Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 1 p.m. (Austin time), Austin City Hall
Committee: Housing and Planning Committee
The Housing and Planning Committee, chaired by Council Member Harper-Madison, met February 10, 2026, with one public comment and four briefing items. Members approved the minutes of the January 27th meeting. Stevie Greathouse of Austin Planning briefed the committee on the land development code amendments timeline, and Erica Lee of the City Manager's Office, joined by Paul Pener of BAE Urban Economics, presented an update on the city's approach to creating affordable housing, including findings on affordability gaps and the impact of Texas SB 840 on density bonus programs. Chris Ryerson and a team of Austin Planning staff then briefed the committee on the status and timeline of planning initiatives, including the Imagine Austin update, the northeast and central city district plans, the Great Streets update, and the East Riverside corridor planning initiative. No votes other than minute approval were taken.
0:04 And I'm Council Member Natasha Harper Madison, chair of the housing and planning committee.
0:09 Uh, we are meeting at City Hall in council chambers today on February 10th, 2026.
0:15 I'm calling our meeting to order at 1:00 pm on the dot, um, staff, do we have any speakers
0:21 signed up today? Yes, we have one.
0:22 Awesome. Would you mind calling our speaker?
0:25 Yes. If we can have phillip wiley, which I believe he's already here.
0:32 Good morning, mr. Wiley. Good morning.
0:36 Um, phil wiley, uh, downtown resident for 33 years.
0:41 I've, uh, I'd like to talk with you a little bit about, um, supply chain management and imagine
0:47 Austin. About a year ago, I, I started this venture exercise to, to try to, uh, convey my
0:55 understanding of what compact and connected means to other people in the community because it, it occurred to
1:00 me that we had a different understanding or different interpretations of, of what that meant.
1:07 Um, it turns out it really isn't different at all.
1:10 It was just a matter of me having that eureka moment where I found it and I did
1:16 find it. So, um, this first chart is a one page summary.
1:22 Everybody should have a copy of it on their board, in their office.
1:25 In my opinion, it's a summary of imagine Austin as we enter the city center planning cycle.
1:31 The next chart, please.
1:33 The next chart is the definition of compact, and it's the definition of compact and connected, which shows
1:40 compact is focused on access in the center area by bicycle and by foot.
1:50 So it's pedestrian and bicycle oriented.
1:53 Um, the, the transit system is an important, um, complement, if you will, or supporting infrastructure, but the,
2:03 the, the primary focus is trying to get people where they can walk or bike, uh, close enough
2:07 to the things they need to be close to.
2:10 Um, so with, with that in mind, I I, I'd like people to start to think about like,
2:16 what is the epicenter, if you would, where, where is, where, what site epitomizes compact and connected in
2:24 the city of Austin.
2:25 I think it's a useful thought.
2:27 Exercise. Next chart, please.
2:31 These. So, so you go from sustainability to six core principles, and the top one is compact and
2:40 connected. And then you go down to define compact, define connected, and then you set, um, metrics for
2:49 that. And, and this chart is, is showing well, the goals and the metrics.
2:56 So what is your goal and how are you going to evaluate how you're doing against that goal
3:00 is what this page is intended to summarize.
3:04 And I think if you read it closely and, and reflect on it a little bit, it will
3:09 open up your eyes a little bit to some things you haven't thought about before.
3:13 Um, the next chart, please.
3:16 I, I find that a lot of confusion related to compact and connected is to a, uh, lack
3:23 of deep understanding of statistics.
3:26 And I'm not gonna get into this, it's not a 12 second topic, but, uh, I'll continue to
3:31 cover that. And the last chart is on the far right corner at mlk and lavacca, in my
3:40 opinion, is what I call the epicenter, the cambridge tower.
3:45 Thank you, mr. Wiley.
3:57 Probably should have thought to bring that over with me in the first place.
4:01 All right. So moving right along.
4:03 Um, for this meeting, we're gonna take up our items in the following order.
4:06 We're gonna do item number one, which is approval of the minutes item number two, which is a
4:12 really fantastic briefing on the land development code.
4:15 And item number three, we get another briefing from the manager's office about, uh, the city's approaches to
4:21 creating affordable housing. So on item number one, we will begin by approving the minutes from our January 27th
4:28 meeting. Um, so moved, so moved by council, by, uh, vice chair Vela, and seconded by Council Member
4:35 Ellis, uh, is, no, we've already made that motion.
4:38 Um, oh, and by that all in favor.
4:45 Uh, and with that, the minutes are approved.
4:47 Forgive me, I was distracted by it.
4:49 <Laugh>. I'm not scared of spiders, but when I see 'em, it's startling is all I'm trying to
4:55 say. Item number two, we get to receive this briefing that I know some folks upstairs are really
5:01 looking forward to. Also, this is on our land development code and amendments timeline on amendments.
5:07 The presentation is provided by stevie greathouse with Austin planning.
5:12 All right, good afternoon.
5:12 Thank you for your time today.
5:13 Afternoon, good afternoon, chair and members of the housing and planning committee.
5:16 I'm stevie greathouse, division manager in the Austin planning department.
5:19 I'm happy to be here to provide a briefing on all things land development code amendment timeline related.
5:25 In the backup for this item, you will find a memo that includes the February, 2026 land development code
5:31 amendments timeline, gantt chart.
5:33 Since the materials were last shared with the housing and planning committee, um, in December, staff have made
5:39 adjustments to the timeline to reflect adoption of recent code amendments and some other considerations.
5:48 Um, in this presentation, I'll briefly cover the items that have been adopted or completed since December, upcoming
5:54 items as well as the updated version of the land development code amendments.
5:58 Gantt chart two actions have occurred since December related to the land development code.
6:04 On January the 22nd, City Council adopted an amendment related to parkland drainage easements.
6:10 And last week a study was distributed via official distribution.
6:13 That includes staff analysis and recommendations related to the potential development of new zoning districts that would better
6:21 support mixed use and missing middle residential development.
6:25 In the event that council chooses to initiate code amendments, based on the recommendations of that study, those
6:31 amendments would come back, um, in late 2026.
6:36 Staff also hopes to be able to engage the public on potential new mixed use zones and tandem
6:41 with other related work that we'll be bringing forward in the spring.
6:46 As indicated in the memo and backup, several amendments that were anticipated to be presented during a potential
6:52 joint meeting this month have been moved to, to timelines to be determined pending additional coordination with city
6:59 leadership. Once an appropriate review pathway is identified for those amendments, staff will update the timeline.
7:05 Um, and when I get to the conclusion of this presentation, if folks have questions about any of
7:09 that, um, happy to answer them.
7:11 We currently anticipate bringing forward a proposal to modify requirements related to posting of zoning notification, signs to
7:18 planning commission and City Council in March.
7:21 So look forward, um, to that item moving forward.
7:25 Looking ahead, um, we anticipate a number of code amendment related activities in the spring, as indicated in
7:32 the memo that was sent to council on July 28th.
7:36 If you'll remember, I'm back to last year.
7:38 Staff anticipates bringing back a comprehensive package of housing incentive recommendations, including potential amendments to our citywide density
7:45 bonus programs by May of this year.
7:48 Um, and ms. Lee is speaking later on this agenda.
7:51 We'll kind of fill you in on, on where we're at on a piece of that, um, work.
7:56 We also expect to bring back an initial phase of amendments to the downtown density bonus program focused
8:01 on the core and rainy subdistricts by May of this year, with the remainder of the proposal to
8:07 amend the downtown density bonus program, um, moving forward and being developed concurrently with the central city district
8:13 plan. By the end of 2026, work has begun on an update of the east riverside corridor plan
8:19 and regulating plan, um, which I believe you'll be hearing about under a different agenda item today.
8:23 And we anticipate bringing back that proposal in late 2026.
8:27 And finally, as I mentioned on a previous slide, um, in the event that council chooses to initiate
8:32 code amendments based on the new zoning district study, those amendments would come back.
8:36 Um, in late 2026 on screen.
8:39 You'll see the detailed schedule that is attached to the memo included in backup.
8:43 As you review the timeline, you will also notice a number of amendments for which timelines are yet
8:47 to be determined. Um, as specific timelines are developed for those items, the overall schedule will be adjusted
8:53 to reflect those timelines.
8:55 The schedule reflects an ambitious work program, and as processes move forward, staff will continue to make adjustments
9:00 while working to identify specific review and adoption dates for the all of the proposed timelines shown on
9:05 this chart. Um, for more information as always, um, or to provide feedback, folks can visit speak up
9:11 austin.org/ldc updates. Um, we did just post some new material on that speak up page, both yesterday and
9:19 today related to sharing this overall timeline, um, with the public, and then also providing information about the
9:26 new zoning district study and providing some, um, background information about our work on new citywide density bonus,
9:33 um, program. Um, and with that, I am happy to answer any questions.
9:38 Thank you very much for the presentation colleagues.
9:40 Do we have any questions?
9:42 Uh, the, the, I had a, an item related to the, uh, substandard lots.
9:56 Uh, I, I can't even, it's been a, a while and I remember seeing it on the pending
10:00 list. I don't see it on the gantt chart anymore.
10:03 Uh, what's going on with, uh, that item?
10:05 And again, I know that kind of got behind a glut of other work that was being done
10:10 on a single family lots, uh, the home.
10:13 Yeah. And that May be a case of one that we partially implemented and need to get the
10:16 item back on the list because it wasn't fully implemented.
10:18 So I'll, I'll check in with staff and, um, get a kind of status update on that one
10:22 and get it back on the list if it is something that has fallen off by mistake.
10:26 So apologies for that uhhuh, uh, uh, please.
10:29 And it's, it's a relatively, it's a relatively simple and straightforward one.
10:33 Again, I, I know in the order of things that, uh, uh, y'all had a, a bigger fish
10:37 to fry and it doesn't affect, but I think in the 3000 lot, uh, uh, kind of range,
10:42 uh, but it is, uh, it's, it's a good little item and, and would like to know the
10:47 status of it. So thank you.
10:53 Thank you very much.
10:53 And I misspoke earlier.
10:54 Vice chair Siegel. Thank you, chair.
10:57 Um, just a couple of questions.
10:59 Um, I guess if you could share a little bit more information about what is a zoning sign
11:03 posting update? Sure. So right now, the, um, requirements in the code essentially put the onus on the
11:11 city to post signs for zoning cases.
11:14 And these are, so basically the signs that you would have on a property that is going through
11:17 the zoning change process is the sign that we're talking about.
11:21 Um, and state law now allows, um, the, the city to require that those, or actually state law
11:27 change to require kind of how those signs are posted and how they are maintained on the site,
11:33 so that folks can continue to receive that information throughout the duration of the process.
11:37 Um, and I think the, the recommendation that will be moving forward to the council is, um, considering
11:43 a, an approach to posting those signs that would rely on the applicant, um, to post the sign.
11:49 Okay. Fair enough. Thank you, chair.
11:52 No prob no other questions.
11:55 Thank you very much.
11:56 We appreciate the presentation.
11:57 Look forward to the next one.
11:58 Thank you. All right.
12:02 Ah, item number three.
12:06 Oh, I was really looking forward to this one.
12:08 Also. We're looking forward to, hi there, ms. Lee, a presentation from the manager's office.
12:15 Item number three is a briefing on the city manager's office update to the city's approach to creating
12:21 affordable housing. This presentation is provided by erica lee.
12:25 Thank you. Yep. Try that again.
12:31 Uh, good afternoon, chair and committee members.
12:34 Um, I'm eric leak with the city manager's office leading affordable housing policy work, and I will be
12:40 joined by, uh, paul pinger of bae urban economics, who will be giving part of the presentation and
12:49 should be on webex now or momentarily.
12:53 There he is. Perfect.
12:55 Alright. Um, so as I began the presentation, uh, I wanted to share that this update and the
13:05 housing policy work that I'm leading is being done in tandem with an economic development roadmap, uh, that
13:14 the city manager's office is leading, so that both of them will really work together to address the