Revise Regulations
The Imagine Austin Priority Program, Revise Regulations, currently focuses its efforts solely on the revision of the City’s existing Land Development Code (LDC). Based on a court ruling in March 2020, the City is in the process of assessing Land Development Code Revision (LDC) options with respect to the Judge’s orders. The adoption of a new LDC will not take place on the timetable originally proposed. For future updates on the project, please check back here or sign up for our newsletter. Below is information about the Priority Program and a summary of LDC Revision work completed in 2019, prior to the court ruling.
Revise Austin's Development Regulations and Processes
Imagine Austin directs us to revise the LDC, which determines how land can be used throughout the city – including what can be built, where it can be built, and how much can (and cannot) be built. The City’s existing land development code was written more than 30 years ago, when Austin’s population was half the size it is now. After three and a half decades, the current code has become a patchwork of amendments and revised regulations which are outdated, overly complex, and inconsistent.
We need a new code to help us create the kinds of places we want and to help guide growth towards an accessible and affordable Austin for all. This priority program aims to revise Austin's development regulations and processes to better align with Imagine Austin and promote complete communities citywide.
Progress
Program Champions:
Annick Beaudet,
Brent Lloyd
Departments: Planning and Zoning, Development Services, Watershed Protection, Parks and Recreation, Neighborhood Housing & Community Development
New Information and Direction
In 2019, and prior to the Judge’s ruling in March of 2020, the City Council directed the City Manager to offer a LDC Revision process that achieves the goals set out in the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, the Strategic Housing Blueprint, the Watershed Protection Master Plan, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, and the Austin Strategic Direction 2023.
In developing a new process, the City Manager asked Council five policy questions that would drive the content of the LDC Revision. On May 2, 2019, Council provided its policy direction that directed staff to:
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Create a new land development code and zoning map concurrently
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Plan for approximately 400,000 residential units over the next 10 years as a means of achieving the 135,000 unit goal established by the Strategic Housing Blueprint
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Encourage smaller scale, multi-family housing to address Austin’s missing middle housing types
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Consider vulnerable populations in the development of the draft code, map, and district-level planning
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Prioritize a development pattern that supports 50/50 Transportation Mode share by 2039 (our Austin Strategic Mobility Plan)
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Reduce minimum parking requirements
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Reduce the impact of compatibility standards
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Improve water quality and reduce flood risk
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Provide a clear public process for Austinites, including timelines and opportunities for public input, and how their input has been received and used
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Provide the draft code text and zoning map for Council action in October of 2019
Additionally, recognizing the role of area planning in further application of modernized land use regulations in support of the Imagine Austin vision, City Council also directed staff to create a new planning process for district level planning. This new planning process should specifically focus on elevation the voices of populations that have historically been underrepresented in planning processes, including: renters, lower-income residents, youth, seniors, people of color, and people with disabilities.
The City Manager assembled a broad-based and cross-functional team that has been working collaboratively to share in the responsibility of drafting a revised code and map. A few milestones of the LDC Revision team’s 2019 – 2020 activities include:
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Release of LDC Revision draft code texts, maps, as well as supplemental reports:
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Public engagement events, including town halls, open houses, public code testing, office hours, and community stakeholder meetings
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Planning Commission hearings
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1st Reading at City Council
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2nd Reading at City Council
While staff is in the process of assessing options with respect to the Judge’s March 2020 ruling, it is important to remember the Land Development Code is one tool in the toolbox to address our city’s current and future challenges.
For information about the current Land Development Code revision, visit austintexas.gov/LDC.