Dear Neighbors,

Thank you to the hundreds of people who participated in over 14+ hours of testimony for and against proposed changes to our land development code last week. One speaker, a renter, said they agree we need to make improvements, but they are against making updates that lack nuance or equity; changes that are rushed through just so we can say that we’ve done “something.” I agree.

I want to be clear: our code does need to be updated. My position is not “no change”; I championed and supported efforts that were unanimously adopted in the past which reduced compatibility on transit corridors and allowed residential uses in commercial zones. I am for responsible change that strengthens our community, not change that makes our community less safe.

Last week, I assessed each proposed item carefully, supporting some and opposing others. I voted against Phase II of the so-called “HOME” II zoning initiative as well as the gutting of our compatibility requirements. While I agree that we must do more to provide safe and affordable housing options, these specific ordinance changes were rushed and not fully vetted before adoption.

As adopted, HOME II reduces the minimum lot size from 5750 square feet to 1800 square feet, encourages flag lots, and alters setbacks. The measures passed by Council also gutted our compatibility rules, the buffer zones between single family homes and structures of considerable height and disparate uses. 

I believe our zoning code should be guided by Imagine Austin, our city’s comprehensive plan, which laid out how we should strategically plan growth on our corridors and around activity centers. I supported the approach taken in our Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD) ordinance, because it targets growth around infrastructure investments that can enhance our environmental goals, while also requiring affordability as part of the new developments. The ETOD ordinance isn’t perfect, but it is based on planning and strives to balance the complexity of our housing, transit, and environmental goals.

By contrast, in my view the so-called HOME I & II and compatibility changes place too much faith in the free market to benevolently deliver affordability and environmental protection. I have significant concerns that the so-called HOME changes will have detrimental impacts on neighborhoods through increased impervious cover related flooding, wildfire evacuation and safety challenges, and the continued proliferation of commercial short-term rentals. Additionally, the widespread gutting of our compatibility requirements should have been calibrated to require developers to provide community benefits in exchange for increasing their profit margins.

At multiple junctures during our deliberations, I heard that folks believed we needed to take a holistic approach, but clearly that’s not what we are doing; we are moving forward with granting entitlements without adequately solving multiple challenges to health and safety like flooding, wildfire, and displacement.

I think we only need to look back at history to know that the deck remains stacked against the everyday person. Those standing to benefit the most will be speculators and the corporate developers who have the expertise and financial wherewithal to take advantage of all the new development rights we are granting - before we have a chance to fix any of the problems or inequities that various amendments clearly demonstrate remain unresolved.

As my constituents, you know me. You know my record, you know I do my homework. You know that I’ve been relentless in trying to protect our community from wildfire, and to hold developers to high standards. In my assessment, the HOME ordinance is deeply flawed and the compatibility changes go too far.

I respect and appreciate that a supermajority of my colleagues and I have differing views on this issue. I know we share similar goals and values, but we do disagree on the best way forward for Austin.

On Friday we also voted to create an electric vehicle (EV) charging use within appropriate zoning areas and locations. This is an amendment I initiated last year to help create the infrastructure we need if we want to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles needed to meet our climate goals.  Learn more here.

In closing, please remember that other code amendments are in progress and will be voted on in the next few months, including changes to the site plan review process. You may review the comprehensive list of the timeline for other pending code changes and engagement opportunities here: https://speakupaustin.org/ldcupdates.

Below, please also find details for an upcoming open house in District 10, where Austin Water will share information on proposed rate changes. I’ll share more announcements in my full-length June newsletter, which will come out next week.

Regards,