Special Called Meeting of the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee May 5, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Street Jones Building – Room #400A 1000 E. 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 Some members of the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee may be participating by video conference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in-person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, call or email the board liaison at 512-974-3509 or greg.dutton@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS Nadia Barrera-Ramirez (Chair) Claire Hempel (Vice-Chair) 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. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: Speakers signed up prior to commencement of the meeting will be allowed to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approval of the March 16, 2022, meeting minutes. 3. NEW BUSINESS a. None. Facilitator: Chair Barrera-Ramirez City Attorney: None 1 4. OLD BUSINESS a. None. 5. POTENTIAL CODE AMENDMENTS: Potential amendments to the code; offered for discussion and/or possible recommendation for initiation. a. South Central Waterfront Regulating Plan. Consider initiation of amendments to Title 25 of the City Code related to the South Central Waterfront planning area. City Staff: Greg Dutton, Housing and Planning and Department, (512) 974-3509, greg.dutton@austintexas.gov; (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 6. REGULAR AGENDA: Previously initiated amendments to the code; offered for discussion and possible recommendation to the full Planning Commission. a. Public Mobility Projects in the Right-of-Way. Consider an ordinance amending Title 25 of the City Code to address design and construction of public mobility projects and associated utility projects in the City’s right-of-way. City Staff: Susan Daniels, Corridor Program Office, (512) 974- 7916, susan.daniels@austintexas.gov; (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 7. OTHER BUSINESS a. BRIEFING: South Central Waterfront Regulating Plan. Update on potential changes to Title 25 …
RESOLUTION NO. 20220303-028 WHEREAS, in August 2016, City Council approved Resolution No. 20160818-07 4 that expressed Council's intent to contract with voters for a Mobility Bond election in November 2016 and directed the City Managerto analyze existing capital project delivery systems and processes in order to recommend potential changes and resource requirements to complete the bond program within eight years from initiation; and WHEREAS, in March 2019, City Council approved Resolution No. 20190328-040 that affirmed the City of Austin's desire to construct as many miles of progressive multi-modal mobility infrastructure as quickly as it can to facilitate congestion relief, safety, and environmental stewardship, and encouraged the City Manager to form a steering committee of representatives from relevant departments to align resources, priorities, and policies that support an accelerated timetable for planned bicycle, scooter, transit, sidewalks, and tier one urban trail and, infrastructure projects; WHEREAS, in August 2019, City Council approved Resolution N o. 20190808-081 that directed the City Manager to analyze and report on options for the City to leverage resources to support the creation, operation, and maintenance of a high-capacity transit system; and, WHEREAS, in August 2020, City Council approved Resolution N o. 20200807-003 that expressed Council's intent to contract with the voters for a citywide rapid transit system (to be known as "Project Connect") that will include four MetroRapid lines to be constructed and operational within five years, and two light rail lines to be constructed within and operational ten years; and, Page 1 of 5 WHEREAS, in August 2020, City Council approved Resolution No. 20200812-011 that expressed Council's intent to contract with the voters fora Mobility Bond election in November 2020, and directed the City Manager to analyze existing capital project delivery systems and processes in order to recommend potential changes and resource requirements to accelerate project delivery and maximize the number ofprojects to be completed within six years; and, WHEREAS, in October 2021, City Council approved Resolution No. 20211029-003 that directed the City Manager to review City Code, including, but not limited to, the Land Development Code, Criteria Manuals, and permitting procedures to identify impediments to the design, construction, implementation, and operation of Project Connect, and to present any Code amendments necessary to City Council no later than April 2022; and, WHEREAS, public mobility projects in the right-of-way offer tremendous community benefits, including improved multimodal access and accessibility for individuals with disabilities, enhanced life safety, greater …
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 ORDINANCE LANGUAGE HAS NOT RECEIVED FINAL REVIEW BY LAW DEPT PART 1. City Code Section 25-1-112 (Fiscal Security) is amended to add a new Subsection (F) to read as follows: (F) A public project is not required to post fiscal security under this title. PART 2. Section 1.2.4. (Exemptions) of City Code Chapter 25-2, Subchapter E is amended to read as follows: 1.2.4. Exemptions. A. General Exemptions. Except as otherwise provided in this Subchapter, the following types of development are exempt from the requirements of this Subchapter: 1. Development that does not require a site plan under Chapter 25-5, except that Section 2.5 (Exterior Lighting) shall apply; 2. Development in the following zoning districts: Agricultural (AG) district; Aviation (AV) district; and a. b. c. Traditional neighborhood (TN) district; 3. Development built pursuant to the overlay district provisions of the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) district; 4. Development of a public primary or secondary educational facility; 5. Development built pursuant to the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport Redevelopment Plan; 6. Development of an industrial use or unmanned communication services, construction sales and service, drop-off recycling collection facility, equipment repair or scrap and salvage services use that is not located on a Core Transit Corridor; 7. Interior remodeling of a building. 8. Development for which public access is prohibited due to health, safety and welfare reasons; pg. 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 ORDINANCE LANGUAGE HAS NOT RECEIVED FINAL REVIEW BY LAW DEPT 9. Development of a warehouse if less than 25% of the gross floor area is used for a non-industrial use; 10. Sidewalk, shared use and urban trail projects managed by the City of Austin and processed under the City's General Permit program which are undertaken for the purpose of bringing existing facilities into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act; 11. A public mobility project in the right-of-way; and 12.[11.] Development built pursuant to any of the following adopted regulating plans: a. Transit-Oriented District Station Area Plan; b. North Burnet/Gateway (NBG) District; c. East Riverside Corridor; d. Waller Creek District; e. Downtown Austin Plan; or f. Airport Boulevard Corridor Plan. PART 3. City …
Summary of Proposed Changes Type of Change Clarify (Exemptions) of City Code Chapter 25-2, amend Subchapter E 3 25-8-211 (Water Quality Control Requirement) 4 25-8-214 (Optional Payment Instead of Structural Controls in Urban Watersheds) Description Current Status/Concern Proposed Improvement Advantage 1 25-1-112 Fiscal Security, add a new Subsection (F) Fiscal security is primarily intented for private development. The City has other existing mechanisms in place to accomplish the intent of this section for public projects. Clarify that a public project is not required to post fiscal security under this title. Provides clarity for project sponsors, design teams, and Code reviewers. 2 Section 1.2.4. Clarify Public right-of-way is not zoned land. Provides clarity for project sponsors, design teams, and Code reviewers. Clarify that roadway rights-of-way are not subject to zoning and land use rules. Policy Current requirements for calculating impervious cover do not allow a credit for removal of existing impervious. Calculations are done on a "site" basis, translation of site to linear projects in the right-of-way needed. A single mobility project may cross multiple watersheds. Policy Roadway projects have limited land area available to provide space for water quality controls within the right-of-way and vacant land is not always available for purchase. Revise procedure for water quality calculations to be determined on a watershed basis rather than for the total mobility project area and to allow for a credit for the removal of existing impervious cover. Removes barriers to the delivery of critical safety and mobility improvements. Reduces reliance on waivers and variances. Translates code written for commercial development to mobility projects in the right-of-way. 5 25-8-262 (Critical Water Quality Zone Street Crossings) Clarify Current requirements are not clear that rail lines, like roadways, are able to cross critical water quality zones. Creates a Public Mobility Projects Structural Control Fund for payment-in-lieu of built improvements in all watersheds of the City except the Barton Springs Zone. The payment shall be based on a formula established by the Council. As funds accumulate, they City can best direct the use of funds for the design and construction of water quality control facilities. Clarify definitions of types of roadways and that railways have the same ability to cross critical water quality zones as roadways. 6 25-8-341 (Cut Requirements) Clarify Current requirements are not clear that rail lines, like roadways, are able to cross critical water quality zones. Clarify that railways have the …
South Central Waterfront Regulating Plan Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee May 5, 2022 Greg Dutton – Housing and Planning Content Regulating Plan How will it work? What will it do? What will it not do? Gives and gets Other Considerations Next Steps 3 4 Framework Plan (2016) 5 Overall Process Regulating Plan Creation Incorporation into LDC (Adoption) 6 Regulating Plan: how will it work? Developer Provides: • On-site affordable housing • Fee-in-lieu affordable housing • Other public realm benefits Developer Gets: • Increased entitlements 7 Regulating Plan: how will it work? Opt-in, voluntary Works in conjunction with existing WFO (does not replace it) Mechanically similar to University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) Amendment to the land development code 8 Regulating Plan: what will it do? Control physical buildout Lay out public benefits and developer incentives Include requirements for Affordable Housing provided by private developments that utilize bonus entitlements Open space, streetscape, frontage, building height, land uses, parking 9 Regulating Plan: what will it not do? Does not mandate participation Does not speak to financing, funding sources, or public-private Does not allow wiggle room or negotiating Part of a larger toolbox - will not achieve the framework vision by partnerships itself 1 0 Regulating Plan: gives and gets* Public goods: Additional entitlements: Affordable housing Height subdistricts up to On and off-site, 10%+ 400’ set aside Improved streetscape Enhanced open space Improved pedestrian experience *All properties in the district eligible to participate CBD land uses Additional floor area (FAR) No site area requirements No minimum parking required 1 1 Next Steps Regulating plan: Summary of plan: SCWAB 5/16/22 Regulating plan draft: SCWAB 6/20/22 SCWAB working groups? SCWAB recommendation 7/18/22 COJC recommendation 8/17/22 PC recommendation 8/23/22 Council adoption: 9/1/22 20% Affordable Housing Gap Finance 1 2 Other Considerations TIRZ in process Project Connect: Blue Line stop (above ground) + bridge Orange Line stop (underground) Acuña ruling 1 3
PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS FOR MOBILITY PROJECTS IN THE ROW Boards & Commissions Presenter: Susan Daniels May 2022 HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE 3 connectivity improved level-of- service for all modes reduction in congestion MOBILITY PRIORITIES COMMUNITY CONSIDERATIONS improved effectiveness of transit operations preservation of existing affordable housing preservation of existing local businesses promotes healthy, equitable and complete communities opportunities for development of new affordable housing opportunities to facilitate mixed- income housing emphasizes livable, walkable, safe and transit- supportive corridors MOBILITY BONDS • • 2016 Bond • 2018 Bond Contract With Voters: Analyze capital project delivery 2020 Bond systems to recommend potential changes to accelerate bond program completion. PROJECT CONNECT 4 CORRIDOR PROGRAM SCALE Corridor Program alone is implementing 50 miles of critical safety and mobility improvements 5 CORRIDOR PROGRAM – FOCUSED ON OUTCOMES Corridor Construction Program Map • 10-15% Mode Shift • Average 25% Reduction in Vehicular Delay • 15%+ Reduction in Crashes • Complete Streets/ Complete Communities • 100 bike route connections • 75 miles of sidewalks or shared-use paths • 120 signal improvements • 13 of Austin’s Top Crash Intersections improved 6 CORRIDOR PROGRAM - MODE SHIFT The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan’s goal for managing traffic congestion is a 50/50 mode share. This means that we could maintain approximately the same number of cars as we have on the road today, while almost doubling in population by 2039. The Corridor Construction Program will achieve an estimated 10-15% mode shift with a reduction of 4.36 million vehicular trips annually. 7 CORRIDOR PROGRAM – CRASH REDUCTION Corridor Construction Program infrastructure is improving safety by an estimated reduction of 200 crashes annually. The Corridor Construction Program is improving 13 of Austin’s Top Crash Intersections across six Council Districts. 8 Austin’s average summer temperatures are expected to increase by at least two degrees by 2040. COMPLETE COMMUNITIES INFRASTRUCTURE Corridor Program improvements include rain gardens, landscape buffers, grass, and trees which all help to improve Austin’s quality of life by lessening exposure to heat. • Installing 2000 trees across multiple roadways • Constructing 22+ rain gardens 9 CORRIDOR PROGRAM – REDUCED EMISSIONS Transportation produces about 36% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the Austin metro area, with a 178% increase since 1990. “Every transportation decision is a climate decision.” – US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, SXSW 2022 The Corridor Construction Program is reducing emissions annually along 9 corridors by an estimated 20% or …
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING CODES AND ORDINANCES JOINT COMMITTEE MINUTES Thursday, May 5, 2022 The Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee convened in a regular meeting on Thursday, May 5, at 1000 E. 11th St, Street Jones Building, Room 400A, Austin, TX 78702. Vice Chair Hempel called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm. Subcommittee Members in Attendance: Ann Denkler Claire Hempel (Vice Chair) Awais Azhar Todd Shaw Jolene Kiolbassa City Staff in Attendance: Susan Daniels, Corridor Program Office Donna Galati, Project Connect Office Liz Johnston, Watershed Protection Katie Coyne, Watershed Protection CALL TO ORDER 3. NEW BUSINESS a. None. 4. OLD BUSINESS 1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: Speakers signed up prior to commencement of the meeting will be allowed to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. a. None. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approval of the March 16, 2022, meeting minutes. The item was postponed to a future agenda without objection. Facilitator: Commissioner Hempel, Vice Chair of COJC City Attorney: None 1 a. None. 5. 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. a. South Central Waterfront Regulating Plan. Consider initiation of amendments to Title 25 of the City Code related to the South Central Waterfront planning area. City Staff: Greg Dutton, Housing and Planning and Department, (512) 974-3509, greg.dutton@austintexas.gov; (Discussion and/or Possible Action). Greg Dutton went over the need for an amendment to Title 25 to be initiated to implement the South Central Waterfront Regulating Plan, which is a bonus program that will be amended to the LDC, much the way the University Neighborhood Overlay works today. This item was combined with the briefing item on the same topic. A motion was made to recommend that the Planning Commission initiate the item, by Commissioner Azhar, seconded by Commissioner Shaw. Vote: 5-0. (Commissioner Barrera- Ramirez absent). An amendment to the motion was made by Commissioner Kiolbassa, seconded by Commissioner Denkler, vote 5-0 (Commissioner Barrera-Ramirez absent), to add the following items: - - A summary of differences in entitlements between baseline zoning and bonus entitlements - Exploration of possible funding to do outreach and community engagement Exploration of funding for an analysis of costs and benefits of the plan 6. REGULAR AGENDA: Previously Initiated Previously initiated amendments to the code are offered for …
