Draft ERC Regulating Plan Now Available for Review!
The ERC Regulating Plan lays out the rules that will guide new development and redevelopment to help realize the Vision of making East Riverside a more vibrant, functional and beautiful environment. Tailor-made for East Riverside Corridor, the regulations address the physical relationship between development and adjacent properties, streets, neighborhoods, and the natural environment in order to implement the vision of an urban mixed-use neighborhood that supports current and future transit options. As you look through the regulations, you will notice that we don't include details on a development bonus program due to ongoing staff research about the economics of such a program. Staff briefed City Council at its Dec. 6 work session, prior to making development bonus program recommendations. Once defined, the draft program details will be circulated for community feedback.
Due to the size of the document, it is broken into 5 parts for download.
The ERC Regulating Plan and Transportation Study Open House
was held on October 27th. If you couldn't make it, view the video presented at meeting at: http://youtu.be/99kEtCSzhaA
Past Events in development of the ERC Regulating Plan
The East Riverside Corridor Master Plan is now beginning to shape positive change for this important part of town. The City Council-adopted plan envisions a bright future for the area as:
An appealing, safe place for people to live, work, eat, shop and have fun
A diverse area with homes and neighborhood services affordable and convenient for all
An attractive place improved by high design standards for new development
A healthy, active place with trails, parks, and open space
A neighborhood where it's safe and easy to walk, bike, and use transit daily
A "green" place that contributes to Austin jobs and sustainable economic growth
A future rail transit corridor, with new neighborhood centers around rail stops
The Master Plan envisions how the East Riverside Corridor (from I-35 to Hwy 71) will transform over time to become a walkable, vibrant, transit-oriented, and attractive area that provides housing options for people with a range of incomes and provides a great place to live, work and shop for long-time residents and newcomers alike.
The trend is clear: More development will be coming to the East Riverside Corridor over the next 20 years. The City is now creating zoning and design regulations which will become the new rules to guide public and private development projects in the East Riverside Corridor. These changes are relevant to property owners, residents and businesses.
This work will result in rezoning properties in the ERC Master Plan area. Click for Map.
City Council Adopts Resolution Regarding the Timing of Neighborhood Plan Amendments
On Thursday, October 14th, City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to initiate an amendment to an adopted neighborhood plan at any time as is necessary to implement the outcomes of the expedited process for adoption of land development regulations for the properties within the East Riverside Corridor Master Plan boundaries. This is related to Council's August 5th, 2010, resolution to establish an expedited public input process to develop regulations and a development bonus system for implementation of the East Riverside Corridor Master Plan.
The adopted resolution will enable City staff to initiate plan amendments in coordination with public discussions about the ERC regulation changes, rather than having to wait until July to do so (when neighborhood plan amendments for this portion of the city would otherwise be filed). The resolution will also allow City Council to consider neighborhood plan amendments at the same time they consider the East Riverside Corridor land development regulations. The neighborhood plan amendments will still go through the neighborhood plan amendment process for public input and comment, but in a way that is coordinated with the public discussion of the proposed ERC regulation changes that may trigger the need for neighborhood plan amendments.
Consultants Selected to Provide Targeted Assistance for Expedited Public Input Process
The Joint Venture of OPA Design Studio/Weiss Architecture was selected as the consultant team to provide targeted assistance for the expedited public input process to address key issues needing community input to result in new land development regulations and a development bonus system for the East Riverside Corridor, as defined in City Council Resolution #20100805-029. The consultants will help City Staff prepare for a two-part public workshop to be held later this fall.
AUGUST 2010: City Council passes East Riverside Corridor resolution
On August 5, 2010, the Austin City Council adopted a resolution directing the City Manager to establish an expedited public input process to develop regulations and a development bonus system for implementation of the East Riverside Corridor Master Plan; and to expedite the board and commission process for the proposed regulations and bonus system. The full resolution can be found here.
SUMMER 2010: Stakeholder Meetings Staff will meet with stakeholder groups to discuss the ERC Regulating Plan creation process and opportunities for public input.
Project Info
Background
East Riverside Drive is a highly traveled roadway located a few minutes from downtown Austin. In addition to being a primary route to and from the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, it is an important commercial corridor to the diverse group of residents living in proximity to the roadway. Much of East Riverside Drive epitomizes the car-dominated environment that is typical of much of the modern American landscape. However, pedestrian activity along East Riverside Drive is much heavier than average. Many residents rely on public transportation and walk to and from local services, bus stops, and existing retail establishments.
Recently there has been significant interest in redevelopment of several large properties in the area due to its proximity to downtown and Lady Bird Lake. East Riverside Drive has an extremely wide right-of-way (up to 120’) which could provide locations for future pedestrian, bicycle or transit-friendly improvements. In order to ensure that future development is intentional and high quality the City of Austin recognized that a focused and comprehensive planning effort was needed.
Adopted ERC Master Plan
After more than a year of public input, Council adopted the East Riverside Corridor Master Plan on February 25, 2010. The Master Plan encourages the transformation of the ERC area, emphasizing the importance of transit oriented and walkable development as well as sustainable practices, while also maintaining housing options for people with a range of incomes. The study area covers properties near East Riverside Drive from I-35 to Highway 71/Ben White Boulevard and is located within the Montopolis and East Riverside/Oltorf Combined Neighborhood Planning Areas. The Master Plan provides land use and urban design recommendations as well as transportation recommendations and infrastructure improvements. More info about the Master Plan (including the plan itself) is available here.
ERC Regulating Plan
The city will be re-zoning properties within the ERC and creating new development regulations to help achieve the vision described in the Master Plan. The Regulating Plan aims to translate the recommendations outlined in the Master Plan into a design-based code that ensures future development meets the vision established by the community. Find out more about about the Regulating Plan in our Frequently Asked Questions.
This website will identify opportunities for public input and be updated with other information as the draft regulations are developed. Ultimately the draft Regulating Plan and recommended property re-zonings will be presented to City Council for their consideration and approval.
Downloads/Materials
East Riverside Corridor Master Plan Area Boundary Map
Hardcopies of the adopted Master Plan and the Draft Regulating Plan are available for review at the Planning and Development Review Department (505 Barton Springs Road, 5th Floor) and Daniel Ruiz Library (1600 Grove Boulevard). Downloads of the ERC Master Plan broken into smaller sections are available on the East Riverside Corridor Master Plan page.
Get Involved/Contact
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Staff Contact
Erica Leak, Senior Planner,
erica.leak@austintexas.gov, (512) 974-2856
City of Austin
Planning and Development Review Dept.
P.O. Box 1088
Austin, TX 78767
