Over the past couple of years we’ve reported on the proposed redevelopment of the Austin Oaks office park located off the southwest corner of MoPac and Spicewood Springs Road. On April 13, Austin City Council awarded a zoning change to the developer to permit a planned unit development, or PUD.

According to the city, a PUD designation is granted to developers of large or complex developments “to allow single or multiuse projects within its boundaries and provide greater design flexibility for development.” The city’s ordinance also states “a PUD district should result in development superior to that which would occur using conventional zoning regulations.”

Examples of existing PUDs include the recently approved Grove at Shoal Creek and Pilot Knob in Southeast Austin. It does not include, however, The Domain, which has its own master plan and is included in the North Burnet/Gateway master plan and regulating plan to dictate redevelopment. The city undertakes such master plans as a way to “responsibly control growth in the Austin’s urban core.”