County commissioners receive update on plans for future development on Airport Boulevard

On Feb. 28, City of Austin representatives briefed the Travis County Commissioners Court on plans for Airport Boulevard corridor from North Lamar Boulevard to I-35.

City and county officials are asking what types of public improvements and private redevelopment will occur along the road during the next 25 years and beyond. The current plan is to make the road more bike–, pedestrian– and mass transit–friendly.

"Our land development code addresses zoning districts, which is just a hierarchy of land uses that are categorized by the intensity. It doesn't really give you a snapshot of what the community wants," said Jorge Rousselin of the Planning and Development Review Department. "It's a whole listing of things we don't want instead of what we want."

The initiative does not take private property by eminent domain, nor does it increase the road's right of way.

"As a matter of fact, it looks to preserve the residential character of those cherished neighborhoods that are established on both sides of Airport Boulevard," he said.

Going forward, the city plans to hold neighborhood and business roundtables and meet with Austin Community College. A public forum will be held later this spring.