Revising Austin’s Land Development Code for a Connected City

1. Process to Revise Austin’s Land Development Code GENERAL USE George Adams, Assistant Director, PDRD George Zapalac, Division Manager, PDRD Matt Dugan, Development Services Process Coordinator, PDRD A priority program of

2. Presentation Overview

3. Why? Why revise the code?

4. Last comprehensive revision in 1984 • 181proposed amendments since 2005 • Over 60 zoning districts • Multiple overlay districts on a single property • Multiple duplicative & conflicting requirements • Complexity convolutes the permitting and approval process • It’s not user-friendly It’s Time to Revise the LDC when…

5. offers clear direction for code revisions • Vision statement • 30+ policies • 40+ actions • Priority Program #8 Imagine Austin Provides Opportunity

6. Priority Program #8 • Revise Austin’s development regulations and processes to promote a compact and connected city. • Complete neighborhoods and expanded housing choices • Neighborhood protection • Household affordability • Environmental protection • Efficient service delivery • Clear guidance and user-friendly Code Revision General Steps Imagine Austin’s LDC Revision Goals

7. What should be revised? What?

8. Regulations relating to… • Procedures for review & approval • Zoning • Subdivisions • Site Plans • Drainage • Transportation • Environment • Signs On the Table for Reconsideration

9. Types of Zoning Codes

10. Who? Who will revise the code?

11. City Council • Planning Commission • Advisory Group • Staff • Consultant Team Code Revision Core Team

12. Purpose: • Assist with public outreach • Provide feedback on development and implementation of a revised code • Meets regularly throughout process • Advisory Group members: • Chris Bradford Melissa Neslund • Mandy De Mayo Stephen Oliver • Stephen Delgado Brian Reis • Jim Duncan Beverly Silas • Will Herring Dave Sullivan • Jeff Jack Advisory Group

13. 3 1/2 new staff positions in Planning and Development Review Dept. (PDRD) • Support from multiple PDRD divisions and other departments as needed • Up to $2M for consultant services and related expenses Staff & Consultant Resources

14. Opticos Design – Lead consultant • Fregonese Assoc. • Peter J. Park • McCann Adams • Cultural Strategies • Group Solutions • Lisa Wise Consulting • RCLCO • ECONorthwest • Taniguchi Architects • Kimley Horn • McGuireWoods • Urban Design Group Staff & Consultant Resources

15. How will the code be revised? How?

16. Preliminary outreach to key stakeholders—development and business community, affordable housing, neighborhoods, environment/sustainability, etc. (Complete as of Jan. 17, 2013) • Advisory Group appointed (Jan-Feb 2013) • “Code 101” and best practices • “Headliners” ongoing throughout the process • RFQ issued in early November 2012 • Consultant Team selected by Council March 21, 2013 Organizing the Process

17. 1 2 3 4 Code Revision—Four Steps

18. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 • Public Review and Comment • Advisory Group Review and Comment • Planning Commission Recommendation • City Council Approval • Planning Commission Recommendation • City Council Approval Ongoing Review and Oversight

19. Step 1 • Designing listening sessions— Advisory Group, consultant, and staff • Conduct listening sessions (what works, what doesn’t work, identification of critical issues & divisive topics) • Generate contact list of interested parties for ongoing outreach and information • Results of listening sessions compiled and provided to consultant team Listening and Education

20. Step 2 • Code Diagnosis(Generated by consultant) • Discussion of alternative approaches to critical issues with Advisory Group • Prepare draft diagnosis (what’s left alone, what’s to be revised, and what to explore further) • Advisory Group and staff review • Public and Boards and Commissions review • Planning Commission recommends and City Council approves diagnosis Code Diagnosis & Outline

21. Step 2 • Annotated Outline • (Generated by consultant) • Summary organization of the revised code • Community dialogue on alternative approaches to critical issues • Advisory Group and staff review • Boards and Commissions review • Planning Commission recommends and City Council approves outline Code Diagnosis & Outline

22. Step 3 • Initial Draft of Code • (Generated by consultant) • Based on annotated outline • Conduct workshops on draft sections of the code • Develop roll-out process for mapping • Broad events to allow public to explore and comment on code • Advisory Group and staff review • Public and Boards and Commissions review • Adoption draft of code based on input Diagnosis & Outline Preliminary Draft Code

23. Step 4 Public Hearings Planning Commission recommends and City Council adopts Code Adoption Process

24. When? When will the project be complete?

25. TIMELINE:LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REVISION 2013 2014 2015 2016 STEP 1 LISTENING & UNDERSTANDING STEP 2 CODE DIAGNOSIS & DRAFT CODE OUTLINE STEP 3 CODE DEVELOPMENT STEP 4 CODE ADOPTION Next Steps

26. Austin’s land development regulations and process need a holistic review • Imagine Austin provides a clear, community-based vision • Consultant team authors work products • Iterative, step-by-step process and community review • Planning Commission recommendations and City Council approvals throughout process Summary of Proposal

27. Open to all On time and within budget Engaging people who use the code Respectful and fair Focus on common ground Informative and educational Not letting perfection get in the way of improvement Avoid assumptions A clear, predictable, user-friendly code that implements What Does Success Look Like?

28. Providing information, resources or expertise to consultant team • Meeting with consultant and serving as technical representative for your work area • Distributing information, status reports, and work products to your team for review and comment • Ensuring staff input from your department is provided to consultant team on schedule and in well-organized format Role of Department Representatives

29. Questions? G:\Code Revision www.austintexas.gov/newLDC