AUSTIN, TEXAS – At a press conference on Tuesday, June 19, a coalition of City Council members introduced a path forward for a Land Development Code that would create a livable Austin for everyone.
Joined by community members, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council Members Alison Alter, Ora Houston, and Leslie Pool laid out their goals for a livable Austin that is equitable, sustainable, accessible, vibrant, and community-driven.
These goals would be achieved through a package of amendments the Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members will introduce during the CodeNEXT deliberation process.
“I am hopeful, with the adoption of the land development code, that individuals who call our fair city home, regardless of when they arrive or how long they have lived here, will be treated with respect and will have an acute sense of belonging to a community regardless of age, abilities, and income status,” Council Member Houston said in addressing the equity component of the coalition’s objectives.
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo acknowledged that for many, CodeNEXT has been an overwhelming and often divisive process for our community, but that she remains positive. “We want the community to know that we hear your concerns, we recognize the effort embodied in your recommendations, and we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work to craft a land development code that we as a community can support.”
“We need a code that will solve problems rather than create new ones,” Council Member Alter stated regarding sustainability. “Austin is defined by the quality of our environment and civic spaces and so we seek a sustainable code that strengthens environmental protections, affirms our parkland dedication requirements and creates spaces for our community to come together.”
On accessibility, Council Member Pool noted that while the term itself is fairly broad, at its core it’s about being within reach. “We want to calibrate our land use requirements to support our public transit and make sure that the ability to move around our community freely is in reach for all residents,” she said.
The Council will continue its CodeNEXT discussions at a work session set for 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 21.
###
|
