02. Briefing on Downtown Density Bonus Program Update — original pdf

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DDB Phase 1 – Program Format Austin Planning | Design Commission | 1/26/25 DDB Phase 1 Current Downtown Density Bonus Program  Base Entitlements  Sites have height and FAR limits set by their base zoning (e.g., CBD = 350ft of height & 8:1 FAR*)  Participating in DDB  Sites must meet gatekeeper requirements + community benefits in exchange for additional entitlements (i.e., height & FAR)  Height & FAR Map  Existing height & FAR map indicates additional height and FAR limits that can be achieved within each subdistrict  Exceeding Height & FAR Map  Sites can request Council approval to exceed allowed height and FAR limits *FAR limits do not apply to residential or mixed-use projects meeting SB840 standards 3 4 5 Proposed Amendment Approach  Phase I:  Create new zoning combining district(s) that include updated program requirements and regulations for Downtown Density Bonus  Rezone Phase I geography into the new combining district through area-wide rezoning  Phase II:  Refine regulations, create additional combining districts as needed, and rezone the remainder of geography into the new combining districts  Moving forward:  Property owners would be able to request rezoning into higher intensity combining districts 6 Downtown Density Bonus Program – Phase 1  Create New Combining Districts (-DDB or similar)  Every property within a combining district gets the same height in exchange for the same affordable housing (e.g., combining district 1 provides +100ft in exchange for 5% affordable units (or fee-in-lieu) while combining district 2 provides +400ft in exchange for 7% affordable units (or fee-in-lieu) )  Additional height is additive to the property’s base zoning height limit  Define New Core Subdistrict in the Land Development Code  Properties within subdistrict are eligible to rezone to the DDB Combining Districts  Gatekeeper requirements or community benefits menu could be customized for each subdistrict  Rezone properties within Core Subdistrict to new DDB Combining District  Properties can add a fixed amount of height above their base height in exchange for participation in the DDB program  If properties desire additional height, they can request rezoning into higher intensity combining districts 7 Program Heights Max. Height (?? ft) Height (?? ft) Base Height (350 ft) CBD by-right entitlements today Entitlements after DDB update and city-initiated rezoning Future max. entitlements to be requested via rezoning 8 Downtown Heights Current CBD Base Height 350 ft CBD Average Height 450 ft Current Tallest Building Future Tallest Building Windsor on the Lake 332 ft 300 Colorado 446 ft Sixth and Guadalupe 875 ft Waterline 1,034 ft 9 10 Gatekeeper Requirements  During this process, the current gatekeeper requirements that participating developments need to provide are under review. Those requirements are: Compliance with Urban Design Guidelines Great Streets Standards Streetscape Improvements Min. 2-Star Rating under the Austin Energy Green Building Program 11 Community Benefits  The current community benefits that developments can choose to offer in exchange for various entitlements are also being reviewed in this process. Currently, those benefits are:  On-Site Affordable Housing  Funding for Off-Site Affordable Housing (i.e., fees-in-lieu)  Historic Preservation  Day Care Services  Cultural Uses (e.g., theatres, galleries, museums)  Live Music  Transit-Supportive Infrastructure (e.g., space for a Traction Powered Substation)  Climate Resilience Building Standards and Green Infrastructure (e.g., green roofs, rain gardens, etc.)  Publicly Accessible On-Site Plazas  Funding for Off-Site Parks The Chicon, a primarily affordable housing development, was funded in part by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF). The AHTF is funded by fees-in-lieu from the Downtown Density Bonus Program. 12 Feedback  Gatekeeper Requirements  What feedback do you have on how the gatekeeper requirements function today?  Do you think there are any requirements that should be added to the program?  Community Benefits  What feedback do you have on the community benefits as they exist today?  Do you think they could function better in the future or that other community benefits should be included? If so, what are those improvements, and what benefits should be added? 13 Current Project Timeline – Phase 1 November - January March – May - Early Engagement - Draft Staff Proposal - Community Engagement - Planning Commission Consideration - Council Consideration - Interdepartmental Discussions - Finalize Staff Proposal - Proposal Engagement/Calibration February – March *Timeline subject to change 14 Thank you! 15