KEY POINTS:
- The Austin City Council is scheduled to vote on its latest rezoning plan on December 1, 2022
- Residents can help protect their property rights by filing new rezoning protests no later than November 30, 2022
- If approved, the city’s proposal would authorize the construction of larger developments closer to existing homes
Here we go again. It’s time to file your protest!
On December 1, 2022, the Austin City Council is scheduled to vote on a rezoning plan that weakens compatibility standards along roadways and light-rail corridors located throughout our community. Compatibility standards limit the height and setback of big buildings near residential areas, and they’ve been in place for decades.
The plan could allow the construction of new, tall buildings closer to existing homes. The properties most at risk are located within 200 feet of the roadways highlighted on this map, and some property owners may have received this notice by mail.
The council’s draft ordinance also proposes to weaken parking requirements in the same areas. Austin’s current parking requirements require developers to provide adequate parking for new residents and businesses, helping to increased congestion on neighborhood streets.
It’s not too late to protect your home and neighborhood! If you own property at risk or received this notice, we urge you to file an official rezoning protest no later than November 30, 2022.
IMPORTANT: Residents who filed protests in response to one of the City of Austin’s past rezoning plans are not automatically protected from the new compatibility-reduction plan. To help protect their properties from the latest plan, they must file new protests no later than November 30, 2022.
When the owners of at least 20 percent of the area within 200 feet of a property slated for rezoning band together and file protests, the city council cannot reduce the compatibility and parking regulations governing that property without a super-majority (nine of 11 votes). Filing a protest also protects against changes to your own property’s zoning regulations.
City staff has indicated that it favors ending compatibility protections at a distance of 100 feet, an 80% reduction. Earlier this month, Mayor Steve Adler told The Austin Chronicle he would “personally prefer” this reduction.
The city sent this letter to 200,000 residents announcing a public hearing scheduled for 6:00 PM on Election Day (November 8), when many Austinites were engaged in election activities. The Planning Commission then passed the ordinance, adding to it additional amendments which would further weaken compatibility standards on many corridors.
The city council could approve the plan as early as December 1—so the time to act is now!
File an official rezoning protest to protect your property and neighborhood from the city council’s compatibility-reduction plan—then ask your neighbors to do the same. Together we can build an Austin for everyone!