The period to make public comments on the first draft of the CodeNEXT zoning maps for consideration in the second draft ends Friday. Residents can submit comments
here.
Residents, advocates, businesses, organizations and anyone with an opinion on the first draft of proposed zoning maps under the city’s proposed new land development code will have until 11:59 p.m. Friday to make final comments on the zoning maps. Many Austinites have claimed the maps fell short of their ideals, but their reasons why sharply contrast.
Alina Carnahan, a spokesperson for the city’s Planning and Zoning Department, said the maps, as of Thursday morning, have received 1,945 comments since their April 18 release. Carnahan said staff did not have expectations on the number of comments it would receive.
The public comment section of the first maps draft is not shutting down—people will still have the chance to comment. However, with the second draft of the maps due in August, staff and consultants said they needed to issue a cutoff date so there was enough time to process, analyze and respond to the comments in the second drafting process. All comments made after July 7 will be available to Austin's land use commissions and City Council during deliberations about the maps.
“The CodeNEXT mapping comment tool will remain open after the initial cutoff deadline of
July 7," Carnahan told Community Impact Newspaper. "All comments received after the deadline will be shared with the Planning Commission, Zoning and Platting Commission, and the City Council for their consideration. This initial deadline will allow staff to consider and incorporate the comments into the second draft of the map. “
Since the initial release in April, the maps have received criticism from all sides of the argument. Representatives from city neighborhood associations claim the zoning maps don’t follow neighborhood plans—land use guides established by the neighborhoods—and place too much density in the neighborhoods, thus threatening the character.
On the other hand, those vying for increased housing density in the city’s central core argue the maps are too conservative and do not do enough to address Austin’s rapid growth and the city's housing and affordability crises.