Small Lot Map

On October 28, City of Austin officials sent this half-page letter to more than 200,000 addresses across our community, announcing it will consider amendments to “modify compatibility standards and parking requirements on certain roadways.”

Compatibility standards govern the height and setback of big buildings near residential areas, and parking requirements force the developers of those buildings to provide adequate parking for residents and businesses. These protections have been in place for decades.

Nearly two weeks later, the city released the above map and a list of “Large,” “Medium”, and “Light Rail” corridors affected by the proposed changes (blue, dark red, and green on the map). The information was marked “subject to change,” and the corridor list conflicts with the printed map in some areas.

The city’s Planning Commission has proposed its own set of amendments weakening compatibility standards even further. If passed and adopted by the Austin City Council, they would stop compatibility setback protections for developments on “Light Rail” and “Large” corridors when those buildings are just 100 feet from residential properties. That represents an 80% reduction from current compatibility standards.

The city’s staff wants to weaken compatibility standards even more, adopting the same sort of compatibility changes as the rezoning plan struck down by the courts.

The city council is scheduled to consider the proposed compatibility changes on December 1, 2022. It is possible that council members will weaken our compatibility standards even further at that time. Austinites who want to help protect their property from unknown, last-minute changes by the city council should file official rezoning protests.

If you own a property within 200 feet of the corridors affected by the City of Austin’s proposed compatibility zoning changes or received this half-page letter in the mail, click the button below to protect your property with an official rezoning protest.

When the owners of at least 20 percent of the area within 200 feet of a corridor or light-rail property protest the rezoning of that property, the Austin City Council cannot change its compatibility and parking regulations without a working consensus of council members (nine of 11 votes). Filing a protest also protects against changes to your own property’s zoning regulations.

IMPORTANT: Austinites who filed protests in response to one of the city’s previous rezoning plans (before November 2022) must file new protests in order to protect their properties from compatibility zoning changes.

MAP SOURCE: City of Austin
UPDATED: November 29, 2022