News

Austin Releases First Draft of Land Development Code

By Syeda Hasan January 30, 2017

The City of Austin has released the much-awaited first draft of CodeNEXT, its new land development guidelines. It’s the first time in more than 30 years that these regulations have been updated.

The new code aims to address a host of issues, from offering flexibility in homes allowed in a planned neighborhood, to improving flood mitigation.

The city is set to host an open house previewing CodeNEXT on Wednesday and is taking public comment online.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler said much of the city’s current zoning will remain the same under CodeNEXT, but the idea is to accommodate Austin’s future growth by building along major transit corridors, places that already see high traffic and activity. ( …read article)

Austin officials release first official CodeNEXT draft

By Christopher Neely   January 30, 2017

After nearly three years of work as part of a process dubbed CodeNEXT, city officials on Monday morning released the first draft of Austin’s new land development code.

Only a text version of CodeNEXT was provided for Monday’s initial release, but it was the first tangible look at the proposed land development code rewrite.
An accompanying map is expected to be released April 18 that will provide a visual component to Monday’s revealed text.You can find a copy of the text here.

“I don’t think there is anything we will do this year as a city that is going to be more important than the rewrite of the land development code,” Mayor Steve Adler said.
“This is the document that describes how we look as a city, how we function as a city, how we build as a city.” ( …read article)

Austin City Hall girds for fight as it rolls out land code overhaul

by Nolan Hicks American-Statesman Staff – January 30, 2017

Mayor Steve Adler rolled out the first draft of a sure-to-be controversial overhaul of the city’s land use rules Monday morning, signaling the start of a year-long process that will navigate the deep divisions that course through Austin’s politics of development, density and gentrification.

City officials aim to use the 1,100 page draft to replace the city’s current zoning rules, which stretch for some 1,300 pages, date back to 1984 and have been amended more than 800 times over the intervening years.

“We want to grow in a way where we’re managing the growth, rather than having the growth manage us,” Adler said at the Monday morning rollout at City Hall. Adler was joined by interim City Manager Elaine Hart and several members of the City Council for Monday’s rollout at City Hall. “There will be voices, probably beginning today, that will talk about all the challenges and none of the rewards.”

He added: “It wouldn’t surprise me if we had people at the end of today criticizing this draft for the color of the cover and the number of pages, but we have to stay focused as a larger community.” ( …read article)

CodeNEXT Takes Next Steps Toward Austin Land Development Code Changes

By Spectrum News Staff   January 12, 2017

AUSTIN, Texas — After years of analysis and research, Austin’s CodeNEXT is eager to launch an important phase in its project.

CodeNEXT is the city’s initiative to revamp the land development code and determine how land can be used, including what can be built and where.

Wednesday night, city council members met with the CodeNEXT advisory group to discuss the community outreach portion of the project.

CodeNEXT wants public input on its first draft of how the group rewrites and reshapes current standards.  ( …read article)

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