What you need to know
The proposal would eliminate structured parking and reduce the overall number of units for a planned multifamily housing development located just south of downtown, due to increased labor and construction costs, as well as decreased market demand for multifamily, said Brad Dushkin, Round Rock's planning and development services department director.
The change would leave the development with a central parking lot, rather than a parking structure, and reduces the overall number of units from 410 to 350.
The amendment includes additional changes such as reducing the building height to five stories, adding duplexes or single-family attached units as a permitted use and relocating townhomes within the development.
How we got here
In 2022, City Council approved a proposal for a planned unit development just south of Main Street. The 11-acre property was previously zoned for single family, commercial and light industrial use.
The project is known as the Arte PUD by developer W.B. Property Group, according to city documents.
At the time, plans for the development were for a wraparound housing product, with a central structured parking garage and multifamily units wrapping around it.
What they're saying
Dushkin said the request worked its way up to council because it exceeds the scope of what can be amended to the PUD administratively.
The developer's original proposal to the Planning and Zoning Commission did not include minimum coverage via trees, carports and other forms of design to interrupt continuous sections of pavement.
Such changes to parking would be a "large concession" from the city, and the commission gave conditional approval as long as the developer complies with city requirements for landscaping in parking lots to prevent it becoming a "heat island," Dushkin said.
"Typically we would not really be in favor of that, honestly," Dushkin said. "We are making an exception in a way because of its proximity to downtown, because of the focus that we have on downtown and providing more housing units in and near downtown."
The city established a goal as part of its 2030 Comprehensive Plan to add 1,000 residential units near its downtown area. Per city documents, the Arte PUD is 0.4 miles south of Main Street.
What's next?
Council will vote on the first reading of the measure July 10.
