Council to Approve More Ambitious Development Reforms, and Considers Displacement

City aims to lower housing cost, considers displacement risk

"...to build houses on smaller lots and to eliminate “compatibility standards” that have long blocked construction of apartment buildings..."

May 17, 2024 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Building Up, and Building Middle-Class Austinites’ Wealth

A suite of development policy changes will go before Council this month

"...an easing of rules protecting single-family homes, known as compatibility standards – seek to make homeownership more attainable for..."

April 19, 2024 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Second Phase of Major Zoning Changes to Increase Middle-Income Housing Kicks Off

You can comment on HOME 2.0 Thursday

"...of space required between homes (“setbacks”). The second – compatibility standards – would reduce the space between new multifamily..."

April 9, 2024 News Post by Lina Fisher

Austin’s Exclusionary Housing Policies Are Getting Revolutionary Rewrites

After decades of resistance doors open for less-wealthy Austinites

"...is plausible that Austin will have much less restrictive compatibility standards, allow up to three housing units on much..."

July 28, 2023 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Public Notice: Land Use Reforms on Hold?

Whose fault is that?

"...recent changes allowing housing in commercial zones and relaxing compatibility standards – are likely on hold, and may be..."

March 10, 2023 News Column by Nick Barbaro

The Quest for Nine Votes on Land Use Code

Council proposes revising Austin's strict compatibility standards

"...vertical mixed-use bonus program, a relaxation of Austin's stringent compatibility standards, and changes to most commercial zones that would..."

Dec. 16, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

The Top 10 Austin News Stories of 2022

From worse to bad

Dec. 16, 2022 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Public Notice: Public Land for Public Good, Act 3

Why is it so hard to make actual progress on housing?

"...The proposal to loosen compatibility standards on transit corridors came to Council last week..."

Dec. 9, 2022 News Column by Nick Barbaro

Council Considers How Fast to Move on Land Development Code Reform

Sometimes the tortoise loses

"...Code that will enact modest reforms to the city's compatibility standards – the rules controlling how tall buildings can..."

Dec. 2, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

On Compatibility, Staff Tells Adler, Thanks, but No Thanks

Previously drafted Land Development Code changes were better, they say

"...One of them is changing the city's compatibility standards, the set of rules controlling the size and..."

Nov. 4, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Public Notice: Public Land for Public Good, v.2

Has Austin lost its groove? A surprising answer.

"...is a set of proposed amendments to the city's compatibility standards and parking requirements (see p.22), which are on..."

Nov. 4, 2022 News Column by Nick Barbaro

Who Will Be the New Council Voice for District 9?

Eight candidates vie for Austin's most powerful YIMBYs and NIMBYs

"...everywhere for potential solutions," she added, including revisions to compatibility standards citywide – which dictate how large and tall..."

Oct. 28, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

The Mayor’s Race Offers Clear Choices on How Austin Should Grow

Election marks a critical juncture on the way to Austin's future

"...Virden also gets into the weeds on site standards: She wants to reduce minimum single-family lot sizes to..."

Oct. 14, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Affordable Housing and How to Get More Keeps Council Busy

What happened last week and what's on this week's Council agenda

"...if you deregulate VMU. If you get rid of compatibility, if you give by-­right entitlements, we lose the public..."

June 17, 2022 News Feature by Maggie Quinlan

Inching Toward Higher Heights to Get More Housing

Advocates for low-income tenants urge a go-slow approach

"...Representatives of Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA) urged council to..."

June 13, 2022 News Post by Maggie Quinlan

City Council to Tweak Compatibility Rules Amid Housing Crisis

Can a change help stem rising housing and rent costs?

"...Devel­op­ment Code. One would reduce parking requirements and the compatibility standards that control building size near single-­family housing, but..."

June 10, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Council Has Much Business to Attend to Before Its Break

A 125-item agenda stands between Council and a summer break

"...next item (66) is the Adler/Alter plan to tweak compatibility standards that Austin Sanders details here; it and its..."

June 10, 2022 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Council Recap: Once-Sacred Neighborhood Protections Battered by Austin's Affordability Crisis

Are taller buildings with less parking the answer?

"...ways to free up development of much-needed housing: loosening compatibility standards for commercial projects near single-family neighborhoods, and reducing..."

May 21, 2022 News Post by Maggie Quinlan

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...Fuentes have offered a compromise to relax Austin's stringent compatibility standards and parking requirements for new housing. The proposal..."

May 20, 2022 News Feature

Council Punts on VMU and Guaranteed Income

$1,000 checks from the city and lax parking regulations will have to wait

"...ordinance that would let developers waive parking requirements and compatibility standards that restrict building height near single-family homes. Builders..."

April 29, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Austin's Best Density Bonus Remains in Suspense

To V(MU) or not to V

"...build up to 60 feet, with other relaxed site standards, if they price 5% of owner-occupied units and 10%..."

April 22, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Public Notice: Growing Pains

Tell us something we don’t know

"...housing advocates, the draft would retain the city's current compatibility standards, but allow for future discussions related to compatibility,..."

April 22, 2022 News Column by Nick Barbaro

Proposed Development Would Revive Austin Opera House but Faces Neighbor Opposition

200 Academy Drive: Big hit or last call?

"...structure already standing, let alone add more density: single-family compatibility standards, only office uses allowed on the commercial part,..."

Jan. 21, 2022 News Feature by Kevin Curtin

Council Seeks Consensus as It Eyes Affordability Crisis

A lot is not enough

"...easier to build duplexes. Suggestions that Austin relax its compatibility standards, which limit the height and size of anything..."

Dec. 3, 2021 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Council Contemplates Consensus Changes to the Code

As the Land Development Code languishes in court, City Council looks for other ways change what can be built where

"...less of Austin's median family income, and preserves existing compatibility standards for height, setbacks, parking, etc. In 2018, the..."

Nov. 26, 2021 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Austin's Land Use Debate Returns to the Spotlight

A new draft code has risen out of CodeNEXT's ashes

"...down in flames, amid squabbles over parking requirements and compatibility standards but also amid the conflict at the heart..."

Oct. 11, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Austin At Large: Say Farewell to Greg Guernsey

An exit interview with Austin’s longtime planning chief

"...wordsmithed a "strategic direction" document that answered questions about compatibility, parking, heights, transitions, and other planning hot buttons. These..."

July 12, 2019 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison

So, What Did the Council Actually Say About Rewriting the Land Code?

City Hall releases "policy guidance" memo for the land code revision

"...housing types (larger than duplexes, smaller than apartment complexes), "compatibility standards" (height and setback limits on new development near..."

May 9, 2019 News Post by Mike Clark-Madison

Is a New Austin Land Development Code Done Yet?

Council: Stick a pin in that!

"...like overall housing capacity, parking requirements, "missing middle" housing, compatibility standards, and small area planning. It's largely so staff..."

May 3, 2019 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Austin at Large: Mapping the Transition Zones

Ever so slowly, City Hall learns to govern without consensus

"...code that increases density, relaxes parking rules, and adjusts compatibility standards and housing types (i.e., "missing middle") to create..."

May 3, 2019 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison

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