by Larry Schooler

The Austin City Council is scheduled to vote this Thursday (1/28) on whether to move forward with new laws governing "density bonuses," a system under which developers could receive greater density downtown than the law allows in exchange for community benefits like affordable housing, green building, child care facilities, open space, and cultural or music spaces. At the same time as they are scheduled to take up the density bonus item, they have an additional item calling for an additional "stakeholder review process" for the report on density bonuses. In other words, Council may want to take extra time to get additional community input on the ramifications of a density bonus program before moving closer to new regulation.

The Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association is taking the position that the discussion of density bonuses should become part of a broader discussion about land use throughout the city, rather than confined to Downtown in such a way that it could create a disincentive for needed density.

You can find more information about the board's position here, and you can learn more about the Council discussion at these links:

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council_meetings/item_attachments.cfm?meetingid=202&itemid=12096&item=32, item #32

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council_meetings/item_attachments.cfm?meetingid=202&itemid=12257&item=58, item #58