Agenda — original pdf

Agenda

REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 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 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 December 15, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the update to the Downtown Density Bonus Program. Presentation by Alan Pani, Austin Planning. Sponsors: Commissioners Howard, Murkes, and Wittstruck. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 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. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council two-way conversions downtown. Presented by Adam Greenfield and Brandon Nidday, Safe Streets. Sponsors: Commissioners Carroll and Howard. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project W. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard & Nueces Street, located at 601, 607, 611, 619 West Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, 1809 Rio Grande Street, 1806 Nueces Street, 1801 Rio Grande Street, 604 West 18th Street and 1800 Nueces Street, complies with the Urban Design Guidelines for the City of Austin in accordance with Land Development Code § 25-2-586 (C)(1)(a)(ii). Presented by Leah Bojo, Drenner Group, PC, Justin Short, STG Design, and Chris Jackson, Fable Landscape Architecture. Approve a recommendation to City Council to recognize the Design Commission as an official stakeholder in the Density Bonus Program update process and recommend that the Design Commission and Staff advance council-requested updates to the Urban Design Guidelines. Sponsors: Commissioners Aradhyula and Wittstruck. COMMITTEE UPDATES 7. Update from the representative of the Downtown Commission regarding the meeting on December 17, 2025. 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 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Nicole Corona at Austin Planning at 512-974-3146 or nicole.corona@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Design Commission, please contact Nicole Corona at 512-974-3146 or nicole.corona@austintexas.gov.