Planning Commission OKs rezoning for 1700 South Lamar after neighborhood debate

The City of Austin Planning Commission on Aug. 12 voted to recommend rezoning a 5.2-acre site at 1700 South Lamar Boulevard, approving the staff-backed proposal that would allow increased height and mixed-use development while requiring on-site affordable units and a 75-foot setback along the western property line.

Marcela Boudreaux, a planner with the City of Austin Planning Department, told commissioners the site is on an Imagine Austin corridor and a core transit corridor and is within a quarter-mile of rapid transit. Boudreaux said staff recommended CSV DB 90 for the front tract and CSV with a conditional overlay for the western tract, noting the conditional overlay includes prohibited uses and the 75-foot building setback to address adjacency to low-density homes.

The applicant told the commission the proposal was amended after nine months of outreach: Michelle Hausman, representing the applicant, said the team reduced height on the western tract from 90 feet to 60 feet and agreed to the setback and prohibited uses. "This project will provide much needed housing in Austin and will provide the affordable units through the vertical mixed use program in the back and the DB 90 program in the front," Hausman said.

Neighbors and neighborhood groups offered mixed views during public testimony. Charlene Lorig, an adjacent property owner, said she has experienced repeated nighttime waste-collection activity and described ongoing talks with the applicant to relocate dumpsters away from the western edge: "They've agreed to locate all waste and loading in areas of the property not abutting or facing the western setback," Lorig said, and said she offered conditional support while negotiations continue on an enforceable agreement. Residents of the Sage condominiums and other nearby homeowners said they were surprised by outreach and worried about lost views, sunlight and property values. "The majority of the adjacent neighbors at 1702 had no clue this was happening," said Yasmin Malera, who identified herself as representing neighbors at the Sage.

Supporters, including members of the Heritage Neighborhood Association and individuals who live nearby, said the site is underused and that the design limits height near single-family areas while adding housing near transit. Graham Troll, who said he lives about one block from the site, described the rezoning as "responsible community oriented development" that would add housing and ground-floor retail along a transit corridor.

Commissioners asked for details on affordable housing, traffic and neighborhood coordination. Hausman said the vertical-mixed-use rules on the rear (V) portion require 10 percent of units at 60 percent of median family income and the DB 90 portion requires 12 percent at 60 percent MFI, which the applicant estimated would produce about 50 affordable units on-site. Transportation staff said the corridor signal at Collier and Lamar is fully funded, designed and in permitting and is slated to begin construction in 2026; they also said the site does not trigger a formal transportation impact analysis under current rules.

Commissioner Anderson moved to approve staff's recommendation; Commissioner Haney seconded. The motion passed with a recorded tally of 9 yes, 0 no and 1 abstention. Commissioner Maxwell abstained; she said earlier that she formerly owned a business in the subject tract.

Votes at a glance: The commission also approved the consent agenda (multiple plan amendments and rezoning items, with several items postponed to later dates), accepted the minutes from the July 8 meeting, approved the commission's 2024 annual internal review and report, and made appointments to joint committees. Those consent and administrative items passed by voice vote during the meeting's consent portion.

The commission noted remaining negotiation points to be resolved before City Council, including an enforceable memorandum regarding dumpster relocation and final review of conditional overlays with City Legal. The case will proceed to council with the commission's recommendation and any remaining legal review as noted by staff.

The commission adjourned at 7:05 p.m.