20211115-3a: Land Use Regulations in the proposed Urban Renewal Plan and Neighborhood Conservation Combining Districts — original pdf

Recommendation

URBAN RENEWAL BOARD RECOMMENDATION 20211115-3a Seconded By: Watson Date: November 15, 2021 Subject: Land Use Regulations in the proposed Urban Renewal Plan and Neighborhood Conservation Combining Districts Motioned By: Escobar Recommendation See attached letter. Vote For: Escobar, Pierce, Skidmore, Motwani, Watson Against: None Abstain: None Absent: Tetey, Bradford Attest: Laura Keating 1 of 1 To: Mayor & City Council of Austin From: Urban Renewal Board Date: November 15, 2021 Subject: Land Use Regulations in the proposed Urban Renewal Plan and Neighborhood Conservation Combining Districts The Urban Renewal Board (URB) engaged in a multiyear effort to update the Urban Renewal Plan (URP) and the East 11th and 12th Street Neighborhood Conservation Combining Districts (NCCDs). The Board’s recommendations were formed with the assistance of consultants, city staff, and community input. The URB refined the list of neighborhood-oriented and pedestrian-friendly land uses in the URP and NCCDs to support active streets that serve the community. In response to concerns from stakeholders about the reduction of uses allowed for some properties: • The Board supports proposed regulations which continue to allow uses that are permitted or conditional under current regulations if they support the goals of the URP. The URB intended outcome through the “save and except” provision in the proposed URP and NCCDs was for the uses listed by address, including existing single-family houses, to remain legal and not to be subject to non-conforming regulations. In response to legal concerns about this section, City legal is recommending the creation of a new permitted use, “conforming”, that will be defined as a use that conformed to the regulations in effect at the time the use was established and existed on the date of adoption of the proposed ordinance. • The Board supports the most appropriate mechanism to reduce the impact of non-conforming regulations on existing legal uses outlined in the “save and except” provision. This may include but is not limited to, inclusion of the “conforming” land use or other adjustments to the land use charts. The URB does not see significant value in its holding additional meetings to specifically discuss proposed land use regulations and will defer to Council to identify the best practice strategies regarding the aforementioned changes. Further, the URB encourages Council to prioritize taking immediate action on changes recommended to the NCCD and URP documents. Additional delays will have a direct impact on the URB’s ability to move forward with developing Blocks 16 and 18 and facilitating the spirit of parts of the resolution (no. 20210902-48) recently approved by Council related to the African American Cultural Arts District.