We are working to improve Austin's affordability, transit accessibility, permitting, planning, and environmental outcomes through a new land development code.
What is a Land Development Code?
In order to achieve Imagine Austin's goals we must update Austin's land development code (LDC), which determines how land can be used throughout our city, including what can be built, where it can be built, and how much can be built. Our LDC will both document the DNA of our city and drive the process necessary to implement Imagine Austin's values.
Austin's existing LDC was adopted more than 30 years ago. Our city has changed dramatically since then but the rules that govern the built environment have not kept pace with our evolution as an community. Economic segregation, gentrification, traffic congestion, and skyrocketing housing prices are in a part a result of the current LDC. Our new LDC aims to address these problems, and efforts to derail the LDC rewrite process are efforts to preserve a status quo that is failing Austinites.
Evolve Austin supports the LDC rewrite process and overhauling the outdated LDC to ensure that our regulations suit today's reality and support the needs of Austin's future.
For more information on the draft code and maps, visit the City's website here.
The new LDC must support transit
Mobility and land use are intimately linked. Cities that are defined by sprawling land development patterns struggle to support multi-modal transportation options. Public transit in particular is negatively impacted by land use and development policies that do not prioritize density along established corridors.
The new LDC must support the environment
Sprawl is a well-known enemy of the environment. Sadly, Austin’s current LDC encourages — and in many cases requires — this type of land gobbling, water and energy consuming development that generates more and longer car trips than compact urban areas and far more carbon emissions.
The new LDC must support affordable housing
Our existing affordability programs are not sufficient to closing our Affordable Housing gap. New policies, programs, and measures that truly incentivize the development of both affordable market-rate housing and Affordable Housing are necessary if we are to meaningfully address the affordability crisis we face today.
We also need to make more room for more kinds of housing and housing lifestyles. Cooperatives are a community-based, affordable housing option in line with Austin’s progressive values and history.