REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2025, 6:00 P.M. PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1405 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS 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 via 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 by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Nicole Corona at 512- 974-3146 or nicole.corona@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair Ramachandra “Rao” Aradhyula David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Kevin Howard CALL TO ORDER AGENDA Saira Khan Conners Ladner Marissa McKinney Evgenia “Jenny” Murkes Brendan Wittstruck PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on October 27, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Discussion of analysis on the Design Commission's recommendations and the final approved Downtown Density Bonus Program projects from the past ten years. Discussion of the draft Urban Design Guidelines regarding the sections: Introduction, Core Principle A: Protect Pedestrians and Bicyclists from the Elements, and Core Principle B: Protect Sidewalk and Bikeway Users from Motor Vehicles. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Discussion and action to select Downtown Density Bonus Program projects from the past ten years to conduct analysis on outcomes. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Vice Chair Meiners. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS City Code requires at least two board members sponsor an item to be included on an agenda. This section of the agenda provides members an opportunity to request items for future agendas. Staff should assume that if there is no objection from other members expressed at the meeting, the members’ silence indicates approval for staff to include on the next agenda. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than …
DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 27, 2025 The Design Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Salinas called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair Ramachandra “Rao” Aradhyula David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Conners Ladner – Commissioner Ladner left the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Evgenia “Jenny” Murkes Brendan Wittstruck Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kevin Howard Saira Khan Marissa McKinney PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on August 25, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of 08/25/2025 were approved on Commissioner Aradhyula’s motion, Vice Chair Meiners’ second, on a 9-0-2 vote. Commissioners Gelles and Ladner abstained. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding the Green Infrastructure in the Right of Way. Presented by Michelle Marx, Austin Transportation and Public Works. The presentation was made by Michelle Marx, Austin Transportation and Public Works. Staff briefing on proposed amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development Code), Case C20-2025-010, related to establishing a maximum building height limit within the Central Business District (CBD) zoning district, and amending the Downtown Density Bonus Program (DDBP) and Rainey Street Subdistrict regulations to modify allowable maximum building height when participating in the DDBP. Presented by Alan Pani, Austin Planning. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Commissioner Carroll. The presentation was made by Alan Pani, Austin Planning. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. Presentation and discussion regarding Staff’s response to Resolution 20241121-073 related to Bird-Friendly design. Presented by Leslie Lilly, Austin Watershed Protection. The presentation was made by Leslie Lilly, Austin Watershed Protection. Discussion of analysis on the Design Commission's recommendations and the final approved Downtown Density Bonus Program projects from the past ten years. The motion to postpone items 5, 6, and 7 to November 17, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Howard’s motion, Commissioner McKinney’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Ladner was off the dais. Discussion of the draft Urban Design Guidelines regarding the sections: Introduction, Core Principle A: Protect Pedestrians and Bicyclists from the Elements, and Core Principle B: Protect Sidewalk and Bikeway Users from Motor Vehicles. The motion to postpone items 5, 6, and 7 to November 17, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Howard’s motion, Commissioner McKinney’s second, on a 10-0 …
MEMORANDUM TO: Site Plan and Building Permit Case Managers FROM: Jerry Rusthoven$ Housing & Planning Department DATE: September 8,2027 RE Density Bonus for 321 W. 6th Street under SP-2019-0516C, Expected address: 321 W. 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 This memorandum grants approvalto 321 W. 5th Street (the Project) subject to the stated conditions and requirements as of the date listed above. This memorandum also summarizes the requirements that must be met for the above-mentioned project to be granted the entitlements listed below through the Downtown Density Bonus Program as described in City Code section 25-2-586. The entitlements described below are associated only with the Project as described in the attached documents and site plan No. SP-2019-0516C and cannot be transferred to a different project. lf an applicant proposes a different project on the same site and seeks to use a Density Bonus, the applicant must re-apply for the Downtown Density Bonus Program using the rules in effect at the time of application. The entitlements granted herein do not run with the land. "A Certificate of Occupancy shall not be granted for this Project until atl requirements below are met. This memorandum shall be attached to allsite plan applications and building permit applications and the following note shall be placed in AMANDA and on the cover of all site plan applications and building permit applications: 'ACertificate of Occupancy shall not be granted for this Project untilall requirementsspecifiedinthememo f,EDensity Bonusfor32l W. 6th Street dated September 8, 2021 are met." Staffshallverify that all requirements have been met before issuins a certificate of occupancv by checking with Aaron D. Jenkins of the Zonirg &Urban Design Division, Housing and Planning Department, aaron.ienkins@austintexas.gov or (512) 97 4-t243. Requirements to be fulfilled before a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) may be granted for this project: 1. GreatStreets lmprovements: Complete construction of allGreat Streets improvements along all of the project's public right-of-way frontages consistent with the City of Austin Great Streets Standards and in accordance with the attached executed public restrictive covenant and Gatekeeper requirements of Ordinance No. 2014A522-A77. City of Austin Zoning & Urban Design Staff will inspect construction for compliance prior to granting a CO. Page 1 of 2 2. AEBG requirement: Prior to issuance of a CO, achieve a minimum two-star rating under the AEGB program using the ratings in effect at the time the Project is registered with the Austin Energy Green Building Program. 3. …
Contents - The previous draft of guidelines and core principles can be found at this link Assignments KEY- David Marissa Kevin Brendan Sophia WORKING DRAFT1 Introduction PURPOSE APPLICABILITY These categories determine if a project must comply with a specific design guideline. Private Projects Applies to: ● All projects participating in the Downtown Density Bonus Program (DDBP), and ● All private projects for which the City Council or the Planning Commission requests a review by the Design Commission. The applicability extends to these projects regardless of their participation in a density bonus program. The Design Commission will advise the Planning Commission and City Council based on the values and intent of the Urban Design Guidelines as is applicable or appropriate to the project. . Public Projects Applies to all municipal buildings and associated site development including any components of these projects that include Alternative Equivalent Compliance. The Design Commission reviews all municipal buildings and associated site development projects to ensure they demonstrate compliance with city design and sustainability standards (Council Resolution No. 20071129-046), including those seeking Subchapter E Design Standards Alternative Equivalent Compliance (AEC) (Council Resolution No. 20100923-086). Public Infrastructure Applies to all infrastructure projects commissioned by the City of Austin. (Resolution 20100819-035) All projects requiring a right-of-way vacation are required to be reviewed by the Design Commission (Council Resolution No. 20100805-028). Infrastructure is the constructed physical and biophysical elements, facilities, and systems of the built environment that provide a shared foundation for sustaining the health, safety, and welfare of a community. Infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, the following aspects of WORKING DRAFT2 planning and design: air quality management, communication, energy production and transmission (chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal), public safety (support for policing and fire suppression), transportation and movement, waste management (refuse recycling and disposal; sewage treatment), and water management (storage, conveyance, distribution, purification). SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE In order for a project to be considered in Substantial Compliance with the Urban Design Guidelines, projects must address each core principle by complying with All Tier 1 Design Guidelines applicable to their project type as well as 12 of the Tier 2 Design Guidelines applicable to their project type. PRIORITIES Tier 1 Tier 1 indicates design guidelines that are mandatory. Applicants must demonstrate compliance with all Tier 1 Guidelines applicable to their project type. Tier 2 Tier 2 indicates design guidelines that are optional but highly recommended. Applicants may choose which …
Project Case Number Project Location In Date Bonus Request (FAR) Bonus Request (Height in ft Bonused Sq. Ft. Status of Project Design Commission (Working Group Date) Date Reviewed by Design Commission Design Commission Outcome DDBP Case Tracking Aspen Heights Apartments (now Rise) SP-2013-0434C 805 Nueces Street (516 W. 8th Street) 11/1/2013 8 5th & West SP-2013-0454C 501 W. 5th Street 1/31/2014 19.7 7th & Congress (Element & Aloft Hotels) SP-2014-0068C 619 & 621 Congress Ave. (109 E. 7th Street) 5/15/2014 21.2 5th & Brazos SP-2014-0406C 501 Brazos 10/3/2014 19.7 Third and Shoal SP-2015-0346C 607 W. 3rd 4/4/2016 10.2 Waterloo Park Tower SP-2016-0106C 1201 Red River 1/25/2017 405 Colorado SP-2016-0260C 405 Colorado 7/21/2016 Marriott at Cesar Chavez SP-2016-0300C 304 E. Cesar Chavez 10/6/2016 48 East Ave Apts SP-2016-0391C 48 East Avenue 8/9/2016 15 13 15 15 1400 Lavaca (now SXSW Center) SP-2016-0452C 1400 Lavaca 10/3/2016 4.11 Town Lake Lofts SP-2017-0107C 16 N I-35 Service Dr 7/22/2016 15 700 11th St SP-2017-0166C 700 11th St 9/7/2017 10.43 6th + Guadalupe SP-2017-0301C.F1 600 Guadalupe Street 5/24/2018 Block 71 (UT System Property) SP-2017-0311C 200 W. 6th St 10/26/2017 25 25 300 Colorado SP-2018-0096C 300 Colorado Street 5/22/2018 15.71 91 Red River SP-2018-0111C 91-93 Red River Street 7/5/2018 13.12 200 430 328 420 391 371 363 381 342 171 352 344 838 555 455 326 86,840 Approved with Memo 194,854 Approved with Memo 11/25/2013 2/24/2014 Recommendation of Compliance with additional recommendations (see letter) Recommendation of Non-Compliance with list of means for compliance (see letter) 145,977 Approved with Memo 5/27/2014 Recommendation of Compliance 408,999 Approved with Memo 10/27/2014 Recommendation of Compliance 77,720 Approved with Memo 4/25/2016 Recommendation of Compliance 133,140 Approved with Memo 3/27/2017 Recommendation of Compliance 85,634 Approved with Memo 1/9/2017 4/24/2017 & 5/22/2017 Recommendation of Non-Compliance 243,677 Approved with Memo 05/22/2017 & 6/05/2017 Recommendation of Compliance 125,055 Approved with Memo 1/23/2017 Recommendation of Compliance 66,600 Approved with Memo 11/28/2016 Recommendation of Compliance 109,214 Approved with Memo 12/19/2016 Recommendation of Compliance 85,702 Approved with Memo 10/23/2017 Motion for Recommendation of Compliance failed for lack of votes 565,109 Approved with Memo 8/27/2018 Recommendation of Compliance 1,296,080 Approved with Memo 11/27/2017 Recommendation of Compliance 191,424 Approved with Memo 6/25/2018 Recommendation of Compliance 164,768 Approved with Memo 9/24/2018 Recommendation of Compliance City of Austin - Planning Zoning Department - Urban Design Division - December 2018 The Travis Ph.1 SP-2018-0159C 80 Red River Street 2/22/2019 The Travis Ph.2 SP-2018-0159C …
