East Austin Families Defend Rights to Build on Small Lots

By DeeinAustin™

If you've heard some rumbling lately, it's not a thunderstorm. There's trouble brewing in East Central Austin.

Small lot property owners are upset with limitations the City Planning Commission proposed on December 11th. The new changes will decrease the ability of over 1500 East Austin residents to build on their small parcels of land.

East Austin resident and property owner, "Hollywood" Henderson, sent a note to thousands of his fellow residents to corral them take a stand at the January 17th City Council Meeting for the final vote on this issue.

Here's an excerpt from Mr. Henderson's letter to his neighbors:

Dear Neighbor,

I have an urgent message about your current property rights. They are about to be taken. The City of Austin and a neighborhood group called OCEAN is planning to take away property rights that will forever affect your property values and your ability to add square footage to your existing home or your vacant lot.

EAST CENTRAL AUSTIN NEIGHBORS UNITE: THEIR ISSUES WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGE

1. Texas is a property rights state. Don't take away property rights that I already have under current guidelines!

• In Henderson's example, we can build up to a 2300 square-foot home on a 3500 square-foot lot. Not that we'd do this, but it's our right and the right of our heirs. One day, our children may want to expand our homes to accommodate a larger family.
• Under the new guidelines, we're now limited to 1500 square feet. The floor area ratio (FAR) will be moved from about .60 to .40, which will affect vacant lots (small and large) as well as existing homes. If my home is already 1200 square feet on a small lot, I can now only add another 300!

2. Why is a small neighborhood group dictating what we can build on property that we pay taxes on?

They believe this change is solves gentrification, higher property taxes, density and oversized homes, but it's taking away my ability to pass something of greater value along to my heirs. We want to solve those problems too, but without creating others.

3. It's detrimental for the city to implement design changes like this without ample input from the builder and architect community. There hasn't be any discussions with the 1500 affected owners in 78702, the Austin Institute of Architects (AIA) or the Austin Home Builder's Association (HBA).

For instance, the Design Commission decided one day that adjoining walls for duplexes must be along the length of the building. This "small" change suddenly:

• Limited the creativity of architects, who are now forced to create huge, boring, boxy designs that look the same.
• Made it difficult to design affordable duplex condos (each unit priced between $150-250k) in areas where single family homes can easily cost $300-500k or more.

The original McMansion Ordinance was eventually welcomed by both residents and reputable builders because they limited huge, towering houses on tiny lots that looked out of place. Now, neighbors will rally to appeal the additional limitations on January 17th at City Hall.

P.S,I've emailed OCEAN for a response.

INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC? CHECK OUT THESE NEWS RESOURCES

Organization of Central East Austin Neighborhoods (OCEAN)

Austin Statesman article explaining the "PRO" side.

McMansion Ordinance not accepted by some and was under fire

Download Hollywood Hender's petition letter to East Austin Neighbors

Austin Chronicle breakdown of various East Austin advocacy groups.

Another controversial development issue, the Brackenridge Tract in near UT

Comments

[Dee Copeland]

Suzanne Gonzales at the Austin Statesman reported last week that this new change was defeated. Councilmember Mike Martinez echoed my sentiments when he explained why the unanimous vote was against the new measure.

City Council would like to implement a solution that really works, rather than slapping something on that table that hurts so many residents.