The first time it went before the City Council in February, Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman recommended one more round of hearings on the Transit-Oriented Development Ordinance to make sure everyone had input into the process, but it was apparent that many of the people who showed up for those hearings last week were old hands on the ordinance, which is expected to return to council tonight (Thursday).
The city is proposing special TOD zoning around seven of the proposed transit stations, including six for the commuter rail line approved by voters last November. Last Thursday night, people like Lori Renteria came prepared to talk the nuts and bolts of the ordinance. Renteria wanted to talk specifics, such as 25% affordable housing around each station site rather than 25% accumulated affordable housing. Even though it may seem extreme now, Renteria said, places like the downtown station eventually could see a building torn down, and it would be right to insist that new development have affordable housing.
Renteria also mentioned nonconforming uses as a concern. Around the Plaza Saltillo area, homeowners have fought to rezone nonconforming houses into conforming uses. Without that designation, it’s impossible to pull building permits for improvements, Renteria said, and the new TOD zoning overlays could reverse some of those gains.
Others, like East Austin resident Angela Miller, wanted to make sure that single-family, owner-occupied housing was given priority. City staff clarified that the ordinance discourages large-lot single-family zoning but encourages denser single-family zoning categories.
Plans will be tailored for each station. For the station on Lamar, for instance, auto use is a desired use. For the Northwest Park-and-Ride zone, the size of the zone around the station could be changed, as was suggested by one of the landowners in the area. The TOD zones are intended to complement, rather than contradict, neighborhood plans.
The first full-fledged TOD planning effort is already ongoing at Plaza Saltillo. John Hodges, who oversees Capital Metro’s TOD efforts, said the ROMA design plan commissioned on Plaza Saltillo should be completed by the end of March. At that time the Capital Metro board will decide whether the plan is financially viable and whether to send out a Request for Proposals. Capital Metro also is considering a transit-oriented station plan around a node for Capital Metro’s express bus service in South Austin.
This article appears in March 4 • 2005.