Joint City Council and Planning Commission Meeting Tuesday, April 1, 2025 The City Council Special Called Meeting will convene at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, Austin, TX and some members may be attending via videoconference For meeting information, contact the City Clerk, (512) 974-2210 City Council Special Called Meeting COUNCIL AGENDA April 1, 2025 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. For full instructions on participation in person or by telephone, please visit the Council Meeting Information Center: http://austintexas.gov/department/city-council/council/council_meeting_info_center.ht m The City Council may go into a closed session as permitted by the Texas Open Meetings Act, (Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code) regarding any item on this agenda. 2:00 PM – City Council Convenes 2:00 PM - Planning Commission Convenes Public Hearings and Possible Actions 1. Conduct a joint public hearing to receive public comments on proposed amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development) that would increase the maximum square footage limits of two new housing units when the property owner preserves the existing housing unit. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. Adjourn 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 call 512-974-2210 or TTY users route through 711. A person may request a Spanish language interpreter be made available by contacting the Office of the City Clerk not later than twenty-four hours before the scheduled time of the item on which the person wishes to speak. Please call (512) 974-2210 in advance or inform the City Clerk’s staff present at the council meeting. Cualquier persona puede solicitar servicios de intérprete en español comunicándose con la oficina del Secretario/a Municipal a no más tardar de veinte y cuatro horas antes de la hora determinada para el asunto sobre el cual la persona desea comentar. Por favor llame al (512) 974-2210 con anticipo o informe al personal del Secretario/a Municipal presente en la sesión del Consejo.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 ORDINANCE NO. _________________ AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE SECTION 25-2-773 RELATED TO FLOOR-TO-AREA RATIO AND MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE WHEN CONSTRUCTING TWO NEW DWELLING UNITS AND PRESERVING AN EXISTING DWELLING UNIT. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: PART 1. Subsection (E) of City Code Section 25-2-773 (Duplex, Two-Unit, and Three-Unit Residential Uses) is amended to read: § 25-2-773 DUPLEX, TWO-UNIT, AND THREE-UNIT RESIDENTIAL USES. (E) This subsection applies to the area established in Subsection 1.2.1 of Chapter 25- 2, Subchapter F (Residential Design and Compatibility Standards). (1) In this subsection, (a) EXISTING DWELLING UNIT means a dwelling unit that is: (i) (ii) legally permitted and occupied before December 7, 2023; or described in an application for a residential permit that was submitted on or before December 7, 2023. (b) GROSS FLOOR AREA means the total enclosed area of all floors in a building with a clear height of more than six feet, measured to the outside surface of the exterior walls, except as provided in this subsection. (2) Gross Floor Area Exclusions. (a) (b) For a property that includes an existing dwelling unit that was constructed on or before December 31, 1960, the property owner may exclude the preserved square footage from the gross floor area if the requirements in Subsection (F) are met. For a property that includes an existing dwelling unit that was constructed on or after January 1, 1961, and is at least 20 years old, the property owner may exclude the preserved square footage from the gross floor area if the requirements in Subsection (F) are met. Draft 3/20/2025 Page 1 of 2 COA Law Department City of Austin Council Meeting Backup: April 1, 2025File ID: 25-0533 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 (a) (b) (a) (b) (3) Floor-to-area ratio for a duplex or two-unit residential use. The maximum floor-to-area ratio for the site is the greater of 0.55 or 3,200 square feet. Except for an existing dwelling unit, a dwelling unit may not exceed the greater of 0.4 or 2,300 square feet. (4) Floor-to-area ratio for three-unit …
City of Austin Recommendation for Action File #: 25-0533, Agenda Item #: 1. 4/1/2025(cid:4) Posting Language Conduct a joint public hearing to receive public comments on proposed amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development) that would increase the maximum square footage limits of two new housing units when the property owner preserves the existing housing unit. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. Lead Department Development Services Department. Fiscal Note This item has no fiscal impact. Prior Council Action: July 18, 2024 - City Council approved Resolution No. 20240718-090 related to preserving existing housing and initiating amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development). Specifically, the City modified the preservation bonus available when constructing two new housing units while preserving an existing housing unit. Council Member Vela's motion seconded by Council Member Qadri was carried on a 9-2 vote. Those voting aye were: Mayor Watson, Mayor Pro Tem Pool, Council Members Ryan Alter, Ellis, Fuentes, Harper- Madison, Qadri, Vela, and Velasquez. Those voting nay were: Council Members Alison Alter and Kelly. For More Information: Keith Mars, Assistant Director, Development Services, 512-466-4598, Keith.Mars@austintexas.gov. Additional Backup Information: In HOME I, Council capped the maximum amount of floor to area ratio (FAR) allowed on sites with two units at the greater of 0.55 or 3,200 square feet and sites with three units at the greater of 0.65 or 4,350 square feet. The goal of the cap was to encourage smaller, more accessible housing. HOME 1 also included a preservation bonus that excludes the FAR of the existing housing unit. Subsequently, Council determined that the preservation bonus as originally adopted could encourage demolition instead of preservation since a property owner can only reach the full space incentive when the owner builds an addition onto the existing unit and two new units. As a result, Council directed the City Manager to bring a code amendment that would allow the two new dwelling units to reach a FAR of 0.65 if the existing unit is preserved. City of Austin Page 1 of 1 Printed on 3/27/2025 powered by Legistar™ (cid:5) (cid:6)
Preservation Bonus Ordinance Revision 1 Outline • Background • Proposal • Timeline 2 Background • December 2023 Council approved Home Phase 1 allowing for: - Construction of up to three residential units. - Exclude existing home from floor-to-area (FAR) calculations in exchange for preserving existing home. - Two new units limited to .55 FAR or 3,200 square feet. • July 2024 Council adopted Resolution 20240718-090 to: - Revise the two new unit limit to .65 FAR or 4,350 square feet to incentivize preservation of smaller residential units. - Revise Preservation Bonus Program. 3 Proposal and Impact Proposal • Revise Land Development Code 25-2-773(4) (ii) to state two dwelling units may not exceed the greater of .65 FAR of 4,350 square feet if an existing residential unit is preserved. • Proposal does not increase allowable impervious cover. Impact • Incentivize preservation of smaller homes such that full FAR allowances can be achieved for the property. 4 Timeline • January 2025 City-wide notice sent in conjunction with Short-Term Rental regulations. • April 1 Joint Hearing of City Council and Planning Commission. • April 8 Planning Commission. • April 24 City Council conduct public hearing and adopt ordinance. 5 For Further Information: Keith Mars, Assistant Director Development Services 512-466-4598 or keith.mars@austintexas.gov 6
