The CodeNEXT public hearings have been scheduled. Plan to attend and speak at the hearings on April 28 or May 1. Let the land use commissioners know what you think of CodeNext. Updates will be coming with suggested talking points. For now, here is the big picture. CodeNext was supposed to improve the Land Development Code’s effectiveness, clarity, consistency, predictability, and ease of implementation and administration. It has FAILED MISERABLY in that regard. After three drafts costing $8.5 million, it is still overly complex, filled with errors, inconsistencies, and undefined terms. CodeNEXT instead is a massive increase in entitlements with the express purpose of encouraging redevelopment. The increased entitlements proposed in CodeNEXT range from reduced lot size requirements, increased height allowances, reduced compatibility setbacks and step backs, and increased use entitlements. While some claim that this is done to provide affordability, this justification is dubious and without substantiation. More likely, the REDEVELOPMENT ENCOURAGED BY CodeNEXT WILL ACCELERATE DISPLACEMENT AND AUSTIN'S RAPIDLY INCREASING HOUSING PRICES.