LIVING.
THEY HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS.
THEY ARE MANY MILES FROM DOWNTOWN WITH LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT, NO SHOPPING WITHIN A WALKABLE DISTANCE, AND REQUIRE A CAR FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO EITHER TO OR AND A CAR TO EITHER GET TO WORK, GO TO HOUSES OF WORSHIP, OR VISIT FRIENDS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
IT'S FANCIFUL TO THINK THAT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE DENSITY OF OUTLYING NEIGHBORHOODS WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION BEFORE ANY FURTHER CHANGES ARE MADE TO ALLOW SMALLER, LOTS AND TALLER STRUCTURES.
IN SF NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE ARE SEVERAL QUESTIONS WHICH NEED TO BE ANSWERED.
HOW DOES MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER AND FEWER TREES IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT? WHAT'S THE IMPACT TO SCHOOLS, THE CAPACITY OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES? WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO SUBDIVISION STREETS WHICH WEREN'T DESIGNED FOR GREATER DENSITY? NOW THAT ON-PREMISE PARKING IS NO LONGER REQUIRED, WILL THESE STREETS EVEN BE PASSABLE WITH VEHICLES PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, RESULTING IN LESS SAFE BIKING, WALKING, AND PLAYING, IF THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE HIGHER DENSITY WITH ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND TRANSIT? THANK YOU.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED TO CREATE AFFORDABLE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, WHICH I HAVE THE HONOR REPRESENTING ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
I SUPPORT E TODD COMPATIBILITY REFORM AND HOME PHASE TWO BECAUSE THEY WILL MAKE AUSTIN HOUSING MORE ABUNDANT AND AFFORDABLE AND MITIGATE THE UNSUSTAINABLE URBAN S FALL WE FACE NOW AND ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
HOWEVER, I DO URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT AN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FROM 2000 SQUARE FEET TO 1900 SQUARE FEET IN HOME PHASE TWO.
THIS WILL ALLOW A 5,750 SQUARE FOOT LOT TO BE DIVIDED INTO THREE LOTS, AS WAS THE INTENTION IN HOME PHASE ONE.
I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE IDEA THAT HOME TWO IS A GIVEAWAY TO CORPORATE DEVELOPERS.
ACCORDING TO KOBE LEITZ, AN EXPERT IN DEVELOPMENT FINANCE, LARGE INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPERS ARE UNINTERESTED IN THESE SMALL PROJECTS.
THEY ARE REALLY THE PURVIEW OF LOCAL, SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED HOME BUILDERS THAT HAVE TIES TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR BOLD STEPS IN AFFORDABILITY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA LEHMAN.
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GOOD MORNING.THIS IS JESSICA LEMON, SENIOR ASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY FOR A A RP TEXAS.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF HOME PHASE TWO AND EQUITABLE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
A A RP BELIEVES THESE WILL CREATE A MORE LIVABLE AUSTIN ENABLING PEOPLE TO AGE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR COMMUNITY BY ALLOWING SMALLER LOTS.
HOME PHASE TWO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BOTH INCREASE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND PROVIDE HOMEOWNERS WITH OPTIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO REMAIN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
GIVING HOMEOWNERS THE OPTIONS TO SELL A PORTION OF THEIR LAND.
THEY CAN ACHIEVE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY THEY NEED LATER IN LIFE WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITY AND LOSE THE IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS THEY'VE CREATED THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE.
WHILE THIS OPTION WILL NOT MAKE SENSE FOR EVERYBODY AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT, IT SHOULD BE THERE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.
ALSO, ALLOWING MORE THAN, UM, NOT JUST MORE HOUSING, BUT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEAR CITIES.
TRANSIT CORRIDORS MEANS MORE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE TRANSIT WHO NEED IT.
REDUCING CAR DEPENDENCY NOT ONLY MEANS FEWER CARBON EMISSIONS, BUT IT MEANS THOSE THAT CANNOT DRIVE A CAR DUE TO A VARIETY OF FACTORS CAN STILL ACCESS EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFESPAN, AND CAN PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE CIVIC, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE OF AUSTIN.
WE KNOW THAT TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS OFTEN A VICTIM OF ITS OWN SUCCESS, PRICING OUT THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.
SO ENSURING HOUSING OPTIONS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING OLDER ADULTS, IS WHAT MAKES EQUITY IN AUSTIN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL CURRY.
I QUESTION THE TIMING PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING.
THE STAFF PREPARED AN IMPRESSIVE NUMBER OF MEMOS AND ORDINANCE MAPS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS COVERING THE THREE CODE CHANGES BEFORE YOU TODAY, BUT NO ONE CAN HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THE TYPICAL MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WITH A JOB AND POSSIBLY A FAMILY HAS BEEN GIVEN ADEQUATE TIME TO REVIEW AND PROCESS THE WRITTEN INFORMATION TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THESE COMPLICATED ORDINANCES.
A MERE 10 DAYS AFTER THE NOTICE ARRIVED IN THE MAIL.
10 DAYS IS THE MINIMUM TIME REQUIRED FOR EVEN THE SIMPLEST ZONING CASE.
EACH OF THESE ORDINANCES IS MAKE BROAD CHANGES THAT WILL ALTER THE FABRIC OF NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY, UPEND FAMILIES EXPECTATIONS, AND IGNORE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COMPACTS THE CITY HAS PREVIOUSLY MADE.
IF THIS COUNCIL IS RUSHING THEM AT A PACE THAT ENSURES MISTAKES, MISJUDGMENTS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE COUNCIL MEMBER EXPLAINED TO HER CONSTITUENTS IN HER APRIL 3RD NEWSLETTER THAT WITH THESE AMENDMENTS, THE CITY IS PROPOSING QUOTE, ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS ON CORRIDORS.
YET THE COMPATIBILITY REDUCTIONS PROPOSED BY STAFF ARE NOT LIMITED TO QUARTERS.
THIS IS A MONUMENTAL DISCONNECT ALONG TWO DIMENSIONS.
OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO EXTEND EXTREME COMPATIBILITY REDUCTIONS TO PROPERTIES NOT LOCATED ON A CORRIDOR, AND THAT MISTAKE IS COMPOUNDED WHEN APPLIED TO PURELY COMMERCIAL ZONING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOUSING CAPACITY AND WAS GRANTED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS WOULD APPLY.
AGAIN, THIS IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE OF AN ERROR IN JUDGMENT OR EXECUTION CAUSED BY TIME PRESSURES AND A LACK OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
INSTEAD OF RUSHING, SWEEPING ZONING CHANGES TO ADOPTION, THEY SHOULD BE VETTED THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND CONSENSUS ABILITY AND CREATE NEW DISTRICTS TO ALLOW CONSIDERATION ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
ABBA? HI, MY NAME IS UJA ABBA.
I'M A DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT AND I'M AGAINST THE AMENDMENT TO THE LDC RELATED TO DENSITY BONUSES ALONG THE LIGHT RAIL HOME PHASE TWO AND CHANGES TO COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT A SOFTWARE PROGRAM APPLIED A HALF MILE BUFFER AROUND THE RAIL SYSTEM, BUT THAT JUST MEANS THE DENSITY PROGRAM CAN APPLY TO PLACES NOT NEAR A BUS STOP.
AS SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT OWN A CAR AND RELIES ON PUBLIC TRANSIT, A HALF MILE IS A MISLEADING BENCHMARK.
FOR MANY PEOPLE, IT WOULD TAKE THEM MORE THAN A HALF MILE TO REACH THEIR STOP, AND FOR MOST PEOPLE, A HALF MILE WALK IS TOO FAR TRAFFIC, A LACK OF SIDEWALKS, HEAT AND OTHER FACTORS MAKE IT DANGEROUS TO NAVIGATE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF AUSTIN.
WHEN WE ENVISION WHAT IS EQUITABLE, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THE NEEDS OF MONEY.
ALLOWING A DENSITY BONUS AMONG ALONG THE ENTIRE LIGHT RAIL IS GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES ALONG THAT PATH WHO CAN'T KEEP UP? ONCE THE VALUE OF LAND BEGINS TO INCREASE, THIS MEANS MORE DISPLACEMENT
[01:10:01]
AND INCREASE HOUSING COSTS.I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU OPT INTO THE DENSITY BONUS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR SOMEONE TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY AND THAT WOULD GREATLY IMPACT THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO REDEVELOP THE APPLIED THE DENSITY BONUS APPLIED TO THE EAD.
SOUNDS LIKE A PRECURSOR CONDITION FOR GENTRIFICATION.
I URGE YOU ALL TO RECONSIDER HOW SUCH A BLANKET SOLUTION COULD BE EQUITABLE.
I URGE YOU TO POSTPONE YOUR VOTE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS NIKA ARNOLD.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALING PROJECT AND I AM A BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE AND I AM HERE TO THE MAN THAT YOU POSTPONE THE VOTE FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND REAL SOLUTIONS AND VOTE NO ON HOMES.
THESE PLANS WILL ONLY ACCELERATE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME BIPOC, HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS BY DRIVING UP PROPERTY TAXES, RENT, AND INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS TO TAKE OVER OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DEMOLISHING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THESE PLANS WILL NOT IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY FOR AUSTIN AND LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS DISPLACEMENT IN HOMELESSNESS, THESE PLANS ARE SYSTEMATICALLY RACIST.
LOW INCOME BIPOC NEIGHBORHOODS WILL BE TARGETED FIRST BY DEVELOPERS BECAUSE LAND IS CHEAPER IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, GIVEN HIGHER PROFIT MARGINS, ALL OF THESE POLICIES WILL DRIVE UP HOUSING COSTS, MAKING A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WORTH FOR EVERYONE.
THESE DEVELOPERS ARE TRYING TO BUILD A NEW CITY AND MAKE AUSTIN THEIR EXAMPLE AND WE WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.
WE ARE DEMANDING Y'ALL POSTPONE THIS VOTE AND ENGAGE MORE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND STOP MAKING DECISIONS FOR US BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS.
WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE APPLYING THIS BANDAID FOR SURGERY.
WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GETTING RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH REALLY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FUND THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ANYMORE.
WE'RE LIVING ON A STREET AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS NOT HELPING US, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE ECHO, UH, HOME COORDINATED ASSESSMENTS THAT SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR, EVEN WHEN YOU'RE SIT LIVING ON THE STREETS, WE HAVE MOTHERS CHILDREN, FATHERS FAMILIES LIVING IN TENTS, SLEEPING ON THE BENCHES.
THE SHELTERS ARE OVERPOPULATED.
THERE'S LACK OF RESOURCES WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING AND I WONDER WHY WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS AND A 'CAUSE.
WE ARE DEMANDING MORE RESOURCES.
POSTPONE THE VOTE UNTIL Y'ALL COULD BENEFIT OFF THE NATIVES.
MY, THERE'S A WHOLE COMMUNITY NAMED AFTER MY ANCESTORS AND I DON'T PROFIT.
I'M AFFECTED BY THE D THANK YOU SPEAKER.
I WON'T BE ABLE TO GO UT ANYMORE.
WHAT ARE Y'ALL GONNA DO FOR US? WE ARE ELIZABETH FUENTES.
I'M A 65-YEAR-OLD NATIVE AUSTIN.
I'M TRYING TO BUILD A TINY HOME IN MY SON'S BACKYARD SO THAT I CAN GROW OLD IN.
I THOUGHT THE NEW HOME INITIATIVE WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH BUILDING MY TINY HOME.
AFTER SPEAKING AND MEETING WITH DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRYING TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION ONLINE, I WAS TOLD THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE.
BUILDING A TINY HOME HAS THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS A LARGE HOME.
THE PROCESS HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT FOR ME.
IF I WAS WEALTHY OR A DEVELOPER, I COULD HIRE COMPANIES TO DO THE PROCESS FOR ME, BUT I AM NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO USE A HIGH QUALITY STORAGE SHED, WHICH WOULD HAVE HARDY PLANK SIDING.
I WOULD LIKE TO HIRE A SMALL BUSINESS S-M-M-S-M-S CONSTRUCTION OWNED BY SANTIAGO.
I'VE BEEN USING SANTIAGO FOR OTHER JOBS IN MY HOME, BUT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE VERY CONSTRICTING.
I WAS TOLD I NEED A LICENSED ARCHITECT AND LICENSED ENGINEER.
HIRING A LARGE CONTRACT TO DO THIS WOULD COST OVER $125,000.
HOW IS THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING? DOING IT MY WAY BY BUYING THE STORAGE SHED AND HAVING SANTIAGO ASSIST ME WOULD BE ABOUT $50,000.
I HEARD THEY MAY, THERE MAY BE SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE COMING SOON.
I HOPE THIS IS THE CASE AND IF IT IS BASED ON INCOME, I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THIS.
THE COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN HAS RISEN.
I AM NOW CONSIDERED LOW INCOME.
UH, THIS ISN'T THE MEETING I WANTED TO SPEAK INTO, BUT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CONCERN THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE THAT I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL WITH.
SO SHOULD I GET BACK WITH THE CITY CLERK AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON? YES.
IF THIS IS NOT THE, UH, MEETING THAT
[01:15:01]
YOU INTENDED TO SPEAK AT, PLEASE GET WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE SO THAT YOU CAN COORDINATE AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK EITHER TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE COUNCIL AT THE MEETING THAT YOU, UH, THAT WOULD BE MORE RELEVANT.YEAH, I, I WANT, YEAH, I WANNA SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT A, A, A CITY ISSUE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS MEETING.
THEN PLEASE, THEN I CAN FIND OUT.
HELLO, THIS IS DAN KESHET FROM DISTRICT SIX.
UH, I AM SPEAKING TODAY IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL IN FAVOR OF, UH, ALL OF THE PROPOSALS.
UH, WHAT I REALLY WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THAT FIRST OF ALL, OUR EFFORTS AT BUILDING NEW HOUSING AND SEEING IT MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE HAVE BEEN WORKING.
UH, WE HAVE SEEN STATISTICS THAT, UH, AUSTIN IS LEADING THE NATION IN, UH, THE OVER THE LAST, UM, YEAR OR SO IN BRINGING RENTS DOWN WHERE THE REST OF THE NATION HAS SEEN RENTS CONTINUE TO CLIMB, BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING THAT WE'RE STARTING TO HIT AGAINST SOME LIMITS.
UH, PROJECTS THAT WOULD HAVE, UH, THAT WOULD'VE GONE FORWARD ARE STARTING TO PULL BACK OR SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE, UH, THE PROJECTED RENTS ARE LOWER.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE NEED TO, UM, KEEP GOING AND KEEP ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE PREVENTING LOWER COST DEVELOPMENTS FROM GOING FORWARD.
SO WE NEED TO DO THINGS LIKE ALLOWING SMALLER HOUSES, ALLOWING SMALLER LOT HOUSES, UM, BUILDING, UH, CLOSE TO HIGH AMENITY AREAS THAT WILL, UM, THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY MORE RENT BECAUSE MAYBE THEY CAN GO WITHOUT A CAR.
AND SO I THINK THAT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING THE EFFECT, IT'S POSITIVE, BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP.
WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
NEXT SPEAKER IS HAYDEN BLACK WALKER.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME'S HAYDEN BLACK WALKER.
MY FAMILY'S BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THESE UPDATES TO OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHETHER YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE LIKE MY YOUNG ADULT CHILDREN OR STARTING TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO AGE IN PLACE LIKE DAVID AND I ARE, THAT WE ALL NEED A VARIETY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHOICES FOR DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE THESE NEWS TOWARD MORE WALKABLE TRANSIT FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES WITH INCREASED HOUSING CHOICES.
SO I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THESE CHANGES BEFORE YOU TODAY.
OUR JUNE CHANDRA SKAR, UH, HI.
I WANT TO START BY THANKING EVERYONE ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALL THE HARDWICK WORK THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UH, I'M CALLING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES.
NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE DENSITY TO MAXIMIZE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE DENSITY TO COMBAT OUR UNSUSTAINABLE LEVELS OF URBAN SPRAWL.
AND FURTHERMORE, LIKE A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, EVERY SINGLE STUDY ON THE TOPIC SHOWS THAT BUILDING MORE HOUSING WILL REDUCE THE HOUSING COST FOR EVERYBODY.
INCREASING SUPPLY IS THE BEST WAY OUT OF OUR HOUSING PRACTICE, AND THIS PROPOSAL WILL ENCOURAGE DENSER HOUSING.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE MY TIME NOW TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF DETROIT.
THEY ARE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT A SPLIT RATE PROPERTY TAX IN WHICH THE LAND VALUE WILL BE TAXED AT A HIGHER RATE AND BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE TAXED AT A LOWER RATE.
THIS WILL EFFECTIVELY SHIFT THE TAX BURDEN ONTO LAND SPECULATORS IN A WAY ON FROM HONEST HOMEOWNERS.
RIGHT NOW, LAND SPECULATORS CAN HOLD VACANT LAND AND PROFIT OFF OF COMMUNITY GROWTH WHILE PREVENTING US FROM MAKING BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS AND WE NEED TO TAX THOSE PEOPLE.
AND GOING BACK TO WHAT ANOTHER PERSON SAID, I THINK THIS WOULD ADDRESS HER CONCERNS.
I BELIEVE THAT IF WE IMPLEMENT A SPLIT RATE PROPERTY TAX, IT WILL NATURALLY ENCOURAGE DENSE HOUSING AROUND THE URBAN CORE AND SYNERGIZE GREATLY WITH ALL THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
HI, UM, MY NAME IS LYDIA DAMON.
I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK TOO MUCH ON THE HOME, UH, AMENDMENT TODAY BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS MOST, MOST
[01:20:01]
OF THIS WAS COVERED LAST TIME.I DID WANNA SAY THAT IT'S, IT'S DEPLORABLE THE WAY THE CITY HAS SHUT OUT COMMUNITIES.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS SHUT OUT ALL THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT A VOICE AT THE TABLE IN FAVOR OF THE DEVELOPERS IN FAVOR OF THE BIGGER INTERESTS.
WHY ARE WE RUSHING THIS? WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR THE CITY TO SIT DOWN AND GIVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION, WHETHER YOU GO THAT WAY OR NOT IN THE LONG RUN, WHY IS IT BEING SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS? WHY ARE WE GIVING THE MINIMUM POSSIBLE NOTICE? I ALSO DID WANNA SAY I DO SUPPORT THE ELECTRONIC, UH, VEHICLE AMENDMENT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE MEASURE.
UM, MANY OF THE ARGUMENTS I'M HEARING ARE REMINISCENT OF THE ONES THAT WERE MADE AGAINST DEVELOPMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND WHAT I SAW WHEN I WAS THERE IN THE NINETIES WAS A VERY VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT WAS FILLED WITH ARTISTS AND PEOPLE FROM MANY WALKS OF LIFE, UH, GETTING DISPLACED.
UH, AND UH, I THINK THAT THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE HOUSING CRISIS, AND THIS IS WHAT STUDY AFTER STUDY SHOWS, IS TO ENABLE BUILDING, UH, THE DELAYS, UH, AGAINST THE MEASURE ARE GOING TO END UP, UH, HURTING, UH, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST IT.
IN MY VIEW, UH, IT'S GOING TO RETARD, UH, GROWTH AND I THINK IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY INCLUDING, UH, NEW EFFORTS.
I JUST HEARD FROM THE DEAN OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.
SHE'S, UM, GOT AMAZING PLANS FOR DEVELOPING THE MEDICAL SYSTEM HERE AND ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS IN THE CROWD THERE WAS HOW THEY WOULD ATTRACT THE TALENT THAT THEY'RE HOPING TO, UH, WITH, UM, THE INCREASING HOUSING COSTS.
SO THIS IS A CONCERN FOR EVERYBODY.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO AFFECT, UH, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND BUILDING IS OUR WAY OUT OF IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
HI, MY NAME IS AIDEN ABRAHAM AND I'M FROM DISTRICT NINE.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF HOME PHASE TWO AND RELATED POLICIES.
WHEN I'M FINISHED WITH COLLEGE, I NEED TO FIND A JOB.
I'M NOT COMPLETELY SURE WHERE I WILL LIVE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP AUSTIN AS AN OPTION BECAUSE I LIKE THIS CITY.
HOWEVER, THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN HAPPEN IS IF HOUSING IS A FORUM IN THIS CITY.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME TO LIVE IN AUSTIN IS IF WE BUILD ENOUGH SUPPLY AS WELL AS THE TYPE OF HOUSING WHICH IS MORE AFFORDABLE.
IMPLEMENTING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE REDUCTION IN RELATED POLICIES WILL DO JUST THAT.
AFTER HOUSTON REDUCED ITS LOT SIZE TO 1400 SQUARE FEET, SPARKED LARGE AMOUNTS OF TOWN OWNED CONSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS SMALL LOT SIZE CONSTRUCTION, WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING, PUTTING DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON RENTS AND HOUSING COSTS.
THE TOWN HOMES WHICH WERE BUILT ALSO PROVIDED CHEAPER OPTIONS THAN WHAT WAS INITIALLY OFFLOAD.
BECAUSE OF THIS, HOUSTON HAS REMAINED AFFORDABLE DESPITE ADDING SO MANY NEW PEOPLE TO THE CITY AND HAS ALSO KEPT ITS CURRENT RESIDENTS SAFE FROM BEING DISPLACED.
IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CONTRIBUTE TO IT WITHOUT HAVING TO MOVE OUT OF IT BECAUSE OF HIGH HOUSING COSTS, WE MUST SUPPORT PHASE TWO OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU DWAYNE REED, UH, I BEG YOU.
THE TOPIC OF URBAN DENSITY IS OFTEN PRESENTED AS A SOLUTION TO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
YET IN REALITY, THESE INITIATIVES OFTEN ACHIEVE THE OPPOSITE, EXACERBATING THESE VERY ISSUES THEY AIM TO SOLVE.
UH, CONSIDER THE IRONY THAT CITY INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO MAKE CITIES MORE AFFORDABLE ARE INFLATING PLACE PRICES OUT OF THE REACH OF THE AVERAGE CITIZEN.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TRIPLEX WHERE A 500,000 HOUSE ONCE STOOD WHEN SELLING EACH OF THE UNITS FOR 400,000 SEEMS LIKE A STEP TOWARDS AFFORDABILITY, BUT THIS IS A MIRAGE.
THE NEXT SALE SETS A NEW BENCHMARK WHICH OFFERS EXCEEDING 500,000.
AS DEVELOPERS ANTICIPATE HEFTY PROFITS, THIS CYCLE DRIES UP
[01:25:01]
LAND, VALUES, TAXES, AND COST, CREATING AN UPWARD SPIRAL TO UNAFFORDABILITY.AND PLEASE PRETEND, PLEASE DON'T PRETEND THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THIS.
THE THREE DENSE US CITIES, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, BOSTON ARE DEFINITELY NOT AFFORDABLE.
THE AVERAGE RESIDENTS EARN HIGHER WAGES THAN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN YET PAY AT A MINIMUM 10 TIMES THEIR WAGES TO AFFORD A HOME.
THE AVERAGE FOR THE REST OF THE US IS AROUND THREE TO FOUR.
THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS COMPROMISED AND CITIES BECOME A HOMOGENOUS LANDSCAPE OF SIMILAR HOUSING TYPES.
THE ENVIRONMENT SUFFERS UNDER THE STRAIN OF INCREASED DENSITY WITH GREEN SPACES GIVEN AWAY TO CONCRETE OR OTHER HOUSING.
UH, THIS IS GEARED TOWARDS YUPPIES WHO WANT TO IMPOSE THEIR IDEALS ON EVERYONE ELSE.
NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO LIVE IN A MULTI-STORY CONDO.
IS THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER SUPPOSED TO LUG UP THEIR THEIR PAINT UP TWO FLIGHTS OF STAIRS? ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO RIDE THEIR BIKE OR GET ON A TRAIN WITH AN EIGHT FOOT TWO BY FOUR WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO THEIR JOB? ECONOMIC DIVIDES WIDEN AS THE CITY SELLS IT, SOLD TO DEVELOPERS, SIDELINING THE CITIZENS IT'S MEANT TO SERVE.
A SPEAKER JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS.
I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH A A RP TEXAS AND A MEMBER OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE, UM, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME TWO PROPOSAL.
WHEN WE ASK PEOPLE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE AS THEY AGE BY WIDE MARGINS, THEY INDICATE THEY WANT TO REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IDEALLY IN THEIR HOMES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT FOR MOST PEOPLE AS THEY AGE, THEY WILL NEED SOME FORM OF CAREGIVING, WHETHER THAT BE ASSISTANCE WITH GETTING GROCERIES OR MANAGING THEIR FINANCE OR MORE SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE.
FOR SOME, THEIR ONLY OPTION MAY BE AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES IN A FACILITY, BUT FOR MANY PEOPLE, A MORE AFFORDABLE AND PREFERRED OPTION IS TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND RECEIVE HELP, RECEIVE HELP FROM LOVED ONES.
WHEN A A RP SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE FIRST HOME PROPOSALS, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED PEOPLE WITH NEW OPTIONS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES OR THEIR COMMUNITIES AS THEY AGE.
BY GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THEMSELVES A FAMILY MEMBER OR A CARETAKER INTO AN A DU OR BRING IN RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES BY RENTING OUTTA UNIT THAT THEY BUILT ON THEIR PROPERTY.
THIS NEW HOME TO PROPOSAL OFFERS ANOTHER OPTION FOR A PERSON WHO STILL, WHO OWNS THEIR HOME TO SELL A PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY AND STILL REMAIN LIVING IN THEIR HOME, PROVIDING THEM WITH RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN CAREGIVING NEEDS AS THEY AGE AND STILL REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HOMEOWNERS OF ALL INCOMES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE HOME PROPOSALS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOWER COST FINANCING, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM AND TO HAVE PROTECTIONS AGAINST UNSCRUPULOUS PRACTICES IN THE MARKET.
IF THEY DEVELOP IN THAT REGARD, WE WOULD URGE YOU TO REQUEST REGULAR REPORTING FROM STAFF, INCLUDING QUICKLY IDENTIFYING ANY PROBLEMS THAT EMERGE AMONG LOWER INCOME AND OLDER HOMEOWNERS.
MY NAME IS MANAMI KREMS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M A STUDENT AT UT AUSTIN AND THE CAMPUS DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY DEMOCRATS.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE E OVERLAY AND THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SUPPORT, HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY AND TRANSPORTATION TO ISSUES THAT GREATLY IMPACT STUDENTS.
THE UNIVERSITY ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 8,000 SPACES IN THE DORMS, WHICH MEANS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF UT STUDENTS HAVE TO FIND PRIVATE HOUSING IN THE WEST CAMPUS NEIGHBORHOOD.
BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING SHORTAGE IN WEST CAMPUS, STUDENTS MUST COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER, THE EACH OTHER TO FIND THE BEST RATES AS SOON AS SEPTEMBER FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
DEVELOPERS AND LANDLORDS KNOW THAT STUDENTS ARE DESPERATE TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PROFIT OFF.
STUDENTS WILL FOUND FEARS THAT THEY MAY NOT FIND AFFORDABLE OR LIVABLE ACCOMMODATIONS.
CORE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT IS ALSO RAMPANT IN WEST CAMPUS.
IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR LANDLORDS TO KICK OUT STUDENTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEMESTER FOR RENOVATIONS AND LEAVE THEIR APARTMENT IN AN UNLIVABLE STATE.
PESTS, MOLD AND PIPE BREAKAGES ARE ALSO COMMON IN WEST CAMPUS, WHICH ALL DISRUPT STUDENT LIVES AND THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN.
THE INITIATIVES BEING CONSIDERED TODAY BY THE COUNCIL WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH MORE OPTIONS AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS.
AND WEST CAMPUS, BECAUSE THE CURRENT SUPPLY OF HOUSING IS LOWER THAN DEMAND FOR IT, STUDENTS HAVE TO SETTLE FOR PAYING HIGH RENT WHILE
[01:30:01]
ALSO BEING NEGLECTED AND MISTREATED BY THE SAME DEVELOPERS AND LANDLORDS THAT THEY PAY RENT TO.THE AMENDMENTS BEING CONSIDERED WILL HELP EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY LOWER THE COST OF LIVING AND ENSURE THAT DEVELOPERS MUST STEER THE BARE MINIMUM OF KEEPING THE PROPERTIES THEY OWN HABITABLE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT THE PROPOSED INITIATIVES.
JENNY, PLEASE UNMUTE NEIL ISCO ON MY STREET.
I'M WEST OF CAMP MABRY AND ON MANY STREETS THROUGHOUT ALDER AUSTIN, THE WATER MAINS AREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE THE, THE MINIMUM FLOW REQUIRED BY THE FIRE CODE.
YOU WOULDN'T ALLOW THIS IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT.
WOULD ANY OF YOU VOTE TO APPROVE A NEW DEVELOPMENT WHOSE WATER MAINS COULDN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH WATER TO PUT OUT A SINGLE HOUSE FIRE? OF COURSE YOU WOULDN'T.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING IF YOU APPROVE THIS.
I'M ALL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I AM FOR DENSITY IN AREAS THAT CAN SUPPORT IT.
BUT THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF SUBSTANDARD FIRE HYDRANT FLOWS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED, AND THESE AREAS DO NOT SUPPORT INCREASED DENSITY.
INCREASING DENSITY IN AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE THE WATER, SEWAGE, OR ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE WOULD BE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.
IT'S DELUSIONAL TO THINK THAT THAT WILL LOWER PRICES BECAUSE THE ULTIMATE ULTIMATELY YOU'VE GOT TO REPAIR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU'VE GOT TO INCREASE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT HOUSES.
SIMPLY DECREEING THAT ALL OF AUSTIN CAN SUDDENLY HAVE DENSITY IS FANTASTICAL THINKING THAT I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ADDRESS THIS IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION.
THE CURRENT PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE, IT JUST DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE.
IT'S NOT ECONOMIC, IT CANNOT WORK.
WE WILL TRY TO RECONNECT WITH JENNY, BUT THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE UM, IN, I MEAN, REMOTE SPEAKERS.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN, LET ME REMIND EVERYONE THAT IF, UH, YOUR NAME IS CALLED, SHE'LL PROBABLY CALL THEM IN THREE AT A TIME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED, IF YOU'LL MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT AND TAKE ONE OF THESE SEATS.
AND THEN IF THERE'S AN OPEN MICROPHONE, JUST PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD SO THAT WE'LL HAVE THAT ON THE RECORD AND THEN PROCEED.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE TWO, UH, PODIUMS THERE SO THAT YOU CAN ALTERNATE BETWEEN THE PODIUMS. FIRST SPEAKER IS BILL MCCALLEY.
ON DECK IS KAI HARKEY WITH VALERIE MINARD ON DECK.
THANK YOU MR. MAYOR IS THIS ONE.
MR. CHAIR? UH, MY NAME'S BILL HAMLEY.
CAN'T HEAR YOU CAN GET THAT ONE WORKING.
IT'S JUST, I'M NOT SURE IT'S TURNED UP ENOUGH.
SO IF, IF, UM, WE CAN LET, LET'S EXPERIMENT WITH IT AND MAKE SURE IT'S MODERATED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, BILL MCCALLEY WITH TRANSIT FORWARD.
WE'RE IN AUSTIN 5 0 1 C3 WITH A MISSION OF EDUCATION ENGAGEMENT REGARDING TRANSIT, UH, WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON PROJECT CONNECT.
AND THE THESE TYPES OF CHANGES ARE IMPORTANT FOR TWO REASONS.
THE MOST DIRECT REASON IS BECAUSE THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP IS GONNA BE GOING VERY SOON TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ASKING FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP COMPLETE LIGHT RAIL.
THE AMOUNT THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE ASKING FOR MIGHT BE ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST ALLOCATION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOLLAR WISE IN THE HISTORY OF TEXAS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ASKED FOR IN THIS COMPETITIVE PROCESS IS FOR LAND USE REFORM.
THE FED, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KNOWS THAT MORE TRANSIT NEAR MORE BUS, OR EXCUSE ME, MORE TRANSIT NEAR MORE HOUSING, ALLOWS FOR MORE AFFORDABILITY, ALLOWS FOR A GREENER UH, COUNTRY BECAUSE WE'VE KNOCKED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS DOWN AND ALLOWS FOR MORE SAFETY.
AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT ALONG WITH THE THINGS YOU'VE ALREADY DONE, THE HOME ONE, GETTING THE DENSITY BONUS THINGS DONE, THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS, THESE THINGS WILL ALLOW THEM TO MAKE A REALLY GOOD ARGUMENT AND PUT US IN A VERY COMPETITIVELY ADVANTAGEOUS PLACE TO HELP GET THIS MONEY FROM THE FEDS TO HELP US GET A REALLY NEEDED LIGHT RAIL LINE.
[01:35:01]
BUT THE SECOND REASON IS TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT FOLKS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED.YOU'VE GOT UNIONS THAT ARE BACKING THIS 'CAUSE THEIR WORKERS NEED IT.
YOU'VE GOT STUDENTS BACKING IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO STAY HERE IN AUSTIN, LIKE GENERATIONS BEFORE THAT CAME TO UT AND STUCK AROUND.
YOU'VE GOT THE A A RP ASKING FOR THIS 'CAUSE.
YEAH, RETIREES WANNA LIVE AFFORDABLY HERE AS WELL.
MAKING THIS WORK IS A GOOD THING FOR ALL OF US.
MR. CHAIR, MR. MAYOR, LAST THING.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING THE TIME ON THIS TODAY.
KNOW THIS IS REALLY, REALLY TOUGH, BUT WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH THE EFFORT, THE AMOUNT OF LISTENING AND THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING SHOWN HERE TODAY.
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
GOOD LUCK WITH THE REST OF YOUR DAY.
MAYOR, WE HAVE MS. GRAYSON BACK ONLINE, SO WE, WE WILL CALL JENNY GRAYSON AND THEN WE WILL PROCEED WITH IN PERSON.
OKAY, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO CONNECT.
PLEASE COME, GO AHEAD AND COME FORWARD.
UM, I SPENT THE LAST 12 YEARS WORKING WITH THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I, UH, TODAY I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS WHERE I HELP LOCAL STATE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, UH, IN THE AUDUBON SOCIETY AS WE TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS, UH, TO CARE ABOUT OUR NATURAL PLACES AND TO PROTECT PARKS.
I STUDIED ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RIGHT HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND, AND MY PATH AS A, AN AUSTIN NATIVE AND A LIFELONG CONSERVATIONIST BEGAN AS A TINY LITTLE BOY SCOUT GROWING UP IN THE ALLENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEY TAUGHT US, UH, THE LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES.
AND BEAR WITH ME FOR A SECOND.
YOU THINK ABOUT WE GO TO A CAMPSITE AND YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR TENT UP.
THEY TAUGHT US NOT TO PUT OUR TENT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CAMPSITE WHERE WE HAVE NATIVE PRAIRIE, UH, WE HAVE POLLINATOR HABITAT, WE HAVE BLUE BONNETS, BUT RATHER TO PUT YOUR TENT IN THE AREA THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED UPON IN THE CENTER OF THAT CAMPSITE.
AS A CONSERVATIONIST AND NATIVE AUSTINITE, I SUPPORT THE CHANGES TO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TODAY.
UH, THEY WILL ALLOW FOR MORE COMPACT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL AUSTIN.
SMALLER, LOTS, SMALLER UNITS AND TRANSIT ORIENTED DENSITY IS GOOD FOR CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY.
I BELIEVE AUSTIN'S GROWTH IS INEVITABLE AND WE HAVE A CHOICE OF WHERE THAT GROWTH IS GOING AND THE EXISTING LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE PUSHES THAT GROWTH TO THE OUTSKIRTS WHERE WE HAVE LESS THAN 1% OF NATIVE PRAIRIE REMAINING IN TEXAS.
I WANNA KEEP WILD PLACES WILD, WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THAT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
TO DO THAT, I CAN SPEND MY TIME DREAMING ABOUT THE AUSTIN THAT I GREW UP IN, BUT I PREFER TO SPEND MY TIME DREAMING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN WHERE MY FRIENDS AND MY FUTURE CHILDREN CAN AFFORD TO LIVE STILL AND THEY STILL HAVE GREEN OPEN SPACES IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF AUSTIN TO VISIT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
VALERIE MENARD ON DECK IS ADRIAN MACIAS AND MEGAN RAMOS.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
UM, MY NAME IS VALERIE MENARD AND I'M THE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR POES, COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY.
I'M A VOTER AND A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT ONE.
THE PRESENTATION I'M GOING TO GIVE MAY LOOK FAMILIAR TO COUNCIL, BUT I BELIEVE IT, UH, BEARS REPEATING TODAY I WANNA TALK ABOUT GENTRIFICATION, UH, WHICH IS THE ANTITHESIS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHICH BOTH PHASES OF HOME WILL ESCALATE, FORCING WORKING CLASS HOMEOWNERS TO BECOME RENTERS AND UNHOUSED.
UM, LET'S START WITH THE 1928 BUS MASTER PLAN THAT SEGREGATED EAST AND WEST AUSTIN.
PLACING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR NEXT TO POLLUTING INDUSTRIES ON THE EAST SIDE.
DECADES LATER, WEST AUSTIN WAS DESIGNATED AS THE WATERSHED PROTECTION ZONE WHILE EAST AUSTIN BECAME THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
THIS LED TO A DISINVESTMENT IN EAST AUSTIN INTO CHEAPER LAND THAT DEVELOPERS, INVESTOR AND INVESTORS NOW WANT TO DEVELOP FOR MASSIVE PROFITS.
HOMES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONUSES ARE WEAK AND INADEQUATE.
SO TO CLAIM THAT IT WILL INCREASE AFFORDABILITY IS I LOGICAL AND UNTRUE.
THIS IS HOW GENTRIFICATION HAPPENS.
YOU START WITH A HISTORY OF DISINVESTMENT IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT THAT CREATES LOW LAND COSTS THAT, UH, THAT EQUAL HIGHER PROFIT MARGINS FOR DEVELOPERS, UH, FOLLOWED BY DE DEREGULATION OF THE MARKET, INCLUDING UPZONING POLICIES LIKE HOME AND BUILDING MARKET RATE.
LUXURY HOUSING IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT DESTROYS LOW INCOME HOMES AND DRIVES UP PROPERTY TAXES.
WHEN DEREGULATION HAPPENS, THERE IS AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR PROFIT MARGINS AND THAT AN INCREASED RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
CITY COUNCILS PASSING A POLICY TO LET INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS BUILD MARKET RATE LUXURY HOUSING, DISPLACING
[01:40:01]
OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.POLICIES LIKE HOME ACCELERATE GENTRIFICATION AND WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN IN EAST AUSTIN WHERE AFFORDABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING USED TO EXIST HOME WILL DENY WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES A SENSE OF SECURITY, THE DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP, AND A CLA A CHANCE FOR UPWARD MOBILITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.
THANK YOU ADRIAN MACIAS, MEGAN RAMOS AND CARLOS CARLOS ION, SORRY.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE YOUTH COORDINATOR FOR PROTE WITH THE PASSING OF PHASE ONE OF HOME.
MY CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE AND MANY OTHER MEMBERS HAVE DISAPPOINTED THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
I'M MORE DISAPPOINTED IN THE FACT THAT A SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING WAS SET TODAY, APRIL THE 11TH, GIVING THE COMMUNITY NO TIME TO SHARE ANY MEANINGFUL THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS ON THE MATTER.
YOU ARE SILENTLY SEEING US DAY BY DAY AND MAKING THE LIVES OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUTH HARDER THAN THEY NEED TO.
AS A YOUTH COORDINATOR AND SEEING THE YOUTH ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HAUNT ME TO KNOW THAT THE CITY THEY WERE BORN AND RAISED IN IS NO LONGER AFFORDABLE, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE I'M MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES FAILED US AND SHOWED THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR AUSTIN FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND THAT IS WHY YOU GAVE US NO TIME TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER.
YOU RUSHED US BECAUSE NONE OF Y'ALL CARED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN.
AS I DO BELIEVE YOU PUT PROFIT OVER THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
SO PLEASE, I AM ASKING, THE YOUTH ARE ASKING AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME ARE ASKING TO NOT PASS PHASE TWO OR AT LEAST GIVE US MORE TIME TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU DO CARE AND THAT YOU SHOW THAT WE CAN TRUST YOU GUYS TO UNDERST STAND.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL, MEGAN RAMOS, CARLOS PINON.
UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS PLANNING COMMISSION AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON.
I'M MEGAN RAMOS, A UT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE AGAIN TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND EXPRESS MY SUPPORT TOWARDS THE HOME INITIATIVE AS A YOUNG PERSON IN AUSTIN.
UM, SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY ASKED, WHAT STAKE DO I HOLD IN THIS SITUATION? WELL, I LIVE HERE AND I VOTE HERE SO THAT, AND I AM HERE AND I WILL KEEP COMING HERE TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANT OF HAVING, HAVING YOUNG VOICES HEARD IN THESE CONVERSATIONS.
I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET.
I'M ONE OF MANY STUDENTS IN AUSTIN WHO WANNA CONTINUE STUDYING AND LIVING HERE.
AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS LIKE UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE CONTINUING TO DRIVE US, NOT JUST US, BUT CURRENT RESIDENTS AS WELL.
OUT AND FURTHER FROM THE CITY, OUR FRIENDS HAVING TO MOVE FURTHER AWAY FROM WEST CAMPUS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE TO COMMUTE FROM THEIR HOMETOWNS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO MOVE CLOSER TO WEST CAMPUS BECAUSE OF THE UNAFFORDABLE RENT.
CONSIDERING WHAT'S ON THE TABLE, THE REDUCTION OF THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE, THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AND THE RELAXATION OF ZONING REGULATIONS FOR PROPERTIES WITHIN PHASE ONE'S PROJECT CONNECT WILL BENEFIT THE PRESENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
THIS HOUSING CRISIS IS DISPLACING LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND PUSHING AWAY FUTURE ONES.
WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, AUSTIN IS GROWING, SO WE MUST ACCOMMODATE FOR THIS CHANGE.
THIS IMPACTS EVERYONE'S ABILITY TO OWN A HOME HERE ONE DAY AND I HOPE WE CAN MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS A MORE AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE AUSTIN.
CARLOS PINON ON DECK ARE ALEXIA LA CLERK AND KIMBERLY LEVINSON.
UH, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CARLOS PINON AND I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT FIVE AND WORK PRIMARILY IN DISTRICT THREE AS A PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT ED, UH, IN ORGANIZING WITH PODER COMMUNITY POWER A TX AND THE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THAT HOME WILL INEVITABLY FORCE OUT OF AUSTIN.
I'VE BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THIS CITY'S LONGSTANDING HISTORY OF SYSTEMIC DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, SPECIFICALLY IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT FROM THE 1928 MASTER PLAN AND REDLINING TO SMART GROWTH AND CODE X.
THE MECHANISMS THAT UNDERLIE THESE EXCLUSIONARY PLANNING POLICIES HAVE SURFACED AGAIN THROUGH THE HOME INITIATIVE.
IT'S DISHEARTENING TO WATCH THE CITY NOT EVEN ATTEMPT THE BARE MINIMUM GESTURE GESTURE OF ACKNOWLEDGING ITS PAST BETWEEN SAID FOREGO HISTORY ALTOGETHER AND ADD TO THIS, THIS DISTURBING LEGACY.
THOUGH YOU'VE PASSED HOME PHASE ONE, THE QUESTION REMAINS HOW WILL IT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME? AUSTINITES, YOU'VE HEARD THIS OVER AND OVER AND WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR IT.
MARKET RATE HOUSING ONLY PRODUCES HOUSING FOR WEALTHY BUYERS AND INVESTORS ACCELERATING GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS OF COLOR BY DRIVING UP PROPERTY TAXES AND RENT WHILE CREATING INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS TO TAKE OVER OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHY ARE YOU RUSHING THESE CHANGES? IT'S ONLY BEEN FOUR MONTHS SINCE COUNCIL VOTED ON A PHASE ONE AND ONE WOULD THINK THAT SUCH UPHEAVALS TO THE ENTIRE CITY'S LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SHOULD TAKE MORE TIME, MORE DOCUMENTATION, MORE COMMUNITY INPUT.
THE FACT THAT THIS IS ALREADY OUT FOR ANOTHER VOTE NEXT MONTH TELLS ME THAT YOU AREN'T DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE TO CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS THAT YOUR DECISIONS WILL HAVE ON AUSTIN'S COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY RESIDENTS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT WHERE, YOU KNOW, PROFIT MARGINS ARE HIGHEST, WHERE, YOU KNOW DEVELOPERS WILL DEMOLISH EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FIRST TO BUILD EYESORE LUXURY APARTMENTS AND TOWN HOMES.
[01:45:01]
KNOW, WELL THAT THREE HEARINGS IN TWO OPEN HOUSES ARE INSUFFICIENT UNDER THE SCALE OF THESE CODE CHANGES AND WON'T REACH THOSE WHO WILL BE MOST IMPACTED.ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GIVING THIS COMMUNITY A SAY OR IS THIS ALL JUST A PERFORMANCE FOR US TO ALL PLAY INTO? I'M DEFINITELY REPEATING MYSELF FROM WHEN I SPOKE AT COUNCIL LAST DECEMBER, BUT IT FEELS LIKE NOTHING, NOT THE RALLIES, NOT THE ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS, NOT THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR WORK DAYS TO SPEAK AGAINST HOME AND SHOWED UP IN MORE NUMBERS THAN THOSE FOR IT HAS BEEN INSTRUCTIVE TO YOU.
I ASK AGAIN, PLEASE RECON RECONSIDER YOUR STANCE ON HOME AS WE APPROACH THE HEARINGS ON PHASE TWO THIS MONTH.
AND NEXT, YOU SHOULDN'T BE BEHOLDEN TO THE DEVELOPERS YOU SEE ALEXIA LER ON DECK IS KIMBERLY LEVINSON AND ISABELLE WEBB.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ALEXIA AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO HOME PHASE TWO.
THE THING IS, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TO SAY ANYMORE BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES A GOOD SPEECH ABOUT EQUITY OR JUSTICE OR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE ISSUES.
LAST YEAR, THOSE RESIDENTS TOOK TIME OFF FROM WORK TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL TO TESTIFY.
THEY POURED THEIR SOULS OUT, TELLING VERY PERSONAL STORIES OF HOW THEIR HOMES WERE TORN DOWN TO BA AIRBNBS OR HOW LUXURY BUILDING AND MARKET RATE APARTMENTS CAME INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND LED TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS.
PROFESSORS AND RESEARCHERS FROM UT HAVE PROVED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT TRICKLE DOWN HOUSING ECONOMICS SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK.
BUILDING MORE LUXURY HOUSING WILL NOT LEAD TO AFFORDABILITY FOR MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM RALLY HAS SHOWED HOW SIMILAR POLICIES DISPLACED BLACK COMMUNITIES OVER THERE AND CASE STUDIES FROM MINNESOTA AND AND BERKELEY ALSO SHOW OUR POINT, BUT Y'ALL DID NOT LISTEN.
COMMUNITY EXPERTS HAVE ALSO SHOWN UP WITH THE REAL SOLUTIONS.
WE'VE ASKED FOR 50%, 30% M IFI APARTMENTS TO BE BILLED THAT ARE ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE.
WE'VE ASKED FOR COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS AND ALL OTHER THINGS.
THE PEOPLE'S PLAN WAS NEVER IMPLEMENTED.
AND ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, WHICH HAD AN OVERLAY TO PROTECT EAST AUSTIN AND TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR LOW INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS TO BUILD ADUS WAS ALSO NOT CONSIDERED.
NOW, IF THERE'S AN AWARD FOR LISTENING TO DEVELOPERS, TECH BILLIONAIRES OR MBS, Y'ALL COULD WIN.
BUT LISTENING TO DIRECTLY IMPACTED BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE FROM EAST AUSTIN, I HOPE THAT Y'ALL EVENTUALLY GAIN THAT SKILL.
KIMBERLY LEVINSON ON DECK IS ISABEL WEBB, CAREY AND MIRIAM SCHOEN FIELDS.
I AM, UH, A MEMBER OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THESE EXCEPT WITH ONE CAVEAT.
I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER IN THE, UH, LOT SIZES GOING DOWN TO 1900 SQUARE FEET OR LESS BECAUSE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THREE LOTS TO BE DIVIDED INSTEAD OF JUST TWO.
I THINK THAT THE EAD AND THE CORRIDORS AND THE COMPATIBILITIES ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT REFORMS THAT AUSTIN COULD POSSIBLY TAKE PLACE RIGHT NOW.
IT WILL ENABLE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE TO RIDE TRANSIT.
IT WILL ENABLE SO MUCH MORE URBAN INFILL, WHICH WILL MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND IT WILL MITIGATE TRAFFIC AND POLLUTION.
UM, ASTHMA IMPACTS SO MANY PEOPLE WHO, WHO LIVE IN DENSELY TRAFFICKED CITIES, AND THE MORE PEOPLE YOU CAN GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND ONTO BUSES AND TRAINS, THE BETTER.
SO FOR THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY AND FOR AFFORDABILITY, I URGE YOU TO APPLY ALL OF THESE, BUT GOING DOWN TO 1900.
GOOD MORNING Y'ALL, HARRY, DOING, UM, MY NAME IS ISABELLE WEB CAREY AND I AM A SENIOR AT UT AUSTIN.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, SO I'M GRADUATING AND I'M LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE AND ON MY LAPTOP I HAVE TWO WINDOWS PULLED UP.
I HAVE ZILLOW AND I HAVE THE AUSTIN BUS MAP.
AND I'M FINDING THAT THE STOPS AND THE, THE, THE HOMES THAT I CAN AFFORD ARE 45 MINUTES FROM A BUS STATION AND THE HOMES THAT I SEE NEAR BUS STATIONS, WELL, LET'S JUST SAY THEY'RE OUTTA MY BUDGET AS A GRADUATING LIBERAL LAW STUDENT.
SO I'M ASKING YOU, UM, ON BEHALF OF ALL GRADUATES AT UT WHO ARE GRADUATING, MAYBE THEY WANNA BE TEACHERS, MAYBE THEY WANNA BE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, THEY WANNA SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE THEM OPTIONS.
AND WITH OPTIONS THAT JUST MEANS FREEDOM.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, WELL, AS THE ACCENT INDICATES, I'M NOT FROM HERE, BUT I'VE COME TO APPRECIATE IS A VALUE HELD UPHELD IN THE UNITED STATES.
UM, SO I'M ASKING YOU FOR CHOICES.
UM, AND THIS PLAN ISN'T PERFECT, I'LL
[01:50:01]
SAY THAT, BUT THIS IS PROGRESS AND WE CAN'T MAKE PERFECT THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.UM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
MIRIAM SCHOEN FIELD WITH TY HAKI AND MIRANDA BEST CAMPOS ON DECK.
GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M FROM DISTRICT NINE, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF.
BEFORE I TELL YOU WHY I'M REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROPOSALS TODAY, I JUST WANNA ADD THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THESE POLICIES COMING ALONGSIDE A LIST OF PROPOSALS THAT WERE RECENTLY PUT FORWARD BY THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION SO THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY SEES A HOLISTIC HOUSING PACKAGE THAT ALSO INCLUDES PROVISIONS FOR THE PEOPLE MOST DIRECTLY AND ACUTELY IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING CRISIS, INCLUDING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
SO THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THESE PROPOSALS, BUT I'M GONNA SPEAK TO THE ONE THAT'S IMPACTED ME THE MOST PERSONALLY, WHICH IS THAT WE REALLY NEED POLICIES LIKE THIS TO MAKE TRANSIT WORK AND WE NEED TRANSIT TO WORK SO THAT EVERY AUSTINITE HAS ACCESS TO WHAT THEY NEED AND EVERY AUSTINITE CAN GET TO THE PLACES THEY NEED.
SO WHEN I, I LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AFTER AN INJURY, WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DRIVE OR RIDE A BIKE.
SO EVERYWHERE I NEEDED TO GO, I HAD TO GET TO, UM, BY WALKING OR UH, PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AND IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO LIVE HERE TO NAME JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
UM, IN ORDER TO GET TO MY PHYSICAL THERAPY APPOINTMENTS, I HAD TO TAKE THE BULK OF A DAY OFF OF WORK BECAUSE OF HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO USE TRANSIT.
UM, AT A CERTAIN POINT I LEFT AUSTIN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND LIVED IN A PLACE THAT WAS WELL SERVED BY TRANSIT AND IT WAS NIGHT AND DAY.
SUDDENLY THE WORLD BECAME ACCESSIBLE TO ME.
NOW MY STORY IS NOT IDIOSYNCRATIC.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR.
MANY ELDERLY PEOPLE CAN'T DRIVE.
AS WE HEARD FROM THE A RP EARLIER TODAY, UM, BLIND PEOPLE CAN'T DRIVE PEOPLE HARD OF HEARING, CAN'T DRIVE PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN COGNITIVE DISABILITIES CAN'T DRIVE.
PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD A CAR CAN'T DRIVE.
IT IS SO MARVELOUS THAT WE HAVE SO MANY PROVISIONS IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO WALK BUT CAN DRIVE.
WE HAVE HANDICAPPED PARKING EVERYWHERE SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS WHAT THEY NEED.
IT'S TIME THAT WE START BUILDING AND, AND SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ASSURES THAT PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DRIVE CAN ALSO HAVE ACCESS.
MIRANDA BEST CAMPOS, DAVID SULLIVAN ON DECK.
HI, I'M TY HOKI, A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT FIVE, SPECIFICALLY IN ZILKER.
UH, I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE IN A OLD CONDO NEAR SOUTH LAMAR WHERE I CAN TAKE THE BUS INTO DOWNTOWN LIKE I DID THIS MORNING.
I LOVE THAT IT PROV ALLOWS ME TO LIVE A A CAR LIGHT LIFESTYLE.
BEING ABLE TO WALK TO NEARBY RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS AND STORES GIVES ME EXERCISE AND BRINGS ME JOY.
THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT MORE AUSTINITES TO HAVE ACCESS TO, THE ABILITY TO EASILY WALK TO THE LIGHT RAIL OR BUS STOP AND OTHER ACCESS OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND THE ABILITY TO WALK TO AMENITIES JUST OUTSIDE THEIR DOOR.
EVERY TRIP THAT IS MADE WITHOUT A CAR IS ONE LESS CAR IN TRAFFIC POLLUTING OUR AIR.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE OPTION TO LIVE A CAR FREE OR CAR LIGHT LIFESTYLE, WHICH SAVES THEM FROM THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF CAR OWNERSHIP, WHICH CAN EASILY BECOME A POVERTY TRAP.
I'VE HAD ONE CLOSE FRIEND SELL HER CAR BECAUSE THE MAINTENANCE COSTS KEPT COMPELLING UP LEADING TO ESSENTIALLY A TREADMILL OF C CAR CREDIT CARD DEBT.
IT ALSO SAVES THEM FROM THE STRESS OF DRIVING AND POTENTIALLY PEOPLE'S LIVES.
MOST PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT OTHER DRIVERS AT SOME POINT.
IMAGINE IF THE NERVOUS DRIVERS WHO DIDN'T WANNA BE ON THE ROAD THAT ARE MAKING FRUSTRATING OR SOMETIMES DANGEROUS DECISIONS, WERE NOT ON THE ROAD WITH YOU, BUT INSTEAD WERE RIDING ON PUBLIC TRANSIT OR BIKING OR WALKING, UH, UNDER, UNFORTUNATELY OUR CURRENT LOAD DENSITY SPRAWL MAKES IT SO THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE WHETHER THEY WANT TO OR NOT.
THUS, MIXED USE DENSITY GIVES PEOPLE THE CHOICE IN HOW THEY WANT TO GET AROUND.
IF THEY NEED A LARGE HOLE, A LARGE LOAD THEY CAN DRIVE.
IF THEY WANT TO GRAB A COFFEE, THEY CAN WALK THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB.
THE COMPATIBILITY CHANGES IN HOME TUBE BECAUSE THEY EACH CONTRIBUTE TO THAT VISION IN SOME WAY ON A LARGER SCALE, EAD LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE INVESTMENTS IN TRANSIT.
MORE PEOPLE LIVING MORE TRANSIT MEANS MORE RIDERSHIP, WHICH MEANS MORE POLITICAL WILL FOR FUTURE INVESTMENTS.
TRANSIT IN DENSITY CAN SEEM LIKE A CHICKEN EGG QUESTION.
SOME SAY THAT WE CAN'T HAVE TRANSIT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE DENSITY.
OTHERS SAY THAT DENSITY WITHOUT TRANSIT JUST LEADS TO TRAFFIC.
UM, AND THEN THEY USE IT AS AN EXCUSE TO DO NOTHING AND KEEP THE STATUS QUO.
TODAY I'M GRATEFUL FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR MAYOR FOR TAKING BOLD ACTION TO CREATE MOMENTUM ON ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE DENSITY.
BEST CAMPOS IS NEXT WITH DAVID SULLIVAN AND IRENE PICKARD ON DECK.
MY NAME IS MIRANDA BEST CAMPOS.
I'M A MASTER'S CANDIDATE OF SOCIAL WORK AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT UT AUSTIN AND I'M AGAINST THE HOME INITIATIVE.
AND I'LL EXPLAIN TO YOU MY REASONING WHY WITH SOME DATA.
I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING DATA REGARDING THE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PERMITS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND HOW IT IS IMPACTING AFFORDABILITY FOR THE LONGTIME RESIDENTS OF EAST AUSTIN.
[01:55:01]
NOVEMBER 19TH, 2015, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IMPLEMENTED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND REQUIREMENTS FOR A DU DEVELOPMENTS IN RESPONSE TO AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.AND THE ORDINANCE TOOK EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2015.
THE CHANGES AIMED TO MAKE A DU CONSTRUCTION MORE FEASIBLE BY REDUCING RESTRICTIONS.
SINCE THE 2015 ORDINANCE TOOK PLACE, COUNCIL DISTRICTS ONE, TWO, AND THREE, WHICH COMPRISE EAST AUSTIN HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED 1,407 A DU PERMITS.
OF THOSE PERMITS, 96% OF THEM WERE OBTAINED BY LLCS.
THE INCREASE IN A DU CONSTRUCTION ISN'T PROPELLED BY HOMEOWNERS THEMSELVES, BUT RATHER BY DEVELOPMENTS OR DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO FINANCING.
FINANCING REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLE FOR THE LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME HOMEOWNERS INTERESTED IN BUILDING AN A DU GIVEN THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR AN 850 SQUARE FOOT DETACHED, A DU ARE APPROXIMATELY $150,000.
FURTHERMORE, A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EAST SIDE AND WEST SIDE OF AUSTIN DEMONSTRATES THAT MORE A DU PERMITS ARE BEING SOUGHT AFTER IN THE EAST SIDE THAN THE WEST SIDE.
SINCE THE LAND IS CHEAPER IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, THERE HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF 2,660 A DU PERMITS ALLOTTED SINCE 2015.
EAST SIDE COUNCIL DISTRICT ADUS MAKE UP 53% OF ALL ADUS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE HOME INITIATIVE IS A FALSE SOLUTION THAT ISN'T HELPING OUR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THERE ISN'T AN AFFORDABILITY MECHANISM IN HOME SUCH AS REQUIRING AT LEAST ONE OR OF THE TWO OR THREE UNITS ON EACH LOT TO BE INCOME RESTRICTED.
MOST LOW INCOME AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS REQUIRE 10% OF UNITS IN DEVELOPMENTS TO BE AFFORDABLE.
TO REQUIRE JUST ONE UNIT ON EACH LOT TO BE AFFORDABLE WOULD CREATE A 33% RATE OF AFFORDABILITY AMONG THESE A DU DEVELOPMENTS, I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THIS DATA AND RECOGNIZE THAT THESE REZONING INITIATIVES ARE FALSE SOLUTIONS.
DAVID SULLIVAN IS NEXT WITH IRENE PICK, HART ON DECK.
OH, UH, COUNSEL AND UH, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THESE, UH, PROVISIONS, UH, FOR FOUR POINTS I WANNA MAKE.
ONE IS THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE WITH HOME ONE THAT HIGHER DENSITY LEADS TO LOWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY'S COOL CLIMATE WEBSITE, THERE'S PROOF OF THAT.
I DID MY OWN STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ANALYSIS ABOUT OUR FIVE COUNTY MSA AND IT SHOWS THE SAME THING HERE.
EVEN WHEN YOU TAKE OUT THE WEST CAMPUS, WHICH IS THE LOWEST GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION AREA AND ALSO THE HIGHEST DENSITY, YOU STILL GET A VERY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WHEN YOU HAVE HIGHER DENSITY.
SECONDLY, WE CAN GRANT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THIS.
THIRD POINT I WANNA MAKE IS THERE ARE STILL SOME BARRIERS IN THE, UH, PROVISIONS THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU AND YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM SOME PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING, UH, HOUSING BUILDERS ABOUT WAYS TO MAKE THAT EASIER.
AND THEN THE LAST POINT THAT, AND ANOTHER PEOPLE HAVE MADE IS WE NEED TO MAKE STEPS TO PREVENT INVOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENT.
UH, AND WE ALSO NEED TO TARGET HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS FOR ADDING IN THESE NEW, THIS NEW HOUSING.
IT'S VERY HARD TO DO THAT IN TEXAS, BUT STILL I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK AT THAT.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HOLDING THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
FIRST I WANNA THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AS A LONG TIME EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE, I KNOW THAT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT MAKING A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THEY ARE SERVING US AND YOU PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE GIVING OF YOUR TIME.
I GREW UP IN A TWO STORY MODEST HOME IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAD A LAWN, TREES, A VEGETABLE GARDEN IN THE BACK.
WOULD IT SURPRISE YOU IF I TOLD YOU I GREW UP IN NEW YORK CITY? MY HUSBAND GREW UP IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, RIGHT ACROSS THE CHARLES RIVER FROM BOSTON, RIGHT IN A TOWN OR A CITY THAT HAD A A GREAT UNIVERSITY IN IT.
HARVARD, WE BOTH MET COMING TO AUSTIN TO GO TO GREAT UA GREAT UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
AND WE MET AND MARRIED AND SETTLED HERE IN THIS CITY.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF WE GO BACK, MY HUSBAND AND I TO THESE CITIES THAT WE GREW UP IN, WE STILL HAVE WHAT WE, OUR HOUSES ARE STILL THERE.
THEY ARE NOT ENCROACHED BY LARGE BUILDINGS.
THE GARDENS THAT WE HAD, MY FATHER GREW VEGETABLES,
[02:00:01]
HIS MOTHER GREW.ROSES ARE STILL THERE BECAUSE GREAT CITIES PROTECT AND CHERISH THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
I'M ASKING AUSTIN, WE CHOSE THIS CITY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS WENDY MITCHELL AND SHE HAS DONATED TIME BY MIA GOLDSTEIN.
UM, AND THEN ON DECK IS AL ALLEN.
HI, I'M WENDY MITCHELL AND I RUN THE STUFFED ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION, WHICH IS NOT AN ACTUAL FOUNDATION.
UH, I'M JOINED BY SOME STUFFED CREATURES OVER THERE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK, BUT THEY ACTUALLY CAN'T.
ONE DAY IN SCHOOL, MY PAINTING TEACHER AT THE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA TOLD US IN CLASS, IF YOU WANNA BE A FAMOUS ARTIST, YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO NEW YORK.
BUT IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE AN ARTIST, YOU CAN MOVE TO AUSTIN.
NOW, I DID NOT INHERIT A BUNCH OF HOUSES LIKE MY LANDLORD DID, NOR DID I INHERIT MONEY LIKE MY PAINTING TEACHER DID.
AND SO I MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 2001 AND THAT DECEMBER, WHEN I FIRST SAW THE 37TH STREET LIGHTS, I UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE HAD MEANT.
THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LIKE ME WERE APPRECIATED.
IN 2009, I SAW AN AD FOR A SUBLEASE ON 37TH STREET AND I SPRINTED THERE.
IT WAS 300 SQUARE FEET WITH GRAFFITI ON THE WALLS, HOLES IN THE CLOSET, BROKEN WINDOWS AND WOOD FLOORS THAT STILL GIVE ME SPLINTERS.
AND I SAID, I WANT TO LIVE HERE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
THAT AFFORDABLE APARTMENT IS PART OF A FOURPLEX AND IT HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR 15 YEARS.
AND EVERY YEAR I MAKE A STUFFED ANIMAL PETTING ZOO.
DURING THE 37TH STREET LIGHTS, I GET STUFFED ANIMALS THAT WERE DESTINED FOR LANDFILLS AND I WRITE STORIES ABOUT THEM.
THOSE STORIES CREATE VALUE OUT OF NOTHING, AND THEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME AND THEY APPLY TO ADOPT THESE THINGS THAT NOBODY HAD WANTED.
I'VE DONE 400 OF THESE FREE ADOPTIONS TO ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE MAKING BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCES OUT OF THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK ARE TRASH IS SPECIFICALLY THE SPECIALTY OF 37TH STREET.
ARTISTS LIKE US WHO LIVE IN THESE MULTI-FAMILY HOMES THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK ARE TRASH PUT IN MONTHS OF WORK FOR FREE BECAUSE WE LOVE TO CREATE JOY AND ART FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST PEOPLE WITH MONEY.
WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ETOD OVERLAY BECAUSE WE DON'T OWN ANYTHING.
THIS PROPOSED REZONING OF 37TH STREET ONLY TARGETS OUR HOMES AND NOT JUST THE INSIDES, BUT THE OUTSIDES WHERE WE TOGETHER MAKE PVC PIPE IGLOOS AND 10 FOOT VOLCANOES AND GIANT GODZILLAS.
THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE NOT BEING TARGETED, BUT WE THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY CREATE THIS THING ARE NOT THEM THESE DAYS.
WE HAVE TO BEG THESE PEOPLE TO PUT JUST A FEW LIGHTS ON THEIR LAWN, YET THEY TALK ABOUT THE LIGHTS COMMUNITY AND HOW GREAT IT IS ON THEIR REAL ESTATE FLYERS LIKE THIS ONE FOR A $1.65 MILLION 2200 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE ON THE STREET THAT COULD FIT SEVEN OF MY APARTMENTS INSIDE OF IT.
I READ, I DON'T KNOW THIS IS TRUE, YOU GUYS CAN TELL ME.
APPARENTLY IT'S DETERMINED THAT REPAIR, IF REPAIRING AN AFFORDABLE MULTIFAMILY STRUCTURE WOULD COST MORE THAN 50% OF ITS VALUE, THEN THE OWNER CAN DESTROY IT.
UM, I AM OBVIOUSLY A CRAZY WRITER AND ARTIST WHO OWNS NOTHING.
SO I HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF VALUE WHEN WE STAND BACK AND WATCH THOUSANDS OF HAPPY PEOPLE ENJOY WHAT WE CREATE EVERY YEAR.
THAT IS REAL MEANINGFUL VALUE AND I HOPE YOU ALL VALUE IT LIKE WE DO AND LIKE ALL OF AUSTIN HAS FOR DECADES, AND THAT YOU CONSIDER IT BEFORE YOU LET A PRIVILEGED OWNER TEAR DOWN THIS IRREPLACEABLE BIT OF HISTORY THAT AUSTIN CREATED.
NEXT SPEAKER IS L ELLEN WITH SCOTT TURNER AND WIT EWEN ON DECK.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
[02:05:03]
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.UM, AND I'VE LIVED ON 37TH STREET FOR SEVEN YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN IN DISTRICT NINE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, AND I LOVE DENSITY.
I WANT Y'ALL TO GET THIS FUNDING FOR THIS TRAIN.
I WANT TO TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL HERE.
I WANT IT TO HAPPEN, BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN AT THE EXPENSE OF OLD AUSTIN CULTURE, AND I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED HERE AND WHO HAVE BUILT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, SO I MOSTLY CONFUSED WHY OUR MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES ON 37TH STREET ARE THE ONES BEING REZONED IN NONE OF THE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES.
THE $1.6 MILLION HOUSE THAT'S CURRENTLY FOR SALE ON 37TH STREET COULD FIT SIX OF WENDY'S HOUSES ON IT.
I ALSO THINK WE HAVE DIFFERENT, UH, DEFINITIONS OF AFFORDABILITY.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AN AFFORDABLE ONE BEDROOM UNIT TO Y'ALL IS ABOUT 1350.
A AFFORDABLE ONE BEDROOM UNIT ON 37TH STREET IS FOUR TO $800.
IF YOU THINK 1350 IS AFFORDABLE, YOU ARE NOT A LOW INCOME PERSON LIKE MYSELF.
UM, AND
UM, I DO WANT Y'ALL TO GET THE FEDERAL FUNDING.
I WANNA TAKE THE TRAIN, BUT WE ARE SACRIFICING OLD AUSTIN CULTURE.
IF THESE PROPERTIES ON 37TH STREET WHERE ME AND WENDY AND MIA LIVE, OUR REZONED 37TH STREET LIGHTS WILL NOT SURVIVE.
WE DO EVERYTHING OURSELVES FOR MONTHS AND WE HAVE TO LIVE THERE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE THERE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND THE PLAN AS IT STANDS NOW, IT WOULD GUARANTEE THAT I HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF BEDROOMS, BUT IT WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT I HAVE TWO SHEDS FOR THOUSANDS OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
IT WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN THAT WENDY AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS WILL LIVE.
WE WON'T HAVE ANY, IT WON'T GUARANTEE THAT I WON'T HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR MY CAT TO LIVE WITH ME TOO.
I PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHICKEN IN THE BACKYARD.
ALL OF THESE PROTECTIONS ARE NOT THERE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
IF THERE'S AN OPEN PODIUM, JUST PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS WHITT EWEN, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, I'M AN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTER OF HOME TWO ETON AND COMPATIBILITY REFORM AND, UH, I LIVE IN THE CLARKSVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF US HERE KNOW AND HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS, THAT AUSTIN IS A WELCOMING PLACE.
IT, I REMEMBER ON THIS, UH, SMOKE STACK THAT HISTORICALLY WAS OVER HERE, LIKE JUST A BLOCK AWAY THAT IT WAS, IT SAID AUSTIN, THE FRIENDLY CITY.
AND SO IN ORDER TO BE A FRIENDLY CITY, IN ORDER TO BE A CITY THAT WELCOMES ALL WE NEED TO BE A CITY THAT OFFERS CHOICE, CHOICE TO WHAT TYPE OF PLACE WE LIVE IN.
IF I THINK BACK ON ALL THE YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED HERE, I WAS BORN HERE AND LIVED HERE FOR DECADES.
I'VE LIVED IN ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT HOUSING, APARTMENTS, TRIPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, ROOMMATES, YOU NAME IT.
AND SO THIS IS THE KIND OF CHOICE THAT, UH, YOU'RE ENABLING BY PASSING THESE REFORMS AND OTHER REFORMS. AND I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROCEED WITH THAT.
AND I'LL JUST END WITH THIS EXAMPLE.
IN MY FAMILY, I WOULD LOVE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILY TO LIVE NEAR US OR ON OUR PROPERTY, NOT IN OUR HOUSE, BUT NEAR OUR HOUSE.
AND SO JUST HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT ON OUR, ON OUR PLOT OR JUST NEARBY AND NOT HAVING TO SAY, YEAH, AND IT'S GONNA COST YOU $800,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IS JUST VERY MEANINGFUL.
I MEAN, THE, THE LAST QUOTE I'LL END WITH IS GRANDPARENTS HOLD OUR HANDS FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE, BUT OUR HEARTS FOREVER.
AND I WOULD LOVE FOR MY DAUGHTER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HER GRANDPARENTS NEARBY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I WANNA START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT THE OBVIOUS, WHICH IS THAT WE ARE ALREADY IN A DIRE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
EVERY DAY AUSTINITE STRUGGLE TO AFFORD RENT AND FACE THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING UNHOUSED EVERY DAY.
PEOPLE WHO WANNA LIVE IN AUSTIN SEE LIVING AND INSTEAD THE SUBURBS OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY AS THEIR ONLY REALISTIC OPTION EVERY DAY.
THE ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS WHO HAVE MADE THIS CITY THE CULTURAL FORCE THAT IT IS, ARE NO LONGER FINDING IT WELCOMING HERE.
AND SO WHEN I FACE THAT, I ASK MYSELF, WILL EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, COMPATIBILITY, REFORM, MINIMUM LOT SIZES FIX ALL OF THIS? AND, AND THE
[02:10:01]
ANSWER IS NO.BUT AS SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN IN THIS CITY WHO WAS RAISED IN THE SUBURBS OF LEANDER BECAUSE OF THE EXACT SAME AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST THE EARLIER STAGES OF IT, I REFUSE TO ACCEPT OUR CURRENT STATUS QUO.
SO TO ME, THE PROPOSED POLICIES ARE A MEANINGFUL STEP THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE TO ADDRESS OUR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
AND IT'S ALSO A STEP THAT I BELIEVE WILL NOT ENCOURAGE MORE DISPLACEMENT OF CURRENT RESIDENTS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GUESS AT WHAT POLICIES HAVE LED TO THE DISPLACEMENT THAT WE'VE SEEN.
IT'S THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES NOW.
SO IN CONCLUSION, I URGE OUR CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THESE PROPOSED POLICIES AND TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS ABSOLUTE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR Y'ALLS TIME.
THANK YOU, AL ELLEN, SCOTT TURNER.
RYAN PKI, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONERS.
UH, MY NAME IS RYAN PKI AND I'M A SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT ONE, AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT THESE REFORMS. UH, THE REDUCTIONS IN COMPATIBILITY RESTRICTIONS ARE PARTICULARLY WELCOME.
OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE HAS ALREADY COVERED MOST OF OUR CITY IN SINGLE FAMILY ZONING, LIMITING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO AN INCREASINGLY SELECT LUCKY FEW COMPAT COMPATIBILITY GRANTS, THOSE LUCKY FEW, THE ADDITIONAL POWER TO SALT THE EARTH AROUND THEIR PROPERTIES SO THAT SOME 80,000 HOUSING UNITS CANNOT GROW.
TALK ABOUT RUBBING SALT IN THE WOUNDS OF THOSE ALREADY HURT BY OUR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
WITH THE PROPOSED REDUCTION TO 75 FEET, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'LL GET 75% OF THE WAY TOWARDS REVIVING SOME OF THOSE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOUSING UNITS KILLED BY COMPATIBILITY.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO THE REMAINING 25% OF THE WAY AND FREE THE 20,000 ADDITIONAL UNITS THAT WOULD STILL REMAIN RESTRICTED BY COMPATIBILITY.
IN SHORT, COMPATIBILITY IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE GOALS OF OUR CITY AND THE DEMANDS OF THE PRESENT MOMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN SUPPORT OF A MORE AFFORDABLE, MORE WELCOMING AUSTIN.
WA WRIGHT ON DECK ARE SHIRAD OLE FELIX DEPORT AND LOGAN SHAAR.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MAYOR AND PLANNING COMMISSION FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UH, I HAVE BEEN AN AITE MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE SINCE THE YEAR 2000.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE IN THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD FOR MOST OF THAT TIME.
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN AN ETOD ZONE.
I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF OEO LIBERALS AND I'VE BEEN A WORKING MUSICIAN HERE FOR TWO DECADES.
COME SEE MY BAND, CLYDE AND CLEMENT, THE HOLE IN THE WALL, 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS JUNE.
UH, SADLY, MOST OF THE ARTISTS THAT WE ARE PERFORMING WITH ARE HAVING REUNIONS, AND FOR THE MOST PART, THESE BANDS SPLIT NOT BECAUSE OF CAREERS OR KIDS, IT'S BECAUSE OF HOUSING.
UH, MOST OF MY MUSICIAN FRIENDS ARE MOVING TO OTHER TEXAS CITIES, LOCKHART, HOUSTON, SAN MARCOS, AUSTIN IS TEXAS'S MOST EXPENSIVE CITY AND MUSICIANS ARE NOT HIGH EARNERS.
UH, BUT WHAT THESE ARTICLES ABOUT HOW EXPENSIVE THIS CITY, UH, HAS GOTTEN NEVER MENTIONED IS THAT IF YOU WANNA BUY OR RENT HERE, YOU HAVE TO GET A MUCH, MUCH LARGER PIECE OF LAND TO GO WITH YOUR HOME.
UH, 57 50 SQUARE FEET IS A RAMBLING COUNTRY ESTATE.
I DO NOT WANT IT OR NEED IT, BUT MY WIFE AND I, A UT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, WE'RE FORCED TO BUY IT TO MAKE A PERMANENT HOME HERE.
FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T IN A POSITION TO BUY, THEY'RE FORCED TO RENT ALL THAT EMPTY LAND.
WHY? MUSICIANS AND COLLEGE PROFESSORS IN ALL AUSTINITES OF EVERY BACKGROUND DON'T NEED GIANT LAWNS.
THEY NEED BEDROOMS, BATHROOMS, KITCHENS, AND, UH, EMPLOYED GIRLFRIENDS
LOOK, JUST LOOK AT THIS CHART GUYS.
WE ARE SO FAR OUT OF LINE WITH OUR PEER CITIES.
LOOK HOW LINEAR THIS RELATIONSHIP IS.
DO YOU THINK SAN ANTONIO IS A BAD PLACE FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR? COME ON.
GUYS, LET'S GET THESE REFORMS DONE.
LET'S BRING OUR LOT SIZE DOWN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR TEXAS.
SO NORMAL PEOPLE WHO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE CAN MAKE A LIFE HERE, CONTRIBUTE TO OUR AMAZING CULTURE, BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN MUSIC VENUES, LAND COSTS, MONEY.
STOP FORCING PEOPLE TO BUY OR RENT MORE THAN THEY NEED.
BEING FORCED TO CONTINUE PURCHASING OR RENTING EMPTY LAND TO HAVE A HOME IS NONSENSE.
AND ONLY THE MOST IDEOLOGICAL INDIVIDUALS COULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER THAT TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH AFFORDABILITY IN AMERICA'S 11TH LARGEST CITY.
MY NAME IS FELIX DETO AND I AM PROUD TO CALL DISTRICT FOR MY HOME.
TODAY WE STAND AT THE TIPPING POINT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY TRANSFORMATION FOR THIS GREAT CITY.
UH, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT A FUTURE WHERE AUSTIN IS CELEBRATED AS A TRULY SUSTAINABLE, WALKABLE PLACE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, INCOME, AGE, OR ABILITY CAN CALL HOME.
I CAN SEE US ACHIEVING OUR AMBITIOUS CLIMATE GOALS.
WE CAN MITIGATE DESTRUCTIVE SPRAWL, WE CAN SAVE OUR FARMLAND FROM OVERDEVELOPMENT, WE CAN REDUCE OUR WATER AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION, AND WE CAN ADDRESS OUR HOUSING CRISIS.
[02:15:01]
WE MUST DREAM BEYOND THE CONFINES OF CAR DEPENDENCY AND EMBRACE THE VAST POTENTIAL OF OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS.WHILE THESE PROPOSALS REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS FOR AUSTIN, LET'S NOT SHY AWAY FROM ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY COULD INDEED BE STRONGER.
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY BEING DISCUSSED TODAY TRULY FORM THE BEDROCK OF OUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
OUR AIM SHOULD BE TO ENRICH THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITIES BY MAKING THEM MORE RESILIENT, MORE VIBRANT, AND MORE INCLUSIVE THAN EVER BEFORE.
YOU MUST DO MORE TO CURB LAND SPECULATION.
YOU MUST RESTRICT SHORT-TERM RENTALS, INCREASE FUNDING FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, STRENGTHEN RIGHT TO RETURN POLICIES AND TAKE BOLD ACTION BY LEVERAGING CITY OWNED LAND.
DO NOT WAIT FOR THE MARKET TO SOLVE THIS AFFORDABILITY CRISIS ON ITS OWN.
THIS MOMENT OFFERS AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE YOUR MARK ON AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
MAY YOU RISE TO THIS OCCASION WITH AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE IDEALS THAT WE ALL HOLD DEAR, AND MAY YOU CREATE A LEGACY OF WHICH WE CAN ALL BE PROUD.
NEXT IS OD OL WITH LOGAN CIGAR ON DECK, DAVID WILLIAMSON MAG WADE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
CHRISTOPHER PAGE, MARTHA CORRO, WHO HAS TIME DONATED BY BRAD MASSING ARM.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS ZACH ABNET.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, CURRENTLY RENTING OUT OF THE TRAVIS HEIGHT EAST NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF, IN FAVOR OF AND URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO FA TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF HOME TWO.
I CURRENTLY WORK TO ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ON A LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL, PARTICULARLY ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY THAT I BELIEVE IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE AND BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, I DO THIS AS STATE DIRECTOR FOR A NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT CALLED THE AMERICAN CONSERVATION COALITION.
I BELIEVE HOME TWO PUTS US IN A GOOD PATH TOWARDS LEADERSHIP ON A MORE SUSTAINABLE CARBON NEUTRAL FUTURE, AND NOT JUST IN OUR STATE, BUT NATIONALLY, THAT PARTICULARLY LEADERSHIP FOR AUSTIN TO DO GOOD, TO HELP PEOPLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT HOME TWO IS THE RIGHT POLICY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
ACCORDING TO THE TURNER CENTER STUDY, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THE CITY CAN DO TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT IS BUILD INFILL HOUSING NEAR CITY CENTERS.
THIS PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM DRIVING LONG DISTANCE AND CREATING MORE AND CREATING LESS CARBON EMISSIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, LOWERING MINIMUM OUTSIZED REQUIREMENTS ENCOURAGES THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALLER, MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES.
WHILE THE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES ARE WONDERFUL AND THE NEED FOR THEM, THE NEED FOR THIS HOME TOO GOES BEYOND JUSTICE.
I BELIEVE MY OWN SITUATION AS A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN CAN TESTIFY TO THIS WHILE I CURRENTLY RENT, I'M WORKING TO OWN MY OWN HOME IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, HAVEN'T IT CLOSE ENOUGH TO A, A LOT OF THE WONDERFUL AMENITIES THAT THIS COMMUNITY OFFERS.
BUT DUE TO THE SHORTAGE OF HOUSING CURRENTLY AND THE COST OF OWNING, THE COST OF OWNING THE HOME WITHIN THE VICINITY OF A LOT OF THE THINGS I ENJOY ABOUT AUSTIN IS CURRENTLY OUT OF COST FOR BOTH FOR MYSELF AND A LOT OF THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE CITY COUNCIL CAN TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS TOWARDS ADDRESSING THIS THROUGH PASSING HOME TOO.
UH, WE CAN FURTHER DO MORE TO HELP, UM, THIS CRISIS BY REVISITING COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS LIKE HEIGHT, BUILDING PLACEMENT, AND OTHER REGULATIONS THAT DRIVE UP THE COST OF BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTING HOMES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THESE REFORMS WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.
COUNCILMAN DAVID WILLIAMSON MAG WADE, MARIA SANCHEZ.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
MS. RA, YOU, IF YOU, MS. TEDRA, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ADJUSTER WITH MONICA SANCHEZ AND MANY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS ET ASKING FOR A PAUSE AND HEARINGS ARE HELD IN HOURS WHEN ALL RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND.
WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ADOPT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LOW INCOME, AUSTINITES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND THE ELDERLY.
UM, MONICA MADE ME TELL THIS STORY, WHICH I TOLD HER BEFORE, WHEN OUR DAUGHTER ACCEPTED A TEACHING POSITION AT UT, UH, SHE WOULDN'T PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO LIVE NEAR US.
SO WE AGREED TO MULTINATIONAL, MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING WITH MINOR CHANGES TO OUR HOME.
I TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK OUT FINANCING AS WOULD ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROPOSED CODE.
[02:20:01]
A HOME EQUITY LOAN OF $35,000.THE UNI UNIVERSITY CREDIT UNION REQUIRED APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION OF COLLATERAL.
OUR LENDER TOLD US THEY DIDN'T CARE WHAT OUR HOME WAS WORTH OR ABOUT OTHER PROPERTIES WE OWNED.
WE WERE OLD AND WHEN WE DIED, IT WAS NOT WORTH THEIR TROUBLE TRYING TO COLLECT ON OUR HOME.
ALTHOUGH OUR HOME TAXABLE VALUE WAS THEN ABOUT $900,000.
THE LENDER DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DISCOURAGE US, BUT MY HUSBAND KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS, BY THE WAY.
UM, SO I WANNA SAY THAT, BUT I HAD TO PROVE A POINT AFTER PROVIDING TITLES TO SEVEN PROPERTIES, SEVEN INSURANCE POLICIES, SEVEN TAX RECORDS, AND YEARS OF IRS RETURNS AT THREE HELLISH MONTHS LATER, WE HAD A $35,000 HOME EQUITY LOAN, BUT NOT AFTER I THREATENED TO PULL OUT OF THE WHOLE DEAL AND BRING THEM DOWN WITH ME WHEN THEY REQUIRED A COSTLY APPRAISAL.
UM, I WAS NOT ABOUT TO SPEND A NICKEL ON THAT S**T.
THIS IS HOW THE LAND COAT CHANGES WILL BENEFIT REGULAR AUSTINITES AND, UM, I DON'T EVEN WANNA TALK ABOUT TWO YEARS OF PERMITTING PROCESS LIKE THAT.
WONDERFUL LADY SPOKE ABOUT HER MINI LITTLE HOUSE.
UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROPOSED CHANGES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO VERY WEALTHY AUSTINITES AND INVESTORS.
THE REST OF US GET THE DOWNSIDES MONSTROSITIES NEXT DOOR AND LOSING OUR PROPERTY BECAUSE OUR HEIRS, YOU KNOW, CAN'T POSSIBLY KEEP 'EM AT A MINIMUM, LET'S GET INPUT FROM ALL PARTS OF TOWN AND FOR ONCE, LET'S INCORPORATE POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT BENEFIT EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY I AM SAYING AFFORDABLE FINANCING MECHANISMS. I MEAN, WE SPEND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON HOMELESSNESS AFTER, AFTER WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND THEN WE'RE LIKE, OKAY, LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S PUT IN MECHANISMS IN PLACE SO THAT PEOPLE, REGULAR RESIDENTS CAN MODIFY, ADD TO THEIR HOMES AND KEEP THEIR HOMES.
AND ALSO, OF COURSE, FIX THE PERMITTING PROCESS SO THAT REGULAR HOMEOWNERS DON'T HAVE TO SPEND TWO YEARS TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE PROCESS JUST TO ADD A BALCONY OR OPEN UP SOME WINDOWS LIKE WE HAD TO DO.
UM, I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
AND I DO SUPPORT YOUR POLICIES REGARDING TRANSPORTATION.
TRANSPORTATION AS LONG AS THE HOUSING NEARBY IS TRULY AFFORDABLE.
THE LAST TIME WE HAD AN AFFORDABLE, UH, HOUSING PROJECT IN A PROGRAM IN AUSTIN, PUBLICLY FUNDED TEACHERS COULD NOT AFFORD IT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO AFFORD THE LOANS.
CHRISTOPHER PAGE, IKA YURI ON DECK WITH SHIV MYSTERY.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
BETSY GREENBERG HAS DONATED TIME FROM JOHN.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I RESIDE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.
FOR THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE VOLUNTEERED WITH THE UT AUSTIN CHAPTER OF MIRACLE MESSAGES.
OUR MISSION IS TO HELP HOMELESS FOLKS IN AUSTIN FIND AND RECONNECT WITH THE LOVED ONES THAT THEY'VE LOST TOUCH WITH.
HAVING WORKED WITH A HOMELESS POPULATION, I HAVE HEARD MANY STORIES OF DISPLACEMENT STORIES OF PEOPLE BEING KICKED OUTTA THEIR HOMES AND STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT BELONG.
HIGH HOUSING COSTS DRIVE UP HOMELESSNESS FROM 2017 TO 2022.
A 29% INCREASE IN THE MEDIAN RENT IN AUSTIN WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A 46% INCREASE IN OUR CITY'S RATE OF HOMELESSNESS.
THERE HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE AN URGENT NEED FOR A HIGHER VOLUME OF HOUSING AND ADDRESSING AUSTIN'S INCREDIBLY RESTRICTIVE ZONING POLICIES IS AN IMPORTANT STEP.
NO COUNCIL MEMBER CAN GOOD FAITH CLAIM THAT THEY ARE WORKING TO RESOLVE HOMELESSNESS WITHOUT SUPPORTING REFORMS THAT ADDRESS AUSTIN'S RESTRICTIVE DON LAWS.
THESE LAWS ENABLE DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS LIMITING THE AVAILABILITY
[02:25:01]
OF HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.IT'S EASY TO EXPRESS COMPASSION FOR THOSE WITHOUT HOMES, BUT YOUR WORDS ARE EMPTY UNLESS THEY'RE FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT ACTIONS.
MY NAME IS SHIVRY AND I'M A UT STUDENT AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, AND I AM HERE IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.
UM, I SKIPPED BOTH OF MY CLASSES TO BE HERE TODAY, UM, BECAUSE I I REALLY DO, UM, YOU KNOW, BELIEVE IN THESE PROPOSED CHANGES.
UM, OUR CURRENT MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 5,750 SQUARE FEET WAS SET 78 YEARS AGO IN 1946.
UM, THIS WAS RAISED FROM 3000 SQUARE FEET.
UM, AND THE SAME LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO RAISED THAT MINIMUM LOT SIZE ALSO CHOSE TO SEGREGATE AUSTIN'S FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS JUST A FEW YEARS BEFORE THAT.
UM, SO I HAVE TO ASK, OR IS THAT THE LEGACY THIS CITY WANTS TO UPHOLD? AND, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT.
UM, AND SO I THINK IN A FEW WEEKS, UM, EACH COMMISSIONER AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILL SHOW US WITH YOUR VOTES, UM, WHERE YOUR VALUES TRULY LIE.
IN 1946, AUSTIN'S POPULATION WAS JUST ABOVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
UH, TODAY IT'S NEARLY 10 TIMES THAT I KNOW IT'S EASY TO HOLD ONTO THE AUSTIN OF THE PAST, BUT WE NEED TO REALIZE TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
WHEN YOU LIVE IN SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE LIKE AUSTIN, PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT IT AND DECIDE TO MOVE HERE.
FOR DECADES, PAST MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE REFUSED TO ACCOMMODATE AND RESPONSIBLY MANAGE AUSTIN'S GROWTH, INSISTING THAT IF WE JUST IGNORE IT AND HOLD ONTO OUR ANTIQUATED ZONING LAWS, IT WOULD JUST GO AWAY.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS, MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO MADE AUSTIN THE FUND IN A WEIRD PLACE, IT IS GOT KICKED OUT OF THEIR OWN CITY BECAUSE THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THE COST OF HOUSING HERE.
I KNOW MANY WILL BE QUICK TO DISMISS ME BECAUSE I'M JUST A STUDENT.
UM, BUT I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR ALL OF MY, UH, FELLOW STUDENTS WHEN I SAY WE WORK JOBS HERE.
WE PAY TAXES HERE, WE SUPPORT BUSINESSES HERE, WE VOTE HERE SO WE SURE AS HELL DE UH, DESERVE A FUTURE WHERE WE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
UM, SO TODAY AT COLUMBUS COUNCIL ON THIS PLANNING COMMISSION TO MOVE AUSTIN FORWARD AND JUST SIMPLY DO THE RIGHT THING.
NEXT IS BETSY GREENBERG WITH DONATED TIME.
SHE GETS FOUR MINUTES ON DECK IS SOPHIA SNAP.
I LIVE IN THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I TOOK THE BUS TO GET HERE TODAY.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ABOUT THE SO-CALLED EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED OVERLAY, WHICH IS PROPOSED FOR EVERY PROPERTY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOESN'T HAVE SINGLE FAMILY OR P ZONING.
TRADITIONAL TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS CAUSE GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF BOTH EXISTING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
WHEN TRANSIT DEPENDENT RIDERS ARE REPLACED WITH MORE AFFLUENT RESIDENTS, RIDERSHIP HAS EVEN BEEN SEEN TO DECREASE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS INTENDED TO AVOID THESE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
CAP METRO WAS AWARDED $3.15 MILLION FROM THE FDA TO PRODUCE AN EAD STUDY, BUT THE PROPOSAL TODAY DOES NOT USE THE 46 TOOLS.
THERE IS NO STATION AREA PLANNING AND NO ATTEMPT TO AVOID DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE OR BUSINESSES, NOT EVEN FOR PEOPLE IN SECTION EIGHT HOUSING, MERELY INCLUDING THE LETTER E IN FRONT OF TOD IS UNFORTUNATELY USELESS AND WILL NOT ACHIEVE THE DESIRED EQUITY.
THE PROPOSED ETOD OVERLAY USES ONLY ONE TOOL DRASTICALLY INCREASE ENTITLEMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR AN AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT THAT CAN EVEN BE SATISFIED WITH A FEE IN LIEU.
THE EXCUSE IS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE FTA GRANT APPLICATION MORE COMPETITIVE.
THE STUDY REPORT CLAIMS THAT THIS OBJECTIVE IS PREMISED ON THE CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS, BUT LOOKING BACK AT THE CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS, IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT COMPETITIVENESS OR LAND USE CHANGES.
MY NEIGHBOR, JOHN GOODE, DONATED HIS TIME TO ME.
HE ALSO LIVES IN THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD IN A 12 UNIT CONDO PROPERTY.
IN OTHER WORDS, MISSING MIDDLE.
THIS PROPERTY HAS MF TWO ZONING, WHICH ALLOWS UP TO 40 FEET IN HEIGHT WITH THE DBE TODD ZONING THAT REQUIRES NO ON ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE PROPERTY COULD BE REDEVELOPED UP TO 100 FEET TALL, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE CURRENT ENTITLEMENT.
THIS IS DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO DISPLACE THE CURRENT RESIDENCE, MANY OF WHOM HAVE LIVED IN THE PROPERTY FOR 25 YEARS OR MORE.
HE TOLD ME THAT HIS DAUGHTERS RECENTLY VISITED FROM TORONTO WHERE SIMILAR ZONING LAWS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN HOUSING THAT IS MORE EXPENSIVE WITH NO HOPE OF HOME OWNERSHIP.
INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING TRANSIT, THESE ZONING CHANGES ONLY SUPPORT INVESTORS WHO END UP OWNING THE PROPERTY AND NOT CARING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OR QUALITY OF LIFE.
[02:30:01]
REDO THE EO OVERLAY TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF TOOLS THAT ENSURE THAT THE MOST NEEDING TRANSIT WILL BENEFIT FROM THE INVESTMENTS AND PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE ACQUIRED HOMES IN THE MUELLER POD WHERE YOUR HOME AND SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AREN'T AFFECTED BY THESE PROPOSED CHANGES.
NEXT IS SOPHIA SNAP ON DECK IS JEFF DICKERSON.
HELLO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MY FELLOW SPEAKERS.
MY NAME IS SOPHIA SNAP AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH BE HEARD AND TO LISTEN TO YOU OTHERS SPEAK TODAY.
I'M A THIRD YEAR UNDERGRADUATE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMANITARIAN ENGINEERING STUDENT AT UT AUSTIN.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND WORK AS A CIVIL ENGINEERING INTERN AT A LOCAL CONSULTING FIRM WHERE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LAND AND SITE DEVELOPMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM ONE.
PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AS I SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE BY COMBINING MY LIMITED WORKING KNOWLEDGE AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
I FIRST WANT TO SAY THAT I HEAR THE CONCERNS AND FRUSTRATIONS OF MY FELLOW CITIZENS.
I WANT TO START OUT BY SAYING I'M ABSOLUTELY AGAINST GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.
IN MY VIEW, THESE AMENDMENTS WILL DIVERSIFY HOUSING OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN DOWNTOWN AREAS WHERE MANY PEOPLE WORK IN TRANSPORTATION.
IMPROVEMENTS ARE UNDERWAY ACROSS VARIOUS AFFORDABILITY LEVELS, THEREBY HELPING TO CURB URBAN SPRAWL AND MINIMIZE DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION.
I'M PERSONALLY FOR THESE AMENDMENTS BECAUSE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO STAY IN AUSTIN.
I LOVE MY JOB AND I LOVE THIS CITY, AND I WOULD LOVE TO STAY HERE.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAY HERE.
HOWEVER, IF THERE ARE NOT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS, IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND SOMEWHERE THAT'S CLOSE TO MY WORK AND IN MY PRICE RANGE.
I KNOW A LOT OF MY PEERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS.
I'M AN ENGINEERING REPRESENTATIVE IN THE STUDENT BODY OF UT'S LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, AND I ALSO KNOW THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A FREQUENT TOPIC OF SIGNIFICANT IN INTEREST TO STUDENTS AROUND THE UNIVERSITY.
ALSO, JUST LAST NIGHT, 41 OF MY FRIENDS SAID THEY CARE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THROUGH A QUICK POLL ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA, I WANT THIS TO BE ABLE TO BE IN AUSTIN WHERE EVERYONE CAN LIVE SAFELY, COMFORTABLY, AND HAPPILY.
WHO HAS TIME DONATED FROM PEDRO HERNANDEZ AND SUSAN LIPMAN, OUR PEDRO AND SUSAN HERE.
MY NAME IS JEFF DICKERSON OF DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO SAY I OPPOSE ALL THREE AMENDMENTS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CHARGING AMENDMENT.
YOU HEARD FROM EVERYBODY HERE, CAN'T PAY RENT, CAN'T AFFORD A HOUSE, CAN'T DO THIS, CAN'T DO THAT.
HOW THE HELL ARE THEY GONNA AFFORD AN EV FOR THOSE CHARGING STATIONS? LET'S PUT ON OUR PRIORITY HATS TABLE THE MEASURE BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT THOSE IN PLACE.
TWO, MY JOB TO DROP TO THE FLOOR.
WHEN I LISTENED TO CITY COUNCIL STAFF AND THEIR PRESENTATION, ONE THING SHE SAID, MORE HOUSING, MORE HOUSING.
AFFORDABILITY FOR THE SMALLER LOTS AND HOUSES.
IT WAS NOT MENTIONED ANYWHERE, NOWHERE WAS MENTIONED.
BUDGETING FOR STREETS, BUDGETING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, BUDGETING FOR TRAFFIC, BECAUSE YOU GUYS ELIMINATED THE ONSITE OFFSITE TRAFFIC.
YOU WANT TO INCREASE DENSITY, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY FOOTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO GO ALONG WITH THE DENSITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO PUSH BACK AGAINST A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS.
UH, FIRST OFF, EVERYBODY THAT SAYS SMALLER LOSS EQUATE TO AFFORDABILITY.
YOU HAVE TO PAY MORE PER SQUARE FOOT FOR NEWER BUILDING AND NEWER LOSSES.
AND FOR THE NICE YOUNG LADY THAT SPOKE BEFORE ME, I'M DEAF, MY DAUGHTER'S DEAF, MY BROTHER'S DEATH.
WE CAN DRIVE PERFECTLY FINE IF YOU HAVE, IS WHAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THE BUSES THAT DO NOT SUPPORT THE, THAT POPULATION.
SUSANNA ALMANZA IS NEXT AND SHE GETS SIX MINUTES ON DECK.
IS NOAH ELIAS AND ADAM GREENFIELD.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD MORNING.
I'M SUSAN ALMANZA WITH PO AND I'M AN INDIGENOUS
[02:35:01]
PERSON OF THIS CONTINENT, SO THAT'S WHY I SHOW THIS IS REALLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT.YOU SEE THE GUY ON THE RIGHT, HE SAYS, THIS IS MINE.
THIS IS OUR LAND, OUR COUNTRY, AND IT'S INDIGENOUS PERSON.
UH, I HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY BEHIND ME.
UH, I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE 1928 MASTER PLAN, BRINGING IT TO NOW THE VERY WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY, BUT NOT FORGETTING THE MANIFEST DESTINY AND THE COLONIZATION THAT IT'S BRINGING INTO AUSTIN.
UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MANIFEST DESTINY AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, WE WERE PUT ON RESERVATIONS.
AND THEN WHEN THOSE RESERVATIONS HELD, UH, SACRED MINERALS, THEN THERE WE HAD TO BE MOVED.
SO THE MASTER PLAN IN 1928 PUT US ON THE RESERVATION OF EAST AUSTIN.
AND NOW EAST AUSTIN IS FULL WITH GREEN.
LAND IS GOLD AND EVERYBODY WANTS THAT LAND AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY BEING DISPLACED.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN PROCESS, THAT ANOTHER PART OF THE COLONIZATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN EAST AUSTIN, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE NEW ZONING, COMMERCIAL SERVICE, MIXED USE, SMALL AMNESTY, ET CETERA, VERTICAL MIXED USE.
ACCORDING TO UA UT STUDY FROM 1998 TO 2004, IT SAW THAT OUR LAND IN THE EAST ESA CHAVEZ NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AREA THAT YOU SEE THERE, THE LAND WENT UP 400000% INCREASE IN LAND VALUE.
UH, RIGHT NOW IN THAT CESA CHAVEZ NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, THERE'S ONLY PROBABLY ABOUT 10%, UH, PEOPLE OF COLOR LATINOS LEFT.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE NEW ZONING.
IT'S THE CONTINUATION OF THE GENTRIFICATION THAT IS HAPPENING AT THIS PRESENT TIME.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, WHERE YOU, WHAT YOU HAVE BUILT SO FAR IS DISCRIMINATION AND INEQUITY IN HOUSING.
YOU CAN'T COUNT ON THIS COUNCIL AND YOU'RE PLANNING TO FACE EQUITY BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER DONE IT.
YOU'VE BUILT FROM, THIS IS YOUR DATA.
FROM 2018 TO 2022, YOU BUILT 35,742 UNITS FOR THE UPPER CLASS INCOME FROM 61 TO 121% MFI.
AND YOU LOOK AT THAT, THE AMOUNT, UH, IT'S 146,750 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR THAT'S AT 120%.
MFI AT 80% F FI YOU ARE LOOKING AT $93,450,000.
BUT LOOK AT THAT WHEN YOU SEE WHAT YOU BUILT FOR PEOPLE FROM 30 TO 60% MFI 30 BEING 23,350, UH, 60 BEING SIX 35,000, UH, I MEAN 60, $70,080, UH, FOR 60% YOU'VE ONLY BUILT 6,847 UNITS IN THAT RANGE.
BUT LOOK AT 30% MFI BELOW 363 UNITS ONLY.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT EQUITY, YOU TALK ABOUT THIS HOME BRINGING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU'RE LYING TO YOURSELF.
YOU, THIS IS A FALSE SOLUTION WITH A FALSE NARRATIVE.
YOU'RE PROVIDE, YOU ARE PUSHING FORWARD AND SAYING THAT THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY.
YOU NEED TO TAKE, YOU USE HOME BECAUSE THAT'S A PLEASANT WORD WHEN WE KNOW IT'S CODE.
NEXT, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS CODE NEXT.
BUT YOU TRY TO GIVE IT, YOU TRY TO SUGAR COAT IT WITH SUCH A NICE THING, BUT YOU LOOK AT YOUR OWN STATS, YOU'RE NOT HELPING AND YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANYTHING AFFORDABLE AT ALL.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE CONTINUING ON THAT MANIFESTATION MANIFEST DESTINY, THAT COLONIZATION THAT WILL MOVE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME PEOPLE OUT OF THE URBAN CORE.
AND I FEEL, I FEEL THAT THE PEOPLE AT THE UNIVERSITIES, THOSE, THOSE THAT TESTIFIED IN FAVOR OF THIS HIGH DENSITY ARE NOT BEING WELL EDUCATED, THAT DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
'CAUSE EVEN, EVEN THOUGH YOU PUSH THIS CITYWIDE, WHO IS THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND YOU KNOW WHERE THOSE POCKETS ARE, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU TARGET IT.
AND SO IF YOU DON'T PUT THOSE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACES, WE'LL BE CONTINUED TO BE DISPLACED.
FIRST, WE HAD THE URBAN RENEWAL FROM THE 1960S TO THE SEVENTIES, AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THERE.
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION WAS THE ONE THAT WAS REALLY MOVED AND ALSO THE LATINO, BUT MORE HEAVILY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION.
YOU THEN CAME WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING, CONQUER AND DIVIDE THE SAME STRATEGIES DURING THE MANIFEST DESTINY, DIVIDING THE CITY INTO 54 NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND THEN GOING AFTER AND SAYING, WHAT DO YOU WANT IN YOUR COMMUNITY ONLY TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL AND FIND OUT THE ONLY THING THAT WAS LEGALLY BINDING WAS ZONING.
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAD SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
NO FUNDING WAS PUT TO IT AND WE, IT WAS NOT LEGALLY BINDING.
AND NOW WE COME TO NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE HOME.
[02:40:01]
WE COME TO THIS PARTICULAR PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS ONLY WAY WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE HERE AND WE CAN STAY HERE IS BY IS PROMOTING HOME AND BRINGING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.BUT THE QUESTION IS AFFORDABLE TO WHO? YOU SEEING THE OWN STATS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE TYPE OF HOUSING THEY BUILD.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT, AGAIN, THE DEVELOPERS.
WHAT IS IT THAT THE DEVELOPERS WANT? AND THEY'RE MAKING THE PROFITS.
IT'S ABOUT SOMEBODY, SHE'S JUST BROUGHT UP THE LLCS, WHO'S REALLY BRINGING, WHO'S BUILDING THESE ADU.
AND WHEN WE BROUGHT THE A WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE A DU, WE SAID, IF YOU DON'T PUT ANY MONEY, IF YOU DON'T BUILD ANY, UH, FORGIVABLE LOANS FOR US TO BUILD THAT SECOND UNIT, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN FOR US.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN OURSELF IF YOU DON'T PUT THE SAFEGUARDS IN THERE.
IT WILL NOT HAPPEN IF THIS IS WHAT HAPPENING TO OUR COMMUNITIES IF WE'RE BEING CONSTANTLY DISPLACED.
NEXT IS NOAH WITH ADAM GREENFIELD.
TAYLOR WINBERG, PETER BRITTON, HANNAH THOMAS.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO TALK TODAY ABOUT VALUES.
EVERYTHING WE DO AND SAY, EVERY ORDINANCE WE PASS AND EVERY EVENT WE ATTEND EXPRESSES OUR VALUES.
40 YEARS AGO, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESTRICTIVE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT MADE IT HARDER FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS TO LIVE HERE THROUGH MANDATING LARGE, EXPENSIVE LOTS WITH HIGH SETBACKS, RELEGATING MOST NEW MULTIFAMILY HOUSING TO BE BUILT ON THE CHOKED, DIRTY, DANGEROUS MAJOR STREETS IN OUR CITY.
THE CODE THAT WAS PASSED IS LARGELY THE CODE THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT OUR BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORS ARE BEING DISPLACED BECAUSE 40 YEARS AGO, WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ACROSS AUSTIN SHOULD BE SAVED FROM DEVELOPMENT.
IT WAS THE MOMENT THAT WE MANDATED THAT THOSE HOMES AND THE HOMES THAT ARE BEING BUILT TODAY O ARE ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE RICH AND POWERFUL.
THE NEW LUXURY HOUSE OR APARTMENT OF TODAY IS THE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF 40 YEARS FROM NOW.
I URGE YOU TO PASS THE REFORMS HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE MORE STEP FORWARD.
NOT IN WRITING THE INJUSTICE BEING DONE TODAY, BUT WRITING THE INJUSTICE BEING DONE TOMORROW TO MY KIDS, TO OUR KIDS, TO YOUR KIDS.
WE HAVE FAR TO GO, BUT WE MUST BE BIASED TOWARDS ACTION.
LEADERS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO GO BIG.
MY NAME IS JASON JOHN PAUL HASKINS.
I AM THE CHAIR OF A I A AUSTIN HOUSING ADVOCACY COMMITTEE AND AN ECONOMICALLY DISPLACED FORMER AUSTIN RESIDENT, CURRENTLY SUFFERING MY WAY THROUGH MY NIGHTMARE OF SOMEONE ELSE'S AMERICAN DREAM IN THE SUBURBS.
IT IS SO ENCOURAGING TO SEE PROGRESS ON THESE ITEMS AND I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS AND TO WORK TO IMPROVE, UH, IMPROVE THEM TO INCREASE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
THE TRA DRACONIAN, SO-CALLED COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS HAVE LONG BEEN A SHAMEFUL CODIFICATION OF INJUSTICE.
ENSHRINING THE IDEA THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS ARE SOMEHOW SUPERIOR TO THOSE WHO RENT OR OWN IN MULTI-UNIT BUILDINGS.
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOLIDARITY, THE IDEA THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO PROTECT THE ALREADY MORE PRIVILEGED CITIZENS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE LESS FORTUNATE IS PATENTLY UNJUST.
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SUBSIDIARITY, THE IDEA THAT A PROPERTY OWNER SHOULD HAVE RIGHTS THAT EXTEND OVER ANOTHER PROPERTY IS SIMILARLY INJUST.
THAT THAT IMPOSITION MIGHT EXTEND 540 FEET AWAY WITH NO PUBLIC BENEFIT IS FRANKLY INSANE.
THE NOTE THIS NOTION COMES UP EVERY TIME WE TRY TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE HEAR THAT THOSE PEOPLE DON'T BELONG HERE AND THEY AREN'T COMPATIBLE WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW THEY PREFER TO FRAME IT AS THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF THE EVIL DEVELOPERS, AND WE CERTAINLY NEED TO HOLD DEVELOPERS AND LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRIMES, BUT WE SHOULD BE USING OUR RELATIVE PRIVILEGE TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE DAILY THE DIRECT VICTIMS OF THESE ECONOMIC SINS.
THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE CODIFYING SEGREGATION OR GHETTOIZATION NOR ENSHRINING SOCIOECONOMIC HOMOGENEITY IN ITS ORDINANCES.
SO IT WAS INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT THE
[02:45:01]
RESOLUTION INITIATING THIS CURRENT REFORM STATED THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED SHOULD BE EQUAL TO OR LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN THOSE APPLIED TO SINGLE FAMILY STRUCTURES.IF COMPATIBILITY IS TO, IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT FORMAL COMPATIBILITY OF BUILDINGS, THEN THIS WOULD ACTUALLY IMPROVE THAT RATHER THAN A FORCE ARTIFICIAL, UM, INCONSISTENT GAPS IN THE URBAN FABRIC.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE DRAFT ORDINANCE UNDER CONSIDERATION DOES NOT FOLLOW YOUR INSTRUCTIONS AND IN HIS CURRENT FORM DOES NOT IMPLEMENT THIS PRINCIPLE BUILDING.
UH, BUFFERING AND SCREENING SHOULD BE BASED ON THE ACTUAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS OF SPECIFIC USES AND EQUIPMENT.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD YOU CONTINUE TO REQUIRE BUFFERING AND SCREENING BETWEEN NEIGHBORS TO PROTECT.
UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR, COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONERS.
ADAM GREENFIELD HERE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF, UM, HOME PHASE TWO AND THE E TODD, UH, MEASURE.
UH, AND I REALLY WANNA SPEAK TO, UM, SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS VERY OVERLOOKED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS, WHICH IS THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY FABRIC, OF SOCIAL FABRIC AMONG US.
UH, MY WIFE AND I ARE HUGE COMMUNITY PEOPLE.
WE KNOCK ON THE DOORS OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHEN THEY MOVE IN AND I'M VERY EXCITED AT THE CHANCE TO HAVE MORE NEIGHBORS AROUND US TO HAVE MORE VIBRANT, UH, ACTIVE COMMUNITIES.
COMMUNITY IS A FORM OF WEALTH, NOT JUST THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE HOUSE YOU LIVE IN, BUT THE CONNECTIONS YOU HAVE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE, UH, MANY TIMES OVER.
AND, AND MY NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE DONE THAT TO, UH, TO A, A LIFE CHANGING DEGREE FOR SO MANY OF US.
UM, I ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT A, ANOTHER REALLY OVERLOOKED ASPECT OF THIS, WHICH IS PORCHES.
ARSEN HAS A WONDERFUL PORCH CULTURE HERE.
THAT'S HOW PEOPLE MEET THEIR NEIGHBORS.
THAT'S HOW THEY GET TO KNOW THEIR COMMUNITY.
UH, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE FRONT, UH, MINIMUM SETBACK REQUIREMENTS RIGHT, UH, IN HOME PHASE TWO TO MAKE IT SO THAT PORCHES CAN COME CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STREETS SO THAT PEOPLE ON THEIR PORCHES CAN HAVE THE OPTION TO HAVE A SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH PASSERS BY CURRENTLY THE, UH, THE PROPOSED MINIMUM IS 15 FEET.
UM, ACTUALLY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT 10 FEET IS, IS A, IS KIND OF THAT SWEET SPOT TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPTION TO INTERACT WITH PASSERS BY, UH, BUT ALSO THEY DON'T HAVE TO IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.
UH, SO LET'S, LET'S TRY AND, UH, SHAVE THAT THAT NUMBER DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO THE SOCIAL FABRIC HERE IN AUSTIN.
I'M, I'M PERSONALLY VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS, UH, ABSOLUTELY THE WAY TO GO AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
TAYLOR WIMBER, HANNAH THOMAS, ZOE CALL.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS HANNAH THOMAS AND I AM A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
UM, WEMP OR WEST CAMPUS TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, IS THE EPITOME OF WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN IMAGINING A PREDOMINANTLY COLLEGE-BASED CITY PARTIES, BAD DRIVERS, NOISINESS, BUT MOST PREVALENT OF ALL IS EXTREMELY HIGH RENT PRICES SO HIGH TO THE EXTENT THAT PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO EITHER COMMUTE A LONGER DISTANCE FROM CAMPUS, WORK 30 HOURS ON O WEEK ON TOP OF SCHOOL, OR SIMPLY NOT ATTEND COLLEGES IN AUSTIN.
THIS, I ASSURE YOU, IS NOT WHAT SOMEONE WHO IS LOOKING AT PROSPECTIVE COLLEGES AND OR HOUSE HUNTING WOULD WANT TO HEAR THE OVERWHELM.
OVERWHELMING HOUSING EXPENSES DETER A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM WANTING TO LIVE IN AUSTIN, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE A BEAUTIFUL CITY LIKE AUSTIN SHOULD NOT BE DEFINED BY THE COST OF LIVING.
BUT THE SAD REALITY IS THAT IT IS.
I THINK THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES IS HOW DO WE WANT AUSTIN TO BE PERCEIVED WEIRD AND UNIQUE OR STAGNANT AND OBSOLETE? HI THERE, MY NAME'S ZOE COLE AND I AM A CURRENT RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AS A STUDENT CURRENT CURRENTLY STUDYING GOVERNMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
I AM SO THANKFUL TO BE LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS.
HOWEVER, AS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADVANCE A CAREER IN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN THIS LOVELY AND OPPORTUNE CITY, I FEEL DISHEARTENED AT THE FACT THAT I'LL BE PRICED OUT OF THIS LOCATION.
AFTER GRADUATION, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNAFFORDABLE AND IF CURRENT ZONING AND COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS PERSIST, MY OPTIONS FOR CONTINUED RESIDENCE IN THIS CITY WILL BE PUSHED FURTHER AWAY FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, FROM THE HEART OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, I CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE A CAR.
THE MEANS TO ACQUIRE A CAR NOR THE DESIRE TO OWN A CAR.
I WALK AND UTILIZE PUBLIC TRANSIT ALMOST EVERYWHERE I GO IN THIS CITY, WHICH IS ONLY CURRENTLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HOW CENTRALLY I'M LOCATED.
KNOWING THAT I COME FROM A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE IN COMPARISON TO SO MANY OTHERS MAKES ME EVEN MORE DISHEARTENED.
AT AUSTIN'S CURRENT SITUATION, PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY DISPLACED FROM THE CENTRAL CITY AS A RESULT OF CURRENT ZONING CONDITIONS.
IF OTHERS ARE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE INJUSTICES THAT ARE OCCURRING UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS, THEN THEY SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT A CHANGE MUST OCCUR TO ADDRESS THESE OUTDATED CONDITIONS.
[02:50:01]
THE GIFTS THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER SHOULD NOT BE RESERVED SOLELY FOR HIGH INCOME EARNERS.HOME IS CRUCIAL TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF UNITS AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF WHO WANT TO UTILIZE AUSTIN FOR THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS, BUT LACK THE MEANS TO DO SO UNDER CURRENT ZONING CONDITIONS.
CHRIS GANNON HAS TIME DONATED FOR MICHAEL SHU? ARE CHRIS AND MICHAEL HERE? OKAY, THANK YOU.
ON DECK ARE LUCY BEGG AND MICHAEL NHAS.
I'M THE CO-CHAIR OF AIAS HOUSING ADVOCACY COMMITTEE.
I'M A HUSBAND AND FATHER TO THREE YOUNG AUSTINITES.
I SUPPORT THIS LAND REFORM AND APPLAUD THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR SPEARHEADING THESE RESOLUTIONS.
I LOVE AUSTIN AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THIS CITY GROWS.
WHEN I WAS JUST GRADUATING COLLEGE, NONE OF MY PEERS WANTED TO STICK AROUND AND THEN EVENTUALLY THEY ALL CAME BACK.
I WANT MORE PEOPLE TO COME BACK.
I WANT IT TO BE POSSIBLE FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING IN THE CITY TO ALSO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THESE RESOLUTIONS WILL HELP BUILD DENSITY AROUND OUR CORRIDORS AND ENABLE MORE PEOPLE IN OUR HIGH OPPORTUNITY ZONES WHILE STILL PROTECTING OUR VULNERABLE, UH, UH, NEIGHBORS.
ONE GOAL DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OTHER HOME.
PHASE TWO PROPOSES TO LOWER THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE DOWN TO 2000 SQUARE FEET.
MAYBE IT COULD EVEN GO SMALLER.
WE KNOW THAT LAND IS A DRIVING FACTOR IN THE COST OF A HOME.
THIS WILL ALLOW FOR MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE ON SMALLER PARCELS IF THEY WISH, AND EXISTING HOMEOWNERS CAN BE MORE CREATIVE WITH HOW THEY USE THEIR LAND.
I'M LOOKING FORWARDS TO A MORE DENSE, LIVABLE AUSTIN.
WHERE DID OUR CURRENT MINIMUM WA SIZE COME FROM? ANYWAYS? IN 1931, AUSTIN CREATED ITS FIRST MINIMUM WA SIZE OF 3000 SQUARE FEET.
THEN IN 1946, IN REACTION TO SHELLEY V KRAMER, WHICH MADE RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS UNENFORCEABLE THE CITY INCREASED THE MINIMUM SIZE TO 57 50.
UH, THIS HAD THE EFFECT OF CONTINUING SEGREGATION, ALBEIT THROUGH ECONOMIC MEANS RATHER THAN EXPLICITLY RACIST MEANS.
UM, I'M EXCITED THAT WE ARE AT THE POINT IN OUR HISTORY WHEN WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE AND CORRECT THIS TERRIBLE POLICY.
WE KNOW THAT REDUCING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS NOT GONNA FIX THE EFFECTS OF SEGREGATION OR REDLINING OR JIM CROW.
UH, BUT LET'S START BY GETTING THIS LARGE LOT POLICY OFF THE BOOKS.
UM, JUST AN ASIDE IN, UH, MY RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THE, UM, THE SWEET POINT FOR MAKING MONEY OFF OF LAND WAS ABOUT 8,000 SQUARE FEET.
THIS IS WHAT THEY DISCOVERED IN THE LATE FORTIES.
UH, SO ALL OF THESE, UH, DEVELOPERS WOULD SET THEIR LOT SIZE AT EXACTLY 8,000 SQUARE FEET.
THIS WAS THE BEST RETURN ON ON ON THE MONEY.
WHAT IS AUSTIN'S AVERAGE LOT SIZE? IT'S 7,950 SQUARE FEET.
UM, SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GREEDY DEVELOPERS, I THINK THAT THE 8,000 SQUARE FOOT IS A GOOD SPOT TO LOOK AT.
UM, AND WHAT ELSE WAS GOING ON IN 1946? UH, THIS IS JUST SOME RESEARCH THAT I FOUND.
THE CITY WAS ARGUING ABOUT HAVING, UH, RECONSTITUTED MILK IN THE SCHOOL ROOMS AND FIGHTING TO OBSTRUCT THE UNIVERSITY FROM BUILDING 140 HUT MINS, WHICH WERE QUICK FOUR BED UNITS FOR OUR INCOMING VETS.
UH, THAT'S JUST AN INTERESTING TIDBIT THAT I FOUND.
WE KNOW THAT REDUCING THE MINIMUM WAT SIZE HELPS WITH HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
STUDIES SHOW THAT MAY EVEN BE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR.
HOUSTON WELL KNOWN FOR ITS AFFORDABILITY COMPARED TO ITS SIZE, CUT THEIR MINIMUM AND WAT SIZE FROM 5,000 TO 1400 IN 1998.
HOUSTON HAS MANY OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDING POLLUTION, BUT LET'S LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE GETTING RIGHT.
UH, WE ALSO NEED TO CONGRATULATE THE CITY FOR TAKING STEPS TO SIMPLIFY THE SUBDIVISION PROCESS AND MAKING FLAG LOTS BETTER.
THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE ON THESE FRONTS, BUT IT FEELS GOOD KNOWING THAT THE PROCESS IS STARTED.
I ALSO WANNA SPEAK ABOUT COMPATIBILITY.
OUR CURRENT POLICY IS THE MOST DRASTIC IN THE NATION.
REDUCING THE IMPACT OF COMPATIBILITY WILL DO SUCH GOOD FOR OUR CORRIDORS LIKE LAMAR AND BURNETT.
THESE COULD BE THRIVING WALKABLE DISTRICTS, BUT THEY'RE LIMITED TO TWO STORIES BECAUSE OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
UH, THIS REGULATION AS IT SANDS, HAS ROBBED AUSTIN OF 82,000 DWELLING UNITS.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THE CITY GROWS.
UM, I'M ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF E TODD.
ALRIGHT, THANK, THANK YOU LUCY.
BEG MICHAEL NAS ON DECK ARE RYAN NIL AND MONA WILKE.
I'M AN ARCHITECT SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, A ISD PARENT AND MEMBER OF A I A AUSTIN'S HOUSING
[02:55:01]
ADVOCACY COMMITTEE.I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE HOME PHASE TWO ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS ADVOCATE FOR A COMPANION RESOLUTION APPROVED LAST YEAR, WHICH WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO REALIZE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THESE POLICY CHANGES IN 2011.
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE FORTUNATE TO PURCHASE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AT THE TIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF EAST CESAR CHAVEZ, A 700 SQUARE FOOT HOME ON A 2,500 SQUARE FOOT CORNER LOT.
WE HAD RECENTLY STARTED A SMALL BUSINESS TOGETHER AND SECURING THIS MODEST SPOT ON AUSTIN'S HOUSING LADDER HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING THE FINANCIAL SECURITY TO ALLOW US TO BUILD OUR BUSINESS WHILE GROWING OUR FAMILY.
NOW, 10 AND SEVEN, SIX YEARS AGO, THANKS TO SMALL LOT AMNESTY, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD A SECOND STORY TO OUR HOME.
WE LIVE VERY COMFORTABLY AS A FAMILY OF FOUR WITH A SMALL YARD PARKING ON THE STREET AND EASY ACCESS TO THE MANY WONDERFUL AMENITIES OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M DELIGHTED THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ON LOTS OF SIMILAR SIZES TO OURS IS GOING TO BE EXTENDED TO MORE FAMILIES OF AUSTIN, AND THAT THE FLEXIBILITY IS GOING TO BE RESTORED THAT HOMEOWNERS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ONCE ENJOYED TO PARCEL OFF A PORTION OF THEIR LOTS TO SELL TO SOMEONE ELSE, WHICH RESULTED IN OVER QUARTER OF THE LOTS IN THE ECSA CHAVEZ NEIGHBORHOOD BEING BELOW THE CURRENT MINIMUM LOT SIZE TODAY.
HOWEVER, UNLIKE IN THE SEVENTIES WHEN OUR LOT WAS LIKELY SUBDIVIDED, SPLITTING A STANDARD RESIDENTIAL LOT INTO TWO OR THREE SMALLER LOTS TODAY WILL CURRENTLY INVOLVE A COSTLY AND LENGTHY SUBDIVISION PROCESS WITH AT LEAST $50,000 OF CIVIL SURVEYOR AND CITY FEES.
FISCAL SURETY REQUIREMENTS EXCEEDING THAT CUMBERSOME DRAINAGE AND WATER QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND A TIMELINE OF OVER A YEAR, A PROCESS THAT WILL ERADICATE ANY FINAL.
MICHAEL NAS, RYAN NIL, MONA WAKIM AND FERNANDO ARISA.
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
I'M AN ECONOMIST WITH A MASTER'S FROM UT AUSTIN.
I'M VICE CHAIR OF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION.
I'M HERE SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, UH, AUSTIN.
SO I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE HERE IN AUSTIN.
AUSTIN HAS ABOUT 200,000 SINGLE FAMILY LOTS TOTAL.
WE HAVE MORE THAN 1 MILLION FAMILIES IN THE METRO AREA, WHICH GIVES ABOUT ONE SINGLE FAMILY LOT FOR EVERY FIVE FAMILIES IN THE METRO AREA.
IF WE LOOK AT THE INCOME DISTRIBUTION, THE TOP FIFTH OF THE INCOME DISTRIBUTION EARNS MORE THAN $150,000 PER YEAR.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE ABLE TO AFFORD LOTS INSIDE AUSTIN.
WE HAVE LOTS ONLY FOR THE WEALTHY IN AUSTIN.
THE LOTS CLOSEST TO THE CENTER OF THE CITY ARE ZONED SF THREE MORE THAN 80% OF THOSE LOTS CANNOT BE SPLIT BECAUSE OF THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
WE NEED A SMALLER MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
ALMOST ALL THE LOTS WITHIN FOUR MILES OF CITY HALL COST MORE THAN $2 MILLION PER ACRE AT 2000 SQUARE FEET PER LOT, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED AMOUNT THAT IS 20 LOTS PER ACRE.
THAT WOULD MEAN THE COST OF THE LAND IS GOING TO EXCEED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THESE SMALL LOTS THAT'S TOO HIGH FOR MIDDLE CLASS INCOMES.
THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE SHOULD BE LESS THAN 2000 SQUARE FEET.
LOT SIZE WILL SET AN INCOME LIMIT ON WHO CAN AFFORD THOSE LOTS.
NEAR CITY HALL, THE BEST MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS ZERO PERIOD.
THAT MEANS EVERYBODY WHO CAN BUY A LOT CAN AFFORD IT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
THIS IS, I THINK THE WAY I CAN DO THE BEST CHANGE TO THE WORLD IS TO MAKE AUSTIN MORE AFFORDABLE.
PLEASE LOWER THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TO ZERO.
ANY MAXIMUM LIMIT ON THE HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS, ON THE NUMBER OF UNITS MEANS LESS HOUSING THERE PLEASE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
I'M A DISTRICT FOUR HOMEOWNER AND HAVE SPENT THE LAST 15 YEARS TRYING TO START HOUSING COOPERATIVES.
I'VE WORKED ON PROJECTS TO FUND BUY, LEASE AND OPERATE CO-OPS.
UH, BUT THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, BUILDING NEW CO-OPS HAS SEEMED LIKE AN INSURMOUNTABLE WALL.
ORGANIZING ALL THE MEMBERS, CONVINCING PEOPLE TO FUND A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN HOUSING TYPE, GETTING PAST THE RESISTANCE OF A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE COMMUNITY-BASED HOUSING.
UM, ONCE YOU GET PAST ALL THAT, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO BUILD A BUILDING.
[03:00:01]
ALL THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT.IT'S REALLY RISKY, UH, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN KIND OF AFRAID TO DO.
I WAS ALWAYS SCARED THAT I WOULD BE THE DOG THAT CAUGHT THE CAR.
DEVELOPING HOUSING IS LIKE ANY OTHER SKILL THAT YOU DEVELOP.
YOU NEED TO DO DO IT MULTIPLE TIMES, AND YOU NEED TO DO IT IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FEELS SAFE.
AND LAND DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTIN DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO DO THOSE THINGS.
SO COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPERS LIKE MYSELF, WE NEED SMALL PROJECT PROJECTS TO CUT OUR TEETH ON THINGS LIKE ADUS, CONVERTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO DUPLEXES SUBDIVISION AND ADDING SMALL HOMES, CONVERTING OVERSIZED HOMES TO CO-OPS.
I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE STARTED A CO-OP THAT I COULD HAVE RAISED MY SON IN, BUT THAT WAS FAR TOO DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO AT THAT POINT IN MY LIFE.
THE MUCH SAFER OPTION FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WAS TO BUY A HOME WITH A DILAPIDATED A-D-A-D-U AND THEN RENOVATE THAT A DU WITH THE CHANGES THAT HOME BRINGS, MAYBE WE CAN ADD A ANOTHER HOUSE OR TWO TO THE PROPERTY AND START TO BEGIN TO DEVELOP THAT COMMUNITY AROUND MY HOUSEHOLD THAT I WISHED I COULD HAVE STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO.
I THINK ALLOWING COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES, THE FLEXIBILITY TO MEET THEIR NEEDS IS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE THAT WE HAVE TO INSTITUTIONAL BASED INVESTORS CREATING HOUSING.
AND I THINK HOME WILL SUPPORT THOSE GOALS.
ON DECK IS FERNANDO ARISA AND NOAH ELIAS.
I GREW UP IN AUSTIN, UH, RIGHT ON SOUTH CONGRESS.
WE ACTUALLY OWN HIGH TECH AUTOMOTIVE.
IT'S ACROSS FROM TORCHY'S NEXT TO THE CHASE BANK.
UH, WE'RE A FAMILY OF FOUR AND MY DAD FOUNDED HIGH TECH AUTOMOTIVE IN 1987.
UH, PROFESSOR JURGEN RIE OF UT ACTUALLY WROTE A BOOK THAT WAS 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING ABOUT MY DAD CALLED SELF MAKING MAN.
AND, UH, WE ARE A BIG PART OF THIS, UH, COMMUNITY AND WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS AND THEY SUPPORT US.
AND WE HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL CONSIDER US AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WHATEVER HAPPENS TO US MATTERS.
BECAUSE THIS LETTER SAYS THAT WE MAY LOSE THE RIGHT FOR OUR CURRENT USE AS AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR.
OBVIOUSLY I REALLY CARE YOU GUYS ARE GONNA PROHIBIT AUTOMOTIVE SALES AND REPAIRS.
AND I JUST THINK THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU GO, THIS LETTER SAYS THAT WE MAY LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT Y'ALL ARE SAYING NO, IT'S NON-CONFORMING.
AND SO IT'S JUST REALLY WISHY-WASHY.
AND I THINK THAT Y'ALL NEED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR ABOUT WHAT'S ACTUALLY GONNA HAPPEN.
AND THE REASON WHY I'M SO EMOTIONAL IS BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND.
AND EVERY DAY WE DEAL WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY BEING TICKETED.
AND OUR CUSTOMERS, EXCUSE ME, OUR CUSTOMERS ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING TICKETS BECAUSE THEY PULL INTO OUR SHOP.
AND I'VE TALKED TO ENGINEERING, I'VE TALKED TO TRAFFIC CONTROL, I'VE TALKED TO EVERYBODY THAT I NEED TO TALK TO, AND I STILL GET HARASSED EVEN LAST WEEK.
EVERY SINGLE WEEK A CUSTOMER PULLS INTO MY SHOP AND WE HAVE A LIMITED SPACE.
AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU GUYS DO YOUR JOB AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY BEING LISTENED TO.
AND WE HAVE SOME, WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER RIGHT THERE WHO CAN ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU ABOUT THE CONFORMING AND NON-CONFORMING REGULATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CLEAR FOR YOU.
NEXT IS FERNANDO AA AND NOAH ELIAS WITH PKI GS ON DECK.
UH, UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AS AN ELECTRICIAN.
I'M A UNION MEMBER, PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS.
SO FOR SEVEN YEARS I'VE HELPED BUILD, UH, SOME OF THE HIGH RISES AROUND HERE, INCLUDING GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK.
I'VE ALSO HELPED BUILD, UH, TESLA, AMAZON, AND, UM, HOUSES AND, UH, UH, HOSPITALS AND, AND SCHOOLS.
AND I HAVE BEEN, HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD A, A HOME HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, IN THE SEVEN YEARS THAT I'VE HELPED BUILT IT.
UM, I THINK THIS, UH, HOME AND, UH, ETOD INITIATIVE WILL HELP, UH, WITH HOUSING.
UH, I I THINK IT WILL HELP MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE.
I DON'T THINK IT ADDRESSES EVERYTHING.
I THINK, UM, UM, WE ALSO NEED TO INCREASE, UH, MINIMUM
[03:05:01]
WAGE, UH, AND, AND, AND LOWER RENT, UH, AND, AND MAKE A RENT CAP.UH, IT'LL ALSO HELP, UH, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SUCH AS MYSELF, UH, BUILD NEW PUBLICLY FUNDED PROJECTS AND IT'LL HELP PROVIDE, UH, LONGER TERM JOBS FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL MANAGE THE TRAIN STATIONS.
I DO BELIEVE, UH, IT'LL ALSO HELP HOMEOWNERS, UM, UH, GET A PASSIVE INCOME BY, UH, BY BUILDING A SECOND HOME AND, AND RENTING IT OUT OR MAYBE, UH, RENTING IT OUT TO A FAMILY MEMBER.
UM, MAYBE IT COULD EVEN BUILD A, UH, TINY HOMES WHERE THEY COULD, UM, IT COULD FIX THE, UH, UNHOUSED PROBLEM AND, UM, STOP THE UNHOUSED FROM BEING HARASSED WITH THESE CITY SWEEPS.
I THINK, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ARE TALKING ABOUT GENTRIFICATION, UM, UH, LIKE ARE, ARE, ARE RIGHT AND, UM, THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
I'M, I'M GLAD THAT THIS, UH, PROPOSAL HAS, UH, EQUITABLE LANGUAGE, UH, UH, ANTI DISPLACEMENT LANGUAGE.
UH, AND I'M GLAD IT ALSO, UH, TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE POLLUTION THAT CAN COME, UH, FROM THIS SORT OF PLAN.
AND I'M GLAD IT HAS STEPS TO MITIGATE THAT.
SO AS A PERSON WHO'S BUILT THIS CITY FOR SEVEN YEARS, I, UH, I SUPPORT HOME AND THE ETOD INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU, NOAH ELIAS ON DECK IS PKI G DAVID CARROLL AND JUDAH RICE.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE PODIUM.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
UH, I LIVE IN THE METRO TOPLESS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I AM A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, WHICH JUST TAUGHT HALF DAY TODAY, SO I CAN BE HERE.
SO I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LEMME TELL YOU MY STORY.
WE GOT HERE WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD.
WE SETTLED IN THE MANLESS NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A HOUSE TO RENT.
UH, NOT ONLY DID MY FAMILY, BUT OTHER FAMILIES, UH, WITH SIM SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS HAVE SETTLED IN THE MENTALIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SINCE THEN, I HAVE SEEN MY NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLETELY, UH, DECIMATED WITH, UM, DISPLACEMENT, UH, GENTRIFICATION.
UH, A LOT OF MY NEIGHBORS, THE PEOPLE I GREW UP WITH, UH, NO LONGER LIVE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, NO LONGER CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, THEY ARE IN THE OUTSKIRTS, THEY'RE BUTTA CAO, THEY MOVED EVERYWHERE.
UM, AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO OR TO AT LEAST POSTPONE THIS VOTE ON HOME AND THE EAD, UM, AND ALL, ALL THE PLANS THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING BECAUSE THESE PLANS ARE ACTUALLY JUST FOR INVESTORS.
THEY'RE MARKET DRIVEN, UM, PLANS.
SO THERE'S NO AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT IN ANY OF THESE, WHICH MEANS THAT FAMILIES LIKE MY FAMILY, UH, FAMILY OF TEACHERS, UH, UH, MY, THE FAMILIES THAT I SERVE, MY STUDENTS, UH, THE FAMILIES OF MY CUSTODIANS, OUR, UH, CAFETERIA WORKERS, UH, ARE NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THESE PLANS.
UM, AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISPLACED BECAUSE WHEN YOU GIVE ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS AND YOU DON'T GIVE THEM, UH, AN AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT, THEN YOU DISPLACE PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE LIKE MY COMMUNITY.
SO I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THESE PLANS ARE ONLY GOING TO ACCELERATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE OF COLOR, HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS.
IT'S GOING TO DRIVE UP PROPERTY TAXES, IT'S GOING TO DRIVE UP RENT, AND IT'S GOING TO GIVE INCENTIVE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS PANKE GOOSH, DAVID CARROLL, JUDAH RICE.
IF YOUR NAMES HAVE BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
RITA THOMPSON, LISA WIMBERLEY JIAO, PAUL CONLEY.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO ONE OF THE PODIUMS AND STATE YOUR NAME.
ALRIGHT,
UM, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS.
I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE AUSTIN INFILL COALITION.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE COMPATIBILITY REFORM E TODD AND HOME TWO INITIATIVE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND TO TELL YOU THAT I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN'S FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND MANY IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE TO OUR OUTDATED CODE.
AND SINCE THIS IS A JOINT SESSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ILLUSTRATE ONE INSTANCE THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BENEFIT FROM FURTHER CHANGES, AND THAT IS EXTENDING THE HOME, REGULATE HOME INITIATIVE REGULATIONS TO ALL SINGLE FAMILY ZONING.
[03:10:01]
OWNS AN SF SIX LOT, UM, WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO BUILD THREE MODESTLY SIZED AND PRICED UNITS.HOWEVER, BECAUSE OUR SF SIX LOT IS SMALLER THAN THE 14,000 SQUARE FEET REQUIRED FOR THREE UNITS, WE CANNOT DO THAT.
AS A RESULT, WE FIND OURSELVES IN AN ABSURD SITUATION OF HAVING TO SPEND MONEY AND TIME TO DOWN ZONE OUR SF SIX LAW TO SF THREE ZONING IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW REGULATIONS.
THIS OBVIOUSLY CAUSES UNNECESSARY DELAYS AND ADDITIONAL COSTS.
I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE INTO THE CONSIDERATION AS YOU DELIBERATE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CURRENT CURRENT CODE.
UM, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 77, UH, WORKED AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITIES, INCLU, INCLUDING MUCH OF EAST AUSTIN.
UM, I HOPE TO CONSIDER MYSELF A FRIEND OR AN ALLY TO EAST AUSTIN, BUT I WOULD NEVER PROPOSE TO KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THAT COMMUNITY.
AND I AM, I AM HEARTSICK TO HEAR PEOPLE SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF AND CALL 'EM THOSE PEOPLE.
UH, I USED TO BE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
I JUST REMIND YOU THAT TO HAVE HUMILITY AND CONTINUE TO SHOW RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE WHO COME UP HERE WHO ARE GONNA BE MOST IMPACTED.
AND I THINK WE KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE BECAUSE HISTORICALLY WE KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE.
UM, SO THERE'S A HOUSE, THERE'S A HOME, THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S A COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S MORE THAN A PLOT OF LAND.
AND WHEN YOU MOVE ONE PIECE OF IT, YOU JUST HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE DISRUPTING BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A PLOT OF LAND.
THE LACK OF RESPECT THAT COMES WHEN YOU USE SUCH A BROAD BRUSH IS IMMEASURABLE.
EACH COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE AND HAS ITS OWN CHALLENGES, DESIRES AND WANTS THAT SHOULD BE HONORED.
WHEN THAT'S NOT DONE, THERE'S RESULTS AND DISPLACEMENT, GENTRIFICATION.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY DENSITY IS NOT AFFORDABILITY.
I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO'S ANTI AFFORDABILITY, BUT I'M GONNA ASK YOU THIS AND 'CAUSE I MAY BE WRONG ABOUT THIS, BUT I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH MY HUSBAND'S EYES GLAZE OVER 'CAUSE I DO THAT.
AND I KEEP HEARING WHEN CASES COME UP AROUND ZONING NOT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AFFORDABILITY.
SO SOME THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
DAVID CARROLL, JUDAH RICE, JIAO, POWELL CONLEY, TINA BARRETT, AND CHRISTIAN SCHO.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH A PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN INFILL COALITION.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME TWO INITIATIVE, AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE SO FAR TO HELP AUSTIN BE MORE AFFORDABLE AND INCLUSIVE.
I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN HEARING TODAY.
MANY SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED THAT EAST AUSTIN IS SOMEHOW BEING HORRIBLY IMPACTED BY CODE NEXT HOME AND HOME TWO, WHAT I WISH THEY WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE IN PLACE YET TO MAKE ANY IMPACT.
WHAT IS MAKING AN IMPACT IS THE STATUS QUO.
THE HISTORIC EXCLUSIONARY ZONING THAT HAS KEPT THE RICH.
MOSTLY WHITE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE DUE TO HUGE MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND LIMITING OF DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES IS WHAT'S HAVING AN IMPACT.
THESE POLICIES HAVE PUT ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON THE EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS BY MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THESE GIANT HOMES ON GIANT LOTS.
HOME AND HOME TWO WILL FORCE THE EXPENSIVE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS TO FINALLY ALLOW MORE DIVERSE, DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES AND START TO MITIGATE AFFORDABILITY.
SO MUCH HAS BEEN DONE, BUT STILL SOME LEFT TO DO IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS FROM DEVELOPERS TO BUILDING HOMES THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE AND DIVERSE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DONE WITH THE ENCUMBRANCES TO THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING SIGNIFICANT AND IMPACTFUL CHANGES TO COMPATIBILITY, SIDE PLAN LIGHT AND THE LOT SUBDIVISION PROCESS.
THESE ARE STILL CONTRIBUTING HEAVILY TO THE COST OF BUILDING, WHICH SIMPLY GETS PASSED ON TO THE END BUYER AND CONTRIBUTES TO OUR AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER EXTENDING HOME AND HOME TWO TO ALL SINGLE FAMILY ZONING SO WE DON'T HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF EDGE CASES THAT END UP COSTING MORE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
[03:15:01]
CHRISTIAN CHOP, LAUREN MA.HELLO MAYOR AND PLANNING COMMISSION, MAYOR COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
LAST TIME WE DID THIS, I WAS ON YOUR END.
AND I'M NOT GONNA LIE, I KIND OF LIKE BEING ON THIS SIDE OF THINGS, UM, BUT I AM HERE TO SHARE AJCS, UM, POSITION AND RESPONSE TO THE THREE UPDATES PROPOSED TO THE LAND CODE CHANGE.
UM, AS AUSTIN'S COUNCIL'S PREPARING FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF UPDATES TO THE CITY'S LAND CODE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE FIRST AND IT CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE THE LAST CONVERSATION OF THIS SORT.
IN AUSTIN, LAND USE BELONGS TO THE POLITICAL.
IT IS NOT THE SACRED, UNTOUCHABLE TERRITORY OF THOSE WHO OWN PROPERTY IN THE CITY.
IT BELONGS TO TENANTS, IT BELONGS TO TRANSIT USERS, IT BELONGS TO EVERY PERSON THAT LIVES IN AUSTIN.
AND EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A SAY.
I'M CONVINCED THAT AUSTINITES WANNA LIVE IN A COMPASSIONATE CITY THAT AFFIRMS EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO HAVE A PLACE TO BE HERE AT A JC.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAREFULLY REVIEW THESE CHANGES AND WHILE WE BELIEVE THE REFORMS CAN PROVIDE NECESSARY CHANGES, AND WHILE WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE HELD HOSTAGE TO A LAND CODE FROM THE EIGHTIES, WE ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS REFORM ALONE IS OR EVER WILL BE ENOUGH.
OUR CONCERN ABOUT THE ETOD SPECIFICALLY IS THAT IN SOME WAYS IT'S STILL AN UNEVEN INCENTIVE THAT PROVIDES TOO MUCH INCENTIVE TOWARDS THE REDEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIAL DIS REDEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING MULTIFAMILY AND POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT OF TENANTS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TOO LITTLE INCENTIVE TO DENSELY DEVELOP OTHER AREAS NEAR TRANSIT THAT COULD PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE AND, AND, UM, ACCESSIBLE HOUSING FOR TRANSIT USERS.
UM, BUT ON THE WHOLE, WE ARE SUPPORTIVE PRIMARILY OF THE AIMS OF HOME TWO, WHICH WE BELIEVE WILL BE POSITIVE AND A, AND A POSITIVE TOOL FOR PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT, A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX OF LOWER INCOME HOMEOWNERS.
UM, AT THE SAME TIME, WE THINK IT WON'T BE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS AND LOW INCOME AUSTINITES.