Compatibility on Corridors presentation — original pdf

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Code Amendment: Compatibility on Corridors Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee October 19, 2022 Greg Dutton – Housing and Planning Content Background Council resolution Proposed draft changes Staff’s recommendation Timeline Background  Draft LDC is suspended (March 2020)  VMU2 is passed on 6/9/22:  Allows 30’ additional feet for deeper affordability  Parking reduction to 25% of standard for properties on light rail lines  Compatibility reduced to 100’ for properties on light rail lines 3 Council Resolution 6/9/22  WHEREAS, Austin is facing an affordability crisis as the housing market reaches record rents and home prices; and  WHEREAS, City Council has recently passed a number of resolutions to address affordability and housing supply, including reforms for accessory dwelling units, Vertical Mixed Use, Equitable Transit Oriented Development, and affordable housing bonus programs for commercial zones; and  WHEREAS, Austin voters approved substantial investments in corridor improvements, active transportation, and Project Connect in 2016,2018, and 2020; 4 Council Resolution 6/9/22  WHEREAS, current compatibility regulations, established in the 1980s, limit housing capacity on corridors by limiting the height of developments of properties within 540 feet of single-family properties, which is significantly more restrictive compared to cities with similar regulations; and  WHEREAS, current parking minimums may require more parking than currently needed and conflict with the City's goal of reaching a 50/50 transportation mode share; and 5 Council Resolution 6/9/22  WHEREAS, moderate changes to compatibility and parking regulations on corridors would increase affordable and market-rate housing supply and support the City's transit investments; and  WHEREAS, Planning Commission, Zoning and Platting Commission, City Council, and community members have provided substantial feedback in the last 10 years on potential changes to the compatibility regulations and parking minimums; and  WHEREAS, the Austin City Council is committed to enacting policy changes to increase housing capacity and support transit investments on corridors; 6 Council Resolution 6/9/22  For a residential or mixed-use project on light rail, large corridors, medium corridors:  Compatibility ends at 300’ from triggering property (zoning only)  Additional 5’ in height  Parking reduced to 25% (light rail and large corridor) or 50% (medium corridor) 7 Council Resolution 6/9/22  For a residential or mixed-use project on specified corridors providing affordable housing:  Maximum height at a distance of 100’ from a triggering property for projects on a light rail line  65’ of height at a distance of 100’ from a triggering property and 90’ of height at 200’ from a triggering property on a large corridor  65’ of height at a distance of 150’ from a triggering property and 90’ of height at 250’ from a triggering property on a medium corridor 8 Proposed draft changes: Applicability 9 Proposed draft changes  Relaxed compatibility + parking reduced to 25% (light rail and large corridor) or 50% (medium corridor) 540’ 1 0 Proposed draft changes  Affordable housing required for additional relaxation:  Rental: 10% @ 60% MFI, 40 years  Owner: 10% @ 80% MFI, 99 years  Fee-in-lieu allowed 1 1 Proposed draft changes Light rail: compatibility ends 540’ Additional buildable area when using the affordable housing bonus 1 2 Proposed draft changes Large corridor: compatibility ends 540’ Additional buildable area when using the affordable housing bonus 1 3 Proposed draft changes Medium corridor: compatibility ends 540’ Additional buildable area when using the affordable housing bonus 1 4 Staff’s recommendation  Not recommended as drafted  Minimal impact:  Not participating in affordable housing bonus: 14% of corridor properties compatibility completely removed  With participation in affordable housing bonus:  Light rail corridor: 57%  Large corridor: 39%  Medium corridor: 28% 1 5 Total Properties With Relaxed or Removed Compatibility vs. Properties That Can Achieve Additional Benefits w/Affordability Bonus Under Proposed Standards Large Corridor 750 488 Medium Corridor 997 386 Light Rail Corridor 89 120 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 Properties With Relaxed or Removed Compatibility (Not Eligible for Benefits with Affordability Bonus) Properties That Can Achieve Additional Benefits with Affordability Bonus Total Properties Impacted by Compatibility Under Proposed Standards 580 2,250 1,326 14,770 20000 18000 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 Properties on Corridors Where Compatibility is Removed Properties on Corridors Where Compatibility is Relaxed Properties on Corridors Where Compatability Still Restricts All Development (<=25 ft) Other Properties Citywide Still Limited by Compatibility 1 6 Staff’s recommendation  Not recommended as drafted  Added complexity:  Three separate, differing compatibilty standards  Confusing and unpredictable for staff, public, developers 1 7 Staff’s recommendation  Not recommended as drafted: postpone and reconsider with other amendments that have recently been initiated  Draft LDC compatibility standards could be a good starting point 1 8 Timeline  10/19/22: Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee  11/8/22: Planning Commission  12/1/22: Council 1 9