Austin commission approves MF‑1 rezoning at Buckner Road with 2‑unit conditional cap

The Austin Zoning and Planning Commission on Tuesday approved rezoning for a vacant 2.54‑acre site at 12015 Buckner Road from Development Reserve (DR) to Multifamily Residence — Limited Density (MF‑1), with a conditional overlay limiting the site to two principal residential units.

Staff recommended MF‑1 zoning. Sherry Serwatus of the Planning Department told commissioners the site lies within the Lake Travis watershed and that watershed and impervious‑cover rules limit what can be built on the property. “The staff's recommendation is to grant MF‑1 multifamily residence limited density district zoning,” Serwatus said, describing surrounding uses and the need for a transition from more intense uses along Buckner Road to the single‑family areas west of the site.

The applicant, represented by Jim Whitliff, said watershed rules and a recent code change drove the choice to request MF‑1 rather than single‑family zoning. “We would have been happy with SF‑1, but the comprehensive watershed ordinance does not allow us to build one house unless we have two acres of net site area,” Whitliff…