Austin city council approves light rail-boosting development plan

This morning, the Austin City Council approved changes to the city’s Land Development Code that will help house our growing population in ways that minimize sprawl and protect the environment.

The Council reduced Austin’s minimum lot size requirements from 5,750 square feet to 1,800 (which should also help the city conserve water) and changed the “compatibility” standards to allow taller buildings with more homes in them (part of the “Home Options for Mobility and Equity” (HOME) initiative). They also allowed greater housing density along the planned Project Connect light rail line (known as an Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD).

Here is my testimony at last night’s Council meeting in support of the changes:

“Good evening Mayor, Council and City Manager.

In 2007, your predecessors on City Council set a goal to make Austin  the leading city in the U.S. on climate action. We’ve made a lot of progress since then and are leading on renewable energy, electric vehicles and many other metrics. But there’s a big hole in our efforts –  our land use. 

Our current land development code encourages sprawl and the loss of natural carbon sinks, strain on our drinking water supply with water guzzling lawns, and long commutes that increase greenhouse gas emissions. 

Without dramatic change these challenges will grow, as an additional 2 million people are expected to live in the area by 2050. Where are these people going to live? Are we going to force them to live farther and farther out? Are we going to continue the path of more driving, more sprawl and more pollution? Or will we give people the option to live closer to the city, sharing resources and infrastructure, and getting around in less carbon-intensive ways?

The ETOD and HOME will give more Austinites the opportunity to live in energy and water efficient homes that are walkable, bikeable and transit accessible. And I urge you to support them. Thank you.”