21 Aug Critical time for CodeNEXT participation
Change, especially large-scale change, is not easy, but it's a given and important to plan for in the fastest-growing city in America. The City's adoption of a new Comprehensive Plan aka Imagine Austin has laid the groundwork for the first Land Development Code re-write in 30 years. This is where the nuts and bolts of the vision are turned into rules, zoning and priorities for public spending and private development. Read more about what's at stake.>>
During Monday's Land Development Code Advisory Group meeting, the challenge of this process was clear. Long-time neighborhood activist Jeff Jack and Advisory Group member, gave an impassioned talk regarding concerns he is hearing (and sharing) with the community about the near exclusive emphasis on the one of the eight Imagine Austin priorities, Compact & Connected, without any proof that it works to deliver on a city that is affordable, protects its environment and preserves its neighborhood character.
Other members pointed out that the C&C emphasis touches on the environmental issues of reducing sprawl, minimizing impact to undeveloped areas, managing water resources, transportation, and even affordability. A sizable neighborhood delegation was in the audience and let the Advisory Group know "we are watching."
There is great consternation about the way neighborhood plans, which citizens put thousands of hours into crafting, will be dealt with in the CodeNext process. Will they be honored or is this an "everything is on the table" conversation?
There is also much hand-wringing over the fate of the Heritage Tree Ordinance, the SOS Ordinance, and other tools for protecting our environment and culture. It was then made clear that the CodeNEXT revisions have to follow the City Charter (which includes Heritage Trees and SOS) and only the voters can change that.
The final point was made that this advisory group is not drafting code. Their main job is to do community outreach and review input for CodeNEXT.
Eleanor McKinney, chair of the CodeNEXT committee for the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Austin section read a resolution that had been passed unanimously by the Environmental Board which asks the "City of Austin adopt an ecological systems based approach to CodeNEXT to develop a code that requires and incentivizes the integration of green infrastructure into the compact and connected environments the new code will seek to encourage."
Diane Miller, a community engagement team member for CodeNEXT, shared that the Code Approach Alternatives (with three options) document will be released September 2nd and then on September 4th there is a community stakeholder event from 6:00pm – 8:30pm at the UT Thompson Conference Center. This is the time to get involved people! Mark your calendars! This will lead to Council consideration and vote on the plan in October.
You can just show up but if you want to read up before this event then check out the CodeNEXT website:
- Listening to the Community Report
- Code Diagnosis
- Community Character Manual
- plus various community viewpoints and issue papers.
You can also submit your viewpoint at the bottom of the page!
If you are interested in the direction of this plan then make sure you are also talking with council candidates as the next Council will have a chance to review and modify whatever is adopted by the current council.
Codes may not occur like sexy topics but they will define how we develop as a City in the years to come. It's important. Really.
Thanks for caring!
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