REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH, 23rd, 2026, 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 Chad Sharrard at 512- 974-8333 or chad.sharrard@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 or special called meeting on February 23rd, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on Downtown Density Bonus Program gatekeeper requirements. Presented by Alan Pani, Austin Planning. Sponsors: Vice Chair Meiners and Commissioner Howard. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Discussion of the implications of expanding the boundaries of Downtown to match the Central City District Plan and how that affects Design Commission scope and rewrite of and Howard. urban Sponsors: Commissioners Gelles guidelines. design Discussion on the future of the Downtown Density Bonus Program and integrating urban design guidelines, principles, and standards into that process. Sponsors: Commissioners Howard and Carroll. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. 7. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project Nash Hernandez Building Renovation, located at 1621 Nash Hernandez Senior Road in Holly Shores/ Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards. Presented by Philip Reed, Levy Dykema Architects. Discussion and action to appoint a member of the Design Commission to serve as the Commission’s representative on the Downtown Commission. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Vice Chair Meiners. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project Fiesta Gardens, located at 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St., complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards. …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH, 23rd, 2026, 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 Chad Sharrard at 512- 974-8333 or chad.sharrard@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair Ramachandra “Rao” Aradhyula David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Kevin Howard STAFF BRIEFINGS Saira Khan Conners Ladner Marissa McKinney Evgenia “Jenny” Murkes Brendan Wittstruck AGENDA ADDENDUM 8. Staff briefing on Concourse M improvements at Austin Bergstrom Airport. Presented by Pradeep Ramadoss, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Sponsors: Vice Chair Meiners and Commissioner Howard. 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 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Chad Sharrard at Austin Planning at 512-974-8033 or chad.sharrard@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Design Commission, please contact Chad Sharrard at 512-974-8033 or chad.sharrard@austintexas.gov.
DESIGN COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2026 The Design Commission convened in a regular meeting on February 23, 2026, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Commented [NC1]: Please correct to February 23, 2026, Chair Salinas called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Jon Salinas, Chair Ramachandra Aradhyula David Carroll Kevin Howard Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Josue Meiners, Vice Chair Nkiru Gelles Conners Lander Marissa McKinney Jenny Murkes PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commented [NC2]: Should be bold 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission special-called meeting on February 2, 2026. The minutes from the Design Commission special called meeting on February 2, 2026, were approved on Commissioner Aradhyula’s motion, Chair Salinas’s second on a 7-0-1. Commissioner Howard abstained. Commissioners Khan and Wittstruck were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Discussion of the Design Commission’s strategy prioritizing urban design in Density Bonus Program projects in the City of Austin. Sponsors: Commissioners Howard and Wittstruck. Discussed. Commented [NC3]: Comma instead of period Commented [NC4]: All motions need to list absent commissioner and commissioners who abstained or recused from the vote. The commissioners first name are not used here. It should read, Commissioner Aradhyula’s motion, Chair Salinas’ second, on a 7-0- 1 vote. Commissioner Howard abstained. Commissioners x, y, and z were absent. Commented [NC5]: No space between item and action Commented [NC6]: No space between item and action 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project ABIA Retail Center, located at 2703 Spirit of Texas Drive, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards. Presented by Mirza Tahir Baig, Professional StruCIVIL Engineers, Inc. This item was withdrawn without objection. COMMITTEE UPDATES Commented [NC7]: No space between item and action Commented [NC8]: Perfect! 3. Update from representative of the Downtown Commission regarding the meeting on February 18, 2026. Update was given by Commissioner Gelles. Commented [NC9]: No space between item and action FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Staff briefing on Downtown Density Bonus Program Gatekeeper Requirements. Presented by Alan Pani, Austin Planning. Sponsors: Commissioners Howard and Vice Chair Meiners.. Discussion on the future of the Downtown Density Bonus Program and integrating urban design guidelines, principles, and standards into that process. Sponsors: Commissioners Howard and Carroll. Discussion on the implications of expanding the boundaries of Downtown …
