Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee November 17, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Street Jones Building – Room #400A 1000 E. 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS Claire Hempel (Vice-Chair) Nadia Barrera-Ramirez (Chair) Joao Paulo Connolly Awais Azhar Todd Shaw Ann Denkler Jolene Kiolbassa EXECUTIVE SESSION (No public discussion) The Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee will announce it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel on matters specifically listed on this agenda. The committee may not conduct a closed meeting without the approval of the city attorney. Private Consultation with Attorney – Section 551.071 CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approval of the October 20, 2021, meeting minutes. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. None. 3. POTENTIAL CODE AMENDMENTS: Proposed for Discussion and/or Initiation Facilitator: Chair Barrera-Ramirez City Attorney: None 1 Potential amendments to the code are offered for discussion and/or possible recommendation for initiation. If initiated, Staff will research the proposal and report back to the subcommittee. a. Floodplain Regulations. Discuss and consider initiation of amendments to Title 25 of the City Code related to floodplain regulations. City Staff: Kevin Shunk, Watershed Protection Department, (512) 974-9176, Kevin.Shunk@austintexas.gov; (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 4. REGULAR AGENDA: Previously Initiated Previously initiated amendments to the code are offered for discussion and possible recommendation to the full Planning Commission. a. Vertical Mixed Use Affordability Requirements. Discuss and consider amendments to Title 25 of the City Code related to vertical mixed use (VMU) affordability requirements. City Staff: Sam Tedford, Housing and Planning Department, (512) 974-2613, Sam.Tedford@austintexas.gov; (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 5. OTHER BUSINESS a. Update on Potential Upcoming and Current Code Amendments – City Staff: Greg Dutton, Housing and Planning and Department, (512) 974-3509, Greg.Dutton@austintexas.gov; (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Future agenda items will NOT be discussed at the current meeting, but will be offered for initiation, discussion, and/or possible recommendation to the full Planning Commission at a FUTURE meeting. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days before the meeting date. Please call Greg Dutton at Planning and Development Review Department, at (512) 974-3509, for …
Atlas 14 – Commercial Redevelopment Exception Watershed Protection Department Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee | November 17, 2021 Floodplain Regulations Update What floodplain rules did we update? What floodplain rules do we recommend updating now? 2 What floodplain rules did we update? Most significant update to our floodplain rules in their 36-year history Goal of updated rules: Protect our residents from flooding based on a better understanding of flood risk with new rainfall information Updated four basic elements of rules • Floodplain definitions • Residential redevelopment exception • Colorado River exception • Freeboard 3 Result of Collaborative Code Revision Process Contacted more than 2,700 people at 110 different meetings City Council approved the new rules on November 14, 2019 Staff pledged to develop draft rules regarding commercial redevelopment 4 What floodplain rules do we recommend updating now? Commercial Redevelopment exception 5 Commercial Redevelopment exception Goal: Create an administrative approval process for commercial redevelopment that decreases flood risk compared to the existing condition Considerations: Building use; square footage; occupant load; parking flood risk 6 Process to approval • Codes and Ordinances Joint • Zoning and Platting Commission • Planning Commission Committee ➢ Request permission to initiate Code • Planning Commission • Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee revision • City Council • Environmental Commission • Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals 7 Atlas 14 – Commercial Redevelopment Exception
Recommended changes to the affordability requirements for the Vertical Mixed Use Buildings Exhibit A (Commissioners Azhar and Connolly) a. The affordability requirements for owner-occupied units should be adjusted to reserve at least ten percent of the residential units in the VMU building for ownership and occupancy by households earning no more than 80 percent of the current Annual Median Family Income for the City of Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area, for not less than 99 years. b. The affordability requirements for rental units should be adjusted to reserve at least ten percent of the residential units in the VMU building as affordable, for a minimum of 40 years, for rental by households earning no more than 60 percent of the Annual Median Family Income. Initiation at PC 7/27/21 Vertical Mixed Use Affordability Requirements Subsection (F) of Chapter 25-2, Subchapter E, Section 4.3.3 (Standards) is amended to read as follows: F. Affordability Requirements. To be eligible for the dimensional or parking standards exemptions in Subsection E of this section, the residential units in a VMU building shall meet the following affordability requirements, which shall run with the land. This ordinance does not amend or repeal graphics or pictures that are used to illustrate various code requirements in the published version of Chapter 25-2, Subchapter E (Design Standards and Mixed Use). 1. Affordability Requirements for Owner-Occupied Units. [Five] Ten percent of the residential units in the VMU building shall be reserved as affordable, for not less than 99 years from the date a certificate of occupancy is issued, for ownership and occupancy by households earning no more than 80 percent of the current Annual Median Family Income for the City of Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area as determined by the Director of Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department. [In addition, five percent of the residential units in the VMU building shall be reserved, for not less than 99 years from the date a certificate of occupancy is issued, for ownership and occupancy by households earning no more than 100 percent of the Annual Median Family Income.] [c.] The city in its sole discretion may elect to subsidize an additional ten percent of the for-sale residential units in the building, at an affordability level consistent with criteria and procedures established by the Director. Affordability Requirements for Rental Units. 2. Ten percent of the residential units in the VMU building shall be reserved as affordable, for …
REGULAR MEETING CODES AND ORDINANCES JOINT COMMITTEE MINUTES Wednesday, October 20, 2021 The Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 20, at 1000 E. 11th St, Street Jones Building, Room 400A, Austin, TX 78702. Chair Barrera-Ramirez called the meeting to order at 6:13 pm. Subcommittee Members in Attendance: Awais Azhar Ann Denkler Nadia Barrera-Ramirez (Chair) City Staff in Attendance: Brent Lloyd, Development Services Department Others in Attendance: Ron Thrower David Hartmann CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Claire Hempel Jolene Kiolbassa a. Approval of the July 8, 2020 meeting minutes. b. Approval of the April 21, 2021 meeting minutes. c. Approval of the September 15, 2021 meeting minutes. A motion was made to approve the minutes by Commissioner Denkler, seconded by Commissioner Azhar. Vote: 5-0. (Commissioners Shaw and Connolly absent). 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Approval of 2022 Meeting Schedule. Approve the 2022 meeting schedule of the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee. (Discussion and/or possible action). A motion was made to approve the 2022 meeting schedule by Commissioner Denkler, seconded by Commissioner Hempel. Vote: 5-0. (Commissioners Shaw and Connolly absent). b. Annual Internal Review. Review 2020-2021 Annual Internal Review. (Discussion and/or possible action). Facilitator: Commissioner Barrera-Ramirez, Chair of COJC City Attorney: None 1 a. None. A motion was made to approve the 2020-2021 Annual Internal Review by Commissioner Hempel, seconded by Commissioner Azhar. Vote: 5-0. (Commissioners Shaw and Connolly absent). 3. POTENTIAL CODE AMENDMENTS: Proposed for Discussion and/or Initiation Potential amendments to the code are offered for discussion and/or possible recommendation for initiation. If initiated, Staff will research the proposal and report back to the subcommittee. 4. REGULAR AGENDA: Previously Initiated Previously initiated amendments to the code are offered for discussion and possible recommendation to the full Planning Commission. a. BRIEFING: Affordability Unlocked Site Plan Amendment. Update on potential changes to City Code Title 25 related to Affordability Unlocked and site plan requirements and process. City Staff: Brent Lloyd, Development Services Department (512) 974-2974, brent.lloyd@austintexas.gov (Discussion). Brent Lloyd gave a briefing of proposed amendments related to the site plan process for projects using Affordability Unlocked provisions. Changes to the site plan process that were proposed as a part of the LDC revision were done in conjunction with other changes to the draft code; the current proposed amendment to the current code is more complicated because it’s being done in isolation, without associated changes in …
