CodeNEXT Public Hearings Open to Austin Residents

The dates are set. The CodeNEXT staff policy recommendation (a.k.a. draft three) will arrive at City Council in late May.

Recommendations from both land use commissions (Planning and Zoning & Platting) are expected to arrive in tandem with the final draft, giving Council quite the proverbial earful of information to dissect before their first read and vote of the draft.

The city’s five-year journey to rewrite the existing land use code hasn’t been easy, and it’s likely the last leg won’t see much smooth sailing either. Stakeholders and residents alike aren’t satisfied with the proposed draft (some have even filed a petition with the City Clerk to put the rewrite to public vote). Though time is waning, residents (renters, homeowners, business owners, etc.) still have a few opportunities to provide feedback on the latest and, allegedly, final draft of the rewrite. See below for dates, times, details, and links to additional info.

PC and ZAP CodeNEXT Work Session

Wednesday, April 18, 7pm

One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs (3rd Floor, Room 325)

Citizen Communication – open to the first 10 speakers to sign up – will be held before the mapping work session starts. Speakers are given two minutes to discuss matters related to the code rewrite.

Planning Commission Meeting

Tuesday, April 24, 6pm

Austin City Hall

ZAP will not be present at this meeting, which likely won't delve too deep into CodeNEXT. Residents are still welcome to sign up for Citizen Communication. In fact, the Austin Cooperative Business Association is asking supporters to sign up to speak in favor of greater access to cooperative housing in CodeNEXT.

Zoning & Platting Commission Meeting

Wednesday, April 25, time TBD

Location TBD

This special called ZAP meeting will also allow residents to sign up for Citizen Communication. Land Use Commissions Liaison Andrew Rivera tells us "citizen communications during regular and special called meetings are intended to be for items not posted on the agenda," but brave the topic if you dare. For updates on time, location, and agenda, see the commission’s site.

Joint Land Use Commissions Public Hearing, Day 1

Saturday, April 28, 10am

Dove Springs Rec. Center, 5801 Ainez

PC and ZAP will spend the day listening to feedback on the code, which both commissions will take into account while drafting their CodeNEXT recommendations for Council. All are welcome, but in an attempt to hear everyone commissioners have asked folks to only sign up to speak at one of the two LUC hearings. Sign up opens 30 minutes before the meeting starts and speakers will be called in the order they’ve signed up. Speakers will not be able to donate their time to other people and there will be a time limit (likely three minutes).

Joint Land Use Commissions Public Hearing, Day 2

Tuesday, May 1, 4pm

Palmer Events Center

PC and ZAP are back for round two. Same rules apply – only new speakers, sign up opens at 3:30pm, and speakers will be called in the order they’ve signed up. No time donations allowed.

Planning Commission Meeting

Thursday, May 3, 6pm

Austin City Hall

City Council Public Hearing, Day 1

Tuesday, May 29, 10am

Austin City Hall

It’s Council’s turn to listen. Sign up to speak.

City Council Public Hearing, Day 2

Saturday, June 2, 10am

Austin City Hall

Both PC and ZAP will meet – separately – after the public hearings. As always Citizen Communication will be open for folks to sign up, but the commissions will be finalizing their recommendations at these meetings. As of now, PC is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, May 8, 6pm in Council Chambers at City Hall; Monday, May 14, 6pm at One Texas Center; and Tuesday, May 22, 6pm in Council Chambers at City Hall. Follow here for updates.

ZAP is scheduled to meet Wednesday, May 9, at 5pm and Monday, May 14, at 5pm – the location for both meetings have yet to be announced (follow here for updates). Their Tuesday, May 15, meeting will be held at 6pm in Council Chambers at City Hall.

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