[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480901,"mediaKeyId","5742157-143e0b0923b05992b58fa6182c66e8a7","parentId",5742157,"title","Commission urges city to harmonize HOME Act technical rules after builders report delays and costs","audioSeconds",847,"startMs",2928000,"endMs",3775000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742157-143e0b0923b05992b58fa6182c66e8a7&start=2928&end=3775","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742157-143e0b0923b05992b58fa6182c66e8a7/thumbnail_2928000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480901/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Commission-urges-city-to-harmonize-HOME-Act-technical-rules-after-builders-report-delays-and-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480901-c2742ec4ae62da1a5f6d845e1e9e10b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448073&Signature=iOW71LVtpm3LcVtefmyRzSFhvVXbA~U1T1krT6vu7y0Z4nzdYLNKkZOWlQt-juQmVuIw~q4uuCXsqkUYtpp45ELul-vi4VJL3umakm1HYSIUDATt7rqzlYuL9TrCO~kpVwfzRIgGM6eNdkz3h6Syv9wVPh0MHWTmR9aXNJVz8Kb38YLd6sihocx5sWBgIs3uQqeqtl0F1oqUEBko884kuzgGRH-qXYTQsGgnZHJBvZ9lBKrYyrskSRm915bAGm3eo2Xe~JRycT9bwhWtiNyuPnKThsMI3QDQZ3xL4GhYXqq~fadQtvI5YbMhsyENfE7eKCdiiu44M8wfPEAgHLKBjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-09-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Austin Planning Commission unanimously passed a resolution asking the city manager to review and align technical codes, departmental manuals and review processes that affect projects built under the HOME (Housing Our Middle Experience) Act, citing developer testimony that implementation has created delays and added costs that undermine the ordinance’s intent.

Speakers from the Austin Infill Coalition, Home Builders Association volunteers and individual builders testified that the HOME Act — which was intended to simplify construction of two‑ and three‑unit “home” projects — has generated unintended administrative burdens. They said that departmental rules and updates to technical criteria implemented after the ordinance created inconsistent requirements across departments.

Scott Turner, an infill developer and former Home Builders Association president, told commissioners the resolution “is an important and necessary first step” to identify where the City’s technical manuals and departmental criteria do not align with the HOME Act’s goals. He described examples where a small multi‑unit project can trigger full site‑plan landscaping or other reviews designed for larger projects.

Builders and advocates said other implementation problems include protracted license‑agreement negotiations for street trees, new Austin Energy review and construction requirements that developers say can require a transformer upgrade paid by the project, and Austin Water meter and permitting expectations that increase costs for small units. Scott Turner said he personally spent “about $20,000 in consulting fees and an additional six months” on a license agreement for street trees on a small lot. Builder Cody Carr described a case where a transformer upgrade could cost roughly $12,000 and fall to the small project.

Lisa Wimberly of the Austin Infill Coalition urged the commission to remove arbitrary minimum lot‑size requirements and simplify garage‑placement rules that can force builders to choose between preserving mature trees and building additional units. David Whitworth and others asked staff to harmonize language in neighborhood conservation combining districts (NCCDs), the uniform plumbing code and the land‑development code so routine subdivision and utility connections are clear for infill projects.

Vice Chair Woods moved approval of the resolution and Commissioner Ahmed seconded. The commission voted in favor without objection.

The resolution directs the city manager to review and recommend changes to technical code manuals, departmental criteria, the Transportation Criteria Manual and other rules that affect HOME Act projects; it asks staff to report back with proposed amendments and a timeline. Commissioners said they expect the review to reduce time and cost for small infill projects without changing the underlying HOME Act policy.

Votes at a glance: Item 14 (HOME Act implementation directive) — Motion to request city manager review and harmonization of technical manuals and departmental processes; mover: Vice Chair Woods; seconder: Commissioner Ahmed; outcome: approved (unanimous).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Planning Commission","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning Commission unanimously approved a resolution asking city staff to review and harmonize technical codes, criteria manuals and departmental practices introduced with the HOME Act after builders and infill advocates described permitting delays and new costs.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480906,"Planning Commission approves rezoning request for former Rosewood Elementary after neighborhood debate",3621,1292000,4913000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742157-143e0b0923b05992b58fa6182c66e8a7&start=1292&end=4913","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742157-143e0b0923b05992b58fa6182c66e8a7/thumbnail_1292000.jpg","/articles/6480906/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Planning-Commission-approves-rezoning-request-for-former-Rosewood-Elementary-after-neighborhood-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480906-d51bd23af3043f9a8f93ce7012bacc95/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448073&Signature=CJhyCbqN2U55Jn1aKZNodoiK4PUq~avsKmo97cDZG9G1S8qZPSs1YjG1ztdt7KwrsOb2jO~KHGAY7eED3cUix7H~mcWl4UVfGy92Ed1Xx-Bm9pg3DeX35bKH5iBAe7rrUFnLjIzZox~7Ub6kKnGaC59o5ELJsjX55zykxBWwlsml1Cr~SytoIZYpHYl2n3snhQJ-fhTVxutBBm0epmQS0xz4vu29h1PWJb5EJmVunkdqgn-veQcJuJZREWHWkeHMI2Qbhz2auiWPuef1wxEAaApgkIAiCCAKmpaVZrjui4E1bevZwb73yfsfcjAN92DP6Ti5olEz1aOE3Y3V2Lfyvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Austin Planning Commission on Tuesday voted to approve a land‑use plan amendment and a rezoning request that would unify zoning across the former Rosewood Elementary School site and allow commercial‑mixed uses while limiting building height and certain uses.

Staff told the commission the site — roughly 1.62 acres at 2406 Rosewood Avenue, 2407 Soul Wilson Avenue and adjacent parcels in the Rosewood neighborhood planning area — is currently split between civic and single‑family designations and recommended a rezoning to CS‑MU with a conditional overlay and neighborhood plan (CS‑MU‑CO‑NP) that would limit building height to 40 feet and prohibit a list of particularly disruptive uses.

The change was proposed by the prospective buyer and developer, who seeks to adaptively reuse the 1930s-era school building as a multi‑tenant commercial space with a small amount of new housing along Bedford Street. Richard Settle, representing the applicant, told commissioners the client intends “an adaptive reuse of the existing school building” and said the team is pursuing a National Register designation for the property. “All we're asking tonight is for you to discuss with us what kind of conditions you think would be appropriate,” Settle said.

Neighbors and community representatives urged caution. Christopher Page, speaking for the Wendell Heights Neighborhood Association, said residents unanimously opposed the rezoning at a recent neighborhood meeting but remain open to talks. “Our residents have suffered from this,” Page said, recounting prior development outcomes in the area. He and other speakers asked the commission to restrict commercial uses that could cause traffic, require parking and curb‑cut limits, and consider a historic overlay to preserve the building’s significance to the Black community in East Austin.

Other nearby residents described the surrounding streets — Bedford and Soul Wilson — as narrow, dead‑end residential streets not built for commercial traffic, and urged that any redevelopment avoid adding curb cuts or off‑site spillover parking. Kim Barker, a nearby resident, contrasted the capacity of Rosewood and Hargrave with the smaller residential streets to the north and east, and said rezoning the northern portion to commercial would be “inappropriate and incompatible with the single‑family residential neighborhood.”

Commissioners asked the applicant about likely unit counts, driveway access and historic review. Settle said the site could support roughly 15–20 residential units if any are built, with most commercial tenants housed inside the existing school building. He said the team is exploring whether the main driveway could be consolidated at Hargrave Street — something neighbors prefer — but that access there could be constrained by traffic engineering rules.

Planning staff outlined the draft conditional overlay that would prohibit a set of uses and added conditions to address neighborhood concerns. Staff also noted that any demolition or exterior changes likely would be referred to the Historic Landmark Commission.

After a round‑robin of commissioner questions and public testimony, Commissioner P. Ahmed moved to approve the applicant’s request; Commissioner Lan seconded. The motion passed, recorded by the chair as unanimous.

The approval asks staff and the applicant to work further on conditions and follow federal and local historic‑review triggers if changes to historic materials are proposed. Commissioners and neighbors indicated they expect continued negotiations and site‑plan‑level reviews to address driveway access, curb cuts, parking mitigations and the final mix of uses.

Votes at a glance: Items 2 and 3 (NPA‑2025‑0008.01 / C14‑2025‑0049 Hargrave Street) — Motion to approve applicant’s rezoning as requested; mover: Commissioner P. Ahmed; seconder: Commissioner Lan; outcome: approved (commission recorded as unanimous).","The Austin Planning Commission voted to rezone the former Rosewood Elementary site to CS‑MU with conditions after hearings in which neighbors pressed for limits on commercial uses, traffic mitigation and historic protections.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission urges city to harmonize HOME Act technical rules after builders report delays and costs

Planning Commission approves rezoning request for former Rosewood Elementary after neighborhood debate