The city of Austin has approved land use regulation changes on one of those traditional hot button planning issues: small-lot developments.
Michael Theis reports: the "Austin City Council gave final approval to a measure amending the city’s small-lot amnesty program, which, in areas with a neighborhood plan that permits it, had allowed development on property smaller than the city’s minimum lot size requirement of 5,750 square feet."
"The new rules now prohibit the demolition of homes that straddle lot lines in order to build new houses on the subdivided lots," adds Theis.
Cindy Widner follows on Theis's coverage in a story that isn't hidden behind a paywall. According to Widner, the council approved the issue after due to a "lack of regulation on existing small, or substandard lots (5,750 square feet or less) that neighborhoods were allowed to give amnesty to with the goal of preserving affordability."
In separate but related land use news for the city, Elizabeth Pagano this week notes that the Austin Planning Commission approved changes to the city's garage rules in a situation similar to the small-lot amnesty situation: land use rules being applied differently than they were intended when crafted.
FULL STORY: City Approves Small-Lot Regulations
New Building Heights Approved for Austin
A zoning change has increase height limits from 308 feet to 420 feet for new buildings near the city’s MLS stadium.
Breaking: Austin Moving on from CodeNEXT
The city of Austin's ambitious process of rewriting its Land Development Code has lost political support.
Austin Reminded to Be Respectful While Debating CodeNEXT
A call for civility amid the great zoning debate in Austin, Texas.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service