item #1- draft meeting minutes 3-19-2025 — original pdf

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Meeting of the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee March 19, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Permitting and Development Center (PDC) – Room #2103 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee may be participating in the video conference. 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, Jonathan Lee, at (512) 974-7232, Jonathan.Lee@austintexas.gov. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Alejandra Flores (Chair) Betsy Greenberg Greg Anderson (Late at 6:05) Awais Azhar Lonny Stern COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT Claire Hempel (Vice-Chair) CALL TO ORDER Meeting started at 6:03 PM. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speakers signed up prior to commencement of the meeting will be allowed to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Ryan Saunders – Regarding concerns about food trucks and live music venues APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of February 19, 2025, meeting minutes. On a motion by Commissioner Greenberg, seconded by Commissioner Azhar, the minutes from the February 19th, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously (5-0) with Vice Chair Hempel absent. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. C20-2024-010 UNO Update. Discussion and possible action to recommend amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to repeal University Neighborhood Overlay District requirements and regulations, and to create a new zoning district for a density bonus program that grants additional building height and modifies uses and site development regulations, including compatibility standards, in exchange for community benefits, for property generally located west of the University of Texas, east of Lamar Boulevard, south of 29th Street and north of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. City Staff: Paul Books, Planning Department, (512) 974-3173, Paul.Books@austintexas.gov and Alan Pani, Planning Department, (512) 974-8084, Alan.Pani@austintexas.gov. Paul Books presented. Public Speakers on Item 2: - Justin Lanier, Policy Director for University Tenants Union - Christian Tschoepe, AURA member and Commissioner of the Zoning and Platting Commission - Sarah Campbell, CANPAC member Commissioner Stern moves to consider an amendment to staff’s recommendation to require a 5-ft public access easement on any side of buildings that does not front a public right-of-way. Motion passes (4-0) with Commissioner Anderson off the dais. Commissioner Stern moves to recommend that staff look into modifications to the Building Criteria Manual to require adequate spacing between parking garage floors, flat floorplates, and load standards that would make garages suitable for future conversion into uses besides storage, such as residential. Seconded by Chair Flores, motion passes (4-0) with Commissioner Anderson off the dais. Commissioner Greenberg motions that the “borrowed light loophole” be corrected; that leasing 5 months before a lease term starts be prohibited; that compensation to displaced tenants be provided by building management, land owner, or developer when units are unavailable; and that these requirements be passed before or simultaneously with the changes to UNO. Chair Flores seconded the motion. Commissioner Azhar moves to substitute that “borrowed light loophole” be corrected; that leasing 5 months before a lease term starts be prohibited; that compensation to displaced tenants be provided by building management, land owner, or developer when units are unavailable; but not to include the “that those requirements be passed before or simultaneously with the changes to UNO” from Commissioner Greenberg’s motion. Substitution was not seconded and the motion dies. Commissioner Azhar motions that the “borrowed light loophole” be closed, seconded by Commissioner Stern. Motion passes (4-0) with Commissioner Anderson off the dais. Commissioner Greenberg motions that the per-bedroom maximum rental rate should not exceed the per-unit rental rate divided by the number of bedrooms within the unit by more than an allowed percentage increase to account for administrative costs. Seconded by 2 Commissioner Stern. Motion fails (2-2), with Chair Flores and Commissioner Azhar voting nay and Commissioner Anderson off the dais. Meeting recessed at 8:01 PM on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, for 2 minutes and reconvened on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 8:04 PM. Chair Flores motions to recommend Staff Recommendation, as amended. Motions fails (3-0-1- 1) with Commissioner Greenberg abstaining and Commissioner Anderson off the dais. The Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee forwards the code amendment to Planning Commission without a recommendation due to lack of affirmative votes. 3. Discussion and possible action to recommend initiation of code amendments related to non- residential uses in the Density Bonus 90 (DB-90) program. Sponsor: Commissioner Greenberg. Commissioner Greenberg recommends postponement until Commissioner Azhar discusses the item with the Planning Commission and receives direction. Item is postponed indefinitely. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS DB90 Discussion and possible action to recommend initiation of code amendments related to non- residential uses in the Density Bonus 90 (DB-90) program. ADJOURNMENT 8:10PM 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 Jonathan Lee, at 512-974-7232, Jonathan.Lee@austintexas.gov for additional information; the City receives and accepts Video Relay Service (VRS) calls from people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. For more information on the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee, please contact Jonathan Lee, at 512-974-7232, Jonathan.Lee@austintexas.gov . 3