Austin City Council hears from public one last time before voting on development changes
Published: Fri, 12/08/23
Austin City Council hears from public one last time before voting on development changes
The Austin City Council had a long day working on a hot topic. They heard comments from the public on whether the city's land development code should be changed to allow up to three homes on a single-family lot.
(Photo: Fred Cantu)
CBS Austin
by Fred Cantu
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin City Council had a long day working on a hot topic. They heard comments from the public on whether the city's land development code should be changed to allow up to three homes on a single-family lot.
This was all ahead of their vote on the first phase of the HOME initiative. HOME stands for Home Options for Middle-income Empowerment, and it was clear early in the public hearing that Austin is split on whether this proposal is on target.
Just ten minutes into the meeting an audience member off-camera tried to get the council's attention.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson had just laid out the rules for the public hearing when someone could be heard shouting to him, “I’m sitting up here! I’m not going to follow your rules!”
Watson answered, “Well I’m sorry, you’re going to have to!” And after a brief verbal exchange, the attendee was escorted out.
Hundreds of people thought the council’s proposal was important enough to be at the public hearing to be seen and to be heard.
Tina Barrett, a local developer said, “City council and staff have said we need a lot more affordable housing to support our growing city and stave off rising housing prices." And Nora Linares-Moeller, the executive director for Housingworks Austin chimed in, “These amendments would allow for the development of a greater diversity of housing types and living arrangements than currently allowed in single-family zoned districts.”
However, residents of East Austin worry about the older Hispanic families still there. Tonia Vasquez spoke through an interpreter about the "brown heart" of her neighborhood. She explained, “This is the color of the people of my neighborhood. The people that you will roll over and will displace.”
Mayor Watson says the council is determined everyone be heard before they take a vote. This hearing is expected to continue Friday if necessary.