Austin City Council is holding public hearings on proposed changes to the land development code and zoning map on May 29 and June 2 at 10 am. Your input is needed as they begin deliberations and work towards a first reading vote that may occur as early as the last week of June, with second and third readings in August or September. The Planning Commission met for dozens of hours this month to consider OVER 950 AMENDMENTS for substantial change to the latest version (Draft 3) of CodeNEXT. Detailed meeting minutes documenting Planning Commission actions will not be available until after the commission's June 12 meeting. It is unclear whether Council will use the Draft 3 code and zoning map (which has been available fo public review since February 12), the staff addendum (which was provided on April 20), or the Planning Commission recommendations (which are not available for public review) as its base motion from which to make amendments. Planning Commission recommendations include: • Diminished compatibility protections for people living in residential (single family) structures; • Diminished flexibility for homeowners to remodel or rebuild their homes by reducing floor-to-area ratio for single-family homes to 30% of the total lot area (instead of the current 40%); • Density bonuses that would allow 3-4 units on lots zoned for 2 units; 8 cottage court units in zones that allow 4 units; • Increased 'by right' and bonus heights and density allowances and expanded uses for commercial, multifamily and mixed use zoning along corridors and within neighborhoods; • Creation of "transition zones" for 3-4 blocks on either side of corridors by upzoning single-family lots to permit cottage courts, multiplexes and larger apartment buildings; • Rezoning of single-family home lots to multifamily zoning right behind corridors to eliminate compatibility protections; • Elimination of open space requirements for properties smaller than 8 acres; • Guarantees that other constraints won’t limit maximum use of impervious cover; • Removal of limits on front yard impervious cover; • Allowing multifamily properties and single-family lots behind corridors to be used for parking facilities instead of residences; • Expansion of permitted heights and the boundaries of the University Neighborhood Overlay District (UNO); • Rezoning of TODs, NCCDs and parcels that carry a complex conditional overlay to CodeNEXT zones rather than preserving these agreements; and • Allowing maximum zone heights 100' from homes when there is an affordability component, either on-site units or by paying fees-in-lieu. Please take time to provide Council your take on the process so far, Draft 3 text and map, Planning Commission recommendations and your concerns and priorities for our land development code and new zoning map.