New construction surrounding The Domain can now be denser and taller, following action taken by Austin City Council members during their Feb. 9 meeting in anticipation of continuing growth in the area.
Council approved several edits this month to the North Burnet/Gateway Regulating Plan, which governs development in and around the district now labeled as Austin's expanding "second downtown." The planning area is roughly bounded by US 183, MoPac, Walnut Creek and Metric Boulevard, which includes The Domain, Austin FC's Q2 Stadium and The University of Texas at Austin's J.J. Pickle Research Campus.
Council Member Leslie Pool, whose District 7 includes much of that area, began promoting updates to local planning documents last year as new residential, business and transit investments have poured in over recent years. During council's Feb. 7 meeting, she said the latest adjustments could help clear the way for even more additions.
“[The plan amendments are] responsive to the energetic growth in this area of my district. Last year I brought an initiative to perform a comprehensive update for the North Burnet/Gateway plan so that it accurately reflects the vision as our second downtown," Pool said. "I want to signal to our staff that we do still embrace the vision and the greater entitlements that are needed to fulfill it. I look forward to seeing the comprehensive update come before us this spring and to responding to the enthusiasm for development in this area.”
