CM Laine,
Thank you for bringing this item, which will advance the work of HOME I and II make it easier to build much-needed infill housing across our community. Item 26 addresses many of the challenges to creating this type of housing, but the burdensome and expensive subdivision process remains a significant hurdle.
With that in mind, I am offering the following amendment to include improvements to the subdivision process in the resolution. I hope this can build on the work you are doing and the resolution I brought to streamline subdivisions a few years ago. Additionally, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor of the item.
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 144624.pdf
Thanks,
Ryan
Item 26
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Melissa Beeler
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2023 2:00 pm
Re: Item 26
On behalf of CM Qadri:
Colleagues,
I want to thank CM Laine for taking the lead on Item 26, the HOME Improvement resolution. I’m proud to continue to improve upon such a meaningful policy first spearheaded by former Council Member Leslie Pool.
It has come to my attention that one of the directives in the resolution became overly broad during the final revision process. I want to make sure the final version clearly reflects my intent in co-sponsoring this item as it relates to my district with Neighborhood Conservation Combining Districts, which has been to ask staff to provide Council with options and recommendations so we can better understand where there may be gaps, confusion, or opportunities to improve. This is about creating a more transparent and consistent process for everyone involved.
To clarify that intent, I am bringing forward a friendly amendment to strengthen the language of the resolution: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 101003.pdf
I look forward to the discussion on Thursday.
Best,
Zo
Colleagues,
I want to thank CM Laine for taking the lead on Item 26, the HOME Improvement resolution. I’m proud to continue to improve upon such a meaningful policy first spearheaded by former Council Member Leslie Pool.
It has come to my attention that one of the directives in the resolution became overly broad during the final revision process. I want to make sure the final version clearly reflects my intent in co-sponsoring this item as it relates to my district with Neighborhood Conservation Combining Districts, which has been to ask staff to provide Council with options and recommendations so we can better understand where there may be gaps, confusion, or opportunities to improve. This is about creating a more transparent and consistent process for everyone involved.
To clarify that intent, I am bringing forward a friendly amendment to strengthen the language of the resolution: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 101003.pdf
I look forward to the discussion on Thursday.
Best,
Zo
Policy Advisor
Office of Council Member Zo Qadri, District 9
Office of Council Member Zo Qadri, District 9
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Krista Laine
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2025 2:39 pm
Re: Item 26
Good afternoon Colleagues,
I am proud to introduce Item 26 this Thursday, which provides clarifications and targeted adjustments to the HOME initiatives passed last year. This item builds on the original HOME reforms, led by several of my colleagues still serving on the dais who helped lay the groundwork for the significant affordability gains we are now seeing. Those reforms expanded housing options across Austin and represented an important step forward in improving affordability. Early results are promising: HOME units are being delivered at a median price more than 50 percent lower than newly constructed single-family homes.
At the same time, implementation has revealed areas where the code is unclear. The current lack of clarity has already led to litigation and stalled projects, underscoring the need for a code that is clear and consistent. These challenges are not uncommon in complex land use reforms, but they must be addressed to ensure the policy delivers on its intent.
This resolution is a technical, nuts-and-bolts item focused on clarifying and cleaning up existing code. It responds to feedback from residents, builders, and city staff. It harmonizes existing rules, resolves internal inconsistencies, and ensures that popular, neighborhood-oriented features, such as front porches, can be built without unnecessary obstacles.
Most importantly, these changes help ensure that thousands of lots across Austin remain viable for small-scale housing. By improving clarity and predictability, the resolution supports more consistent outcomes and expands access to attainable housing options. These changes will not affect neighborhood plans, conditional overlays, HOAs, deed restrictions, and other existing regulatory frameworks, as detailed in Exhibit A that will be posted in backup. If recommended by staff and supported by Council, any substantial changes would proceed through a full public process before returning to Council for consideration as an ordinance.
I’d like to thank Council Member Alter for his amendment, which I fully support. Subdivision is an important piece of the affordability puzzle, and we look forward to continuing this work together.
I’d also like to thank Council Member Qadri for his amendment, which I also fully support. As he noted, zoning regulations are complex, and we need clear, accessible information to advance these goals, particularly where there may be gaps, inconsistencies, or opportunities for improvement. As a result of this amendment, staff will review combining districts, overlay zones, and supplemental standards, including targeted analysis and presentation of policy options aligned with our city’s goals and values. That added clarity will help us better understand how these policies are working in practice and better guide next steps.
Finally, thank you to our City staff for their hard work, and to my colleagues who have already signed on as co-sponsors: Mayor Pro Tem Vela, Council Member Qadri, Council Member Velásquez, and Council Member Alter. While rents and home prices have declined, housing costs remain a top concern for many residents, and we are continuing this work so Austinites can afford to live in the communities they call home.
Warm regards,
Krista Laine
I am proud to introduce Item 26 this Thursday, which provides clarifications and targeted adjustments to the HOME initiatives passed last year. This item builds on the original HOME reforms, led by several of my colleagues still serving on the dais who helped lay the groundwork for the significant affordability gains we are now seeing. Those reforms expanded housing options across Austin and represented an important step forward in improving affordability. Early results are promising: HOME units are being delivered at a median price more than 50 percent lower than newly constructed single-family homes.
At the same time, implementation has revealed areas where the code is unclear. The current lack of clarity has already led to litigation and stalled projects, underscoring the need for a code that is clear and consistent. These challenges are not uncommon in complex land use reforms, but they must be addressed to ensure the policy delivers on its intent.
This resolution is a technical, nuts-and-bolts item focused on clarifying and cleaning up existing code. It responds to feedback from residents, builders, and city staff. It harmonizes existing rules, resolves internal inconsistencies, and ensures that popular, neighborhood-oriented features, such as front porches, can be built without unnecessary obstacles.
Most importantly, these changes help ensure that thousands of lots across Austin remain viable for small-scale housing. By improving clarity and predictability, the resolution supports more consistent outcomes and expands access to attainable housing options. These changes will not affect neighborhood plans, conditional overlays, HOAs, deed restrictions, and other existing regulatory frameworks, as detailed in Exhibit A that will be posted in backup. If recommended by staff and supported by Council, any substantial changes would proceed through a full public process before returning to Council for consideration as an ordinance.
I’d like to thank Council Member Alter for his amendment, which I fully support. Subdivision is an important piece of the affordability puzzle, and we look forward to continuing this work together.
I’d also like to thank Council Member Qadri for his amendment, which I also fully support. As he noted, zoning regulations are complex, and we need clear, accessible information to advance these goals, particularly where there may be gaps, inconsistencies, or opportunities for improvement. As a result of this amendment, staff will review combining districts, overlay zones, and supplemental standards, including targeted analysis and presentation of policy options aligned with our city’s goals and values. That added clarity will help us better understand how these policies are working in practice and better guide next steps.
Finally, thank you to our City staff for their hard work, and to my colleagues who have already signed on as co-sponsors: Mayor Pro Tem Vela, Council Member Qadri, Council Member Velásquez, and Council Member Alter. While rents and home prices have declined, housing costs remain a top concern for many residents, and we are continuing this work so Austinites can afford to live in the communities they call home.
Warm regards,
Krista Laine