City Council voted to approve the first reading of a rezoning request for the proposed property location, but also directed the city manager to look into transportation needs in the area and report back to the council by Jan. 12.
The council will need to approve two more readings for the project to move forward. The rezoning request would change the area's zoning from designated land for single-family and condominium to a moderate to high density multifamily zone.
Council members Vanessa Fuentes, Sabino Renteria and Kathie Tovo all added at the Oct. 14 City Council meeting that, while they approve the plan for a four-story complex for now, the proposed 10% affordable housing in the complex will likely not be enough for their future approval.
Developers propose turning the 9-acre property at 8401, 8403, 8405, and 8407 S. 1st St. into an apartment complex with a 45-foot buffer between it and neighboring homes’ backyards. The area combines three vacant lots and one lot with a building.
Fuentes, representing District 2, where the development is proposed, said she likes the placement along an Imagine Austin corridor near the future light rail transit Orange Line. She also said she understands concerns that developments should follow infrastructure changes rather than the reverse.
“I hear my community when they talk about infrastructure need first,” Fuentes said. “Watershed will be going through a community visioning plan where they will be going through community feedback to hear infrastructure needs.”
Fuentes moved to direct the city manager to summarize proposed plans and recently constructed transportation improvements, identify transportation needs that are not addressed in recent improvements, and review drainage plans in the area.
