The Austin City Council has postponed adoption of its Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (eTOD) Policy Plan, which we reported on last week. That means local residents have more time to view the eTOD map and provide council members with feedback.
Viewers who zoom into the map will notice more than 150 circles, each representing an individual eTOD district. Single-family homes and duplexes are prohibited in portions of those districts, with 100% of some neighborhoods impacted.
ABOVE: What do these neighborhood streets have in common? Both Candletree Lane in Southeast Austin and Pemberton Parkway in West Austin are proposed to be part of new eTOD districts, where single-family homes will be out of compliance with the current TOD ordinance.
The city’s staff also seeks to “legalize” density in single-family neighborhoods outside of but “proximate to” the proposed eTODS. According to this eTOD policy document, the “[n]umber of multi-unit developments built on lots that were previously zoned as single-family only” is a “metric of success.”
The eTOD plan says that it sought to “turn down the voices” that speak out about these sweeping land use changes.
The city’s current TOD ordinance established nine TODs. The staff’s latest plan would create more than 150 new eTODs, with the majority on bus routes. It is clearly an urban redevelopment plan, not a focused plan to support targeted stops on rail lines that are guaranteed to be built.
If you think this is in the distant future, think again. The city’s staff is asking the council to immediately initiate amendments, including revising the existing list of stations, establishing interim regulations, and creating and applying an eTOD overlay.
The council is having a Special Called Meeting of the Housing and Planning Committee and Mobility Committee March 2, and the matter is now on the full council’s March 9 agenda (Item 16).
Contact Mayor Kirk Watson and your representative on the Austin City Council using the information below. Tell them City Hall’s eTOD plan (Item 16 on their March 9 agenda) threatens Austin’s current residents, just like CodeNEXT did. Tell them the eTOD plan should deal with targeted stops on rail lines that are guaranteed to be built, not bus lines—and that it shouldn’t tear apart neighborhoods. Check this map if you aren’t sure which council member represents you.
Together we can build an Austin for everyone!
Mayor Kirk Watson:
kirk.watson@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2100
Natasha Harper-Madison (District 1):
natasha.madison@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2101
Vanessa Fuentes (District 2):
vanessa.fuentes@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2102
José Velásquez (District 3):
jose.velasquez@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2103
José “Chito” Vela (District 4):
chito.vela@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2104
Ryan Alter (District 5):
ryan.alter@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2105
Mackenzie Kelly (District 6):
mackenzie.kelly@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2106
Leslie Pool (District 7):
leslie.pool@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2107
Paige Ellis (District 8):
paige.ellis@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2108
Zohaib “Zo” Qadri (District 9):
zohaib.qadri@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2109
Alison Alter (District 10):
alison.alter@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2110
You may send a single email to the mayor and all council members using this form.