The City of Austin is proposing zoning changes to our neighborhood that will affect nearly every single-family home. If the changes are approved, many lots will be rezoned to allow 4, 6, or as many as 12 units, up to 4 stories high. This proposal is known as the Land Development Code Revision (LDCR). Past versions of this were known as CodeNext.
City Council has already had 2 readings on this code revision. They will have the final vote soon, making it law.
<<NEW>> (2/4/2020) A new draft of the code is available here.
File a protest with the state, at fileyourprotest.com before it becomes law.
The new zoning will change the zoning to one of the following (click on the code to see an example of what this upzoning will look like):
- RM1 – Allows up to 6 units (or more if developer complies with certain requirements).
- R4 – Allows 4 units to a height of 35 ft. (or up to 45 ft. if developer complies with certain requirements), and only 15 ft. setback.
- R2A and R2B – Allows up to 3 units with the “preservation incentive“.
NO off-street parking will be required for most properties in our neighborhood.
Speak out! Contact City Council by email, call, or write a letter to City Council.
Zoning Change Presentation: Barbara McArthur of Community Not Commodity presented detailed information on what the new zoning with do to our neighborhood and the city, and why it will be a disaster. Click here for the presentation.
To find your property, go to the City’s proposed zoning map.
->Click on the search icon.
->Enter your address.
->Click on the dot to see what zoning is proposed for your lot.
The website shows two maps: current and proposed changes. Most residential properties in our neighborhood are SF2 (allowing a single family), or SF3 (allowing up to 2 units).
A so-called Preservation Incentive: The new zoning will actually incentivize developers to disfigure or even destroy historic homes. See what a local historical preservation expert has to say.
Tree Ordinance Weakened: The new Code will allow for the removal of heritage trees if “The tree prevents reasonable use of the property” with “reasonable” being defined by the developer and city staff. While in the past this could be protested to council, the new code would leave the decision to remove trees in all transition areas entirely to city staff, who nearly always side with developers.
