ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL LAND USE AND ZONING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS Prepared by the City of Austin’s Planning and Zoning Department March, 2020* *Updated September 2020 with minor changes Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3 The Austin Context.................................................................................................................................. 4 Environmental Justice, Racial Segregation, and the 1928 City Plan ................................................. 4 Research and Development ............................................................................................................... 6 Annexation of Industrial Property ....................................................................................................... 7 National Trends and Best Practices in Sustainable Industrial Development ......................................... 7 San Francisco, California .................................................................................................................... 8 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ................................................................................................................. 9 Los Angeles, California .................................................................................................................... 10 Portland, Oregon .............................................................................................................................. 12 Current State of Austin’s Industrial-Zoned Land ................................................................................. 13 Industrial Land Uses ........................................................................................................................ 16 Property Values................................................................................................................................ 17 Zoning Cases ................................................................................................................................... 17 The Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan ........................................................................................ 20 Geographic Distribution & Transport ............................................................................................... 20 Vacancies and Undeveloped Land .................................................................................................. 20 Building and Annexation Over Time ................................................................................................. 20 Workforce Considerations ................................................................................................................... 21 Workforce Master Plan .................................................................................................................... 21 Job Totals for Austin’s Industrial-Zoned Land ................................................................................. 23 An Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin ............................................................................................. 24 Key Considerations .......................................................................................................................... 26 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Trends .............................................................................................................................................. 28 1 Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 29 Appendix I: Maps ................................................................................................................................. 30 Base Zoning Districts ....................................................................................................................... 30 Industrial Clusters – Land Use ........................................................................................................ 31 Industrial Zoning District Cases ....................................................................................................... 32 Industrial Clusters - Loss of Industrial Zoning ................................................................................. 33 Imagine Austin Jobs Centers ........................................................................................................... 34 Freight Transport Network ............................................................................................................... 35 Developed & Vacant Industrial Zoning ............................................................................................ 36 Industrial-Zoned Properties Decade Annexed ................................................................................. 37 Industrial-Zoned Properties Year Structure Built ............................................................................. 38 2001 Zoning Layer with 2002 US Census Data .............................................................................. 39 2018 Zoning Layer with 2017 US Census Data .............................................................................. 40 Industrial Zoning Study: Case Study Area........................................................................................ 41 Appendix II: Industrial Cluster Case Studies ........................................................................................ 42 North Research Boulevard .............................................................................................................. 42 North Burnet/Gateway .................................................................................................................... 42 Tech Ridge ....................................................................................................................................... 44 US 290 East..................................................................................................................................... 45 Near East ......................................................................................................................................... 46 US 183............................................................................................................................................. 48 St Elmo ............................................................................................................................................ 50 Ben White ........................................................................................................................................ 54 2 Introduction Austin, like many growing cities across the country, is experiencing pressure to convert industrially used and zoned land to mixed-use commercial and residential redevelopment and development. Imagine Austin (2012), the City’s comprehensive plan, envisions “a city of complete communities…defined by amenities, transportation, services, and opportunities that fulfill all Austinites’ material, social, and economic needs.” One component of a complete community is employment opportunities for residents of all skill and education levels. In 2017 there were a total of 624,417 employees citywide. In the city’s industrial-zoned properties, there were 75,244 employees, representing 12% of the …
ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL LAND USE AND ZONING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee Briefing October 14, 2021 Mark Walters Study Organization Workforce Considerations National Trends and Best Practices Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin , Texas Conclusions & Recommendations Maps and Case Studies 2 Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land 11,657 Acres or 6.6% of Austin zoned for industrial (2018) Only 38% of Industrial zoned land used for industrial uses • Undeveloped 27% • Office 12% 3 Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land Industrial zoned areas mostly located to take advantage of highways and ABIA 4 Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land Between 2001 and 2018 1,846 acres rezoned from industrial to non-industrial zones Industrial zoned land lost through neighborhood plan rezonings was not included 5 Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land Worth $9.5B or 6% of Austin’s value Higher Improvement-to-Land Ratio 2014-2018 tax assessments increased 52%/ commercial land increased 62% Most industrial zoned land gained through annexation North Burnet/Gateway lost over 1,000 acres of industrial zoned land (2008) 6 Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin Identified 8 industrial clusters within Austin Based on best practices from Las Angeles, CA and Philadelphia, PA staff developed an industrial cluster typology Protection Intensification Transition 7 Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin Protection Industrial zoning should be maintained and residential uses discouraged Intensification Can accommodate more industrial uses through zoning certainty, planned infrastructure improvements, and master planning to coordinate public and private investment Transition Areas experiencing significant land conversion to non-industrial uses and are no longer or increasingly less viable for industrial 8 Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin North Research Boulevard Intensification / Protection North Burnet/Gateway Transition Tech Ridge Intensification US-290 Intensification Near East Transition US-183 Transition St. Elmo Transition Ben White Intensification 9 Findings Annexations biggest driver in industrial land growth 37 acres of industrial zoning lost annually for the last ten years Neighborhood and Small Area Plans 10 Findings Recent development of corporate campuses and business/industrial parks Austin’s legacy industrial clusters undergoing transition (e.g., St. Elmo & NBG) Undeveloped industrial land along one-way freeway frontage roads targeted for garden-style apartments 11 Recommendations Precautions must be taken to ensure that nearby industrial properties do not pose a risk to future MF residents Redevelopment in Transition areas should provide sidewalks, bike lanes, storm water facilities, open space, etc. Existing long-term industrial uses should not be punished by new residents …
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JOINT COMMITTEE Draft Minutes The Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee convened in a special called meeting on April 28, 2022 at Street-Jones Building, 1000 East 11th Street, Room 400A, Austin, TX 78702. Some member participated by video conference. SPECIAL CALLED MEETING April 28, 2022 Zoning and Platting Commission Hank Smith The meeting was called to order at 12:14 p.m. Joint Committee Members in Attendance: Planning Commission Grayson Cox Yvette Flores Robert Schneider City Staff in Attendance: Matt Dugan, Housing and Planning Department Cole Kitten and Upal Barua, Austin Transportation Others in Attendance: Joe Reynolds PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Megan Meisenbach Members Absent Carmen Llanes Pulido Cesar Acosta Joe Reynolds and Megan Meisenbach spoke on the proposed amendments to the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. NEW BUSINESS A motion was made to approve the minutes from the March 10, 2021 meeting by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Schneider. Vote 4-0. Commissioners Llanes Pulido and Acosta were absent. a. Austin Strategic Mobility Plan Amendments (Discussion and/or possible action). Cole Kitten and Upal Barua with Austin Transportation presented on the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) proposed amendments. Commissioners discussed the amendments and the ZAP recommendations, Cole Kitten and Upal Barua provided responses to the ZAP recommendations. A motion was made to forward to Planning Commission the proposed amendments, ZAP recommendations, and the staff response to ZAP recommendations by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Cox. Vote 4-0. 1 3. OLD BUSINESS None. 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -Industrial land study ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:16 p.m. 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 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Dee Dee Quinnelly at Planning and Zoning Department, at 512-974-2036, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, please contact Dee Dee Quinnelly at (512) 974-2036 or deedee.quinnelly@austintexas.gov. 2
Agenda Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee April 28, 2022 at 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Street-Jones Building RM 400A 1000 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 Some members of the committee may be participating by videoconference. 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 512-974-2036 or deedee.quinnelly@austintexas.gov. SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Zoning and Platting Commission Cesar Acosta Hank Smith COMMITTEE MEMBERS Planning Commission Grayson Cox Yvette Flores Carmen Llanes Pulido Robert Schneider CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first three speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Austin Strategic Mobility Plan Amendments (Discussion and Action) 2. NEW BUSINESS 3. OLD BUSINESS 4. 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 Dee Dee Quinnelly at Housing and Planning Department, at 512-974-2036, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, please contact Dee Dee Quinnelly at 512-974- 2036 and DeeDee.Quinnelly@austintexas.gov
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JOINT COMMITTEE Draft Minutes The Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee convened in a regular meeting on March 10, 2022 at Street-Jones Building, 1000 East 11th Street, Room 400A, Austin, TX 78702. Some member participated by video conference. REGULAR MEETING March 10, 2022 Members Absent Carmen Llanes Pulido Cesar Acosta Timothy Bray Zoning and Platting Commission Hank Smith The meeting was called to order at 12:03 p.m. Joint Committee Members in Attendance: Planning Commission Grayson Cox Yvette Flores Robert Schneider City Staff in Attendance: Matt Dugan, Housing and Planning Department Dee Dee Quinnelly, Housing and Planning Department Others in Attendance: None. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made to approve the minutes from the December 2, 2021 meeting by Commissioner Cox, seconded by Commissioner Smith. Vote 4-0. Commissioners Llanes Pulido, Acosta and Bray were absent. 2. NEW BUSINESS 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Annual goal setting (Discussion and/or possible action). Commissioners discussed setting goals around zoning for industrial land, and flooding. Chair Flores asked Dee Dee Quinnelly to email Commissioners asking for any additional goals. No action was taken. b. Long-Range Capital Improvement Program Planning (Discussion and action). Dee Dee Quinnelly explained the two-year planning cycle and since this is an off-year the memo with recommendations from last year needs to be retransmitted. A motion to retransmit the memo with modifications was made by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Schneider. Vote 4-0. Commissioners Llanes Pulido, Acosta and Bray were absent. 1 a. Industrial Study (Discussion and/or possible action) Item postponed to next regular meeting. 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -The Imagine Austin Year 10 Progress Report ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 12:47 p.m. 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 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Dee Dee Quinnelly at Planning and Zoning Department, at 512-974-2036, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, please contact Dee Dee Quinnelly at (512) 974-2036 or deedee.quinnelly@austintexas.gov. 2
2021 ASMP Amendments COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JOINT COMMITTEE APRIL 28, 2022 COLE KIT TEN, DIVISION MANAGER AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT Presentation Agenda o Purpose o Timeline o Public Engagement o ASMP Amendment Cycle o Street Network Changes o Q & A 2 Purpose | Why Update the ASMP? • Council Resolution 20200610-002 directed the City Manager “to initiate process to amend the [ASMP] to add the Project Connect System Plan…” • Additionally, per the adopted ASMP “Amendments to the Street Network Table and Map will be processed when right of way requirements change based on project details determined during the project development process” • “Modifications to adopted right of way widths will be processed as formal amendments to the plan, requiring City Council approval” • Transportation Criteria Manual (TCM) • Mobility Bond Projects 3 Timeline | Initial Feedback Schedule 2021 2022 October 1 November 15 December 31 ASMP Policy Survey released ASMP Street Network map released Original close date for Policy survey and Street Network map January 16 First extension date for Policy & Street Network feedback January 30 Policy & Street Network comment period closed February Developed updated draft of the proposed amendments Round 1 Feedback Report October November December January February *Internal Review began May 2021 Updates were provided to Mayor and City Council via memos dated 6/10/2021, 9/30/2021, 12/1/2021 and 2/25/2022 October - January Round 1 Public Comments *Notification for the second round of comments was sent out to the Community Registry on February 28 4 Timeline | Remaining Feedback Schedule 2022 March April May 3 June Round 2 public feedback closed on March 31 Boards and Commissions Council Mobility Committee Develop final draft of the proposed amendments and Round 2 Feedback Report Publish Final Draft May 10 Planning Commission May 19 City Council Public Hearing City Council Meetings First reading expected June 9 March April May June *Council Public Hearing will be advertised in the American Statesman 16 days prior to the hearing date and sent out to the Community Registry 5 Round 1 Engagement Timeline: Strategy and Results: •Interdepartmental review of the ASMP and Street Network began in May 2021 •Goal was to create awareness and provide an opportunity for feedback •Project Connect completed 15% Design in May 2021 and conducted engagement in late Summer •Engagement materials were produced in English and Spanish •ASMP feedback period began October 1 and closed January 30 •Competing community needs: • …
2021 ASMP Amendments COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JOINT COMMITTEE APRIL 28, 2022 COLE KIT TEN, DIVISION MANAGER AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT Presentation Agenda o Purpose o Timeline o Public Engagement o ASMP Amendment Cycle o Street Network Changes o Q & A 2 Purpose | Why Update the ASMP? • Council Resolution 20200610-002 directed the City Manager “to initiate process to amend the [ASMP] to add the Project Connect System Plan…” • Additionally, per the adopted ASMP “Amendments to the Street Network Table and Map will be processed when right of way requirements change based on project details determined during the project development process” • “Modifications to adopted right of way widths will be processed as formal amendments to the plan, requiring City Council approval” • Transportation Criteria Manual (TCM) • Mobility Bond Projects 3 Timeline | Initial Feedback Schedule 2021 2022 October 1 November 15 December 31 ASMP Policy Survey released ASMP Street Network map released Original close date for Policy survey and Street Network map January 16 First extension date for Policy & Street Network feedback January 30 Policy & Street Network comment period closed February Developed updated draft of the proposed amendments Round 1 Feedback Report October November December January February *Internal Review began May 2021 Updates were provided to Mayor and City Council via memos dated 6/10/2021, 9/30/2021, 12/1/2021 and 2/25/2022 October - January Round 1 Public Comments *Notification for the second round of comments was sent out to the Community Registry on February 28 4 Timeline | Remaining Feedback Schedule 2022 March April May 3 June Round 2 public feedback closed on March 31 Boards and Commissions Council Mobility Committee Develop final draft of the proposed amendments and Round 2 Feedback Report Publish Final Draft May 10 Planning Commission May 19 City Council Public Hearing City Council Meetings First reading expected June 9 March April May June *Council Public Hearing will be advertised in the American Statesman 16 days prior to the hearing date and sent out to the Community Registry 5 Round 1 Engagement Timeline: Strategy and Results: •Interdepartmental review of the ASMP and Street Network began in May 2021 •Goal was to create awareness and provide an opportunity for feedback •Project Connect completed 15% Design in May 2021 and conducted engagement in late Summer •Engagement materials were produced in English and Spanish •ASMP feedback period began October 1 and closed January 30 •Competing community needs: • …
2021 ASMP Amendments Updated Frequently Asked Questions Throughout the ASMP process several questions have been asked frequently by many community members. We hope these answers help clarify this process and elucidate what the ASMP amendments do, as well as what they do not. • Are you taking my property? • Are you changing my zoning? • Are streets expanding? Why are they changing? • If these amendments are adopted, does this action change the size of my property automatically? • My street is narrow. Where is the extra space coming from for future improvements? • Does this mean that our streets will become “patchy,” such as a partial bike lane that runs into parking, since development might not be uniform? • How does the ASMP affect the design of my street? • How did you identify these Street Network Amendments? Q: Are you taking my property? No, the ASMP is not taking or acquiring any land. Let’s go deeper: The ASMP is not a process to acquire land. The ASMP is the city’s Transportation Plan and the transportation element of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. Its purpose is to provide the city’s future transportation vision and is used for the long-range development of the city’s transportation network through development regulations. The ASMP identifies the amount of land that a property being developed must dedicate per the Land Development Code to promote public health, safety, and welfare, but the ASMP itself is not acquiring land. Land acquisition occurs during the project development and delivery phases of a Capital Improvement Project. The land that is dedicated through the land development process becomes public right of way to provide public infrastructure according to the standards in the TCM. Land dedication is only triggered for certain types of development: residential development that is a greater intensity than a duplex or commercial development. It does not apply to single-family homes going through the building permit process. Properties that are going through the subdivision process are subject to land dedication, but land dedication is subject to Rough Proportionality, which is a legal statute that requires any land being dedicated be proportional in value to the development’s impact on the transportation network. Because every development is unique it is impossible to definitively determine if a subdivided property would be required to dedicate land, but based on current land values, TCM standards, and the recently adopted Street Impact …
Boards and Commissions Recommendation Log as of April 27, 2022 ID Page Number Type Change Proposed Proposed By Staff Response Notes C-1 N/A Street Network Table Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Zoning and Platting Commission encourages the Austin City Council that there should be no street level changes in the ASMP except to incorporate the Project Connect system plan as directed by the Austin City Council; and Zoning and Platting Commission Staff does not support this change Appendix B of the adopted ASMP provides guidance for when modifications to the Street Network require City Council approval. “Amendments to the Street Network Table and Map will be processed when right of way requirements change based on project details determined during the project development process…Any modifications that may change the adopted right of way widths in the Street Network Table will be processed as formal amendments to the plan, requiring City Council approval.” With the update to the Transportation Criteria Manual and progress made on the Mobility Bond project development process, the ASMP Street Network was evaluated for additional amendments and these amendments are being proposed for City Council approval. The City Charter outlines the notification requirements for amending an element of Imagine Austin, which includes the ASMP. The City Charter requires posting notification in the Austin American Statesman and sending notification to the Community Registry 16 days prior to holding a Public Hearing at City Council. In addition to the Charter requirements, the ASMP amendment process included two rounds of engagement and outreach before posting the Final Draft of the proposed amendments for the Public Hearing, including targeted social media advertising and notification to the Community Registry. Further notification to individual households and properties is not a requirement of the Comprehensive Plan nor necessary at this stage of the process. This amendment process and proposed changes in Street Level are consistent with the purpose of the Comprehensive Plan. Additionally, significant outreach to properties along streets with proposed projects will occur as projects go through the project development and delivery phases. Notification now would be out of sync with this practice and is not required. The adopted ASMP references Title VI on page 219 under Frameworks for Equity. The ASMP prioritizes equitable outreach and this ASMP amendment process went beyond Charter requirements to provide opportunities for participation through two rounds of engagement with materials in English and Spanish. A full …
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JOINT COMMITTEE Minutes The Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee convened in a special called meeting on April 28, 2022 at Street-Jones Building, 1000 East 11th Street, Room 400A, Austin, TX 78702. Some members participated by video conference. SPECIAL CALLED MEETING April 28, 2022 Zoning and Platting Commission Hank Smith The meeting was called to order at 12:14 p.m. Joint Committee Members in Attendance: Planning Commission Grayson Cox Yvette Flores Robert Schneider City Staff in Attendance: Matt Dugan, Housing and Planning Department Cole Kitten and Upal Barua, Austin Transportation Others in Attendance: Joe Reynolds PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Megan Meisenbach Members Absent Carmen Llanes Pulido Cesar Acosta Joe Reynolds and Megan Meisenbach spoke on the proposed amendments to the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. NEW BUSINESS A motion was made to approve the minutes from the March 10, 2021 meeting by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Schneider. Vote 4-0. Commissioners Llanes Pulido and Acosta were absent. a. Austin Strategic Mobility Plan Amendments (Discussion and/or possible action). Cole Kitten and Upal Barua with Austin Transportation presented on the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) proposed amendments. Commissioners discussed the amendments and the ZAP recommendations, Cole Kitten and Upal Barua provided responses to the ZAP recommendations. A motion was made to forward to Planning Commission the proposed amendments, ZAP recommendations, and the staff response to ZAP recommendations by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Cox. Vote 4-0. 3. OLD BUSINESS 1 None. 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -Industrial land study ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:16 p.m. 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 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Dee Dee Quinnelly at Planning and Zoning Department, at 512-974-2036, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, please contact Dee Dee Quinnelly at (512) 974-2036 or deedee.quinnelly@austintexas.gov. 2
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JOINT COMMITTEE Draft Minutes The Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee convened in a regular meeting on December 2, 2021 REGULAR MEETING December 2, 2021 at Street-Jones Building, 1000 East 11th Street, Room 400A, Austin, TX 78702. Timothy Bray Hank Smith The meeting was called to order at 12:12 p.m. Joint Committee Members in Attendance: Planning Commission Zoning and Platting Commission Grayson Cox Yvette Flores Robert Schneider City Staff in Attendance: Matt Dugan, Housing and Planning Department Dee Dee Quinnelly, Housing and Planning Department Others in Attendance: None. 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made to approve the minutes from the June 11, 2021 meeting by Commissioner Schneider, seconded by Commissioner Smith. Vote 5-0. Commissioners Acosta and Llanes Pulido were absent. 3. NEW BUSINESS a. Orientation to Imagine Austin and the Role of the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee (Discussion and/or possible action). Matt Dugan presented the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan to the Commissioners sharing background, key components and frameworks helpful to understand the plan. Dee Dee Quinnelly presented the Ordinance to create the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee and the Committee’s bylaws to inform the conversation around the Role of the Committee. No action was taken. b. Approve for Adoption the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee 2022 Calendar Year Meeting Schedule (Discussion and action). A motion to approve the 2022 Calendar Year CPJC Meeting schedule was made by Commissioner Schneider, seconded by Commissioner Cox. Vote 5-0. Commissioners Acosta and Llanes Pulido were absent. 1 4. OLD BUSINESS a. Vote to elect Vice-Chair (Discussion and/or possible action) A motion was made to elect Commissioner Smith as Vice-Chair by Commissioner Schneider, seconded by Chair Garcia. Vote 5-0. Commissioners Acosta and Llanes Pulido were absent. 5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m. 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 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Dee Dee Quinnelly at Planning and Zoning Department, at 512-974-2036, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, please contact Dee Dee Quinnelly at (512) 974-2036 or deedee.quinnelly@austintexas.gov. 2
ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL LAND USE AND ZONING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS Prepared by the City of Austin’s Planning and Zoning Department March, 2020* *Updated September 2020 with minor changes Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3 The Austin Context.................................................................................................................................. 4 Environmental Justice, Racial Segregation, and the 1928 City Plan ................................................. 4 Research and Development ............................................................................................................... 6 Annexation of Industrial Property ....................................................................................................... 7 National Trends and Best Practices in Sustainable Industrial Development ......................................... 7 San Francisco, California .................................................................................................................... 8 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ................................................................................................................. 9 Los Angeles, California .................................................................................................................... 10 Portland, Oregon .............................................................................................................................. 12 Current State of Austin’s Industrial-Zoned Land ................................................................................. 13 Industrial Land Uses ........................................................................................................................ 16 Property Values................................................................................................................................ 17 Zoning Cases ................................................................................................................................... 17 The Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan ........................................................................................ 20 Geographic Distribution & Transport ............................................................................................... 20 Vacancies and Undeveloped Land .................................................................................................. 20 Building and Annexation Over Time ................................................................................................. 20 Workforce Considerations ................................................................................................................... 21 Workforce Master Plan .................................................................................................................... 21 Job Totals for Austin’s Industrial-Zoned Land ................................................................................. 23 An Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin ............................................................................................. 24 Key Considerations .......................................................................................................................... 26 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Trends .............................................................................................................................................. 28 1 Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 29 Appendix I: Maps ................................................................................................................................. 30 Base Zoning Districts ....................................................................................................................... 30 Industrial Clusters – Land Use ........................................................................................................ 31 Industrial Zoning District Cases ....................................................................................................... 32 Industrial Clusters - Loss of Industrial Zoning ................................................................................. 33 Imagine Austin Jobs Centers ........................................................................................................... 34 Freight Transport Network ............................................................................................................... 35 Developed & Vacant Industrial Zoning ............................................................................................ 36 Industrial-Zoned Properties Decade Annexed ................................................................................. 37 Industrial-Zoned Properties Year Structure Built ............................................................................. 38 2001 Zoning Layer with 2002 US Census Data .............................................................................. 39 2018 Zoning Layer with 2017 US Census Data .............................................................................. 40 Industrial Zoning Study: Case Study Area........................................................................................ 41 Appendix II: Industrial Cluster Case Studies ........................................................................................ 42 North Research Boulevard .............................................................................................................. 42 North Burnet/Gateway .................................................................................................................... 42 Tech Ridge ....................................................................................................................................... 44 US 290 East..................................................................................................................................... 45 Near East ......................................................................................................................................... 46 US 183............................................................................................................................................. 48 St Elmo ............................................................................................................................................ 50 Ben White ........................................................................................................................................ 54 2 Introduction Austin, like many growing cities across the country, is experiencing pressure to convert industrially used and zoned land to mixed-use commercial and residential redevelopment and development. Imagine Austin (2012), the City’s comprehensive plan, envisions “a city of complete communities…defined by amenities, transportation, services, and opportunities that fulfill all Austinites’ material, social, and economic needs.” One component of a complete community is employment opportunities for residents of all skill and education levels. In 2017 there were a total of 624,417 employees citywide. In the city’s industrial-zoned properties, there were 75,244 employees, representing 12% of the …
ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL LAND USE AND ZONING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee Briefing October 14, 2021 Mark Walters Study Organization Workforce Considerations National Trends and Best Practices Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin , Texas Conclusions & Recommendations Maps and Case Studies 2 Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land 11,657 Acres or 6.6% of Austin zoned for industrial (2018) Only 38% of Industrial zoned land used for industrial uses • Undeveloped 27% • Office 12% 3 Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land Industrial zoned areas mostly located to take advantage of highways and ABIA 4 Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land Between 2001 and 2018 1,846 acres rezoned from industrial to non-industrial zones Industrial zoned land lost through neighborhood plan rezonings was not included 5 Current State of Austin’s Industrially-Zoned Land Worth $9.5B or 6% of Austin’s value Higher Improvement-to-Land Ratio 2014-2018 tax assessments increased 52%/ commercial land increased 62% Most industrial zoned land gained through annexation North Burnet/Gateway lost over 1,000 acres of industrial zoned land (2008) 6 Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin Identified 8 industrial clusters within Austin Based on best practices from Las Angeles, CA and Philadelphia, PA staff developed an industrial cluster typology Protection Intensification Transition 7 Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin Protection Industrial zoning should be maintained and residential uses discouraged Intensification Can accommodate more industrial uses through zoning certainty, planned infrastructure improvements, and master planning to coordinate public and private investment Transition Areas experiencing significant land conversion to non-industrial uses and are no longer or increasingly less viable for industrial 8 Industrial Cluster Typology for Austin North Research Boulevard Intensification / Protection North Burnet/Gateway Transition Tech Ridge Intensification US-290 Intensification Near East Transition US-183 Transition St. Elmo Transition Ben White Intensification 9 Findings Annexations biggest driver in industrial land growth 37 acres of industrial zoning lost annually for the last ten years Neighborhood and Small Area Plans 10 Findings Recent development of corporate campuses and business/industrial parks Austin’s legacy industrial clusters undergoing transition (e.g., St. Elmo & NBG) Undeveloped industrial land along one-way freeway frontage roads targeted for garden-style apartments 11 Recommendations Precautions must be taken to ensure that nearby industrial properties do not pose a risk to future MF residents Redevelopment in Transition areas should provide sidewalks, bike lanes, storm water facilities, open space, etc. Existing long-term industrial uses should not be punished by new residents …
Agenda Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee March 10, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Street-Jones Building RM 400A 1000 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 Some members of the Comprehensive Plan 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 512-974-2036 or deedee.quinnelly@austintexas.gov COMMITTEE MEMBERS Planning Commission Grayson Cox Yvette Flores Carmen Llanes Pulido Robert Schneider CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first three speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Zoning and Platting Commission Cesar Acosta Hank Smith a. Annual goal setting (Discussion and/or possible action) b. Long-Range Capital Improvement Program Planning (Discussion and action) Discussion and action to approve re-transmission of the FYs 2021-2023 Long-Range CIP Planning Memo of Recommendations to Planning Commission on June 14, 2022, to meet the Austin City Charter Article X, Section 4(4) requirement. 2. NEW BUSINESS 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Industrial Study (Discussion and/or possible action) 4. 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 Dee Dee Quinnelly at Housing and Planning Department, at 512-974-2036, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, please contact Dee Dee Quinnelly at 512-974- 2036 and DeeDee.Quinnelly@austintexas.gov
City Manager Spencer Cronk The City of Austin Planning Commission To: From: Subject: Date: June 22, 2021 Transmittal of FYs 2021-2023 Long-Range Capital Improvement Program Planning Memo of Recommendations The Planning Commission is pleased to transmit the FYs 21-23 Long-Range Capital Improvement Program Planning (LRCP) Memo of Recommendations. Transmittal of the recommendations to the City Manager allows the Planning Commission to meet its requirement under the Charter to submit a list of capital improvements to the City Manager which implement the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee of Planning Commission and Zoning and Platting Commission participated in development of this year’s LRCP recommendations and approved a memo for consideration by the Planning Commission. LRCP is the process that examines CIP needs looking 10 years or more into the future. It is a lens for viewing CIP projects, which are typically granular in nature, within the scale of high-level policies identified in the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and Strategic Direction 2023. The LRCP is part of a larger Capital Improvement Program planning cycle, a multi-year, continuous process of planning, funding, and implementation of capital improvements, that also includes the Five-Year CIP Plan and the annual Capital Budget. To further the City’s long-term vision and aspiration of being one of the most unique, thriving, and livable cities in the country, the City Council chose to focus City operations and budgets around Strategic Direction 2023’s Outcomes: • Government that works for all: Believing that city government works effectively and collaboratively for all of us - that it is equitable, ethical and innovative. • Safety: Being safe in our home, at work, and in our community. • Economic Opportunity and Affordability: Having economic opportunities and resources that enable us to thrive in our community • Mobility: Getting us where we want to go, when we want to get there, safely and cost-effectively. • Health and Environment: Enjoying a sustainable environment and a healthy life, physically and • Culture and Lifelong-Learning: Being enriched by Austin's unique civic, cultural, ethnic, and learning mentally. opportunities. This LRCP cycle for FYs 21-23, the Memo of Recommendations is organized by the six Strategic Direction outcomes. Additionally, a new website has been developed to present the data and information related to Long-Range CIP Planning. The website can be found here: https://imagineaustin.wixsite.com/lrcp 1 Government that works for all and Safety • To have a comprehensive picture of existing …
Status updates and highlights to the FYs 2021-22 Capital Budget, organized by the FYs 2021-2023 Long- Range Capital Improvement Program Planning Recommendations. The following updates highlight CIP activities city-wide are not intended to be comprehensive. Government that works for all and Safety • To have a comprehensive picture of existing infrastructure conditions and potential liabilities over time, prioritize a more complete inventory and assessment of existing assets. Implement a robust enterprise Asset Management approach and facilitate the maturation of the City’s internal asset management system to ensure coordination and cooperation across all departments and all infrastructures. No updates at this time • Prioritize investments related to public health and safety and capital renewal, such as project rehabilitation and restoration. Maintenance and repair prevention need to be funded appropriately and equitably to minimize premature failures, unacceptable levels of service, and far more expensive replacement of assets. The FY 2021-22 budget met financial policy to fully fund the capital rehabilitation fund which supports major rehabilitation and betterment of non-enterprise department facilities. • Continue to explore innovative and durable revenue sources and policies. Departments continue to explore funding alternatives. A recent example is the Dougherty Arts Center Replacement project. https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/pio/document.cfm?id=375505 • Review the city’s resilience to extreme weather events and other impacts of climate change to ensure safety of city residents, reliability of electric, water and other critical infrastructure, and identify long-range capital improvements to improve resiliency in an equitable manner. Actions Taken by the City of Austin and Community Partners to Prepare for Next Weather Emergency | AustinTexas.gov (a lot of this is beyond Capital Budget funding, but very thorough) Economic Opportunity and Affordability and Mobility • Prioritize maintenance of infrastructure that supports voter approved capital investments and minimizes service disruptions. The following are departmental O&M highlights for FY 2021-22: (page 193 of the budget document) • $669,000 in Fleet Mobility Services for license and software fees for GPS, as part of phase 3 of the telematics program, and operations and maintenance fees for electric vehicle charging ports. • $665,000 for seven new positions in Public Works to support the growing workload of capital improvements projects across the City, particularly from Austin Water, Aviation, and departments with funding from the 2016, 2018, and 2020 bond programs. The costs of these positions will be directly charged to capital projects. 03.09.2022, pg. 1 • $659,000 in Parks and Recreation for various capital project contractual/commodity …
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JOINT COMMITTEE Minutes The Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee convened in a regular meeting on March 10, 2022 at Street-Jones Building, 1000 East 11th Street, Room 400A, Austin, TX 78702. Some member participated by video conference. REGULAR MEETING March 10, 2022 Members Absent Carmen Llanes Pulido Cesar Acosta Timothy Bray Zoning and Platting Commission Hank Smith The meeting was called to order at 12:03 p.m. Joint Committee Members in Attendance: Planning Commission Grayson Cox Yvette Flores Robert Schneider City Staff in Attendance: Matt Dugan, Housing and Planning Department Dee Dee Quinnelly, Housing and Planning Department Others in Attendance: None. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made to approve the minutes from the December 2, 2021 meeting by Commissioner Cox, seconded by Commissioner Smith. Vote 4-0. Commissioners Llanes Pulido, Acosta and Bray were absent. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Annual goal setting (Discussion and/or possible action). Commissioners discussed setting goals around zoning for industrial land, and flooding. Chair Flores asked Dee Dee Quinnelly to email Commissioners asking for any additional goals. No action was taken. b. Long-Range Capital Improvement Program Planning (Discussion and action). Dee Dee Quinnelly explained the two-year planning cycle and since this is an off-year the memo with recommendations from last year needs to be retransmitted. A motion to retransmit the memo with modifications was made by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Schneider. Vote 4-0. Commissioners Llanes Pulido, Acosta and Bray were absent. 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Industrial Study (Discussion and/or possible action) 1 Item postponed to next regular meeting. 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -The Imagine Austin Year 10 Progress Report ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 12:47 p.m. 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 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Dee Dee Quinnelly at Planning and Zoning Department, at 512-974-2036, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, please contact Dee Dee Quinnelly at (512) 974-2036 or deedee.quinnelly@austintexas.gov. 2
Agenda Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee January 13, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. Street-Jones Building RM 400A 1000 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 Zoning and Platting Commission Cesar Acosta Timothy Bray Hank Smith COMMITTEE MEMBERS Planning Commission Grayson Cox Yvette Flores Carmen Llanes Pulido Robert Schneider CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first three speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. NEW BUSINESS 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Annual goal setting (Discussion and/or possible action) a. Industrial Study (Discussion and/or possible action) 4. 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 Dee Dee Quinnelly at Housing and Planning Department, at 512-974-2036, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, please contact Dee Dee Quinnelly at 512-974- 2036 and DeeDee.Quinnelly@austintexas.gov
