CodeNEXT Discussions (06/12 & 06/13)

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Steve Adler
Posts: 533
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2015 2:12 pm

CodeNEXT Discussions (06/12 & 06/13)

Post by Steve Adler »

Colleagues,

After a good start at yesterday’s worksession, I am looking forward to furthering our CodeNEXT discussion next week. Please make suggestions on which topics we might prioritize next Tuesday and Wednesday for discussion. I encourage us all to consider topics from the list provided by MPT Tovo (http://austincouncilforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1051), those provided by staff/consultants (http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 184709.pdf), from the bulletin board posts of several councilmembers (http://austincouncilforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1050), or otherwise, and post as soon as possible – perhaps by tomorrow afternoon (06/07). This will enable staff to propose an agenda of topics to cover based upon Council Members’ input by the end of this week.

Regarding the schedule for next week, the following is an attempt to capture what was discussed at the end of yesterday’s worksession. My office was advised by Councilmember Pool that she has made arrangements to be able to join us Tuesday afternoon. Please reply with any suggestions or comments.

Proposed June 12th Schedule:

9:00 AM CodeNEXT Discussion
12:00 PM Lunch/Executive Session followed by regular Agenda Worksession including staff briefings and pulled items, followed by continued CodeNEXT
discussion if time remains
5:30 PM Adjourn

Proposed June 13th Schedule:

9:00 AM CodeNEXT Discussion
12:00 PM Lunch break (please comment if working through lunch is a possibility)
1:00 PM Continued CodeNEXT discussion
2:00 PM Break for Council Health and Human Services Committee
3:30 PM Continued CodeNEXT discussion
5:00 PM Discuss schedule and agenda for future meetings; tentative dates being June 21, 26, 27
5:30 PM Adjourn

-s
Mayor
Alison Alter
Posts: 211
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2017 3:52 pm

Re: CodeNEXT Discussions (06/12 & 06/13)

Post by Alison Alter »

Colleagues,

We would like to focus on the following topics at our next meeting(s):
Transition Zones & Compatibility
By-Right Entitlements & the Affordable Housing Bonus Program
Timeline and Testing for the Land Development Code Before Effective Date
Public Input Opportunities in Code

For each of these topics, we would like for our consultants to be prepared to discuss:
Their Draft 3 recommendations
Planning principles and best practices that informed their recommendation
Policy alternatives we could be considering


Council Member Alison Alter
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo
Council Member Ora Houston
Council Member Leslie Pool


P.S.

Although we would not want to limit ourselves to the questions documented below, if it is easier for some to consider these topics in the format of previous lists, you can see that format below:

III.C Transition Zones & Compatibility

III.C.2 Should transition zones be used between centers and corridors and residential house-scaled neighborhood cores?
III.C.2.a What are the different definitions of “transition zone” that have emerged in discussions about Code Next? If creating “transition zones” becomes an approved Council goal, how can we create a community-driven process for evaluating and designing those? (*New*)

III.C.7 Explain current compatibility standards and the staff recommendation for compatibility standards. What are the planning principles that informed staff’s recommendation? (*New*)

II.E Housing Supply

II.E.1.a Should there be by-right housing increases allowed (through base entitlements - from II.E.1)?
II.E.1.b Should additional by-right housing be allowed only through affordable housing density bonuses?

X.A Process After Adoption (*New*)

X.A.1 Should Council establish a period before the new Land Development Code becomes effective during which city staff will test the code and bring the results to Council for review? (*New*)
X.A.1.a What is the process for map and text amendments during this testing period? (*New*)

IV.A Notification & Public Input

IV.A.2 Should opportunities for public input on development projects change from current code?
Council Member, District 10
Steve Adler
Posts: 533
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2015 2:12 pm

Re: CodeNEXT Discussions (06/12 & 06/13)

Post by Steve Adler »

Colleagues,

Thank you to Mayor Pro Tem Tovo and Council Members Alter, Houston, and Pool for posting suggestions for topics to prioritize for next week’s continued CodeNEXT discussions.

City staff have also advised that the code consultants who were primarily involved in the Affordable Housing Bonus Program will be in town for Council meetings next week, and in order to be efficient with the city’s limited time with them, the staff requested the Council try to prioritize covering the Income Restricted Housing issues.

We have incorporated the topics proposed by Mayor Pro Tem Tovo and Council Members Alter, Houston, and Pool, and offer the following draft agenda for topic discussions on Tuesday and Wednesday (June 12th and 13th). For reference, we have marked the questions that are NEW (from the previous list of questions) and have included the agreed upon language from the CodeNEXT Goals document.

Please post any comments and/or changes on the Message Board by Monday.

Mayor Steve Adler, Council Members Ann Kitchen and Greg Casar

Topics: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 185216.pdf
Agenda: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 185116.pdf

CodeNEXT – City Council Discussion Topics and Questions
June 12th and June 13th Meetings

Summary of Topics:
• Housing Supply and Income-Restricted Housing
• Transition Zones and Compatibility
• By Right Entitlements and the Affordable Housing Bonus Program
• Timeline and Testing for the Land Development Code
• Notification and Public Input Opportunities in Code

Description of Topics:
I. Encourage the development and preservation of affordable housing
LANGUAGE FROM AGREED UPON GOALS STATEMENT:
Our new Code can create opportunities to build and preserve housing that is more affordable than homes being built today under the current Code. The Code can encourage property owners to keep existing housing that is affordable to middle and lower-income families and offer targeted incentives to build new affordable housing. Expanding affordable housing in more areas of Austin will create opportunities for people to live closer to work, school, family and friends, and will help address the historic inequities and economic segregation of lower-income Austinites.
A Code That Works
• Provides incentives for development of on-site, publicly supported or income-restricted housing for properties along transportation corridors as well as in more high opportunity areas of the city
• Provides incentives for preservation of existing housing that is affordable to middle and lower-income households
• Promotes affordable, flexible live/work spaces to support artists, musicians, and small business owners along transportation corridors and activity centers
• Encourages developments that include publicly supported or income-restricted housing to provide a greater number of family-sized units
• Revises and expands housing programs, to maximize production of income-restricted housing

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
I.A Income-restricted Housing (and first Housing Supply question)
II.A.1. [From Housing Supply category] What should be our overall housing capacity goal to meet the goals in Imagine Austin and the Strategic Housing Blueprint?
I.A.1 What is our income-restricted housing goal? What capacity is needed to reach that goal? How often should we evaluate and recalibrate the program to ensure we meet that goal?
I.A.2 How should affordable housing bonuses be calibrated to maximize the production of income-restricted units?
I.A.3 How should base zoning entitlements be calibrated with affordable housing bonuses?
I.A.4 How should we maximize the development of income-restricted housing in all parts of the city? What should be our goals for producing income-restricted housing in moderate, high, and very high opportunity areas?
I.A.5 Should there be incentives for providing a greater number of family-sized units in income-restricted housing?
I.A.6 Should affordable housing bonuses be available in residential house scale zones (LA – R4) to create income-restricted units?
I.A.7 How could we revise S.M.A.R.T. housing to better incentivize affordable housing projects?
I.B Density Bonus Program Administration
I.B.1 When should income restricted housing be required on-site vs. off-site vs. fee-in-lieu, etc.? Which entity should make that determination?

III. Preserve and respect neighborhood identity and quality of life
LANGUAGE FROM AGREED UPON GOALS STATEMENT:
With many of Austin’s neighborhoods under redevelopment pressure, the Code must provide ways to preserve neighborhood quality of life. These include diverse housing choices, flood mitigation, access to parks, safe walkable streets, and appropriate parking. Imagine Austin envisions more housing along transit corridors and town centers and our Code must support that goal.
A Code That Works
• Integrates existing community planning efforts, including neighborhood plans, and provides tools to enable a clear process and dedicated staff for creation of new plans and updates of plans
• Maintains a public process for requests to increase development beyond what is allowed, such as increased height, including when errors are made in construction
• Includes new zoning tools that ensure compatibility between residential and commercial areas, including height and size, noise and light pollution, deliveries and trash collection – to provide
• Carefully considered transitions between existing neighborhoods and new mixed-use redevelopments
• Requires a public process for permitting bars and nightclubs located near homes, another bar or nightclub, schools or daycare, hospital, or uses like libraries and churches
• Prohibits adult entertainment near residences
• Fits parking requirements to location, including the possibility of increased or reduced parking requirements, after considering factors such as sidewalks, transit access, protected bike lanes, and locations near schools
• Ensures neighborhood streets remain accessible to Fire and EMS services, and Resource Recovery

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
III.C Transition Zones and Compatibility
III.C.1 How do transition zones and compatibility affect our Strategic Housing Blueprint housing capacity and other Imagine Austin policy goals?
III.C.2 Should transition zones be used between centers and corridors and residential house-scaled neighborhood cores?
III.C.2.a What are the different definitions of “transition zone” that have emerged in discussions about Code Next? If creating “transition zones” becomes an approved Council goal, how can we create a community-driven process for evaluating and designing those? (*New*)
III.C.3 Explain current compatibility standards and the staff recommendation for compatibility standards. What are the planning principles that informed staff’s recommendation? (*New*)
III.C.4 Should compatibility standards be used between centers and corridors and residential house-scaled neighborhood cores?
III.C.5 How should we minimize the impact of noise and light pollution, deliveries and trash collection in areas of transition?

II. Provide more housing choices and supply for Austinites at all stages of life and incomes
LANGUAGE FROM AGREED UPON GOALS STATEMENT:
Our new Code should allow for a wide variety of housing types which are affordable to households at a broad range of incomes and for people at every stage of life from young, single adults, families with children, to seniors.
A Code That Works
• BOOKMARKED. Sensitively provides for more housing types in neighborhoods, transitions, activity centers, along transportation corridors, and near transit stations
• Enables more small accessory dwelling units (ADUs) while maintaining building and impervious cover limits, in order to help homeowners with housing costs and allow more flexibility as households’ needs change over time
• BOOKMARKED. Allows exceptions to building requirements for small accessory dwelling units (ADU) to provide incentives to preserve the original residence or create affordability
• BOOKMARKED. Allows families with homes on substandard lots to more easily remodel and stay in place
• Allows homes in more commercial areas to help provide more housing
• BOOKMARKED. Allows for site plan requirements and administrative approvals that support the development of diverse housing options, including ADUs and multiplexes where appropriate
• Includes development and design standards that support the development of housing along transportation corridors
• Helps to correct past patterns of segregation and helps Austin achieve its Fair Housing goals

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
II.E Housing Supply
II.E.1 Where should more by-right housing be allowed through increased base entitlements?
II.E.1.a Should there be by-right housing increases allowed (through base entitlements – from II.E.1)?
II.E.1.b Should additional by-right housing be allowed only through Affordable Housing Density Bonuses?
II.E.1.c How much new housing on corridors should be by-right versus affordable housing bonus?

X. Process after adoption (*New*)
X.A Should Council establish a period before the new Land Development Code becomes effective during which city staff will test the code and bring the results to Council for review? (*New*).
X.A.1 What testing has occurred to date and how have the results been used and reported? (*New*).
X.A.2 What opportunities should be available to involve public stakeholders in the testing process? (*New*).
X.A.3 What is the process for map and text amendments during this testing period? (*New*)
X.B Should Council establish a time period of at least 6 months after final adoption before the new Land Development code takes effect? (*New*).
X.B.1 What process should Council establish for implementation of the code, over what timeframe?
X.B.2. What process should Council establish for amending the code as we go into the future?
X.C What process should Council establish for development of Criteria Manuals? (*New*).

IV. Reduce time and cost of permitting by providing more clarity, certainty, and ease of use
LANGUAGE FROM AGREED UPON GOALS STATEMENT:
The current permitting process for construction and remodeling of housing and small businesses is confusing and expensive. Our new Code should help projects be more affordable by reducing the time and costs of permitting with a less complicated Code.
A Code That Works
• Simplifies permitting to ensure consistency and organizes zoning categories with graphics and labeling that is easy to understand and use
• BOOKMARKED. Supports efforts to reduce permitting barriers and home remodeling costs to help families stay in their homes such as those proposed in the new Family Homestead Initiative
• Allows more affordable, pre-approved building and remodel design options to help seniors age in place, and middle and lower income households to remain in their neighborhoods
• Establishes reliable expectations for development review timelines and processes

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
IV.A Notification and Public Input
IV.A.1 Should existing notification timelines be changed from current code?
IV.A.2 Should opportunities for public input on development projects change from current code?
IV.A.3 Should the level of notification and opportunities for input, for example for Minor Use Permits and Conditional Use Permits, be commensurate with the potential impact(s) of proposed type of uses?
Mayor
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