DESIGN COMMISSION Monday, May 23, 2022, 6:00 PM PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHEMINA DELCO, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78752 Some members of the Design Commission may be participating by videoconference. 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, email: gunnar.garnos@austintexas.gov CURRENT MEMBERS: David Carroll (District 1) Jon Salinas (District 2) Samuel Franco (District 3) Melissa Henao-Robledo (District 5) Evan Taniguchi (Mayor) Josue Meiners, Vice-Chair (District 4) Jen Weaver, Chair (District 6) Jessica Rollason (District 7) Aan Coleman (District 8) Bart Whatley (District 9) Ben Luckens (District 10) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 1. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion & Possible Action): a. Discussion and possible action relating to the Convention Center Expansion Plan, to be presented by Katy Zamesnik - Austin Convention Center Department. b. Discussion and possible action relating to recommendations for the Downtown Density Bonus Program, to be presented Sam Tedford - Housing and Planning Department. c. Discussion and possible action relating to recommendations for VMU2, to be presented Sam Tedford - Housing and Planning Department. 2. COMMISSION-SPECIFIC BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action): a. Approval of the April 25th meeting minutes b. Discussion and possible action on membership updates to Design Commission Working Groups c. Discussion and possible action on recent Council approval to update the Urban Design Guidelines d. Update from representative on the Downtown Commission regarding last meeting e. Update from representative on the Joint Sustainability committee regarding last meeting f. Update from representative on the South-Central Waterfront Advisory Board 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS: a. Chair Announcements; b. Items from Commission Members; c. Items from City Staff; 4. 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 contact Gunnar Garnos in the Housing and Planning Department gunnar.garnos@austintexas.gov, for additional information. TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. Design Commission: Committees, Working Groups, Representatives and Liaisons …
To: City of Austin Design Commission From: Katy Zamesnik Re: Convention Center Expansion Project Presentation materials will be provided to the Commission on the day of the meeting.
CO2-2021-006 Amending Title 25-2(E) 4.3 Vertical Mixed-Use Buildings May 26, 2022 Design Commission Overview VMU Basics VMU-Related Direction Staff Recommendation Additional Research Next Steps 2 Vertical Mixed-Use (VMU) Basics VMU is a voluntarydensity bonus program designed to generate community benefits through the use of development incentives. Development Incentive Community Benefit Adopted in 2010 – Included a one-time opt-in/opt-out process for neighborhood associations or neighborhood planning teams Applicable along “core transit corridors” – Connects housing and services to transit – May also include other roadways based on original neighborhood opt-in process Offers development incentives in exchange for community benefits – Improves flexibility for site development – Creates enhanced pedestrian environment – Regulates affordability – Support sustainable development patterns Site Development Flexibility Reduced Parking Requirement No FAR restrictions Additional Allowable Uses Regulated Affordability Heightened design standards Mix of land uses Active ground floor use 3 VMU Combining District Example Zoning String: CS-MU-V-CO-NP VMU-Zoned Sites Base Zones Description commercial services community commercial limited office Max Height 60ft 60ft 40ft Impervious Cover 95% 90% 70% % of Sites 67% 18% 5% neighborhood commercial general office neighborhood office 40ft 60ft 35ft 80% 80% 60% CS GR LO LR GO NO VMU-Zoned Properties with Other Combining Districts % of Sites NP: Neighborhood Plan MU: Mixed Use CO: Conditional Overlay NCCD: Neighborhood Conservation Combing District 5% 3% 1% 94% 53% 67% 5% 4 VMU Site Development Standards •Same as base zoning •Compatibility standards supersede •Same as base zoning •No minimum front or side setbacks •Compatibility standards supersede •Height and Impervious Cover still provide site controls Building Height Impervious Cover Reduced Setbacks No Floor to Area Ratio (FAR) limit •Up to a 60% reduction •Allows residential uses in the minimum number of required parking spaces Reduced Parking Requirement in commercial and office zones •Allows additional commercial uses in office zones Broader Range of Allowed Uses •Pedestrian-Oriented Commercial space requirement on first floor •Minimum of one floor of residential use required Mix of Uses Required 5 Vertical Mixed-Use Affordability Policy Rental Developments 40-year affordability period For-Sale Developments 99-year affordability period 10% set-aside affordable to households earning not more than 60% Median Family Income Or 80% Median Family Income (Varies by neighborhood) 10% set-aside affordable to households earning not more than 80% Median Family Income and 100% Median Family Income (5% at each level) 6 VMU-Related Direction Planning Commission • July 2021 …
A P P P P P DESIGN COMMISSION Monday, April 25, 2022 6:00 PM PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHEMINA DELCO, AUSTIN, TX 78752 Meeting Minutes Call to order by: Vice Chair Jessica Rollason at 6:04 p.m. Member List David Carroll – Chair (District 1) Jessica Rollason – Vice-Chair (District 7) Jon Salinas (District 2) Samuel Franco (District 3) Josue Meiners (District 4) Evan Taniguchi (Mayor) A Melissa Hanao-Robledo (District 5) P A P P Jen Weaver (District 6) Aan Coleman (District 8) Bart Whatley (District 9) Ben Luckens (District 10) “P” Denote Commission Members who were in present “A” Denote Commission Members who were absent CITY OF AUSTIN HOUSING AND PLANNING STAFF P Jorge E. Rousselin, Executive Liaison P Gunnar Garnos, Staff Liaison PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: 1. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action): a. Discussion and possible action to evaluate and make recommendations regarding whether the Goodnight Ranch Fire/EMS, located 9400 Capitol View Dr., complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards, for the City of Austin. Applicant(s): Burton Jones, Westley Burger • • • Cris Ruebush, Westley Burger – PGAL, Burton Jones – City of Austin Project Manager presented and answered questions. Commissioner Weaver made a motion to approve that the project complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards for the city of Austin. Commissioner Salinas seconded. The motion was approved [7 ayes, 0 nays]. Page 1 of 4 b. Discussion and possible action to evaluate and make recommendations regarding whether the Dougherty Arts Center, located 200 S Lamar Blvd., complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards, for the City of Austin. Applicant(s): Kevin Johnson • • • • • • • Kevin Johnson – City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, presented and answered questions. Commissioner Meiners joined the meeting by video. Commissioner Rollason suggested potential pedestrian/cyclist enhancements. Commissioner Franco made a motion that the project does not comply with the City Design and Sustainability Standards for the city of Austin and made a recommendation that staff prepare a review of financing sources for the parking garage. Commissioner Weaver made a friendly amendment to potentially reduce the parking requirement to match the size of the building. Vice Chair Rollason made a substitute motion for a one-month postponement so that staff can gather information to answer financial questions relating to construction of the parking garage. Commissioner Weaver seconded. The motion was approved [7 ayes, 1 …
Downtown Density Bonus Program May 23, 2022 Design Commission Content • Background • Progress to Date • Staff Recommendation • Next Steps Background In April 2021, Austin City Council adopted Resolution No. 20210422-039, asking staff to: Move the voluntary Downtown Density Bonus Program fees from the LDC Implement interim fees in-lieu of affordable housing based upon prior and into the fee schedule research Explore changes to the current Floor to Area Ratio (FAR) policy Update the fees in-lieu of affordable housing 3 Progress to Date Research and analysis • Market Analysis and modeling • Development trends Commission briefings • Design Commission • Downtown Commission Stakeholder engagement • Downtown Austin Alliance • Real Estate Council of Austin 4 Objectives Maximize Community Benefit • Fees in lieu of affordable housing are specifically directed towards low barrier approaches to housing people who are chronically homeless Keep flexibility and resilience in program to account for fluctuations in market • Development conditions are rapidly evolving, but the future of demand for downtown office space is uncertain Monitor and Evaluate Outcomes • Reevaluate program outcomes regularly • Provide some predictability for projects to plan around Staff Recommendation 2014 Fee ($/SF Bonus Area) 2021 Interim Fees ($/SF Bonus Area) 2022 Proposed Fee ($/SF Bonus Area) Residential - CBD zoned properties $10 or $5 Residential - all other $5 or $3 Residential - Rainey Street district Commercial - CBD zoned Commercial - all other $5 $0 $0 $12 $10 $5 $18 $12 $12 $10 $5 $9 $6 6 Residential In Focus Staff recommend maintaining the interim residential fee in-lieu rates adopted in 2021 Residential Development FY23 Proposed Fee ($/SF Bonus Area) Consistent Participation – 4 site plan applications have come through for projects that intend to use the Downtown Density Bonus Program since the interim fees were adopted Development costs have risen since 2019 CBD zoned properties All Other Zones Rainey Street district $12 $10 $5 Housing values have risen since 2019 • Hard costs City fees Sales prices Rents • • • 7 Commercial In Focus Staff recommend lowing commercial fee in-lieu rates from the interim fees adopted in 2021 Commercial Development FY23 Proposed Fee ($/SF Bonus Area) Substantial variation from prior policy – the high degree of variation from the $0 fee prior to $18 interim rates was drastic change Stakeholder input – stakeholder input to date continuously …
A P P P P P DESIGN COMMISSION Monday, April 25, 2022 6:00 PM PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHEMINA DELCO, AUSTIN, TX 78752 Meeting Minutes Call to order by: Vice Chair Jessica Rollason at 6:04 p.m. Member List David Carroll – Chair (District 1) Jessica Rollason – Vice-Chair (District 7) Jon Salinas (District 2) Samuel Franco (District 3) Josue Meiners (District 4) Evan Taniguchi (Mayor) A Melissa Hanao-Robledo (District 5) P A P P Jen Weaver (District 6) Aan Coleman (District 8) Bart Whatley (District 9) Ben Luckens (District 10) “P” Denote Commission Members who were in present “A” Denote Commission Members who were absent CITY OF AUSTIN HOUSING AND PLANNING STAFF P Jorge E. Rousselin, Executive Liaison P Gunnar Garnos, Staff Liaison PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: 1. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action): a. Discussion and possible action to evaluate and make recommendations regarding whether the Goodnight Ranch Fire/EMS, located 9400 Capitol View Dr., complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards, for the City of Austin. Applicant(s): Burton Jones, Westley Burger • • • Cris Ruebush, Westley Burger – PGAL, Burton Jones – City of Austin Project Manager presented and answered questions. Commissioner Weaver made a motion to approve that the project complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards for the city of Austin. Commissioner Salinas seconded. The motion was approved [7 ayes, 0 nays]. Page 1 of 4 b. Discussion and possible action to evaluate and make recommendations regarding whether the Dougherty Arts Center, located 200 S Lamar Blvd., complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards, for the City of Austin. Applicant(s): Kevin Johnson • • • • • • • Kevin Johnson – City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, presented and answered questions. Commissioner Meiners joined the meeting by video. Commissioner Rollason suggested potential pedestrian/cyclist enhancements. Commissioner Franco made a motion that the project does not comply with the City Design and Sustainability Standards for the city of Austin and made a recommendation that staff prepare a review of financing sources for the parking garage. Commissioner Weaver made a friendly amendment to potentially reduce the parking requirement to match the size of the building. Vice Chair Rollason made a substitute motion for a one-month postponement so that staff can gather information to answer financial questions relating to construction of the parking garage. Commissioner Weaver seconded. The motion was approved [7 ayes, 1 …
